The Chicago Blackhawks lost Andrew Shaw to an injury, but won the game to take a 1-0 series lead over the Minnesota Wild.
Shaw was hit by Wild defenseman, Clayton Stoner, in the first period and didn't return due to a lower body injury. After the hit Shaw limped over to the bench and went to the locker room.
The Wild know about injuries, which have seemed to hit their goalies hard this season. Darcy Kuemper was injured during game seven against the Colorado Avalanche and is out day-to-day with an upper body injury.
The Wild had to start Ilya Bryzgalov in net and he looked shaky early in the game. He wasn't square to the shooter and was flopping around but nothing got past him until 14:48 of the first period. Jonas Brodin went to the box for four minutes after catching Marian Hossa with a high stick, which gave the Blackhawks the man advantage. Brent Seabrook got the puck to Hossa, who passed it right back to Seabrook and he took a slap shot from the point. There was plenty of traffic in front of Bryzgalov and Bryan Bickell got his stick on the puck to tip it past the goalie and into the net for a 1-0 Blackhawks lead.
The Wild had some opportunities short handed but couldn't cash in. On one play, Nick Leddy made a nice defensive play on Zack Parise and he didn't even get the shot off after being in on a breakaway. The Wild had another opportunity short handed but once again the Blackhawks managed to get back into position.
In the second period, the Wild spent a lot of time in the Blackhawks zone. They even had a power play but couldn't convert so the Blackhawks still had the one goal lead. Then Brodin went to the box for his second high sticking minor of the game. This time it was only for two minutes but Hossa made sure that he paid for taking the penalty. Leddy got a quick pass of to Brandon Saad and he skated towards the net and sent a backhand pass over to Hossa. Hossa put the puck up and over Bryzgalov's pad for the 2-0 lead.
The Blackhawks were out shot 17-3 in the second period and Corey Crawford kept them in the game.
The Wild scored twice in the third period to erase the two goal deficit. Stoner picked a good time to get his first goal of the playoffs. Jason Pominville took the shot from the point which went wide. Parise got the puck back to Stoner, who let a shot rip from the point. Blackhawks defeneman, Johnny Oduya, made a nice stick save but the puck then trickled past him as he battled with Pominville in front of the net.
Kyle Brodziak tied the game off of a nice pass from Eric Haula, but the Blackhawks came right back to take the lead again. Patrick Kane got the puck in the neutral zone, skated it into the offensive zone, made some moves, and backhanded the puck over Bryzgalov's shoulder for the 3-2 lead.
Patrick Sharp kept the puck in the Wild's zone after a save by Brzygalov. He took the shot from the point and Ben Smith had the deflection, which went right to Kane. Kane knew exactly what to do with the puck and gave the Blackhawks the 4-2 lead.
The Wild pulled Bryzgalov with just about three minutes left in the game since they were down by two goals, but Bickell scored the empty net goal. The Blackhawks skated away with the 5-2 lead even though the Wild played a pretty decent game.
If the Wild are looking to even the series, then they need to hit the net with their shots more. It seemed like they missed the net either high or wide quite a few times tonight. The Wild also need to have a better penalty kill since they allowed two goals in four opportunities tonight.
The second game of the series is on Sunday at 3pm on NBC.
Saturday, May 3, 2014
Rangers Take Game One in Overtime
It's no surprise that the Pittsburgh Penguins and the New York Rangers needed overtime to decide a game one winner. This was the 16th time in the Stanley Cup playoffs that a game has gone to overtime this year.
The Rangers hadn't played in any of those overtime games until tonight, while the Penguins had played in two during their first round series with the Columbus Blue Jackets.
At 3:06 of the overtime period, Derick Brassard decided to end the game with his first goal of the playoffs. Beniot Pouliot forced the Penguins defenseman, Rob Scuderi, to turn the puck over behind his own net. Pouliot managed to get a pass through a maze of sticks and over to Brassard, who wristed the puck high over Marc-Andre Fleury's shoulder. The puck went in and out of the net so fast that the refs didn't even notice that a goal was scored. The teams kept playing with Fleury flopping around his net and his teammates blowing defensive coverage, the puck found its way back to Pouliot and he put it in the net again. A replay showed that Brassard's shot actually went in the net.
The Penguins came out flat in the first period and seemed like the team playing their fourth game in six days. The Rangers came out and took a 2-0 lead in the first period. Dan Girardi blocked a shot, Pouliot picked up the puck and skated it right into the Penguins zone and fired one right past Fleury for the goal. At 17:03 of the period, Girardi dumped the puck into the Penguins zone and this time Carl Hagelin won the puck battle along the boards. Hagelin got the puck to Brad Richards and he tucked it past the Penguins goalie for the 2-0 lead.
The Penguins looked like a completely different team in the second period. They were battling hard and getting the puck towards Henrik Lundqvist. Lee Stempniak finally got the Penguins on the board on a backhand shot. Marcel Goc passed the puck to Beau Bennett and Bennett crossed over and made the nice drop pass to Stempniak, who made a move and put the puck in the net.
The Penguins tied the game at two after a goal by James Neal. Evgeni Malkin picked up the puck in the neutral zone, and dished it off to Jussi Jokinen. Jokinen then made the drop pass to Neal, who took the shot and Lundqvist made the save, but the puck went up into the air and then came back down and into the net. The goal was reviewed to make sure that Malkin hadn't played the puck with a high stick while it was in the air, but the goal stood because Malkin never touched the puck at all.
The Penguins out shot the Rangers 15-4 in the second so Lundqvist was the busier of the two goalies that period.
The third period was evenly played with both teams getting their chances. Lundqvist had to make a save with only 11 seconds left in regulation to force the game into overtime. The Penguins out shot the Rangers again but this time it was only by a 12 to eight margin.
The next game is Sunday at 7:30 on NBCSN. If the Penguins want to even the series, then they're going to have to have a better start to the game. The Rangers need to be a little tighter defensively than they were in the second period of game one. If either team can manage to get its power play going, then that could be a key to winning the series.
The Rangers hadn't played in any of those overtime games until tonight, while the Penguins had played in two during their first round series with the Columbus Blue Jackets.
At 3:06 of the overtime period, Derick Brassard decided to end the game with his first goal of the playoffs. Beniot Pouliot forced the Penguins defenseman, Rob Scuderi, to turn the puck over behind his own net. Pouliot managed to get a pass through a maze of sticks and over to Brassard, who wristed the puck high over Marc-Andre Fleury's shoulder. The puck went in and out of the net so fast that the refs didn't even notice that a goal was scored. The teams kept playing with Fleury flopping around his net and his teammates blowing defensive coverage, the puck found its way back to Pouliot and he put it in the net again. A replay showed that Brassard's shot actually went in the net.
The Penguins came out flat in the first period and seemed like the team playing their fourth game in six days. The Rangers came out and took a 2-0 lead in the first period. Dan Girardi blocked a shot, Pouliot picked up the puck and skated it right into the Penguins zone and fired one right past Fleury for the goal. At 17:03 of the period, Girardi dumped the puck into the Penguins zone and this time Carl Hagelin won the puck battle along the boards. Hagelin got the puck to Brad Richards and he tucked it past the Penguins goalie for the 2-0 lead.
The Penguins looked like a completely different team in the second period. They were battling hard and getting the puck towards Henrik Lundqvist. Lee Stempniak finally got the Penguins on the board on a backhand shot. Marcel Goc passed the puck to Beau Bennett and Bennett crossed over and made the nice drop pass to Stempniak, who made a move and put the puck in the net.
The Penguins tied the game at two after a goal by James Neal. Evgeni Malkin picked up the puck in the neutral zone, and dished it off to Jussi Jokinen. Jokinen then made the drop pass to Neal, who took the shot and Lundqvist made the save, but the puck went up into the air and then came back down and into the net. The goal was reviewed to make sure that Malkin hadn't played the puck with a high stick while it was in the air, but the goal stood because Malkin never touched the puck at all.
The Penguins out shot the Rangers 15-4 in the second so Lundqvist was the busier of the two goalies that period.
The third period was evenly played with both teams getting their chances. Lundqvist had to make a save with only 11 seconds left in regulation to force the game into overtime. The Penguins out shot the Rangers again but this time it was only by a 12 to eight margin.
The next game is Sunday at 7:30 on NBCSN. If the Penguins want to even the series, then they're going to have to have a better start to the game. The Rangers need to be a little tighter defensively than they were in the second period of game one. If either team can manage to get its power play going, then that could be a key to winning the series.
Friday, May 2, 2014
Canadiens Beat Bruins in Double OT
The 34th Stanley Cup Playoff series between the Montreal Canadiens and the Boston Bruins started off with a bang.
Carey Price had 48 saves and PK Subban won the game just 4:17 into the second overtime.
At 4:10 of the second overtime, Bruins defenseman, Matt Bartkowski, was called for holding and that gave the Canadiens the man advantage. The Canadiens wasted little time making the Bruins pay for taking the penalty. Danny Briere got the puck to Andrej Markov off the face off. Markov fed it to Subban, who was at the other point, and he rifled it past Tuukka Rask for the game winner.
It was the second power play goal of the night for Subban. In the first period, Bartkowski went off for tripping Dale Weise. Tomas Plekanec pick up a loose puck along the boards and got it back to Subban. Subban got the puck over to Markov, who then passed it back to Subban. Subban took the shot and beat Rask, who had to deal with some traffic in front of him.
The Canadiens built on the 1-0 lead in the second period. The Bruins turned the puck over in the neutral zone and Lars Eller jumped on the puck. Eller got it over to Rene Bourque, who snapped the puck past Rask for the 2-0 lead heading into the third period.
The third period featured another two goal lead blown and four goals total. Three of the four goals were scored by the Bruins.
The first Bruins goal came just 2:44 into the period and was scored by Reilly Smith. It was Smith's second of the playoffs from Brad Marchand and Dougie Hamilton. Then at 6:30 of the period, the Bruins struck again to tie the game. This time it was Torey Krug from Milan Lucic and Patrice Bergeron. Lucic picked up the loose puck in the neutral zone, skated in the offensive zone, and passed it over to Krug, who beat Price.
Michel Therrien used the Canadiens time out and his team responded with a goal by Francis Bouillon to take the 3-2 lead. Brian Gionta got the puck to Bouillon and he scored. Rask may have been screened by his own teammate, Johnny Boychuk on the play.
The Bruins kept coming at the Canadiens even though there were down a goal. Carl Soderberg got the puck to Loui Eriksson, who managed to play the puck to the corner while falling down. Marchand picked up the loose puck and got it back to the point. Johnny Boychuk took the slap shot and beat Price to tie the game at three with just 1:58 left in regulation.
There were no goals in the first overtime period but plenty of chances especially for the Bruins. They just couldn't bury the opportunities they had because they were either stopped by Price or the Canadiens players cleared the puck out of harm's way before a Bruin could get to it.
If the Bruins want to tie the series at one then they'll have to be better on Saturday. Rask stopped 29 of the 33 saves he faced but he'll need to be better than that if the Bruins want to win the series.
Carey Price had 48 saves and PK Subban won the game just 4:17 into the second overtime.
At 4:10 of the second overtime, Bruins defenseman, Matt Bartkowski, was called for holding and that gave the Canadiens the man advantage. The Canadiens wasted little time making the Bruins pay for taking the penalty. Danny Briere got the puck to Andrej Markov off the face off. Markov fed it to Subban, who was at the other point, and he rifled it past Tuukka Rask for the game winner.
It was the second power play goal of the night for Subban. In the first period, Bartkowski went off for tripping Dale Weise. Tomas Plekanec pick up a loose puck along the boards and got it back to Subban. Subban got the puck over to Markov, who then passed it back to Subban. Subban took the shot and beat Rask, who had to deal with some traffic in front of him.
The Canadiens built on the 1-0 lead in the second period. The Bruins turned the puck over in the neutral zone and Lars Eller jumped on the puck. Eller got it over to Rene Bourque, who snapped the puck past Rask for the 2-0 lead heading into the third period.
The third period featured another two goal lead blown and four goals total. Three of the four goals were scored by the Bruins.
The first Bruins goal came just 2:44 into the period and was scored by Reilly Smith. It was Smith's second of the playoffs from Brad Marchand and Dougie Hamilton. Then at 6:30 of the period, the Bruins struck again to tie the game. This time it was Torey Krug from Milan Lucic and Patrice Bergeron. Lucic picked up the loose puck in the neutral zone, skated in the offensive zone, and passed it over to Krug, who beat Price.
Michel Therrien used the Canadiens time out and his team responded with a goal by Francis Bouillon to take the 3-2 lead. Brian Gionta got the puck to Bouillon and he scored. Rask may have been screened by his own teammate, Johnny Boychuk on the play.
The Bruins kept coming at the Canadiens even though there were down a goal. Carl Soderberg got the puck to Loui Eriksson, who managed to play the puck to the corner while falling down. Marchand picked up the loose puck and got it back to the point. Johnny Boychuk took the slap shot and beat Price to tie the game at three with just 1:58 left in regulation.
There were no goals in the first overtime period but plenty of chances especially for the Bruins. They just couldn't bury the opportunities they had because they were either stopped by Price or the Canadiens players cleared the puck out of harm's way before a Bruin could get to it.
If the Bruins want to tie the series at one then they'll have to be better on Saturday. Rask stopped 29 of the 33 saves he faced but he'll need to be better than that if the Bruins want to win the series.
Thursday, May 1, 2014
Islanders Acquire Jaroslav Halak
The New York Islanders acquired goaltender Jaroslav Halak from the Washington Capitals for a fourth round pick in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft.
The Islanders have until July 1st to try and sign him to a contract. If they can't come to terms with Halak then he'll become an unrestricted free agent.
Halak spent time with three different teams last season. He started the season with the St. Louis Blues, but was part of a trade that brought Ryan Miller to the Blues, and Halak was sent to the Buffalo Sabres. The goalie didn't even play in a game for the Sabres, but was traded to the Capitals at the trade deadline. The Sabres got Michal Neuvirth and Rostislav Klesla for Halak and a fourth round draft pick in 2015.
Halak posted a 29-9-4 record with the Blues in 40 games played. He had a 2.23 GAA, .917 save percentage and four shutouts. In 12 games for the Capitals, he was 5-4-3 while posting a 2.31 GAA, a .930 save percentage and one shutout. Halak has played in 272 career games and is 144-85-29 in those games. He has a career 2.25 GAA, .921 save oercentage and five shutouts.
In 23 playoff games, Halak is 10-11 with a 2.42 GAA, .923 save percentage, and has zero shutouts. He was drafted in 2003 by the Montreal Canadiens and later traded to the Blues for Lars Eller and Ian Schultz.
Halak and Brian Elliott won the William J. Jennings Trophy, which is given out to the goalie tandem that allows the fewest goals in the regular season.
The Islanders have until July 1st to try and sign him to a contract. If they can't come to terms with Halak then he'll become an unrestricted free agent.
Halak spent time with three different teams last season. He started the season with the St. Louis Blues, but was part of a trade that brought Ryan Miller to the Blues, and Halak was sent to the Buffalo Sabres. The goalie didn't even play in a game for the Sabres, but was traded to the Capitals at the trade deadline. The Sabres got Michal Neuvirth and Rostislav Klesla for Halak and a fourth round draft pick in 2015.
Halak posted a 29-9-4 record with the Blues in 40 games played. He had a 2.23 GAA, .917 save percentage and four shutouts. In 12 games for the Capitals, he was 5-4-3 while posting a 2.31 GAA, a .930 save percentage and one shutout. Halak has played in 272 career games and is 144-85-29 in those games. He has a career 2.25 GAA, .921 save oercentage and five shutouts.
In 23 playoff games, Halak is 10-11 with a 2.42 GAA, .923 save percentage, and has zero shutouts. He was drafted in 2003 by the Montreal Canadiens and later traded to the Blues for Lars Eller and Ian Schultz.
Halak and Brian Elliott won the William J. Jennings Trophy, which is given out to the goalie tandem that allows the fewest goals in the regular season.
Saturday, April 26, 2014
St. Louis Blues Playoff Run Eerily Similar to Last Year
The St. Louis Blues only have to look back to last year's playoffs, if they are feeling a sense of déjà vu.
In the 2013 playoffs, the Blues faced the Los Angeles Kings, the defending champions, in the first round. The Blues had home ice advantage and took a 2-0 series lead. The Kings then won the next three games to take a 3-2 series lead, and eventually won the series in six games.
This year the Blues are playing the Chicago Blackhawks, the defending champions, in the first round. The Blues again took a 2-0 series lead but the Blackhawks have won the last three games to take the 3-2 series lead. The Blackhawks have a chance to finish off the Blues in six games, just like the Kings did last season. The only difference this season is that Ryan Miller is in goal for the Blues and not Brian Elliott.
Those are just a few similarities between the two series. The Blues won game one against the Kings last year on a shorthanded goal by Alexander Steen in overtime and took the 1-0 series lead. Alexander Steen also scored the game winning goal against the Blackhawks. This time it was in the third overtime and again gave the Blues the 1-0 series lead.
In game two last season, Barrett Jackman scored a late goal against the Kings in regulation to give the Blues the 2-0 series lead. This season Vladimir Tarasenko score with just 6.4 seconds left on a power play with the goalie pulled. Barrett Jackman scored in overtime to give the Blues a 2-0 series lead over the Blackhawks.
Jonathan Quick and the Kings got the 1-0 shutout in game three last year, while the Blackhawks and Corey Crawford got the 2-0 shutout this season in game three. In game three against the Kings, the Blues power play didn't score in four opportunities. In game three against the Blackhawks this year, the Blues power play had no goals in three chances.
The Kings came back and won game four in overtime by a score of 4-3 in the playoffs last year. This year Chicago also won game four by a score of 4-3 in overtime. The Blues have blown a 2-0 series lead the past two seasons. In the past two years, the series were tied at two games apiece going back to St. Louis for a pivotal game five.
In game five against the Kings, the Blues tied the game at two on a goal by Alex Pietrangelo. In overtime, Slava Voynov scored for the Kings and gave them the 3-2 series lead. In game five against the Blackhawks, Alex Pietrangelo score the game tying goal again to force overtime. This time Blackhawks captain, Jonathan Toews, scored the game winning goal to give the Blackhawks the 3-2 series lead.
The Kings went on to win the series against the Blues last season in six games. The Blackhawks have the series lead going back home and into game six.
Will history repeat itself for the Blues? They will have to wait until Sunday and game six to find out.
In the 2013 playoffs, the Blues faced the Los Angeles Kings, the defending champions, in the first round. The Blues had home ice advantage and took a 2-0 series lead. The Kings then won the next three games to take a 3-2 series lead, and eventually won the series in six games.
This year the Blues are playing the Chicago Blackhawks, the defending champions, in the first round. The Blues again took a 2-0 series lead but the Blackhawks have won the last three games to take the 3-2 series lead. The Blackhawks have a chance to finish off the Blues in six games, just like the Kings did last season. The only difference this season is that Ryan Miller is in goal for the Blues and not Brian Elliott.
Those are just a few similarities between the two series. The Blues won game one against the Kings last year on a shorthanded goal by Alexander Steen in overtime and took the 1-0 series lead. Alexander Steen also scored the game winning goal against the Blackhawks. This time it was in the third overtime and again gave the Blues the 1-0 series lead.
In game two last season, Barrett Jackman scored a late goal against the Kings in regulation to give the Blues the 2-0 series lead. This season Vladimir Tarasenko score with just 6.4 seconds left on a power play with the goalie pulled. Barrett Jackman scored in overtime to give the Blues a 2-0 series lead over the Blackhawks.
Jonathan Quick and the Kings got the 1-0 shutout in game three last year, while the Blackhawks and Corey Crawford got the 2-0 shutout this season in game three. In game three against the Kings, the Blues power play didn't score in four opportunities. In game three against the Blackhawks this year, the Blues power play had no goals in three chances.
The Kings came back and won game four in overtime by a score of 4-3 in the playoffs last year. This year Chicago also won game four by a score of 4-3 in overtime. The Blues have blown a 2-0 series lead the past two seasons. In the past two years, the series were tied at two games apiece going back to St. Louis for a pivotal game five.
In game five against the Kings, the Blues tied the game at two on a goal by Alex Pietrangelo. In overtime, Slava Voynov scored for the Kings and gave them the 3-2 series lead. In game five against the Blackhawks, Alex Pietrangelo score the game tying goal again to force overtime. This time Blackhawks captain, Jonathan Toews, scored the game winning goal to give the Blackhawks the 3-2 series lead.
The Kings went on to win the series against the Blues last season in six games. The Blackhawks have the series lead going back home and into game six.
Will history repeat itself for the Blues? They will have to wait until Sunday and game six to find out.
Tuesday, April 22, 2014
Pens Defeat Blue Jackets to Take Series Lead
The Pittsburgh Penguins came back from a 3-1 deficit in the third period to defeat the Columbus Blue Jackets 4-3. It was the Blue Jackets first home playoff game in almost five years.
The Blue Jackets jumped to a quick 2-0 lead in the first 3:18 of the game. Boone Jenner got the Blue Jackets on the board first. Jack Skille took the shot from the boards and Marc-Andre Fleury made the save, but the rebound went right to Jenner, who put the puck in the back of the net.
Brandon Dubinsky kept control of the puck behind the net and managed to get a shot off from the corner. Fleury gave up another rebound and this time Jack Johnson put it in the net for a 2-0 Blue Jackets lead. The Blue Jackets were out shot 16-7 in the first period.
The Penguins started to play better in the second period. They started to get more offensive zone pressure and Fleury was making the saves that needed to be made to keep his team in the game. The Penguins work paid off with only 1.7 second left in the period. The Blue Jackets tried to clear the zone but Paul Martin kept it in at the blue line for the Penguins. Martin got the puck down low to Beau Bennett, and he got the puck over to Brooks Orpik in the slot. Orpik made a nice move around a sliding Cam Atkinson and wristed the puck past Sergei Bobrovsky.
At the end of the second period, the Blue Jackets had the lead 2-1. The Blue Jackets had a little bit of luck on their side for the third goal. Bobrovsky made a save and the rebound went right to Matt Calvert, who got the puck ahead to Dubinsky. Dubinsky made a nice move around Penguins defenseman, Kris Letang, took the shot and the puck went off of Cam Atkinson and behind Fleury. The Blue Jackets took a 3-1 lead in the third period.
The turning point of the game was when Brandon Sutter scored a goal for the Penguins and made it 3-2. Bennett got the puck back to Martin at the point and he got the shot to the net with plenty of traffic in front of Bobrovksy. Sutter got his stick on the puck and deflected it past Bobrovsky.
Then just 1:10 later the Penguins even up the game at 3-3. Chris Kunitz got the puck over to Lee Stempniak, who wristed the puck past Bobrovsky. The Penguins had two goals on two consecutive shots. Jussi Jokinen scored the evetual game winner on a deflection. Evgeni Malkin got the puck back to Olli Maata at the point. Maata took the shot and it was deflected out high by Jokinen and then off of Blue Jackets player, James Wisniewski, and behind Bobrovsky.
In game one, the Blue Jackets had a 3-1 lead but the Penguins came back to win that game 4-3. In game two, the Penguins were the team that blew a 3-1 lead and the Blue Jackets won in double overtime by a score of 4-3. It looks like the teams won't want to take a 3-1 lead or they'll wind up losing the game.
The Blue Jackets were out shot 41-20 in the game and 15-5 in the third period. A team can't expect to win a game when they get out shot that badly in the third period.
The series continues on Wednesday in Columbus at 7:00 ET on NBCSN.
The Blue Jackets jumped to a quick 2-0 lead in the first 3:18 of the game. Boone Jenner got the Blue Jackets on the board first. Jack Skille took the shot from the boards and Marc-Andre Fleury made the save, but the rebound went right to Jenner, who put the puck in the back of the net.
Brandon Dubinsky kept control of the puck behind the net and managed to get a shot off from the corner. Fleury gave up another rebound and this time Jack Johnson put it in the net for a 2-0 Blue Jackets lead. The Blue Jackets were out shot 16-7 in the first period.
The Penguins started to play better in the second period. They started to get more offensive zone pressure and Fleury was making the saves that needed to be made to keep his team in the game. The Penguins work paid off with only 1.7 second left in the period. The Blue Jackets tried to clear the zone but Paul Martin kept it in at the blue line for the Penguins. Martin got the puck down low to Beau Bennett, and he got the puck over to Brooks Orpik in the slot. Orpik made a nice move around a sliding Cam Atkinson and wristed the puck past Sergei Bobrovsky.
At the end of the second period, the Blue Jackets had the lead 2-1. The Blue Jackets had a little bit of luck on their side for the third goal. Bobrovsky made a save and the rebound went right to Matt Calvert, who got the puck ahead to Dubinsky. Dubinsky made a nice move around Penguins defenseman, Kris Letang, took the shot and the puck went off of Cam Atkinson and behind Fleury. The Blue Jackets took a 3-1 lead in the third period.
The turning point of the game was when Brandon Sutter scored a goal for the Penguins and made it 3-2. Bennett got the puck back to Martin at the point and he got the shot to the net with plenty of traffic in front of Bobrovksy. Sutter got his stick on the puck and deflected it past Bobrovsky.
Then just 1:10 later the Penguins even up the game at 3-3. Chris Kunitz got the puck over to Lee Stempniak, who wristed the puck past Bobrovsky. The Penguins had two goals on two consecutive shots. Jussi Jokinen scored the evetual game winner on a deflection. Evgeni Malkin got the puck back to Olli Maata at the point. Maata took the shot and it was deflected out high by Jokinen and then off of Blue Jackets player, James Wisniewski, and behind Bobrovsky.
In game one, the Blue Jackets had a 3-1 lead but the Penguins came back to win that game 4-3. In game two, the Penguins were the team that blew a 3-1 lead and the Blue Jackets won in double overtime by a score of 4-3. It looks like the teams won't want to take a 3-1 lead or they'll wind up losing the game.
The Blue Jackets were out shot 41-20 in the game and 15-5 in the third period. A team can't expect to win a game when they get out shot that badly in the third period.
The series continues on Wednesday in Columbus at 7:00 ET on NBCSN.
Tuesday, April 8, 2014
Philadelphia Flyers Clinch Playoff Berth
The Philadelphia Flyers beat the Florida Panthers to clinch a spot in the playoffs for the 17th time in the last 19 seasons.
Roberto Luongo was supposed to start for the Panthers but was a late scratch due to an upper body injury. The backup goalie, Dan Ellis, got the call and had a decent first period.
The Flyers couldn't get much going offensively until Drew Shore took a 4:00 high sticking call and then Scottie Upshall was called for a hooking minor. The Flyers had a 1:43 of 5-on-3 power play time but couldn't convert. They had opportunities but couldn't put the puck into the back of the net.
The Flyers finally got on the board in the second period. Adam Hall went in on the forecheck and forced the Florida defenseman to turn the puck over. Hall got a shot off and the rebound bounced to Vinny Lecavalier, who put the puck into the back of the net with traffic in front. It was Lecavalier's 20th goal of the season. The Flyers have seven players that have scored 20 or more goals this season, which leads the NHL. It was Lecavalier's fifth goal in his last seven games.
The Panthers had a prime scoring chance after Luke Schenn turned the puck over in his own zone. A shot got through from the point and Tomas Fleischmann was there to get the rebound but Steve Mason did the splits and pinned the puck along the post for the save.
Nicklas Grossmann made a nice pass out of his own zone to Claude Giroux, who skated into the Panthers zone, using Ed Jovanovski as a screen and blasted one past Ellis for his 26th goal on the season. The Flyers took a 2-0 lead.
At 8:50 of the second period, Scott Hartnell got the puck into the Panthers zone and Mark Streit went and got it along the boards. Streit made a nice pass to Giroux in the slot and Giroux fired it past Ellis for his 27th goal of the season, and gave the Flyers a 3-0 lead. The Orange and Black had three goals and only five shots on goal.
The final goal of the period come from Sean Couturier, who broke a 17-game scoreless streak. Matt. Read got the puck over to Couturier and he made a nice play along the boards to got the puck to the point. Braydon Coburn took the shot and it bounced right to Couturier, who scored his eleventh goal of the season.
The Flyers scored four goals on just 12 shots in the second period.
The Flyers came out slow to start the third period and the Panthers took advantage of it. The Flyers turned the puck over in their own zone, which led to offensive zone pressure and an eventual goal by Erik Gudbranson. Gudbranson took the shot from the point and the puck found its way past Mason with traffic in front.
Jonathan Huberdeau scored the second goal of the game for the Panthers after the puck went off of Streit's stick and past Mason. It was Huberdeau's first game back after missing 11 games due to a concussion.
The third period has not been a good period for the Flyers their last four games. They have been out scored 8-2 in the last four third periods played. They were fortunate the Panthers only scored two goals in the third period after their own sloppy play.
Tye McGinn scored the insurance goal for the Flyers late in the third period. Hall won the face-off and Lecavalier got the loose puck and made a nice pass over to McGinn. He tipped it past Ellis for the fifth and final goal of the night.
Roberto Luongo was supposed to start for the Panthers but was a late scratch due to an upper body injury. The backup goalie, Dan Ellis, got the call and had a decent first period.
The Flyers couldn't get much going offensively until Drew Shore took a 4:00 high sticking call and then Scottie Upshall was called for a hooking minor. The Flyers had a 1:43 of 5-on-3 power play time but couldn't convert. They had opportunities but couldn't put the puck into the back of the net.
The Flyers finally got on the board in the second period. Adam Hall went in on the forecheck and forced the Florida defenseman to turn the puck over. Hall got a shot off and the rebound bounced to Vinny Lecavalier, who put the puck into the back of the net with traffic in front. It was Lecavalier's 20th goal of the season. The Flyers have seven players that have scored 20 or more goals this season, which leads the NHL. It was Lecavalier's fifth goal in his last seven games.
The Panthers had a prime scoring chance after Luke Schenn turned the puck over in his own zone. A shot got through from the point and Tomas Fleischmann was there to get the rebound but Steve Mason did the splits and pinned the puck along the post for the save.
Nicklas Grossmann made a nice pass out of his own zone to Claude Giroux, who skated into the Panthers zone, using Ed Jovanovski as a screen and blasted one past Ellis for his 26th goal on the season. The Flyers took a 2-0 lead.
At 8:50 of the second period, Scott Hartnell got the puck into the Panthers zone and Mark Streit went and got it along the boards. Streit made a nice pass to Giroux in the slot and Giroux fired it past Ellis for his 27th goal of the season, and gave the Flyers a 3-0 lead. The Orange and Black had three goals and only five shots on goal.
The final goal of the period come from Sean Couturier, who broke a 17-game scoreless streak. Matt. Read got the puck over to Couturier and he made a nice play along the boards to got the puck to the point. Braydon Coburn took the shot and it bounced right to Couturier, who scored his eleventh goal of the season.
The Flyers scored four goals on just 12 shots in the second period.
The Flyers came out slow to start the third period and the Panthers took advantage of it. The Flyers turned the puck over in their own zone, which led to offensive zone pressure and an eventual goal by Erik Gudbranson. Gudbranson took the shot from the point and the puck found its way past Mason with traffic in front.
Jonathan Huberdeau scored the second goal of the game for the Panthers after the puck went off of Streit's stick and past Mason. It was Huberdeau's first game back after missing 11 games due to a concussion.
The third period has not been a good period for the Flyers their last four games. They have been out scored 8-2 in the last four third periods played. They were fortunate the Panthers only scored two goals in the third period after their own sloppy play.
Tye McGinn scored the insurance goal for the Flyers late in the third period. Hall won the face-off and Lecavalier got the loose puck and made a nice pass over to McGinn. He tipped it past Ellis for the fifth and final goal of the night.
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