NHL Playoffs 2023 - Second Round Day 12

We're into single-game days now. This Saturday, the Seattle Kraken host the Dallas Stars. Jake Oettinger and Philipp Grubauer man the nets. Seattle began in the first period with a Yanni Gourde goal, his fourth of the postseason, via Eeli Tolvanen and Justin Schultz. Dallas tied it on a Mason Marchment goal, his fourth of the playoffs, coming off of Tyler Seguin and Max Domi. The Kraken retook the lead with a Jordan Eberle power play goal, his fifth of the postseason, powered by Tolvanen and Jared McCann. Seattle added on in the second period with a Tolvanen goal, his third of the playoffs, fueled by Oliver Bjorkstrand and Gourde. The Kraken extended the lead as Tye Kartye scored his third of the postseason, thanks to Matty Beniers and Vince Dunn. Scott Wedgewood replaced Oettinger in goal. The Stars got one back with a Joe Pavelski power play goal, his eighth of the playoffs, with assists provided by Miro Heiskanen and Jason Robertson. Seattle responded in the third period with a Beniers goal, his third of the postseason, made possible by Eberle and Jaden Schwartz. Dallas got one back on a Joel Kiviranta goal, passed from Thomas Harley and Radek Faksa. The Kraken iced it at 6-3 with an Eberle empty net goal, his second of the game and sixth of the playoffs, set up by Alexander Wennberg. The three stars were given to Tolvanen, Gourde, and Beniers, while Eberle gets an honorable mention. The series heads back to Dallas tied at 3-3. 

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NHL Playoffs 2023 - Second Round Day 11

Two games on tonight, beginning with...

The Toronto Maple Leafs welcoming the Florida Panthers. Sergei Bobrovsky and Joseph Woll are in goal. Florida began in the first period with an Aaron Ekblad power play goal, powered by Gustav Forsling and Carter Verhaeghe. The Panthers added on with a Verhaeghe goal, his fifth of the postseason, assisted by Anthony Duclair and Ekblad. Toronto got on the board in the second period with a Morgan Rielly goal, his fourth of the playoffs, via Sam Lafferty and David Kampf. The Maple Leafs tied it on a William Nylander goal in the third period, his fourth of the postseason, coming off of John Tavares and T.J. Brodie. Florida won 3-2 in overtime with a Nick Cousins goal, his second of the playoffs, helped along by Radko Gudas. The three stars were Cousins, Ekblad, and Verhaeghe. The Panthers won the series 4-1 and head to the Eastern Conference Finals against the Carolina Hurricanes. 

Out west, the Vegas Golden Knights bring in the Edmonton Oilers. Stuart Skinner and Adin Hill are between the pipes. Edmonton led off in the first period with a Connor McDavid power play goal, his sixth of the postseason, powered by Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Zach Hyman. Vegas tied it on a Jack Eichel goal, his sixth of the playoffs, via Alec Martinez and Jonathan Marchessault. The Oilers retook the lead with a Hyman power play goal, his third of the postseason, with assists provided by Nugent-Hopkins and Evan Bouchard. The Golden Knights tied it on a Mark Stone power play goal in the second period, his fifth of the playoffs, guided in by Eichel and Marchessault. Vegas pulled ahead on a Reilly Smith power play goal, fueled by Ivan Barbashev and William Karlsson. The Golden Knights added on with a Nicolas Hague goal, with helpers from Eichel and Marchessault. Jack Campbell relieved Skinner. Edmonton got one back in the third period with a McDavid power play goal, his second of the game and seventh of the postseason, passed from Bouchard. The final held at 4-3, with the three stars going to Eichel, McDavid, and Marchessault, while Hyman, Nugent-Hopkins, and Bouchard get the honorable mentions. The Golden Knights are up 3-2 in the series. 

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NHL 2023 Playoffs - Second Round Day 10

We've got two games today, beginning with...

The Carolina Hurricanes welcoming the New Jersey Devils. Akira Schmid and Frederik Andersen patrol the creases. New Jersey led off in the first period with a Dawson Mercer goal, his third of the postseason, via Timo Meier and Michael McLeod. Carolina tied it on a Jaccob Slavin goal in the second period, his second of the playoffs, guided in by Jordan Martinook. The Devils retook the lead on a Meier power play goal, his second of the postseason, powered by Dougie Hamilton and Jack Hughes. The Hurricanes retied it on a Brent Burns goal, his second of the playoffs, going in unassisted. Carolina won 3-2 in overtime on a Jesper Fast power play goal, his fifth of the postseason, with assists provided by Jesperi Kotkaniemi and Shayne Gostisbehere. The three stars were Fast, Burns, and Meier. The Hurricanes won the series 4-1 and will play in the Eastern Conference Finals. 

Southwest to Dallas, as the Stars bring in the Seattle Kraken. Philipp Grubauer and Jake Oettinger man the nets. Dallas began in the first period with a Wyatt Johnston goal, his third of the postseason, coming off of Jamie Benn. The Stars added on with a Roope Hintz goal, his seventh of the playoffs, via Thomas Harley and Jason Robertson. Dallas extended the lead as Joe Pavelski scored his seventh of the postseason in the second period, thanks to Robertson and Hintz. Seattle got on the board with an Adam Larsson goal, his second of the playoffs, helped along by Jordan Eberle and Tye Kartye. The Kraken got closer with a Jared McCann goal, assisted by Yanni Gourde and Brandon Tanev. The Stars shot back on a Hintz goal in the third period, his second of the game and eighth of the postseason, fueled by Pavelski and Robertson. Dallas iced it at 5-2 with a Radek Faksa empty net goal, going in unassisted. The three stars were given to Hintz, Robertson, and Pavelski. The Stars have a 3-2 series lead heading back to Seattle for Game 6. 

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NHL Playoffs 2023 - Second Round Day 9

We're up for two games on a Wednesday. First up...

The Florida Panthers welcome the Toronto Maple Leafs. Joseph Woll and Sergei Bobrovsky are in the creases. Toronto got going in the second period with a William Nylander power play goal, his third of the postseason, powered by Michael Bunting and Mitch Marner. The Maple Leafs added on in the third period with a Marner goal, his third of the playoffs, coming off of Jake McCabe. Florida got on the board with a Sam Reinhart power play goal, his sixth of the postseason, via Matthew Tkachuk and Sam Bennett. The final held at 2-1, with the three stars given to Marner, Woll (24 for 25 in saves), and Nylander. The Maple Leafs kept their season going, but they're still down 3-1 in the series.

Northwest to Edmonton, as the Oilers bring in the Vegas Golden Knights. Adin Hill and Stuart Skinner man the nets. Edmonton kicked off the scoring in the first period with a Nick Bjugstad goal, his third of the postseason, via Klim Kostin. The Oilers added on with an Evan Bouchard power play goal, his fourth of the playoffs, powered by Connor McDavid and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. Edmonton extended the lead as Mattias Ekholm scored, thanks to Leon Draisaitl and Kailer Yamamoto. The Oilers padded the lead on a Nugent-Hopkins goal in the second period, helped along by McDavid and Darnell Nurse. Vegas got on the board in the third period with a Nicolas Roy goal, guided in by William Carrier and Shea Theodore. This only made it 4-1, the final, with the three stars being Nugent-Hopkins, McDavid, and Skinner. The series is tied at 2-2 heading back to Nevada. 

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NHL Playoffs 2023 - Second Round Day 8

There's two games on today, beginning with...

The New Jersey Devils welcoming the Carolina Hurricanes. Frederik Andersen and Vitek Vanecek man the nets. New Jersey opened in the first period with a Jack Hughes goal, his sixth of the postseason, via Timo Meier. Carolina tied it on a Martin Necas goal, his third of the playoffs, assisted by Jordan Martinook and Jaccob Slavin. The Hurricanes took the lead in the second period on a Necas goal, his second of the game and fourth of the postseason, passed from Brett Pesce and Jordan Staal. Carolina added on with a Pesce goal, his second of the playoffs, fueled by Jack Drury and Staal. The Hurricanes extended the lead as Jesper Fast scored his fourth of the postseason, thanks to Jalen Chatfield. Carolina padded the lead on a Brent Burns goal, guided in by Jesperi Kotkaniemi and Martinook. Akira Schmid replaced Vanecek in goal. The Hurricanes continued with a Martinook goal, his third of the playoffs, coming off of Burns. The final held at 6-1, with the three stars awarded to Martinook, Necas, and Pesce, while Burns and Staal get the honorable mentions. The Hurricanes return home with a 3-1 series lead.

Out west, the Seattle Kraken bring in the Dallas Stars. Jake Oettinger and Philipp Grubauer tend the twines. Dallas started in the first period with a Jamie Benn power play goal, his second of the postseason, powered by Roope Hintz and Miro Heiskanen. The Stars added on with a Thomas Harley goal in the second period, helped along by Max Domi and Joel Kiviranta. Dallas extended the lead as Domi scored his second of the playoffs, thanks to Joel Hanley and Harley. The Stars padded the lead on a Joe Pavelski power play goal, his sixth of the postseason, assisted by Jason Robertson and Heiskanen. Seattle got on the board with a Jaden Schwartz goal, his fourth of the playoffs, coming off of Justin Schultz and Morgan Geekie. Dallas replied with a Hintz goal, his sixth of the postseason, courtesy of Benn. Martin Jones relieved Grubauer for the third period. The Kraken got one back on a Schwartz goal, his second of the game and fifth of the playoffs, made possible by Oliver Bjorkstrand and Vince Dunn. Seattle got closer with an Adam Larsson goal, passed from Dunn and Matty Beniers. The Stars iced it at 6-3 with a Domi empty net goal, his second of the game and third of the postseason, set up by Dadonov and Esa Lindell. The three stars were Domi, Benn, and Hintz, while Harley, Schwartz, Dadonov, and Dunn get the honorable mentions. The series head back to Dallas tied at 2-2. 

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NHL Playoffs 2023 - Second Round Day 7

It's another one-game day here, with the Edmonton Oilers hosting the Vegas Golden Knights. Laurent Brossoit and Stuart Skinner get the starts in goal. Edmonton began in the first period with a Warren Foegele goal, via Derek Ryan and Ryan McLeod. Vegas tied it on a Jonathan Marchessault goal, courtesy of Jack Eichel. Adin Hill replaced an injured Brossoit. The Golden Knights took the lead with another Marchessault goal, again coming off of Eichel. Vegas added on with a Zach Whitecloud goal in the second period, passed from Reilly Smith and Nicolas Hague. The Golden Knights extended the lead as Eichel scored his fifth of the postseason, thanks to Brayden McNabb. Vegas padded the lead on a Chandler Stephenson goal, his sixth of the playoffs, assisted by Nicolas Roy and Alec Martinez. Jack Campbell relieved Skinner for the third period. The final held at 5-1, with the three stars going to Marchessault, Eichel, and Hill (25 for 25 in saves in relief). The Golden Knights are ahead 2-1 in the series. 

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NHL Playoffs 2023 - Second Round Day 6

It's a three-game day this time, beginning with...

The New Jersey Devils hosting the Carolina Hurricanes. Frederik Andersen and Vitek Vanecek are the goalies. New Jersey opened in the first period with a Timo Meier goal, via Jack Hughes and Dawson Mercer. The Devils added on with a Jack Hughes goal, his fourth of the postseason, assisted by Brendan Smith and Mercer. New Jersey extended the lead on a Michael McLeod shorthanded goal, his second of the playoffs, set up by Nico Hischier and John Marino. The Devils padded the lead in the second period on a Hischier goal, coming off of Jesper Bratt and Ondrej Palat. Pyotr Kochetkov replaced Andersen in goal. Carolina got on the board with a Sebastian Aho goal, his fifth of the postseason, passed from Seth Jarvis and Jaccob Slavin. New Jersey countered with a Damon Severson goal, helped along by Luke Hughes and Jack Hughes. The Hurricanes fired back with a Jordan Martinook shorthanded penalty shot goal, his second of the playoffs. The Devils countered with a Miles Wood goal in the third period, his second of the postseason, courtesy of Marino and the goalie Vanecek. New Jersey padded the lead as Jack Hughes scored his second of the game and fifth of the playoffs, with the help of Mercer and Jonas Siegenthaler. Carolina answered on a Jordan Staal shorthanded goal, his second of the postseason, with a helper from Martinook. The Hurricanes got closer with a Seth Jarvis shorthanded goal, his fourth of the playoffs, passed from Jesper Fast. The Devils shot back with a Palat power play goal, his third of the postseason, powered by Bratt and Luke Hughes. This made it 8-4, the final, with the three stars given to Jack Hughes, Mercer, and Hischier, while Palat, Bratt, Marino, Luke Hughes, Martinook, and Jarvis get the honorable mentions. The Hurricanes remain ahead 2-1 in the series. 

Down in Florida, the Panthers welcome the Toronto Maple Leafs. Ilya Samsonov and Sergei Bobrovsky protect the nets. Toronto started in the first period with a Sam Lafferty goal, assisted by David Kampf and Morgan Rielly. Joseph Woll replaced an injured Samsonov in the second period. Florida tied it on an Anthony Duclair power play goal in the second period, his second of the postseason, powered by Aaron Ekblad. The Maple Leafs took the lead with an Erik Gustafsson goal, via William Nylander and Jake McCabe. The Panthers tied it on a Carter Verhaeghe goal, his fourth of the playoffs, guided in by Radko Gudas and Josh Mahura. Florida won 3-2 in overtime with a Sam Reinhart goal, his fifth of the postseason, helped along by Anton Lundell. The three stars were Reinhart, Verhaeghe, and Duclair. The Panthers are on the brink of a sweep with a 3-0 series lead. 

Finally, the Seattle Kraken bring in the Dallas Stars. Jake Oettinger and Philipp Grubauer tend the twines. Seattle got going in the second period with a Jordan Eberle goal, his fourth of the postseason, via Tye Kartye and Matty Beniers. The Kraken added on with an Alexander Wennberg goal, his second of the playoffs, made possible by Jaden Schwartz and Vince Dunn. Seattle extended the lead as Carson Soucy scored, thanks to Ryan Donato and Justin Schultz. The Kraken padded the lead on an unassisted Matty Beniers goal, his second of the postseason. Dallas got on the board with a Mason Marchment goal, his third of the playoffs, guided in by Evgenii Dadonov. Seattle replied with an Eeli Tolvanen goal, his second of the postseason, going in unassisted. Scott Wedgewood replaced Oettinger for the third period. The Kraken kept going with a Yanni Gourde shorthanded goal, his third of the playoffs, set up by Brandon Tanev. The Stars got one back on a Jani Hakanpaa goal, with a lone assist by Jamie Benn. Seattle finished it at 7-2 with a Schultz power play goal, his third of the postseason, powered by Tolvanen and Wennberg. The three stars were Beniers, Tolvanen, and Wennberg, while Schultz gets an honorable mention. The Kraken pulled ahead 2-1 in the series. 

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