Following only one sport on the schedule on Tuesday evening, Wednesday evening is again to the usual of two video games — one in every of which may very well be the swan music for a latest Stanley Cup champion.
The primary matchup pits the Florida Panthers towards the Toronto Maple Leafs (7 p.m. ET, ESPN); these groups are tied 2-2. Within the nightcap, the Vegas Golden Knights host the Edmonton Oilers (9:30 p.m. ET, ESPN), with the house crew hoping to keep away from a 4-1 collection loss simply two seasons after profitable all of it.
Learn on for sport previews with statistical insights from ESPN Analysis, a recap of what went down in Tuesday’s sport and the Three Stars of Tuesday from Arda Öcal.
Matchup notes
Florida Panthers at Toronto Maple Leafs
Recreation 5 | 7 p.m. ET | ESPN
With the collection tied 2-2, ESPN BET has the Panthers because the favorites to win the collection at -210 in comparison with +170 for the Leafs. Florida is now +400 to win the Cup, whereas Toronto is +900.
When a best-of-seven collection is tied 2-2, the winner of Recreation 5 has gone on to win the collection 79% of the time in Stanley Cup playoffs historical past.
Every purpose that Carter Verhaeghe scores extends his lead atop the franchise leaderboard for profession playoff objectives; he is at present at 30, forward of Sam Reinhart (24), Aleksander Barkov (22) and Matthew Tkachuk (20).
Acquired on the commerce deadline from Boston, Brad Marchand has a private 4-0 report towards Toronto in playoff collection, and is tied for the third-most factors towards the Leafs in Stanley Cup playoff historical past; his 33 are tied with Henri Richard, trailing Alex Delvecchio (35) and Gordie Howe (53).
William Nylander leads Toronto in objectives this postseason, with six, and he continues to climb the Leafs’ profession playoff goal-scoring leaderboard. With 26, he’s tied with Steve Thomas and George Armstrong for fifth on the checklist; Ted Kennedy is fourth, with 29.
Fellow member of the Core 4 Mitch Marner is on the precipice of a profession milestone too; together with his subsequent help, he’ll be part of Doug Gilmour as the one Maple Leafs with 50 or extra profession playoff assists.
Edmonton Oilers at Vegas Golden Knights
Recreation 5 | 9:30 p.m. ET | ESPN
The Oilers take a 3-1 lead into Recreation 5, and ESPN BET has adjusted the collection winner odds accordingly; Edmonton is now -1000 to win this collection, with the Knights at +550. Edmonton additionally has the shortest Stanley Cup odds, at +260, whereas Vegas’ are +3000; solely the Capitals have longer odds, at +7500.
When main a best-of-seven collection 3-1, the Oilers have gone on to win 94% of the time of their historical past; the Knights have by no means rallied to win a collection after trailing 3-1.
Adam Henrique had two objectives within the first interval of Recreation 4 after only one purpose within the first 9 video games this postseason. It was his second profession multigoal sport — the final got here in 2012 throughout the Devils’ run to the Stanley Cup Remaining.
Connor McDavid assisted on Evander Kane’s purpose in Recreation 4, extending his help streak to eight video games. That ties Wayne Gretzky (1983) for the third-longest such streak in Oilers postseason historical past, trailing Leon Draisaitl (2022) and Glenn Anderson (1985), each of whom had a nine-game help streak in a single postseason.
Vegas’ Mark Stone has 36 profession playoff objectives, tied with Jonathan Marchessault for the Knights’ franchise playoff report.
Teammate Jack Eichel is getting pucks on internet, however he has scored solely as soon as this postseason. His 27 photographs on purpose lead the Knights, however among the many 43 gamers with 20 or extra photographs on purpose this postseason, Eichel’s 3.7% capturing proportion is the bottom.
Öcal’s Three Stars from Tuesday
Granlund scored his first profession hat trick to paved the way for Dallas. He now has a number of factors in consecutive playoff video games inside a single postseason for the primary time in his profession.
The Minnesota native stopped 31 of 32 photographs to earn the win. He is the sixth U.S.-born goalie to win 30 playoff video games — Tom Barrasso leads the checklist, with 60.
The star defenseman had an help and skated just below quarter-hour in his first sport since Jan. 28.
Tuesday’s recap
Dallas Stars 3, Winnipeg Jets 1
DAL leads 3-1 | Recreation 5 Thursday
For a lot of the postseason, it has been the Mikko Rantanen present for the Stars. On this evening, heart stage belonged to a different Finn the Stars added in commerce throughout the season. Mikael Granlund scored his first profession hat trick — spacing them out properly with one in every interval — which was greater than sufficient to outscore the visiting Jets. Nikolaj Ehlers’ tally at 1:02 of the second interval was the one shot that bought previous Dallas’ Jake Oettinger, as chants of “Otter’s higher!” rained down from the Dallas devoted within the seats to torment Winnipeg’s Connor Hellebuyck. Dallas brings a 3-1 result in Recreation 5 in Manitoba, pushing for a 3rd convention finals journey prior to now 4 years. Full recap.
0:19
Jake Oettinger’s save earns rousing ovation from Dallas followers
Stars goalie Jake Oettinger makes an exquisite save early in Recreation 4 vs. the Jets.
