Today marks the first chance for an elimination. Our four games begin with...
The Washington Capitals hosting the Florida Panthers. Sergei Bobrovsky and Ilya Samsonov man the nets. Washington started in the first period with a T.J. Oshie power play goal, his third of the postseason, powered by John Carlson and Nicklas Backstrom. Florida tied it on a Carter Verhaeghe goal, his second of the playoffs, via Aaron Ekblad. The Capitals took the lead back in the third period with an Evgeny Kuznetsov goal, his second of the postseason, assisted by Alex Ovechkin and Oshie. The Panthers tied it on a Sam Reinhart goal, helped along by Jonathan Huberdeau and Aleksander Barkov. Florida won 3-2 in overtime with a Verhaeghe goal, his second of the game and third of the playoffs, with helpers from Sam Bennett and Ekblad. The three stars were Verhaeghe, Ekblad, and Oshie. The series is tied at 2-2 heading back to Florida.
Over in Pittsburgh, the Penguins welcome the New York Rangers. Igor Shesterkin faces a lesser foe in Louis Domingue in goal. New York opened in the first period with an Alexis Lafreniere goal, guided in by Braden Schneider. Pittsburgh tied it on a Sidney Crosby power play goal, his second of the postseason, powered by Jake Guentzel and Kris Letang. The Penguins took the lead in the second period with a Mike Matheson goal, via Crosby. Pittsburgh added on with a Guentzel goal, his fifth of the playoffs, fueled by Bryan Rust and Crosby. The Penguins extended the lead as Mark Friedman scored, thanks to Teddy Blueger and Brian Boyle. The Rangers got one back with an Adam Fox goal, his second of the postseason, made possible by Artemi Panarin and Mika Zibanejad. Pittsburgh shot back on a Danton Heinen goal, his second of the playoffs, with a lone assist by Letang. The Penguins padded the lead as Jeff Carter scored his third of the postseason, with the help of Jason Zucker. Pittsburgh finished it at 7-2 in the third period with an Evgeni Malkin goal, his second of the playoffs, helped along by Kasperi Kapanen. The three stars were Crosby, Guentzel and Letang. The Penguins leave home with a 3-1 series lead.
Along to Nashville, as the Predators bring in the Colorado Avalanche. Pavel Francouz and Connor Ingram are the backups in goal. Colorado kicked off the scoring in the first period with an Andre Burakovsky goal, via J.T. Compher and Bowen Byram. Nashville tied it on a Yakov Trenin goal, his second of the postseason, fueled by Colton Sissons. The Avalanche took the lead back in the second period with a Cale Makar goal, his third of the playoffs, guided in by Compher. The Predators tied it with another Trenin goal, his second of the game and third of the postseason, assisted by Sissons and Tanner Jeannot. Nashville took the lead in the third period with a Filip Forsberg goal, with helpers from Mattias Ekholm and Matt Duchene. Colorado retied it on a Devon Toews goal, his third of the playoffs, made possible by Erik Johnson and Burakovsky. The Avalanche gained the lead again with a Valeri Nichushkin goal, his second of the postseason, coming off of Makar and Burakovsky. Colorado iced it at 5-3 with a Nathan MacKinnon power play empty net goal, his fifth of the playoffs, set up by Makar. The three stars were Makar, Burakovsky, and Trenin, while Compher and Sissons get the honorable mentions. The Avalanche swept the series 4-0 and will play in the second round.
Down in Dallas, the Stars host the Calgary Flames. Jacob Markstrom and Jake Oettinger tend the twines. Calgary got going in the second period with a Rasmus Andersson power play goal, powered by Matthew Tkachuk and Tyler Toffoli. The Flames added on with a Johnny Gaudreau penalty shot goal in the third period. Calgary extended the lead as Elias Lindholm scored his third of the postseason, thanks to Gaudreau and Noah Hanifin. Dallas got on the board with a Tyler Seguin power play goal, with assists by Joe Pavelski and Roope Hintz. The Flames iced it at 4-1 with a Mikael Backlund empty net goal, set up by Trevor Lewis. The three stars were Gaudreau, Markstrom (34 for 35 in saves), and Lindholm. The series heads north again tied at 2-2.
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