Kukla's Korner Hockey

Kukla's Korner Hockey

NHL Short Notes

05/01/2014 at 10:59am EDT

KINGS COMPLETE HISTORIC COMEBACK VERSUS SHARKS
Trailing 1-0 early in the second period, the Kings scored five unanswered goals, including two into an empty net, to become the fourth team in NHL history to overcome a 3-0 series deficit in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

* The Kings joined the 2010 Flyers (CSF vs. BOS), 1975 Islanders (QF vs. PIT) and 1942 Maple Leafs (F vs. DET) as the only teams to come back from a 3-0 series deficit in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Three of the four teams won Game 7 on the road (TOR the lone exception).

* After being outscored 17-8 in the first three games of the series, the Kings posted an 18-5 goals advantage over the final four contests.

* Jonathan Quick made 39 saves to improve to 2-0 all-time in Game 7s, with both victories coming against the Sharks (also in 2013 CSF). He compiled a 1.25 goals-against average, .963 save percentage and one shutout in the last four games of the series after recording a 5.78 goals-against average and .852 save percentage in the opening three contests.

* Anze Kopitar (1-1—2) scored the game-winning goal, the fourth of his postseason career (one in each year he has qualified for the playoffs). He recorded at least one point in all seven games in the series (4-6—10) and now has a 10-game point streak dating to the regular season (8-7—15).

* According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Kopitar became the first player in Kings history to register points in all seven games of one playoff series and the first NHLer to do so since Red Wings forward Pavel Datsyuk in the 2011 Western Conference Semifinals (vs. SJ). Since 1996, the only other player to accomplish that feat in the opening round of the postseason was Red Wings forward Johan Franzen in the 2010 Western Conference Quarterfinals (vs. PHX).

* Justin Williams collected the primary assist on Kopitar’s game-winning goal and now has 5-5—10 in five career Game 7s, all victories.

* The Kings played a Game 7 on the road for the first time since April 29, 2002 (4-0 loss at COL) and won a Game 7 on the road for the first time since May 29, 1993 (5-4 win at TOR).

DID YOU KNOW?
Current Kings Mike Richards and Jeff Carter also were members of the 2010 Flyers team that rallied from a 3-0 series deficit to defeat the Bruins in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. Richards totaled 3-6—9 in that series, including 1-4—5 over the final four games, while Carter did not play due to injury.

NIEDERREITER LIFTS WILD IN OVERTIME
Jared Spurgeon scored the tying goal with 2:27 remaining in regulation and Nino Niederreiter potted the series-clinching marker at 5:02 of overtime to help the Wild rally from four one-goal deficits to advance to the Second Round of the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

* According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the Wild became the first team in NHL history to record four score-tying goals in a Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs (1-1, 2-2, 3-3, 4-4). They also became the first team to win a Game 7 without ever leading in the contest since 2003, when they defeated the Avalanche in the Western Conference Quarterfinals (3-2 in OT).

* Earlier in the game, Niederreiter (2-1—3) recorded his first career playoff goal to tie the score at 3-3. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, he became just the third player in NHL history to register his first two postseason goals in a Game 7. The others: Jiri Hrdina for the Penguins in the 1991 DSF vs. NJ and Adam Henrique for the Devils in the 2012 CQF vs. FLA. Like Niederreiter, both Hrdina and Henrique also scored the winning goal in that Game 7, with Henrique doing so in double-overtime.

* Elias also says that at age 21, Niederreiter became the second-youngest player in Stanley Cup Playoffs history to record an overtime goal in a Game 7. Only Claude Lemieux (20) has done so at a younger age, tallying the series-clinching goal for the Canadiens in Game 7 of the Adams Division Final versus the Whalers on April 29, 1986.

YOUNGEST PLAYERS WITH 3+ POINTS IN A GAME 7, NHL HISTORY
1. Paul Reinhart, CGY (21 years, 108 days): 0-3—3 at PHI on April 26, 1981
2. Alex Tanguay, COL (21 years, 200 days): 2-1—3 vs. NJ on June 9, 2001
3. Justin Williams, PHI (21 years, 200 days): 1-2—3 vs. TOR on April 22, 2003
4. Nino Niederreiter, MIN (21 years, 234 days): 2-1—3 at COL on April 30, 2014
5. Sidney Crosby, PIT (21 years, 279 days): 2-1—3 at WSH on May 13, 2009

* Spurgeon’s goal marked the seventh game-tying goal scored in the final 2:30 of regulation in the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs. The team that has scored the tying goal has gone on to win all seven games:

GAME-TYING GOALS IN FINAL 2:30 OF REGULATION
Jaden Schwartz, STL – 18:15 of Game 1 (STL won 4-3 in 3OT)
Paul Stastny, COL – 19:46 of Game 1 (COL won 5-4 in OT)
Vladimir Tarasenko, STL – 19:53 of Game 2 (STL won 4-3 in OT)
Brandon Dubinsky, CBJ – 19:36 of Game 4 (CBJ won 4-3 in OT)
PA Parenteau, COL – 18:46 of Game 5 (COL won 4-3 in OT)
Devante Smith-Pelly, ANA – 19:36 of Game 6 (ANA won 5-4 in OT)
Jared Spurgeon, MIN – 17:33 of Game 7 (MIN won 5-4 in OT)

* Darcy Kuemper made 17 saves before leaving the game midway through the third period due to injury. Ilya Bryzgalov then stopped the only shot he faced to record the victory. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Bryzgalov became the second goaltender in Stanley Cup Playoffs history to win a Game 7 in relief. The other: Grant Fuhr, who replaced Andy Moog midway through the second period to lead the Oilers to a 7-4 victory over the Flames in Game 7 of the Smythe Division Final on April 22, 1984.

* Elias also says that Bryzgalov became the first goaltender to make one or fewer saves in a postseason win since May 2, 2004, when Flyers netminder Robert Esche made one stop in a 7-2 victory over the Maple Leafs in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals.

* Mikael Granlund collected an assist to extend his point streak to five games (2-3—5). Dany Heatley (1-2—3) and Kyle Brodziak (0-3—3) also had three-point efforts.

* The Wild and Avalanche now have contested 14 one-goal games in their 20 all-time postseason meetings, including 13 of their last 16 matchups (nine of which required overtime) and five of seven games in this series (four of which went to extra time).

* The Wild became just the third franchise in NHL history to win its first three Game 7s (also STL and TB), but the first to do so with all three victories coming on the road. The Wild also improved to 9-5 all-time in playoff elimination games, including a 5-1 record versus the Avalanche.

DID YOU KNOW?
Wednesday’s Wild-Avalanche matchup marked the 38th Game 7 in Stanley Cup Playoffs history to require overtime (38-of-152, 25.0%). Road teams improved to 19-19 in those games.

LUNDQVIST, RANGERS HOLD OFF FLYERS
Henrik Lundqvist made 26 saves to backstop the Rangers to their fourth consecutive Game 7 victory (all in the past three years).

* The Rangers improved to 7-5 all-time in Game 7s, including a 6-0 mark at Madison Square Garden. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, they became the first team in NHL history to win a Game 7 in the opening round of three consecutive postseasons (also defeated OTT in 2012 and WSH in 2013). The Flyers (1974-76) and Bruins (1990-92) are the only other teams to win a Game 7 in any round of three consecutive playoff years.

* Lundqvist improved to 4-1 with a 1.00 goals-against average, .963 save percentage and one shutout in five career Game 7s. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, he is tied with Johnny Bower (3-0, 1.00 GAA) and Dwayne Roloson (2-1, 1.00 GAA) for the lowest career goals-against average in Game 7s (minimum, 3 GP). Lundqvist’s four Game 7 victories also are tied for second among active goaltenders (with Cam Ward), behind only Martin Brodeur, whose six Game 7 wins are tied for the most in NHL history (with Patrick Roy).

* Lundqvist improved to 7-2 with a 1.43 goals-against average, .951 save percentage and three shutouts in the last nine games in which the Rangers have faced elimination. That includes a 6-0 mark with a 0.98 goals-against average, .965 save percentage and two shutouts in six games at Madison Square Garden.

* Benoit Pouliot scored his third career playoff goal and first game-winner. He now has 2-2—4 in seven games this postseason, his highest output in any playoff year.

* Making his third appearance of the series, Daniel Carcillo recorded his seventh career postseason goal and second of 2014.

* ICYMI: Take a look at the Rangers’ postgame celebration.

MORE GAME 7 NOTES
* The Rangers became the 17th consecutive team to win a Game 7 when scoring first. That streak ended, however, with victories by the Wild and Kings, who both surrendered the first goal. The team that scores first now is 112-40 (.737) all-time in Game 7s.

* Since 2003-04, there have been 25 total Game 7s in the opening round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Road teams improved to 14-11 in those contests.

* Overall, home teams now are 91-61 (.599) all-time in Game 7s contested in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

2014 STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS BRACKET CHALLENGE
Among the more than half-million entries for the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs Bracket Challenge powered by Can-Am Spyder on NHL.com, 51% picked the Kings to win their series against the Sharks (24% selected them to win in seven games), 14% picked the Wild to win their series against the Avalanche (4% selected them to win in seven games) and 51% picked the Rangers to win their series against the Flyers (20% selected them to win in seven games).

A LOOK BACK AT THE FIRST ROUND
Of the 48 games contested in the First Round of the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs:

* There were 29 comeback wins (60.4%), including 10 multi-goal comeback victories, a record for the opening round of the postseason.

* There were seven game-tying goals in the final 2:30 of regulation. The team that scored the tying goal went on to win all seven games.

* There were 14 overtime games (29.2%) spread over seven series, including two multi-overtime contests.

* There were 25 one-goal games (52.1%), including at least one in every series.

LOOSE PUCKS
The Wild snapped an eight-game road playoff losing streak dating to April 15, 2008 (at COL) . . . Flyers goaltender Steve Mason made 31 saves, including 16 in the second period . . . Avalanche defenseman Erik Johnson, Kings forward Tanner Pearson and Sharks forward Matt Irwin scored their first career playoff goals . . . Avalanche forward Joey Hishon collected an assist for his first NHL point (regular season or playoffs) . . . Forwards Jaromir Jagr (NJ), Manny Malhotra (CAR) and Dominic Moore (NYR) were announced as the three finalists for the 2013-14 Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy.

SNEAK PEEK AT THURSDAY’S ACTION
All Times Eastern
Montreal @ Boston, Game 1, 7:30 p.m., NBCSN, CBC, RDS

information above provided by the NHL PR department

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