NHL Peachy: Morning Skate: Stanley Cup Playoffs Edition – May 13, 2017
FRIDAY’S RESULT
Home Team in Caps
Nashville 3, ANAHEIM 2 (OT) – NSH leads 1-0
PREDATORS, DUCKS CONTINUE TREND OF CLOSE GAMES
Game 1 of the Western Conference Final continued the trend of close games and comebacks that highlighted the first two rounds of the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs, with the Predators earning an overtime victory despite allowing the first goal and surrendering a tying marker in the third period.
* The Ducks and Predators contested the 24th overtime game of the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs (four of which have required multiple extra periods), four shy of matching the NHL record for most in a single playoff year (28 in 85 GP in 1993).
* Friday’s contest marked the 43rd one-goal game this postseason (69 GP, 62.3%). Elias notes that the record for one-goal games in a single playoff year was established in 2007, when 51 of 81 games (63%) were decided by one goal.
* The Predators overcame a deficit of at least one goal to win for the third time in the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Overall, 28 of 69 games (40.6%) have seen the winning team overcome a deficit of any margin to win.
PREDATORS CLAIM OT VICTORY IN CONFERENCE FINALS DEBUT
The Ducks tied the game in the third period, but James Neal scored at 9:24 of overtime – on the Predators’ 46th shot of the game – to lead Nashville to victory in its first ever game in the Western Conference Final.
* The Predators improved to 9-2 in the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs and 6-2 in eight all-time postseason games at Honda Center.
* Neal, who notched his fourth goal of the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs, scored his second career playoff overtime goal (69 GP) and first with the Predators. His only other such tally game during his first postseason appearance in 2011 with the Penguins (Game 4 of CQF at TBL).
* Filip Forsberg also tallied his fourth goal this postseason to tie the game in the first period – his first marker since Game 1 at STL (4-3 W). After scoring first in each of their first eight games of the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Predators surrendered the opening goal for a third straight game, improving to 2-1 in those contests.
* Ryan Johansen assisted on both goals in regulation to boost his team-leading totals to 2-9—11 this postseason (11 GP), two points shy of equaling the most by a Predators player in one playoff year.
* The Predators registered more than 45 shots on goal in a playoff game for the fifth time in franchise history and second time this postseason (also Game 3 vs. CHI: 49 SOG in 3-2 OT W). The franchise record for most shots in a playoff game is 54, established in Game 1 of the 2015 First Round vs. CHI (4-3 2OT L).
LOOSE PUCKS
Teams that win the first game in a best-of-seven Stanley Cup Playoffs series hold an all-time series record of 456-208 (68.7%), including a 9-3 mark this year . . . The Predators improved to 5-2 in one-goal games this postseason (2-0 in overtime), while the Ducks fell to 6-2 (3-1 in overtime) . . . Ducks goaltender John Gibson made 43 saves to establish a playoff career high . . . Ducks forward Jakob Silfverberg scored his eighth goal of the postseason to tie Ryan Getzlaf for the team lead and for second in the NHL behind Penguins forward Jake Guentzel (9). Only three players in Ducks history have scored more goals in a single postseason: Andy McDonald (10 in 2007), Corey Perry (10 in 2015) and Joffrey Lupul (9 in 2006) . . . Predators forward Austin Watson scored his first career playoff goal (11 GP) and first goal overall since March 13 vs. WPG . . . Goaltender Ben Bishop signed a six-year contract with the Stars.
SNEAK PEEK AT SATURDAY’S ACTION
All Times Eastern
Ottawa @ Pittsburgh, Game 1, 7 p.m., CBC, SN, TVAS, NBC
EASTERN CONFERENCE FINAL OPENS IN PITTSBURGH
The Eastern Conference Final opens tonight in Pittsburgh when the defending Stanley Cup champion Penguins host the Senators in Game 1 at PPG Paints Arena. The two teams are meeting in the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the fifth time, all in the past decade – Ottawa won their first encounter in the opening round in 2007 en route to their lone Stanley Cup Final appearance (4-1 W), but Pittsburgh has advanced in each of the three meetings since (2008 CQF: 4-0 W, 2010 CQF: 4-2 W and 2013 CSF: 4-1 W).
* Penguins captain Sidney Crosby, who was selected first overall at the 2005 NHL Draft in Ottawa, has recorded 33 points versus the Senators in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, his most against any NHL opponent (14-19—33 in 20 GP). Teammate Evgeni Malkin, who leads all players with 5-13—18 this postseason, also has scored above a point-per-game pace against Ottawa in the playoffs (8-16—24 in 20 GP).
* Senators captain Erik Karlsson led the team and NHL defensemen with 2-11—13 in the first two rounds to help Ottawa reach the Eastern Conference Final for the third time in franchise history (also 2003 and 2007). Karlsson already has set franchise records for assists and points in one playoff year by a defenseman, with each of his two goals standing as game-winners to make him the only blueliner in club history to record multiple GWG in a single postseason.
Team Leaders, Goals:
Jake Guentzel (PIT): 9
Jean-Gabriel Pageau (OTT): 7
Team Leaders, Assists:
Evgeni Malkin (PIT): 13
Erik Karlsson (OTT): 11
Team Leaders, Points:
Evgeni Malkin (PIT): 5-13—18 in 12 GP
Erik Karlsson (OTT): 2-11—13 in 12 GP
Projected Starting Goaltenders:
Marc-Andre Fleury (PIT): 8-4, 2.55 GAA, .927 SV%, 1 SO
Craig Anderson (OTT): 8-4, 2.49 GAA, .914 SV%, 1 SO
