Penguins eliminate the Rangers, Blackhawks tie series with Blues and more in today’s collection of NHL morning headlines.
NHL Playoff Recaps.
Penguins forward Bryan Rust (center) celebrates his second goal against the Rangers.
TRIBLIVE.COM/NEW YORK POST: A four-goal second period powered the Pittsburgh Penguins to a 6-3 victory over the New York Rangers, eliminating the latter in five games. Penguins rookie forward Bryan Rust led the way with two goals and an assist, breaking a 2-2 tie and carrying the Pens to a lead they wouldn’t relinquish. For the Rangers, Stanley Cup Finalists in 2014 and Eastern Conference Finalists in three of the last four seasons, it’s an end of an era as their Cup window slams shut. Rangers defenseman Dan Boyle, expected to retire after this season, was a healthy scratch from this game.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: This really was a series between two clubs heading in different directions. Buoyed by an infusion of promising young talent, the Penguins appear to be a team on the rise. The Rangers, with several core players showing four seasons of wear and tear, looked old and slow by comparison. For Boyle, it was a sad end to his long and largely productive NHL career, winning a Stanley Cup with Tampa Bay in 2004 and anchoring the San Jose Sharks defense corps for several years.
CHICAGO TRIBUNE/STLTODAY.COM: On the brink of elimination, the Chicago Blackhawks rallied from a 3-1 deficit with five unanswered goals to defeat the St. Louis Blues 6-3 in Game Six of their best-of-seven series. Trade acquisitions Dale Weise (who scored the game winner), Andrew Ladd (one goal) and Richard Panik were big factors for the Blackhawks in this game. The win sets up a seventh and deciding game back in St. Louis on Monday.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: For the second straight game, the Blues failed to close the deal. And now, the specter of previous playoff failures is planting seeds of doubt among Blues fans. There’s also questions over how Blues coach Ken Hitchcock is handling the ice time of his best players, particularly top scorer Vladimir Tarasenko, who saw less than 17 minutes of ice time in this game.
THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER/YAHOO SPORTS: Frederik Andersen made 27 saves while Ryan Getzlaf, David Perron and Jakub Silfverberg each collected two points to lead the Anaheim Ducks to a 5-2 win over the Nashville Predators, giving the Ducks a 3-2 series lead and a change to close out the series in Game Six on Monday in Nashville. Offensive production remained an issue for the Predators, struggling to score for the third straight game.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: That lack of offense has adversely affected the Predators in the last three games. It’s the main reason why they’ve blown a 2-0 series lead and now face elimination on home ice against the surging Ducks. If they don’t resolve this issue in Game Six tomorrow night, they’ll be cleaning out their lockers on Tuesday.
Notable NHL Headlines.
THE WASHINGTON POST/CSNPHILLY.COM: The Washington Capitals hope to generate more traffic in front of Philadelphia Flyers goalie Michal Neuvirth in Game Six this afternoon in Philadelphia. Meanwhile, the Flyers hope to use the pressure of having forced a sixth game will hamper the Capitals, who have a long history of blowing playoff series leads. Down 3-0 in this series, the Flyers rallied to win the last two games.
STARTRIBUNE.COM/THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS: The Minnesota Wild hope to use Game Six tonight against the Dallas Stars to force a seventh and deciding match back in Texas. The Stars, meanwhile, are expected to start Kari Lehtonen in goal. He replaces Antti Niemi, who received the start in the last two games..
MIAMI HERALD/NEW YORK DAILY NEWS: As the Florida Panthers try to stave off elimination in Game Six tonight against the New York Islanders at Barclays Center, the Isles hope to win their first playoff series since 1993.
TSN: NHL participation at the 2018 Winter Olympics appears to be in doubt. The International Olympic Committee has refused to cover the league’s expenses for involvement in the Games, which includes transportation, insurance and accommodation.
OTTAWA SUN: New Senators GM PIerre Dorion is working hard to find the right coach for his club. The Sens hope to have a new bench boss hired before the 2016 NHL Draft in late June. Improving their defensive game is a must. Dorion has already interviewed former Minnesota Wild coach Mike Yeo.
Lyle,
You’ve mentioned more than a couple of times you believed the Pens’ window had shut a couple of seasons ago. I’m not here to gloat but just to say as a Pens fan, I’m glad you were wrong!
Honestly though, I don’t think anyone could have expected the Pens to get the contributions they’ve received from their call-ups. Considering their prospect pool at the forward position looked so bleak, they’ve been huge.
The coaching change was obviously the main turning point, but the Baby Pens and the Scuderi-Daly trade have been arguably just as important.
I have no problem eating crow on this one. Like you said, nobody expected the kind of turnaround they had following the coaching change in mid-December, especially the strong play of their call-ups. Rutherford redeemed himself with the Scuderi for Daley and Perron for Hagelin deals. It’ll be interesting to see how well they do against a faster team in the next round.
Round 2 will be tough regardless who they face, for different reasons.
But having said that, the Pens were very successful against both WSH and Philly in the regular season. Hopefully Maatta gets back to 100%, or the blueline could end up getting exposed, especially against the Caps. Their D play well within Sullivan’s system, but I still feel like they are one top 4 defenceman away from having an elite group.
I wonder if Vigneault now becomes an interview candidate for Dorion? And please don’t counter with “Melnyk won’t fork over what’s necessary” baloney. After his tirade and the possibility he might not get the Lebreton Flats bid, he has no choice but to loosen the purse strings. A cheap, “up-and-coming” AHL/Major Junior grad just won’t cut it this time.
Tarasenko doesn’t kill penalties. He had more even strength ice time than any other StL forward last night. With the exception of game 4 where he scored 2 goals & 1 assist but played almost 5 mins less than Stastny, Steen & Backes his icetime has been on par essentially. His line just completed a shift near the end of the 2nd period when StL went on the PP. Taking a time out so as he could have deployed Tarasenko may have been a consideration.
StL roles 3 lines & 2 set PP units, with the 1st line of Steen, with Stastny & Brouwer doing the lions share of the heavy lifting playing 1.5 to 2 mins more on average per game.
It’s not Tarasenko’s ice time specifically that bothers me. It’s the fact that Hitchcock doesn’t give him nominally more shifts when StL is taking faceoffs in the offensive zone. You would think he would try to get him more shooting opportunities. Similar to what teams often do with 2 C’s. He’s out there in case the other C gets thrown out but gets off the ice as soon as possible following to get the lines back in order.
Hitchcock beats to his own drummer much to his demise. That’s 2 below average starts for Elliott after playing very well prior. If I’m StL I’m not comfortable or happy with where they find themselves. Coaching is again coming into play in the situation StL finds it’s self.
Does anyone else feel StL come out in the 2nd period playing a much more passive forchecking system trying to protect that 2 goal lead?
Sorry should have added as it’s confusing that Tarasenko should get more O zone starts to help generate a goal when the chances present themselves. Essentially double shifting him at least occasionally.
I thought Staal was the answer and the Panthers were legit contenders?