NHL 2021 - Playoff Day 15

Two games on as we start to mix rounds in the playoffs. First up...

The Montreal Canadiens host the Toronto Maple Leafs. Jack Campbell and Carey Price are the masked men. Montreal dented the scoreboard in the third period with a Corey Perry power play goal, powered by Tyler Toffoli. The Canadiens added on with a Toffoli power play goal, via Nick Suzuki and Jeff Petry. Toronto got on the board with a Jason Spezza goal, his third of the postseason, coming off of Alexander Kerfoot. The Maple Leafs tied it on a T.J. Brodie goal, assisted by Pierre Engvall. Montreal won 3-2 in overtime with a Jesperi Kotkaniemi goal, his third of the playoffs, guided in by Paul Byron. The three stars were Toffoli, Kotkaniemi, and Perry. The series will go to a Game 7 in Toronto on Monday.

In Boston, the Bruins host the New York Islanders. Ilya Sorokin and Tuukka Rask man the nets. New York led off in the first period with an Anthony Beauvillier power play goal, his fourth of the postseason, powered by Noah Dobson and Jordan Eberle. Boston tied it on a David Pastrnak power play goal, his third of the playoffs, with assists provided by David Krejci and Patrice Bergeron. The Bruins took the lead in the second period with another Pastrnak goal, his second of the game and fourth of the postseason, courtesy of Bergeron and Brad Marchand. The Islanders tied it with an Adam Pelech goal, coming off of Eberle and Leo Komarov. Boston took the lead with a Charlie McAvoy goal in the third period, passed from Krejci. The Bruins added on with a Pastrnak goal to complete his hat trick on his fifth of the playoffs, going in unassisted. Boston won 5-2 with a Taylor Hall power play empty net goal, his third of the postseason, set up by Krejci and Mike Reilly. The three stars were Pastrnak, Krejci, and Bergeron, while Eberle gets an honorable mention. The Bruins established a 1-0 series lead. 

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NHL 2021 - Playoff Day 14

Just one game tonight, as the Vegas Golden Knights and Minnesota Wild duel for a seventh time. Cam Talbot and Marc-Andre Fleury man the nets. Vegas struck first in the first period with a Mattias Janmark goal, passed from Nicolas Roy and Nick Holden. Minnesota tied it on a Zach Parise goal, his second of the postseason, via Joel Eriksson Ek and Ryan Suter. The Golden Knights took the lead back in the second period with a Nicolas Hague goal, coming off of William Karlsson. The Wild tied it again with a Kirill Kaprizov power play goal, his second of the playoffs, powered by Mats Zuccarello and Jared Spurgeon. Vegas retook the lead on a Max Pacioretty goal, fueled by Chandler Stephenson and Shea Theodore. The Golden Knights added on with a Zach Whitecloud goal, assisted by Theodore and Stephenson. Vegas extended the lead in the third period as Janmark scored again, thanks to Nicolas Roy. The Golden Knights iced it at 6-2 with a Janmark empty net goal to complete his hat trick, set up by Alex Tuch and Alex Pietrangelo. The three stars were Janmark, Theodore, and Stephenson, while Roy gets an honorable mention. The Golden Knights won the series 4-3 and will next face the Avalanche. 

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NHL 2021 - Playoff Day 13

Two games on tonight, beginning with...

The Toronto Maple Leafs welcoming the Montreal Canadiens. Carey Price and Jack Campbell are in goal. Montreal led off in the first period with a Joel Armia goal, going in unassisted. The Canadiens added on with another Armia goal, his second of the game, via Corey Perry and Eric Staal. Montreal extended the lead as Jesperi Kotkaniemi scored his second of the postseason in the second period, an unassisted goal. Toronto got on the board with a Zach Hyman goal, coming off of Mitchell Marner and Auston Matthews. The Maple Leafs got closer in the third period with a Jake Muzzin goal, courtesy of Wayne Simmonds and William Nylander. Toronto tied it on a Muzzin goal, his second of the game, made possible by Alex Galchenyuk and Nylander. The Canadiens won 4-3 in overtime with a Nick Suzuki goal, his second of the playoffs, guided in by Cole Caufield. The three stars were Armia, Muzzin, and Nylander. The series heads back to Montreal with the Maple Leafs up 3-2.

Down in Nashville, the Predators bring in the Carolina Hurricanes. Alex Nedeljkovic and Juuse Saros are the goalies. Nashville began in the first period with a Nick Cousins goal, his second of the postseason, passed from Erik Haula and Ben Harpur. Carolina tied it on a Brock McGinn goal, his third of the playoffs, via Martin Necas. The Predators took the lead back in the second period with a Mikael Granlund goal, his second of the postseason, assisted by Ryan Ellis. Nashville added on with a Ryan Johansen power play goal, his third of the playoffs, powered by Roman Josi and Granlund. The Hurricanes got one back with a power play goal by Sebastian Aho, his fourth of the postseason, with assists provided by Dougie Hamilton. Carolina tied it in the third period with a Hamilton goal, guided in by Jaccob Slavin and McGinn. The Hurricanes won 4-3 in overtime with an Aho goal, his second of the game and fifth of the playoffs, fueled by Slavin. The three stars were Aho, Slavin, and Hamilton, while McGinn and Granlund get the honorable mentions. The Hurricanes won the series 4-2.

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NHL 2021 - Playoff Day 12

Three games on tonight, beginning with...

The New York Islanders hosting the Pittsburgh Penguins. Tristan Jarry and Ilya Sorokin are in goal. Pittsburgh led off in the first period with a Jeff Carter goal, his fourth of the postseason, made possible by Kasperi Kapanen and Jason Zucker. New York tied it on an Anthony Beauvillier goal, his third of the playoffs, via Brock Nelson and Josh Bailey. The Penguins took the lead back with a Jake Guentzel power play goal, powered by Kris Letang and Evgeni Malkin. The Islanders tied it again with a Kyle Palmieri goal, his third of the postseason, coming off of Jean-Gabriel Pageau. Pittsburgh took the lead again in the second period with a Zucker goal, his second of the playoffs, guided in by Malkin and Cody Ceci. New York pulled even on a Nelson goal, his second of the postseason, assisted by Bailey and Beauvillier. The Islanders took the lead with a Ryan Pulock goal, his second of the playoffs, fueled by Pageau and Travis Zajac. New York added on with another Nelson goal, his second of the game and third of the postseason, with a helper from Beauvillier. This stood for a 5-3 win, with the three stars going to Nelson, Beauvillier, and Zucker, while Bailey, Pageau, and Malkin get the honorable mentions. The Islanders won the series 4-2 and will face the Bruins in the second round.

Down in Florida, the Tampa Bay Lightning welcome the Florida Panthers. Spencer Knight and Andrei Vasilevskiy protect the nets. Tampa Bay began in the first period with a Patrick Maroon goal, courtesy of Tyler Johnson and Mikhail Sergachev. The Lightning added on with a Steven Stamkos power play goal, his third of the postseason, powered by Victor Hedman and Nikita Kucherov. Tampa Bay extended the lead as Brayden Point scored his fourth of the playoffs, assisted by Kucherov and Erik Cernak. The Lightning iced it at 4-0 with an Alex Killorn empty net goal, his fourth of the postseason, set up by Cernak and Stamkos. The three stars were Vasilevskiy (29 save shutout), Stamkos, and Kucherov, while Cernak gets an honorable mention. The Lightning won the series 4-2 and earned a spot in the second round.

Finally, the Minnesota Wild bring in the Vegas Golden Knights. Marc-Andre Fleury and Cam Talbot tend the twines. Minnesota dented the scoreboard in the third period with a Ryan Hartman goal, his second of the postseason, assisted by Kevin Fiala and Zach Parise. The Wild added on with a Fiala power play goal, powered by Jared Spurgeon and Mats Zuccarello. Minnesota extended the lead as Nick Bjugstad scored, thanks to Nico Sturm and Spurgeon. This made it 3-0, the final, with the three stars going to Talbot (23 save shutout), Fiala, and Spurgeon. The series is tied at 3, and Game 7 is Friday in Vegas. 

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NHL 2021 - Playoff Day 11

Just two games on tonight, beginning with...

The Montreal Canadiens welcoming the Toronto Maple Leafs. Jack Campbell and Carey Price protect the nets. Toronto got going in the second period with a William Nylander goal, his fourth of the postseason, coming off of Alex Galchenyuk and Alexander Kerfoot. The Maple Leafs added on with a Jason Spezza goal, his second of the playoffs, fueled by Galchenyuk and Jake Muzzin. Toronto extended the lead on a Joe Thornton power play goal, powered by Spezza and Kerfoot. The Maple Leafs padded the lead on a Galchenyuk empty net goal in the third period, set up by Kerfoot. The final held at 4-0, with the three stars handed to Campbell (32 save shutout), Galchenyuk, and Kerfoot, while Spezza gets an honorable mention. The Maple Leafs head home with a 3-1 series lead.

Down in Carolina, the Hurricanes bring in the Nashville Predadtors. Juuse Saros and Alex Nedeljkovic are the young goalies. Nashville struck first in the first period with a Yakov Trenin goal, assisted by Roman Josi and . Carolina tied it on a Martin Necas power play goal, powered by Dougie Hamilton. The Predators retook the lead in the second period with a Trenin goal, his second of the game, via Colton Sissons. The Hurricanes retied it in the third period with a Necas goal, his second of the game, courtesy of Jaccob Slavin. Carolina won 3-2 in overtime with a Jordan Staal goal, his fourth of the postseason, going in unassisted. The three stars were Necas, Staal, and Trenin. The Hurricanes are now up 3-2 in the series. 

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NHL 2021 - Playoff Day 10

Five games on for tonight, beginning with...

The Pittsburgh Penguins hosting the New York Islanders. Ilya Sorokin and Tristan Jarry are the goalies. Pittsburgh led off in the first period with an Evgeni Malkin power play goal, powered by Kris Letang and Bryan Rust. New York tied it on an Anthony Beauvillier goal, his second of the postseason, assisted by Josh Bailey and Nick Leddy. The Penguins retook the lead in the second period with a Rust goal, his second of the playoffs, guided in by Sidney Crosby and Letang. The Islanders tied it again with a Jordan Eberle goal in the third period, his second of the postseason, via Leo Komarov and Jean-Gabriel Pageau. New York won 3-2 in double overtime with a Bailey goal, his third of the playoffs, going in unassisted. The three stars were Bailey, Rust, and Letang. The Islanders head home with a 3-2 series lead.

Up in Montreal, the Canadiens welcome the Toronto Maple Leafs. Jack Campbell and Carey Price guard the cages. Toronto got going in the second period with a William Nylander goal, his third of the postseason, via Alexander Kerfoot. Montreal tied it with a Nick Suzuki goal, assisted by Corey Perry and Tomas Tatar. The Maple Leafs regained the lead with a Morgan Rielly goal, coming off of Mitchell Marner and T.J. Brodie. This made it 2-1, the eventual final, with the three stars going to Rielly, Nylander, and Campbell (28 for 29 in saves). The Maple Leafs took a 2-1 series lead. 

Down in Florida, the Panthers host the Tampa Bay Lightning. Andrei Vasilevskiy and Spencer Knight are the masked men. Tampa Bay began in the first period with a Ross Colton goal, his second of the postseason, made possible by Blake Coleman and Ryan McDonagh. Florida tied it in the second period with a MacKenzie Weegar goal, via Jonathan Huberdeau and Sam Bennett. The Panthers took the lead with a Mason Marchment goal, his second of the playoffs, fueled by Aleksander Barkov and Weegar. Florida added on in the third period with a Patric Hornqvist power play goal, his second of the postseason, powered by Barkov and Huberdeau. The Panthers iced it at 4-1 with a Frank Vatrano empty net goal, set up by Hornqvist. The three stars were Weegar, Barkov, and Hornqvist, while Huberdeau and Knights (36 for 37 in saves) get the honorable mentions. The Panthers stayed alive, but trail in the series 3-2. 

Back north, the Winnipeg Jets bring in the Edmonton Oilers. Mike Smith and Connor Hellebuyck tend the twines. Winnipeg started in the first period with a Mark Scheifele power play goal, powered by Blake Wheeler and Josh Morrissey. Edmonton tied it on a Connor McDavid goal, courtesy of Leon Draisaitl and Jesse Puljujarvi. The Jets retook the lead on a Mason Appleton goal, coming off of Morrissey and Adam Lowry. The Oilers tied it again in the second period with a Ryan Nugent-Hopkins goal, assisted by Zack Kassian and Adam Larsson. Edmonton took the lead with an Alex Chiasson power play goal, with assists provided by Draisaitl and Nugent-Hopkins. Winnipeg retied it on a Scheifele goal, his second of the game, made possible by Kyle Connor and Wheeler. The Jets won 4-3 in triple overtime with a Connor goal, his second of the playoffs, guided in by Neal Pionk. The three stars were Connor, Scheifele, and Wheeler, while Morrissey, Nugent-Hopkins, and Draisaitl get the honorable mentions. The Jets swept the series 4-0 and advanced to the second round.

Finally, the Vegas Golden Knights host the Minnesota Wild. Cam Talbot and Marc-Andre Fleury protect the nets. Vegas opened in the first period with a Mark Stone goal, his fourth of the postseason, via Alex Tuch and Nick Holden. Minnesota tied it on a Kirill Kaprizov goal, helped along by Mats Zuccarello. The Wild took the lead with a Zach Parise goal, coming off of Jonas Brodin and Matt Dumba. Minnesota added on with a Jordan Greenway goal, courtesy of Calen Addison. The Golden Knights got one back with an Alec Martinez power play goal, powered by Alex Pietrangelo and Chandler Stephenson. The Wild iced it at 4-2 with a Nico Sturm empty net goal in the third period, going in unassisted. The three stars were Greenway, Parise, and Kaprizov. The Wild stayed alive and will return home trailing 3-2 in the series. 

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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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