Edmonton 4 – Los Angeles 3 en (Series Oilers 4-1) For the third consecutive season the Oilers advance to the second round courtesy of the Kings as Edmonton’s Misters Draisaitl, McDavid, and Bouchard took over the scoring in the second period.
Caught but over the line
Edmonton built a 4-2 lead after two periods of play and although the Kings played physical took only 5 then 6 SOG in two periods towards the Oilers .857 SV% goaltender which was not enough to generate goals to offset Edmonton’s offense.
First Home Team Win of Series
Dallas 3 – Nevada 2 (Series Stars 3-2) Hot Oettinger stopped 18 SOG over the second and third periods to preserve the Stars one goal lead as Dallas came with constant fore/back checking allowing no space for any Nevada player to create any offense.
Toronto, Nashville, Carolina, & Colorado win game 5
Toronto 2 – Boston 1 OT (Series Bruins 3-2) In an exciting up and down the ice game the Maple Leafs were pressuring and goaltender Woll was spectacular all night long allowing just one puck to get past him.
The Maple Leafs played without Awesome Matthews since the third period of the game prior, so Toronto poured on the shots outshooting Boston 12-2 in the first period and 22-12 after two periods and Bruins goaltender Swayman kept Boston in this game.
A great goaltender is fine but you have to score and Boston could not and Toronto scored quickly in OT and the Maple Leafs now have the momentum and home ice for game six looking to tie the series.
Carolina 6 – New York 3 en (Series Hurricanes 4-1) In the first period Carolina took 21 SOG, scored even strength, on the power play, and with a penalty shot for three goals while New York took four shots scoring once on the power play amassing the period’s 3-1 score.
In the second period the Islanders scored twice to tie the game at three but the Hurricanes scored twice in eight seconds before the third period was five minutes old for the 5-3 score, the eventual empty netter, the game, and the series.
Colorado 6 – Winnipeg 3 en (Series Avalanche 4-1) Winnipeg looked good early scoring first and eventually tying the game 3-3 early in the third period but could not overcome the two goals scored in just four minutes before the third period was half over by Colorado taking the 5-3 lead.
The eventual empty netter sealing the Jets fate with two seconds remaining as the Avalanche move on by scoring 5 or 6 goals every game this series and Winnipeg could only muster one game with an offensive output of more than three goals.
Nashville 2 – Vancouver 1 (Series Canucks 3-2) Both teams scored their first goal of the game within four minutes of each other during the first half of the third period and the Predators Mr. Carrier scores the game winner with a slap shot seven minutes left in the game.
One more game of scoring only one goal and Vancouver will not be able to stop Nashville from tying this series Friday night.
Buffalo Winter 