Author: Buffalo Winter

Maple Leafs, Knights, Avalanche, & Oilers Rejoicing

Maple Leafs 4 – Senators 2 (en) (Series 4-2 Toronto) The officials awarded the Maple Leafs a single powerplay and Toronto took full advantage as Awesome Matthews scores the first goal of the game with just over a minute remaining in the first period.

Both teams played well enough to win but it was Toronto who put to rest any doubts that the Maple Leafs are for real and are poised to take on the reigning Cup champions.

Knights 3 – Wild 2 (Series 4-2 Nevada) When Minnesota scored 31 seconds after the Knights recorded their third goal to make the game 3-2 with approximately three and half minutes remaining in the third period it appeared that momentum had swung but it was not to be as the Wild could not score enough to extend the series.

Avalanche 7 – Stars 4 (en x2) (Series tied 3-3) Colorado took nearly twice as many SOG as Dallas, took a 2-0 first period lead, eventually scored seven times, and the crowd booed former Avalanche stalwart who left at the beginning of his 10th season with Colorado and is now playing for the Stars, RW Rantanen who scored to give Dallas the 4-3 lead.

Oilers 6 – Kings 4 (en) (Series 4-2 Edmonton) There were 5 goals and 24 SOG during the first period with the Oilers on top 3-2, then Edmonton added two more scores for the 5-2 lead before the Kings scored with two minutes left in the second period.

And with the goaltender pulled Los Angeles scored with 55 seconds remaining to make it a one goal game before giving up the empty netter and the series.

TONIGHT’S MATCHUP

Jets vs Blues 8pm (Series 3-2 Winnipeg)

Capitals, Panthers, and Jets Prevail

Capitals 4 – Canadiens 1 (en) (Series 4-1 Washington) After going down 2-0 after the first period and with a few minutes remaining in the second period allowed another Capitals goal, Montreal was down 3-0 after two periods of play and could not recover as the opening round goes to Washington.

Panthers 6 – Lightning 3 (en) (Series 4-1 Florida) State supremacy decided in five games as Tampa Bay could not win two home games or generate enough offense and Florida goaltender Bobrovsky outplayed Tampa Bay’s netminder Vasilevskiy as the Panthers win the game and series convincingly.

Jets 5 – Blues 3 (en) (Series 3-2 Winnipeg) The home team wins every time in this series and game six is in St. Louis because of the steadfast play of the Jets goaltender rebounding after two overwhelming road losses.

TONIGHT’S MATCHUPS

Maple Leafs vs Ottawa 7pm (Series 3-2 Toronto)

Knights vs Wild 7:30pm (Series 3-2 Nevada)

Stars vs Avalanche 9:30pm (Series 3-2 Dallas)

Kings vs Oilers 10pm (Series 3-2 Edmonton)

Panthers & Stars Overwhelm Opponents

Panthers 4 – Lightning 2 (en) (Series 3-1 Florida) An incredible and near impossible feat unfolded during the second and third periods after a scoreless first period.

First Tampa Bay set a team playoff record by scoring two goals in 11 seconds and took a 2-1 lead in the second half of the second period which held up until just over four minutes remaining in the third period when Florida scored two goals in 11 seconds for their own playoff team record to take the 3-2 lead.

Stars 6 – Avalanche 2 (en) (Series 3-2 Dallas) The Stars scored eight seconds into the first period then scored again with 45 seconds remaining in the first period for the 2-0 lead and never looked back.

TONIGHT’S MATCHUPS

Senators vs Maple Leafs 7pm (Series 3-1 Toronto)

Devils vs Hurricanes 7:30pm (Series 3-1 Carolina)

Wild vs Knights 9:30 (Series tied 2-2)

Oilers vs Kings 10pm (Series tied 2-2)

Blues, Hurricanes, Capitals & Oilers Prevail

Blues 5 – Jets 1 (Series tied 2-2) HC Arniel remains confident in his number one goaltender who was pulled the last two games as St. Louis found its offense on the road to tie the series.

Hurricanes 5 – Devils 2 (en) (Series 3-1 Carolina) The Devils had a strong second period but not enough to win as New Jersey now faces elimination on the road.

Capitals 5 – Canadiens 2 (2x en) (Series 3-1 Washington) A heartbreaker for Montreal fans as the Canadiens led 2-1 heading into the third period as their rookie goaltender in only his second playoff game played well enough to win.

Oilers 4 – Kings 3 (OT) (Series tied 2-2) The Kings outshot the Oilers in the first two periods 28 to 15 taking the 3-1 lead heading into the third period, but then Los Angeles began to sit back, and Edmonton poured it on scoring the next three goals outshooting the Kings in overtime 17 to 7 as the Oilers win and tie the series.

TONIGHT’S MATCHUPS

Lightning vs Panthers 7pm (Series 2-1 Florida)

Avalanche vs Stars 9:30pm (Series tied 2-2)

Lightning, Knights, Senators & Avalanche are the Subjugators

Lightning 5 – Panthers 1 (Series 2-1 Florida) Neither team scored on the nine power plays (TB 5 – FL 4) that were handed out during the game, and Florida goaltender Bobrovsky earned an uncharacteristic .810% save percentage by letting in four goals on just 21 SOG from Tampa Bay.

Knights 4 – Wild 3 (OT) (Series tied 2-2) Both teams win big on the road as the Knights escaped Minnesota with the overtime win as Jack Eichel has contributed his first point (secondary assist) in his fourth playoff game.

Senators 4 – Maple Leafs 3 (OT) (Series 3-1 Toronto) Ottawa sends the series back to Toronto with strong goaltending and special teams as the Senators scored on the power play and shorthanded avoiding elimination.

Avalanche 4 – Stars 0 (Series tied 2-2) In his eighth season and third team goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood has played his best GAA regular season in his first year with Colorado and earning his first post-season shutout.

Additionally, Colorado Captain LW Gabriel Landeskog playing in his first game in nearly three years scored the lone goal in the second period for an Avalanche 3-0 lead as well as assisting on the last goal of the game.

SUNDAY’S MATCHUPS

Jets vs Blues 1pm (Series 2-1 Winnipeg)

Hurricanes vs Devils 3:30pm (Series 2-1 Carolina)

Capitals vs Canadiens 6:30pm (Series 2-1 Washington)

Kings vs Oilers 9:30pm (Series 2-1 Los Angeles)