May 3, 2022 Playoff Recap
Before we get started, for those wondering about my mental health after that Penguins/Rangers game 1, it is exactly as shattered as you think it would be.
***Note: The odds listed below are odds to win the series prior to game 1.
Pittsburgh Penguins (-110) v. New York Rangers (-110)
Game 1: Pens win 4-3 in 3OT
It looked like the Rangers were going to run away with this one after the 1st period.
The Rangers were throwing hits left and right
Adam Fox buried the opening goal on the PP
Rickard Rakell knocked out cold by Ryan Lindgren
WILD second period
Huge second period by the top line of Crosby, Guentz, and Rust.
Guentzel had 2 goals and Rust buried 5 on 3 PPG.
Kreider with a huge shorthanded breakaway goal
Controversial overturned goal late in 3rd when Kakko “ran into” DeSmith. The call on the ice was originally a goal scored by Filip Chytil
Casey DeSmith leaves the game in 2OT and Louis Domigue replaces him and makes 17 stops
Malkin tips in the OT winner off a point shot from John Marino
Kasperi Kapanen may have played his best game in a Penguin uniform to date.
Igor Shesterkin made the 2nd most saves in a game in NHL history with 79 saves.
Kris Letang logged just over 46 minutes of ice-time.
Washington Capitals (+280) v. Florida Panthers (-350) ***shoutout to my friend Cam for writing this***
Game 1: Caps win 4-2
Playoff Tom broke the ice by scoring the first goal on the PP, however, Wilson left the game in the second period with what is reported to be a lower body injury.
The Panthers stormed back with 2 of their own to take the lead 2-1. Sam Bennett and Claude Giroux got the tallies.
Capitals shifted the momentum halfway through the 2nd period and played at their pace for the remainder of the game.
Ovechkin forced a turnover against MacKenzie Weager with 11:52 remaining in the third period that led to the game tying breakaway goal scored by Kuzy.
Backstrom made a sweet pass to Oshie on the fly to put the Caps up 3-2
Lars Eller rifled a 170ft shot in the empty net to secure the 4-2 win
FINAL THOUGHTS:
Huberdeau and Barkov didn’t get much open ice to work with. When they did (4 on 4 hockey), they had an incredible scoring chance that Vanecek somehow stopped.
VV showed up and stopped 30 of 32 shots to secure his first playoff win
Colorado Avalanche (-640) v. Nashville Predators (+470)
Game 1: Colorado wins 7-2
COL was winning 5-0 after the first, and they never looked back
MacKinnon, Makar, and Rantannen al had 3 point nights
Cale Makar was dancing the Preds wingers on the blue night all night
Calgary Flames (-310) v. Dallas Stars (+250)
Game 1:Flames win 1-0
Elias Lindholm scored lone goal in the first period and that was all it took
Markstrom with a 16 save shutout (lol)
Physical tight checking game involving some fights
The Dallas Stars had 3 shots on net in the entire first period.