* An overtime goal from Nick Cousins sent Florida to its first Conference Finals appearance in 27 years – and second all-time – as the Panthers became the third Wild Card team to advance to the Conference Finals since the Wild Card format was introduced nearly a decade ago.
* Jack Eichel added to his postseason production with a three-point outing in Game 5 to help the Golden Knights take a 3-2 series edge – his hot start has added him to a short list of active players for points through their first 10 career games.
* The Kraken will have the opportunity to force the first Game 7 of the Second Round when they return home to Climate Pledge Arena on Saturday.
PANTHERS HEADED TO CONFERENCE FINALS FOR FIRST TIME IN 27 YEARS
Nick Cousins scored the series-clinching goal in overtime to send the Panthers to the Eastern Conference Final, while Sergei Bobrovsky capped off the series with a 50-save performance to help Florida earn its sixth straight road win. The Panthers have advanced to the Conference Finals for the second time in franchise history and first in 27 years.
* The Panthers became the third Wild Card team to advance to the Conference Finals since the Wild Card format was introduced in 2013-14, following the 2017 Predators and 2019 Hurricanes. Nashville is the only Wild Card club to reach the Stanley Cup Final. More advance notes for Florida can be found in Friday’s edition of #NHLStats: Live Updates.
* Each of Florida's past three series-clinching victories have come in overtime (also Game 7 of 2023 R1 & Game 6 of 2022 R1). The Panthers became just the third team in NHL history to record three consecutive series-clinching wins in overtime (spanning postseasons or otherwise), joining the Lightning (Game 5 of 2020 R1, Game 5 of 2020 R2 & Game 6 of 2020 CF) and Sabres (Game 4 of 1993 DSF, Game 7 of 1997 CQF & Game 5 of 1998 CQF).
* Carter Verhaeghe scored his third goal in potential series-clinching games with the Panthers, tied with Bill Lindsay for the most in franchise history. Only three players have registered more over the past two postseasons: Nathan MacKinnon (6), David Pastrnak (4) and Max Domi (4).
* Bobrovsky (50 saves) recorded the most saves in a potential series-clinching game for the Panthers, a mark previously held by Scott Clemmensen (39 saves in Game 6 of 2012 CQF). He also became just the second goaltender in franchise history with a 50-save performance in any playoff contest, joining John Vanbiesbrouck (55 in Game 4 of 1996 SCF). Bobrovsky, who finished the Second Round with a .943 save percentage and a 1.89 goals-against average, added himself to a list alongside former Panthers netminder Roberto Luongo, who was in the press box watching Game 5 as Florida’s special advisor to the general manager.
* Carolina and Florida are set for their first-ever postseason matchup, marking the fourth time that two teams in the Sunbelt have met in the Round before the Final (also LAK-PHX in 2012, ANA-NSH in 2017 & DAL-VGK in 2020).
* The Panthers are the fifth team in NHL history to face a top-four club in each of their first three series of a postseason. The 1982 Quebec Nordiques and 1981 Rangers each did so, both culminating with a Conference Finals/Semifinals loss to the Islanders in the third round. The other occurrences were by the 1972 Rangers and 1969 Canadiens during an era when only three rounds were played overall – New York won its first two series before losing in the Final while Montreal won all three rounds (and the Stanley Cup).
GOLDEN KNIGHTS SPUR COMEBACK WITH THREE-GOAL FLURRY, TAKE 3-2 SERIES LEAD
Despite a first-period goal by Jack Eichel (1-2—3), Vegas found themselves down 2-1 heading into the second frame before Mark Stone, Reilly Smith and Nicolas Hague each scored in a span of 1:29 – the fastest three playoff goals in franchise history – to put the Golden Knights ahead as they held on to take a 3-2 series lead.
* The Golden Knights accounted for the fourth-fastest three-goal burst by a team in the past 10 postseasons, trailing the Ducks (0:37 in Game 4 of 2015 CF), Kraken (0:52 in Game 1 of 2023 R2) and Avalanche (1:23 in Game 1 of 2020 R1).
* Eichel pushed his career totals in the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs to 6-7—13 and marked the most points by a Vegas player through 10 games of a postseason, besting Mark Stone in 2019 (6-6—12) who only appeared in seven contests.
MCDAVID, PASTRNAK, TKACHUK NAMED 2022-23 HART MEMORIAL TROPHY FINALISTSEdmonton’s Connor McDavid, Boston’s David Pastrnak and Florida’s Matthew Tkachuk are the three finalists for the 2022-23 Hart Memorial Trophy, awarded “to the player adjudged to be the most valuable to his team.” Click here to read more.
* The finalists for the Jim Gregory General Manager of the Year Award and King Clancy Memorial Trophy will be announced later during the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
IS ANOTHER GAME 7 ON THE HORIZON FOR THE KRAKEN? The Kraken return to Climate Pledge Arena as their Second Round series with the Stars has shifted to a win-or-go-home scenario for the NHL’s newest franchise. Seattle, which will need another Game 7 to advance to the Conference Finals, only lost consecutive home games twice since the turn of the calendar (4 GP from March 9-18 & 2 GP from Feb. 23-26).
* The Kraken can become the sixth franchise in NHL history to require a Game 7 in each of their first two playoff series. They would join the Wild (2003 CQF & CSF), Sharks (1994 CQF, CSF & 1995 CQF), North Stars (1968 QF & SF), Kings (1968 QF & 1969 QF) and Blues (1968 QF & SF) by staving off elimination Saturday.
* Nine teams to debut in the League’s expansion era have won each of their first two or more potential elimination games: the Islanders (8 GP in 1975), Wild (6 GP in 2003), North Stars (3 GP in 1968), Ducks (2 GP in 1997), Panthers (2 GP in 1996), Nordiques (2 GP in 1981), Sabres (2 GP in 1973), Blues (2 GP in 1968) and Flyers (2 GP in 1968).
* Thirty-eight-year-old Joe Pavelski has shined brightly for the Stars in the Second Round as he pursues his first Stanley Cup, posting 7-1—8 in five games and recording each of Dallas’ three game-winning goals. His next tally will not only establish a franchise record for most in a single series in franchise history, but also tie Martin St. Louis (8 in 2014 w/ NYR) and Johnny Bucyk (8 in 1974 w/ BOS) for most in a postseason by a player age 38 or older.
* Pavelski is one of six active players to register three game-winning goals in a single playoff series (also Carter Verhaeghe: 2022 R1, Jonathan Toews: 2014 R1, Nikita Kucherov: 2018 R1, Sidney Crosby: 2016 CF & David Krejci: 2011 CSF). Mike Bossy (4 in 1983 CF) is the only player in NHL history to register each of his team’s four game-winning in a single series.
Thanks to the NHL PR department for the information above.
Paul Kukla founded Kukla’s Korner in 2005 and the site has since become the must-read site on the ‘net for all the latest happenings around the NHL.
From breaking news to in-depth stories around the league, KK Hockey is updated with fresh stories all day long and will bring you the latest news as quickly as possible.
-13014534.png)
-13020101.png)
Create an Account
In order to leave a comment, please create an account.