Month: April 2024

Florida Advances & Dallas Ties Series

Florida 6 – Tampa Bay 1 (2en) (Series Panthers 4-1)  Panthers convincingly beat the Lightning at home to advance to the Stanley Cup Quarter Finals or the Conference Semi-Finals if you prefer.

HC Cooper could not congratulate his opponent but complained about casual fans this morning will think a 6-1 score is a blow-out which to him is not the case and that things did not go their way as he talked about his team’s success over the years.

Both teams combined for 35 SOG in the second period with Florida launching 23 and scoring twice with Tampa Bay notching their lone score in a game where the Lightning interfered with the goaltender twice resulting in two disallowed goals.

Dallas 4 – Nevada 2 en (Series tied 2-2)  Each team curiously have won both their road games and lost twice at home, pivotal game five is anyone’s guess as to host or visitor coming out on top?

With 83 seconds remaining in the second period Stars Mr. Dellandrea scored his first of the playoffs to provide Dallas with the one goal lead 3-2 heading into the third period where Stars goaltender Oettinger stopped all 14 SOG the Knights threw at him.

Tonight’s Matchups

Toronto versus Boston (Series Bruins 3-1)

New York versus Carolina (Series Hurricanes 3-1)

Colorado versus Winnipeg (Series Avalanche 3-1)

Nashville versus Vancouver (Series Canucks 3-1)

Colorado, Vancouver, New York, and Edmonton Triumph

Colorado 5 – Winnipeg 1 (Series Avalanche 3-1)  Jets HC Bowness explained Winnipeg’s loss was caused by issues that were self-inflicted, taking penalties and turning the puck over that led to getting out shot 30-16 and out-scored 4-1 over the first two periods.

The Avalanche took 17 SOG in the second period, scored three times while their goaltender Georgiev earned a .963 SV% by allowing just one puck to get past him all game, and Mr. Nichushkin took five shots that produced a hat trick earning Colorado the win.

Vancouver 4 – Nashville 3 (2 en) OT (Series Canucks 3-1)  Huge lesson learned, never give up, just as the Predators were about to decisively beat the Canucks with an empty netter, disaster struck as a Nashville Center missed the gapping net and hit the post with 1:50 remaining.

During this mishap Vancouver’s Mr. Boeser had scored twice (6 on 5) in less than three minutes remaining to complete his hat trick with eight seconds left putting Nashville fans into complete shock and silence as the Canucks go on to win the game 62 seconds into overtime.

New York 4 – Washington 2 en (Series Rangers 4-0)  New York completed the sweep just as everyone thought they would against a team even Mr. Messier commentating for network coverage said the Capitals did not deserve to be in the playoffs.

It was cringe worthy having to watch Mr. Ovechkin in decline and goon wilson chasing Rangers Mr. Kempe around cross checking him, talking smack, and doing everything possible to engage in fisticuffs, why this person is not banned from the NHL is curious.

Edmonton 1 – Los Angeles 0 (Series Oilers 3-1)  The Oilers scored on their lone power play in the second period as well as taking 6 SOG as Edmonton one of the most offensive minded teams in the NHL could only muster 13 SOG for the game while their goaltender saved the game earning a shutout.

Los Angeles can take solace going into game five that Edmonton’s goaltender is mercurial at best and unlikely will reproduce another stunning shutout.

Tonight’s Matchups

Tampa Bay versus Florida (Series Panthers 3-1)

Dallas versus Nevada (Series Knights 2-1)

Islanders, Lightning, Bruins, and Stars Win

New York 3 – Carolina 2  2OT  (Series Hurricanes 3-1) Double overtime decision goes to the Islanders just 84 seconds into the second overtime frame as Mr. Barzal scored his second of the playoffs with the primary assist earned by Mr. Bortuzzo which was his first point since coming from the Blues in December.

New York goaltender Varlamov stopped 17 SOG during the first overtime period and 42 overall earning a .955 SV%, the Islanders won 14 consecutive faceoffs in the first period and won 24 out of the first 28 faceoffs of the game contributing immensely to the victory.

Tampa Bay 6 – Florida 3 (Series Panthers 3-1)  The Lightning scored three times during 6:53 minutes of the first period with one power play, one short handed, and one four-on-four during a 14-5 SOG deluge creating a 3-0 lead after the first period.

Florida took 15 shots in the second period and scored three times but only took 5 SOG during the first and third periods and failed to score again, and in a game where both goalies played a sub .900 SV% game, the most goals win.

Boston 3 – Toronto 1 (Series Bruins 3-1)  Awesome is ill, Mr. Nylander has migraines and the Maple Leafs cannot generate enough offense without their four core healthy even though they outshot, outhit, and won most faceoffs against the Bruins.

Boston goaltender Swayman was the surprise starter as the goalie rotation has ceased and Mr. Marchand leads the way offensively (3G, 5A) for the Bruins passing Cam Neely last night for all time Boston playoff goals with number 56.

Dallas 3 – Nevada 2 OT (Series Knights 2-1)  Knights HC Cassidy said his team did not have enough jump or urgency or play to a level required to win a playoff game, curious as each team has won on the road and not at home yet.

Stars netminder Oettinger earned a .941 SV% by stopping 32 of 34 shots while his teammates poured 33 SOG on Nevada’s goaltender over the first two periods in taking the lead before Mr. Johnston became the youngest Minnesota/Dallas player to score in a playoff overtime.

Tonight’s Matchups

Winnipeg versus Colorado (Series Avalanche 2-1)

Vancouver versus Nashville (Series Canucks 2-1)

New York versus Washington (Series Rangers 3-0)

Edmonton versus Los Angeles (Series Oilers 2-1)

Rangers, Canucks, Avalanche, and Oilers Victorious

New York 3 – Washington 1 (Series NYR 3-0)  The Capitals scored first and held the lead for 34 seconds before the Rangers tied the game and then took the lead 2-1 on a shorthanded goal two minutes after that.

After the second period New York was up 3-1 on just 15 SOG and the third period was all about the Rangers netminder Shesterkin who stopped the Capitals third period two power plays and 14 SOG barrage securing the win.

Vancouver 2 – Nashville 1 (Series Vancouver 2-1)  The Canucks scored on their first SOG 13:23 into the first period before Nashville took consecutive minor penalties which allowed for two more Vancouver shots on net compiling three for the initial period.

Nashville fared worse taking five SOG in the first period without scoring and scoreless with five power plays throughout the game and although they picked up the shooting with 25 SOG over the second and third periods the Predators could only get one past Mr. DeSmith.

Colorado 6 – Winnipeg 2 en (Series Colorado 2-1)  The Jets endeavored to score on the power play by pulling their goaltender down 5-2 with three minutes remaining in the game, unfortunately for Winnipeg the Avalanche scored.

Officially 27 seconds remaining and as time expired in a 6-2 game these teams combine for eight roughing and fighting penalties, hopefully the players can rein in their emotions to play less belligerently for an exciting and entertaining game four.

Edmonton 6 – Los Angeles 1 (Series Edmonton 2-1)  Over the course of nine minutes in the third period the gentlemen from both teams earned 19 penalties, 9 roughing, 2 fighting, 4 misconducts, 2 unsportsmanlike conducts, 1 illegal check to the head, and 1 slashing.

During the hockey game there were 68 SOG and seven goals scored, Mr. Kopitar participated in his 95^th playoff game for the Kings passing Lucky Luc Robitaille.

Tonight’s Matchups

Hurricanes versus Islanders (Series Carolina 3-0)

Panthers versus Lightning (Series Florida 3-0)

Bruins versus Maple Leafs (Series Boston 2-1)

Knights versus Stars (Series Nevada 2-0)

Hurricanes and Panthers take 3-0 Series Leads

Carolina 3 – New York 2 (Series Carolina 3-0)  HC Roy switched goaltenders a few minutes before the halfway point of the game when down 3-0 on 14 shots by the Hurricanes.

New York played well winning 60% of their faceoffs, out hit Carolina 40-22, killed two penalties, blocked over 20 shots while taking 31 SOG and although Mr. Sorokin let in three goals his relief Mr. Varlamov stopped everything, but Carolina’s netminder was the difference.

Florida 5 – Tampa Bay 3 en (Series Florida 3-0)  Each team’s goaltender played a sub .900 SV% in this high hitting game that produced a combined 149 hits, and with just over five minutes remaining a one goal game.

Tampa Bay’s HC Cooper issued this double dog dare to his team, “But the talk was we want the believers to show up at the rink tomorrow and if you’re not going to believe, you don’t have to come. So, we’ll see who shows up tomorrow.”

Tonight’s Matchups

Rangers versus Capitals (Series New York 2-0)

Canucks versus Predators (Series tied 1-1)

Jets versus Avalanche (Series tied 1-1)

Oilers versus Kings (Series tied 1-1)