N H L - National Hockey League

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STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS

 

Blackhawks rally past Blues to win Game 6

 

Overcome two-goal deficit to push series to seven games

 

by Brian Hedger / NHL.com Correspondent

April 24th, 2016

CHICAGO -- It took a while, but the moves made by Chicago Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman during the past year paid big dividends at United Center on Saturday.

Led by a group of players Bowman has acquired through trades since Chicago won the 2015 Stanley Cup, the Blackhawks rallied from a two-goal deficit to defeat the St. Louis Blues 6-3 in Game 6 and tie their Western Conference First Round series at three victories apiece.

Game 7 is at Scottrade Center on Monday (8:30 p.m. ET; NBCSN, CBC, TVA Sports, CSN-CH).

"We haven't done anything yet, right?" said left wing Andrew Ladd, who had a goal and assist in arguably his best game since Bowman re-acquired him from the Winnipeg Jets on Feb. 25. "We just wanted to give ourselves a chance to get to a Game 7 and we achieved that. So now you've got to regroup and get ready for another big game."

 

https://www.nhl.com/news/blackhawks-defeat-blues-game-6/c-280452450?tid=280426854

Edited April 24, 2016 by Guns of the Patriots

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STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS

 

Capitals defeat Flyers to advance to second round

 

Backstrom scores, Holtby has shutout in 1-0 win in Game 6; Washington plays Pittsburgh next

 

by Adam Kimelman @NHLAdamK / NHL.com Deputy Managing Editor

6:16 AM

PHILADELPHIA -- Washington Capitals center Nicklas Backstrom scored the only goal in the Capitals' 1-0 victory of Game 6 of the Eastern Conference First Round against the Philadelphia Flyers at Wells Fargo Center on Sunday.

The Capitals won the best-of-7 series 4-2 and will play the Pittsburgh Penguins in the second round. The Penguins defeated the New York Rangers in five games in their first-round series.

Washington and Pittsburgh will meet in the playoffs for the ninth time since 1991. Pittsburgh has won seven of the prior eight series.

Braden Holtby made 26 saves for his second shutout of the series and his 20th career win in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, tying Olaf Kolzig for most in Capitals history.

 

https://www.nhl.com/news/capitals-defeat-flyers-game-6-recap/c-280456932?tid=280445078

Edited April 25, 2016 by Guns of the Patriots

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STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS

 

Tavares scores in double overtime, Islanders advance

 

Forward has two goals, New York defeats Florida; into second round for first time since 1993

 

by Mike G. Morreale @MikemorrealeNHL / NHL.com Staff Writer

1:01 PM

NEW YORK -- New York Islanders captain John Tavares came up big when it mattered most for a franchise starving for a winner.

Tavares scored his second goal of the game 10:41 into the second overtime to give the Islanders a series-clinching 2-1 victory against the Florida Panthers in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference First Round and their first playoff series victory since 1993.

Tavares took a wrist shot low in the right circle that was initially stopped by Roberto Luongo but he picked up the rebound and curled the net before scoring his fifth of the playoffs. The Islanders had lost their past eight playoff series.

"You can't even really process it," Tavares said. "I'm glad it went in because my leg starting cramping in that pile. I'm glad I didn't have to skate back down. It was obviously just amazing to look around and just see all the orange and blue. Just incredible."

The Islanders will play the Tampa Bay Lightning in the second round. The last time the Islanders and Lightning faced each other in the playoffs was in the 2004 Eastern Conference First Round. The Lightning won the series in five games on the way to winning their only Stanley Cup.

 

https://www.nhl.com/news/islanders-defeat-panthers-game-6/c-280464574?tid=280445336

Edited April 25, 2016 by Guns of the Patriots

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STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS

 

Rinne, Predators defeat Ducks to stay alive

 

Goalie makes 26 saves to help force Game 7 in Anaheim on Wednesday

 

by Robby Stanley / NHL.com Correspondent

12 minutes ago

NASHVILLE -- The Nashville Predators defeated the Anaheim Ducks 3-1 in Game 6 of their Western Conference First Round series at Bridgestone Arena on Monday to force the first Game 7 in their history.

Mattias Ekholm, James Neal and Shea Weber scored for Nashville, which got 26 saves from Pekka Rinne.

"You could tell with the way we played, especially playing at home, it was nice to get that win," Rinne said. "I have to say about these fans, they're unbelievable. It was so much fun and a great atmosphere, and thank you, guys. It was a lot of fun and a great win. I'm just really excited about the Game 7."

The best-of-7 series is tied 3-3. Game 7 will be at Honda Center on Wednesday (10 p.m. ET; NBCSN, SN, TVA Sports).

 

https://www.nhl.com/news/predators-win-to-force-game-7-against-ducks/c-280474126?tid=280456010

Edited April 26, 2016 by Guns of the Patriots

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STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS

 

Blues defeat Blackhawks in Game 7

 

Brouwer scores winner, St. Louis advances to face Dallas Stars in second round

 

by Louie Korac / NHL.com Correspondent

11:43 AM

ST. LOUIS -- Troy Brouwer scored at 8:31 of the third period to lift the St. Louis Blues to a 3-2 win against the Chicago Blackhawks in Game 7 of their Western Conference First Round series at Scottrade Center on Monday.

The Blues will play the Dallas Stars in the second round.

Brouwer, who won the Stanley Cup with the Blackhawks in 2010, redirected Robby Fabbri's pass and the puck hit the post. He whiffed on a second try before backhanding a shot past Chicago goalie Corey Crawford to give St. Louis its first Game 7 victory since defeating the Arizona Coyotes in the first round of the 1999 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

The goal was Brouwer's first in 24 playoff games, dating to May 8, 2013, when he played for the Washington Capitals against the New York Rangers.

Brent Seabrook nearly tied it for the Blackhawks with 3:30 remaining, but his shot through traffic hit each goal post.

 

https://www.nhl.com/news/blues-defeat-blackhawks-game-7/c-280474814?tid=280456020

Edited April 26, 2016 by Guns of the Patriots

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Who do you got - Pens vs Capitals?

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STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS 2ND ROUND

 

Islanders use fast start to win Game 1

 

Score three first-period goals, Greiss hangs on against Lightning

 

by Corey Long / NHL.com Correspondent

11:30 AM

TAMPA -- Shane Prince scored two first-period goals, and Thomas Greiss made 33 saves to help the New York Islanders defeat the Tampa Bay Lightning 5-3 in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Second Round at Amalie Arena on Wednesday.

Travis Hamonic, John Tavares and Cal Clutterbuck scored for the Islanders, who took a 4-1 lead in the second period.

Ondrej Palat, Nikita Kucherov and Valtteri Filppula scored for the Lightning, who had not played since winning their five-game, first-round series against the Detroit Red Wings on April 21.

New York completed its six-game series against the Florida Panthers on Sunday.

Game 2 of this best-of-7 series will be here Saturday (3 p.m. ET; NBC, SN, TVA Sports).

 

https://www.nhl.com/news/islanders-defeat-lightning-in-game-1/c-280495354?tid=280476742

Edited April 28, 2016 by Guns of the Patriots

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STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS

 

Predators hand Ducks fourth straight Game 7 loss

 

Rinne makes 36 saves, Nashville will play San Jose in second round

 

by Abbey Mastracco / NHL.com Correspondent

2:30 PM

ANAHEIM -- The Anaheim Ducks were on the wrong side of their own repeating history at Honda Center on Wednesday. The Nashville Predators made their own.

The Predators handed the Ducks their fourth straight Game 7 loss, all at home, winning 2-1 to take their Western Conference First Round series.

Colin Wilson and Paul Gaustad scored first-period goals, and Pekka Rinne made 36 saves for the Predators, who were playing the first Game 7 in franchise history. Nashville won a playoff series for the first time since 2012, when the Predators eliminated the Detroit Red Wings in the Western Conference Quarterfinals.

"It's a big step," Predators coach Peter Laviolette said. "I feel that if you can't take this one step, you can't take any more steps. That makes it a really big win for our guys and for our team. When you're faced with these situations, you're either going home or going on and playing hockey to continue to fight for the Cup. It was a big night."

Nashville will visit the San Jose Sharks in Game 1 of the Western Conference Second Round on Friday (10:30 p.m. ET; NBCSN, SN, TVA Sports).

 

https://www.nhl.com/news/predators-hold-off-ducks-in-game-7/c-280498078?tid=280476734

Edited April 28, 2016 by Guns of the Patriots

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STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS 2ND ROUND

 

Oshie completes hat trick in OT, Capitals win Game 1

 

Forward scores at 9:33 on reviewed goal to defeat Penguins

 

by Katie Brown / NHL.com Correspondent

1:07 PM

Oshie nets hat trick on OT winner PIT@WSH, Gm1: Oshie wraps OT winner for hat trick

R2, Gm1: T.J. Oshie jams home a wrap-around for the overtime winner, finishing off a hat trick to give the Capitals a 4-3 Game 1 victory

 

WASHINGTON -- For T.J. Oshie, scoring a hat trick in overtime in a Stanley Cup Playoff game was something he'd only dreamed about as a young boy.

Oshie turned that dream into reality when he completed a hat trick 9:33 into overtime to give the Washington Capitals a 4-3 win against the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Second Round at Verizon Center on Thursday.

"I haven't won too many championships in my lifetime," Oshie said. "Maybe through the youth years. That's kind of the stuff you dream about when you're a kid playing in the backyard by yourself is scoring the OT winner and getting a hat trick. It was awesome."

The Capitals host Game 2 in the best-of-7 series on Saturday (8 p.m. ET; NBC, CBC, TVA Sports)

Oshie's wraparound goal was upheld after a four-minute video review. He skated left to right across the offensive zone, circled the net and forced the puck barely across the goal line under goalie Matt Murray's right pad.

 

https://www.nhl.com/news/t-j-oshie-captials-defeat-penguins-in-game-1/c-280509418?tid=280485114

Edited April 29, 2016 by Guns of the Patriots

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STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS 2ND ROUND

 

Stars score in third to take Game 1 from Blues

 

Faksa gets goal with 4:44 remaining to open Western second round

 

by Steve Hunt / NHL.com Correspondent

12:28 PM

DALLAS -- Radek Faksa scored with 4:44 left in the third period to give the Dallas Stars a 2-1 win against the St. Louis Blues in Game 1 of the Western Conference Second Round at American Airlines Center on Friday.

Blues goaltender Brian Elliott denied an Ales Hemsky shot, but Faksa was there to tap in the rebound for his second goal of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

"It was a good breakout by us," Faksa said. "It was a nice pass by Alex Goligoski. We had pretty much a 3-on-2 … [Hemsky] took it to the net and I picked up the rebound. It's a great play by Alex and [Hemsky]."

Faksa also scored the winning goal in Game 1 of the first round against the Minnesota Wild on April 14, a series Dallas won in six games.

"He brings an enthusiasm, a big smile on his face, this willingness to do whatever it takes to win right now," Stars coach Lindy Ruff said. "He's having a great time. He's a kid that he's enjoying every minute he plays and you can see it in his game. There isn't a battle he doesn't want to engage in, there's not a play he quits on. His play has been infectious for our team."

 

https://www.nhl.com/news/stars-beat-blues-in-game-1/c-280518136?tid=280485230

Edited April 30, 2016 by Guns of the Patriots

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STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS

 

Sharks use big third period to win Game 1

 

Score twice on power play to defeat Predators; Couture, Ward, Burns each has two-point night

 

by Eric Gilmore / NHL.com Correspondent

3:35 PM

SAN JOSE -- After going a week without a game, the San Jose Sharks knew it would take some time to shake off the rust against the Nashville Predators in Game 1 of their Western Conference Second Round series at SAP Center on Friday

It turned out San Jose needed until the third period to get back on track and up to full Stanley Cup Playoff speed.

The Sharks scored five times in the third to come from behind to defeat the Predators 5-2. Logan Couture had two goals, Tomas Hertl, Joel Ward and Tommy Wingels each scored one, and Martin Jones made 29 saves.

Game 2 is in San Jose on Sunday (8 p.m. ET; NBCSN, CBC, TVA Sports).

"I think it's critical," Sharks coach Peter DeBoer said of winning Game 1. "Coming off the break, we had some questions of how we would be. I saw some of the effects of that the first two periods. We found a way. [Jones] made some saves and let us hang around and survive that. We got going.

"To be able to come out of Game 1 with a win even though I think we didn't play our best 60 minutes is good because I think we'll be better in Game 2."

 

https://www.nhl.com/news/sharks-predators-game-1-recap/c-280520060?tid=280501536

Edited April 30, 2016 by Guns of the Patriots

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STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS ROUND 2

 

Drouin goal helps Lightning win Game 2

 

Bishop makes 19 saves to square second-round series with Islanders

 

by Corey Long / NHL.com Correspondent

8:40 AM

TAMPA -- Jonathan Drouin scored his first Stanley Cup Playoff goal to help the Tampa Bay Lightning defeat the New York Islanders 4-1 in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Second Round at Amalie Arena on Saturday.

The best-of-7 series is tied 1-1 with Game 3 at Barclays Center on Tuesday (7 p.m. ET; NBCSN, CBC, TVA Sports).

Tyler Johnson scored twice, and Victor Hedman had a goal for the Lightning. Ben Bishop made 19 saves.

"I thought the team played really well," Bishop said. "We are going to have to continue like this. We saw what we did wrong in Game 1 (a 5-3 loss on Wednesday), and I thought we did a better job possessing the puck, getting pucks deep, not really feeding their transitions with turnovers. Obviously, when we don't do all those things, we play pretty well."

 

https://www.nhl.com/news/islanders-lightning-game-2-recap/c-280525752?tid=280486238

Edited May 1, 2016 by Guns of the Patriots

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STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS ROUND 2

 

Penguins score in 3rd to win Game 2 against Capitals

 

Pittsburgh evens series on goal by former Washington forward Fehr

 

by Katie Brown / NHL.com Correspondent

1:07 PM

WASHINGTON -- Eric Fehr has scored in Verizon Center before, but this one was a little more special.

Fehr's goal with 4:28 remaining in the third period gave the Pittsburgh Penguins a 2-1 win against the Washington Capitals in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Second Round at Verizon Center on Saturday.

The best-of-7-series is tied 1-1 with Game 3 at Consol Energy Center on Monday (8 p.m. ET; NBCSN, CBC, TVA Sports).

"It does feel a little bit different," said Fehr, a forward who played nine seasons for the Capitals before joining the Penguins as a free agent this offseason. "Obviously I had a lot of years here, and to be able to get that one to tie up the series and bring it back home with a split is enormous for us. You don't want to come out of here down 2-0 against the Presidents' Trophy winners. That would be a tough battle. Now we gave ourselves a chance and we're excited to get back home."

 

https://www.nhl.com/news/fehr-leads-penguins-past-capitals/c-280529516?tid=280530190

Edited May 1, 2016 by Guns of the Patriots

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STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS ROUND 2

 

Backes scores in OT, Blues top Stars to even series

 

Power-play goal wins Game 2 after Dallas rallies to force overtime

 

by Steve Hunt / NHL.com Correspondent

8:38 AM

DALLAS -- David Backes scored a power-play goal 10:58 into overtime to give the St. Louis Blues a 4-3 victory against the Dallas Stars in Game 2 of the Western Conference First Round at American Airlines Center on Sunday.

Dallas goaltender Antti Niemi made a pad save on Alexander Steen's slap shot from the top of the right circle, but Backes was there to knock in the rebound. It's the second overtime goal of the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs for Backes; the other gave the Blues a 1-0 victory in Game 1 of their first-round series against the Chicago Blackhawks.

 

https://www.nhl.com/news/backes-scores-in-ot-blues-beat-stars/c-280534318?tid=280511960

Edited May 2, 2016 by Guns of the Patriots

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STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS ROUND 2

 

Sharks edge Predators, lead series 2-0

 

Pavelski breaks tie with 2:40 remaining in third period; Jones makes 37 saves

 

by Eric Gilmore / NHL.com Correspondent

10:45 AM

SAN JOSE -- Joe Pavelski scored the tie-breaking goal with 2:40 left in the third period, and the San Jose Sharks defeated the Nashville Predators 3-2 in Game 2 of their Western Conference Second Round series at SAP Center on Sunday.

The Sharks took a 2-0 lead in the best-of-7 series. Game 3 is Tuesday at Nashville (9 p.m. ET; USA, SN360, TVA Sports).

San Jose's Martin Jones made 37 saves, and Logan Couture scored a power-play goal in the second period. Joe Thornton had an empty-net goal with 55.6 seconds remaining.

Defenseman Mattias Ekholm scored with 7:04 remaining in the third period to tie the game 1-1, and Ryan Johansen scored with 3.6 seconds left and goaltender Pekka Rinne off the ice for an extra attacker.

Pavelski's goal, his sixth of this year's Stanley Cup Playoffs, gave the Sharks a 2-1 lead. He knocked a rebound past Rinne, who couldn't control the puck after stopping Matt Nieto's shot from the left circle. Nieto and Thornton got the assists.

The Sharks took a 1-0 lead at 18:36 of the second period when Couture scored a power-play goal on San Jose's 16th shot of the game. Rinne stopped Pavelski's deflection of Brent Burns' shot from the point but couldn't control the rebound, and Couture scored from close range.

The Sharks scored 33 seconds after Nashville was penalized for having too many men on the ice. Defenseman Roman Josi, trying to prevent the penalty, came off the ice and over the boards onto San Jose's bench, to no avail.

The goal was Couture's fourth of the playoffs and San Jose's eighth with the extra man. The Sharks went 2-for-3 on the power play in their 5-2 victory against Nashville in Game 1.

The Predators went 0-for-3 on the power play and are 2-for-31 in the playoffs.

Nashville pulled even on Ekholm's goal. The defenseman beat Jones with a straightaway wrist shot from a few feet inside the blue line that went through traffic and caught the upper right corner.

Nashville forward Craig Smith returned to the lineup after missing Game 1 with a lower-body injury. Smith, who usually plays on the second line, missed most of Game 2 and all of Games 3 and 4 in the Predators' first-round series against the Anaheim Ducks.

Before Sunday, the Predators were 4-0 with Smith in the lineup for a full game and 0-4 without him.

 

https://www.nhl.com/news/sharks-edge-predators-lead-series-2-0/c-280537200?tid=280501698

Edited May 2, 2016 by Guns of the Patriots