Sens had 4 reasons to celebrate and the "W"
Hello Hockey Fans! The playoffs are unfolding into what they always are! Exciting, entertaining and nail biting.
Two more series kicked off last night. The first was Game 1 between the all Canadian series the Ottawa Senators and the Montreal Canadiens. It was an intense game filled with all the extras. Senator D-Man Erik Karlsson opened the scoring late in the 1st period. It was a beauty of a goal for the young swedish player who has only played 4 games since returning from injury. Karlsson only played 17 games in the regular season before a skate cut his leg during a game leaving him out of the lineup. Montreal took a 2-1 lead in the 2nd period only to have the Sens score 3 goals in the 3rd period and win 4-2. There was on "oh no" moment in the 2nd period Lars Eller was hit by Eric Gryba and knocked to the ice face first. There was blood and Eller was taken to hospital on a stretcher. For as physical as hockey is you never want to see this. Gryba insists that he was not going after Eller's head. Head hits are a no no in any level of hockey play. Eller was kept in hospital over night for observation. The Senators lead the series 1-0. A little fun fact? Considering these 2 teams are so close geographically it is wild to think that they are meeting up for the 1st time in playoffs in modern history. Remember the Canadiens are an Original 6 team while the Sens only joined the NHL in 1992. Let the sparks fly!
Two more series kicked off last night. The first was Game 1 between the all Canadian series the Ottawa Senators and the Montreal Canadiens. It was an intense game filled with all the extras. Senator D-Man Erik Karlsson opened the scoring late in the 1st period. It was a beauty of a goal for the young swedish player who has only played 4 games since returning from injury. Karlsson only played 17 games in the regular season before a skate cut his leg during a game leaving him out of the lineup. Montreal took a 2-1 lead in the 2nd period only to have the Sens score 3 goals in the 3rd period and win 4-2. There was on "oh no" moment in the 2nd period Lars Eller was hit by Eric Gryba and knocked to the ice face first. There was blood and Eller was taken to hospital on a stretcher. For as physical as hockey is you never want to see this. Gryba insists that he was not going after Eller's head. Head hits are a no no in any level of hockey play. Eller was kept in hospital over night for observation. The Senators lead the series 1-0. A little fun fact? Considering these 2 teams are so close geographically it is wild to think that they are meeting up for the 1st time in playoffs in modern history. Remember the Canadiens are an Original 6 team while the Sens only joined the NHL in 1992. Let the sparks fly!
Ovechkin opened the scoring for the Caps!
After the New York Rangers beat out the Washington Capitals in 7 games last year in round 2 the Caps are back and ready to win. Last night Game 1 took place in Washington. The Rangers did score 1st in the 1st period but the Caps came back in the 2nd with 3 goals. The first goal was by Captain Alex Ovechkin. Marcus Johansson scored the GWG while Jason Chimera potted the insurance goal. Both of these teams are loaded with players I love to watch. Caps especially have Joel Ward, Arron Volpatti (a favourite favourite of mine), Troy Brouwer but at the top of the list is maybe netminder Braden Holtby. Who was the wiz kid called up from the minors last year at the end of the season only to help the Caps bump out the previous Stanley Cup Champs the Boston Bruins in the first round. Holtby then got a spot on this year's roster and stopped 35 of the 36 shots he faced last night. The Capitals lead the series 1-0. I wonder if Holtby's Mum is in the audience again this year? She got a lot of press last year for her support of her son. What Mum wouldn't be biting her nails when you support you son all throughout his hockey years and he gets called up to the NHL but not to sit as the backup but to be the started in the Stanley Cup playoffs? I would be biting my nails as well!
St Louis is giving the Stanley Cup champs a taste of their own medicine.
The St Louis Blues had another huge reason to celebrate last night. They WON Game 2 against the Stanley Cup champs the Los Angeles Kings. St Louis may just be giving Los Angeles a taste of their own medicine for last season. Last year these 2 teams met up in round 2 and the Kings swept the series. Now the Blues lead the series 2-0 and the Kings will be playing catch up. In this game however is was the Kings who struck first with a goal by Captain Dustin Brown (captains are leading the way this year) in the 1st period. A scoreless second period led to do or die for the Blues. Patrik Berglund scored for the Blues in the 3rd period followed by the GWG goal late in the 3rd by Barret Jackman. Blues goalie Brian Elliott was the busier goalie stopping 28 of 29 shots while Jonathon Quick of the Kings only managed to stop 23 of 25 shots. St Louis leads the series 2-0.
Detroit tied the series with the "W" last night!
The final game to end last night was game 2 between the Detroit Red Wings and the Anaheim Ducks. Unlike the Sens and Habs who are meeting for 1st time in the playoffs the Red Wings and Ducks have done this before. These teams have met each other a whopping 6 times in the playoffs. This 6th meeting is turning into a real nailbiter/edge of your seat series. Anaheim won Game 1 and the Wings were back to try even the series..
It looked like the Wings were going to take the "W" in regulation play. The Wings scored 2 goals in the 1st period and one in the 2nd to take a 3-0 lead. Anaheim was able to find the back of the net once and close the gap to 3-1. Detroit answered back with a 4th goal early in the 3rd period. 4-1 Wings until Anaheim Captain Ryan Getzlaf scored to make it 4-2 and give his team some energy (what was it with Captains yesterday just leading their teams). Kyle Palmieri scored for Anaheim to make it 4-3 and then it was a tying goal by Bobby Ryan that sealed the deal and sent the game into OT!
What were the Wings to do? End it early in OT which is just what they did. It was Gustav Nyquist 81 seconds into overtime that ended it! The series is now tied 1-1 and the teams head to Detroit to play games 3 and 4. Below I have included the highlights of this game. They are to good not to watch! And please check out Episode 3 of Hockey Talk with Courtney!
It looked like the Wings were going to take the "W" in regulation play. The Wings scored 2 goals in the 1st period and one in the 2nd to take a 3-0 lead. Anaheim was able to find the back of the net once and close the gap to 3-1. Detroit answered back with a 4th goal early in the 3rd period. 4-1 Wings until Anaheim Captain Ryan Getzlaf scored to make it 4-2 and give his team some energy (what was it with Captains yesterday just leading their teams). Kyle Palmieri scored for Anaheim to make it 4-3 and then it was a tying goal by Bobby Ryan that sealed the deal and sent the game into OT!
What were the Wings to do? End it early in OT which is just what they did. It was Gustav Nyquist 81 seconds into overtime that ended it! The series is now tied 1-1 and the teams head to Detroit to play games 3 and 4. Below I have included the highlights of this game. They are to good not to watch! And please check out Episode 3 of Hockey Talk with Courtney!
Anahiem forward Bobby Ryan celebrates his tying goal with teammates!
Detroit celebrates on the bench with the OT WIN!
Tonight again is an action packed night with games at (PST):
The Ottawa Senators and Montreal Canadians play back to back with Game 2 at 4:00pm (Senators lead series 1-0)
The New York Islanders look to bounce back after a bad lose to the Pittsburgh Penguins at 4:00pm (Pens lead series 1-0)
The Minnesota Wild and Chicago Blackhawks battle it out at 6:30pm (Chicago leads series 1-0)
The the Vancouver Canucks look to even their series with the San Jose Sharks at 7:00pm (San Jose lead series 1-0)
Enjoy X
The Ottawa Senators and Montreal Canadians play back to back with Game 2 at 4:00pm (Senators lead series 1-0)
The New York Islanders look to bounce back after a bad lose to the Pittsburgh Penguins at 4:00pm (Pens lead series 1-0)
The Minnesota Wild and Chicago Blackhawks battle it out at 6:30pm (Chicago leads series 1-0)
The the Vancouver Canucks look to even their series with the San Jose Sharks at 7:00pm (San Jose lead series 1-0)
Enjoy X
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