Game Story: The Vegas Golden Knights (hashtag#VegasBorn) got back into this series on a heads-up buzzer-beater. See the coverage alongside Alec Nava and Ian Genge here.
https://lnkd.in/ewVMfthQ
OEG Inc. (hashtag#LetsGoOilers) Turner (Turner Broadcasting System, Inc) National Hockey League (NHL) Sportsnet hashtag#stanleycup hashtag#playoffs
Edmonton Oilers (48-29-5, 4-2) HC: Kris Knoblauch Top Performers: Leon Draisaitl 71 GP (52-54-106 +32), Connor McDavid 67 GP (26-74-100 +20), Evan Bouchard (14-53-67 +14), Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (20-29-49 +4), Zach Hyman (27-17-44 +9), Corey Perry (19-11-30 +12)
Top Defensive Pairings: Mattias Ekholm 65 GP (9-24-33 +11 OUT), Darnell Nurse (5-28-33 +11), Jake Walman (Team Lead +8 so far), Brett Kulak (7-18-25 –7)
Initial Thoughts: We’ve seen the story before as they dispatch LA yet again. I underestimated this team last year in getting to the Stanley Cup Finals, but they don’t have that same level of otherworldly penalty kill this time out. But even if they get past VGK… can the tandem of Skinner and Pickard really be good enough to win it all? Ekholm starts the series on IR.
Vegas Golden Knights (50-22-10, 4-2) HC: Bruce Cassidy Top Performers: Jack Eichel (28-66-94 +32), Mark Stone 66 GP (19-48-67 +22), Tomas Hertl 73 GP (32-29-61 –3), Pavel Dorofeyev (35-17-52 +2), Ivan Barbashev 70 GP (23-28-51+26), Brett Howden (10-29-39 +8), Nicolas Roy (15-16-31 –4)
Top Defensive Pairings: Shea Theodore 67 GP (7-40-57+18), Noah Hanifin (10-29-39 +8), Alex Pietrangelo 71 GP, (4-29-33 +11), Brayden McNabb (5-15-20 +42)
Initial Thoughts: Vegas may have struggled a bit against the top line of MIN, but they still won the series in six games. It’s another top line duel… but I expect Hill (to play better) and the defense to be ready, because that backline is likely still the best collective in the business. I have the Golden Knights advancing.
Goaltending Matchup: Stuart Skinner (51 GP, 26-18-4, 2.81 GAA, .896 SV, 3 SO); Calvin Pickard (36 GP, 22-10-1, 2.71 GAA, .900 SV) vs. Adin Hill (50 GP, 32-13-5, 2.47 GAA, .906 SV, 4 SO); Ilya Samsonov (29 GP, 16-9-4, 2.82 GAA, .891 SV, 2 SO)
Series Summary:
Game 1: EDM wins 4-2: It’s a couple of goals by Mark Stone (including a beautiful drop from Jack Eichel) that is answered by a Corey Perry cut right to the net in the first. EDM dominates the second and doesn’t score. But the third finds paydirt, four unanswered goals, including the kill shot windmill past Theodore by Connor Brown. Pickard only has to stop 15 of 17 in the win.
Game 2: EDM wins 5-4 (OT): The others step up big for EDM as Walman, Podkolzin and Nurse score. Draisaitil gets the OT winner on a sick 2-on-1 skate from McDavid and a cross-pass finish. Olofsson scores twice for VGK, a couple goals for VGK make it 4-4 in the third. Pickard 28 of 32 in the win while Hill stops 32 of 37 in the loss.
Game 3:
Stay up to date with me.
Facebook: https://bit.ly/3LkrzyY
Twitter: https://bit.ly/3DkfuYo
YouTube: https://bit.ly/3zkA0qM
Instagram: https://bit.ly/3g0fYLb
LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/35JWkOB
Blog: https://bit.ly/3MhMIve (Written/P-B-P)
Discord: https://discord.gg/GV2uJc8dDX
Podcast: Hopeless Sports Guy https://spoti.fi/3TIeR1D
(Spotify, Apple, Google, iHeartRadio, Amazon etc.)
Colorcast/Clubhouse/Fireside: @JohnRyanOtt (Download app on iPhone/Android) calls play-by-play/radio shows live, interact with me anytime.
