Hello, it is Ian filling in for Brennan right this moment. You will have observed him protecting for me yesterday. Powerful footwear to fill, however I will attempt my finest to recap the 4 video games of playoff pucks on Sunday.
St. Louis 5, Winnipeg 1 (sequence tied 2-2)
Connor Hellebuyck has been the very best goalie within the NHL by a big margin over the previous two common seasons. Nonetheless, his latest playoff expertise tells a distinct story. Hellebuyck allowed 5 targets on 18 pictures in Recreation 4 earlier than being pulled for the second consecutive recreation. He has now allowed 11 targets within the two video games in St. Louis with a .744 SV% and seven.13 GAA.
Actually not all of that’s on him, as he has been the sufferer of site visitors in entrance of the online and different unhealthy breaks ensuing from insufficient defensive protection. However his numbers have been a significant disappointment for many who are relying on him in playoff swimming pools. Over every of the previous two seasons, Hellebuyck’s goals-against common has been above 4.00 and his save share at .870 or decrease. He has additionally allowed at the least 4 targets in 9 of his final 14 postseason video games. Sort of loopy what a distinction that’s between the common season and playoffs.
If you’re of the opinion {that a} 60+ recreation workload is inflicting Hellebuyck to crash through the playoffs, that is debatable. Through the remaining quarter this season, Hellebuyck completed with a 11-4-0 document with a 1.98 GAA and .920 SV%. Nonetheless, final season Hellebuyck ended the common season with an 8-7-1 document with a 2.79 GAA and .913 SV%.
Jake Neighbours led the Blues with a aim and two assists and likewise contributed three hits. Neighbours now has 5 factors and 24 hits on this sequence.
Brayden Schenn, Justin Faulk, Robert Thomas, and Tyler Tucker scored the opposite St. Louis targets, with Schenn ending with a two-point recreation.
Kyle Connor scored the lone Jets’ aim, which was his third aim and fifth level of the sequence. Nonetheless, Connor has been a minus-5 within the two video games in St. Louis.
Every staff had 40 hits in what was a extremely bodily recreation. Faulk had six hits, whereas Alexey Toropchenko and Nathan Walker every had 5 hits. Adam Lowry had six hits for the Jets.
Tucker was injured within the third interval after falling on his knee within the nook, needing help to get off the ice.
With the win, the Blues prolonged their house win streak to 14 video games. The Jets might bounce again in entrance of their house followers in Recreation 5, however Recreation 6 looks as if it will likely be a tricky out for Winnipeg if they’re able to clinch. All 4 video games have been received by the house staff, so the primary staff to win on the street might be the staff that wins the sequence. Clearly, the strain is squarely on the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Jets – significantly on their goalie.
Carolina 5, New Jersey 2 (Hurricanes lead sequence 3-1)
Andrei Svechnikov registered his second profession hat trick, additionally filling the stat sheet with a plus-2, six pictures on aim, and 5 hits. Within the 4 video games of the sequence, Svechnikov has 5 factors, 13 pictures, and 11 hits. Tied for the league lead in playoff targets (4), Svechnikov is making his presence felt on this sequence.
Brent Burns and Jaccob Slavin scored the Canes’ different targets, with Burns additionally including an help.
The win got here at a price for the Canes, although. Frederik Andersen left the sport within the second interval after Timo Meier collided into him. Making his first look of the sequence, Pyotr Kochetkov changed him and preserved the win. Following the sport, coach Rod Brind’Amour stated that Andersen could be checked out on Monday. At this level, Kochetkov appears to be the extra seemingly starter for Recreation 5 on Tuesday.
Now 35 years outdated, Andersen has not reached 35 video games in any of his previous three common seasons and shall be a UFA on July 1. The staff that indicators him this offseason (if not the Canes) might want to have a powerful tandem goalie additionally in place, just like what Kochetkov is. Counting on him as a full-time starter could be dangerous.
Meier and Nico Hischier scored targets for the Devils, with Meier additionally including an help. Hischier has targets in three of the 4 video games on this sequence, additionally taking precisely three pictures in every of the 4 video games.
Washington 5, Montreal 2 (Capitals lead sequence 3-1)
Tom Wilson is taking part in the heel position to a tee. The important position he performs for the Capitals within the playoffs has me rethinking my unique prediction that they would not go very far within the playoffs after a better-than-expected common season.
Wilson’s huge hit on Alexandre Provider might need been the TSN turning level of the sport. The hit immediately led to the game-tying aim to make it 2-2.
After that, there was no trying again because the Capitals scored three extra targets, together with Andrew Mangiapane‘s eventual game-winner with lower than 4 minutes to play in regulation.
Wilson completed with six hits, three pictures on aim, and an empty-net aim full with a celebration to annoy Habs followers. He additionally drew Josh Anderson into the penalty field late within the second interval, though the Capitals couldn’t convert on that specific energy play.
Brandon Duhaime scored two targets and completed with a plus-2 and three pictures. Dylan Strome scored the Capitals’ different aim whereas including an help.
Logan Thompson‘s lower-body harm in Recreation 3 positive appeared like it could price him video games, however he was surprisingly again between the pipes for Recreation 4. Thompson wasn’t examined that usually, stopping 16 of 18 pictures for the win. It appears to be like like he’ll be tremendous for Recreation 5 on Wednesday, when the Capitals will attempt to shut out the sequence on house ice.
Sam Montembeault wasn’t prepared for Recreation 4, which meant that Jakub Dobes made his first profession playoff begin. Dobes allowed three targets on 24 pictures in what was neither a high quality begin nor a very unhealthy begin.
Cole Caufield and Juraj Slafkovsky scored for the Habs, with each targets approaching the ability play. Ivan Demidov and Lane Hutson every registered assists on each targets. The factors have been Demidov’s first profession playoff factors.
Edmonton 4, Los Angeles 3, OT (sequence tied 2-2)
Leon Draisaitl scored the game-winner on the ability play 18 minutes into the primary additional time interval to cap off a four-point night time. Draisaitl additionally had three helpers on this recreation to go along with 4 pictures and 4 hits. He has now piled up 9 factors in 4 video games, tying him with teammate Connor McDavid and Adrian Kempe in playoff scoring.
The ability play was the results of a uncommon additional time penalty the place Vladislav Gavrikov tripped McDavid.
Evan Bouchard scored two third-period targets to erase a 3-1 deficit for Edmonton. His second aim tied the sport with simply 29 seconds left in regulation. If the Oilers want a aim, then they could as nicely attempt a Bouch Bomb.
The Sportsnet broadcast talked about that Bouchard is second to solely Bobby Orr in postseason factors per recreation. That appears plausible contemplating the truth that Bouchard has 65 profession factors in simply 57 profession playoff video games.
Corey Perry had a strong recreation, scoring the Oilers’ different aim whereas additionally including 4 pictures and 4 hits. Perry additionally performed on the Oilers’ prime energy play, which is the place he scored his aim.
Calvin Pickard began his second consecutive recreation for the Oilers, stopping 38 of 41 pictures. The third interval and additional time efficiency pushed this into high quality begin territory and sure cemented Pickard because the starter for Recreation 5 in LA on Tuesday.
Trevor Moore, Warren Foegele, and Kevin Fiala scored for the Kings. Phillip Danault registered two assists, giving him seven factors over the 4 video games of this sequence.
Darcy Kuemper made 44 saves, having a powerful recreation regardless of the loss. Kuemper has allowed at the least 4 targets in three of the 4 video games, however this has been a high-scoring sequence from either side.
If you have not been in a position to keep up late sufficient to look at, this has been an entertaining sequence. Specifically, the final two video games, the place it feels just like the Oilers have been lifted up by their followers. Recreation 5 in LA shall be a real take a look at, as they might want to win at the least one on the street to win the sequence. Whether or not that occurs, this one looks like a sequence that would go the space.
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I will end with two ideas which are non-hockey associated however I feel are essential sufficient to share anyway.
First, my sincerest condolences to anybody affected by the mindless tragedy on the Filipino Lapu Lapu Day road competition in Vancouver on Saturday night time. A time of celebration and enjoyable was was a horrible nightmare for a lot of households. We regularly are inclined to suppose that some of these incidents occur in different places and never the place we stay, so this hits house for me dwelling within the Vancouver space. If you’re not conscious of the incident, you possibly can examine it right here.
Lastly, right this moment is Election Day in Canada. If you’re a Canadian, please train the best to vote that wars have been fought to protect. I am undoubtedly not right here to inform you who to vote for – simply that you just take part within the democratic course of. If you don’t consider you could have time to forged your vote, your employer is meant to permit you three consecutive hours to vote in case your work schedule conflicts with the time that polls are open. For instance, if polls shut at 7 pm the place you reside, you might be allowed to depart work at 4 pm.
Have an amazing week.
Observe me on X @Ian_Gooding and Threads @goodsfantasyhockey and Bluesky @goodsfantasyhockey.bsky.social
