Stanley Cup playoffs takeaways: Lightning-Panthers intensity rises; Senators survive

Tkachuk was given a five-minute major for the hit. 

While there was no head contact with this play, that is still an egregiously late hit that could warrant some additional discipline from the league. The Panthers will be holding their breath, hoping he can avoid a suspension.

Wild miss big opportunity

The Minnesota Wild-Vegas Golden Knights series has been one of the most entertaining matchups of the first round, and the series is shifting back to Vegas for Game 5, all tied up after the Golden Knights' 4-3 overtime win on Saturday.

It feels like a big missed opportunity for the Wild.

After winning back-to-back games in Games 2-3 of the series, they had an opportunity to take a commanding 3-1 series lead, and played well enough to do so on Saturday. But Ivan Barbashev's overtime goal helped the Golden Knights even the series with a massive, potentially series-shifting win.

Not only did the Wild miss a chance to take control of the series, but they now find themselves in a position where they have to win at least one game in Vegas to advance. 

Toronto misses chance for the sweep

Given the recent history of the Toronto Maple Leafs in the playoffs, you have to forgive their fans if they are a little nervous about losing even one game. 

Are they likely to advance after jumping out to a 3-0 series lead against the Ottawa Senators? Yes. Very likely. It is probably a matter of when, and not if.

But every missed opportunity is going to cause some anxiety among the blue and white faithful. Especially given their struggles in potential knockout games. 

Ottawa's Jake Sanderson scored in overtime on Saturday to help the Senators avoid the sweep, sending the series to a fifth game back in Toronto.

The Maple Leafs are now 1-12 in potential series-clinching games going back to the 2012 season. 

That is why fans are going to be nervous until they get the fourth win in this series.

Gabriel Landeskog remains one of the best stories in sports right now

Whether you are a Colorado Avalanche fan or not, you have to respect the story of captain Gabriel Landeskog working his way back into the lineup after missing three years, jumping right into the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and immediately contributing.

He scored his first goal since his return on Saturday night against the Dallas Stars in Game 4 of their series. 

That is his first goal since Game 3 of the 2022 Stanley Cup Final.