NHL Peachy: Morning Skate: Stanley Cup Playoffs Edition – May 8, 2017
SUNDAY’S RESULTS
Home Team in Caps
NASHVILLE 3, St. Louis 1 – NSH wins 4-2
EDMONTON 7, Anaheim 1 – series tied 3-3
PREDATORS ADVANCE TO CONFERENCE FINALS FOR FIRST TIME
Down 1-0, the Predators scored three unanswered goals – including the go-ahead marker by Ryan Johansen (1-1—2) at 3:15 of the third period – to reach the Conference Finals for the first time in franchise history.
* The Predators, who own an 8-2 record in the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs, have won nine consecutive postseason games at home dating to Game 6 of the 2016 First Round vs. ANA (5-0 in 2017). Nashville became the third team in the past 10 years to win nine consecutive playoff games on home ice, joining Pittsburgh (9-0 in 2008) and Los Angeles (9-0 in 2012-13).
* Johansen became the eighth different Predators player to score a game-winning goal this postseason. Elias notes that Nashville became just the second team in the past 15 years to have a different player score each of its first eight game-winning goals in a playoff year (also PIT in 2013).
* Pekka Rinne (23 saves) allowed one goal or fewer for the sixth time in 10 outings this postseason (8-2, 1.37 GAA, .951 SV%, 2 SO). He also registered his third assist of the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs, the second-most by a goaltender in a single postseason in the past 25 years (Martin Brodeur: 4 in 2012).
* The Predators will face the winner of the Ducks-Oilers series in the Conference Finals. Nashville defeated Anaheim in each of their two previous playoff series (2011 CQF: 4-2 W and 2016 FR: 4-3 W), but has never faced Edmonton in the postseason.
DID YOU KNOW?
Nashville’s Peter Laviolette reached the Conference Finals for the third time as an NHL head coach (also 2006 w/ CAR and 2010 w/ PHI). Elias notes that since the NHL’s playoff draw became conference-based in 1994, only two other head coaches have reached the Conference Finals with three different teams: Ken Hitchcock (DAL, PHI, STL) and Darryl Sutter (CHI, CGY, LAK).
OILERS EXPLODE FOR SEVEN GOALS TO FORCE GAME 7
The Oilers exploded for seven goals – including five in the first period and a hat trick by Leon Draisaitl (3-2—5) – to extend their series with the Ducks to a seventh and deciding game, the first Game 7 of the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
* Edmonton scored seven goals in a playoff game for the first time since Game 2 of the 1991 Conference Finals vs. MNS (7-2 W). Elias adds that the Oilers scored at least five goals in the first period of a playoff game for the third time in franchise history (also 5 in Game 1 of 1984 DSF vs. WIN and 6 in Game 2 of 1987 DSF vs. LAK).
* The Oilers scored seven goals in a playoff game when facing elimination for the second time in franchise history (also Game 7 of 1984 DF vs. CGY: 7-4 W). Elias adds that Edmonton became the fourth team in NHL history to score five goals in the first period of game when facing elimination, joining Boston (Game 4 of 1980 PRE at PIT), Philadelphia (Game 5 of 1981 QF vs. CGY) and Detroit (Game 4 of 2010 CSF vs. SJS).
* The Oilers will play a Game 7 for the first time since the 2006 Stanley Cup Final at CAR (3-1 L) and 10th time in franchise history. They are 6-3 in the previous nine such contests, including a 3-2 record on the road.
* The Ducks will play a Game 7 for the fifth straight year and ninth time in franchise history. They hold a 2-6 record in their previous eight Game 7s, including a 1-4 mark on home ice; their two Game 7 victories came in the 1997 CQF vs. PHX and 2006 CQF at CGY.
DRAISAITL JOINS ELITE COMPANY WITH FIVE-POINT PERFORMANCE
Leon Draisaitl (3-2—5) established career highs for goals and points in a game (regular-season and playoffs) to become the fifth different player in Oilers franchise history to record at least five points in a playoff game, joining Wayne Gretzky (9x), Jari Kurri (3x), Glenn Anderson (2x) and Paul Coffey (2x).
* Draisaitl became the first player in franchise playoff history to record five points in a game with the Oilers facing elimination. The last NHL player to record five points in any playoff game was Derick Brassard, who tallied 3-2—5 on the road to help the Rangers force Game 7 in the 2015 Conference Finals against the Lightning.
* Draisaitl became the ninth player in NHL history to record a hat trick AND five or more points with his team facing elimination. The others to achieve the feat at home: Canadiens forward Maurice Richard (Game 5 of 1945 SF vs. TOR), Red Wings forward Norm Ullman (Game 6 of 1964 SF vs. CHI), Maple Leafs forward Darryl Sittler (Game 6 of 1976 QF vs. PHI), Bruins forward Ken Linseman (Game 4 of 1985 DSF vs. MTL) and Red Wings forward Johan Franzen (Game 4 of 2010 CSF vs. SJS).
* Draisaitl became just the third Oilers player in the past 25 years to score a playoff hat trick, joining Doug Weight and Bill Guerin who achieved the feat in Games 3 and 4, respectively, of the 2000 Conference Quarterfinals vs. DAL.
* Elias adds that Draisaitl (21 years, 192 days) became the second-youngest player in franchise history to score a hat trick in a playoff game, after Gretzky did so twice as a 20-year-old in the 1981 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
* Draisaitl, who collected 1-3—4 in Game 1 at ANA, has compiled 5-8—13 in this series and 13-13—26 in 18 career games against the Ducks (regular-season and playoffs). Elias notes that he became the first Oilers player to record 13 points in a single playoff series since Bernie Nicholls (5-8—13 in 6 GP) in the 1992 Division Semifinals vs. LAK.
* Mark Letestu (2-2—4) also registered a single-game career high with four points (regular-season and playoffs). Game 6 marked the 15th time in franchise history that multiple Oilers recorded at least four points apiece in the same playoff game – the last such instance was in Game 4 of the 1990 Stanley Cup Final vs. BOS, when Anderson and Craig Simpson each posted 2-2—4.
LOOSE PUCKS
Elias notes that Nashville, who compiled 94 points in 2016-17, became the first club since 2010 (PHI and MTL) to reach the Conference Finals despite finishing the regular season with the fewest points among playoff teams . . . Nashville has recorded four of its five series-clinching victories on home ice . . . Fourteen of 22 games in the Second Round of the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs (63.6%) have featured a game-winning goal scored in either the third period (9) or overtime (5) . . . Twenty-six of 64 games this postseason (40.6%) have seen the winning team overcome a deficit of at least one goal . . . Ducks forward Rickard Rakell scored for the fourth consecutive game (4-1—5) . . . The start time of Game 6 of the Second Round series between the Senators and Rangers has been set for 7:30 p.m. ET on Tuesday, May 9 . . . ICYMI: Capitals forward Nicklas Backstrom and Penguins forward Carl Hagelin were mic’d up for Game 5 of their Second Round series . . . Predators forward Kevin Fiala, who was injured in Game 1 of their Second Round series, waved the rally towel before puck drop in Nashville.
SNEAK PEEK AT MONDAY’S ACTION
All Times Eastern
Washington @ Pittsburgh, PIT leads 3-2, 7:30 p.m., CBC, TVAS, NBCSN
