Author: Buffalo Winter

Two Shutouts and one expulsion

The Winnipeg Jets sadly are done for this season as everything that could go against them did in a game they needed to win, with poor goaltending and little scoring, the Jets found themselves being pushed out of the playoffs.

New Jersey wins at home to take a 3-2 series lead and now goes to New York to eliminate a team that was not supposed to be this close to elimination this soon.  Mr. Schmid who after half a season in the AHL has become a better backup and now with a shutout over the Rangers has solidly become the Devils’ starter.

An odd bounce provided an easy Happy Net goal for a desperate Lightning team that is playing for their very playoff lives, the only knock against the Leafs game last night was the power play came up empty, otherwise a well-played game.

There are four game sixes tonight as the Hurricanes, Bruins, Stars, and unbelievably the Kraken can eliminate their opponents and advance to the second round.

Seattle and Florida Win Big

Seattle came out skating hard in the first period taking 15 SOG but the period ended in a scoreless tie, and in the second period both teams score their first goal of the game 80 seconds apart but it was Seattle that scored the all-important second goal two minutes later.

When the Kraken took a two-goal lead 100 seconds into the third period you could just feel that Seattle was on the verge of Hockey History but then the Avalanche pull their goaltender and scored to get within one with 3:37 remaining on the clock.

In an evenly played game where the only advantage won was Colorado in faceoffs and it was Seattle behind the strong play of the Avalanche’s former goalie that seems to be the difference in this series.

Boston was a beast in the regular season demonstrating excellence in all areas of the game…not so much in the playoffs.

It took the Bruins 40 SOG to score three times and it took the Panthers only 17 SOG to score their three goals, it seems the wrong team is boasting about goaltending.

Boston has to win just one more game to advance to the second round and if Florida wins game six at home then both teams only have to win once to advance.

The Jets and Lightning find themselves in the near impossible position of having to win the next three games to extend their seasons, on the other glove both the Maple Leafs and Knights have earned the right to win and advance tonight in front of their fans.

In now what has become an impossible series to call one way or the other New York hosts New Jersey tonight in the important game five.

Two out of three home teams won

NYI 3 – CAR 2, Goaltending brings New York home for game six while Carolina was out of sync having a goal called back, and the Hurricane’s Mr. Aho took a bloody shot off his jaw/mouth and while the puck was dropping the Islanders Mr. Nelson smacked it out of the air into the net.

EDM 6 – LAK 3, The Kings’ two victories are in overtime and if they do not keep the score close in Los Angeles for game six, the Edmonton Oilers scoring machine will skate over them into the next round.

DAL 4 – MIN 0, Dallas wins game five in Texas to push Minnesota to the brink of elimination and perhaps The Flower will be in the net when the Wild endeavor to win game six at home this Friday night.

Boston has Florida skating on thin ice and the Bruins at home with their Captain returning from injury could be the end for the Panthers.

If Colorado wants to earn their second consecutive Stanley Cup they need to win game five at home tonight versus Seattle, no excuses, or the Kraken will be in the envious position to be able to eliminate the defending champs at home.

Three Game Fives Tonight

NJD 3 – NYR 1, The New York Rangers annihilated the Devils in New Jersey by a combined 10-2, total goals for the first two games then coming home New York scores only once per game, and instead of a sweep New York and New Jersey have the only tied series in the East.

TOR 5 TB 4 OT, The party in Florida has gone pretty much silent after game one now that Toronto has a chokehold on the series versus Tampa Bay and no amount of “but what about last season?” The Lightning will not strike twice or can change the fact that the addition of Mr. O’Reilly and the emergence of rookie Mr. Knies’s play is helping to propel the Maple Leafs into the second round.

SEA 3 COL 2 OT, Seattle has shown much promise in the series versus the defending Stanley Cup Champions they have used the power-play, a former Colorado goaltender, and fourth liners producing to even things up with their first home playoff victory in over a century.

LV 4 WIN 2, Winnipeg has already won in sin city but with the injury to Mr. Scheifele coupled with the heartbreaking double OT loss at home and now being down 3-1 in the series versus the Knights the wildcard Jets now are burdened with having to win the next three games.

The Islanders are first up to face elimination from the playoffs this season after giving the Hurricanes fits in Raleigh additionally will Dallas and Edmonton win their home game fives tonight?

Boston and Carolina each take a 3-1 series lead

CAR 5 – NYI 2 Carolina takes advantage of the power play and scored late in the first and early in the second period for the two-nothing lead and 80 seconds into the third period built a 4-0 lead that the Islanders with no offense and Mr. Sorokin posting a .828 save percentage could not overcome.

BOS 6 – FLA 2 Boston’s first goal was a loose puck in the blue paint that was pushed across the goal line before/after the whistle, never the less the puck was uncovered and the goaltender did not know where it was, good goal. Mr. DeBrusk scored twice and was a beast all game, Florida did have 40 SOG halfway through the third period but to no avail as Boston wins convincingly.

DAL 3 – MIN 2 Dallas ties the series with Minnesota as two closely matched teams play a low-scoring game with the Stars scoring first early in the second period and when Dallas scored again a few minutes into the third period it seemed like a stranglehold.

The Wild get on the board and the game goes back to being a white-knuckle stick-gripping game before Dallas scores on the power play with only three and a half minutes remaining but the Wild were not finished and on the power play and with the goaltender pulled Minnesota scored to get within one goal with 80 seconds left, still pressuring and getting looks and a good shot but Dallas hung on for victory in game four.

EDM 5 – LAK 4 OT Edmonton gutted one out on the road as the two most evenly matched teams are tied at two games apiece with the Kings dominating the first period with three goals prompting Edmonton to switch goaltenders. Then the Oilers score three goals of their own to tie the game in the second period with the third goal coming on the 20th SOG of the period on the PP with 10.5 seconds left on the clock.

Just as the announcer spoke about the Oilers possibly pulling the goalie Edmonton scored even strength to tie the game at four with a few minutes remaining in the game that afforded the Oilers their opportunity to win in overtime.

The Lightning, Jets, and Kraken all must win at home tonight to even up their series or face the challenge of winning three in a row, and the Devils have to win on the road in order to avoid the same fate.