Game 7 Saturday: Hurricanes, Lightning, Oilers earn tough playoff wins

• Home-ice advantage indeed ruled the Hurricanes – Bruins series. The Hurricanes won Game 7, and will face either the Penguins and Rangers.

• Same old story? Not necessarily, but the same old result. The Maple Leafs could not advance in the First Round, instead losing to the defending repeat champion Lightning in Game 7.

• That said, the Lightning may be the less-healthy team against the Panthers. Brayden Point was unable to finish Game 7 after suffering an injury.

• Leon Draisaitl gritted Game 7 out, with Connor McDavid dominating to help the Oilers outlast the Kings. We’ll either get a “Battle of Alberta” in the Second Round, or it will be Oilers – Stars.

As mentioned above, the home team won all seven contests in the Hurricanes’ series win against the Bruins. In the case of Game 7, it was the first one not decided by at least two goals. Granted, it was almost decided by two. David Pastrnak scored to reduce Carolina’s lead to 3-2 with about 21 seconds left. While that provided some late drama, it sure felt like the Hurricanes controlled the larger run of play against the Bruins. Granted, the B’s had their near-misses, so maybe it could have been closer. Generally, Carolina was the better team, and the Hurricanes will begin the Second Round at home (whether they face the Penguins or the Rangers).

The more things change, the more they stay the same?

In previous Game 7-type situations, the Leafs didn’t just lose, they often wilted. In Game 7 against the Lightning, it didn’t feel quite that way, at least for those observing the Maple Leafs. They’re almost certainly not happy hearing platitudes. Mostly.

Sheldon Keefe says he felt the Leafs got a lot more respect in tonight’s handshake line than in previous series.

— luke