Saturday, April 25, 2015

NHL Division Semifinals Day 11

Four games today, all with their own stakes. We begin in...

New York, as the Islanders host the Washington Capitals. Braden Holtby and Jaroslav Halak are in the blue paint. New York led off in the first period with a John Tavares goal, his second of the postseason, coming off of Ryan Strome and Nick Leddy. Washington tied it with a John Carlson power play goal, powered by Alex Ovechkin and Troy Brouwer. The Islanders took the lead in the third period on a Nikolay Kulemin goal, via Leddy and Tavares. New York iced it at 3-1 on a Cal Clutterbuck empty net goal, his second of the playoffs, set up by Johnny Boychuk. The three stars were Tavares, Halak (38 for 39 in saves), and Leddy. The series is tied at 3 and Game 7 will be used to decide it.

Down in Florida, the Tampa Bay Lightning welcome the Detroit Red Wings. Petr Mrazek and Ben Bishop are the young goalies. Detroit started in the first period on a Riley Sheahan power play goal, his second of the postseason, powered by Niklas Kronwall and Henrik Zetterberg. The Red Wings added on with a Drew Miller goal, assisted by Luke Glendening and Jonathan Ericsson. Detroit extended the lead in the third period on a Pavel Datsyuk power play goal, his third of the playoffs, coming off of Ericsson and Darren Helm. The Red Wings iced it at 4-0 with a Danny DeKeyser empty net goal, set up by Kyle Quincey and Joakim Andersson. The three stars went to Sheahan, Ericsson, and Mrazek (28 save shutout). The Red Wings head home leading the series 3-2.

Backtracking to Chicago, as the Blackhawks bring in the Nashville Predators. Pekka Rinne faces a lesser foe in Scott Darling in goal. Nashville opened in the first period with a James Neal goal, his third of the postseason, coming off of Seth Jones. The Predators added on with Neal's second of the game and fourth of the playoffs, a power play goal powered by Cody Franson and Filip Forsberg. Chicago got on the board with a Patrick Sharp goal, his third of the postseason, made possible by Duncan Keith and Jonathan Toews. Nashville shot back on a Matt Cullen goal, with a lone assist by Mike Ribeiro. The Blackhawks replied with a Toews power play goal, his third of the playoffs, fueled by Sharp and Patrick Kane. Chicago tied it on a Kane goal, his second of the postseason, dished from Keith and Brad Richards. The Blachawks took the lead on a Keith third period goal, his second of the playoffs, via Toews. This made it 4-3, the final, with the three stars going to Keith, Toews, and Neal, while Kane and Sharp get the honorable mentions. The Blackhawks took the series 4-2 and advance to the Central Division Final.

Finally, the Calgary Flames host the Vancouver Canucks. Ryan Miller and Jonas Hiller are the netminders. Vancouver began in the first period with a Brandon McMillan goal, coming off of Chris Higgins and Bo Horvat. The Canucks added on with a Jannik Hansen goal, his second of the postseason, fueled by Shawn Matthias and Christopher Tanev. Hiller was pulled for Karri Ramo. Vancouver extended the lead as Radim Vrbata scored his second of the playoffs, a power play goal powered by Daniel Sedin and Henrik Sedin. Calgary got on the board with a Michael Ferland goal, passed from Matt Stajan and David Jones. The Flames pulled closer in the second period on a Sean Monahan goal, his second of the postseason, assisted by Jiri Hudler and Dennis Wideman. Calgary tied it with a Johnny Gaudreau goal, his second of the playoffs, guided in by Hudler and T.J. Brodie. The Canucks regained the lead with a Luca Sbisa goal, with a lone helper by Hansen. The Flames evened it in the third period with a Hudler power play goal, his second of the postseason, pushed through by Monahan and Gaudreau. Calgary took the lead on a Stajan goal, made possible by Ferland and Jones. The Flames padded the lead with a Hudler empty net goal, his second of the game and third of the playoffs, set up by Monahan and Gaudreau. Calgary iced it at 7-4 with a Ferland empty net goal, his second of the game, helped along by Jones, who got a sock trick, and Stajan. The three stars went to Hudler, Stajan, and Ferland, while Monahan, Gaudreau, Jones, and Hansen get the honorable mentions. The Flames win the series 4-2 and will face the Anaheim Ducks for the Pacific Division Final.

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