Throughout the Stanley Cup playoffs we’ll be keeping track of all the action around the league, and bringing you all of the results in one place.
Vancouver Canucks vs. Nashville Predators
Say what you will about the difficult circumstances the Canucks are facing, down their starting goaltender, but they are just refusing to be slowed down. Looking to extend their series lead, they got off to a good start to the game, as Brock Boeser pushed them into the lead before we even hit the three minute mark. It didn’t last long, though, as the Predators hit right back just a couple minutes later on a tip-in goal from Mark Jankowski. And things stayed wide open for a little longer still.
The next stretch saw the Predators really starting to take over — they pulled into the lead on a goal by Gus Nyquist in the second period, and then extended their lead to two goals just 12 seconds into the third period (this time it was Filip Forsberg chipping in), while keeping the Canucks largely contained. But that didn’t last forever, as the Canucks took the last three minutes of the period to surge back — Boeser chipping in two more goals, completing the hat trick, and bringing the score back even, and pushing us to overtime.
And, perhaps mercifully, the overtime period was not a long and drawn out affair. Just 1:02 into that frame, Elias Lindholm managed to beat Juuse Saros on a shot from just outside the crease, and the Canucks have the Predators on the ropes.
Final: 4-3 Canucks (OT)
Series: 3-1 Canucks
Highlights: NHL
New York Rangers vs. Washington Capitals
Speaking of being on the ropes, the Capitals were certainly that, coming into last night’s Game 4 meeting with the Rangers. Down 3-0 in the series and really struggling to match their pace offensively, things were looking pretty dire for them. And they began to look even more dire when Kaapo Kakko put one past Charlie Lindgren inside the first minute of the game, leaving the Capitals already back on their heels a bit.
But credit to them, they managed to stick with it for a good portion of this game — they pulled even for a bit late in the first period on a goal by Martin Fehervary (though they took a step back and allowed a power play goal in the last minute of the period by Vincent Trochek). But in the second period though, they still had some life. We didn’t see much in the way of real gamebreaking offense from them this series, but we got a flash of it when Hendrix Lapierre managed to carry the puck through traffic on an entry and score to tie things up again.
Ultimately, though, it was too little too late. Despite their best efforts to prevent it, the Rangers took over the game in the third period. Artemi Panarin moved them back into the lead on a power play goal, and then in the final minute of regulation, Jack Roslovic sealed the win with an empty net power play goal. And that’s it for the Capitals (and also, perhaps, TJ Oshie, who took an extra spin around the ice saluting the crowd after a difficult, injury riddled year).
Final: 4-2 Rangers
Series: 4-0 Rangers
Highlights: NHL
Edmonton Oilers vs. Los Angeles Kings
And finally, Game 4 of this series between the Oilers and the Kings was, shall we say, kind of a weird one. We’ve seen huge and exciting bursts of offense from both sides in this series, and that’s certainly kept things interesting. But last night’s game was a real turn away from that. If you love goaltending stalemates, have we ever got the game for you.
The first and only goal of the game was scored just past the halfway point of the first period, after Andreas Englund was called for a holding penalty which sent the Oilers to the power play, when good old fashioned slap shot from the point by Evan Bouchard made it all the way through traffic and beat David Rittich. And that was it. That was all of the goals for the night (and also, oddly, one of the just two penalties called across the whole of the matchup. Talk about a low event game).
But the lack of scoring certainly wasn’t for lack of trying, at least on the Kings’ part — they put 33 shots on Stuart Skinner and couldn’t manage to beat him once. So it goes. But on the Oilers’ side, they seemed a bit more content to just park the bus and let their goaltender keep them in this one. Their one goal and 13 (yes, 13) shots on goal across all situations was enough for them to seal this win. And now they’re within one win of taking the series.
Final: 1-0 Oilers
Series: 3-1 Oilers
Highlights: NHL
