NHL Peachy: Morning Skate: Stanley Cup Playoffs Edition – April 25, 2016 Our Coverage Sponsored by Paul Mayer Attitudes
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SUNDAY’S RESULTS
Home Team in Caps
Washington 1, PHILADELPHIA 0 – WSH wins 4-2
Dallas 5, MINNESOTA 4 – DAL wins 4-2
NY ISLANDERS 2, Florida 1 (2OT) – NYI wins 4-2
TAVARES POWERS ISLANDERS TO SECOND ROUND IN 2OT THRILLER
John Tavares (2-0—2) tied the game with 53.2 seconds remaining in regulation and scored at 10:41 of double-overtime to guide the Islanders to their first playoff series win since the 1993 Patrick Division Final vs. PIT (4-3 W).
* The Islanders earned their third overtime win of the First Round, two of which required multiple extra sessions (also Game 5). Per Elias, it marked the second time in franchise history the Islanders won two games that required multiple overtimes in a single series (also Games 2 and 4 of 1993 DSF vs. WSH). Elias adds the 1993 Patrick Division Semifinals vs. WSH was also the only other instance where the Islanders won three games in overtime within a single series (also Game 3).
* Via Elias, the Islanders also became the first team to win consecutive games in multiple overtime periods within a single playoff series since the Oilers in 1991 (Games 2 and 3 of DF vs. LAK).
* Tavares – the franchise’s all-time leader in regular-season overtime goals with eight – scored his second career overtime goal in the postseason (also Game 3 of 2015 FR vs. WSH).
* Per Elias, Tavares became the seventh player in franchise history to score a series-clinching goal in overtime and the second to do so in multiple overtime periods, joining Pat LaFontaine’s “Easter Epic” winner in Game 7 of the 1987 Patrick Division Semifinals at WSH (3-2 4OT W).
* Elias adds that Tavares became the first player in franchise history to score a game-tying goal in the final minute of regulation and then notch the overtime-winner in a playoff game. The only other instance in franchise history the Islanders accomplished the same feat was in Game 3 of the 1993 Patrick Division Semifinals vs. WSH, when Pierre Turgeon tied the game at 19:17 of the third period and Ray Ferraro scored at 4:46 of overtime (4-3 OT W).
* Tavares – who shares the NHL lead with five postseason goals and led all Islanders with 5-4—9 in the First Round – has registered 11-9—20 in his last 12 outings dating to March 31 (regular-season and playoffs).
* The Islanders will face the Lightning in the Second Round, the second all-time playoff meeting between the clubs and first since the 2004 Conference Quarterfinals (4-1 TBL W).
HOLTBY BACKSTOPS CAPITALS TO SERIES WIN OVER FLYERS…
Braden Holtby turned aside all 26 shots he faced to outduel Flyers netminder and former teammate Michal Neuvirth (28 SV) and Nicklas Backstrom’s second period tally stood as the game-winner as the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Capitals eliminated the Flyers in Game 6 of their First Round series.
* Per Elias, the six goals allowed by the Capitals in their First Round series with the Flyers were the fewest in a best-of-seven Stanley Cup Playoffs series in franchise history.
* Holtby registered his fourth career playoff shutout and second of the series (also Game 1: 19 SV). Per Elias, he became the third goaltender in franchise history to record two shutouts in a single playoff series, joining Olie Kolzig (1998 CSF vs. OTT) and Semyon Varlamov (2009 CQF vs. NYR).
* Elias adds that Holtby became the second goaltender in franchise history to record aseries-clinching shutout, joining Kolzig (29 SV) in Game 5 of the 1998 Eastern Conference Semifinals vs. OTT (3-0 W).
* Backstrom – who scored his fourth career postseason game-winning goal – led all Capitals with 2-5—7 in the First Round.
…OVECHKIN, CROSBY TO RENEW RIVALRY IN SECOND ROUND
The Capitals will face the Penguins in the Second Round, their ninth all-time meeting and first since the 2009 Eastern Conference Semifinals when Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin continuously one-upped each other in a thrilling seven game series ultimately won by the Penguins. Pittsburgh would then go on to capture the franchise’s third Stanley Cup championship.
* In Game 2 of that 2009 series – a 4-3 Capitals win to take a 2-0 series lead – bothCrosby and Ovechkin registered hat tricks. In Game 7 – a 6-2 Penguins victory – Crosby registered 2-1—3.
* At the end of the close seven game set, which saw three contests require overtime and five decided by a single goal, Ovechkin finished with 8-6—14 (1 GWG) and Crosby 8-5—13 (1 GWG).
STARS HOLD OFF WILD PUSH, ADVANCE TO SECOND ROUND
The Stars built a 4-0 lead heading into the third period but had to hold off a surging Wild rally that included four third-period goals to win their first playoff series since the 2008 Western Conference Semifinals vs. SJS (4-2 W).
* Jason Spezza (1-3—4) equaled a playoff career high with four points (also Game 3 of 2006 CQF at TBL: 0-4—4 w/ OTT). Per Elias, he became the third player in Stars/North Stars history to record four points in a series-clinching win, joining Dave Balon (1-3—4) and Milan Marcetta (2-2—4) who each did so in Game 7 of the 1968 Quarterfinals at LAK (9-4 W).
* Stars captain Jamie Benn (1-2—3) has collected at least one point in all six of Dallas’ games to begin the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs (4-6—10). Per Elias, he is one game shy of tying the longest point streak to begin a postseason in Stars/North Stars history, set byDino Ciccarelli in 1983 (4-6—10 in 7 GP).
* The Stars will face the winner of Monday’s Game 7 between the Blues and Blackhawks in the Second Round.
ICYMI: Stars goaltender Kari Lehtonen – who returned to the Dallas net after backing upAntti Niemi in Games 4 and 5 – made a pad save on the goal line with 34 seconds remaining in regulation to prevent the Wild from tying the game.
MILESTONES & BENCHMARKS
* Capitals goaltender Braden Holtby registered his 20th career playoff win to tie Olie Kolzig for the most in franchise history. He has allowed no more than one goal in 17 of those victories, including each of his last 14 dating to Game 6 of the 2012 Eastern Conference Semifinals vs. NYR.
* Panthers forward Jaromir Jagr skated in his 208th career playoff game to tie Wayne Gretzky for 16th place in NHL history among skaters/goaltenders.
LOOSE PUCKS
Flyers goaltender Michal Neuvirth (28 SV) denied 103 of 105 shots through three starts in the First Round (0.67 GAA, .981 SV%, 1 SO). . . Wild defensemen Jonas Brodin (1-1—2) and Jared Spurgeon (2-0—2) scored 16 seconds apart in the third period, the fastest two postseason goals in franchise history. . . The Empire State Building was turned orange and blue to celebrate the Islanders series win. . . NHL LiveWire: Blues captainDavid Backes was mic’d up for Game 6 at CHI . . . The Wild honored the life of iconic musician Prince prior to Game 6 against the Stars. The Minneapolis, Minnesota native passed away on Thursday.
SNEAK PEEK AT MONDAY’S ACTION
All Times Eastern
Anaheim @ Nashville, ANA leads 3-2, 8:00 p.m., CNBC, TVAS, SN, FS-TN, FS-W
Chicago @ St. Louis, series tied 3-3, 8:30 p.m., NBCSN, CBC, TVAS, CSN-CH
BLUES, BLACKHAWKS MEET IN FIRST GAME 7 OF 2016 STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS
The Blues play host to the Blackhawks on Monday night in the first Game 7 of the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs. The winner of Monday's game will face the Stars in the Second Round.
* In their 11 previous series clashes in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, these longtime division rivals have met in a Game 7 just once, in the 1990 Norris Division Final. Led by a five-point performance from Steve Larmer (1-4—5), the Blackhawks chased Blues starting goaltender Vincent Riendeau and recorded an 8-2 victory at Chicago Stadium.
* The Blues will be contesting their first Game 7 in 13 years and the 15th in franchise history (6-8). Their last victory in a Game 7 occurred in 1999, when the club -- directed behind the bench by current Chicago head coach Joel Quenneville -- claimed a 1-0 overtime win at Phoenix in a Western Conference Quarterfinal series.
* The Blackhawks will skate in a Game 7 for a fourth consecutive season, for the fifth time in the past six campaigns and 14th overall (7-6). The Blackhawks have split their four Game 7 decisions under Quenneville from 2011-2015. They forced a Game 7 after trailing 3-1 in the series three times in that span, a feat they have repeated again this year against the Blues.
GAME 7 TRENDS
* Home teams are 94-67 (.584) all-time in Game 7s in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, including a 3-2 mark in 2015.
* The team that scores first is 119-42 all-time (.739), including a 4-1 mark in 2015.
* Forty Game 7s have required overtime (40-of-161, 24.8%). Home and road teams each have 20 wins.
