Not what I had in mind, but being busy doesn't help that I didn't get around to recapping the World Championships until now. For now, here's a quick review of the group stage.
Note: Most information from the fancy IIHF website.
Group A
Standings
Team
Wins
OTW/SOW
OTL/SOL
Losses
Points
Goal Diff.
Czech
Republic
5
1
1
0
18
+15
Russia
6
0
0
1
18
+22
Sweden
3
2
0
2
13
+5
Denmark
2
2
1
2
11
-5
Norway
2
1
0
4
8
-9
Switzerland
1
1
3
2
8
-6
Latvia
1
0
3
3
6
-9
Kazakhstan
0
1
0
6
2
-13
Results
May 6
Sweden 2 - Latvia 1 (OT)
Czech Republic 3 - Russia 0
May 14
Norway 2 - Sweden 3
Russia 5 - Switzerland 1
Kazakhstan 1 - Latvia 2
May 15
Denmark 2 - Czech Republic 1 (SO)
Switzerland 2 - Sweden 3 (SO)
May 16
Russia 3 - Norway 0
Denmark 4 - Kazakhstan 1
May 17
Czech Republic 5 - Switzerland 4
Latvia 1 - Norway 3
Russia 4 - Sweden 1
(Quick) Recap
The Czech Republic and Russia were the top teams in this group, as they battled it out for first place. Both teams would finish with 18 points. Even though Russia had more regulation wins, the Czech Republic held the tiebreaker, beating Russia in their first game of the tournament. Czech Republic finished at the top of the group, with the host Russians in second place. Sweden was shaky by their standards, but managed to finish comfortably in third. Denmark, backed by a great goaltending performance, did what they could and battled their way though the group, en route to finishing in fourth place and earning a playoff spot. Norway had a decent tournament, and kept it close against neighbouring Sweden, but could not do enough and ended up in fifth place. Switzerland did not perform well, losing in extra time in their first two games. They only managed two wins (one in regulation, one in overtime), which was good enough for a sixth place finish. Latvia looked to have a good start, keeping games against Sweden and the Czech Republic close (they picked up a point in both games). Latvia's win over Kazakhstan solidified their spot for next year's tournament, as they finished comfortably in seventh. Kazakhstan had a good start, beating Switzerland in overtime to earn two points. That was all for the Kazakhs though, as they lost their next five of six by at least two goals (only one game was a one-goal loss). Their lone win was not enough, and Kazakhstan finished in eight. This result relegates Kazakhstan to Division I for next year.
Group B
Standings
Team
Wins
OTW/SOW
OTL/SOL
Losses
Points
Goal Diff.
Finland
7
0
0
0
21
+23
Canada
6
0
0
1
18
+26
Germany
4
0
1
2
13
+2
United
States
3
0
1
3
10
+4
Slovakia
2
1
0
4
8
-8
Belarus
2
0
0
5
6
-16
France
1
1
0
5
5
-12
Hungary
1
0
0
6
3
-19
Results
May 6
United States 1 - Canada 5
Finland 6 - Belarus 2
May 7
Slovakia 4 - Hungary 1
France 3 - Germany 2 (SO)
Belarus 3 - United States 6
May 8
Hungary 1 - Canada 7
Finland 5 - Germany 1
France 1 - Slovakia 5
May 9
Belarus 0 - Canada 8
Finland 3 - United States 2
May 10
Slovakia 1 - Germany 5
Hungary 2 - France 6
May 11
Slovakia 2 - Belarus 4
Finland 3 - Hungary 0
May 12
United States 4 - France 0
Canada 5 - Germany 2
May 13
United States 5 - Hungary 1
Germany 5 - Belarus 2
May 14
France 1 - Finland 3
Hungary 5 - Belarus 2
Canada 5 - Slovakia 0
May 15
Germany 3 - United States 2
Slovakia 0 - Finland 5
May 16
Canada 4 - France 0
Germany 4 - Hungary 2
May 17
United States 2 - Slovakia 3 (OT)
Belarus 3 - France 0
Canada 0 - Finland 4
(Quick) Recap
It was all Canada and Finland at the top, with both teams heading into their head-to-head having rolled through their opponents (for the most part). Their meeting would be anti-climatic though, as Finland shut out Canada 4-0 to win the group. The loss against Finland placed Canada second in the group. Germany had a surprising group stage. A rough start to the tournament was quickly forgotten, as the Germans went on to win four of their last five games to take third place. The United States had a less than ideal tournament, and were only able to beat the lower-tier teams of the group. Thanks to hanging on and forcing overtime in their game against Slovakia, the Americans clung to fourth place, earning the last playoff spot in the group. Slovakia, just like the United States, didn't have a good tournament to their standards. They needed to win in regulation against the United States, and could not do so. The overtime win was no consolation, as the Slovaks finished fifth in the group, ending their tournament. Belarus had a lot of lows, but the few highs they had were enough to keep them alive at this level. An upset over Slovakia helped Belarus set up a scenario were avoiding relegation was in their hands. They would do just that, as a last-day shutout of France propelled Belarus from eight to sixth in the group, clear of relegation. France had no fear of relegation, being that they are a co-host of next year's tournament. A regulation and an overtime winner were the highlights of their tournament, as France finished seventh in the group. It was an emotional tournament for Hungary. Returning after seven year, they managed to get their first ever win at the top level. Their win (against Belarus) looked to be enough to do the unthinkable and survive a year in the main tournament. The fairy tale would have a sad ending though, as Belarus' win against France bumped Hungary to eight place. Having finished last in the group, Hungary is relegated back to Division I for next year.
The Stanley Cup Final is finally here, and features the first-time finalist Sharks against a Crosby-led Penguins squad looking for their second Cup under his leadership.
(M2) Pittsburgh Penguins vs. (P3) San Jose Sharks
Brad: San Jose Sharks in seven
Starting with Pittsburgh, their offense has been a highlight of the playoffs. Crosby is his usual self, Malkin is also doing pretty well, but all the talk has been the HBK line (Hagelin, Bonino, and Kessel). This line has done wonders for Kessel in particular, as the winger leads the Penguins in goals (9) and points (18). Letang has lead the defense, and will continue to do so, but the rest now have to step up with Daley out for the series with an injury. Goaltending has been another story for Pittsburgh, as rookie Matt Murray took over in the first round and looked good (sans a hiccup in the third round), posting a 0.924 SV%. Regular starter Marc-Andre Fleury is now healthy, and will likely take back the net if Murray slips up again. For San Jose, its been the Joes up front, as Pavelski leads the playoffs in goals (13) and Thornton being his usual self. Couture has been great on the second line, and Marleau has been versatile, swapping between the second and third line in matchup situations. Chewbacca Burns leads the Sharks defense, and most of their offense, in points with 20. Vlasic and the rest have played pretty well over the course of the playoffs. Martin Jones has proven to be the answer to the Sharks goaltending woes, posting a SV% of 0.919. Overall, I think the Sharks are the slightly better team on paper. My prediction essentially comes down to what I'd want to see most. Option 1: Kessel going back to Toronto with the Cup, filling it up with hot dogs, and one-by one eat them in front of the Toronto Sun office. Option 2: Joe Thornton, having just one the Cup, goes 4-goal game during the celebration. Dammit, I can't resist Thornton's celebration (although I hope Kessel wins the Conn Smythe as consolation prize). Go Sharks!
MDK: San Jose Sharks in six
This will be a series that I will be very interested in, a couple of reasons is that Cole Harbour's own Sidney Crosby is back in the Final and San Jose finally has a chance to win the Cup. It's hard to pick one of these teams due to the fact I'd love to see both of them win. If I have to pick one, I'm going for San Jose. They've been far in the playoffs but never in the Final, and have a lot of talent like Joe Thornton who never won the Cup. I'm mainly going for the Sharks, but also love to see Crosby and the Penguins win the Cup again.
Just like their first series, the New York needed to rely on their top players to beat a team from Florida. For Tampa Bay, it was another series were they had to go without a few key players (Steven Stamkos and Anton Stralman). It looked good for Islanders in the first game, with their depth (specifically Shane Prince) stepping up and John Tavares adding one to take a high-scoring Game 1. The rest of the series was the Lightning's though, starting with winning Game 2. A high-scoring Game 3 saw the Lightning score late in the third to tie and score early in overtime on a bit of a controversial play. Game 4 had less scoring and controversy, but a similar result, with Tampa Bay winning early in overtime. The Lightning ended the series in Game 5, thanks to a couple good shots and Ben Bishop not letting anything into his net. The Tampa Bay Lighting eliminated the New York Islanders in five game, and find themselves back in the Eastern Conference Final.
Games
New York Islanders 5 - Tampa Bay Lightning 3
The scoring started early in this game. Tampa Bay's pressure culminated with Ondrej Palat beating Thomas Greiss with a one-timer from the high slot. New York wouldn't be down for long though, as Travis Hamonic's shot from the boards found its way past Ben Bishop, tying the game. The Islanders turned up the pressure midway through the period, and managed to get two powerplays for their efforts. Despite having the man advantage on two different occasions, New York could not take advantage of them. It was the Prince show late in the first period. The Islanders forward redirected a pass from Ryan Strome under Bishop's pads and into the net to make it 2-1 New York. Prince then one-timed a shot past Bishop with three seconds left in the period. The first ended with the Islanders up 3-1. The Lightning would control play to start the second, but even with a powerplay, could not close the gap on the scoreboard. John Tavares had a nice sequence midway through the period, first drawing a penalty, then scoring on the ensuing powerplay. That goal spelled the end of Bishop's night, as Andrei Vasilevskiy would relieve him in net. A late powerplay for New York resulted in nothing. The second period closed with the Islanders up 4-1. Play went back-and-forth for a bit before the Lightning started to take control. They managed to get one back midway through the period, thanks to a one-timer by Nikita Kucherov. There was a bit of a scare moments later, when the puck went into the Islander bench and struck head coach Jack Capuano. He would go to the back for a couple minutes and managed to return to the bench. Tampa Bay stayed in control of the puck, looking to pull to within a goal. Greiss stood on his head though, doing what he could to keep the puck out of the net. The Lightning's effort did pay off late in the game, with Valtteri Filppula batting in his own rebound. That was all Tampa Bay would get, as Cal Clutterbuck added an empty netter to seal it for New York. The Islanders took Game 1 5-3, giving them a 1-0 series lead.
New York Islanders 1 - Tampa Bay Lightning 4
Tampa Bay would get an early powerplay, but could not capitalize on it. Moments after though, Lightning struck, as Tyler Johnson finished off a 2-on-1 by backhanding the puck past Greiss. Six minutes later, Tampa Bay's lead was extended. Jonathan Drouin received a pass, dangled through the slot, and tucked a backhander between Greiss' pads to make it 2-0. The Islanders attack started to heat up, and drew a penalty for their efforts. Nikolay Kulemin made good on the man advantage, tipping Thomas Hickey's point shot past Bishop to pull New York to within a goal. The Islanders kept at it, but could not tie the game before the period ended, resulting in the Lightning being up 2-1 after one. Penalties were exchanged in the second, with both teams unable to do much with their respective powerplays. midway through the second, Tampa Bay would find themselves back on the powerplay. they made good on this attempt. Victor Hedman's point shot banked off an Islander defender and into the New York net. That ended up being the only goal of the period, as the Lightning were up 3-1 after 40 minutes. Tampa Bay was in control for the first half of the third period thanks to coincidental minors opening up the ice. Despite dominating 4-on-4, the Lightning could not add to their lead. It didn't deter their attempts though, as Tampa Bay kept outshooting New York. Johnson would add an empty netter to seal it. The game ended roughly, with multiple offsetting minors getting called in the last minute of play. The final buzzer would eventually happen, as Tampa Bay took the game 4-1 to tie the series.
Tampa Bay Lightning 5 - New York Islanders 4 (OT)
This time, it was New York who managed to open the scoring. Eight minutes into the game, Josh Bailey roofed one over Bishop and into the net. They would get a powerplay moments later, but the Islanders could not extend their lead on the man advantage. Both teams would exchange chances, but it wasn't until late in the period when another goal was scored. Ryan Callahan tipped a point shot from Alex Killorn into the Islanders' net, tying the game. The first period ended with the game tied 1-1. New York had a couple of powerplays early in the second, giving them a chance to regain the lead. It didn't happen though, as Tampa Bay managed to kill off both of their man disadvantages. Midway through the period, Johnson won an offensive zone faceoff back to Hedman. The Lightning defender one-timed the puck, and watched it go past Greiss and into the net. Tampa Bay kept it up, looking to extend their lead, but could not do so. New York managed to responded, with Nick Leddy scoring with a point shot of his own to tie the game. Shots were exchanged but the game would remained tied 2-2 after the second period. Scoring happened early in the third. An Islanders powerplay saw Bailey add his second of the game. New York's 3-2 lead lasted all of 58 seconds, as Vladislav Namestnikov snapped one home to tie the game. It stayed tied until midway through the period. The puck would find Clutterbuck in the slot, and he had all day to line up his shot and find the back of the net. Bailey had a chance to complete his hat trick moments later, but his shot was gloved by Bishop. Finding themselves down once again, Tampa Bay pressed to find another equalizer. It would come late in the game, as Drouin found Kucherov in the slot. Kucherov got his shot off quickly, and managed to beat Greiss. The period wound down, with both teams tied 4-4, overtime was needed to decided a winner. The extra period would be a short one. Hedman's shot missed the net, but bounced to the other side where Brian Boyle was standing. Boyle buried it before Greiss slid over to attempt to save the shot. It wasn't without some controversy, as moments before Boyle hit Martin late, which got the Islanders up an arms as a penalty was not called. It was reviewed for offside, but nothing come of it. Tampa Bay won the game 5-4, putting them up 2-1 in the series.
Tampa Bay Lightning 2 - New York Islanders 1 (OT)
A penalty by Tampa Bay early in the game gave New York the chance to open the scoring. Kyle Okposo's first chance was stopped, but made good on his second chance moment later, finding the back of the net. The Islanders kept up the pressure, getting multiple chances to extend their lead. Bishop (and his goalpost) did what he could to keep the Lighting close. He managed to do just that, as the score remined 1-0 for New York after 20 minutes. Greiss had a minor problem early in the second, with the blade falling out of his right skate. That forced Jean-Francois Berube into the Islanders net for a few minutes. He did well in his 4:47 minutes of play, stopping all two shots he faced. Greiss would take back the net once his skate was fixed. Tampa Bay showed a bit more life in the second (thanks to three powerplays), but still could not find their way onto the scoreboard. New York got a couple chances of their own, but Bishop remained solid. The 1-0 scoreline held up after two periods of play. The Islanders controlled play early in the third, but were still unsuccessful in extending their lead. Once play shifted in the Lightning's favour, they would tie the game. Kucherov's shot found just enough space under Greiss' blocker, hitting the back of the net to tie the game. Both teams couldn't get much on net for the rest of the period. For the second straight game, it was tied after regulation, meaning an extra period was going to be played. The Lightning once again kept overtime short, as a blast from Jason Garrison found the back of the net a minute-and-a-half into the period. Tampa Bay's 2-1 win made the series 3-1 for them, putting them one game closer to the next round.
New York Islanders 0 - Tampa Bay Lightning 4
Shots would be exchanged early in the first, but it wasn't until the later half of the period when the opening goal was scored. A bouncing puck would find Hedman, who turned and shot the puck past a screened Greiss. It didn't stop there, as near the end of the period, Boyle roofed one mover Greiss and into the net. Tampa Bay finished the first period up 2-0. An early powerplay helped the Lightning extend their lead, with Hedman blasting his second of the game into the Islander net. New York had a little spurt of offense in the period, but there best chance might have been when Hedman lost the puck and it skirted across the crease, jut missing Bishop, who might have accidently hit the puck in the wrong direction. The period was Tampa Bay's for the most part, but Boyle's remained their lone goal of the second. The Lightning headed into the second intermission up 3-0. New York came out firing in the third, but even with a powerplay (and a dog pile in the crease), failed to find the back of the net. Just under five minutes into the period, Kucherov would find himself on a breakaway. He converted on the chance, going five-hole on Greiss. The Islanders did what they could to try and break the shutout, but Bishop was having none of it. The Lightning goaltender ended up stopping 28 shots, as Tampa Bay shut out New York 4-0. The win was Tampa Bay's fourth of the series, as they now move on to the third round.
Three Thoughts on the Series
Minus the two high-scoring games, the Islanders just could not finish.
Have to give some love to Greiss. At times it looked like he was the whole team.
Hedman was great this series, stopping Tavares' line on defense and racking up the points on offense.
Picture of the Series
The aftermath of getting hit in the face with a puck.
Highlight of the Series
It was hard to pick between all the highlight saves between Bishop and Greiss. So lets go in the opposite direction: Brain Boyle's Game 3 overtime winner.
Out of all the first round series, this was the biggest upset. Anaheim had a poor start to their season, only to storm midway through the season and end up tops in the Pacific. Nashville was good during the season, but a tough division placed them in a wildcard spot. Lower seed be damned though, as Nashville jumped out to a 2-0 series lead. A goaltending changed looked to have changed the fortune of the Ducks, as Frederik Andersen replaced John Gibson, and earned a shutout in Game 3. Anaheim went on to win Games 4 and 5 as well, correcting their course. Pekke Rinne would then take over, playing outstandingly. It was enough for Nashville to tie, then win, the series. The Nashville Predators beat the Anaheim Ducks in seven games, and moved on to the next round.
Games
Nashville Predators 3 - Anaheim Ducks 2
It didn't take long for the Predators to get the first goal of the series. Nashville managed to get a 3-on-1 rush early in the game, but could not convert on the chance. Seconds after that, Ryan Johansen found James Neal in the slot. Neal one-timed the puck past John Gibson, making it 1-0 for the Predators. Both teams would exchange powerplays, with no success on either side. Nashville got into some penalty trouble late in the period, with Anthony Bitetto and Shea Weber getting penalized 35 seconds apart. The 5-on-3 helped the Ducks tie it up, as Ryan Getzlaf buried a rebound to make it 1-1. Anaheim kept up the pressure for the rest of the period, but could not take the lead. The first period ended with the game tied 1-1. It was Anaheim's turn to open a period with a quick goal. Andrew Cogliano's rink-wide pass found Ryan Kelser, who proceeded to snap the puck past Pekke Rinne. The Predators pressed back, looking to tie the game. It took a while, but eventually Nashville got the equalizer. An odd-man rush led to Colin Wilson redirecting Ryan Ellis' pass into the Ducks net. Anaheim had a chance to once again take the lead late in the period. Jamie McGinn pounced on a rebound and had a fairly open net to shoot at, but could not get enough on the shot. Ellis slid in to block. It became mayhem in the crease after that, with the Ducks looking to jam the puck in and the Predators trying to prevent that. The puck would not cross the line, meaning the game was still tied. The second period ended tied, with the Ducks and Predators knotted up at 2-2. Play would go back-and-forth for a bit in the third, but it wasn't until midway through the period when the deadlock was broken. Filip Forsberg caused a turnover in his defense zone and skated up ice with the puck. He skated over the Ducks blueline and tried to find Craig Smith with a pass. The pass would bank off a Ducks defender and past Gibson, putting the Predators in the lead. Anaheim looked to respond late, but even with Gibson pulled, could not tie the game again. Nashville held on to win 3-2, going up 1-0 in the series as a result.
Nashville Predators 3 - Anaheim Ducks 2
Unlike last game, it was a while before a goal was scored. No team could establish much control early on, and when Anaheim looked to have their attack rolling, Corey Perry had back-to-back penalties. Nashville's powerplay was ineffective though, as the game remained 0-0. Cogliano would open the scoring 14 minutes into the period, skating in on a partial breakaway and sliding the puck past Rinne. Just under a minute left in the period, Matthias Ekholm backhanded a shot past Gibson and into the net, tying the game. Like last game, the first period ended with both teams tied 1-1. Chances were exchanged in the second, but the tiebreaking goal didn't happened until the midway point of the period. Smith received a pass in the slot and snapped it, going top corner on Gibson. Again, a late goal would be scored, but this time it wasn't a tying one. A powerplay late in the second saw Weber tee one up from the point and blast it past Gibson. The second period ended with Nashville up 3-1. Anaheim turned it up in the third, looking to close the gap. It wont happen until late in the period, when Nate Thompson's backhand beat Rinne. The remaining 2:42 would not be enough for the Ducks to tie the game. The Predators once again hung on to in 3-2, and doubled their series lead.
Anaheim Ducks 3 - Nashville Predators 0
Looking to shake things up, Frederik Andersen got the start for the Ducks. Shots would be exchanged in the first, but the first goal wasn't scored until the midway point of the period. A turnover in the offensive zone saw Shawn Horcoff and McGinn connect for the opening goal (with McGinn being the finisher). The Ducks got a powerplay moments later, but failed to score on it. The Predators would get their own powerplay late in the period, but ran out of time. The score remained 1-0 for Anahiem after 20 minutes. Nashville continued on the powerplay to start the second, and continued to pressure even after the man advantage expired. Yet, Andersen was there, preventing the Predators from finding the back of the net. It took over ten minutes in the period for the Ducks to register a shot on net. While their first shot was stopped, their second shot (that happened moment later) went in, as
Rickard Rakell redirected Sami Vatanen's point shot into the Predators net. Anaheim started to pick it from there, and would extend their lead later in the period. Chris Stewart's backhand beat Rinne, making it 3-0 for the Ducks. The score stayed that way for the rest of the period as both teams entered the break. Again, Nashville controlled the attempts for most of the period, as they looked to break the shutout. Andersen stood tall though, not letting anything past him. He would go on to stop 27 shots in the game, as Anaheim shut out Nashville 3-0 to win their first game of the series.
Anaheim Ducks 4 - Nashville Predators 1
It didn't take long for Anaheim to get on the board in this one. David Perron's shot was stopped, but Getzlaf was there to jam home the rebound, making it 1-0 Ducks. The Predators went on the attack, looking to quickly respond. Their efforts were for naught though, as Anaheim remained up by a goal. Nashville made one more push late in the period (thanks to a powerplay), but again, failed to find the back of the net. Just like last game, the first 20 minutes saw Anaheim head into the intermission up 1-0. Nashville kept up the pressure, and eventually broke their five period goalless drought. Midway through the second, Mike Fisher snapped a shot from the slot past Andersen, tying the game. Both teams would find themselves playing 4-on-4 on two different occasions in the period. Anaheim dominated on the opened up ice, and while they didn't score on the first one, they did on the second. Thompson got the puck near the slot and outwaited Rinne, eventually sliding it past the downed goaltender. The Ducks added one more in the period, as McGinn batted the puck into the Predators' net. The second period ended with Anaheim up 3-1 on Nashville. The Ducks had a man advantage to start the third, but could not capitalize on it. A couple of Ducks penalties help turned the tide in the Predators favour. Nashville pressed to get their second goal, but could not find it. Cogliano added one more for Anaheim. Nashville's chances to get back ended late when Weber got called for roughing. Anaheim went on to win 4-1, tying the series at 2-2.
Nashville Predators 2 - Anaheim Ducks 5
Nashville would have an undisciplined beginning to this game, getting penalized twice in the first eight minutes. Anaheim's powerplay faltered though, failing to open the scoring. The Predators had their turn on the offense in the later half of the period, but could not find the back of the net. Penalties were exchanged late in the period, with 4-on-4 being played in the last minute. The game remained 0-0 after 20 minutes. Chances were exchanged in the second, but it took until the last six minutes of the period for a goal to happen. Johansen would get a pass and proceeded to flick a backhand past Andersen. The Ducks responded seconds later, as a point shot from David Perron was deflected up and fluttered over Rinne and into the net. Two minutes later, Anaheim took the lead. Ryan Garbutt whacked the pack past Rinne from the side of the net, making it 2-1 for the Ducks. The score stayed that way for the rest of the period, as the Ducks went into the intermission ahead by a goal. Despite having a powerplay to start the third, it wasn't until midway through the period when Anaheim struck next. Sami Vatanen would get sprung on a breakaway, skate in, and snap a shot past Rinne's blocker to put the Ducks up by two. The Predators got one back five minutes later. Miikka Salomaki would block a point shot from Weber, but managed to coral the puck and shoot it past Andersen's outstretched pad. Nashville's attack kept up the pressure, but could not find a tying goal. Goals by Fowler and Kesler late in the period sealed the game, as Anaheim went on to in 5-2. The win gave the Ducks a 3-2 series lead, putting them one win away from advancing to the next round.
Anaheim Ducks 1 - Nashville Predators 3
Nashville looked stay alive with a win at home. They had a few offensive spurts in the first, but could not open the scoring. Anaheim also failed to find the back of the net in the first, as once again the opening 20 minutes was played without a goal. The Ducks pressed early in the first, with their best chance coming on a 2-on-1, but came up empty. The Predators would break the deadlock eight minutes in, as Ekholm skated around to the high slot and managed to get his shot through a crowd of bodies and into the Ducks net. Nashville kept up the pressure, but wouldn't get there next goal until ten minutes later, when Johansen and Neal connected on a 2-on-1. Neal's goal made it 2-0 for the home squad. Anaheim put on the pressure to end the period, and had their efforts rewarded. A weird bounce kept the puck in the offensive zone, and allowed Fowler to take a shot from the point. Perry tipped the shot, but Rinne managed to stop it. Not all of it though, as the puck trickled behind him, and Kesler dove in to whack the loose puck into the net. The second period still ended with Nashville in the lead, but they were only up 2-1. Anaheim got chances in the third to tie it up. Despite their best efforts, Rinne was solid, keeping everything out of the net. Weber capped off the game with an empty netter. The 3-1 win helped Nashville tie the series and force a Game Seven.
Nashville Predators 2 - Anaheim Ducks 1
Anaheim jumped out on the attack early, with Nashville countering a minute later. The Predators got the first goal six minutes in, as Wilson managed to control a bouncing puck and put a backhand over Andersen. The Predators had a chance to extend their lead when the Ducks got into some penalty trouble, but could not do so. A few minutes after the powerplays expired, Nashville would strike. Paul Gaustad tipped Weber's point shot into Anaheim's net, doubling the lead. The Ducks effort late in the period was for all for naught, as the Predators ended the first period up 2-0. An early powerplay in the second gave the Ducks a chance to get on the board. McGinn had the Ducks best chance, with Rinne down and the net mostly open, but could not get a proper shot off and the puck went out of play. Anaheim kept it up throughout the period, but even with another powerplay, could not beat Rinne. The second period ended the same as the first, with Nashville up by two goals. The Ducks only again had a powerplay early in the period, and this time they converted. A tic-tac-toe play saw Kesler finish off the play by snapping the puck past Rinne. Anaheim got another powerplay moments later, but was not as successful on that one. The Ducks had multiple chances and close calls in the period, but Rinne did all he could to not let a second goal happen. Rinne won out in the end, as he stopped 36 of 37 shots. Nashville beat Anaheim 2-1, winning the seventh game to move on to Round Two.
Three Thoughts on the Series
Poor Bruce Boudreau.
I'm starting to think John Gibson isn't the goalie Anaheim thinks he is.
This might have been the only true upset of the first round (with respects to Sharks-Kings and Islanders-Panthers)
Picture of the Series
Sad Boudreau is sad.
I regret not getting a better screen cap
Highlight of the Series
Colin Wilson scores to put Nashville up 1-0 in Game Seven.
It was a battle between two teams with different post season success. For Chicago, they had almost al of it, winning three cups in six year (including last year's) and looked to defend their title. St. Louis was the opposite, getting eliminated in the first round for the past three years. The Blues finally decided to give Brian Elliott the starting role, as he kept getting past over for other options. It looked to pay off early, with Elliott getting a shutout in the first game. The Blues would get up to a 3-1 lead, then it started to look bad. A double-overtime win and a comeback after a first period letdown put Chicago back in it, and forced the series to go the distance. The end saw ex-Blackhawk Troy Brouwer score the winner goal, ending his former team's playoffs. St. Louis managed to eliminate Chicago in seven games.
Games
Chicago Blackhawks 0 - St. Louis Blues 1 (OT)
St. Louis would get an advantage minutes into the game, as Viktor Svedberg got called for holding Alexander Steen's stick. While they racked up the shot attempts, the Blues could not get anything on net. St. Louis didn't get their first shot on net until the eight minute mark. Chicago soon got a couple of powerplays of their own, as St. Louis would get into penalty trouble. The Blackhawks would rack up the shots, but Brian Elliott stood tall, keeping the puck out of the net. The first period ended with the game tied at zeroes. Jonathan Toews got a good chance early in the second, keeping on a 2-on-1, but his shot was stopped by Brian Elliott. St. Louis controlled play for most of the second, but could only get a third of their shot attempts on net. Their best chance saw Jaden Schwartz try to beat an out-of-position Corey Crawford, but his shot was blocked. Another scoreless period in the books, as both teams failed to find the back of the net. The script flipped in the third period, as it was the Blackhawks who controlled play. Artemi Panarin had the best chance in the period, but his shot what stopped by the elbow of Elliott. The game was still deadlocked at zeroes after regulation, meaning overtime was needed to determine a winner. Just under seven minutes into the extra frame, Chicago found themselves on a 3-on-1. The puck would be past to Andrew Desjardins, who would see his one-timer sail over the net. Moments later, St. Louis would get set up in the attacking zone. The puck went to David Backes near the side of the net. He attempted to pass the puck rink-wide to Alexander Steen, but his pass would hit Trevor van Riemsdyk's skate and slide past Crawford. That would be the game winner, as the 1-0 win put St. Louis up 1-0 in the series.
Chicago Blackhawks 3 - St. Louis Blues 2
It was a bit of a struggle for both teams to gain control of play in the first period. Chicago did get its turn with the puck five minutes in, but even with a powerplay, could not register a shot on net. St. Louis also had a powerplay in the period, but only managed one shot. It was a low-shooting affair in the first 20 minutes, with the Blues leading on the shot counter 7-2. The game remained scoreless heading into the first intermission. A few shot attempts were exchanged in the second, but it took a while for things to really get going. halfway through the period, play started to go back-and-forth, with the Blues getting a slight edge in attempts. A scrum would ensure 11 minutes into the period, but cooler heads would prevail. Slowly, St. Louis started taking control. It helped, as they scored the first goal of the game with less than five minutes left in the period. Vladimir Tarasenko received a pass from Jaden Schwartz and snapped it past Crawford, making it 1-0 for the Blues. The Blackhawks started storming back, looking to tie the game. They managed to do that with five seconds left in the period, as Duncan Keith blasted one past a screened Elliott. The second didn't end peacefully, as a scrum happened near the boards. Richard Panik and Joel Edmunson would be the only penalties out of it, meaning the third period opened with both teams playing 4-on-4. Despite the more open ice, neither team could find the back of the net. Play would remain relatively close, but even with another 4-on-4 opportunity, the score remained 1-1. Tarasenko looked to have his second of the night later in the period, once again receiving a pass in the slot and snapping it past Crawford. It was challenged by the Blackhawks, and upon further review, it was determined Jori Lehtera's back skate was off the ice before the puck crossed the blueline, making him offside. The goal was called back, as the game stayed 1-1. It got worst for Tarasenko. Just minutes later, he would be sent to the box for slashing (and breaking) Andrew Shaw's stick. Chicago did not let this powerplay opportunity go to waste. Shaw would jam home the puck, putting the Blackhawks in the lead. This time, it was St. Louis' turn to challenge a goal. It was determined that goaltending interference didn't happen on the play, and the goal was upheld. The Blues tried to tie the game, but could not find the equalizing goal. Artemi Panarin added an empty netter. Just before time expired, Kevin Shattenkirk blasted one past Crawford. It was too late though, as Chicago won the game 3-2, tying the series at 1-1.
St. Louis Blues 3 - Chicago Blackhawks 2
An early powerplay in this one helped the Blackhawks get the lead. Brent Seabrook's point shot beat a screened Elliott minutes into the game. Halfway through the period, St. Louis would get a powerplay goal of their own. Colton Parayko's point shot was tipped by a defender and beat Crawford, tying the game. The period ended roughly, with Edmundson and Shaw getting penalties for going after each other. 30 seconds later, the first period ended, with the score at 1-1. The 4-on-4 to start the period would favour the Blackhawks. Artem Anisimov received a pass from Panarin and wasted no time putting the puck past Elliott. The Blues pushed back a couple minutes later, but even with a 3-on-1 at one point, could not tie the game. It was mostly Chicago for the rest of the period. It looked like Andrew Ladd might have scored later in the period, but his shot would bounce off the outside of the post. The second period ended with the Blackhawks up 2-1. The Blues pushed back in the third, and would be rewarded for their efforts. Patrik Berglund stepped over the blueline and snapped a shot on net. The puck hit a defender and bounced past Crawford, tying the game. Both teams would go back-and-forth, looking to take the lead. St. Louis would get a powerplay midway through the period, as Patrick Kane was given a double-minor for high-sticking. The Blues did not their powerplay go to waste. Schwartz finished off a tic-tac-toe play, putting St. Louis in the lead. Chicago managed to pull Crawford for an extra attack late, but it didn't help. The 3-2 win put St. Louis back in the series lead.
St. Louis Blues 4 - Chicago Blackhawks 3
Chicago looked to tie the series back up, and came out pressing for an early goal. They looked to have got one midway through the first, as Anisimov's shot managed to beat Elliott, but stopped before crossing the goal line. St. Louis ended up being the one who would stick first. Tarasenko took a pass from Lehtera and snapped it past Crawford, making it 1-0 Blues. The Blackhawks put on pressure late in the period, but would run out of time. St. Louis was up a goal heading into the first intermission. The Blues got an early powerplay in the second period, but failed to score on it. The Blackhawks would get a powerplay of their own seven minutes into the period. They could not score on it, but seconds after it expired, Hossa released a shot that hit Shaw and went into the net, tying the game. It got rough minutes later, as Fabbri was pushed into Crawford. Crawford took exception to this and started going after Fabbri. A scrum ensued, resulting in four roughing penalties and in interference call on Fabbri. Seconds after the faceoff, Steen and Panarin were both headed to the box as well. Later on their powerplay, the Blackhawks would strike. Keith would pinch in, collecting a rebound and shooting the puck past Elliott. Chicago kept up the pressure, but it was derailed when Ladd was called for interference. The powerplay allowed the Blues to tie the game up, as Tarasenko scored his second of the night. The second period would end with both teams tied 2-2. St. Louis would get a powerplay early in the third period. It didn't take long after for Schwartz to bury a rebound, putting the Blues in the lead. Minutes later, Steen would break up a cross-ice pass and go in on a breakaway. He made good on his attempt, snapping it past Crawford to make it 4-2. Chicago would turn up the pressure, as they looked to close the gap. It took a while, but the Blackhawks managed to answer back, as Keith's point shot was deflected up and over Elliott and into the net. Chicago tried to tie the game, but could not find an equalizer. The game didn't end peacefully, as a last second draw saw Shaw and Steen go at it. Soon, everyone on the ice was going at it (minus the goalies), and they all received game misconducts (which didn't matter as the game was over). The 4-3 win put St. Louis up 3-1 in the series.
Chicago Blackhawks 4 - St. Louis Blues 3 (2OT)
St. Louis looked as though they wanted to end the series now, but their attempts early on were stopped. Chicago started taking control midway through the period, but were kept off the scoreboard. A late push by the Blues did nothing to change the score, as the game remained 0-0 after 20 minutes. An early powerplay for St. Louis did nothing to help them. Chicago would get a powerplay of their own minutes later, but could not take advantage of it. Midway through the period, the Blues were back on the powerplay. It benefited the Blackhawks at first, as Hossa streaked down his off-wing and snapped one past Elliott. A minute later, Schwartz stepped over the blueline and wired one past Crawford, tying the game. Chicago went on the attack after that. Minutes later, a dog pile in the Blues crease saw Anisimov whack home a rebound, putting the Blackhawks in the lead. Just before the buzzer went in the second, Panarin one-timed a pass from Kane into the net. It was reviewed, and determined it beat the buzzer by 0.4 seconds. The second period ended with Chicago up 3-1. St. Louis came out firing in the third, as they looked to close the gap. They got one back midway through the period. Fabbri skated into the high slot and snapped a shot past Crawford. The Blues managed to tie the game later in the period. Backes deflected Pietrangelo's point shot, resulting in the puck sliding past Crawford. A powerplay gave St. Louis a chance to take the lead, but they could not capitalize on that opportunity. The period ended with the score still 3-3, meaning overtime was needed. Both teams had chances in the extra frame, but neither could break the deadlock with an extra 20 minutes. Another overtime would be played to decided a winner. It didn't take long in the second overtime for a goal to be scored. Patrick Kane received the puck in the offensive zone and deked around a couple of defenders. Kane fanned on the shot, and the puck slid to the over side of the net. Kane was able to go around the net and pick up the loose puck. He wasted no time completing the semi-wraparound, beating Elliott before he could get his pad over to stop the shot. Kane's goal won the game for Chicago, as the 4-3 win gave them their second win of the series.
St. Louis Blues 3 - Chicago Blackhawks 6
It did not take Chicago long to open the scoring in this one. Just under four minutes in, Andrew Ladd collected a loose puck and beat Elliott glove side, making it 1-0 Blackhawks. Desjardins had a chance to extend the lead minutes later, but he redirected the pass from Dale Weise wide of an open net. Seconds after that miss, St. Louis turned the puck up ice. A 2-on-1 saw Scottie Upshall feed Steve Ott a pass. Ott proceeded to shot the bouncing puck past Crawford and into the net, tying the game. The Blues turned up the pressure, and it worked. Two minutes later, Pietrangelo's point shot found the back of the net. It didn't stop there, as two more minutes later saw Tarasenko score to make it 3-1 for St. Louis. Chicago would push back after that, but to no avail. St. Louis also had some attacking time before the end of the period, but failed to extend their lead. The first period ended with the Blues up 3-1. The beginning of the second period was all Blackhawks. Goals weren't immediate, but they did draw a penalty, putting them on the powerplay. Marian Hossa's shot on the man advantage was stopped, but Anisimov was there to tap in the rebound. Chicago's offense tapered a bit before going back on the attack. Midway through the period, van Riemsdyk finished off a tic-tac-toe play to tie the game. The Blackhawks took the lead minutes later, as Weise received a pass from behind the net and snapped it past Elliott before he could react. The Blues looked to have caught a break late in the period with a powerplay opportunity, but could not capitalize on it. Chicago got a bit of a scare with seconds left in the period, as Crawford went down after stopping a high shot. He would recover after a few minutes and stayed in the game. The Blackhawks went into the second intermission up 4-3, and Tarasenko went into the intermission mad at Hitchcock for not giving him more ice time. St. Louis came out of the intermission on a mission to tie the game. Despite that, it was Chicago who had the best chance at a goal. Andrew Ladd received a pass on a 2-on-1, but his shot would ring off the crossbar. The Blues kept up the attack, but could not beat Crawford to tie the game. Their fate would be sealed late in the period, when Jay Bouwmeester was penalized for hooking. Shaw scored on the powerplay, making it 5-3 Blackhawks. A minute later, Hossa added an empty netter, as Chicago went on to win 6-3. The win tied the series at 3-3, meaning a Game Seven was needed to determine a winner.
Chicago Blackhawks 2 - St. Louis Blues 3
It didn't take long for the first goal in this game to be scored. One minute into the opening frame, Bouwmeester's point shot was deflected by Lehtera and past Crawford, giving the Blues the lead. Play would go back-and-forth for a while, with the Blues grabbing control midway through the period. Parayko would score on a point shot, extend the Blues lead to two. The Blackhawks pushed back after that. Late in the period, Hossa would step over the blueline and wire one past Elliott, pulling Chicago to within a goal. The period ended with St. Louis up 2-1. Chicago pressed early in the second, and got a powerplay for their efforts. Shaw would score on the man advantage, as his past banked off a Blues defender and into the net. Chances were exchanged throughout the period, with Crawford and Elliott doing all they could to keep the puck out of their respective nets. Both teams heading into the second intermission tied 2-2. The Blues did get a powerplay early in the third, but failed to score on it. Midway through the period, a nice passing play resulted in the puck getting to Troy Brouwer, who was open near the net. His initial shot hit the post, but he managed to bury the rebound before anyone else got to the puck. Chicago was on high alert, with the prospect of their season ending in 11 minutes. Brent Seabrook came very close to tying the game. His point shot found its way through a mass of bodies (including Elliott's), but would hit both post and bounce away from the net. Even with Crawford pulled, Chicago ran out of time. St. Louis hung on to win the game 3-2, resulting in a 4-3 series win.
Three Thoughts on the Series
Should have been called "The Series of Unfortunate Reviews"
Playing "Let It Be" during a goal review? Kudos to the Blues game ops.
I know NHL has been criticised for their lack of handing out discipline, but good on them for giving Shaw a game for what he said.
