Stanley Cup Playoffs Review May 23, 2021

MAPLE LEAFS EARN FIRST PLAYOFF WIN AGAINST CANADIENS SINCE 1967

Auston Matthews (1-2—3) factored on three of his team’s five goals as the Maple Leafs evened their First Round series against the Canadiens at one game apiece after a 5-1 win. Toronto snapped its nine-game losing streak against Montreal in the postseason and earned its first such win versus the club since claiming the Stanley Cup in Game 6 of the 1967 Final.

Matthews recorded his second career three-point game in the playoffs (also 1-2—3 in Game 4 of 2020 SCQ) and became the first Maple Leafs player to do so against the Canadiens in the postseason since Jim Pappin in Game 3 of the 1967 Stanley Cup Final (1-2—3). Pappin led Toronto with eight points during the series (4-4—8 in 6 GP), which also included the Cup-clinching goal.

Matthews (0.48 G/GP) owns the second-highest goals per game in the playoffs by a Maple Leafs player (min. 15 GP) and trails only Gordie Drillon (0.49 G/GP).

ON THE SCORESHEET

• Jason Spezza put the Maple Leafs on the board at 12:25 of the first period. Spezza’s goal is his first of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs. He has 71 points (26 goals, 45 assists) in 87 career playoff games. He had 30 points (10 goals, 20 assists) in 54 games this season. His goal tonight is his first playoff point as a Maple Leaf.
• Auston Matthews scored the second Toronto goal of the game at 5:15 of the second period and later had the secondary assist on Rasmus Sandin’s second period goal before recording the primary assist on William Nylander’s third period goal. Tonight’s game is Matthews’ career sixth multi-point game in the playoffs and ties his single-game career-high for points in the playoffs (3). His goal was his first of the 2021 playoffs. He has recorded 22 points (13 goals, 9 assists) in 27 career Stanley Cup playoff games.
• Rasmus Sandin scored the third Maple Leafs’ goal of the night on the power play at 13:20 of the second period. Sandin’s goal is his first career goal and point in the Stanley Cup Playoffs in two career playoff games. He recorded four assists in nine games with the Maple Leafs this season.
• William Nylander scored the fourth Toronto goal of the game at 8:50 of the third period and later had the lone assist on Kerfoot’s empty net goal. Nylander has goals (2) and points (2-1-3) in two consecutive games to open the series. He has 18 points (7-11-18) in 27 career playoff games. He recorded four goals and three assists in eight games against Montreal during the regular season.
• Alex Kerfoot scored the fifth Maple Leafs goal of the night into an empty net at 18:37 of the third period. Kerfoot’s goal is his first point of the 2021 playoffs. He has nine points (3-6-9) in 25 career postseason games. He had three assists in five postseason games last year.
• Zach Bogosian recorded the lone assist on Spezza’s first period goal. Bogosian’s assist is his first point of the postseason. He has recorded five assists in 22 career playoff games. In 45 games this season, he registered four assists for Toronto.
• Justin Holl registered the primary assist on Matthews’ second period goal. Holl’s assist is his first career point in the Stanley Cup Playoffs in seven career appearances. He recorded career-highs in assists (18) and points (20) this season, in addition to equaling his career-high for goals (2).
• Mitch Marner had the secondary assist on Matthews’ second period goal and later had the primary assist on Sandin’s second period goal. Tonight’s game is Marner’s fourth career multi-assist and seventh career multi-point playoff performance. He has 23 points (5-18-23) in 27 career playoff games. Marner registered 67 points (20 goals, 47 assists) in 55 games played this season.
• Morgan Rielly picked up the secondary assist on Nylander’s third period goal. Rielly has assists (2) in two consecutive games to begin the series. He has recorded 18 points (3-15-18) in 27 career playoff appearances. He registered a pair of goals and five assists in 10 games against Montreal this season.
• Jack Campbell stopped 22 shots to earn his first career win in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Canadiens defenseman Shea Weber has been fined $5,000, the maximum allowable under the Collective Bargaining Agreement, for cross-checking Toronto Maple Leafs forward Wayne Simmonds during Game 2 of the teams’ First Round series in Toronto on Saturday, May 22, 2021. The incident occurred at 10:07 of the second period. The money goes to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.

KUCHEROV HELPS DEFENDING CHAMPS MOVE WITHIN ONE WIN OF SECOND ROUND

Nikita Kucherov (1-3—4) became the first player in Lightning history to record four or more points in a postseason game three times and Alex Killorn (2-2—4) posted a career-high four points as the defending Stanley Cup champions moved within one win of advancing to the 2021 Second Round.

Kucherov, who capped his performance by scoring Tampa Bay’s seventh power-play goal of the series, assisted on three of his team’s first four goals. Saturday’s outing also marked Kucherov’s sixth career playoff game with at least three helpers – the most among active players.

Since Kucherov made his postseason debut during the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Lightning have registered an NHL-best 57 wins over that span – eight more than the next-closest team (PIT: 49).

The ‘Sunshine State’ rivals have combined for 32 goals through the first four games of their series (8.0 G/GP), with Tampa Bay outscoring Florida 19-13 over that span. Only five other series in the last 25 years have featured two teams combine for as many goals through the first four games: 2020 Second Round (34: DAL-COL), 2014 First Round (34: LAK-SJS), 2012 Conference Quarterfinals (45: PHI-PIT), 2002 Conference Semifinals (34: COL-SJS) and 2002 Conference Quarterfinals (32: MTL-BOS).

FLEURY POSTS 16TH PLAYOFF SHUTOUT AS VEGAS GOES UP 3-1

Marc-Andre Fleury (35 saves), who matched a career high for saves in a playoff shutout, backstopped the Golden Knights to victory in Game 4 and pushed the Wild to the brink of elimination. Saturday marked Fleury’s 16th career playoff shutout, tying Curtis Joseph for third place on the NHL’s all-time list.

Fleury’s performance comes on the heels of a historic regular season in which he climbed into sole possession of third place on the NHL’s all-time wins list. The Golden Knights netminder, who has started each game for his club during the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs, also became the fifth goaltender in NHL history to appear in at least 150 playoff games, joining Patrick Roy (247), Martin Brodeur (205), Ed Belfour (161) and Grant Fuhr (150).

Fleury, with two or fewer goals allowed in each of his last 14 games dating back to the regular season (April 11 vs. ARI), has posted an outing of that nature in 72 of his 150 career playoff contests (48%).

QUICK STRIKES IN THE THIRD HELP ISLANDERS DRAW EVEN WITH PENGUINS

Mathew Barzal was one of nine different Islanders players with a point and Ilya Sorokin turned aside 29 of 30 shots as New York evened its First Round series with Pittsburgh at two games apiece.

Barzal assisted on the second of two Islanders third-period goals in a span of 24 seconds to help New York build a 4-0 lead. It marked the franchise’s fastest two playoff goals since Game 3 of the 2002 Conference Quarterfinals versus the Maple Leafs (0:14).

Sorokin (2-0) became the second rookie goaltender in Islanders history to win multiple playoff games for the franchise, joining Glenn Resch (11-7). He also became the third netminder, regardless of status, to win each of his first two playoff appearances with the club, joining Semyon Varlamov (2020) and Robin Lehner (2019).

Sorokin joined Carolina’s Alex Nedeljkovic (2-1) as the second rookie goaltender to win each of his first two career postseason starts during the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs. The only other time in the last 20 years that two rookie goaltenders each won their first two career postseason appearances in the same playoff year was 2014 (John Gibson & Frederik Andersen: both 2-0 w/ ANA).

AVALANCHE, BRUINS AIM TO ADVANCE TO SECOND ROUND

A four-game slate today is highlighted by the Avalanche and Bruins, who own 3-0 and 3-1 leads in their respective series. Colorado and Boston look to become the first teams to advance to the Second Round of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Colorado can sweep its opening-round series of a playoff year after winning the Presidents’ Trophy for the second time in franchise history (also 2001 CQF vs. VAN). Since the Presidents’ Trophy was first handed out in 1985-86, only three winners of the award have also accomplished the feat: Edmonton (1986 DSF vs. VAN), NY Rangers (1994 CQF vs. NYI) and Dallas (1999 CQF vs. EDM).

The Bruins can become the fifth team since the start of the 2003 Stanley Cup Playoffs to win a best-of-seven series in four or more consecutive postseasons. They would join the Capitals (4: 2015 to 2018), Rangers (4: 2012 to 2015), Red Wings (5: 2007 to 2011) and Sharks (4: 2004 to 2008).