Kukla's Korner Hockey

Kukla's Korner Hockey

NHL Short Notes

05/08/2015 at 10:39am EDT

THURSDAY’S RESULTS
Home Team in Caps
Montreal 6, TAMPA BAY 2 – TBL leads series 3-1
Chicago 4, MINNESOTA 3 – CHI wins series 4-0

BLACKHAWKS HOLD OFF WILD, ADVANCE TO CONFERENCE FINALS
The Blackhawks built a 4-1 lead and held off a late Wild rally to advance to the Western Conference Final for the fifth time in the past seven seasons (and third straight year).


* The Blackhawks recorded their ninth all-time sweep in a best-of-seven series and first since the 2010 CF vs. SJS. They have won all 11 best-of-seven series in which they held a 3-0 lead.

* The Blackhawks completed a four-game sweep on the road for the first time since the 1996 CQF at CGY, when Joe Murphy scored the series-clinching goal at 10:02 of triple-overtime.

* Per Sportsnet, the Blackhawks did not trail at any point in a playoff series for the first time since the 1992 DF vs. DET.

* The Blackhawks eliminated the Wild from the playoffs for the third consecutive year, also doing so in the 2013 CQF (4-1) and 2014 SR (4-2). Via Elias, they became the first team to eliminate the same opponent in each of three consecutive postseasons since the Maple Leafs did so to the Senators from 2000-02.

* The Blackhawks improved to 14-3 in their last 17 playoff games in which they could eliminate an opponent (dating to 2009).

* The Blackhawks will face either the Ducks or Flames in the Western Conference Final. They have played Calgary four times in the postseason (2-2), most recently in the 2009 CQF (a 4-2 W). They have never faced Anaheim in the playoffs.

* ICYMI: Click here to listen to the handshake line between the Blackhawks and Wild . . . Click here to watch the celebration following Chicago’s Game 4 victory.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
* Three Blackhawks players registered multiple points: Patrick Kane (1-1—2), Bryan Bickell (0-2—2) and Jonathan Toews (0-2—2).

* Kane scored for the fifth consecutive game (6-2—8), a new personal best in the playoffs. Elias says he became the second player in Blackhawks history to record a goal in every game of a four-game series sweep. The other to do so: Dustin Byfuglienin the 2010 CF vs. SJS (4-0—4).

* Elias adds that Kane became the fourth player in Blackhawks history to score in each of the first four (or more) games of a playoff series (of any length). The others: Bobby Hull (Games 1-5 of 1965 SF vs. DET), Steve Larmer (Games 1-4 of 1989 DF vs. STL) and Byfuglien (Games 1-4 of 2010 CF vs. SJS).

* Overall, Kane extended his point streak to seven games (6-4—10), equaling a career high in the playoffs established April 22 – May 7, 2010 (4-6—10). He paces the Blackhawks and ranks second in the NHL in both goals (7) and points (13) this postseason (10 GP).


* Marian Hossa scored the eventual game-winning goal into an empty net, his second career series-clinching goal (also w/ PIT in 2008 CSF vs. NYR). Via Elias, he became the first player to record a series-clinching goal (for any team) with an empty-net tallysince North Stars forward Bobby Smith did so in the 1991 DF vs. STL.

* Hossa’s goal also came while shorthanded. Elias notes that he became the first Blackhawks player to post a series-clinching goal while shorthanded since Larmer did so in the 1990 DF vs. STL.

* Corey Crawford made 34 saves, his fourth consecutive 30-plus save performance, to pick up his fifth straight win. He improved to 5-1 in seven total appearances this postseason (2.60 GAA, .916 SV%, 1 SO).

* Crawford also improved to 12-3 in 15 career playoff games vs. MIN (1.69 GAA, .940 SV%, 2 SO). He has been in net for all 15 postseason meetings between the clubs – that includes a six-game winning streak dating to Game 5 of the 2014 SR.

* Brent Seabrook and Andrew Shaw, who was mic’d up, provided the other goals for the Blackhawks. They rank second (among remaining teams) with an average of 3.20 goals per game this postseason, behind the Ducks (4.00).

2015 STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS BRACKET CHALLENGE
Among the more than 800,000 entries for the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs Bracket Challenge powered by Samsung, 43.8% picked the Blackhawks to advance to the Western Conference Final.

Only 9,743 brackets (1.2%) have correctly selected the winner of all nine series that have been completed thus far in the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

CANADIENS SOLVE LIGHTNING, FORCE GAME 5 IN MONTREAL
The Canadiens raced to a 5-0 lead – powered by 1-2—3 from Max Pacioretty – to stave off elimination and defeat the Lightning for the first time this season (1-6-2, regular season and playoffs).


* The Canadiens forced a Game 5 when trailing 3-0 in a best-of-seven series for the sixth time in franchise history (in 11 all-time scenarios). They last did so in the 1997 CQF vs. NJD, which they ultimately lost in five games.

* Pacioretty, who entered the game with 3-0—3 in his first eight outings this postseason, set a career high for points in a playoff game. He also scored his first career shorthanded postseason goal (30 GP).

* Pacioretty leads the Canadiens with four goals this postseason after the pacing the team with 37 during the regular season. He also ranks second on the club with six points, one behind P.K. Subban (1-6—7).

* Jeff Petry and Brendan Gallagher scored 15 seconds apart to spot the Canadiens a 5-0 lead midway through the second period. Torrey Mitchell and Tomas Plekanecalso combined for two goals in 15 seconds for the team this postseason, in Game 1 of the FR vs. OTT.

* Brandon Prust snapped a 27-game playoff drought with his first goal since May 23, 2012 vs. NJD (w/ NYR). Andrei Markov and David Desharnais provided the other goals, while Alex Galchenyuk and Subban each collected two assists.

* Carey Price made 22 saves to even his record at 5-5 this postseason (2.27 GAA, .920 SV%, 1 SO). He has been in net for all nine games this season vs. TBL (regular season and playoffs).

* The Canadiens, who totaled six goals in their previous four outings (dating to Game 6 of the FR at OTT), recorded at least six goals in a playoff game for the first time since May 27, 2014 vs. NYR, when they staved off elimination with a 7-4 victory in Game 5 of the CF (before ultimately losing in six contests).

DID YOU KNOW?
Via Elias, the Canadiens became the second team in Stanley Cup Playoffs history toavoid a four-game sweep with a road victory of four or more goals in Game 4. The only other team to do that: the Penguins in the 2012 CQF vs. PHI. In that series, Pittsburgh posted a 10-3 win in Game 4 at Wells Fargo Center before ultimately losing to Philadelphia in six contests.

LOOSE PUCKS
The Lightning failed to sweep a series when holding a 3-0 lead for the first time in franchise history. The other two times they have held that advantage, both sweeps: the 2004 CSF vs. MTL and 2011 CSF vs. WSH . . . Forwards Jason Pominville and Nino Niederreiter scored 51 seconds apart to bring the Wild within one goal late in the third period . . . Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov notched his fourth goal in as many games in the series. He had one goal in his first nine career postseason appearances . . . Wild defenseman Matt Dumba (0-2—2) registered his first career multi-point playoff game (10 GP) . . . Lightning forward Ondrej Palat (1-1—2) posted his third career multi-point postseason performance (14 GP) . . . The Wild went 1-for-3 on the power play, finishing the playoffs ranked first in the NHL with a 30.4% success rate on the man-advantage . . . The Lightning went 2-for-3 on the power play and have converted 6-of-14 opportunities (42.9%) over the past three games. They were 2-of-34 (5.9%) on the man-advantage in their first eight contests of the postseason . . . Lightning goaltenderAndrei Vasilevskiy made 23 saves in his playoff debut . . . ICYMI: The NHL announced the updated start times and national television information for Game 5 of the Canadiens-Lightning series and Game 6 of the Rangers-Capitals series (if necessary) . . . The Stanley Cup will be on display at the Charles M. Schulz Museum on Saturday, May 16 . . . Honda released its newest spot, “Worthy,” which features the Stanley Cup.

SNEAK PEEK AT FRIDAY’S ACTION
All Times Eastern
Washington @ NY Rangers, WSH leads series 3-1, 7:00 p.m., NBCSN, CBC, TVA
Anaheim @ Calgary, ANA leads series 2-1, 9:30 p.m., NBCSN, SN, TVA
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the above information was supplied by the NHL PR department

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Paul Kukla founded Kukla’s Korner in 2005 and the site has since become the must-read site on the ‘net for all the latest happenings around the NHL.

From breaking news to in-depth stories around the league, KK Hockey is updated with fresh stories all day long and will bring you the latest news as quickly as possible.

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