Sunday, May 23, 2021

NHL 2021 - Playoff Day 9

Another four-pack of first-round playoff action goes today as...

The Nashville Predators host the Carolina Hurricanes. Alex Nedeljkovic and Juuse Saros are the masked men. Nashville opened in the first period with a Luke Kunin goal, assisted by Mikael Granlund and Ryan Ellis. Carolina tied it on a Vincent Trocheck goal, his second of the postseason, fueled by Martin Necas. The Predators retook the lead in the second period with a Ryan Johansen goal, his second of the playoffs, via Matt Duchene and Mattias Ekholm. The Hurricanes tied it on a Brock McGinn goal, passed from Steven Lorentz. Carolina took the lead on a McGinn goal in the third period, helped along by Jordan Martinook and Jordan Staal. Nashville tied it again with a Nick Cousins power play goal, powered by Erik Haula and Ekholm. The Predators won 4-3 in double overtime with a Kunin goal, courtesy of Granlund and Calle Jarnkrok. The three stars were Kunin, McGinn, and Ekholm, while Granlund and Martinook get the honorable mentions. The series heads east again tied at 2-2.

Westward to St. Louis, as the Blues welcome the Colorado Avalanche. Philipp Grubauer and Jordan Binnington man the nets. St. Louis got going in the second period with a Vladimir Tarasenko goal, assisted by Ryan O'Reilly. Colorado tied it with a Brandon Saad power play goal, his third of the postseason, powered by Cale Makar and the goalie Grubauer. The Avalanche pulled ahead with a Gabriel Landeskog goal, his second of the playoffs, guided in by Samuel Girard and Mikko Rantanen. Colorado extended the lead in the third period as Rantanen scored, thanks to Nathan MacKinnon and Landeskog. The Blues tied it on a Tarasenko power play goal, his second of the game, with assists provided by Robert Thomas and O'Reilly. The Avalanche shot back with a MacKinnon power play empty net goal, his sixth of the postseason, going in unassisted. Colorado iced it at 5-2 with a Valeri Nichushkin power play empty net goal, an unassisted tally. The three stars were Rantanen, Landeskog, and Tarasenko, while MacKinnon and O'Reilly get the honorable mentions. The Avalanche swept the series 4-0 and they're the first team to reach the second round.

Back east, the Washington Capitals bring in the Boston Bruins. Tuukka Rask and Ilya Samsonov protect the nets. Boston dented the scoreboard in the second period with a David Pastrnak goal, his second of the postseason, fueled by Mike Reilly. The Bruins added on with a Patrice Bergeron goal, his second of the playoffs, via Reilly and Pastrnak. Washington got on the board in the third period with a Conor Sheary goal, coming off of T.J. Oshie and Dmitry Orlov. Boston responded with an unassisted Bergeron goal, his second of the game and third of the postseason. This stood for a 3-1 win, with the three stars going to Bergeron, Pastrnak, and Reilly. The Bruins eliminated the Capitals with a 4-1 series win.

Finally, the Winnipeg Jets host the Edmonton Oilers. Mike Smith and Connor Hellebuyck guard the cages. Edmonton started in the first period with a Leon Draisaitl goal, via Slater Koekkoek and Connor McDavid. The Oilers added on with a Draisaitl power play goal, powered by Kailer Yamamoto and McDavid. Winnipeg got on the board in the second period with a Nikolaj Ehlers power play goal, with assists provided by Pierre-Luc Dubois and Neal Pionk. Edmonton shot back with a Zack Kassian goal, fueled by Draisaitl and McDavid. The Oilers extended the lead in the third period as Jujhar Khaira scored, thanks to Adam Larsson and Devin Shore. The Jets got one back with a Mathieu Perreault power play goal, with helpers from Andrew Copp and Dubois. Winnipeg pulled closer with a Blake Wheeler goal, his second of the postseason, assisted by Josh Morrissey and Mark Scheifele. The Jets tied it as Morrissey scored, with the help of Adam Lowry. Winnipeg won 5-4 in overtime with an Ehlers goal, his second of the game, guided in by Paul Stastny. The three stars were Ehlers, Draisaitl, and Morrissey, while Dubois and McDavid get the honorable mentions. The Jets are ahead 3-0 in the series. 

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