What's at stake

Which team wins the best-of-seven series advances to the next round of the playoffs and avoids elimination.

Series outcome determines which club keeps championship hopes alive and which team's season ends.

Who's in play

Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, Andrei Vasilevskiy, and Nikita Kucherov are among the skaters and goalies who will most affect outcomes.

Coaching staffs, penalty-killing units, and bottom-six forwards are also decisive. Medical teams and bench decisions shape availability and matchups.

What drives it

Goaltending and special teams strongly shift game-to-game probabilities. Hot goalie starts can steal games, while power-play efficiency magnifies scoring swings.

Injuries, fatigue from travel or back-to-back games, and matchup changes like line shuffles are key variables. Penalty calls and on-ice officiating timing also alter short-run outcomes.

What to watch

Watch announced starting goalies and any late scratches before puck drop. Early-period scoring and power-play conversions usually predict momentum shifts.

Monitor injury reports, days of rest, and travel for each team between games. Pay attention to coaching adjustments, faceoff wins, and penalty minutes in the first two periods.