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.
New York Rangers vs. Washington Capitals
Things are not going well for the guys from Washington in this series, and we don’t want to overly beleaguer the point, but we will say that this game really just felt like a That’s So Caps game.
The Capitals, very much already looking like they’re on the ropes, down 2-0 in the series and finally bringing it home, managed to come out with some good jump and even pulled out to an early lead in the first period, care of a goal by John Carlson. They then went on to all but immediately — just 34 seconds later — allow the game tying goal by the Rangers on a tip-in for Chris Kreider. The Capitals would be given an opportunity to pull themselves back into the lead when they were given the first chance on the power play of the game, but instead of capitalizing on that, they immediately gave up a shorthanded goal for Barclay Goodrow — their second in two games — just two minutes after that first Rangers goal was scored. And then to add literal injury to insult, just after that, Matt Rempe hit Trevor van Riemsdyk with a late hit, and he left the game, and the Capitals found themselves down another regular defender on an already thin backend.
And the rest of the game, predictably, was pretty much all Rangers. They extended their lead late in the second period on a power play goal by Vincent Trocheck, and from there pretty easily coasted to a win. The Capitals got some looks as they went, but the finishing just wasn’t there for them again.
Final: 3-1 Rangers
Series: 3-0 Rangers
Highlights: NHL
Vancouver Canucks vs. Nashville Predators
Our next game here, we can say, was certainly an odd one. The Canucks are in a bit of a precarious position, with Thatcher Demko out with an injury, but somehow they just keep getting the job done.
The Canucks didn’t have much going for them offensively in this one — in the first period they had just three shots on goal, and in the second they only managed to increase to six — but they were still able to convert on a pair of them thanks to the strength of their power play. J.T Miller got them on the board in the first period, and then Brock Boeser brought their lead up to two goals with another tally on the man-advantage in the second. And all of this was done while managing to keep the Predators all but completely contained. Luke Evangelista managed to finally get the Predators on the board with just over three minutes remaining in regulation, and despite being the better team by the shot totals (they put 30 up on Casey DeSmith), it was still only that one goal that they were able to get in. Sometimes you get goalied. So it goes.
Final: 2-1 Canucks
Series: 2-1 Canucks
Highlights: NHL
Winnipeg Jets vs. Colorado Avalanche
If that last game left us a little bored and hoping to see some more goals, once again, it delivered. As the series, tied at one win apiece, shifted to Colorado for the first time, the Avalanche were sure to put on a show for the home crowd. Things began a bit quietly — despite a combined total of 21 shots being put up, only one managed to get by a goaltender, though a very good shot by Zach Parise from the slot. The second period saw the Jets double up on goals, pulling into the lead, in the second period, first on a goal from Tyler Toffoli early in the period, and then punctuated by a slap shot from the point by Josh Morrissey which snuck through on the power play.
Things were looking a bit dicey for the Avalanche, but the third period is when things really broke open for them. With an early power play, they were able to get things going, and Nathan MacKinnon kickstarted their surge with a goal there. Then just about two and a half minutes later, once again on the power play, Valeri Nichushkin contributed to the effort and pulled them ahead again. And from here, they were really rolling — Ross Colton and Artturi Lehkonen each chipped in a goal around the midway point through the period, pushing the Avalanche into a two, then three goal lead. The Jets were scrambling by this point, and never really found their scoring touch again in this one. They tried to spark something with the goalie pulled on a late power play for an extra attacker, but no dice for them, and the Avalanche managed to ice it with a shorthanded, empty net goal by Devon Toews.
Final: 6-2 Avalanche
Series: 2-1 Avalanche
Highlights: NHL
Edmonton Oilers vs. Los Angeles Kings
And to close out the evening, we saw a similarly lopsided out in LA. After defeating them in overtime to tie the series last time out, the Oilers were back with a vengeance, and this one was not pretty for the Kings. It began with them falling into a three-goal hole in the first period alone, as the Oilers had goals from Zach Hyman and Leon Draisaitl at even strength, and then a somewhat like clockwork feeling goal from Connor McDavid on the power play.
The Kings came back for the second period with a bit of jump, and were able to get themselves on the board to avoid being shut out (this goal coming from Drew Doughty around five minutes into the frame), but this was all they could muster in the way of scoring, and the Oilers’ offense continued to come to life. Just two minutes after Doughtly’s goal, the Oilers all but negated it, as Evander Kane scored to restore their three goal lead, and they didn’t stop there. It was two power play goals in the third period for the Oilers which really put this one away, as Hyman and Draisaitl picked up both of their second goals of the night, closing things out as they began.
Final: 6-1 Oilers
Series: 2-1 Oilers
Highlights: NHL
