Only two Canadian teams advance to the second round of the NHL playoffs

The GIST: The first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs is officially in the books and only two Canadian teams remain as the conference semis get underway. Heartbreak feels good in a place like this.

Game 7s weekend recap: Somebody check on Justin Bieber because the Toronto Maple Leafs once again lost in devastating fashion, suffering a 2–1 overtime (OT) loss to their archrivals, the Boston Bruins, on Saturday. The Buds started the scoring in the third period, but the Bruins responded a minute later, with right winger David Pastrňák ultimately delivering the OT game-winner.

• With eyes on another big offseason, the question is: is it finally time to break up the Maple Leafs’ core? Considering Saturday marked the team’s sixth straight Game 7 loss dating back to 2013, change seems imminent as Toronto hopes to end their 57-year Stanley Cup drought.

• Elsewhere, the Dallas Stars eliminated the reigning champion Vegas Golden Knights, winning last night’s Game 7 2–1 in front of their home crowd. Center Radek Faksa lit the lamp early in the third period, sending the Stars into a second-round meeting with the Colorado Avalanche.

Second round preview: The Presidents’ Trophy–winning NY Rangers are still undefeated this postseason following last night’s 4–3 Game 1 win over the Carolina Hurricanes. The Metropolitan Division foes clash again from the Big Apple in Game 2 tomorrow at 7 p.m. ET.

• The Bruins, meanwhile, will dress for revenge as they head to the Sunshine State to face the Florida Panthers in Game 1 tonight at 8 p.m. ET.

• As for those two remaining Canadian teams, the Vancouver Canucks and Edmonton Oilers will meet for their first playoff battle since 1992. The Canucks swept the regular-season series, but don’t count out Connor McDavid’s squad, who put up a flurry of goals in the first round. The Game 1 action begins Wednesday at 10 p.m. ET.