N H L - National Hockey League

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Kings lose to Jets, fail to clinch Pacific

 

Winnipeg rallies from down three to prevent L.A. from wrapping up first division title in 25 years

 

by Curtis Zupke / NHL.com Correspondent

12:58 PM

LOS ANGELES -- The Winnipeg Jets finished their season as spoilers in dramatic fashion and put the Los Angeles Kings back in limbo.

Mark Scheifele scored the only goal in the shootout to give the Jets a 4-3 win at Staples Center on Saturday, preventing the Kings from clinching the Pacific Division title in their season finale.

"The frustrating part is that we didn't get the job done tonight," Los Angeles center Anze Kopitar said. "We certainly had every opportunity to win the division, and the bottom line [is] we didn't do it."

Scheifele beat Kings goalie Jonathan Quick with a snap shot in the second round, and Jets goalie Ondrej Pavelec made a save against Tyler Toffoli to seal the comeback win.

 

https://www.nhl.com/news/kings-cant-clinch-pacific-lose-to-jets/c-280238782?tid=280202232

Edited April 10, 2016 by Guns of the Patriots

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Sharks edge Coyotes, await first-round opponent

 

Pavelski scores in third period, Jones makes 20 saves

 

by Eric Gilmore / NHL.com Correspondent

2:49 PM

SAN JOSE -- Joe Pavelski scored in the third period, Martin Jones made 20 saves and the San Jose Sharks ended the regular season with a 1-0 victory against the Arizona Coyotes at SAP Center on Saturday.

The Sharks will have to wait until Sunday night to find out their opponent in the Western Conference First Round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. San Jose (46-30-6) finished third in the Pacific Division and will open on the road against the Los Angeles Kings or Anaheim Ducks. The Sharks will play Los Angeles if Anaheim wins Sunday at the Washington Capitals.

"We're ready," Pavelski said. "We've been ready, I think. A lot of work to get back here. A lot of guys had great years so far. But now the real season starts. We've got to get back on it. We don't want to change anything, the way we've been playing. There's a certain formula to it. We need everybody to contribute at times and we've got to find ways to win."

Jones earned his sixth shutout of the season and 13th of his career. He bounced back from a rough game against the Winnipeg Jets on Thursday when he gave up five goals on 26 shots in a 5-4 loss.

"I think more important than the result, we just wanted to play well heading into the playoffs," Jones said. "Did some good things, got the big power play goal and played really solid defensively."

 

https://www.nhl.com/news/san-jose-sharks-top-arizona-coyotes/c-280239224?tid=280201974

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Loss to Flyers drops Islanders to wild card

 

New York will play Florida in Eastern Conference First Round

 

by Brian Compton @BComptonNHL / NHL.com Deputy Managing Editor

9:53 AM

NEW YORK -- It took all 82 games for the New York Islanders to find out who they would face in the opening round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Now they know.

With a 5-2 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers in their regular-season finale at Barclays Center on Sunday, the Islanders (45-27-10) will face the Florida Panthers as the first wild card from the Eastern Conference.

Playing their fifth game in seven nights, the Islanders opted to sit several key players, including captain John Tavares. Thomas Greiss started in goal but was relieved by Christopher Gibson to start the second period. Nikolay Kulemin and Matt Martin had first-period goals.

The Islanders could have passed the New York Rangers and finished third in the Metropolitan Division with a win, which would have meant a first-round series against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Shayne Gostisbehere, Evgeny Medvedev, Michael Raffl, Scott Laughton and R.J. Umberger scored for Philadelphia (41-27-14), which clinched a playoff berth Saturday and will face the Washington Capitals in the first round as the second wild card from the East.

 

https://www.nhl.com/news/philadelphia-flyers-defeat-new-york-islanders/c-280252428?tid=279670748

Edited April 11, 2016 by Guns of the Patriots

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Ducks blank Capitals to win Pacific Division

 

Andersen makes 24 saves; Anaheim will play Nashville to start playoffs

 

by Katie Brown / NHL.com Correspondent

14 minutes ago

Ritchie's tip-in goal ANA@WSH: Ritchie deflects Santorelli's shot into net

4/10/16: Mike Santorelli takes a shot from a tough angle, and Nick Ritchie redirects the puck into the net for his second goal of the season

 

WASHINGTON -- The Anaheim Ducks clinched their fourth consecutive Pacific Division title by defeating the Washington Capitals 2-0 on Sunday at Verizon Center.

Corey Perry and Nick Ritchie scored in the second period for Anaheim (46-25-11), and Frederik Andersen made 24 saves in his sixth NHL shutout. Andersen played for the first time since sustaining a concussion on March 30.

The Ducks finished one point ahead of the Los Angeles Kings. They will play the Nashville Predators in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Philipp Grubauer made 19 saves for Washington (56-18-8). The Presidents' Trophy-winning Capitals rested several of their regulars in a game that was rescheduled from Jan. 22 because of a snowstorm.

Perry made it 1-0 at 4:34 of the second period. Ryan Garbutt sent a behind-the-back pass to Perry behind the net and Perry scored on a wraparound for his 34th of the season.

 

https://www.nhl.com/news/anaheim-ducks-defeat-capitals-win-pacific-division/c-280253348?tid=277729312

Edited April 11, 2016 by Guns of the Patriots

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Playoff Snapshot Complete East and West matchups set

 

NHL.com

27 minutes ago

EASTERN CONFERENCE

Clinched: Washington Capitals (No. 1), Pittsburgh Penguins, Florida Panthers, New York Rangers, New York Islanders, Tampa Bay Lightning, Detroit Red Wings, Philadelphia Flyers

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Clinched: Dallas Stars (No. 1), St. Louis Blues, Chicago Blackhawks, Anaheim Ducks, Los Angeles Kings, San Jose Sharks, Nashville Predators, Minnesota Wild

LATEST UPDATE:

Rangers finished third in the Metropolitan Division and will play the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first round after Islanders lost to Flyers Sunday. Islanders are first wild card and will play the Florida Panthers

Ducks beat Capitals, clinch first in the Pacific Division and will play the Nashville Predators in the first round, while the Kings finish second and will play the San Jose Sharks.

 

IN THE EAST:

WASHINGTON CAPITALS (118 pts)
Clinched Metropolitan Division and home-ice advantage for the Stanley Cup Playoffs
First-round opponent: Second wild card in East (PHI)

FLORIDA PANTHERS (101)
Clinched Atlantic Division and home-ice advantage in first round
Possible first-round opponents: First wild card in East (NYI, NYR)

PITTSBURGH PENGUINS (104)
Clinched second place in Metropolitan Division and home-ice advantage for first round
Possible first-round opponents: Third place in Metropolitan Division (NYI, NYR)

NEW YORK RANGERS (101)
Third place in Metropolitan Division
First round opponent: Second place in Metropolitan Division (PIT)

TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING (97)
Clinched second place in Atlantic Division and home-ice advantage for first round round
First-round opponent: Third place in Atlantic Division (DET)

DETROIT RED WINGS (93)
Clinched third place in Atlantic Division
First-round opponent: Second place in Atlantic Division (TBL)

NEW YORK ISLANDERS (100)
First wild card
First-round opponent: First place in Atlantic Division (FLA)

PHILADELPHIA FLYERS (96)
Clinched second wild card
First-round opponent: WSH

BOSTON BRUINS (93)
Eliminated from playoffs

IN THE WEST:

DALLAS STARS (109 pts)
Clinched Central Division and home-ice advantage for Western Conference playoffs
First-round opponent: Second wild card in West (MIN)

ST. LOUIS BLUES (107)
Clinched second place in Central Division and home-ice advantage for first round
First-round opponent: Third place in Central Division (CHI)

CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS (103)
Clinched third place in Central Division
First-round opponent: Second place in.Central Division (STL)

ANAHEIM DUCKS (103)
First place in Pacific Division, have clinched home-ice advantage for first round
First-round opponent: First wild card in West (NSH)

LOS ANGELES KINGS (102)
Second place in Pacific Division
First-round opponent: Third place in Pacific Division (SJS)

SAN JOSE SHARKS (96)
Clinched third place in Pacific Division
Possible first-round opponents: Second place in Pacific Division (ANA, LAK)

NASHVILLE PREDATORS (96)
Clinched first wild card
First-round opponent: Pacific Division winner (ANA, LAK)

MINNESOTA WILD (87)
Clinched second wild card
First-round opponent: Central Division winner (DAL)

Edited April 11, 2016 by Guns of the Patriots

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STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS

 

Zatkoff pushes Penguins past Rangers in Game 1

 

New York goalie Lundqvist injured; Hornqvist has hat trick for Pittsburgh

 

by Wes Crosby / NHL.com Correspondent

April 14th, 2016

PITTSBURGH -- Pittsburgh Penguins goalie Jeff Zatkoff received a text message from Marc-Andre Fleury on Tuesday informing him of his Stanley Cup Playoffs debut the following night.

Zatkoff made the most of the opportunity with 35 saves Wednesday in a 5-2 win against the New York Rangers in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference First Round Series at Consol Energy Center.

Patric Hornqvist had a hat trick and an assist for the Penguins, who took a 1-0 lead in the best-of-7 series. Game 2 is here Saturday (3 p.m. ET; NBC, CBC, TVA Sports).

Zatkoff started in place of Fleury, who was said to be a game-time decision with a concussion that caused him to miss his sixth straight game. The text from Fleury and a phone call from goaltending coach Mike Bales gave Zatkoff time to digest the news.

 

https://www.nhl.com/news/penguins-rangers-game-1-nhl-playoffs-henrik-lundqvist-patric-hornqvist/c-280297750?tid=280160686

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STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS

Lightning strike first against Red Wings

Kucherov scores twice, assists on Killorn's goal in Game 1 win

by Corey Long / NHL.com Correspondent

April 14th, 2016

TAMPA -- Alex Killorn scored 8:52 into the third period to give the Tampa Bay Lightning a 3-2 win against the Detroit Red Wings at Amalie Arena on Wednesday in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference First Round.

Tampa Bay has a 1-0 lead in the best-of-7 series with Game 2 here Friday (7 p.m. ET; CNBC, FS-D, FS-F, CBC, TVA Sports).

Killorn tipped the puck past Red Wings goalie Jimmy Howard after Tyler Johnson sent it to the net from outside of the slot. Nikita Kucherov set up the play by winning a loose puck behind the net.

 

https://www.nhl.com/news/lightning-defeat-red-wings-in-game-1/c-280296528?tid=280283716

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STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS

 

Backes' OT goal lifts Blues in Game 1

 

Elliott makes 35 saves against Chicago in first playoff start since 2013

 

by Louie Korac / NHL.com Correspondent

April 14th, 2016

Backes' overtime-winner CHI@STL, Gm1: Backes' pass deflects in for OT winner

R1, Gm1: David Backes centers a pass that deflects off Trevor van Riemsdyk's skate and past Corey Crawford, giving the Blues a 1-0 overtime win

 

ST. LOUIS -- It wasn't the way David Backes drew it up, but the St. Louis Blues' captain will gladly take it.

Backes scored 9:04 into overtime to give the Blues a 1-0 victory against the Chicago Blackhawks in Game 1 of their Western Conference First Round series on Wednesday night at Scottrade Center.

Backes' centering feed from the lower left circle caromed off the skate of Blackhawks defenseman Trevor van Riemsdyk and went through the legs of goalie Corey Crawford to give the Blues a 1-0 lead in the best-of-7 series. It was Backes' first playoff overtime goal.

"That's an ugly goal," Backes said. "I specialize in those and rightfully so. The first shot of the game I think for me too.

"It was a team victory. We knew it was going to take a team effort. ... We put this in perspective. It's one game, start 0-0 again on Friday and do it all over again."

 

https://www.nhl.com/news/st-louis-blues-top-chicago-blackhawks-in-overtime/c-280301276?tid=280284500

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STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS

 

Holtby shutout lifts Capitals past Flyers in Game 1

 

Goalie makes 19 saves; Carlson, Beagle score for Washington

 

by Katie Brown / NHL.com Correspondent

10:02 AM

 

WASHINGTON -- Braden Holtby made 19 saves when the Washington Capitals shut out the Philadelphia Flyers 2-0 in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference First Round at Verizon Center on Thursday.

Although Holtby didn't see a lot of work after the first period -- he faced eight shots in the final two -- he said he didn't have trouble concentrating on the rest of the game.

"You're just focused on stopping that next puck," Holtby said. "That's a mindset I've taken, and hopefully I can keep growing it."

Holtby's third NHL playoff shutout helped the Capitals take a 1-0 lead in the best-of-7 series. Game 2 is at Verizon Center on Saturday (7 p.m. ET; CNBC, CBC, CSN-PH, CSN-DC, TVA Sports).

"He's been great all year," Capitals forward Jay Beagle said. "He's been standing on his head, winning us games and stealing us games. With a bunch of PKs, you have to rely on the goaltender quite a bit. He obviously stood on his head again tonight. We had momentum coming (out of) the first."

 

https://www.nhl.com/news/capitals-defeat-flyers-in-game-1/c-280313136?tid=280285220

Edited April 15, 2016 by Guns of the Patriots

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STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS

 

Tavares, Islanders defeat Panthers in Game 1

 

New York goalie Greiss makes 42 saves in playoff debut

 

by Alain Poupart / NHL.com Correspondent

12:25 PM

SUNRISE, Fla. -- The New York Islanders kept fighting back in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference First Round series against the Florida Panthers, and their captain led the way.

John Tavares tied the game in the final minute of the second period and set up Kyle Okposo's goal early in the third to help the Islanders defeat the Panthers 5-4 at BB&T Center.

"You knew it was going to be a battle, they would come out hard, and they did," Islanders coach Jack Capuano said. "At the end of the day, we didn't quit and were resilient. We got some timely goals tonight."

Okposo broke a 3-3 tie at 2:33 when Tavares stole the puck from defenseman Brian Campbell and fed Okposo at the left circle before he beat goalie Roberto Luongo with a shot high to the blocker side.

 

https://www.nhl.com/news/islanders-defeat-panthers-in-game-1/c-280314378?tid=280285222

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STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS

 

Pavelski, Sharks top Kings in Game 1

 

San Jose captain scores two goals, gets game-winner 17 seconds into third period

 

by Curtis Zupke / NHL.com Correspondent

10 minutes ago

LOS ANGELES -- Joe Pavelski scored his second goal of the game 17 seconds into the third period, and the San Jose Sharks defeated the Los Angeles Kings 4-3 in Game 1 of their Western Conference First Round series at Staples Center on Thursday.

Pavelski scored on a wraparound with Anze Kopitar chasing him after a faceoff win by San Jose. It was enough to give the Sharks a victory in a game that was tied three times and lived up to expectations of a close series between the Pacific Division rivals.

Pavelski, who tied the game 1-1 with a power-play goal in the first period, has six goals in six games against the Kings this season.

San Jose goaltender Martin Jones, making his first start in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, made 21 saves.

Game 2 is Saturday at Staples Center (10:30 p.m. ET; NBCSN, CBC, TVA Sports, CSN-CA, FS-W).

Tomas Hertl capped a wide-open second period when he found a loose puck in the slot and scored at 17:48 to tie it 3-3. The goal came one second after a penalty to Kings defenseman Drew Doughty expires, and 30 seconds after Trevor Lewis had given Los Angeles a 3-2 lead with a toe-drag shorthanded goal that brought the 18,230 fans to their feet.

It was the first shorthanded playoff goal by the Kings since Kopitar had one in 2012.

Burns gave San Jose a 2-1 lead with a shot from the right point past Quick off a faceoff win by Joel Ward, at 6:50 of the second.

The Kings' first two goals went into the net off San Jose players. Jeff Carter's backhand centering pass hit the stick of a lunging Burns at 7:30 of the second, tying the game 2-2. Defenseman Jake Muzzin put Los Angeles ahead 1-0 at 2:53 of the first period when he banked the puck in off Hertl after outwaiting Jones and drawing him out of his net.

The lead lasted only until Pavelski one-timed a pass from Burns past Jonathan Quick at 6:25 with Kopitar off for interference.

Quick finished with 19 saves.

Defensemen Alec Martinez of the Kings and Marc-Edouard Vlasic of the Sharks returned to the lineup after an undisclosed injury and a sprained knee, respectively, but Martinez did not play in the third period.

 

https://www.nhl.com/news/sharks-edge-kings-in-game-1/c-280317492?tid=280285258

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STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS

 

Benn, Spezza lift Stars to Game 1 win against Wild

 

Forwards combine for five points, Lehtonen makes 22 saves in shutout victory

 

by Steve Hunt / NHL.com Correspondent

2:19 PM

DALLAS -- Jamie Benn, Jason Spezza and Patrick Eaves combined for seven points, and Kari Lehtonen made 22 saves to help the Dallas Stars to a 4-0 win against the Minnesota Wild at American Airlines Center on Thursday in Game 1 of their Western Conference First Round series.

It was the second Stanley Cup Playoff shutout of Lehtonen's career.

"[The shutout] is cool, but the most important thing is to get that first win, and we just go from here, go for Game No. 2," said Lehtonen, who was playing in his ninth career NHL playoff game.

Game 2 of the best-of-7 series will be in Dallas on Saturday (8 p.m. ET; NBCSN, SN, TVA Sports 2, FS-N, FS-WI, FS-SW).

Benn had a goal and two assists, and Spezza and Eaves each had a goal and an assist.

 

https://www.nhl.com/news/stars-win-game-1-against-wild/c-280315596

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STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS

 

Keith, Blackhawks even series with Blues

 

Defenseman has two points in return from suspension

 

by By Louie Korac / NHL.com Correspondent

11:20 AM

ST. LOUIS -- Andrew Shaw scored the tie-breaking power play goal with 4:19 remaining to give the Chicago Blackhawks a 3-2 victory against the St. Louis Blues in Game 2 of the Western Conference First Round series at Scottrade Center on Friday.

Game 3 is Sunday at United Center(3 p.m. ET, NBC, SN, TVA Sports).

Shaw was on the doorstep of Brent Seabrook's shot from the point and was able to pop a puck in from right in front of goalie Brian Elliott to break a 1-1 tie and even the best-of-7 series at a game apiece.

The Blues challenged the play for goalie interference but the call of a good goal on the ice stood.

Blackhawks defenseman Duncan Keith scored in his return to the lineup after serving a six-game suspension. He played a game-high 30:59.

Artemi Panarin scored an empty-net goal with 1:26 remaining to make it 3-1.

Blues defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk scored with 1.1 seconds remaining to make it 3-2.

The Blues thought they had taken a 2-1 lead with 7:54 remaining in the third period when Vladimir Tarasenko scored from the slot off a pass from Jori Lehtera, but the Blackhawks challenged the play that Lehtera was offside, and the call was reversed.

Corey Crawford made 29 saves for the Blackhawks. Elliott made 26 saves for the Blues.

Tarasenko's seventh goal in the past eight playoff games put the Blues ahead 1-0 after Lehtera forced a defensive zone turnover on Michal Roszival, Jaden Schwartz collected it and fed Tarasenko in the slot for a wrist shot at 15:20 of the second period. It was Tarasenko's 11th playoff goal in 15 games.

Chicago tied it late in the period and ended Elliott's shutout streak in the series at 109:00 when Keith's shot from the right point through a screen beat Elliott with 4.4 seconds remaining. After David Backes' icing, Jonathan Toews won a faceoff from Lehtera, Patrick Kane deflected the puck to the point and Keith used Andrew Shaw for a screen.

Kane had two assists.

The Blues outshot the Blackhawks 7-2 in a scoreless first period. Chicago's first shot on goal came from defenseman Viktor Svedberg with 6:39 remaining in the period.

 

https://www.nhl.com/news/blackhawks-defeat-blues-in-game-2/c-280330400?tid=280306130

Edited April 16, 2016 by Guns of the Patriots

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STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS

 

Luongo makes 41 saves, helps Panthers even series

 

Gets Game 2 win against Islanders, had lost seven straight in playoffs

 

by Alain Poupart / NHL.com Correspondent

32 minutes ago

SUNRISE, Fla. -- Florida Panthers goalie Roberto Luongo said he had to be better in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference First Round series against the New York Islanders, and he most definitely was.

Luongo made 41 saves, and Reilly Smith and Nick Bjugstad each had a goal and an assist when the Panthers defeated the Islanders 3-1 at BB&T Center on Friday.

The Panthers tied the best-of-7 series 1-1. Game 3 is at Barclays Center on Sunday (8 p.m. ET; NBCSN, SN, MSG+, FS-F, TVA Sports 2).

Luongo gave up five goals on 26 shots in a 5-4 loss in Game 1. He ended a personal seven-game losing streak in the playoffs Friday; his prior playoff victory was 1-0 against the Boston Bruins in Game 5 of the 2011 Stanley Cup Final.

"It's important to play well as much as you can every game as much as possible," Luongo said. "It's a long series, so we'll enjoy tonight but it's back to work tomorrow. I mean, they all feel good. It's playoffs, man."

Luongo made big saves, particularly in the second period. His best was a blocker save on a one-timer by Ryan Strome from the slot. Luongo stopped Cal Clutterbuck from close range early in the third period when Clutterbuck came in alone after beating defenseman Alex Petrovic with a deke.

"The last two years I had this guy in nets and he's one of the best goalies in the League in my opinion," Panthers coach Gerard Gallant said. "We knew he was going to bounce back tonight. I don't think he was bad last night. I just think they made some great shots. Tonight he was outstanding and that's what we expected. We knew he was going to have a good game."

 

https://www.nhl.com/news/panthers-defeat-islanders-in-game-2/c-280329378?tid=280320252

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STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS

 

Johnson leads Lightning to Game 2 win vs. Red Wings

 

Forward's four points ties team playoff record; Tampa Bay takes 2-0 series lead

 

by Corey Long / NHL.com Correspondent

9:36 AM

TAMPA - Tyler Johnson scored twice and had two assists to lift the Tampa Bay Lightning to a 5-2 win against the Detroit Red Wings in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference First Round at Amalie Arena on Friday.

Tampa Bay has a 2-0 lead in the best-of-7 series. Game 3 will be Sunday at Joe Louis Arena.

Johnson has six points (two goals, four assists) in the first two games of the series. Last year Johnson had six goals and an assist against the Red Wings in the first-round series that the Lightning won in seven games. His four points Friday matched a team record for most points in a Stanley Cup Playoff game with Vincent Lecavalier, who had a goal and three assists against the Boston Bruins in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Final on May 17, 2011.

"I'm just happy he's on our bench," Lightning coach Jon Cooper said. "We're learning that last year's playoffs were not a fluke. It's two games and that line has been fabulous for us."

 

https://www.nhl.com/news/lightning-defeat-red-wings-game-2/c-280328250?tid=280306214

Edited April 16, 2016 by Guns of the Patriots