NHL Playoffs 2023: Top Storylines for April 27 Schedule

Another day of the Stanley Cup playoffs has passed, and still no teams have advanced past the first round. The Boston Bruins failed to do so on Wednesday when their lead in their series was cut to 3-2 by the Florida Panthers.

Two other teams will have an opportunity to close out a series on Thursday and become the first to advance to the second round. The Toronto Maple Leafs (vs. the Tampa Bay Lightning) and the Vegas Golden Knights (vs. the Winnipeg Jets) each have a 3-1 lead in their respective series heading into a Game 5 matchup.

Thursday's slate also features a Game 5 contest between the New York Rangers and New Jersey Devils. That series is tied at 2-2.

Here's everything else you need to know about Thursday's NHL action.

April 27 Playoff Schedule

AP Photo/John Locher, File

FILE - In this June 22, 2016, file photo, the NHL logo is shown during a press conference in Las Vegas. NHL free agency day began with two rivals helping each other out of a jam by way of a trade. The Toronto Maple Leafs acquired defenseman Cody Ceci, a 2020 third-round pick and minor leaguers Ben Harpur and Aaron Luchuk from the Ottawa Senators for defenseman Nikita Zaitsev, forward Connor Brown and minor leaguer Michael Carcone. The teams announced the trade early Monday, roughly 3½ hours before the start of free agency. (AP Photo/John Locher, File)

Game 5: Tampa Bay Lightning at Toronto Maple Leafs, 7 p.m. ET, TBS

Game 5: New York Rangers at New Jersey Devils, 7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2

Game 5: Winnipeg Jets at Vegas Golden Knights, 10 p.m. ET, ESPN2

Maple Leafs Closing in on Finally Winning Another Playoff Series

Mark Blinch/NHLI via Getty Images

TORONTO, ON - APRIL 18: Ryan O'Reilly #90 of the Toronto Maple Leafs celebrates his goal withe John Tavares #91, Mitchell Marner, and Morgan Rielly #44 against the Tampa Bay Lightning during the second period in Game One of the First Round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Scotiabank Arena on April 18, 2023 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Mark Blinch/NHLI via Getty Images)

The Maple Leafs have tried so many times to advance past the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs since they last won a playoff series in 2004. Toronto reached the postseason seven times since and lost its first series in each.

Things are shaping up a bit differently this time. The Maple Leafs have jumped out to a 3-1 lead over the Lightning, and they could finally win their first playoff series for 19 years with a Game 5 victory on their home ice Thursday night.

After Tampa Bay won Game 1, Toronto took Game 2 and then went on the road and was victorious in both Games 3 and 4, each requiring an overtime finish. Auston Matthews has also been heating up for the Maple Leafs, scoring his first three goals of the series over the past two games.

The Lightning can never be counted out in the postseason, as they were the Stanley Cup champions in both 2020 and 2021 and still have key members of that core on their roster. Perhaps Thursday could be the beginning of a Tampa Bay comeback.

Can Devils Keep Momentum on Home Ice?

Jared Silber/NHLI via Getty Images

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 22: Akira Schmid #40 of the New Jersey Devils tends the net against the New York Rangers in Game Three of the First Round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Madison Square Garden on April 22, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Jared Silber/NHLI via Getty Images)

Heading into Game 3, the Devils were not in a good spot. They dropped Games 1 and 2 on their home ice to the Rangers. Not only that, but neither contest was close, as New Jersey lost both 5-1.

At that point, the Devils made a goaltender change after allowing 10 goals in two games. They replaced the struggling Vitek Vanecek with rookie Akira Schmid, and that one swap gave them new life in the series.

New Jersey won Games 3 and 4 on the road by 2-1 and 3-1 margins, respectively. Schmid stopped 57 of New York's 59 shot attempts between the two contests. Now, momentum is on the Devils' side as they return home for Game 5.

If the Rangers hope to get back on track, they'll need to do a better job of getting the puck past Schmid. Otherwise, this series may continue to trend in its current direction.

Golden Knights in Prime Position to Finish off Jets

Zak Krill/NHLI via Getty Images

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - APRIL 20: Mark Stone #61 of the Vegas Golden Knights celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal during the third period against the Winnipeg Jets in Game Two of the First Round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs at T-Mobile Arena on April 20, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Zak Krill/NHLI via Getty Images)

Last year, it felt weird not having the Golden Knights in the playoffs, considering they had reached the postseason in each of the first four years of their existence. They're back this season, though, and they're closing in on another series win (which would be their eighth in six years).

Vegas surprisingly lost Game 1 on its home ice in lopsided fashion, as Winnipeg cruised to a 5-1 series-opening victory. Since then, it's been all Golden Knights, as they've won Games 2, 3 and 4 while scoring 14 goals in the process. The most impressive was a 5-4 double-overtime victory in Winnipeg in Game 3.

With the series returning to Las Vegas, the Jets are in some trouble. They're going to have to find a way to reel off three straight wins, including two in a hostile environment.

But the Golden Knights' balanced offensive attack can be difficult to stop, as they've had eight players score a goal this series. So it would be a bit surprising if they're unable to put the Jets away.