Stanley Cup Playoffs Day 6: Three overtimes and Jets lose Morrissey
A night full overtimes! An unlikely hero strikes, there was a comeback in Tampa, a bounce back for one team and the defending champions ruined a franchise’s first home playoff game.
Rough and rowdy between Jets and Golden Knights
It was a whiteout in Winnipeg for Saturday’s matinee game between the Jets and the Vegas Golden Knights. With the series even at one apiece, each team had much to fight for as they attempted to gain a series lead. Things got kicked off to a fiery start, but not long into the first period, All Star defenseman Josh Morrissey collided with Zach Whitecloud, and the Jets would rule Morrissey out for the game with a lower body injury. Coach Rick Bowness would later state Morrissey is done for the series. A devastating loss. Then Golden Knights tough guy Keegan Kolesar ran over Jets’ forward Adam Lowry. That erupted into a fight between Kolesar and Brenden Dillon, two Seattle Thunderbirds alumni. Chandler Stephenson would open the scoring in the first until Jack Eichel found the back of the net, but before the period would end, Kyle Connor notched his second goal of the postseason. During the second period, Eichel found the back of the net once again and was officially on hat trick watch. The action picked up in the third period when the Jets were down 4-1. While desperate for a win in front of their home crowd, the Jets kicked on the afterburners and began scoring. First, it was Nino Niederreiter, then Mark Scheifele scored his first of the postseason, followed up by Lowry scoring the tying goal with 22 seconds remaining. After a few glorious chances during the first overtime and a flurry of saves by Laurent Brossoit and Connor Hellebuyck, this game needed a second overtime. An unlikely hero arose; Michael Amadio scored the double-overtime winner, notching his first career playoff goal. Good Knight from Winnipeg.
Leafs score big overtime goal taking 2-1 series lead
After two high-scoring games in Toronto, it returned to Tampa for game three of the series. It started off quickly, with Noel Acciari making it 1-0, and not long after, Bolts’ Anthony Cirelli tied the game at one. The scoring in the first didn’t stop there as Leafs’ Auston Matthews and Bolts’ Brandon Hagel each scored for their respective teams, and the game headed to the second period tied up at two. Darren Raddysh scored his first career playoff goal giving the Lightning the lead in the second. The third period, however, brought chaos and 2000’s vibes. Lightning forward Brayden Point was slammed into the boards by Morgan Reilly; immediately, the Lightning’s players pounced and jumped Reilly. As a scrum ensued, Matthews and Stamkos ended up taking shots at one another, which led to them dropping the gloves and starting swinging. Later on in the third O’Reilly tied the game at three, sending it to overtime. With an eventful overtime came a thrilling ending as Reilly fired the puck from the blue line with 45 seconds left. The Leafs take a big 2-1 series lead over the Lightning.
Devils bounce back to get first win in series
It was another Metro battle between the New York Rangers and New Jersey Devils Saturday night as the Devils bounced back and got a big win. Chris Kreider kicked things off in the first period scoring his fifth goal of the playoffs for the Rangers. During the second period, it was Jack Hughes who found the back of the net, notching his second of the playoffs, tying the game at one. After plenty of chances throughout the third period, yet another game was off to overtime, marking the third of the day. Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin was strong in net throughout the first 60 minutes of action; according to Natural Stat Trick, he saved 2.12 goals above expected through 60.
Throughout overtime, there were plenty of chances as both teams kept their top units out. But, it was Dougie Hamilton who fired home the game-winner to give the Devils the much-needed bounce-back win. The Rangers lead the series 2-1.
Avalanche silence Kraken in first ever playoff home game at Climate Pledge Arena
What a scene it was in Seattle as the franchise took on their first ever home game, and wow, it paid off. Jayden Schwartz rips home a shot to open the scoring, and the Climate Pledge Arena came unglued. Not long after, the defending Stanley Cup champions Colorado Avalanche, got themselves on the scoresheet. First, it was J.T. Compher, and then it was Nathan MacKinnon gunning his way through the opposition to make it 2-1. During the second, reigning Norris Trophy champion Cale Makar made it 3-1. The Kraken struck back, Jamie Oleksiak danced his way past Mikko Rantanen to score, and rookie Matty Beniers scored his first-ever playoff goal. Heading into the third, the game was all tied up. That changed drastically when the powerhouses Rantanen and MacKinnon each scored to make it 5-3 early in the third period. At about 3:30, Kraken head coach Dave Hakstol waved over to Kraken goalie Philipp Grubauer to come to the bench; while the Kraken’s net was empty, Rantanen picked up his second of the evening to make it 6-3. Some thought it was over there, but with 39 seconds left, Schwartz tipped in a shot to make it 6-4. That’s where the road would end, though. The Avalanche win back-to-back games and now lead the series 2-1.