Thursday night saw four Game 6s in the NHL, and apparently only the Colorado Avalanche didn’t get the memo to that it was close out night because the Avs exploded for seven goals in routing the Dallas Stars, 7-4, to force the first Game 7 of this season’s Stanley Cup Playoffs. The other three series contested Thursday night concluded with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Edmonton Oilers and Vegas Golden Knights all reaching the second round.
Colorado’s Nate MacKinnon got perhaps the most insane series of bounces and deflections that you may ever see. That tally, with just under 11 minutes to play, put the Avs ahead 5-4, and they would never look back. Colorado will meet the Dallas Stars one more time on Saturday, for a winner-take-all Game 7.
The reigning Western Conference champion Oilers might’ve gotten off to a slow start this postseason, but can they close out a series? (Yes.) Edmonton outscored the Los Angeles Kings 20-12 in Games 3-6, all Oilers victories. Perhaps even more maddening for the Kings is that this is the fourth straight first-round exit courtesy of the Oilers.
Edmonton will face the Vegas Golden Knights, who defeated the Minnesota Wild, 3-2, behind Adin Hill’s 29 saves. Jack Eichel and Mark Stone each scored a goal and had one assist. The Wild made (the wrong kind of) history in that their string of nine consecutive series defeats is now tied for the third-longest streak in NHL history, according to Sportradar.
Toronto claimed the final spot in the Eastern Conference semifinals. After running to a 3-0 series lead, the Leafs had looked like they might be the first team to advance, but the Ottawa Senators took Games 4 and 5, and were tied late in the third period of Game 6. Instead, it’s the Leafs who are moving on, and their prize is the defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers, who beat in-state rival Tampa Bay Lightning in five games.
The final Game 6 of the first round will take place Friday night with the host St. Louis Blues trying to see if they can force a Game 7 back in Winnipeg against the Jets Sunday night.
For the complete schedule and results for every first-round matchup, follow along right here at CBS Sports.
Game 1: Maple Leafs 6, Senators 2 | Recap
Game 2: Maple Leafs 3, Senators 2 (OT) | Recap
Game 3: Maple Leafs 3, Senators 2 (OT) | Recap
Game 4: Senators 4, Maple Leafs 3 (OT) | Recap
Game 5: Senators 4, Maple Leafs 0 | Recap
Game 6: Maple Leafs 4, Senators 2 | Recap
Game 1: Panthers 6, Lightning 2 | Recap
Game 2: Panthers 2, Lightning 0 | Recap
Game 3: Lightning 5, Panthers 1 | Recap
Game 4: Panthers 4, Lightning 2 | Recap
Game 5: Panthers 6, Lightning 3 | Recap
(1) Washington Capitals vs. (WC2) Montreal Canadiens
Game 1: Capitals 3, Canadiens 2 (OT) | Recap
Game 2: Capitals 3, Canadiens 1 | Recap
Game 3: Canadiens 6, Capitals 3 | Recap
Game 4: Capitals 5, Canadiens 2 | Recap
Game 5: Capitals 4, Canadiens 1 | Recap
Game 1: Hurricanes 4, Devils 1 | Recap
Game 2: Hurricanes 3, Devils 1 | Recap
Game 3: Devils 3, Hurricanes 2 (2OT) | Recap
Game 4: Hurricanes 5, Devils 2 | Recap
Game 5: Hurricanes 5, Devils 4 (2OT) | Recap
Game 1: Jets 5, Blues 3 | Recap
Game 2: Jets 2, Blues 1 | Recap
Game 3: Blues 7, Jets 2 | Recap
Game 4: Blues 5, Jets 1 | Recap
Game 5: Jets 5, Blues 3 | Recap
Game 6: Friday, May 2 | 8 p.m. | at STL | TNT/truTV/Max
*Game 7: Sunday, May 4 | 8 p.m. | at WPG | TBS/Max
(2) Dallas Stars vs. (3) Colorado Avalanche
Game 1: Avalanche 5, Stars 1 | Recap
Game 2: Stars 4, Avalanche 3 (OT) | Recap
Game 3: Stars 2, Avalanche 1 (OT) | Recap
Game 4: Avalanche 4, Stars 0 | Recap
Game 5: Stars 6, Avalanche 2 | Recap
Game 6: Avalanche 7, Stars 4 | Recap
Game 7: Saturday, May 3 | 8 p.m. | at DAL | TNT/truTV/Max
Game 1: Golden Knights 4, Wild 2 | Recap
Game 2: Wild 5, Golden Knights 2 | Recap
Game 3: Wild 5, Golden Knights 2 | Recap
Game 4: Golden Knights 4, Wild 3 (OT) | Recap
Game 5: Golden Knights 3, Wild 2 (OT) | Recap
Game 6: Golden Knights 3, Wild 2 | Recap
(2) Los Angeles Kings vs. (3) Edmonton Oilers
Game 1: Kings 6, Oilers 5 | Recap
Game 2: Kings 6, Oilers 2 | Recap
Game 3: Oilers 7, Kings 4 | Recap
Game 4: Oilers 4, Kings 3 (OT) | Recap
Game 5: Oilers 3, Kings 1 | Recap
Game 6: Oilers 6, Kings 4 | Recap