The Toronto Maple Leafs survived to see another day on Thursday night, while the Vancouver Canucks look to avoid allowing Nashville to do the same on Friday.
Here are five things to know entering Friday’s post-season action:
LEAFS SURVIVE
The Toronto Maple Leafs managed to survive to see a Game 7 on Thursday night. Star winger William Nylander scored both goals in a 2-1 home victory over the Bruins to push the best-of-seven first-round series to a Game 7 on Saturday in Boston.
However, the question becomes if the Leafs can finally eliminate their longtime rivals.
The Leafs battled back from 3-1 deficits against Boston in 2013 and 2018 before losing in seven. Toronto held a 3-2 lead against the Bruins in 2019, but then dropped two straight for a third series loss against Boston in seven years.
Can the Leafs turn their fortunes around like last year’s drought-ending first-round series victory?
STAR HEALTH
After dealing with Nylander being out for the first three games of the series with an undisclosed injury, the Leafs have another injury issue at hand with sniper Auston Matthews on the mend.
Matthews was pulled from Game 4 with an illness and missed Games 5 and 6, which Toronto was able to win to stave off elimination and force a Game 7.
Whether Matthews will be healthy for Saturday is unknown but he sure would be a welcome face for the Leafs in the deciding game.
FINISH THE JOB
The Vancouver Canucks will be looking to avoid a Game 7 on Friday as they carry a 3-2 series lead into Nashville.
Vancouver already missed an opportunity to close out the series at home in Game 5, falling 2-1 on Tuesday after giving up two unanswered goals in the third period.
The last thing the Canucks need is being on the wrong end of a team catching steam entering a Game 7.
BACKDOOR SWEEP?
Things were not looking good for the Dallas Stars not too long ago. They had dropped the first two games at home to the defending champion Vegas Golden Knights and needed to scavenge wins on the road to avoid an early exit after an impressive regular season.
But that was over a week ago. Since then, the Stars have won three in a row to take a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven first-round series.
With the two teams meeting in Vegas on Friday for Game 6, Dallas needs just one win to complete the backdoor sweep.
FINALIST
Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Frederik Andersen was one of three finalists for this season’s Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy announced on Thursday.
The trophy is handed out annually to the NHL player “who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey” as voted by members of the Professional Hockey Writers Association.
Andersen picked up four wins in five outings in net for the Hurricanes in their first-round series victory against the New York Islanders. Carolina opens second-round play on Sunday against the New York Rangers.
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