NHL Playoffs Daily: Maple Leafs, Hurricanes look to advance on Thursday

Playoff hockey is a constant reminder of how quickly momentum can change. On April 20, our model’s record was perfect: The Penguins clinched their series in five games and the Ducks and Predators had won in sweeps. Not only were we one of the very few to pick the Preds over the mighty Blackhawks, but our seemingly insane prediction that the Maple Leafs would take the series over the Presidents’ Trophy winning Capitals in a “coinflip” series seemed to have legs, with the series tied at two (including three games going to overtime and the teams’ stats lines standing virtually identical.

Joe Pavelski took just 15 seconds to end San Jose’s two-game scoring drought. Pavelski and Logan Couture each scored twice and the Sharks rebounded from back-to-back shutouts in emphatic fashion, beating the Edmonton Oilers 7-0 on Tuesday night to tie their first-round playoff series at two games apiece. ”We were just ready,” Pavelski said.

Nashville looks to book their first ticket to the Stanley Cup final in Game 6 vs. the Anaheim Ducks, who will be without John Gibson.