NHL Playoffs 2023: Top Storylines for April 29 Schedule

The Toronto Maple Leafs, New Jersey Devils and Edmonton Oilers are in identical situations entering Saturday. Each of those three teams will be going on the road trying to win a Game 6 matchup to advance to the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.

If any of those teams are victorious, they'll join the Vegas Golden Knights, Dallas Stars and Carolina Hurricanes as teams that have won first-round series. If they lose, they'll have to play a Game 7 contest to try to move on.

The Tampa Bay Lightning, New York Rangers and Los Angeles Kings are the three teams in action Saturday that will be looking to stave off elimination and force a Game 7.

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

April 29 Playoff Schedule

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WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 15: A view of the NHL logo on the net before the game between the Washington Capitals and the Buffalo Sabres at Capital One Arena on March 15, 2023 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)

Game 6: Toronto Maple Leafs at Tampa Bay Lightning, 7 p.m. ET, TBS

Game 6: New Jersey Devils at New York Rangers, 8 p.m. ET, ABC

Game 6: Edmonton Oilers at Los Angeles Kings, 10 p.m. ET, TBS

Can Lightning Avoid Elimination Again, Force Game 7?

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TORONTO, ON- APRIL 27 - Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Corey Perry (10) high fives Tampa Bay Lightning left wing Pierre-Edouard Bellemare (41) at the end of the game as the Toronto Maple Leafs fall to the Tampa Bay Lightning 4-2 in game five of their first round NHL playoffs series at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto. April 27, 2023. (Steve Russell/Toronto Star via Getty Images)

The Lightning are known for having playoff success in recent years, as they won the Stanley Cup in both 2020 and 2021 and then reached the Stanley Cup Final a third consecutive year in 2022. They can never be counted out of a postseason series, and that's proving to be true again.

After dropping Games 2, 3 and 4 to fall behind 3-1 to Toronto, Tampa Bay notched a 4-2 road victory in Game 5 to stay alive in the series. Now, the Lightning host the Maple Leafs in Game 6 with a chance to force a winner-take-all Game 7.

Tampa Bay goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy allowed 16 goals over the team's previous three losses. But he bounced back and stopped 28 of Toronto's 30 shots in Game 5. The Lightning will likely need another solid showing by Vasilevskiy if they hope to win again in Game 6.

Otherwise, the Maple Leafs could secure their first playoff series win since 2004. Either way, don't be surprised if Game 6 is a high-scoring matchup with both teams having offensive success.

Schmid, Devils Aim to Ride Momentum to Series Win

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NEWARK, NJ - APRIL 27: New Jersey Devils goaltender Akira Schmid (40) reacts after shutting out the New York Rangers during the National Hockey League game between the New York Rangers and the New Jersey Devils on April 27, 2023 at Prudential Center in Newark, NJ. (Photo by Andrew Mordzynski/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

After losing Games 1 and 2 at home to the Rangers, the Devils have turned the series around, winning Games 3, 4 and 5. The primary reason for New Jersey's improved play? Akira Schmid.

The Devils opted for a goaltender switch following their Game 2 loss, replacing Vitek Vanecek with the rookie Schmid. It's a decision that has completely changed this first-round series, as Schmid has allowed only two goals over his three starts.

In Game 5, New Jersey went on the road and took a 3-2 series lead, with Schmid recording a shutout and leading the team to a 4-0 victory. The 22-year-old has stopped 80 of New York's 82 shots on goal against him.

As long as Schmid continues to play like this, the Devils will be tough to beat. And that includes in their Game 6 road matchup vs. the Rangers, which could end up being the final contest of the series.

Oilers Look to Put Away Kings with More Offense

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EDMONTON, AB - APRIL 25: Leon Draisaitl #29 of the Edmonton Oilers celebrates a goal against the Los Angeles Kings during the first period in Game Five of the First Round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Place on April 25, 2023, in Edmonton, Canada. (Photo by Codie McLachlan/Getty Images)

During the regular season, Oilers teammates Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl ranked first and second in the NHL in points, respectively. So it shouldn't come as a surprise that Edmonton's offense is powering it to recent postseason success.

After falling behind 2-1 in the series to the Kings, the Oilers have notched back-to-back victories in Games 4 and 5. They've scored 11 total goals between the two most recent matchups, winning despite allowing seven goals across the two games.

Draisaitl has six goals and four assists in the series, while McDavid has two goals and six assists. Six players on Edmonton's roster have scored multiple goals in the series, so the offense is coming from more than just its two top stars.

There hasn't been a ton of defense played in this series, and that may not change in Game 6. But if that's the case, the edge will likely go to the Oilers.