Three NHL teams will attempt to punch their tickets to the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs Friday night, as elimination pressure mounts in the first round.
Friday’s triple-header features three Game 6 matchups where Montreal, Buffalo, and Vegas each hold 3-2 series leads and hope to avoid the uncertainty of a winner-take-all seventh game.
The evening begins with Tampa Bay traveling to face the Canadiens, followed by Buffalo’s journey to Boston, and concludes with Vegas visiting the Utah Mammoth.
For Montreal and Buffalo, advancing to the next round would represent a massive achievement for franchises whose devoted supporters are eager to experience deeper playoff runs again.
Buffalo’s fanbase has endured the longest drought, waiting 14 seasons to witness playoff hockey before this year’s squad captured their first Atlantic Division championship.
However, the Sabres now face their biggest challenge yet — finishing off a playoff opponent. Buffalo came agonizingly close in their initial opportunity Tuesday, falling to Boston in overtime during Game 5 on home ice.
The Sabres’ roster lacks postseason experience, with only 10 players having previously participated in a series-clinching opportunity.
“We trusted the process to get to this point,” Buffalo coach Lindy Ruff said. “You’ve got to continue to trust it. It’s a team (that for) a whole year has won together and lost together, but embrace this moment — and somebody for us is going to be a big time player. I can’t tell you who that is, but somebody will.”
Buffalo’s man-advantage unit remains problematic: Rasmus Dahlin’s tally in Game 5 marked the Sabres’ lone power-play goal in 18 attempts this series. The team enters Game 6 having scored on just one of 20 power-play opportunities against Boston after going scoreless in their final 22 chances of the regular season.
Buffalo’s most recent playoff series triumph came against the New York Rangers in the 2007 second round.
When/Where to Watch: Game 6, Friday, 10 p.m. EDT (ESPN).
Series: Golden Knights lead 3-2.
Vegas stands one win from advancing thanks to their special teams performance.
The Golden Knights’ power play has frustrated coach John Tortorella, who has adjusted his top two units searching for solutions from what was one of the league’s most effective regular-season groups.
Special teams proved decisive in Wednesday’s 5-4 double-overtime triumph over Utah. Pavel Dorofeyev’s opening goal came on the power play, and he tied the game with a six-on-five marker with 52.7 seconds remaining in regulation before Brett Howden netted the short-handed game-winner.
Vegas also successfully defended all five of Utah’s power-play attempts. The Mammoth have managed just one goal in 14 power-play chances throughout the series.
“It really came up big for us tonight,” Tortorella said of the penalty kill. “It’s a skilled team, a very dangerous power play, really big in OT as far as the kill. It’s steadied itself. Utah gets a lot of momentum off their power play whether they score or not. I think we’ve done a better job as the series has gone on.”
Vegas must still solve their power-play struggles. Dorofeyev’s first goal broke a 13-opportunity scoring drought, and they’ve converted just 3 of 18 chances in the series.
This makes Vegas’ series lead even more impressive. According to OptaSTATS, 29 teams have been behind in the third period of each of the first five games in a series, including the Golden Knights. The other 28 teams either trailed after five games or faced elimination.
Vegas defied those odds.
This gives Utah significant optimism as they fight elimination. They’ve remained competitive, dropping consecutive overtime contests, or the Mammoth would already be preparing for Anaheim or Edmonton in round two.
“We’re a confident group and we believe in one another and our team,” Mammoth captain Clayton Keller said. “These are the most fun games to be a part of. Down 3-2, we get to go home and play in front of our fans. I’m fired up for that.”
When/Where to Watch: Game 6, Friday, 7:30 p.m. EDT (ESPN).
Series: Sabres lead 3-2.
David Pastrnak’s breakaway strike 9:14 into overtime secured a 2-1 victory over Buffalo on Tuesday, extending Boston’s season.
The Bruins return to TD Garden hoping to repeat that success, though their home venue hasn’t provided much comfort in this series: Boston was outscored 9-2 during home defeats in Games 3 and 4.
Coach Marco Sturm believes Tuesday’s dramatic victory doesn’t mean they’ve solved Buffalo, despite making tactical adjustments that favored Boston.
The Bruins posted a 29-11-1 home record during the regular season.
“(Being home) should elevate your game,” Sturm said. “We’re against the wall, so home or away I see it more like we have to bring our A-game. Otherwise we go home, so we’re going to approach it that way. It’s a one-game mission again.”
Buffalo will be missing a crucial contributor as they pursue their first playoff series victory since defeating the New York Rangers in six games during the 2007 second round.
Rookie forward Noah Ostlund sustained a lower-body injury in Tuesday’s opening period.
Sabres coach Lindy Ruff declined to specify the injury details, stating “it doesn’t look good.” Ostlund had just returned from an upper-body injury in Game 3, where he recorded a goal and assist.
When/Where to Watch: Game 6, Friday, 7 p.m. EDT (ESPN2).
Series: Canadiens lead 3-2.
This matchup has delivered exceptional drama, featuring five straight one-goal decisions, three overtime periods, and numerous clutch performances from both teams. Montreal sits one victory from their first playoff advancement in five seasons, and the Bell Centre crowd will create an electric atmosphere.
The Canadiens received instant production in Game 5 from Brendan Gallagher, who found the net in his series debut after being scratched four times. The veteran’s physical presence and net-front determination embodied coach Martin St. Louis’ desired approach against the experienced Lightning.
Tampa Bay faces their fourth straight first-round elimination, but coach Jon Cooper’s squad can draw confidence from their hard-fought Game 4 road victory when they again confront the hostile Montreal crowd.
