Last night was the second wave of games number 3 (usually one of the most important games in a series), and let’s just say we weren’t disappointed in terms of spectacle.
Here’s what happened in yesterday’s four series.
1. Maple Leafs escape with crucial win
After Game 1 of this series, the Leafs were roundly criticized and ridiculed.
They were downgraded without showing any emotion or intensity.
So things weren’t looking good for Toronto.
However, Sheldon Keefe’s team bounced back in Game 2, and the Leafs also came out on top in Game 3, the first close game of the series.
The Leafs won 4-3 in overtime against the Lightning in Tampa Bay.
It’s a very big win for the Leafs, especially considering they were completely dominated in overtime.
It was Morgan Rielly who gave the Leafs the win late in the first overtime period.
MORGAN 👏 RIELLY 👏
Rielly fires home the overtime winner and the @MapleLeafs lead the series 2-1! #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/NZyBix2fFq
– NHL (@NHL) April 23, 2023
It’s even more of a feat for the Leafs to have gotten their hands on this game, given that the Lightning were only one minute away from winning 3-2.
RYAN O’REILLY’S TIED THIS FIELD HOCKEY GAME 🍁
WE’RE HEADED TO ANOTHER OT! #StanleyCup
🇺🇸: @NHL_On_TNT ➡️ https://t.co/oaJG9t1U2v #NHLonTNT
🇨🇦: @Sportsnet ➡️ https://t.co/c0FJF22IZL #NHLonSN pic.twitter.com/vypdnBxxlX– NHL (@NHL) April 23, 2023
Defenseman Darren Raddysh’s magnificent first career playoff goal could have been the winner.
Darren Raddysh goes around the net and rifles one home from the left circle to put Tampa up 3-2!!!#GoBolts pic.twitter.com/tAJIgzwa8f
– Field hockey Daily 365 l NHL Highlights (@HockeyDaily365) April 23, 2023
It was a very close game with a lot of intensity, even between some surprising players.
Steven Stamkos threw down the gloves in front of Auston Matthews, who didn’t look like a guy who wanted to fight.
ABSOLUTE CHAOS HAS ENSUED.
STAMKOS AND MATTHEWS GOING TOE TO TOE.
– Spittin’ Chiclets (@spittinchiclets) April 23, 2023
This is the first time in history that two 60-goal scorers have battled it out. So the intensity really kicks up a notch in this series.
This “brawl” occurred after Morgan Rielly tackled Brayden Point hard along the boards.
Mr. Tampa Bay Lightning Playoffs Brayden Point was injured in this action… 😬
– Spin-O-Rama 🏒 (@SpinORamaFR) April 23, 2023
A very strong and dangerous collision that sent Point to the dressing room.
He was back in the game a few minutes later, however, as if nothing had happened.
I cannot believe Brayden Point is already back on the ice. These guys are not human.
– Arpon Basu (@ArponBasu) April 23, 2023
Point even scored a goal that was disallowed because the referee had already blown his whistle.
Brayden Point scores, refs blow it, replay review blows it, Dave and Phil are pissed, Jon Cooper is livid #GoBolts #TORvsTBL #StanleyCupPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/17DqUhbzDP
– Bucs Rays Bolts (@BucsRaysBoltsYT) April 23, 2023
It clearly should have been a goal, and it would have completely changed the look of the game.
In short, Toronto is doing very well and can count itself lucky to be ahead in the series.
I’m thinking, though, that the Leafs have to win some games to lose the series in 7 as usual.
The Leafs lead the series 2-1.
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2. Devils avoid the worst and win a first game
After losing both their home games to start the series, the Devils absolutely had to win game number 3.
Well, that’s exactly what they did, winning a very close game 2-1 in overtime.
Dougie Hamilton gave the Devils the win with a superb shot.
ELECTRIC! 🤩 #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/HWtBDAXZJG
– NHL (@NHL) April 23, 2023
Jack Hughes scored the Devils’ first goal.
Alright, that’s a sweet release. 🎯 #StanleyCup
🇺🇸: @ESPNPlus ➡️ https://t.co/54FfarYDuO
🇨🇦: @Sportsnet ➡️ https://t.co/TVdJNrxm98 #NHLonSN pic.twitter.com/eMMBzeRPt8– NHL (@NHL) April 23, 2023
For the Rangers, it was none other than Chris Kreider who scored the team’s only goal.
That’s Chris Kreider’s FIFTH goal of the series! 🤯 pic.twitter.com/nDOakyQYG8
– Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) April 23, 2023
It was his 5th of the series in just three games.
Also of note, young Akira Schmid was in front of goal for the Devils, as he played his first career playoff game.
The 22-year-old Swiss turned aside 35 of the 36 shots he faced.
The Rangers lead the series 2-1.
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3. Winnipeg’s spectacular comeback comes to nothing
The 1-1 series moved to Winnipeg, where the playoff atmosphere is simply electric, with the entire crowd in white.
The Knights, however, were not impressed by this atmosphere, taking a 4-1 lead after two periods, thanks in part to two goals from Jack Eichel.
Three goals in three career #StanleyCup Playoffs games? ⚔️
Not bad, Jack Eichel. #NHLStats: https://t.co/weFSHsV2Kt
🇺🇸: @NHL_On_TNT ➡️ https://t.co/oaJG9t2rS3 #NHLonTNT
🇨🇦: @Sportsnet ➡️ https://t.co/c0FJF23gPj #NHLonSN pic.twitter.com/JIGeayTOYS– NHL (@NHL) April 22, 2023
Eichel also picked up an assist.
The stare down celly? In your home province?
That was cold, Keegan Kolesar. 🥶 #StanleyCup
🇺🇸: @NHL_On_TNT ➡️ https://t.co/oaJG9t1U2v #NHLonTNT
🇨🇦: @Sportsnet ➡️ https://t.co/c0FJF22IZL #NHLonSN pic.twitter.com/YJ26vyL89b– NHL (@NHL) April 22, 2023
In short, all was well for the Golden Knights after two periods, but the Jets hadn’t said their last word.
Indeed, the Jets overcame that three-goal deficit in the third period to force overtime.
MARK SCHEIFELE 😱
This game’s not over yet! #StanleyCup
🇺🇸: @NHL_On_TNT ➡️ https://t.co/oaJG9t2rS3 #NHLonTNT
🇨🇦: @Sportsnet ➡️ https://t.co/c0FJF23gPj #NHLonSN pic.twitter.com/o7eV9umqok– NHL (@NHL) April 22, 2023
Adam Lowry tied the game late on.
JETS TIE IT, JETS TIE IT 🤯
Adam Lowry(@ALowsyPlayer17) pushes this game to OT! #StanleyCup
🇺🇸: @NHL_On_TNT ➡️ https://t.co/oaJG9t1U2v #NHLonTNT
🇨🇦: @Sportsnet ➡️ https://t.co/c0FJF22IZL #NHLonSN pic.twitter.com/EbpP3E0hTR– NHL (@NHL) April 22, 2023
Unfortunately for the Jets, it was all for naught, as early in the second overtime period, Michael Amadio capitalized on a horrible turnover by Dylan Samberg to put the game away.
IT’S ALL OVER‼️
Michael Amadio wins it in double OT! The @GoldenKnights have taken a 2-1 series lead! #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/zv0OtvleUM
– NHL (@NHL) April 22, 2023
It’s a shame for the Jets, who had really come back into the game despite losing their best defenseman, Josh Morrissey.
In fact, we learned after the game that Morrissey had a knee injury, and would not play again in the series against the Knights.
Rick Bowness just announced that Josh Morrissey is done for the series
– Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) April 23, 2023
This is a huge blow for the Jets, who must now turn to Neal Pionk, who had quite a game yesterday in Morrissey’s absence, playing no less than 41 minutes (41:08).
The Golden Knights lead the series 2-1.
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4. Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen take care of the Kraken
Yesterday was the first series match in the history of Seattle’s Climate Pledge Arena.
It was Jayden Schwartz who scored the first playoff goal in this amphitheater.
Schwartz gets the home crowd going on the tip-in 💥 pic.twitter.com/b2OueBI9Tf
– B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) April 23, 2023
The Kraken quickly took the lead, surprising everyone again against the defending champions.
However, the Avalanche wasted no time in getting back into the game, thanks in part to Nathan MacKinnon.
Nathan MacKinnon gets on his horse and gives the @Avalanche the lead late in the first period! 🐎 #StanleyCup
🇺🇸: @NHL_On_TNT ➡️ https://t.co/oaJG9t1U2v #NHLonTNT
🇨🇦: @Sportsnet ➡️ https://t.co/c0FJF22IZL #NHLonSN pic.twitter.com/f2GnsvlBDq– NHL (@NHL) April 23, 2023
Cale Makar then added to his tally in the second period with a blistering shot.
IT’S CALE MAKAR ‼️#GoAvsGo | #OneWayOurWay pic.twitter.com/QPQILB2108
– y – Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) April 23, 2023
However, once again, Seattle showed that they were not to be taken lightly in this series, and that they were capable of competing with the defending champions.
The Kraken scored two goals in 19 seconds.
WE’RE ALL TIED UP IN THE DEEP! 🪢 #StanleyCup
The @SeattleKraken score two goals 19 seconds apart and we’ve got a whole new game!
🇺🇸: @NHL_On_TNT ➡️ https://t.co/oaJG9t1U2v #NHLonTNT
🇨🇦: @Sportsnet ➡️ https://t.co/c0FJF22IZL #NHLonSN pic.twitter.com/YYRfXQ3sPk– NHL (@NHL) April 23, 2023
Unfortunately for the Kraken, Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen weren’t going to let the game go Seattle’s way so easily.
Nathan MacKinnon. That’s it. That’s the tweet. 😮💨 #StanleyCup
🇺🇸: @NHL_On_TNT ➡️ https://t.co/oaJG9t1U2v #NHLonTNT
🇨🇦: @Sportsnet ➡️ https://t.co/c0FJF22IZL #NHLonSN pic.twitter.com/PHE0pzhiAt– NHL (@NHL) April 23, 2023
In the end, the Avalanche won 6-4, spoiling the Kraken’s home opener in the playoffs.
The Avalanche lead the series 2-1.
Overtime
– Here are yesterday’s results.
The 2023 #StanleyCup Playoffs marks the 13th time since 1987, when the Division Semifinals changed from best-of-five to best-of-seven, the postseason will feature zero sweeps in the first round.#NHLStats: https://t.co/RsECnutk0s pic.twitter.com/54yJl2BzKF
– NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) April 23, 2023
– Here are the top scorers of the evening.
– On the program today: three games number 4.