Monday night was the kind of first-round playoff night that makes April in the NHL a glorious thing.
In the early games, the Jets and Blues tried to bludgeon each other through the glass — while somehow executing fine, pinpoint passing plays under the constant threat of getting trucked — as Winnipeg took a controlling 2-0 series lead. Meanwhile the Canadiens came back to force overtime, only to lose in D.C. to some guy who’s scored a record-breaking number of regular season goals but never in playoff overtime.
Meanwhile in the late games, the Stars and Avalanche went toe to toe with Dallas tying the series with an unlikely overtime hero, while the Kings made a statement early in their Game 1…only to allow the Oilers to erase a 4-0 deficit. L.A. avoided disaster with a winning goal in the final minute of regulation.
Gabriel Landeskog took warmups but did not play for the Avs, who continue to unsettle me by sporting blue numbers with red letters but whatever. Everyone has their fisherman era.
NHL News
- Speaking of forgettable eras, the Seattle Kraken have fired another coach, getting rid of Dan Bylsma after just one season. (Not saying I thought he was the answer, but if you did, why cut the cord so soon?) [NHL | Sportsnet]
- And the Canucks have not triggered their team option on
future Flyerscoach Rich Tocchet, instead offering him a new deal while understanding that either he wants to be there or he doesn’t. [Sportsnet | TSN] - Quinn Hughes can be a UFA in a couple years, and the Canucks know he might want to play with his brothers. Awkward. [NHL]
- Three stats that help illustrate how delightfully miserable the Rangers season was. [Post]
- So yeah, as miserable as the Islanders’ season was — boy, was it ever! — it’s nice to know the Rangers’ disappointment was arguably even worse, since they had actual expectations. [ESPN]
- The Senators know they need to be more disciplined for Game 2. [NHL]
- Matvei Michkov met with the media and discussed his first NHL season, John Tortorella and more. [Broad Street Hockey]
- An argument that Anaheim, where no one wants to work under Pat Verbeek and his henchmen, is nonetheless more desirable than MSG. [Sportsnet]
- For Canadiens fans, this is an exciting time. [Sportsnet]
- The Old Guy Without A Cup rankings, prominently featuring Brock Nelson and some guy who was allowed to wear #91 for a bit. [Athletic]
- Profiling Eric Tulsky, the Ivy League scientist (and poster here and at Broad Street Hockey!) who became an NHL GM. [Athletic]
- I love when NHLPA agents are like “they need to market the league and players more” and then you see something like this. [NHL]
- Florida and Tampa finally kick off their series tonight. Matthew Tkachuk, who hasn’t played since the 4 Nations, is a “game-day decision.” [NHL]
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