CLOSE GAMES, COMEBACKS AND OT HIGHLIGHT OPENING TWO ROUNDS
The first two rounds of the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs featured a thrilling mix of close games, comebacks and overtime heroics, with four teams left standing: the Penguins and Senators in the Eastern Conference and the Ducks and Predators in the Western Conference.
Of the 68 games contested thus far in the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs:
* Forty-two (61.8%) have been decided by one goal, while another eight have been decided by two goals following an empty-net tally (combined, 73.5%).
* Twenty-seven (39.7%) have seen the winning team overcome a deficit of at least one goal, including 13 that have overcome multi-goal deficits.
* Thirteen (19.1%) have featured a team overcoming a third-period deficit (of any margin) to win, including five clubs that trailed by multiple goals in the third period.
* Four of the five multi-goal, third-period comeback wins were orchestrated by teams still playing in the Conference Finals (ANA: 2; NSH: 1; OTT: 1).
* Twenty-three (33.8%) have required overtime, five shy of matching the NHL record for most in a single playoff year (28 in 85 GP in 1993).
* Ten tying goals have been scored in the final five minutes of regulation, including seven in the last two minutes and three in the final 60 seconds.
* Six go-ahead goals have been scored in the final five minutes of regulation
SNEAK PEEK AT FRIDAY’S ACTION
All Times Eastern
Nashville @ Anaheim, Game 1, 9 p.m., NBCSN, CBC, TVAS
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WESTERN CONFERENCE FINAL OPENS IN ANAHEIM
The Western Conference Final opens tonight in Anaheim when the Pacific Division-champion Ducks host the Predators – who qualified for the postseason as the second Wild Card team – in Game 1 at Honda Center. Nashville defeated Anaheim in seven games in the 2016 First Round and also won their only other playoff meeting (2011 CQF: 4-2 W).
* The Ducks are in the Western Conference Final for the second time in three years and fifth time in franchise history (also 2003, 2006, 2007 and 2015). Anaheim is aiming to return to the Stanley Cup Final for the third time in franchise history on the 10-year anniversary of the club’s only Stanley Cup triumph in 2007.
* The Predators, who own an 8-2 record in the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs and have won nine consecutive postseason games at home dating to Game 6 of the 2016 First Round vs. ANA (5-0 in 2017), are appearing in the Conference Finals for the first time in franchise history.
Team Leaders, Goals:
Ryan Getzlaf (ANA): 8
Roman Josi, Ryan Ellis (NSH): 4
Team Leaders, Assists:
Ryan Getzlaf, Corey Perry (ANA): 7
Ryan Johansen (NSH): 7
Team Leaders, Points:
Ryan Getzlaf (ANA): 8-7—15 in 11 GP
Ryan Ellis (NSH): 4-5—9 in 10 GP
Ryan Johansen (NSH): 2-7—9 in 10 GP
Projected Starting Goaltenders:
John Gibson (ANA): 7-3, 2.80 GAA, .908 SV%
Pekka Rinne (NSH): 8-2, 1.37 GAA, .951 SV%, 2 SO
NHL ANNOUNCES OFFICIALS FOR CONFERENCE FINALS
The NHL announced the officials for the 2017 Conference Finals:
Referees:
Jean Hebert, Wes McCauley, Brad Meier, Dan O’Halloran, Dan O’Rourke, Kevin Pollock, Chris Rooney, Kelly Sutherland
Linesmen:
Derek Amell, Scott Cherrey, Shane Heyer, Brad Kovachik, Matt MacPherson, Brian Murphy, Jonny Murray, Pierre Racicot
Standby Officials:
Francis Charron (Referee), Steve Miller (Linesman)
LOOSE PUCKS
ICYMI: Dates, starting times and national television coverage for all Conference Finalsgames . . . The Sabres announced the hiring of Jason Botterill as general manager . . . The Blackhawks signed forward Richard Panik to a two-year contract extension.
Thanks to the NHL PR Departmetnt for the information above.
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