NHL Update

Five NHL round of 16 series have ended. 

Four did so in six games, one in 5 games while 2 #7’s are on tap today with the final game of the first round/round of 16, tomorrow night.

Las Vegas (Golden Knights) dispatched the Winnipeg Jets and their very annoyed coach, Rick Bowness in 5 games, however, a rarity as two teams from Canada, the Maple Leafs of Toronto and the Edmonton Oilers clinched their in 6 games, last night.

It was Toronto’s first series win since 2004 and the series clinching goal credited to John Taveras (“it only took” one shot, ode to the Tavaras hit song “It Only Takes A Minute To Fall In Love”) was the third, “at classy Tampa Lightning,” overtime win for the Leafs in the series.

Toronto will meet the winner of tonight’s decisive game between visiting Florida (Panthers) and the top ranked Boston Bruins.

Elsewhere, Carolina (Hurricanes), the East “2” seed 6’d the Islanders and will meet the winner of tomorrow night’s #7 Rangers at Devils game.

Paul Stastny, the son of the great player, Peter Statsny and nephew of two other top players Marion and Anton Stastny, had the series winning, overtime, road goal.

Peter Statsny had the O.T. decisive 7th game “quarter” winner for the Quebec Nordiques, now the Colorado Avalanche, at Montreal (Canadiens) in 1985. 

Las Vegas will have home ice advantage vs Edmonton but my prediction is “Edm” in 6.

Meanwhile the Dallas Stars, once the Minnesota North Stars, who 6’d the Minnesota Wild, will either open at defending champion Colorado (Avalanche) or host the second year Seattle Kraken, when their “quarter” begins either Tuesday or Wednesday, depending on tonight’s “Sea” at Colorado 7th game result.