NHL Peachy: Morning Skate: Stanley Cup Playoffs Edition – April 26, 2017
SNEAK PEEK AT WEDNESDAY’S ACTION
All Times Eastern
Nashville @ St. Louis, Game 1, 8 p.m., NBCSN, CBC, TVAS
Edmonton @ Anaheim, Game 1, 10:30 p.m., NBCSN, SN, TVAS
WESTERN CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS OPENING NIGHT OF SECOND ROUND
The Second Round of the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs begins tonight with Game 1 of both Western Conference series: Predators at Blues and Oilers at Ducks. Per Elias, teams that win the first game in a best-of-seven Stanley Cup Playoffs series hold an all-time series record of 453-207 (68.6%).
* The Predators and Blues upset higher seeds to advance to the Second Round, where they will meet in the postseason for the first time. Nashville held a slight edge in the regular-season series, compiling a 3-2-0 record against St. Louis (2-3-0). Both teams were buoyed by strong goaltending performances in the opening round: Nashville’s Pekka Rinne went 4-0 with a 0.70 goals-against average, .976 save percentage and two shutouts vs. CHI, while St. Louis’ Jake Allen went 4-1 with a 1.47 goals-against average and .956 save percentage vs. MIN.
* The Oilers visit the Pacific Division-champion Ducks in the second all-time playoff meeting between these clubs. Edmonton earned a 4-1 series win over Anaheim in the 2006 Conference Finals – the Oilers’ last postseason appearance and series win prior to the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Edmonton held a slight advantage in the regular-season series, with a 3-2-0 record against Anaheim (2-1-2). Both teams were led offensively in the First Round by their captains: Edmonton’s Connor McDavid (2-2—4 in 6 GP) and Anaheim’s Ryan Getzlaf (3-2—5 in 4 GP).
DID YOU KNOW?
The greatest difference in regular-season points among the 2017 Second Round opponents is seven (WSH: 118, PIT: 111). The remaining opponents are separated by five (STL: 99, NSH: 94), four (NYR: 102, OTT: 98) and two (ANA: 105, EDM: 103) points, respectively.
ICYMI: NHL RELEASES UPDATED POSTSEASON GUIDE
The newest edition of the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs Information Guide, featuring series-by-series breakdowns of the Second Round as well as updated all-time records through Sunday’s games, now is available for download via the NHL’s Media site.
NHL ANNOUNCES SECOND ROUND OFFICIALS
The NHL announced the officials for the Second Round of the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs:
HAMONIC, SIMMONDS NAMED FINALISTS FOR NHL FOUNDATION AWARD
Travis Hamonic of the Islanders and Wayne Simmonds of the Flyers are the two finalists for the 2016-17 NHL Foundation Player Award, which is presented to “an NHL player who applies the core values of hockey – commitment, perseverance and teamwork – to enrich the lives of people in his community.”
NHL clubs submitted nominations for the NHL Foundation Player Award, with the finalists selected by a judging panel. The NHL Foundation will present $25,000 to the chosen charitable organization of this year’s recipient.
The winner of the NHL Foundation Player Award, as well as the winners of the Mark Messier Leadership Award and King Clancy Memorial Trophy, will be announced Tuesday, June 20, at the 2017 NHL Humanitarian Awards, a special event at the Encore at Wynn Las Vegas that will honor the League’s leaders both on and off the ice. The winners of the 2017 NHL Humanitarian Awards also will be recognized the following day at the 2017 NHL Awards at T Mobile Arena.
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LOOKING AHEAD TO THURSDAY . . .
All Times Eastern
NY Rangers @ Ottawa, Game 1, 7 p.m., CNBC, CBC, TVAS
Pittsburgh @ Washington, Game 1, 7:30 p.m., NBCSN, SN, TVAS
