Stanley Cup Playoffs Day-to-day: Penguins, Rangers, Oilers, Jets seek for to even up their series
7: 30 AM ET
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Emily KaplanESPN
- Emily Kaplan is ESPN’s nationwide NHL reporter.
Day 2 of the NHL restart became simply as thrilling because the opener, as hockey fans had been treated to fantastic goaltending performances, more upsets and a buzzer-beater.
As we head to Sport 2s of the qualification spherical, let or no longer it’s known that teams that dangle Sport 1 in a easiest-of-5 series usually cease up winning, going 68-15 (.819) — though the NHL hasn’t performed this layout since 1986. Will the pattern continue or is that this match poised for unparalleled chaos?
Test out the ESPN Stanley Cup Playoffs Day-to-day on every day basis of the postseason except the Cup is handed out in October.
Recently’s video games
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Qualification spherical, Sport 2: No. 11 Recent York Rangers vs. No. 6 Carolina Hurricanes | Noon (CAR leads 1-0)
The Canes performed their first game without top defenseman Dougie Hamilton, and he’s seemingly no longer going to play in Sport 2, though coach Rod Brind’Amour said the defenseman is “getting better” after the worry he suffered in training camp. Nevertheless, Carolina deployed its signature forecheck, which ended in fits for Recent York’s mistake-susceptible blue line. Henrik Lundqvist obtained the shock start for the Rangers in Sport 1 and battled effectively, stopping 34 pictures after allowing a fair on his first. Even though hotshot rookie Igor Shesterkin practiced Sunday, the crew went with Hank another time for Sport 2. The Rangers might maybe presumably spend a gigantic game from Artemi Panarin, their Hart Trophy finalist.
Qualification spherical, Sport 2: No. 9 Winnipeg Jets vs. No. 8 Calgary Flames | 2: 30 p.m. (CGY leads 1-0)
Must that you might maybe presumably presumably be making an are trying to search out a series already stirring up controversy, or no longer it’s this one. And that’s the reason as a result of one Matthew Tkachuk. The talented nonetheless pesky winger is accountable for Winnipeg’s top center Label Scheifele missing most of Sport 1 — and potentially the relaxation of the series — with what Jets coach Paul Maurice known as a “disgusting” and intentional kick to the leg. TSN’s unparalleled Winnipeg reporter, Sara Orlesky, says whereas Scheifele’s worry is no longer believed to be long-term, he’s doubtful for Sport 2, as is Patrik Laine. Tkachuk says the Scheifele tangle became an accident, and Calgary is defending its guy. It might possibly possibly be surprising if the division of participant security points any discipline (it’s seemingly viewing it as a freak accident), nonetheless that simply diagram emotions will hotfoot extra excessive in Sport 2.
Spherical-robin: No. 3 Washington Capitals vs. No. 2 Tampa Bay Lightning | 4 p.m.
The Lightning looked admire a wagon of their lone exhibition game, a blowout against the Florida Panthers. The kicker: They had been without two of their easiest players in that game: center Steven Stamkos and defenseman Victor Hedman. Stamkos sounds no longer in point of fact to switch neatly with up on Monday. “We own by no diagram truly — in any of our plans — had him taking part in on this first game,” Lightning coach Jon Cooper said Sunday. Hedman, who became a slack arrival to the bubble after attending to a deepest topic, is a critical better wager to play. I’m going to be maintaining an seek for on Caps goalie Braden Holtby, regarded as one of the indispensable singular most charming players on this match. The pending free agent is searching for to construct one last correct hotfoot with this crew, nonetheless he’s coming off a profession-worst season. A date with the excessive-powered Lightning is an unparalleled first take a look at.
Spherical robin: No. 4 Dallas Stars vs. No. 3 Vegas Golden Knights | 6: 30 p.m.
The Golden Knights obtained Robin Lehner at the alternate closing date; in share because he became surprisingly on hand, nonetheless furthermore because they had been making an are trying to search out anyone to ease the burden on Marc-Andre Fleury. Lehner goes to start this game, though or no longer it’s no longer essentially an indictment on Fleury. “My belief is both guys are going to play thru the spherical-robin,” Vegas coach Peter DeBoer said Sunday. Dallas, which is more of a defensive crew, will have to get a technique to crack Lehner, who went 3-0-0 with a 1.67 goals-against reasonable and .940 place share in his three appearances with Vegas earlier than the season became paused. The Stars might maybe presumably furthermore simply accrued welcome encourage Tyler Seguin, who missed Thursday’s exhibition loss to the Predators, to boot to Andrew Cogliano, who left the predominant duration with an obvious leg worry.
Qualification spherical, Sport 2: No. 12 Montreal Canadiens vs. No. 5 Pittsburgh Penguins | 8 p.m. (MTL leads 1-0)
That you simply can furthermore simply be bowled over that the Canadiens — yes, the crew with the 24th-easiest file when the NHL became paused — took Sport 1 against the fully loaded Penguins, nonetheless that you might maybe presumably no longer pronounce they didn’t deserve it. Carey Tag became on top of his game, and the Habs outshot Pittsburgh 12-7 in beyond in model time, earlier than Jeff Petry notched the game-winner. Give credit to Montreal coach Claude Julien too. He had his top defensive center, Phillip Danault, on Sidney Crosby for most of the night, which is the categorical matchup he wanted. Pens coach Mike Sullivan will mull several Sport 2 adjustments. For the 2d straight game, or no longer it’s Matt Murray reasonably than Tristan Jarry in get for the Penguins.
Qualification spherical, Sport 2: No. 12 Chicago Blackhawks vs. No. 5 Edmonton Oilers | 10: 30 p.m. (CHI leads 1-0)
I’m going to claim this bluntly: It became a irregular different for Dave Tippett to start Mike Smith, and no longer Mikko Koskinen, in Sport 1. Edmonton didn’t play thoroughly defensively, nonetheless Smith didn’t model critical to aid their reason. Koskinen became the more consistent goalie all one of the indispensable top ways thru the season, and Tippett might maybe presumably furthermore simply accrued flip to the Finn for Sport 2. Nevertheless let’s discuss about these Blackhawks: what an emphatic offensive efficiency that became! Jonathan Toews (two goals) & Co. have to consume stout revenue of this shock different, and as a result of a correct solid of teens (including rookie Dominik Kubalik, and his five-point NHL postseason debut) they might maybe presumably presumably be in a position to construct some noise.
Theme of the day: Is it the Blue Jackets’ world, and are all of us simply residing in it?
The large-killers of last yr’s playoffs began the 2020 postseason with a solid debut, fully stifling Toronto’s neatly-known person-studded offense. Nevertheless presumably Columbus has a hex over each person else. The Blue Jackets had been purported to regress this season after losing three of their easiest players — Sergei Bobrovsky, Artemi Panarin and Matt Duchene — in free agency. Bobrovsky (now with the Panthers), Panarin (Rangers) and Duchene (Predators) went a mixed 0-3 of their opening video games.
0: 22
Cam Atkinson’s fair early in the third duration offers the Blue Jackets the lead and come what might maybe the dangle.
Wager of the day
Pittsburgh Penguins (+110) over the Montreal Canadiens. OK, so the Habs — the crew each person says has no industrial being on this match — came away with a surprising Sport 1 dangle. I’m in a position to be truly worried if the extinct Penguins collapse another time in Sport 2.
About last night…
Arizona Coyotes 4, Nashville Predators 3
Coach John Hynes hasn’t been around this crew very long, nonetheless he chose Juuse Saros, who became Nashville’s better goalie for most of the season, for Sport 1 reasonably than franchise narrative Pekka Rinne. That snapped Rinne’s hotfoot of 89 straight postseason starts, which became the 2d longest amongst exciting goaltenders, in the encourage of Lundqvist. Saros had a strong start, allowing a fluky double-doink fair to originate the scoring, though he battled encourage. This game became all about the Yotes, though. Arizona obtained offense from all areas (even energy, vitality play, and a short-handed beauty from Michael Grabner) and then held on to the lead for the franchise’s first postseason dangle since 2012. As unfamiliar as it’s seeing Taylor Hall and Phil Kessel taking part in postseason hockey collectively — in Yotes jerseys, no less — we’re no longer complaining.
— #StanleyCup Qualifiers on NBC (@NHLonNBCSports) August 2, 2020
Philadelphia Flyers 4, Boston Bruins 1
This became our first model of spherical-robin play and I have to pronounce the apparent: The depth simply wasn’t the same as qualification-spherical video games. That said, kudos to the Flyers, who looked fantastic. They built an early lead, then saved it; Philly led the league with a 32-0-2 in the in model season when main by two-plus goals at any point, and it saved that tradition alive. Carter Hart (21 years, 355 days) grew to turn out to be the youngest goaltender in franchise history to invent a postseason dangle. As for the Bruins? All people anticipated Boston to be a current this summer — the Bruins had been cruising at the time of the season’s live — nonetheless it laid a dud in its exhibition to boot to its first spherical-robin game. The B’s couldn’t generate any offense, and that functions their “Perfection Line” of Patrice Bergeron, Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak, which went a mixed minus-seven.
Colorado Avalanche 2, St. Louis Blues 1
The tip of this game became absolute chaos, culminating with Nazem Kadri winning it for the Avalanche on a buzzer-beater. Per the Elias Sports Bureau, there own totally been two game-winning goals at 19: 59 of the third duration in a Stanley Cup postseason game. Jussi Jokinen scored one in 2009 for the Hurricanes against the Recent Jersey Devils. Kadri is now the opposite. It does portend effectively for St. Louis that David Perron scored the gap fair. Perron furthermore scored the gap fair of the 2019 postseason — after which St. Louis went on to dangle the Stanley Cup. Jordan Binnington became unparalleled, nonetheless the Blues relied a tiny bit too critical on their goaltender. If this game is any indicator, or no longer it’ll be a grind to invent that top seed in the Western convention.
Columbus Blue Jackets 2, Toronto Maple Leafs 0
John Tortorella determined to start Joonas Korpisalo in Sport 1 reasonably than Elvis Merzlikins. Why? “I am no longer explaining it,” Tortorella said pregame. Alrighty then. It turned out to be a correct different, as Korpisalo turned away all 28 pictures he confronted to file the predominant shutout by a Blue Jacket in franchise history. Cam Atkinson offered the predominant tally, and Columbus stayed disciplined from there, holding Toronto to totally 1 vitality play. The Leafs’ offense might maybe presumably furthermore simply own been stifled by the swarming Jackets — no longer tall, as regarded as one of two dwelling teams on this tourney — nonetheless no longer lower than Frederik Andersen looked correct, turning away 33 pictures himself. The stress is on for the Leafs, who’re making an are trying to strategy past the predominant spherical of the playoffs for the predominant time since 2004.
Minnesota Wild 3, Vancouver Canucks 0
A Wild defenseman had by no diagram recorded a 3-point game in the postseason except Jared Spurgeon came around. The 5-foot-9 defenseman, taking part in in his dwelling province of Alberta, scored two goals and notched an aid to tempo the Wild. Oh, and Kevin Fiala continued where he left off during the season, scoring a fair, whereas Alex Stalock notched the shutout in his 2d postseason start. Elias Pettersson looked admire a man who might maybe presumably spend some aid, as Vancouver couldn’t get anything else going offensively. This series has the seemingly to be a short-tempered one. Defend an seek for on Micheal Ferland who became, uh, reasonably exciting all one of the indispensable top ways thru.
Micheal Ferland spear on #mnwild bench. pic.twitter.com/MdFRyCyg7Q
— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) August 3, 2020
Three stars
1. Nazem Kadri, C, Colorado Avalanche
The arithmetic here is easy: you rating a buzzer-beater in the Stanley Cup postseason (yeah, yeah or no longer it’s no longer technically the playoffs but), you get the No. 1 neatly-known person of the night. As Blues ahead David Perron said after: “At 0.1, or no longer it’s on the line and at 0.0 or no longer it’s in the get. I am particular or no longer it’s as shut a fair as you will ever gape.”
2. Joonas Korpisalo, G, Columbus Blue Jackets
That you simply can presumably be 26, that you might maybe presumably presumably be making your first NHL postseason start (after struggling with Elvis Merzlikins in training camp), and you no longer totally invent a dangle against the NHL’s most costly offensive corps — you shut up them out. Korpisalo is completely the fifth goalie over the past 30 seasons to file a shutout in his postseason debut (John Gibson became the most present, in 2014). This place on Auston Matthews is fully heavenly.
3. Carter Hart, G, Philadelphia Flyers
The 21-yr-extinct confirmed fantastic poise in his first NHL postseason start, turning away 34 of 35 pictures against the gigantic, deplorable Bruins, letting Philly rating lawful where it left off at the season’s live. Hart repeatedly appears to be in ultimate space too. It be going to be laborious to rattle this guy.
Carter Hart is so correct, it’s no longer heavenly pic.twitter.com/4ZRtSfab6N
— Gregory Balloch (@GregBalloch) August 2, 2020
Splendid time spent in quarantine
It be unclear how exactly Flyers defenseman Ivan Provorov spent his nearly five months off, nonetheless or no longer it’s obvious he did construct a wide awake resolution to work on growing out his hockey hair. And it’s a a part of beauty. One in every of the elite defenders on this match debuted his amazing journey on Sunday:
Provorov’s journey is ELITE pic.twitter.com/F59tnsUMWE
— Pete Blackburn (@PeteBlackburn) August 2, 2020
Social publish of the day
Endure in tips last season when there became a belief that Fortnite became a predominant distraction for NHL players? Junior hockey possibilities had been reportedly suggested to tidy gaming references from their social media accounts, and the Canucks banned their players from taking part in Fortnite on the road. Yeah, that became so 2019. In 2020, video video games — or anything else that you might maybe presumably model safely, remoted — rule. And that’s the reason completely factual in the bubble:
Day three in the #NHLBubble in Toronto. A signal of the instances: there are two Wifi networks we are in a position to spend at the resort, one for traditional web utilization, and because so many players introduced gaming consoles, a separate wifi community for that.
— Gord Miller (@GMillerTSN) August 2, 2020
Outfit of the day
That is the model you recall the message front and center. Solution to consume revenue of the relaxed dress code, Bruins.
Truly tall stuff from the Bruins this day! #NHLFitWatch2K20 pic.twitter.com/xDHBFiNxvA
— NHL Bubble Outfits (@NHLFitWatch2K20) August 2, 2020
Quote of the day
“I truly feel at this point in time I even have to protect my participant. Used to be there intent there to place his skate on Scheifele? No. There became no intent. I realize what Paul is doing. He’s making an are trying to get an elite participant on our crew suspended.” — Flames coach Geoff Ward, inevitably defending Matthew Tkachuk. It be no Battle of Alberta, nonetheless the heat is dialed up in the Flames-Jets series, and I am here for it.