NHL 2021 - Playoff Day 27

Another single game today, as the Vegas Golden Knights host the Colorado Avalanche. Philipp Grubauer and Marc-Andre Fleury man the nets. Colorado opened in the first period with a Devon Toews goal, courtesy of Nathan MacKinnon and Brandon Saad. Vegas tied it on a Nick Holden goal, via Reilly Smith and Nicolas Roy. The Golden Knights pulled ahead with a William Karlsson goal, his fourth of the postseason, assisted by Alec Martinez. The Avalanche tied it in the second period with a Mikko Rantanen power play goal, his fifth of the playoffs, powered by MacKinnon and Gabriel Landeskog. Vegas pulled ahead again with a Keegan Kolesar goal, coming off of Alex Pietrangelo and Shea Theodore. Colorado tied it on an Andre Burakovsky goal, passed from Pierre-Edouard Bellemare and Cale Makar. The Golden Knights reclaimed the lead with a Pietrangelo goal, helped along by Alex Tuch and Max Pacioretty. Vegas added on with a William Carrier goal, guided in by Theodore and Brayden McNabb. The Golden Knights extended the lead as Pacioretty scored an empty net goal, his fourth of the postseason, going in unassisted. The three stars of the 6-3 game were Pietrangelo, Pacioretty, and MacKinnon, while Theodore gets an honorable mention. The Golden Knights won the series 4-2 and will face the Canadiens in the Stanley Cup Semifinals. 

Follow me on Twitter @OutsiderSports0.

NHL 2021 - Playoff Day 26

The lone game tonight has the New York Islanders hosting the Boston Bruins. Tuukka Rask and Semyon Varlamov man the nets. New York led off in the first period with a Travis Zajac goal, made possible by Noah Dobson and Jean-Gabriel Pageau. Boston tied it on a Brad Marchand power play goal, his seventh of the postseason, powered by David Pastrnak and David Krejci. The Islanders took the lead back in the second period with a Brock Nelson goal, his fifth of the playoffs, passed from Josh Bailey and Nick Leddy. New York added on with another Nelson goal, his second of the game and sixth of the postseason, assisted by Bailey. The Islanders extended the lead as Kyle Palmieri scored his seventh of the playoffs, thanks to The Bruins got one back in the third period with a Marchand power play goal, his second of the game and eighth of the postseason, with assists provided by Krejci and Charlie McAvoy. New York replied with a Cal Clutterbuck empty net goal, his third of the playoffs, set up by Pageau and Casey Cizikas. The Islanders iced it at 6-2 with a Ryan Pulock empty net goal, his third of the postseason, going in unassisted. The three stars were Nelson, Marchand, and Bailey, while Pageau and Krejci get the honorable mentions. The Islanders won the series 4-2 and will face the Lightning in the Stanley Cup Semifinals. 

Follow me on Twitter @OutsiderSports0.

NHL 2021 - Playoff Day 25

Another two-game day is on, beginning with...

The Carolina Hurricanes welcoming the Tampa Bay Lightning. Andrei Vasilevskiy and Alex Nedeljkovic man the nets. Tampa Bay got going in the second period with a Brayden Point power play goal, his eighth of the postseason, powered by Alex Killorn and Nikita Kucherov. The Lightning added on in the third period with a Ross Colton goal, his third of the playoffs, going in unassisted. This stood for a 2-0 win, with the three stars going to Vasilevskiy (29 save shutout), Point, and Colton. The Lightning won the series 4-1 and will await the winner of the Boston Bruins and New York Islanders series in the Stanley Cup Semifinals. 

Out in Colorado, the Avalanche bring in the Vegas Golden Knights. Marc-Andre Fleury and Philipp Grubauer tend the twines. Colorado opened in the first period with a Brandon Saad goal, his seventh of the postseason, fueled by Devon Toews and Mikko Rantanen. The Avalanche added on in the second period with a Joonas Donskoi goal, his third of the playoffs, via Alex Newhook and Patrik Nemeth. Vegas got on the board in the third period with an Alex Tuch goal, his fourth of the postseason, coming off of Nicolas Roy and Mattias Janmark. The Golden Knights tied it on a Jonathan Marchessault goal, his sixth of the playoffs, passed from William Karlsson. Vegas won 3-2 in overtime with a Mark Stone goal, his fifth of the postseason, helped along by Max Pacioretty and Alex Pietrangelo. The three stars were Stone, Marchessault, and Tuch. The Golden Knights head home with a 3-2 series lead. 

Follow me on Twitter @OutsiderSports0.

NHL 2021 - Playoff Day 24

Another two game day sees...

The Boston Bruins hosting the New York Islanders. Semyon Varlamov and Tuukka Rask are the veteran goalies. Boston led off in the first period with a David Pastrnak goal, his sixth of the postseason, made possible by Charlie McAvoy and Brad Marchand. New York tied it on a Mathew Barzal power play goal, his third of the playoffs, powered by Noah Dobson and Jordan Eberle. The Islanders took the lead in the second period with a Kyle Palmieri power play goal, his sixth of the postseason, with assists provided by Josh Bailey and Nick Leddy. The Bruins tied it on a Marchand goal, his sixth of the playoffs, passed from Pastrnak and Charlie McAvoy. New York retook the lead with a Bailey goal, his fifth of the postseason, helped along by Jean-Gabriel Pageau and Anthony Beauvillier. The Islanders added on with an Eberle power play goal, his third of the playoffs, guided in by Barzal and Dobson. Jeremy Swayman replaced Rask in goal for the third period. New York extended the lead as Brock Nelson scored his fourth of the postseason, thanks to Beauvillier and Adam Pelech. Boston got one back with a Pastrnak power play goal, his second of the game and seventh of the playoffs, coming off of McAvoy and Patrice Bergeron. The Bruins got closer with a David Krejci goal, his second of the postseason, fueled by Craig Smith and Mike Reilly. This only made it 5-4, the final, with the three stars going to Bailey, Barzal, and Pastrnak, while Eberle, Dobson, Beauvillier, Marchand and McAvoy get the honorable mentions. The Islanders return home with a 3-2 series lead. 

Along to Montreal, as the Canadiens host the Winnipeg Jets. Connor Hellebuyck and Carey Price tend the twines. Montreal began in the first period with an Erik Gustafsson power play goal, powered by Nick Suzuki and Tyler Toffoli. The Canadiens added on with an Artturi Lehkonen goal, his second of the postseason, via Brett Kulak and Brendan Gallagher. Winnipeg got on the board in the second period with a Logan Stanley goal, assisted by Jordie Benn and Kyle Connor. The Jets tied it on a Stanley goal, his second of the game, coming off of Connor and Mason Appleton. Montreal won 3-2 in overtime with a Toffoli goal, his fourth of the playoffs, dished from Cole Caufield. The three stars were Toffoli, Stanley, and Connor. The Canadiens swept the series 4-0 and will play in the Stanley Cup Semifinals versus either the Colorado Avalanche or Vegas Golden Knights. 

Follow me on Twitter @OutsiderSports0.

NHL 2021 - Playoff Day 23

We've got a pair of games today, beginning with...

The Montreal Canadiens welcoming the Winnipeg Jets. Connor Hellebuyck and Carey Price tend the twines. Montreal led off in the first period with a Corey Perry goal, his third of the postseason, via Eric Staal and Joel Armia. The Canadiens added on with an Artturi Lehkonen goal, fueled by Phillip Danault and Brendan Gallagher in the second period. Montreal extended the lead as Armia scored a shorthanded and unassisted goal, his third of the playoffs. Winnipeg got on the board with an Adam Lowry goal, his second of the postseason, passed form Mathieu Perreault and Mason Appleton. The Canadiens answered in the third period with a Nick Suzuki power play goal, his fourth of the playoffs, powered by Cole Caufield and Tyler Toffoli. Montreal iced it at 5-1 with an Armia shorthanded empty net goal, his second of the game and fourth of the postseason, set up by Joel Edmundson. The three stars were Armia, Price (26 for 27 in saves), and Lehkonen. The Canadiens lead the series 3-0 and can end it Monday. 

Out in Vegas, the Golden Knights bring in the Colorado Avalanche. Philipp Grubauer and Marc-Andre Fleury guard the cages. Colorado began in the first period with a Brandon Saad goal, his sixth of the postseason, assisted by J.T. Compher and Andre Burakovsky. Vegas tied it on a Jonathan Marchessault goal, his third of the playoffs, guided in by William Karlsson. The Golden Knights took the lead in the second period with a Max Pacioretty goal, his third of the postseason, coming off of Mark Stone and Zach Whitecloud. Vegas added on with a Marchessault power play goal, his second of the game and fourth of the playoffs, powered by Alex Pietrangelo and Karlsson. The Golden Knights extended the lead in the third period as Marchessault finished his hat trick with his fifth of the postseason, thanks to Reilly Smith and Karlsson. Vegas padded the lead on a Patrick Brown goal, his second of the playoffs, with helpers from Ryan Reaves and William Carrier. This stood for a 5-1 win, with the three stars going to Marchessault, Karlsson, and Pacioretty. The series is tied at 2-2 heading back to Colorado. 

Follow me on Twitter @OutsiderSports0.

NHL 2021 - Playoff Day 22

Two games for today, beginning with...

The Tampa Bay Lightning hosting the Carolina Hurricanes. Petr Mrazek and Andrei Vasilevskiy patrol the creases. Tampa Bay opened in the first period with a Brayden Point goal, his seventh of the season, made possible by Ondrej Palat and Erik Cernak. Carolina tied it in the second period on a Teuvo Teravainen goal, his second of the year, via Andrei Svechnikov and Jordan Staal. The Hurricanes took the lead with a Jesper Fast goal, courtesy of Jordan Martinook and Jaccob Slavin. The Lightning retied it on a Steven Stamkos power play goal, his fourth of the postseason, powered by Alex Killorn and Point. Carolina retook the lead with a Dougie Hamilton goal, his second of the playoffs, guided in by Sebastian Aho and Svechnikov. The Hurricanes added on with a Slavin goal, passed from Cedric Paquette and Steven Lorentz. Tampa Bay pulled back with a Nikita Kucherov power play goal, his fourth of the postseason, with assists provided by Stamkos and Victor Hedman. The Lightning tied it as Tyler Johnson scored, thanks to Ross Colton and Pat Maroon. Tampa Bay pulled ahead on a Stamkos power play goal, his second of the game and fifth of the playoffs, with helpers from Kucherov and Anthony Cirelli. The Lightning extended the lead as Kucherov scored his second of the game and fifth of the postseason, with the help of Palat. The final held at 6-4, with the three stars going to Stamkos, Kucherov, and Point, while Palat, Slavin and Svechnikov get the honorable mentions. The Lightning are up 3-1 in the series. 

Along to New York, as the Islanders host the Boston Bruins. Tuukka Rask and Semyon Varlamov man the nets. Boston got going in the second period with a David Krejci power play goal, powered by Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak. New York tied it on a Kyle Palmieri goal, his fifth of the postseason, via Mathew Barzal and Jordan Eberle. The Islanders took the lead in the third period with a Barzal goal, his second of the playoffs, passed from Scott Mayfield and Noah Dobson. New York added on with a Casey Cizikas empty net goal, his second of the postseason, set up by Cal Clutterbuck. The Islanders iced it at 4-1 with a Jean-Gabriel Pageau empty net goal, his third of the playoffs, with a lone assist by Leo Komarov. The three stars were Barzal, Palmieri, and Varlamov (28 for 29 in saves). The series heads back to Boston tied at 2-2. 

Follow me on Twitter @OutsiderSports0.

NHL 2021 - Playoff Day 21

Two games on tonight, beginning with...

The Winnipeg Jets welcoming the Montreal Canadiens. Carey Price and Connor Hellebuyck tend the twines. Montreal got going in the second period with a Tyler Toffoli shorthanded goal, his third of the postseason, set up by Shea Weber and Artturi Lehkonen. This stood for a 1-0 win, with the three stars awarded to Price (30 save shutout), Toffoli, and Hellebuyck (23 for 24 in saves). The Canadiens head home with a 2-0 series lead. 

Out in Vegas, the Golden Knights bring in the Colorado Avalanche. Philipp Grubauer and Marc-Andre Fleury guard the cages. Vegas dented the scoreboard in the second period with a William Karlsson goal, his third of the postseason, via Alex Pietrangelo and Alec Martinez. Colorado tied it on a Carl Soderberg goal, passed from Pierre-Edouard Bellemare and Kiefer Sherwood. The Avalanche took the lead with a Mikko Rantanen power play goal in the third period, his fourth of the playoffs, powered by Cale Makar and Gabriel Landeskog. The Golden Knights retied it on a Jonathan Marchessault goal, his second of the postseason, assisted by Reilly Smith and Nicolas Hague. Vegas took the lead with a Max Pacioretty goal, his second of the playoffs, fueled by Nick Holden and Mark Stone. This stood for a 3-2 win, with the three stars going to Pacioretty, Marchessault, and Karlsson. The Avalanche remain ahead 2-1 in the series. 

Follow me on Twitter @OutsiderSports0.