Canada’s NHL teams are on the wrong side of potential elimination scenarios

May 10, 2023
While the Carolina Hurricanes (up 3-1 over the NJ Devils) can punch their ticket to the third round tomorrow at 7 p.m. ET, Canada’s teams find themselves on the wrong side of potential elimination scenarios.
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Canada’s NHL teams are on the wrong side of potential elimination scenariosCanada’s NHL teams are on the wrong side of potential elimination scenarios
SOURCE: ANDY DEVLIN/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES

The GIST: While the Carolina Hurricanes (up 3-1 over the NJ Devils) can punch their ticket to the third round tomorrow at 7 p.m. ET, Canada’s teams find themselves on the wrong side of potential elimination scenarios. Here’s where things stand.

Toronto Maple Leafs: After advancing to the second round for the first time in 19 years, the Leafs must now crawl their way back from a 3-0 deficit to the Florida Panthers in order to keep their run alive. Trouble is, prior teams in their situation are a bleak 4-197 when it comes to pulling off the comeback.

  • Adding to the Buds’ problems, starting tendy Ilya Samsonov is out with an upper-body injury, so Toronto will have to rely on backup Joseph Woll in tonight’s 7 p.m. ET Game 4. *gulps*

Edmonton Oilers: The goalie struggles continue out west. Vegas Golden Knights netminder Laurent Brossoit had to leave the ice in Monday’s 5–1 win after suffering a lower-body injury in the first period, and Edmonton’s Stuart Skinner was pulled after allowing his fourth goal in the second.

  • That said, the Oilers’ switch to backup tendy Jack Campbell sparked a comeback last round, so maybe it’ll relight their flame again as they seek to even the series when the puck drops for Game 4 tonight at 10 p.m. ET.