2022 Stanley Cup playoffs - X factors, predictions for Bruins-Hurricanes, Lightning-Maple Leafs, Kings-Oilers

While the first round of the 2022 Stanley Cup playoffs has included a few too many blowouts for our liking, it has also provided five Game 7s, the ultimate «tension convention.»

According to ESPN Stats & Information, Saturday will be the first time since Apr. 30, 2014, that there will be three Game 7s played on the same day, and it will also be the first time in NHL history that two Game 7s will be hosted by Canadian teams on the same day.

To help get you ready for Saturday's games — Boston Bruins-Carolina Hurricanes (4:30 p.m. ET, ESPN), Tampa Bay Lightning-Toronto Maple Leafs (7 p.m. ET, TNT) and Los Angeles Kings-Edmonton Oilers (10 p.m. ET, ESPN) — we're breaking down a path to victory for each team, identifying the X factors in all three contests and making final-score predictions.

More: Betting tips for all three games

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4:30 p.m. ET | Watch live on ESPN

Leading scorers: Brad Marchand, Bruins (4 G | 7 A)Tony DeAngelo, Hurricanes (1 G | 7 A)

Path to victory for Boston: The best news for the Bruins here is they've got nothing to lose. Carolina has been the better team in this series overall. They were the higher seed going in. Yet Boston still stands with a chance to advance past them.

ESPN and ESPN2 will be broadcasting first- and second-round games, with one conference finals series on ESPN and the Stanley Cup Final on ABC.• How to watch • Subscribe to ESPN+• Stream the NHL on ESPN

All the pressure is on Carolina to perform in Game 7. The Bruins simply get to go out and play. And that will be the Bruins' superpower. They have the veteran know-how from Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand. They have the goal-scoring talents of David Pastrnak and Taylor Hall. They have rock-solid goaltending