Kukla's Korner Hockey

Kukla's Korner Hockey

NHL Short Notes

04/25/2015 at 10:59am EDT

FRIDAY’S RESULTS
Home Team in Caps
NY RANGERS 2, Pittsburgh 1 (OT) – NYR win series 4-1
Ottawa 5, MONTREAL 1 – MTL leads series 3-2
Minnesota 4, ST. LOUIS 1 – MIN leads series 3-2

HAGELIN’S OT GOAL LIFTS RANGERS INTO SECOND ROUND
Carl Hagelin scored at 10:52 of overtime to lift the Rangers to a Game 5 victory over the Penguins and into the Second Round of the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs.


* The Rangers clinched a series in overtime for the first time since May 11, 1997 (Game 5 of CSF at NJD; GWG: Adam Graves). The last time they accomplished that feat at Madison Square Garden was May 27, 1994 (Game 7 of CF vs. NJD; GWG: StephaneMatteau). According to the Elias Sports Bureau, New York has clinched 10 all-time series in overtime – including three on home ice.

* All four wins by the Rangers in the series were by the same 2-1 score. Elias says it is only the third time that an NHL team has won a best-of-seven playoff series with each of its wins coming by the same score. The previous two instances were both four-game sweeps: Chicago over Detroit in 1970 Quarterfinals (all 4-2) and Montreal over Buffalo in 1993 Division Finals (all 4-3, with the last three wins in overtime).

* Elias also says they are just the second team in NHL history to score two goals or fewer in all four wins in a playoff series. The Maple Leafs accomplished the feat twice – 1945 Stanley Cup Final vs. DET and 1999 Conference Quarterfinals vs. PHI.

* All five games in the series were decided by one-goal margins, including overtime wins by the Rangers in the final two contests. Elias says this marks the first time the Rangers had every game decided by a one-goal margin in a best-of-seven series.

* According to Elias, the Rangers won in overtime in consecutive postseason games for the fourth time in franchise history. However, only two of the previous instances occurred in the same series – both in the Stanley Cup Final (1940 vs. TOR, 1950 vs. DET).

* Hagelin has scored both of his career playoff game-winning goals against the Penguins. He also notched the decisive marker in Game 6 of their Second Round matchup last year, when the Rangers erased a 3-1 series deficit en route to a berth in the Stanley Cup Final.

* Hagelin collected 7-5—12 in 25 games in last year’s postseason, finishing second on the club in goals. He matched a career high with 17 goals in the 2014-15 regular season, including his only other NHL overtime goal on Jan. 20 vs. OTT (1-1—2).

* Derek Stepan opened the scoring less than five minutes into the first period, withDerick Brassard registering an assist on the play. Brassard posted 3-1—4 in the series and now has 12-13—25 in 26 career games against the Penguins (regular season and playoffs).

* Henrik Lundqvist made 37 saves, including 19 after the second period, to earn his eighth career playoff overtime victory. He has won seven of his last eight playoff games vs. PIT (1.34 GAA, .954 SV%) dating to the 2014 Second Round, allowing exactly one goal in each of those victories.

* The Rangers will face the winner of the Islanders-Capitals series in the Second Round of the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs. New York has played both clubs eight times in the postseason (4-4 vs. WSH, 3-5 vs. NYI). The Rangers won the last playoff meeting against both teams, defeating the Capitals in seven games in the 2013 Eastern Conference Quarterfinals and sweeping the Islanders in the 1994 Eastern Conference Quarterfinals en route to their last Stanley Cup.

* ALL-ACCESS: Rangers captain Ryan McDonagh was mic’d up and on the ice for the overtime winner and series ending handshake line.

* ICYMI: The Empire State Building was lit in red, white and blue to celebrate the Rangers’ series victory.

2015 STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS BRACKET CHALLENGE
Among the more than 800,000 entries for the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs Bracket Challenge powered by Samsung, 89% picked the Rangers to win their series against the Penguins – including 37.2% who selected them to win in five games.

ANDERSON SHINES, SENATORS STAY ALIVE AGAINST CANADIENS
The Senators built a 3-0 lead through two periods and Craig Anderson made 45 saves – including 19 in the final frame – to help the Senators stave off elimination against the Canadiens for the second straight game.



* Ottawa forced a Game 6 after facing a 3-0 series deficit for the first time in franchise history (in five all-time scenarios). Overall, the Senators improved to 14-7 in the fifth game of a playoff series.

* According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the Senators are the third team in NHL history to force a Game 6 against the Canadiensafter trailing 3-0 in the series. Montreal won the other two instances in the sixth game – 1973 CSF vs. BUF and 1988 CQF vs. HFD.

* Anderson improved to 6-2 with a 1.47 goals-against average and .960 save percentage in eight career playoff contests vs. MTL. That includes a 2-1 record with a 0.95 goals-against average, .976 save percentage and one shutout in this series. He has stopped 120 of 123 shots in three starts since taking over the Senators net in Game 3.

* Anderson also boosted his record to 4-2 when making at least 45 saves in the postseason. He set a playoff career high with 51 saves vs. SJS on April 18, 2010 (1-0 OT W).

* In the last 30 years, Elias says only three other NHL goaltenders have made 45 or more saves in a non-overtime win that enabled their team to avert elimination in a playoff series: Winnipeg's Nikolai Khabibulin (51 saves, Game 5 of 1996 CQF vs. DET), Montreal's Jaroslav Halak (53 saves, Game 6 of 2010 CQF vs. WSH) and Los Angeles' Jonathan Quick (51 saves, Game 5 of 2011 CQF vs. SJS).

* Bobby Ryan (2-0—2) scored his first two playoff goals in a Senators uniform (5 GP). He collected 10-5—15 in 26 postseason games with the Ducks from 2007-13.

* Overall, Ryan found the back of the net for the first time since March 19 vs. BOS, snapping a 16-game goalless drought. It was his first multi-goal effort since Dec. 29 vs. BUF (fourth career hat trick).

* Patrick Wiercioch picked up his first career playoff game-winning goal; he has two such tallies in the regular season (159 GP) – both in 2014-15. Overall, he has 2-2—4 in this series, after compiling 3-10—13 during the regular season (56 GP).

* After scoring the lone goal in Game 4, Mike Hoffman (0-2—2) picked up his first career playoff assists. Mika Zibanejad also added two helpers, while Erik Karlsson and Erik Condra provided the other Senators goals.

DUBNYK, WILD BOUNCE BACK TO TAKE 3-2 SERIES LEAD
Devan Dubnyk made 36 saves and the Wild scored four unanswered goals to overcome an early 1-0 deficit and take a 3-2 lead in their series with the Blues.



* The Wild hold a 3-2 series lead for the first time in franchise history. In fact, this marks the first time that the club will enter an elimination game with a series lead of any margin.

* Minnesota has won at least three games in a series on three other occasions, but each time overcame a series deficit before advancing with wins in Games 6 and 7 (2003 CQF vs. COL, 2003 CSF vs. VAN and 2014 FR vs. COL).

* Via Elias, Dubnyk’s 36 saves were the fifth-most by a Wild goaltender in the postseason. The only goaltender in franchise history to make more saves in a regulation win in the playoffs was Dwayne Roloson (April 10, 2003: 39 SV in 4-1 W at COL).

* Dubnyk, who was named a finalist for the Vezina Trophy prior to the game, improved to 13-2-0 in his last 15 road appearances dating to Feb. 18 at CGY. That includes a 2-1 mark with a 2.01 goals-against average and .929 save percentage in the postseason.

* Minnesota – which dropped Game 4 (6-1 L) – has not lost consecutive games in regulation since Jan. 11 and 13 (4-1 L at CHI and 7-2 L at PIT). Dubnyk was acquired by the Wild on Jan. 14.

* Nino Niederreiter broke a 1-1 deadlock in the second period with his second goal of the series. His three career playoff game-winning goals are the most in franchise history, surpassing WesWalz and Mikael Granlund.

* Marco Scandella, Mikko Koivu and Charlie Coyle also scored for the Wild, who picked up the first victory in the series by a team that did not score the opening goal.

DID YOU KNOW?
Each game in the Blues-Wild series has featured at least a two-goal margin, with the past four contests decided by three or more goals. Elias says this is the only one of the eight First Round series without a one-goal game, and none of the seven other series have had more than two games decided by three goals or more.

NHL ANNOUNCES VEZINA FINALISTS
Devan Dubnyk of the Minnesota Wild, Carey Price of the Montreal Canadiens and PekkaRinne of the Nashville Predators are the three finalists for the 2014-15 Vezina Trophy, which is awarded “to the goalkeeper adjudged to be the best at his position.”

The general managers of the 30 NHL clubs submitted ballots for the Vezina Trophy at the conclusion of the regular season, with the top three vote-getters designated as finalists. The winner will be announced Wednesday, June 24, during the 2015 NHL Awards from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

Click here for more information on each finalist.

* ICYMI: The NHL will reveal the three finalists for the Norris Trophy on Monday, April 27.

LOOSE PUCKS
Vladimir Tarasenko scored the lone St. Louis goal – his League-leading sixth of the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs. He now has 10 goals in 12 career postseason contests . . . Blues goaltender Jake Allen (4 GA) allowed more than two goals for the first time since March 1 at VAN . . . Penguins forward Nick Spaling scored his first playoff goal in a Penguins uniform (5 GP), exactly four years after his only other postseason goals. He scored twice for the Predators in Game 6 of the 2011 Western Conference Quarterfinals vs. ANA, including the series-clinching goal . . . Canadiens defenseman Tom Gilbert scored his first career playoff goal. Greg Pateryn picked up his first career NHL point on the play (22 GP – regular season and playoffs) . . . Penguins captain Sidney Crosby played in his 100th career playoff game – just two days after teammate Evgeni Malkin reached the same milestone . . . The NHL announced the start time and national television information for Sunday’s playoff games . . . The Oilers hired Peter Chiarellias president of hockey operations and general manager.

SNEAK PEEK AT SATURDAY’S ACTION
All Times Eastern
Washington @ NY Islanders, WSH leads 3-2, 3:00 p.m., NBC, TVA, SN
Detroit @ Tampa Bay, series tied 2-2, 6:00 p.m., CBC, NBCSN, FS-D, FS-F
Nashville @ Chicago, CHI leads 3-2, 8:00 p.m., NBC, SN, TVA2
Vancouver @ Calgary, CGY leads 3-2, 9:00 p.m., CBC, NBCSN, TVA
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the above information was provided by the NHL PR department

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