NHL Peachy: Morning Skate: Stanley Cup Playoffs Edition – April 27, 2017
WEDNESDAY’S RESULTS
Nashville 4, ST. LOUIS 3 – NSH leads 1-0
Edmonton 5, ANAHEIM 3 – EDM leads 1-0
THRILLING THIRD PERIODS HIGHLIGHT OPENING NIGHT OF SECOND ROUND
The Predators and Oilers each had their 3-1 third-period leads erased before receiving late game-winning goals – from Vernon Fiddler (14:55) and Adam Larsson (15:20), respectively – to win the opening games of their Second Round series.
* Larsson’s marker was the fourth go-ahead goal in the final five minutes of the third period this postseason. The others were scored by Boston’s Brad Marchand (17:27, Game 1 at OTT), St. Louis’ Jaden Schwartz (17:33, Game 2 at MIN) and Anaheim’s Ryan Getzlaf (15:14, Game 2 vs. CGY).
PREDATORS POST FIFTH STRAIGHT WIN TO OPEN SECOND ROUND
P.K. Subban collected 1-2—3 and Vernon Fiddler scored the go-ahead goal with 5:05remaining in regulation to lead Nashville past St. Louis in their first ever playoff meeting.
* The Predators, who swept the Blackhawks in the First Round, are the first team to start a postseason with five consecutive victories since 2015, when the Ducks won their first six contests. Nashville last won five consecutive games during the 2015-16 regular season, when they posted a 5-0-0 run from Feb. 22 – March 1, 2016.
* Subban established a franchise playoff record for points in a game by a defenseman, his second such performance in the postseason (0-3—3 in Game 3 of 2010 CF vs. PHI w/ MTL). Paul Kariya is the only Predators player to register more points in a playoff game (0-4—4 in Game 1 of 2006 CQF vs. SJS).
* Fiddler, who played his first game of the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs, scored his fifth career playoff goal and first game-winner (43 GP). Colin Wilson also scored in his first game this postseason.
* ICYMI: Country music star Carrie Underwood congratulated the Predators and her husband, captain Mike Fisher, while Subban, a Toronto native, was visited by several members of the Blue Jays.
Photo via @subbanator
DRAISAITL, LARSSON LEAD OILERS TO GAME 1 VICTORY IN ANAHEIM
Leon Draisaitl (1-3—4) and Adam Larsson (2-1—3) collected three points apiece during a six-goal third period to help the Oilers outlast the Ducks and take a 1-0 series lead.
* Elias notes that Draisaitl, 21, became just the second player in Oilers history to record at least four points in a playoff game before his 22nd birthday – Wayne Gretzky achieved the feat twice in 1981 at age 20 and twice in 1982 at age 21.
* Larsson became the first Oilers defenseman to post multiple goals in a playoff game since Brian Glynn in Game 1 of the 1992 Division Semifinals at LAK. Elias says that Larsson is the first defenseman in Oilers history to register at least three points in the third period of a playoff game.
* Elias adds that Draisaitl and Larsson – who each matched a career high for points in a game (regular-season and playoffs) – became just the third pair of Oilers teammates to each record at least three points in the same period of a playoff game and the first to do so in the third period.
* Edmonton became the first team to defeat Anaheim in regulation since March 10, ending the Ducks’ run at 18 games (15-0-3, regular-season and playoffs). The Oilers also became the first visiting team to win in regulation at Honda Center since March 5, ending Anaheim’s 12-game streak (11-0-1, regular season and playoffs).
BABCOCK, McLELLAN, TORTORELLA VOTED JACK ADAMS AWARD FINALISTS
Mike Babcock of the Maple Leafs, Todd McLellan of the Oilers and John Tortorella of the Blue Jackets are the three finalists for the 2016-17 Jack Adams Award, presented to the head coach who has "contributed the most to his team's success.”
Members of the NHL Broadcasters' Association submitted ballots for the Jack Adams Award at the conclusion of the regular season, with the top three vote-getters designated as finalists. The winner will be announced Wednesday, June 21, during the 2017 NHL Awards at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
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LOOSE PUCKS
Ducks captain Ryan Getzlaf (1-1—2) scored his 33rd career playoff goal (all w/ ANA) to tie Corey Perry for second place in Ducks history, behind Teemu Selanne (35) . . .Predators teammates Ryan Johansen (1-6—7) and Fillip Forsberg (3-3—6) have each collected at least one point in all five games this postseason . . . Oilers forward Mark Letestu (2-0—2) posted his first career multi-goal playoff game . . . Twenty-nine of 44 games in the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs have been decided by one goal (65.9%), while another six have been decided by two goals following an empty-net score (79.5% combined) . . . The Canucks named Travis Green as the 19th head coach in franchise history . . . The Bruins announced that Bruce Cassidy will remain as head coach . . . Actor Kevin Smith was part of the crowd at Honda Center for Game 1 between the Oilers and Ducks.
Photo via @ThatKevinSmith
SNEAK PEEK AT THURSDAY’S ACTION
All Times Eastern
NY Rangers @ Ottawa, Game 1, 7 p.m., CNBC, CBC, TVAS
Pittsburgh @ Washington, Game 1, 7:30 p.m., NBCSN, SN, TVAS2
OVECHKIN, CAPITALS RENEW PLAYOFF RIVALRY WITH CROSBY, PENGUINS
Captains Alex Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby are set to face off in the playoffs for the third time (and second in as many years) when the Capitals and Penguins begin their 10th all-time playoff meeting at Verizon Center in Washington. Ovechkin (10-11—21) and Crosby (8-7—15) have each averaged more than a point per game in their previous 13 playoff meetings. Pittsburgh has won eight of their nine previous playoff series against Washington and has eliminated the Capitals en route to each of their four championships (1991, 1992, 2009 and 2016).
SENATORS, RANGERS SET FOR SECOND ALL-TIME PLAYOFF MEETING
The Rangers visit the Senators for Game 1 of their second all-time playoff meeting and first since the 2012 Conference Quarterfinals, a seven-game series won by New York. The Senators held a 2-1-0 record in their regular-season series against the Rangers (1-2-0) in 2016-17, highlighted by a 33-save shutout by goaltender Craig Anderson on Nov. 27. These teams made one of the biggest trades of last summer when Ottawa acquired forward Derick Brassard from New York in exchange for forward Mika Zibanejad – both Brassard (2-6—8) and Zibanejad (1-3—4) led their clubs in scoring during the First Round.
