Following three series eliminations on Thursday, only one potential elimination game is scheduled for Friday.
All attention in the hockey world will focus on the Enterprise Center in St. Louis, where the Blues host the Winnipeg Jets in a pivotal Game 6. A victory for the Blues would force a decisive Game 7 on Sunday, while a Jets win would secure their advancement to the second round.
Who will emerge victorious?
Continue reading for a preview of the game, including statistical analysis, summaries of Thursday night`s results, and the three stars as selected by Arda Öcal.
Matchup notes
Winnipeg Jets at St. Louis Blues
Game 6 (WPG leads 3-2) | 8 p.m. ET | TNT
Historically, teams winning Game 5 in a best-of-seven series tied 2-2 have advanced to the next round 79% of the time (with a record of 233 wins and 62 losses).
Winnipeg`s Kyle Connor recorded his second three-plus point game of this postseason, joining Blake Wheeler and Paul Stastny (both in 2018) as the only players in franchise (Thrashers/Jets 2.0) postseason history with multiple such performances in a single playoff year.
Mark Scheifele, who ranks second in scoring for the Jets in the current postseason, sustained a significant hit in the first period of Game 5 and did not return. He also did not travel with the team to St. Louis for Game 6.
Blues forward Nathan Walker scored two goals in Game 5. Despite being born in Wales (and raised in Australia), he is only the second Welsh-born player ever to score in the Stanley Cup playoffs, following Jack Evans (who played between 1956 and 1963).
The Enterprise Center has proven to be a favorable venue for the Blues in this series; they have won both home games with a combined score of 12-3.
Arda`s three stars from Thursday night
1. Max Pacioretty, LW, Toronto Maple Leafs
Scored his first goal since December 20th (and his first playoff goal since 2021), which ultimately stood as the game-winner, securing Toronto`s series victory and elimination of Ottawa in the `Battle of Ontario`.
2. Mark Stone, RW, Vegas Golden Knights
Recorded two points, including the decisive game-winning goal which he batted out of the air, helping Vegas eliminate Minnesota and advance to the second round.
3. Roope Hintz, Mikko Rantanen, F, Dallas Stars
Despite their team`s loss to the Avalanche, Rantanen and Hintz made history by becoming the first teammates in Stanley Cup playoff history to each register four points in a single period. They will have another opportunity to clinch the series against Colorado on Saturday.
Thursday`s scores
Toronto Maple Leafs 4, Ottawa Senators 2
TOR wins 4-2, plays FLA in Round 2
On this occasion, the Toronto Maple Leafs managed to overcome their past playoff struggles and advance to Round 2. Auston Matthews and William Nylander initially put Toronto ahead, but Brady Tkachuk and David Perron scored for Ottawa to tie the game. However, Max Pacioretty quickly restored Toronto`s lead, and William Nylander sealed the victory with an empty-net goal. Toronto will face the Florida Panthers next.
Vegas Golden Knights 3, Minnesota Wild 2
VGK wins 4-2, plays EDM in Round 2
The Vegas Golden Knights eliminated the Minnesota Wild after a tight contest. Shea Theodore and Ryan Hartman exchanged goals in the first period. Jack Eichel scored his first goal of the postseason in the second, and Mark Stone extended the lead in the third with a unique batted-in goal. Ryan Hartman scored again for Minnesota, but the Wild couldn`t find the equalizer, sending Vegas to the second round to play the Edmonton Oilers.
Colorado Avalanche 7, Dallas Stars 4
Series tied 3-3 | Game 7 Saturday
This series has been far from a defensive battle, and Game 6 was no exception with a high-scoring affair. The Avalanche scored twice in the first period, but the Stars responded with four goals in the second, with Roope Hintz and Mikko Rantanen significantly involved in all of them. A crucial goal from Martin Necas in the second kept Colorado within reach. In the third period, Colorado erupted for four unanswered goals, including the game-tying goal by Valeri Nichushkin and the game-winner by Nathan MacKinnon, followed by empty-netters. The series is now tied 3-3, forcing a decisive Game 7 on Saturday.
Edmonton Oilers 6, Los Angeles Kings 4
EDM wins 4-2, plays VGK in Round 2
For the fourth consecutive year, the Los Angeles Kings` season concluded with a first-round playoff exit against the Edmonton Oilers. Despite goals from Quinton Byfield and Brandt Clarke in the first period, Edmonton took a 3-2 lead into the first intermission with goals from Adam Henrique, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, and Zach Hyman. The Oilers extended their lead in the second period with goals from Darnell Nurse and Trent Frederic. Los Angeles attempted a comeback with goals from Jordan Spence and Anze Kopitar, but Connor Brown`s empty-netter sealed the 4-2 series win for Edmonton. The Oilers will face the Vegas Golden Knights in the Pacific Division`s second-round matchup.
Benedict Kingsley 
Rupert Hartwell