Buffalo Winter

Two Games, Three Overtimes

New York and Colorado Win

New York 4 – Carolina 3 2OT (Quarter Finals NYR 2-0) The Rangers won game two at home in double overtime on what many consider a “soft” backchecking penalty called on the Hurricanes which led to the winning goal for New York.

New York scored first then Carolina tied and took the lead six seconds before the first period ended, both teams scored once in the second period, and with six minutes remaining in the game the Rangers forced overtime by scoring their third goal of the game.

Carolina could not score on five power play opportunities and their goaltender slipped to a .897 SV%, they took 42 SOG in regulation, out blocked, and won most of the faceoffs which unfortunately for the Hurricanes was not enough to win game two.

Colorado 4 – Dallas 3 OT (Quarter Finals Avalanche 1-0) Dallas held a 3-0 lead on the strength of a 5 on 3 power play and limiting Colorado to 5 SOG during the first period.

Two Stars penalties assessed in the second period afforded the Avalanche an opportunity they took advantage of by scoring two power play goals to get within one goal to start the third period.

Colorado’s Big Mac MacKinnon scored just 39 seconds into the third period and the game remained deadlocked at three forcing overtime as the Avalanche scored their fourth of the night to win nine minutes into the extra frame to take the early series lead.

Tonight’s Matchups

Boston versus Florida (Quarter Finals Bruins 1-0)

Edmonton versus Vancouver (Quarter Finals Game One)

Florida Falls

Panthers declawed

Boston 5 – Florida 1 en (Quarter Finals Bruins 1-0) Not only did the Bruins goaltender Swayman perform his usual brick wall imitation but Boston’s offense came alive in the second period scoring three goals in less than seven minutes.

The Panthers poured on the SOG launching 30 shots over the second and third periods, scored the all-important first goal, but could not score on three power play opportunities and goaltender Bobrovsky was abnormally porous.

As a layman I will never understand why a head coach whose team is down by three with approximately four minutes remaining in a game where his team could only score once, pull the goaltender as if somehow that will generate three goals.

Tonight’s Matchups

New York versus Carolina (Quarter Finals Rangers 1-0)

Colorado versus Dallas (Quarter Finals 0-0)

Champs Cancelled

NYR and Stars Victorious

New York 4 – Carolina 3 en (Quarter Finals Rangers 1-0) The Quarter Finals opened with a bang as the Rangers offense scored three times in the first period with the Hurricanes getting one past Mr. Shesterkin.

The Rangers carried the play for most of the game as Carolina struggled to get any offensive cohesiveness and after New York took the two goal lead in the third period it appeared devastating.

As the Hurricanes made it a one goal game taking 13 SOG in the third New York’s strong defensive play and goaltending prevented Carolina from tying the game for an overtime opportunity.

Dallas 2 – Nevada 1 (Series Stars 4-3) The Stars outplayed the Cup defenders physically by out hitting and out blocking them and with Hot Oettinger allowing just one goal in a low shooting game Dallas was able to control most of the play.

The officials let the players play as there were only two whistles for penalties, one early in the first period and then not until midway through the third period and both were killed off, as two top goaltenders played superbly in a game that could have went either way.

Florida versus Boston (Quarter Finals 0-0)

Second Round Begins

Maple Leafs Leave

Boston 2 – Toronto 1 OT (Series Bruins 4-3) Heartbreakingly it was health that was the biggest villain in Toronto’s recent playoffs exit, the core four at their best is what the Maple Leafs require to advance, unfortunately injury and illness is something every team can suffer through.

They played with vigor and heart and there was goaltending as the Maple Leafs pressured and took the play to the Bruins who are in possession of one outstanding goaltender who literally carried them astonishingly to the Stanley Cup Quarter Finals.

Tonight’s Matchups

New York versus Carolina (Quarter Finals Game One)

Dallas versus Nevada (Series tied 3-3)

Eliminated on Home Ice

Nevada wins and Vancouver advances

Vancouver 1 – Nashville 0 (Series Canucks 4-2) The Canucks advance in part to their rookie third-string goaltender Mr. Silovs who earned a shutout in only his third career playoff start after starting nine regular season games this year.

Predators’ goaltender Saros allowed just one puck to get past him all night but Nashville could not take advantage of Vancouver’s double-minor penalty highlighting the Predators need for consistent special team power play production.

Nevada 2 – Dallas 0 en (Series tied 3-3) Dallas came up short in eliminating their desperate hosts in a game the Nevada HC Cassidy said was not a “snooze-fest” because of the 0-0 third period score where the goaltenders were the dominant players of the game.