NHL Peachy: Morning Skate: Stanley Cup Playoffs Edition – May 11, 2017
WEDNESDAY’S RESULTS
Home Team in Caps
Pittsburgh 2, WASHINGTON 0 – PIT wins 4-3
ANAHEIM 2, Edmonton 1 – ANA wins 4-3
FLEURY SHINES AS DEFENDING CHAMPIONS ADVANCE WITH GAME 7 VICTORY
Marc-Andre Fleury denied all 29 shots he faced and Bryan Rust scored the game-winning goal to help the defending Stanley Cup champion Penguins defeat the Capitals in Game 7 and advance to the Eastern Conference Final for the third time in the past five seasons.
* The Penguins improved to 9-7 all-time in Game 7s, including a 6-0 road record – the best among all major pro sports franchises. The Penguins also improved to 4-0 in Game 7s against the Capitals, including a 3-0 record in Washington.
* Fleury, who shares first among active goaltenders with 61 career playoff wins, recorded the ninth shutout of his postseason career – and first since Game 3 of the 2014 Second Round at NYR – to even his record to 3-3 all-time in Game 7s (1.86 GAA, .923 SV%, 1 SO), including a perfect 3-0 mark on the road (also 2009 CSF at WSH and 2009 F at DET)
* Fleury became the 10th goaltender in NHL history to record a Game 7 shutout on the road and first to achieve the feat with Pittsburgh. Only two Penguins goaltenders have posted a Game 7 shutout on home ice: Frank Pietrangelo (27 saves) in 1991 Division Semifinals vs. NJD and Ken Wregget (33 saves) in 1995 Conference Quarterfinals vs. WSH.
* Rust, who notched his third career playoff game-winning goal, has collected three of four Penguins goals over their past two Game 7s – he tallied twice in a 2-1 victory in the 2016 Eastern Conference Final vs. TBL. Overall, the sophomore forward has found the score sheet in four of his first six career series-clinching games (7-1—8).
* Elias notes that Rust, whose other playoff winner was the series-clincher in the First Round vs. CBJ, became the fourth player in NHL history to have each of his first three career postseason game-winning goals stand as series-winners, joining Joe Carveth (1942-43 w/ DET), Jean Ratelle (1974-79 w/ NYR and BOS; 4 GWG) and Al MacAdam (1980-81 w/ MNS).
* The Penguins will host the Senators for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Final on Saturday at 7 p.m. ET (NBC, SN, CBC, TVAS). The two teams have met four times previously in the postseason, with Pittsburgh holding a 3-1 edge in those series (2007 CQF: 4-1 L, 2008 CQF: 4-0 W, 2010 CQF: 4-2 W and 2013 CSF: 4-1 W).
DID YOU KNOW?
The Penguins improved to 9-1 in 10 all-time playoff series against the Capitals, including seven straight series wins dating to the 1995 Conference Quarterfinals, to become the first non-Original Six team to register at least nine series wins against one opponent.
DUCKS RALLY PAST OILERS TO REACH CONFERENCE FINALS FOR FIFTH TIME
Andrew Cogliano tied the game in the second period and Nick Ritchie scored the go-ahead goal at 3:21 of the third period to help the Ducks defeat the Oilers in Game 7 to reach the Western Conference Final for the second time in three years and fifth time in franchise history (also 2003, 2006, 2007 and 2015).
* The Ducks, who hosted a Game 7 for the fifth consecutive year, snapped a four-game losing streak in winner-take-all contests on home ice as well as a five-game skid in Game 7s overall (3-6).
* Anaheim also erased a 2-0 series deficit for the first time in club history, becoming the 49th team in NHL history to achieve the feat (49-311, 13.6%).
* Anaheim’s victory means a California-based team will play in the Western Conference Final for the eight consecutive season and 12th time in the past 14 seasons.
* John Gibson made 23 saves to earn his first Game 7 victory in his second attempt. Anaheim has allowed only one goal against overall in its three all-time Game 7 victories, following 3-0 shutouts in the 1997 Conference Quarterfinals vs. PHX and 2006 Conference Quarterfinals at CGY.
* The Ducks overcame a deficit of at least one goal to win for the fifth time this postseason. Overall, 27 of 68 games this postseason (39.7%) have seen the winning team overcome a deficit of at least one goal.
* Additionally, 16 of 26 games in the Second Round of the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs (61.5 %) featured a game-winning goal scored in either the third period (11) or overtime (5).
* The Ducks will host the Predators for Game 1 of the Western Conference Final on Fridayat 9 p.m. ET (NBCSN, CBC, TVAS). Nashville defeated Anaheim in seven games in the 2016 First Round and also won their only other playoff meeting (2011 CQF: 4-2 W).
NHL ANNOUNCES CONFERENCE FINALS SCHEDULE
The NHL announced the dates, starting times and national television coverage for the Conference Finals, which begin in Anaheim on Friday.
Click here for complete details.
LOOSE PUCKS
Penguins forward Matt Cullen improved to 6-0 in six career Game 7s, while Capitals forward Justin Williams lost his first such contest (7-1) . . . Penguins captain Sidney Crosby extended his franchise record with his 98th career playoff assist. He has 2-2—4 in six career Game 7s . . . Penguins forward Jake Guentzel (9-5—14 in 12 GP) registered the primary assist on the opening goal to establish a franchise record for points in a single postseason by a rookie, breaking a mark set in 1991 by Jaromir Jagr (3-10—13 in 24 GP) . . . There have been 45 Game 7s since the 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs, the most frequently-occurring series length in that span . . . Predators defenseman P.K. Subban was fined $2,000 as supplementary discipline under NHL Rule 64 (Diving/Embellishment).
