Game Story: While the score between the OEG Inc. (hashtag#LetsGoOilers) and the Vegas Golden Knights (hashtag#VegasBorn) looked close. I promise you this hashtag#StanleyCupPlayoffs semifinal opener wasn’t. Coverage here.
https://lnkd.in/ezAqMNUx
National Hockey League (NHL) ESPN Sportsnet
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)
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