Author: Buffalo Winter

Foligno and Staal brothers prominent

The power play could not bail out Carolina through four attempts and even scoring short-handed could not spark any offense for the Hurricanes but the Islanders with 17 SOG in the third period opened up a tight one-goal game by scoring twice in succession early and late in the period. NYI 5 – CAR 1

Cherry picker Pasta’s score sent Florida’s newest net sensation Mr. Lyon to the bench with the game 3-0 on 23 SOG as Mr. Bobrovsky allowed only one goal in relief as Florida scored twice at the end of the third period. BOS 4 – FLA 2

In a game where each team could barely muster two dozen SOG total and Minnesota rotated their goaltenders again by playing their winning goalie Mr. Gustavsson who posted a .958 save percentage, and by allowing just one goal in the second period the Wild earned home ice advantage. MIN 5 – DAL 1

Mr. McDavid scored two laser pinpointed shots, one above the glove and the other above the blocker to forge Edmonton into a 2-1 lead in the second period but the Kings answered in only 18 seconds to tie the game and score in overtime. LAK 3 – EDM 2

This afternoon’s matchup has Winnipeg hosting the Knights, then the early evening games have Toronto endeavoring to keep their momentum going in Tampa Bay and New York fans with their brooms ready for New Jersey followed by the late game in Seattle as Colorado needs to win.

The Hurricanes and Rangers are Undefeated

Toronto took it to the Lightning as their top players scored at will on the power-play and at even strength enabling the Leafs to take back control of this series with a convincing victory as Tampa Bay had no answers, no goaltending, and no offense. TOR 7 – TB 2

New Jersey after scoring first on the power-play and winning most face-offs, took 14 penalties, their goaltender only posted a .818 save percentage, and Mr. Hughes was held pointless while taking six shots and giving the puck away four times, all of which contribute to their loss. NYR 5 – NJD 1

Seattle had it in the palm of their gloves up 2-0 after the first period but Colorado highlighted why they are the defending Stanley Cup Champions by taking more shots, winning more face-offs, hitting and blocking more, and coming from behind. COL 3 – SEA 2

Winnipeg dropped game two in sin city, but not until after they scored on the power play building a 1-0 lead in the first period that had the denizens contemplating the worst as the Knights eventually outshot and outscored the Jets in the third period for the win. LV 5 – WIN 2

Time for the Kings, Wild, and Panthers to take full advantage of their earned home-ice advantage tonight while the Islanders must prove they belong and can beat Carolina in games three and four in New York.

The Carolina Hurricanes are the only team with a 2-0 series lead and are worried because, in their first game, the power play bailed them out, in the second game New York scores on themselves or the game never goes to overtime, struggling to score 5v5 Carolina is looking shaky. CAR 4 – NYI 3 OT

Minnesota went with Mr. Fleury in net instead of their game-one winning goaltender and it cost them as Stars Mr. Hintz scored a Hat Trick one goal short-handed, one unassisted, and one on the power-play as the Wild struggled offensively averaging just over eight SOG per period. DAL 7 – MIN 3

Edmonton played a physical game hitting the Kings 60 times, in perspective Boston and Florida combined for 60 hits, Los Angeles no slouch hit back with 52 hits of their own, Mr. McDavid earned a primary assist, took six SOG, and even blocked a shot contributing to the victory. EDM 4 – LAK 2

After a tight first period and equally played the second period, Florida unleashed 10 SOG in the third period and four of them went in with the last one a happy net goal to seal the deal before Mr. Hall whiffs one in to score Boston’s last goal. FLA 6 – BOS 3

Will the second half of the opening round, game two for the next four series be as close?

High expectations in New Jersey were quickly brought back down to ice level as New York put forth an experienced workman-like effort and by the time Big Daddy Kane earned his secondary assist on the Rangers’ fourth goal and the 4-0 lead, the Devils were toast. Rangers 5 – Devils 1

The Seattle Kraken’s first Stanley Cup playoff game is a victory on the road versus the defending Cup Champions behind Grubauer’s Revenge, Colorado won a Cup with him and discarded him and in just two seasons he has come back to haunt them. Kraken 3 – Avalanche 1

Anticipation and hype previewed Jackie Vegas in his first Stanley Cup playoff game but disappointment and horror prevailed as sin city gets demolished at home by the Jets with Mr. Eichel blanking offensively as well as being on the ice for three of the Jets’ first four goals. Jets 5 – Knights 1

In a herculean effort Toronto withstood an onslaught of eight penalties, brought the game within one goal, top players began to produce, were better during face-offs, and out-hit Tampa Bay, but rarely can a team overcome penalty after penalty seemingly all night long. Lightning 7 – Leafs 3

Game two tonight for the initial four first-round matchups, can Florida, New York, Dallas, and Edmonton recover to split their series?

The battle for the ultimate trophy begins

The NHL 2023 Playoffs began with some low-scoring closely fought battles half of which went to overtime and only one team was able to score more than three times as the average team scoring was 2.375 goals.

Boston begins with one push of the broom of Florida as both team goaltenders post sub .890 save percentages.

Carolina’s two power-play tallies saved their goalies’ horrible .859 save percentage that New York was not able to capitalize on with four power plays of their own and scoring their lone goal on 25 shots.

It took 102 combined SOG and two overtimes as Dallas drops a heartbreaker at home to Minnesota as the Central Division rivals begin what appears to be a long series.

In the highest-scoring game of the evening Edmonton with home-ice advantage and scored twice in the first period with the second goal coming courtesy of a lengthy two-man advantage, winning nearly 60% of their face-offs still managed to lose to Los Angeles in overtime.

Tonight’s scheduled four opening series games could produce the offensive production most fans grew accustomed to during the regular season.