Oilers captain Connor McDavid took a big hit from Kings forward Quinton Byfield along the boards. Edmonton winger Zach Hyman steamrolled Los Angeles centre Phillip Danault in the same series.
Stakes are sky-high and intensity ramps up as hockey's silver chalice chase starts in earnest, but the physicality this spring has touched a new level — especially in the Atlantic Division. Toronto Maple Leafs' Simon Benoit checks Boston Bruins' David Pastrnak as Maple Leafs' Connor Dewar looks on during first period action in Game 3 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series in Toronto on Wednesday, April 24, 2024.
Down 3-1 in their series with the Bruins, the Leafs led the stats page with 236 hits through four games for an average of 59 per 60 minutes of play. Division rivals Tampa Bay and Florida were next followed by Boston . And it's not only the usual suspects — bottom-6 forwards, hard-nosed defencemen — throwing their weight. Leafs star Auston Matthews, who scored 69 times in the regular season, sat tied for fifth in the playoffs with 20 hits. Florida's Sam Reinhart, second in the NHL with 57 goals, has 17, while Tampa Bay captain Steven Stamkos sits at 15.
"Physicality is just second nature when playoffs come. It's a good way of getting into the game and it creates energy."Some arenas have been more generous with the counting, while others far more strict.
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