The first round of the National Hockey League (NHL) playoffs ended with 3 Game 7s on Wednesday night. One of those series made history, another went into the 14th overtime of the first round, and the third was another one goal game, one of the 25 in round one.
The series that made history was only the 4th time in NHL history that a team came back to win a best of 7 series, after losing the first 3 games. Depending on how you look at it, it was either a great comeback by the Los Angeles Kings, or a colossal flop by the San Jose Sharks. The Sharks scored 17 goals in their 3 wins to start the series, then scored only 5 in the last 4 games. The Sharks scored first in Game 7, but it was all Kings after that, to win the deciding game 5-1.
In an earlier Game 7, the Minnesota Wild beat the Colorado Avalanche 5-4 in overtime, to move on to the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Nino Neiderreiter‘s wrist shot won it for the Wild 5:02 into overtime. This was the 4th overtime game in the series, and the 5th one-goal game. The Avalanche won the Central Division, but are going home with their first round loss.
The first Game 7 on Wednesday was between the New York Rangers and the Philadelphia Flyers. The Rangers won 2-1 to win the series, scoring both their goals in the first period. Goalie Henrik Lundqvist gave up one goal in the 3rd period, but held on to give his team the victory. The teams alternated wins in this series, with the Rangers winning the odd numbered games, while the Flyers won the even numbered games, tying the series 3 different times, before succumbing on Wednesday.
The second round started on Thursday night, with of course, another overtime game. The Montreal Canadiens defeated the Boston Bruins 4-3 in double overtime, even though they were outshot 51-33. P.K. Subban scored 4:21 into the 2nd overtime to give the Canadiens the win. This was Subban’s 2nd power play goal of the game, starting with his goal in the 1st period. Montreal takes the early lead in this series, which will probably go 7 games, and the Bruins winning.
The other 2nd round series in the Eastern Conference will start on Friday, with the Rangers visiting the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Penguins should win this series, but they have the better goalie with Lundqvist. If he gets hot, he could carry his team to the series win.
In the Western Conference, the Minnesota Wild will start their 2nd round series in Chicago against the Blackhawks on Friday. This should be the end of the road for the Wild, again at the hands of the Blackhawks, but they weren’t supposed to beat the Avalanche either.
On Saturday the first ever playoff series will begin between the Los Angles Kings and the Anaheim Ducks. This series should be a local war. Unless Kings’ goalie Jonathan Quick extends his hot streak from the last 3 games of the first round, the Ducks should come away with the series victory. The Ducks led the NHL in goals scored, while the Kings led the league in least goals allowed. Something’s got to give. Let’s get it on!
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Sports With Frank Thomas
