SATURDAY RESULTS
Washington 6 Pittsburgh 3
Winnipeg 6 Nashville 2
CONNOR LIFTS JETS TO GAME 5 VICTORY
The Jets scored four goals in the second period, led by a pair from Kyle Connor (2-1—3), en route to a Game 5 win and a 3-2 lead in their Second Round series. Winnipeg, which added two more goals in the final frame, paces all teams with a 3.80 goals per game average in the 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
* Connor, who led all rookies with 31 goals in the 2017-18 regular season, scored his first two goals of the 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs. He established Jets/Thrashers franchise records for most goals and points in a playoff game by a rookie.
* Only one rookie recorded more points in a playoff game with the original Winnipeg Jets: Dale Hawerchuk in Game 2 of the 1982 Division Semifinals (0-4—4 vs. STL). Only three scored two goals in a postseason contest: Paul McLean (Game 2 of 1982 DSF vs. STL), Keith Tkachuk (Game 6 of 1992 DSF vs. VAN) and Teemu Selanne (Game 3 of 1993 DSF vs. VAN).
* Mark Schiefele (1-1—2) has collected multiple points in six of his last seven outings dating to Game 4 of the First Round at MIN (8-5—13). He is tied for second in the 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs with nine goals overall (9-5—14).
VRANA SCORES LATE GAME WINNER AS CAPITALS TAKE 3-2 SERIES LEAD
Evgeny Kuznetsov (1-2—3) tied the game 52 seconds into the third period and Jakub Vrana (1-2—3) scored the go-ahead goal with 4:38 remaining in regulation as the Capitals took a 3-2 lead in their Second Round series.
The Capitals hold a 3-2 lead in a Stanley Cup Playoffs series against the Penguins for the fourth time in 11 meetings and first since the 1995 Conference Quarterfinals (4-3 PIT series win). Washington went on to win the series on one prior occasion, doing so in the 1994 Conference Quarterfinals (4-2 series win).
* Vrana became the second Capitals player to score a winning goal in the final five minutes of regulation in their Second Round series, joining Alex Ovechkin in Game 3 (58:53). Elias notes that Washington became the first team to score two such goals in a playoff series since 2016, when San Jose did so in the Second Round vs. NSH en route to an appearance in the Stanley Cup Final.
* Vrana became the fourth rookie in franchise history to record three points in a postseason game, joining Sergei Gonchar (Game 1 of 1995 CQF at PIT), Richard Zednik (Game 3 of 1998 CF at BUF) and Kuznetsov (Game 5 of 2015 FR vs. NYI).
CROSBY CONTINUES TO CLIMB ALL-TIME LISTS . . .
Penguins captain Sidney Crosby (66-118—184) scored his 66th career playoff goal to pass Bryan Trottier (71-112—183) and Nicklas Lidstrom (54-129—183) for sole possession of 11th place on the NHL’s all-time playoff points list and tie Joe Nieuwendyk and Denis Savard for 19th place on the League’s all-time postseason goals list. Only one player in franchise history has scored more playoff goals than Crosby: Mario Lemieux (76).
* Crosby (9-11—20) reached the 20-point mark in the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the fourth time in his NHL career, the most in franchise history. Elias adds that only four players in NHL history have recorded at least 20 points in more postseasons than Crosby: Wayne Gretzky (9x), Mark Messier (7x), Jari Kurri (6x) and Glenn Anderson (5x).
. . . JOINS PAIR OF PLAYERS ALSO SCORING AT HISTORIC PACE
Sidney Crosby became the third player to reach the 20-point mark in the 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs, joining Penguins teammate Jake Guentzel (10-11—21) and Bruins forward David Pastrnak (6-14—20).
* The 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs are just the fourth postseason to feature at least three players with 20-plus points by the conclusion of the second round. The others: 1981 (Mike Bossy, Wayne Gretzky, Ken Linseman), 1983 (Gretzky, Rick Middleton, Barry Pederson) and 1989 (Gretzky, Tim Kerr, Brian Propp).
* Only four players recorded more than 20 points in the entire 2017 postseason: Evgeni Malkin (10-18—28), Crosby (8-19—27), Phil Kessel (8-15—23) and Guentzel (13-8—21).
SNEAK PEEK AT SUNDAY’S ACTION
The Lightning and Golden Knights look to clinch berths in the Conference Finals on Sunday. Vegas can join the Toronto Arenas (1917-18) and St. Louis Blues (1967-68) as the only franchises in NHL history to win multiple series in their inaugural season. Tampa Bay, meanwhile, looks to return to the Eastern Conference Final after appearances in 2004, 2011, 2015 and 2016.
3 comments:
From a "pure hockey" viewpoint, these series don't compare to the recent 2018 Pyeong Chang gold medal game between Germany vs. OAR. That game has to go down as one of the best in all hockey history. Pure entertaining hockey on the big Ice.
Scruffy, does it please you knowing you get some of the same dunces commenting on your blog as Rod's?
Ahhhhhh!!!!! It's a Troll.
Mr Scroofy take the Troll away.
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