Goalscorers Moncton: Manuel Wiederer (2), Stephen Johnson, Liam Murphy Halifax: Cavan Fitzgerald
Goalies Moncton: Zachary Fortin (W) Halifax: Eric Brassard (L)
Moosehead Player of the Game
It wasn't a good game all around. I'll give it to Eric Brassard. While the last two goals he gave up could have been stopped, he did quite a bit to keep the Mooseheads in the game. Overall, he stopped 40 of 44 shots in the losing effort.
Thing That Annoyed Me
Usually if a guy gets hauled down on a breakaway, there is at least a penalty (if not a penalty shot). Unfortunately that wasn't the case, as Andrew Shewfelt was taken down in the first on a breakaway, and nothing was called.
Game Notes
It was Moncton for most of the game. Halifax struggled to get there offense going after the first.
Defensively, it wasn't good for Halifax either. Brassard had to make a couple saves on odd-man rushes.
One bright spot is that the Mooseheads managed to kill off all six Wildcat powerplays (including a 2-man advantage).
Cody Donaghey had an ok debut. He was credited with four hits, no point, even plus-minus, and was noticeable at times.
Game Pics
Caught it slightly late, but this is the non-call on Shewfelt's breakaway
He's Baaaaaaaaaccccckkkk! (and so were the boos)
The setup to Moncton's second goal
As you may have noted, Garland had the puck quite a bit when he was on the ice.
Goalscorers Saint John: Ryan Chiasson Halifax: Max Fortier (3), Arnaud Durandeau, Vincent Watt
Goalies Saint John: Alex Bishop (L), Marc-Antoine Turcotte Halifax: Eric Brassard (W)
Moosehead Player of the Game
Max Fortier. He played really well, and managed to get a hat trick in the process, with two of the goals coming on solo efforts. My hat is (literally) off to him.
Thing That Annoyed Me
Hard to really say anything bad after a win like that. Maybe the tripping call on Cavan Fitzgerald, it was a pretty weak one.
Game Notes
It was a much better game for the home team. They did come out a bit flat footed in the beginning, but after Fortier opened the scoring they improved.
Congrats to 1st round pick Durandeau for scoring his first QMJHL goal.
Otti Somppi had a good game as well. The Finnish import record three assist in the win.
It was a mixed return for former Moosehead Jordan King. He did get an assist on the Sea Dogs' lone goal, but left the game in the third after taking a puck to the face.
A couple of fights near the end of the game, as Kelly Bent tangled with Kyle Ward, while Dominik Blain-Dupuis took on Jason Bell. Since they were both within the last five minutes, would not be surprised if there is a suspension or two (especially since Blain-Dupuis-Bell fight was right after Bent-Ward's fight).
Goalscorers Acadie-Bathurst: Nicholas Blanchard, Antoine Morand, Vladimir Kuznetsov, Jordan Maher Halifax: None
Goalies Acadie-Bathurst: Reilly Pickard (W) Halifax: Eric Brassard (L)
Moosehead Player of the Game
Kelly Bent. I'll admit when the Mooseheads first got him last year I wasn't too thrilled, but that has change. Despite a mess of a game, Bent rarely (if ever) took a shift off, always forechecking and keeping pressure on the puck. He was a bright spot in what was an underwhelming performance.
Thing That Annoyed Me
I don't know what happened between the first and second period, but they set up a bakery in the middle frame. Just turnover after turnover early on, and were not able to recover.
Game Notes
The place formerly known as the Metro Centre underwent renovations during the summer. One of the changes was replacing the orange seats with more comfortable blue seats. In honour of the change, a orange seat was hung in the rafters along with the retired jerseys.
Along with Bent, I was impressed with Ilya Putintsev. He was checking pretty well in the first, disturbing Titan forwards in the neutral zone. Putintsev also had a few carry-ins (sadly, they didn't amount to much).
The defense group didn't have a good game overall, with Walter Flower standing out more than most. The rookie defenseman was targeted and beat quite a bit by Titan forwards. He was also penalized twice.
Speaking of being penalized, Connor Moynihan. He took a dumb checking from behind penalty, and was involved in a few altercations in the third.
Acadie-Bathrust was deadly on special teams. Blanchard scored on a shorthanded breakaway, and two of the other three goals came on powerplays (Maher scored seconds after a powerplay expired, so it could have been three).
Game Pics
Even rookie refs get the solo treatment.
(Most) of the 2015-2016 Halifax Mooseheads.
See? They hung a fricken chair in the rafter! Too bad there was no ceremony for it.
A tale of two teams on the opposite sides of the spectrum. Chicago was the team that has been there before and one of the powerhouses of the West. Tampa Bay was an up-and-coming team, poised to be a contender for years. It was a close series, as five of the six games were decided by one goal (yet, no overtime). Part of it was overshadowed, as Lightning goaltender Ben Bishop suffered an injury in the second game, and managed to only miss one game. Tampa Bay did have a lead in the series, but Chicago showed that you need to close the deal, which Tampa Bay didn't do. Chicago ended the series with three straight wins, eliminating Tampa Bay in six games, and winning the Stanley Cup.
Games
Chicago Blackhawks 2 - Tampa Bay Lightning 1
Tampa Bay managed to strike early in Game 1. Anton Stralman's point shot was headed wide of the net, but Alex Killorn managed to get a stick on it. The puck bounced off of Killorn's stick and past Corey Crawford, making it 1-0 Lightning. Tampa Bay kept up the pressure for most of the period, trying to extend their lead, but were not able to. Both teams did get chances in the second, but neither could find the back of the net. Chicago turned it up in the third, and did not give up a shot to Tampa Bay for over half the period. Midway through the third, the Blackhawks managed to tie the game, as Teuvo Teravainen's shot beat a screened Ben Bishop. Just two minutes later, a turnover in the Lightning zone saw Antoine Vermette collect the loose puck and beat Bishop high glove, giving Chicago a 2-1 lead. Tampa Bay looked for an equalizer late in the period, but could not find it. Chicago won Game 1 to jump out to a 1-0 series lead.
Chicago Blackhawks 3 - Tampa Bay Lightning 4
The attempted piled up early in this one, but it wasn't until midway through the first when a goal was scored. Cedric Paquette got around a Blackhawk defender and beat Crawford's blocker to put the Lightning up 1-0. Chicago's best chance to tie the game in the first was on a tic-tac-toe play that saw Jonathan Toews unable to slide the puck past Bishop. The Blackhawks did tie the game early in the second, thanks to Andrew Shaw whacking a rebound into the net. A powerplay moments later gave the Blackhawks the lead. Teravainen worked a give-and-go with Marian Hossa which resulted in Teravainen outing the puck under Bishop's arm and into the net. The lead was short-lived, as Nikita Kucherov tipped Jason Garrison's point shot past Crawford to tie the game. The Lightning went ahead seven minutes later, as Tyler Johnson, from the side of the net, managed to get the puck by Crawford. Just like the previous period, the Blackhawks would tie the game early in the next one. Three-and-a-half minutes into the third, Brent Seabrook blasted a shot past Bishop and into the net, making it a 3-3 game. Bishop protested that he was interfered with, as Hossa's stick moved his leg, preventing him from getting a clean chance at stopping the shot. Bishop's argument fell on deaf ears, as the goal stood. The next few minutes were a bad one for Patrick Sharp, as the Blackhawks winger found himself taking back-to-back penalties. The second one hurt his team, as the Lightning capitalized on it. Garrison's point shot beat Crawford, and put the Lightning back in the lead. Between the Sharp penalties, the Lightning made a switch in goal. Bishop briefly went off with an injury concern, leaving Andrei Vasilevskiy to tend the net in his absence. Bishop came back for a few minutes, but it was Vasilevskiy who would close the game. The rookie goalkeeper made five saves to preserve the Lightning's lead. Vasilevskiy would get credited with the win, as Tampa Bay won Game 2 to tie the series.
Tampa Bay Lightning 3 - Chicago Blackhawks 2
Another game, another first goal by the Lightning. Just five minutes in, Ryan Callahan received a stretch pass from Victor Hedman, skated down the wing, and wired one past Crawford. From there it was all Blackhawks, as they looked to tie the game. Hossa had a chance minutes later, but he shot wide of an open net. Chicago's attempt at an equalizer would be successful, as Brad Richards blasted one from the point (on a powerplay) to tie the game. The second period was mostly Tampa Bay, but neither team would find the back of the net. Things didn't look good for the Lightning late in the period, as Brandon Saad hit Bishop when cutting across the crease. Bishop, who was questionable for this game and at times looked slow moving, stayed down for a bit bout would remain in net for the rest of the game. Chicago took the lead in the third period, as their puck movement lead to Saad one-timing it from the slot, beating Bishop on the shot. Just 13 seconds later, a scramble in front of the Blackhawks net saw Ondrej Palat bury a loose puck to tie the game. Both teams tried to break the deadlock, and in the end it was the Lightning who did. Late in the period, Paquette redirected Hedman's pass past Crawford to put Tampa Bay ahead. Time was not Chicago's friend, as they could not tie the game in the remaining three-and-a-bit minutes left. Tampa Bay won their second game in a row, putting them ahead 2-1 in the series.
Tampa Bay Lightning 1 - Chicago Blackhawks 2
Game 4 started with a change in goal for Tampa Bay, as Vasilevskiy was given the start over an injured Bishop. He wasn't tested much in the first, only facing two shots (both of which he stopped). At the other end, Crawford had a bit more of a workload, as he faced (and stopped) nine shots. For the first time in this series, the first period ended without a goal. Chicago had a couple of close calls early in the second. It ended with Toews whacking the puck, which bounced off the post, Vasilevskiy, and into the net, making it 1-0 for the Blackhawks. The Lightning responded five minutes later, as Valtteri Filppula pass from behind the net found Killorn, who wasted no time putting the puck past Crawford. The game stayed tied 1-1 to end the second period. Chicago would take the lead in the third. Six minutes into the period, Saad cut out in front of the net and slid the puck through a sliding Vasilevskiy, making it 2-1 for the Blackhawks. The Lightning pressed for a tying goal late in the game. Steven Stamkos had a few good chances, but was turned aside by Seabrook's stick and Crawford's pad (respectively). Crawford did what he could to keep the Blackhawks in the lead, and it ended up being enough. Chicago won Game 4, tying the series 2-2.
Chicago Blackhawks 3 - Tampa Bay Lightning 2
This game did not start off well for the Lightning. First, Nikita Kucherov had to leave the game after going shoulder-first into the post. He remained out for the rest of the game. Moments later, Bishop misplayed the puck and collided with teammate Hedman, leaving Patrick Sharp all alone to put the puck into an empty net. The goal wasn't without controversy though, as seconds earlier Crawford got away with playing the puck outside the trapezoid. Bishop ended up recovering from that collision and remained in the game. The Blackhawks kept the pressure up, but Sharp's goal was the only one in the period, as Chicago ended the first up 1-0. Tampa Bay started shifting play in their favour in the second, and it eventually paid off. Midway through the middle frame, Filppula received a backdoor pass from Garrison and beat Crawford, tying the game 1-1. The game stayed tied until minutes into the third period. Kris Versteeg caused a turnover and skated into the Lightning zone. Unable to get a shot off, Versteeg's pass back managed to find Vermette, who put the puck past Bishop to give the Blackhawks the lead. Both teams pushed for a goal (Tampa Bay to tie the game, Chicago for insurance) but were denied on their attempts. The game finished 2-1 in favour of Chicago, who go back home up 3-2 in the series.
Tampa Bay Lightning 0 - Chicago Blackhawks 2
The first saw both teams get multiple chances and close calls, but nothing went in the net. Despite the relatively even play, the Blackhawks outshot the Lightning 13-4 in the first. Early in the second, Tampa Bay had a great chance to open the scoring. Stamkos managed to deke out Crawford on a breakaway but could not lift the puck over Crawford's pad. Again, both teams had chances in the second, but the game remained scoreless until late in the period. Duncan Keith's initial shot was saved by Bishop, but Keith managed to get to the rebound and put it home, giving the Blackhawks a 1-0 lead. The Lightning started to come on in the third, as they searched for a tying goal. Crawford, along with the Blackhawks defense, kept the Lightning at bay. Just over five minutes left in the third, Kane one-timed a pass from Brad Richards past Bishop, extending Chicago's lead to two. Tampa Bay kept trying, but came up empty handed. Crawford made 25 saves in the shutout bid, as the Blackhawks won 2-0. The win was the clincher for Chicago, as they got to raise the Stanley Cup in their own arena.
Three Thoughts on the Series
Bishop ended up having a torn groin, which makes Cooper's decision to keep him in all the more insane (Vasilevskiy wasn't too bad in his time in net)
Keith deserved the Conn Smythe, he was a workhorse for a weakened defense.
Ryan Suter to Duncan Keith: "dude, that's a lot of ice time."
Picture of the Series
The Blackhawks are the champions, againnnnn
And they'll keep on winning, 'til the enddddd (of Toews, Kane, Hossa, Kieth, Seabrook, Crawford, etc.)
Highlight of the Series
A goal from both teams. First, what a deflection by Killorn.
Next, what the hell was Bishop thinking? It results in Patrick Sharp having the easiest goal of the playoffs (also Crawford kind of got away with a delay of game penalty).
It was a battle of heavyweights in the Western Conference Finals. The Ducks had little trouble getting to this point, as they disposed of the Jets and Flames. The Blackhawks had some trouble against the Predators, but bounced back to sweep the Wild in the next round. This series ended up being back-and-forth, as Anaheim would win, then Chicago bounced right back with a win of their own. It was also a long one, as three games needed overtime (with two of them needing multiple OT periods). Chicago won out in the end, as they eliminated Anaheim in seven games, and get to play in the Stanley Cup Final.
Games
Chicago Blackhawks 1 - Anaheim Ducks 4
It was mostly Chicago in the first, as they dominated the shot counter, 16-7. Despite the shot disparity, it was Anaheim who escaped the first period with a lead, as Hampus Lindholm scored midway through the period. The Ducks struck early in the second to extend their lead. A pass from Nate Thompson was deflected by Corey Crawford and ended up on the stick of Kyle Palmieri. Palmieri wasted no time getting a shot off, as he put it over Crawford's shoulder and into the net. The Blackhawks finally got on the board late in the second. A solo effort by Brad Richards saw him cause a turnover, take the puck, and beat Frederik Andersen blocker side. Chicago looked to tie the game early in the third, but they could not beat Andersen. The Ducks had chances of their own, and would end up getting another goal. Andrew Cogliano's shot was stopped by Crawford, but Thompson was in the right spot to put home the rebound. Jakob Silfverberg capped it with an empty net goal. Anaheim won the first game of the series.
Chicago Blackhawks 3 - Anaheim Ducks 2 (3OT)
Chicago looked to rebound after Game 1's lost, and did just that early in the first. A powerplay almost two minutes into the game helped the Blackhawks open the scoring, as Andrew Shaw tipped Duncan Keith's point shot past Andersen. Just minutes later, Chicago found itself on another man advantage. This time, it was Marian Hossa who got credited with the goal, as his stick was the last Chicago one to touched the puck before Simon Despres accidentally swatted it into the Ducks net. Anaheim did get one back minutes later, as Thompson's shot bounced off Cogliano's skate and into the net. A review determined there was no distinct kicking motion, as the goal stood, making it a 2-1 game. The Ducks had a chance to end the period tied up, but Ryan Getzlaf shot hit the corner of the post. Anaheim pressed for a tying goal in the second, and would find it. Corey Perry tipped Getzlaf's shot past Crawford, tying the game 2-2. Both teams had chances in the third, but neither one could break the deadlock. Overtime was needed to solve this game. Anaheim had the better chances in the first overtime, but could not beat the post. Things got a little crazy in the second overtime period. Shaw managed to headbutt the puck out of the air and into the Ducks net. While almost everyone thought it was over (Chicago was celebrating on the ice), the refs reviewed the goal. The goal ended up being disallowed, as it was determined Shaw intentionally acted on the headbutt (instead of the puck just bouncing off his helmet). With the goal not standing, overtime was resumed. Chances kept coming for both teams in the period, but Crawford and Andersen kept the door shut. A third overtime period was needed, and it was when the Blackhawks got redemption for the Shaw no-goal. Just over 16 minutes into that period, Marcus Kruger put home a rebound, winning the game for the Blackhawks. Chicago's Game 2 win tied the series up at 1-1.
Anaheim Ducks 2 - Chicago Blackhawks 1
Both teams swapped chances early in the first, but no goals would be scored. Anaheim received a powerplay midway through the period. The man advantage was useful, as Patrick Maroon tipped Lindholm's point shot past Crawford and into the net. The Blackhawks managed to tie the game up late in the period, as Patrick Kane's spinning backhand shot beat Andersen blocker side. The second saw shots, shots, and more shots, as both teams combined for 25 shots in the period. Only one found the back of a net though, and it ended up being Chicago's net. Just under a minute left in the period, Maroon's one-timer was too quick for Crawford, as he could not get over fast enough to stop the shot. It slowed down a bit in the third, as Chicago pressed for an equalizer. Their attempts were unsuccessful, as the Ducks hung on to the 2-1 lead. Anaheim's win once again put them in the series lead.
Anaheim Ducks 4 - Chicago Blackhawks 5 (2OT)
Chicago put the pressure on Anaheim in the first, and would be rewarded late in the period. It was all Brandon Saad on the first goal, as he took the puck from the Blackhawks zone, managed to get a breakaway, and beat Andersen blocker side (all while Chicago was shorthanded) to put the Blackhawks up 1-0. The Ducks looked to tie the game in the second. They manage to do just that, as Palmieri's shot bounced off Emerson Etem and into the net. Craziness happened in the third. Just two-and-a-half minutes into the period, Jonathan Toews scored to put the Blackhawks up 2-1. Seabrook's blast five minutes later extended Chicago's lead. That all went away, as Anaheim scored three times in 37 seconds to take a 4-3 lead. Kane scored on a powerplay three minutes later, tying the game at 4-4. While the chances kept coming, the goals stopped, meaning overtime was needed to decide a winner. There were a couple of close calls in the first overtime period. The first was midway through, when Crawford lost the puck in his equipment and almost knocked it into his own net. A powerplay by the Blackhawks was of little use, as Shaw rang a shot off the cross bar. Patrick Sharp had a good chance late in the period, but his breakaway attempt was stopped by Andersen. The game needed a second overtime period. Unlike last overtime game, two extra frames were enough. Five minutes into the period, Antoine Vermette's initial shot would be blocked, but he grabbed the loose puck and put it past a laid out Andersen. Chicago's second overtime win of the series helped them tie the series 2-2.
Chicago Blackhawks 4 - Anaheim Ducks 5 (OT)
The shot attempts were even early on, but it was the Ducks who manage to find the back of the net. Just five minutes in, Cam Fowler's shot bounced off the post and into the net. Half-a-minute later, Ryan Kesler deflected Silfverberg's shot past Crawford to make it 2-0 Anaheim. The Ducks kept pressing later in the period, and it would pay off. A won faceoff in the offensive zone went right to Sami Vatanen, who blasted a shot that went under Crawford's arm and into the net. The tides turned in the second period, as it was Chicago's turn to score. Just over a minute in, Teravainen cut into the hight slot and released a shot that beat Andersen five hole. The Blackhawks had a couple of chances later in the period, but it wasn't until the last minute that they capitalized on one. Teravainen's pass from behind the net found an open Brent Seabrook, who wasted no time putting the puck past Andersen. Chicago pressed for a tying goal early in the third period, but were unsuccessful. Just over five minutes left in the third, Maroon would finish off a tic-tac-toe play, tapping the puck into a gapping net. With about two minutes left and time ticking away, it became the Jonathan Toews Show. Captain Serious started off by one-timing a pass from Hossa over Andersen's shoulder and into the net, pulling Chicago to within a goal. With about 40 seconds left, Toews struck again. His shot from the corner (and on the goal line) hit Andersen's skate and went into the Ducks net, tying the game. For the third time in this series, overtime was needed. It would not be multi-period like the other two though (it wasn't even multi-minute). Just 45 seconds in, Matt Beleskey put home a rebound to end the game. Anaheim's win gave them a 3-2 series lead, and pushed Chicago closer to elimination.
Anaheim Ducks 2 - Chicago Blackhawks 5
The first period was a back-and-forth affair, but both teams ended the first empty-handed, as it was scoreless after one. The floodgates would open midway in the second. It started over eight minutes in, as Saad scored on a partial breakaway to put Chicago ahead 1-0. The Blackhawks struck again just two minutes later. A couple of pump fakes by Keith was enough to get Andersen to bite, as Keith dished it over to Hossa who wasted no time putting the puck into the net. Minutes later, Kane's shot managed to squeak by Andersen, making it 3-0 for the Blackhawks. A powerplay for Anaheim was what they needed, as Maroon redirected Fowler's shot into the net, putting the Ducks on the board. The third period started off in Anaheim's favour. Clayton Stoner's point shot beat Crawford, but it wasn't without some controversy, as Silfverberg may have prevented Crawford's glove from stopping the shot. Anaheim almost tied the game on a powerplay minutes later, but Keith was there to clear the puck from possibly trickling into the net. Andrew Shaw scored with minutes to go in the third, giving Chicago a 2-goal lead. Shaw added an empty net goal minutes later to cap it. The win by Chicago pushed the series to a Game 7.
Chicago Blackhawks 5 - Anaheim Ducks 3
Chicago struck early in the decisive game. Just over two minutes in, Toews buried home a rebound to put the Blackhawks up 1-0. A powerplay opportunity midway through the period helped Chicago extend their lead. It was Toews who once again scored, as his shot went over Andersen and into the net. The Ducks looked to get a goal before the period ended, but would fail to do so. Just over a minute into the second, Saad scored make it 3-0 for the Blackhawks. Hossa added to the lead midway through the period, as a rebound bounced off his skate and into the net. The Ducks would break the shutout late in the period. Kesler tucked a shot over Crawford's shoulder and underneath the bar, as Anaheim finally got on the board. Chicago looked to add more early in the third, but could not. Midway through the period, the Ducks scored again. Perry finished off a pass from Maroon, as it pulled Anaheim to within two goals. A penalty by Fowler set back Anaheim's attempt at a comeback. Seabrook scored on the man advantage to put Chicago's lead back to three goals. All Anaheim could muster was a powerplay goal late in the period (courteous of Beleskey). Chicago hung on to win the game, and as a result the series, and are now onto the Stanley Cup Final.
Three Thoughts on the Series
That sucks Shaw's headbutt goal is against the rules. Should have counted just for sheer creativity/awesomeness.
Toews was incredible in this series
Now that his team is done, Beleskey now has to make the tough decision of figuring out if he wants $8-million over seven years or eight years.
