The Toronto Maple Leafs season is over, and the Edmonton Oilers are on the brink of elimination.
Here are five things to know as we head into Saturday's post-season action:
LEAFS ELIMINATED
The Toronto Maple Leafs advanced to the second round for the first time in 19 years but didn't spend much time once there.
Nick Cousins scored in overtime as the Maple Leafs lost 3-2 to the Florida Panthers on Friday to drop the series in five games and fall out of the playoffs.
What comes next is especially intriguing in Toronto. Whether general manager Kyle Dubas, whose contract is set to expire, or head coach Sheldon Keefe return next season is up in the air. The same goes for some of the team’s top players.
The Core Four of Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, William Nylander and John Tavares combined for three goals against Florida, and have just one playoff series win in six seasons together.
NO GOAL
The Maple Leafs' loss in the decisive Game 5 didn’t happen without some bad luck.
Trailing 2-1 late in the second period, Toronto defenceman Morgan Rielly appeared to score — only to have it ruled a no-goal.
Rielly drove to the net and slid the puck under Florida goalie Sergei Bobrovsky’s pad, with one replay showing the puck crossing the line some moments later.
The NHL’s Situation Room said the play was deemed dead by the official before the puck conclusively crossed the line despite there not being a whistle.
The decision led some Maple Leaf fans to throw debris on the ice.
UNDERDOG PANTHERS
For Florida, it's the latest step in an underdog story. The Panthers entered the playoffs with the least points of any team, and have now taken out the record-setting Boston Bruins and the Maple Leafs.
The Panthers return to the Eastern Conference Final for the first time since 1996, where they’ll face the Carolina Hurricanes.
OILERS ON THE BRINK
One minute and 29 seconds. That's all it took for Edmonton's series outlook to turn on its head.
Looking in control with a 2-1 lead, the Oilers allowed three goals over that span in the second period on Friday night as the Vegas Golden Knights chased goalie Stuart Skinner, won the game 4-3 and took a 3-2 series lead. Jack Campbell stopped all nine shots in relief for Skinner.
Edmonton now heads back home for Game 6 on Sunday with its back against the wall, needing a win to keep its hopes of getting back to the Western Conference Final alive.
STARS HEATING UP
The Dallas Stars can book a spot in the Western Conference Final with a win against the Kraken in Seattle on Saturday.
Dallas, which trailed earlier in the series, leads the best-of-seven series 3-2 after winning the last two games. The Stars also fell down 2-1 in the first round against Minnesota, but stormed back to win three in a row and advance.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 13, 2023.
The Canadian Press
