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Three-fourths of the NHL Conference semifinals are set and Canada’s hopes of winning the Cup for the first time since 1993 are still alive.
Toronto and Edmonton closed out their respective series and the oddsmakers at BetOnline.ag have series line for both of their next matchups.
The Maple Leafs won the Battle of Ontario and moved on to the second round of the NHL playoffs.
Max Pacioretty scored the tiebreaking goal with less than six minutes remaining, leading the Toronto Maple Leafs to a series-clinching 4-2 victory over the Ottawa Senators on Thursday night in Game 6 of their first-round matchup.
William Nylander had two goals, including an empty-netter in the final seconds, and an assist, and Auston Matthews added a power-play goal in the first period for Toronto. Anthony Stolarz made 21 saves.
“We came in here with a little bit different mindset,” Toronto coach Craig Berube said. “It wasn’t do-or-die, but we wanted to finish it off here.
“A little bit more aggressive and on our toes.”
The Maple Leafs advanced to take on the defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers in the second round of the Eastern Conference playoffs. The Panthers beat the Tampa Bay Lightning in five games in their first-round series.
Jack Eichel and Mark Stone made clear they belong together, on a Vegas first line that can be one of the most potent in these NHL playoffs.
Eichel and Stone each had a goal and an assist and Adin Hill made 29 saves for the Golden Knights, who became the first Western Conference team to reach the second round with a 3-2 victory in Game 6 that ousted the Minnesota Wild on Thursday night.
“They gave us everything we could handle,” Eichel said. “They played so hard.”
Shea Theodore scored on a power play early in the first period, Eichel got his first goal of the series late in the second period and Stone had the critical late score for Vegas, which will face Edmonton in the second round. The Oilers beat Los Angeles in six games.
The Wild have lost nine consecutive series, tied for the third-longest streak in NHL history, according to Sportradar. Their skid of eight straight one-and-done appearances is tied for the second-longest in the Stanley Cup playoffs.
Florida Panthers vs Toronto Maple Leafs
Florida Panthers -175
Toronto Maple Leafs +155
Note: Current odds give the Panthers a 63.6% likelihood of winning the series.
Edmonton Oilers vs Vegas Golden Knights
Edmonton Oilers -120
Vegas Golden Knights +100
Note: Current odds give the Oilers a 54.6% likelihood of winning the series.
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