NHL Playoffs 2024 - Day 12

There's two games this Wednesday, beginning with...

The Dallas Stars welcoming the Vegas Golden Knights. Adin Hill and Jake Oettinger are the masked men. Vegas opened in the first period with a Mark Stone power play goal, his second of the postseason, powered by Noah Hanifin and Jack Eichel. Dallas tied it on an Evgenii Dadonov goal, his second of the playoffs, courtesy of Logan Stankoven and Wyatt Johnston. The Stars took the lead with a Matt Duchene power play goal, with helpers from Johnston and Tyler Seguin. The Golden Knights retied it on a William Carrier goal, passed from Ivan Barbashev and Brayden McNabb. Dallas pulled ahead in the second period with a Jason Robertson power play goal, his third of the postseason, coming off of Miro Heiskanen and Jamie Benn. The final held at 3-2, with the three stars being Johnson, Robertson, and Duchene. The Stars leave home this time with a 3-2 series lead. 

Up in Edmonton, the Oilers bring in the Los Angeles Kings. David Rittich and Stuart Skinner patrol the creases. Edmonton started in the first period with an Evander Kane goal, his second of the postseason, fueled by Brett Kulak and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. Los Angeles tied it on an Alex Laferriere goal, coming off of Vladislav Gavrikov and Matt Roy. The Kings took the lead in the second period with a Blake Lizotte goal, helped along by Viktor Arvidsson and Andreas Englund. The Oilers tied it on a Leon Draisaitl power play goal, his fourth of the playoffs, powered by Connor McDavid and Evan Bouchard. Edmonton took the lead with another Draisaitl goal, his second of the game and fifth of the postseason, made possible by McDavid and Bouchard. The Oilers added on with a Zach Hyman goal, his seventh of the playoffs, with helpers from Nugent-Hopkins and Bouchard. Los Angeles got one back in the third period with an Adrian Kempe goal, his fourth of the postseason, guided in by Roy and Kevin Fiala. This only made it 4-3, the final, with the three stars being Draisaitl, Bouchard, and McDavid, while Nugent-Hopkins and Roy get the honorable mentions. The Oilers won the series 4-1 and will face the Canucks or the Predators in the second round. 

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NHL Playoffs 2024 - Day 11

We've got four games this Tuesday. First up...

The Boston Bruins host the Toronto Maple Leafs. Joseph Woll and Jeremy Swayman are in the blue paint. Toronto led off in the first period with a Jake McCabe goal, via Mitchell Marner and Max Domi. Boston tied it on a Trent Frederic goal, his third of the postseason, courtesy of Pat Maroon. The Maple Leafs won 2-1 in overtime with a Matthew Knies goal, his second of the playoffs, assisted by John Tavares and Ilya Lyubushkin. The three stars were Knies, Woll (28 for 29 in saves), and McCabe. The Bruins remain ahead 3-2 in the series as it shifts back to Toronto.

Down in Raleigh, the Carolina Hurricanes welcome the New York Islanders. Semyon Varlamov and Frederik Andersen are the veterans in goal. Carolina began in the first period with a Teuvo Teravainen goal, his second of the postseason, passed from Seth Jarvis and Jaccob Slavin. The Hurricanes added on with an Andrei Svechnikov power play goal, powered by Jarvis and Brent Burns. New York got on the board with a Mike Reilly power play goal, with assists provided by Mathew Barzal and Brock Nelson. Carolina replied with an Evgeny Kuznetsov penalty shot goal, his second of the playoffs. The Islanders got one back in the second period on a Nelson goal, his second of the postseason, coming off of Kyle Palmieri and Ryan Pulock. New York tied it on a Casey Cizikas goal, helped along by Barzal and Pulock. The Hurricanes retook the lead in the third period with a Jack Drury goal, assisted by Brady Skjei and Martin Necas. Carolina extended the lead as Stefan Noesen scored his third of the playoffs, thanks to Skjei and Kuznetsov. The Hurricanes padded the lead on a Jarvis empty net goal, his third of the postseason, going in unassisted. This made it 6-3, the final, with the three stars being Jarvis, Kuznetsov, and Skjei, while Nelson, Barzal, and Pulock get the honorable mentions. The Hurricanes won the series 4-1 and will face the Rangers in the second round.

Northwest to Winnipeg, as the Jets bring in the Colorado Avalanche. Alexandar Georgiev and Connor Hellebuyck tend the twines. Winnipeg started in the first period with a Kyle Connor goal, his third of the postseason, going in unassisted. Colorado tied it on a Valeri Nichushkin goal, his seventh of the playoffs, passed from Devon Toews and Mikko Rantanen. The Avalanche pulled ahead in the second period with a Yakov Trenin goal, via Josh Manson and Andrew Cogliano. The Jets retied it on a Josh Morrissey power play goal, his third of the postseason, powered by Mark Scheifele and Gabriel Vilardi. Colorado retook the lead with an Artturi Lehkonen goal, his fifth of the playoffs, an unassisted goal. Winnipeg tied it again in the third period with a Tyler Toffoli goal, his second of the postseason, courtesy of Nikolaj Ehlers and Colin Miller. The Avalanche regained the lead on a Rantanen goal, with helpers from Toews and Nathan MacKinnon. Colorado added on with another Rantanen goal, helped along by MacKinnon and Cale Makar. The Avalanche iced it at 6-3 with an empty net goal by Manson, his second of the playoffs, set up by Casey Mittelstadt. The three stars went to Rantanen, Toews, and Manson, while MacKinnon gets an honorable mention. The Avalanche won the series 4-1 and will face either the Stars or the Golden Knights in the second round.

Finally, the Vancouver Canucks host the Nashville Predators. Juuse Saros and Arturs Silovs receive the starts in goal. Vancouver dented the scoreboard in the third period with a Nikita Zadorov goal, his second of the postseason, via Quinn Hughes. Nashville tied it on a Roman Josi power play goal, powered by Filip Forsberg and Tyson Barrie. The Predators took the lead with an Alexandre Carrier goal, passed from Gustav Nyquist. This stood for a 2-1 win, with the three stars being Carrier, Forsberg, and Josi. The Canucks remain ahead 3-2 in the series. 

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NHL Playoffs 2024 - Day 10

There are two games on this Monday, beginning with...

The Florida Panthers welcoming the Tampa Bay Lightning. Andrei Vasilevskiy and Sergei Bobrovsky tend the twines. Florida got going in the second period with a Carter Verhaeghe goal, his fourth of the postseason, via Aleksander Barkov and Niko Mikkola. The Panthers added on with a Barkov shorthanded goal, set up by Aaron Ekblad and Gustav Forsling. Tampa Bay got on the board with a Victor Hedman goal, coming off of Nikita Kucherov and Brandon Hagel. Florida fired back in the third period with a Barkov goal, his second of the game, assisted by Matthew Tkachuk and Verhaeghe. The Panthers extended the lead as Evan Rodrigues scored, thanks to Kevin Stenlund and Vladimir Tarasenko. Florida padded the lead on a Verhaeghe empty net goal, his second of the game and fifth of the playoffs, with a lone assist by Tkachuk. The Panthers iced it at 6-1 with a Mikkola empty net goal, with helpers from Anton Lundell and Eetu Luostarinen. The three stars were Verhaeghe, Barkov, and Mikkola, while Tkachuk gets an honorable mention. The Panthers won the series 4-1 and will face either the Bruins or the Maple Leafs in the second round. 

Out west, the Vegas Golden Knights bring in the Dallas Stars. Jake Oettinger and Logan Thompson guard the cages. Vegas struck first in the first period with a Michael Amadio goal, courtesy of Brayden McNabb and Brett Howden. Dallas tied it on an Evgenii Dadonov goal, via Ryan Suter. The Golden Knights took the lead back in the second period with a Jack Eichel goal, his third of the postseason, passed from Jonathan Marchessault and Ivan Barbashev. The Stars tied it on a Wyatt Johnston power play goal, his third of the playoffs powered by Matt Duchene and Tyler Seguin. Dallas took the lead with a Ty Dellandrea goal, coming off of Craig Smith and Sam Steel. The Stars iced it at 4-2 with a Roope Hintz empty net goal in the third period, going in unassisted. The three stars were Johnston, Dadonov, and Dellandrea. The series is tied at 2-2 heading back to Dallas. 

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NHL Playoffs 2024 - Day 9

There's four more games on this Sunday, beginning with...

The Colorado Avalanche hosting the Winnipeg Jets. Connor Hellebuyck and Alexandar Georgiev protect the nets. Colorado started in the first period with an Artturi Lehkonen goal, his fourth of the postseason, via Casey Mittelstadt. Winnipeg tied it on a Nate Schmidt goal, coming off of Mason Appleton and Josh Morrissey. The Avalanche took the lead with a Valeri Nichushkin power play goal in the second period, his fourth of the playoffs, powered by Cale Makar and Nathan MacKinnon. Colorado added on with a Makar goal, his second of the postseason, going in unassisted. The Avalanche extended the lead as Nichushkin scored another power play goal, his second of the game and fifth of the playoffs, with the help of Lehkonen and MacKinnon. Colorado iced it at 5-1 with an empty net goal by Nichushkin to complete his hat trick on his sixth of the postseason, set up by Mikko Rantanen. The three stars were Nichushkin, Lehkonen, and Makar, while MacKinnon gets an honorable mention. The Avalanche leave home ahead 3-1 in the series.

East to Nashville, as the Predators welcome the Vancouver Canucks. Arturs Silovs is mismatched with Juuse Saros in goal. Vancouver opened in the first period with a Brock Boeser goal, his second of the postseason, made possible by J.T. Miller and Carson Soucy. Nashville tied it on a Mark Jankowski goal, via Jeremy Lauzon and Alexandre Carrier. The Predators took the lead in the second period with a Gustav Nyquist goal, helped along by Ryan O'Reilly. Nashville added on in the third period with a Filip Forsberg goal, his second of the playoffs, passed from Roman Josi and Ryan McDonagh. The Canucks got one back with another Boeser goal, his second of the game and third of the postseason, with helpers from Elias Lindholm and Miller. Vancouver tied it as Boeser finished his hat trick with his fourth of the playoffs, thanks to Miller and Elias Pettersson. The Canucks won 4-3 in overtime on a Lindholm goal, his second of the postseason, made possible by Conor Garland. The three stars were Boeser, Lindholm, and Miller. The Canucks head home leading the series 3-1.

Up in DC, the Washington Capitals bring in the New York Rangers. Igor Shesterkin and Charlie Lindgren patrol the creases. New York led off in the first period with an unassisted Kaapo Kakko goal. Washington tied it on a Martin Fehervary goal, his second of the postseason, assisted by Aliaksei Protas and Dylan Strome. The Rangers took the lead back with a Vincent Trocheck power play goal, his third of the playoffs, powered by Mika Zibanejad and Artemi Panarin. The Capitals retied it in the second period with a Hendrix Lapierre goal, coming off of Alexander Alexeyev. New York regained the lead with a Panarin power play goal, his second of the postseason, with assists provided by Zibanejad and Adam Fox in the third period. The Rangers iced it at 4-2 with an empty net power play goal by Jack Roslovic, his second of the playoffs, set up by Alexis Lafreniere and Jacob Trouba.

Finally, the Los Angeles Kings host the Edmonton Oilers. Stuart Skinner faces a lesser foe in David Rittich in goal. Edmonton got going in the second period with an Evan Bouchard power play goal, powered by Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid. This held for a 1-0 win, with the three stars awarded to Skinner, Bouchard, and Rittich (12 for 13 in saves). The Oilers head home carrying a 3-1 series lead. 

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NHL Playoffs 2024 - Day 8

It's a four-game Saturday, beginning with...

The New York Islanders hosting the Carolina Hurricanes. Frederik Andersen and Semyon Varlamov protect the nets. Carolina started in the first period with a Seth Jarvis power play goal, his second of the postseason, powered by Jake Guentzel. New York tied it on a Mathew Barzal goal, via Adam Pelech and Bo Horvat in the second period. The Islanders pulled ahead with a Jean-Gabriel Pageau power play goal, with assists provided by Noah Dobson and Anders Lee. The Hurricanes retied it on a Stefan Noesen power play goal, his second of the playoffs, passed from Teuvo Teravainen and Martin Necas. New York won 3-2 in double overtime on a Barzal goal, his second of the game, assisted by Robert Bortuzzo and Horvat. The three stars were Barzal, Horvat, and Pageau. The Hurricanes will head home up 3-1 in the series.

Down in Tampa Bay, the Lightning welcome the Florida Panthers. Sergei Bobrovsky and Andrei Vasilevskiy tend the twines. Tampa Bay opened in the first period with a Steven Stamkos power play goal, his fourth of the postseason, powered by Brayden Point and Brandon Hagel. The Lightning added on with a Hagel shorthanded goal, his second of the playoffs, set up by Victor Hedman. Tampa Bay extended the lead as Point scored his second of the postseason, thanks to Nikita Kucherov and Hedman. Florida got on the board in the second period with a Carter Verhaeghe goal, his third of the playoffs, guided in by Matthew Tkachuk and Anton Lundell. The Lightning answered with a Hagel goal, his second of the game and third of the postseason, via Mikhail Sergachev and Anthony Cirelli. The Panthers got one back with a Sam Reinhart goal, his third of the playoffs, courtesy of Brandon Montour and Tkachuk. Florida pulled closer with an Oliver Ekman-Larsson goal, coming off of Evan Rodrigues and Eetu Luostarinen. Tampa Bay replied with a Stamkos goal, his second of the game and fifth of the postseason, with helpers from Kucherov and Point. The Lightning padded the lead on a Nick Paul power play goal, his second of the playoffs, with assists provided by Kucherov and Hedman. The final held at 6-3, with the three stars given to Stamkos, Hagel, and Point, while Hedman, Kucherov, and Tkachuk get the honorable mentions. The Panthers are still ahead 3-1 in the series.

Back north, the Toronto Maple Leafs bring in the Boston Bruins. Jeremy Swayman and Ilya Samsonov are in the blue paint. Boston led off in the first period with a James van Riemsdyk goal, via Mason Lohrei. The Bruins added on with a Brad Marchand power play goal in the second period, his third of the postseason, powered by Charlie McAvoy and Charlie Coyle. Boston extended the lead as David Pastrnak scored his second of the playoffs, thanks to Marchand and Pavel Zacha. Joseph Woll replaced Samsonov in goal. Toronto got on the board in the third period with a Mitchell Marner goal, coming off of Ilya Lyubushkin and Tyler Bertuzzi. The final stood at 3-1, with the three stars being Marchand, Swayman (25 for 26 in saves), and Pastrnak. The Bruins head home leading the series 3-1.

Finally, the Vegas Golden Knights host the Dallas Stars. Jake Oettinger and Logan Thompson are between the pipes. Dallas began in the first period with a Wyatt Johnston goal, courtesy of Jason Robertson and Miro Heiskanen. The Stars added on in the second period with a Heiskanen goal, via Tyler Seguin and Evgenii Dadonov. Vegas got on the board with a Brayden McNabb goal, his second of the postseason, passed from Chandler Stephenson. The Golden Knights tied it with a shorthanded Jack Eichel goal, his second of the playoffs, set up by McNabb. Dallas won 3-2 in overtime with another Johnston goal, coming off of Robertson and Ryan Suter. The three stars were Johnston, Heiskanen, and McNabb, while Robertson gets an honorable mention. The Golden Knights are still ahead 2-1 in the series. 

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NHL Playoffs 2024 - Day 7

We're back to four games for Friday, beginning with...

The Washington Capitals hosting the New York Rangers. Igor Shesterkin and Charlie Lindgren are the goalies. Washington led off in the first period with a John Carlson goal, assisted by T.J. Oshie and Martin Fehervary. New York tied it on a Chris Kreider goal, his second of the postseason, passed from Mika Zibanejad and Jack Roslovic. The Rangers took the lead with a Barclay Goodrow shorthanded goal, set up by Vincent Trocheck and Jacob Trouba. New York added on in the second period with a Trocheck power play goal, his second of the playoffs powered by Zibanejad and Adam Fox. This stood for a 3-1 win, with the three stars given to Trocheck, Shesterkin (28 for 29 in saves), and Zibanejad. The Rangers are on the precipice of advancing with a 3-0 series lead.

Down in Nashville, the Predators welcome the Vancouver Canucks. Casey DeSmith and Juuse Saros man the nets. Vancouver began in the first period with a J.T. Miller power play goal, powered by Quinn Hughes and Elias Pettersson. The Canucks added on in the second period with a Brock Boeser power play goal, with assists provided by Miller and Hughes. Nashville got on the board in the third period with a Luke Evangelista goal, made possible by Jason Zucker and Alexandre Carrier. This only made it 2-1, the final, with the three stars going to Miller, Hughes, and DeSmith (29 for 30 in saves). The Canucks lead the series 2-1. 

West to Colorado, as the Avalanche bring in the Winnipeg Jets. Connor Hellebuyck and Alexandar Georgiev tend the twines. Colorado opened in the first period with a Zach Parise goal, his second of the postseason, assisted by Josh Manson and Casey Mittelstadt. Winnipeg tied it in the second period with a Tyler Toffoli goal, fueled by Dylan DeMelo and Nikolaj Ehlers. The Jets took the lead on a Josh Morrissey power play goal, his second of the playoffs, powered by Mark Scheifele and Sean Monahan. The Avalanche tied it in the third period with a Nathan MacKinnon power play goal, his second of the postseason, with assists provided by Mikko Rantanen and Cale Makar. Colorado took the lead with a Valeri Nichushkin power play goal, his third of the playoffs, made possible by Rantanen and MacKinnon. The Avalanche added on with an Artturi Lehkonen goal, his third of the postseason, helped along by Mittelstadt and Devon Toews. Colorado extended the lead as Ross Colton scored, thanks to Mittelstadt and Samuel Girard. The Avalanche iced it at 6-2 with a shorthanded empty net goal by Toews, set up by Andrew Cogliano. The three stars were MacKinnon, Mittelstadt, and Toews, while Rantanen gets an honorable mention. The Avalanche pulled ahead 2-1 in the series.

Finally, the Los Angeles Kings host the Edmonton Oilers. Stuart Skinner and Cam Talbot are the masked men. Edmonton started in the first period with a Zach Hyman goal, his fifth of the postseason, via Mattias Ekholm. The Oilers added on with a Leon Draisaitl goal, his second of the playoffs, passed from Evander Kane and Darnell Nurse. Edmonton extended the lead on a Connor McDavid power play goal, powered by Evan Bouchard and Draisaitl. Los Angeles got on the board in the second period with a Drew Doughty goal, his second of the postseason, guided in by Quinton Byfield and Mikey Anderson. The Oilers replied with a Kane goal, helped along by Cody Ceci and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. Edmonton padded the lead in the third period with a Hyman power play goal, his second of the game and sixth of the playoffs, fueled by McDavid and Nugent-Hopkins. The Oilers kept going with another Draisaitl power play goal, his second of the game and third of the postseason, with assists provided by McDavid and Nugent-Hopkins. The final was 6-1, with the three stars handed to Draisaitl, Hyman, and McDavid, while Nugent-Hopkins and Kane get the honorable mentions. The Oilers have a 2-1 series lead. 

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NHL Playoffs 2024 - Day 6

There's just two games on today due to travel. First up...

The Tampa Bay Lightning welcome the Florida Panthers. Sergei Bobrovsky and Andrei Vasilevskiy guard the cages. Florida opened in the first period with a Matthew Tkachuk goal, his second of the postseason, via Anton Lundell and Carter Verhaeghe. Tampa Bay tied it in the second period with a Steven Stamkos goal, his third of the playoffs, assisted by Victor Hedman and Nikita Kucherov. The Lightning pulled ahead with a Tyler Motte goal, helped along by Tanner Jeannot. The Panthers retied it on a Sam Reinhart goal, his second of the postseason, courtesy of Vladimir Tarasenko and Brandon Montour. Florida pulled ahead with a Montour goal, passed from Steven Lorentz and Kyle Okposo. The Panthers added on in the third period with a Lorentz goal, coming off of Nick Cousins and Gustav Forsling. Tampa Bay pulled one back with a Nick Paul goal, made possible by Anthony Ducalir and Erik Cernak. Florida iced it at 5-3 with an empty net goal by Tkachuk, his second of the game and third of the playoffs, set up by Verhaeghe and Forsling. The three stars were Tkachuk, Lorentz, and Montour, while Forsling and Verhaeghe get the honorable mentions. The Panthers are on the cusp of advancing with a 3-0 series lead.

Up in New York, the Islanders bring in the Carolina Hurricanes. Frederik Andersen and Ilya Sorokin tend the twines. Carolina started in the first period with a Brent Burns goal, made possible by Martin Necas and Teuvo Teravainen. The Hurricanes added on with a Dmitry Orlov goal, coming off of Andrei Svechnikov and Jake Guentzel. New York got on the board in the second period with a Pierre Engvall goal, guided in by Anders Lee and Adam Pelech. Carolina shot back with a Sebastian Aho goal, his second of the postseason, via Svechnikov and Jalen Chatfield. Semyon Varlamov replaced Sorokin in goal. The Islanders got one back with a Brock Nelson goal, fueled by Kyle Palmieri and Ryan Pulock. The final remained at 3-2, with the three stars going to Svechnikov, Aho, and Orlov. The Hurricanes are a step away from a series win, leading 3-0. 

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