Sunday, August 16, 2020

NHL 2020 Playoffs - First Round Day 6

It's another five-game day, beginning with...

The New York Islanders versus the Washington Capitals. Braden Holtby and Semyon Varlamov are the goalies. New York led off in the first period with an Anders Lee goal, his third of the postseason, coming off of Adam Pelech and Ryan Pulock. Washington tied it in the second period with an Evgeny Kuznetsov power play goal, his second of the playoffs, powered by John Carlson and Alex Ovechkin. The Islanders won 2-1 in overtime with a Mathew Barzal goal, his second of the postseason, via Jordan Eberle and Derick Brassard. The three stars were Barzal, Lee, and Varlamov (22 for 23 in saves). The Islanders are within a game of advancing with their current 3-0 series lead. 

Out west, the Calgary Flames take on the Dallas Stars. Anton Khudobin and Cam Talbot draw the starts in goal. Dallas began in the first period with a Joe Pavelski power play goal, his third of the postseason, powered by John Klingberg and Tyler Seguin. Calgary tied it on a Johnny Gaudreau power play goal in the second period, his third of the playoffs, with assists provided by Sam Bennett and Sean Monahan. The Stars retook the lead on a Pavelski goal, his second of the game and fourth of the postseason, made possible by Blake Comeau and Esa Lindell. The Flames tied it again with a Bennett power play goal, his fourth of the playoffs, helped along by Monahan and Gaudreau. Calgary took the lead with another Bennett goal, his second of the game and fifth of the postseason, assisted by Milan Lucic. Dallas pulled even with a Denis Gurianov power play goal, his second of the playoffs, courtesy of Miro Heiskanen and Roope Hintz. The Flames pulled ahead in the third period on a shorthanded Tobias Rieder goal, his third of the postseason, set up by Derek Ryan and Rasmus Andersson. The Stars tied it on a Pavelski goal, completing his hat trick on his fifth of the playoffs, fueled by Klingberg and Seguin. Dallas won 5-4 in overtime with an Alexander Radulov goal, his second of the postseason, passed from Klingberg and Jamie Benn. The three stars were Pavelski, Klingberg, and Bennett, while Gaudreau, Monahan, and Seguin get the honorable mentions. The series is tied at 2.

Staying in Edmonton, the Chicago Blackhawks face the Vegas Golden Knights. Robin Lehner and Corey Crawford protect the nets. Chicago opened in the first period with a Drake Caggiula goal, via Olli Maatta and Kirby Dach. The Blackhawks added on with a Matthew Highmore goal, his third of the postseason, coming off of Duncan Keith. Vegas got on the board with a Shea Theodore goal, his fourth of the playoffs, made possible by Alec Martinez and Ryan Reaves. Chicago iced it at 3-1 with an Alex DeBrincat empty net goal in the third period, set up by Connor Murphy. The three stars belonged to Crawford (46 for 47 in saves), Highmore, and Caggiula. Vegas remains ahead 3-1 in the series. 

Back east, the Montreal Canadiens oppose the Philadelphia Flyers. Carter Hart and Carey Price tend the twines. Philadelphia started in the first period with a Jakub Voracek goal, his second of the postseason, assisted by Claude Giroux and Robert Hagg. This held for a 1-0 win, with the three stars awarded to Hart (23 save shutout), Voracek, and Price (19 for 20 in saves). The Flyers regained the series lead at 2-1.

Finally, the Vancouver Canucks play against the St. Louis Blues. Jake Allen and Jacob Markstrom receive the starting nods in goal. Vancouver got going in the second period with a J.T. Miller power play goal, his third of the postseason, powered by Elias Pettersson and Quinn Hughes. St. Louis tied it on a Justin Faulk goal, assisted by Robert Thomas and Sammy Blais. The Blues took the lead with a David Perron goal, his fourth of the playoffs, coming off of Ryan O'Reilly and Zach Sanford. The Canucks retied it on a Pettersson goal, his fourth of the postseason, made possible by Antoine Roussel. St. Louis won 3-2 in overtime with a Brayden Schenn goal, courtesy of O'Reilly and Carl Gunnarsson. The three stars were Schenn, Pettersson, and O'Reilly. The Blues cut the Canucks' series lead to 2-1. 

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