Jones-ing for Stanley Cup Playoff hockey action, eh?
Me too.
Tuesday night is a rare off night for round one hockey action.
If the Bruins defeat the Maple Leafs in Game 7 on Wednesday night, I will conclude round one with a 7-1 record with my playoff predictions.
Time to go back to the future with the Washington Capitals who advanced to the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs with a Game 6 victory over the Blue Jackets on Monday night in Columbus.
Alex Ovechkin eclipsed scored career playoff goals number 50 and 51 as the Capitals defeated the Blue Jackets in Game 6 to advance past the opening round for the fourth consecutive postseason – the longest active streak in the NHL.
Ovechkin and the Caps will now face the Penguins in the second round for the third straight postseason. Pittsburgh owns an all-time series record of 9-1 against Washington, which includes seven consecutive series victories dating back to the 1995 Conference Quarterfinals.
The Penguins are the two-time defending Stanley Cup champions.
The Capitals can make history by finally derailing the Penguins' three-peat dreams. Or, they will be a speed bump on the journey to Pittsburgh's third straight Stanley Cup conquest.
Washington was able to successfully overcome a 2-0 deficit in the series with Columbus to win a best-of-seven series for just the second time in franchise history (2009 Eastern Conference Quarter Finals against the NY Rangers). The Caps also relish in the accomplishment of being the first team in NHL history to win a best-of-seven series after suffering OT losses in Games 1 and 2 on home ice.
Ovechkin became the 60th player in Stanley Cup Playoffs history and just the sixth active NHL player to reach the 50-goal milestone. Ovechkin is now the third player in Capitals franchise history to score twice in a series-clinching victory (also Dale Hunter in Game 7 of 1988 DSF vs. PHI and Marcus Johansson in Game 6 of 2017 FR at TOR).
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The Toronto Maple Leafs evened their best-of-seven series with the Bruins at 3-3 with a home ice victory on Monday night. Game 7 will be played in Boston on Wednesday night. The winner will face the Tampa Bay Lightning in the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Mitch Marner (1G,1A) extended his 2018 postseason point streak to five games. Marner compliled his third multi-point game of the first round series with the Bruins to extend his point streak to five games (2G,6A). Marner is the first Leafs player to record a five-game point streak in the playoffs since Brian Leetch in 2004 (6A in 6 games played).
Fred Andersen stopped 32 of 33 shots (17 in P1).
According to Elias, Monday night's win on home ice marks the third time in sixteen tries that the Maple Leafs have forced a Game 7 after trailing 3-1 in a best-of-seven series. The Leafs are 1-1 in the subsequent Game 7s – rallying from a 3-0 deficit against the Red Wings to win the 1942 Stanley Cup Final and falling short in Game 7 of the 2013 Conference Quarterfinals against the Bruins – the last postseason meeting between the clubs.
History is on Boston's side in Game 7. The Bruins are 13-12 all time in Game 7s, including a 12-8 mark on home ice. The 2018 accomplishment is Boston’s 26th appearance in a Game 7, breaking a tie with Detroit (25) for the most in NHL history.
The Leafs are 12-10 all time in Game 7s, including a 5-9 mark on the road.
* Boston holds a 2-1 edge in three previous head-to-head Game 7 matchups vs. Toronto – including the 2013 Conference Quarterfinals when the Bruins became the first team in NHL history to overcome a three-goal, third-period deficit to win in a Game 7.
The team that scores first is 126-43 (.746) in the 169 all-time Game 7s in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
The home teams own a 99-70 (.586) advantage in the 169 all-time Game 7s in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Forty-one Game 7s in the Stanley Cup Playoffs have required OT (24.3%). Home teams have a 21-20 edge.
(Thanks, NHL)
Rene Rancourt will no doubt be givung seven pumps for Game 7 on Wednesday night.
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Buffalo Sabres fans can't wait for Saturday night to get here. The NHL Draft Lottery will be held on Saturday April 28 in Toronto.
The Sabres own the highest odds (18.5%) of winning the right to select Swedish defensive whiz kid Rasmus Dahlin with the first overall pick at the June NHL Draft in Dallas.
Here are your updated odd:
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Speaking of Swedes and Sabres, Jason Botterill has signed prospect forward Victor Olofsson to a two-year entry level contract.
Olofsson, 22, successfully completed his sophomore season with Frölunda HC of the SHL, where he compiled a career-best 43 points, and a league-high 27 goals in 50 regular-season games.
The Sabres selected Olofsson in the seventh round (181st overall) of the 2014 NHL Draft.
During his three full seasons in the SHL (2015-16 to 2017-18), Olofsson scored 50G, 49A in 150 regular-season games.
Olofsson will need to learn the nuances of the North American game. Botterill is a big believer in havng his prospects cut their teeth in the American Hockey League. The lone exception to Botterill's AHL Rule is forward Casey Mittelstadt, who scored five points in the six games he plaayed with the Sabres at the end of the 2017-18 season.
Mittelstadt, who signed his ELC in with the Sabres, was electric in his brief stint in Buffalo after his Univdersity of Minnesota Gophers team failed to qualify for the NCAA postseason tournament.
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The 2017-18 NHL TV Ratings reveal that Pittsburgh and Buffalo are the best NHL TV markets.
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Get your second round schedule here!
At long last, the NHL has announced the start dates and starting times for the series-opening games of the 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs Second Round.
A complete Second Round schedule will be announced when available.
Thursday, April 26
• Puck drop for Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitals is 7 p.m. EDT
• The late game is San Jose Sharks and Vegas Golden Knights has been set for 10 p.m.
Friday, April 27
• Winnipeg Jets and Nashville Predators is the only game scheduled.
Saturday, April 28
• If Boston advances, the start time of Game 1 of the Second Round series between the Boston Bruins and Tampa Bay Lightning would be set for 3 p.m. EDT.
• If Toronto advances, the start time of Game 1 of the Second Round series between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Tampa Bay Lightning would be set for 8 p.m. EDT.
(Thanks, NHL) 
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