Wednesday, April 15, 2015

NHL Divisional Semifinals, Day 1

Four games on to open the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. We begin with...

The Montreal Canadiens hosting the Ottawa Senators. Andrew Hammond and Carey Price are in the creases. Ottawa opened with a first period Milan Michalek goal, going in unassisted. Montreal tied it in the second period on a Torrey Mitchell goal, coming off of Brian Flynn and P.K. Subban. The Canadiens took the lead with a Tomas Plekanec goal, via Alex Galchenyuk and Subban. The Senators retied it on a Kyle Turris power play goal, powered by Erik Karlsson and Patrick Wiercioch. Montreal gained the lead back with a shorthanded goal by Lars Eller, set up by Flynn. Ottawa retied it with a Mika Zibanejad power play goal, helped along by Wiercioch and Karlsson. The Canadiens regained the lead with a Flynn goal, passed from Brandon Prust and Nathan Beaulieu. This held up for a 4-3 win, with the three stars going to Flynn, Subban, and Karlsson, while Wiercioch gets an honorable mention. Montreal has a 1-0 series lead in the Atlantic Division series.

Over in the Metropolitan Division, the Washington Capitals welcome the New York Islanders. Jaroslav Halak and Braden Holtby guard the cages. New York started in the first period on a Brock Nelson goal, guided in by Josh Bailey and Johnny Boychuk. Washington tied it with a Marcus Johansson goal, via Brooks Laich. The Islanders retook the lead in the second period as Ryan Strome scored, with a lone assist by John Tavares. New York added on as Bailey scored, thanks to Kyle Okposo and Frans Nielsen. The Islanders iced it at 4-1 in the third period on a Nelson empty net goal, his second of the game, set up by Anders Lee and Michael Grabner. The three stars were handed to Nelson, Bailey, and Halak (24 for 25 in saves). The Islanders take a 1-0 series lead.

West to the Central Division series between the hosting Nashville Predators and visiting Chicago Blackhawks. Corey Crawford and Pekka Rinne tend the twines. Nashville led off in the first period with an unassisted Colin Wilson goal. The Predators added on with a Viktor Stalberg goal, coming off of Calle Jarnkrok and Matt Cullen. Nashville extended the lead on Wilson's second of the game, a power play goal, powered by Seth Jones and Ryan Ellis. Chicago got on the board with a Niklas Hjalmarsson goal in the second period, guided in by Teuvo Teravainen and Jonathan Toews. The Blackhawks pulled closer on a Patrick Sharp power play goal, fueled by Patrick Kane and Marian Hossa. Chicago tied it with a Toews power play goal, assisted by Kane and Duncan Keith. The Blackhawks won in the fifth period, second overtime, on an unassisted Keith goal for a 4-3 final. The three stars went to Keith, Toews, and Wilson, while Kane gets an honorable mention. Chicago owns a 1-0 series lead.

Finally, the Vancouver Canucks bring in the Calgary Flames for a Pacific Division series. Jonas Hiller and Eddie Lack are between the pipes. Vancouver got going in the second period as Bo Horvat scored, thanks to Jannik Hansen and Alexander Edler. Calgary tied it in the third period on a David Jones goal, via Michael Ferland. The Flames won 2-1 on a Kris Russell goal, courtesy of Dennis Wideman and Sam Bennett. The three stars went to Russell, Jones, and Hiller (29 for 30 in saves). Calgary owns a 1-0 series lead.

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