There is a long way to go in the first round of the NHL playoffs, but as the Western Conference picture currently stands, we are imagining the conference semifinals with the Stars, Blues, Predators and Sharks. The times they may be a-changin’.
Here are Sunday’s bests and worsts.
Three stars:
1. Brian Elliott, G, St. Louis: Stopped 44 of 46 shots in win over Chicago.
2. Reilly Smith, F, Florida: Had a goal and two assists and tops the NHL in playoff points with eight.
3. Thomas Hickey, D, New York Islanders: Game-winning OT goal.
Best game — New York Islanders 4, Florida Panthers 3 (OT)
Reilly Smith was rolling again and the Florida Panthers already had a two-goal lead when defenseman Aaron Ekblad burst into the offensive zone and buried a chance to make it 3-0. Isles video coach Matt Bertani had other ideas so coach Jack Capuano challenged the call for offside and the goal was overturned.
Isles use coach's challenge, under review for offside pic.twitter.com/EeigxkyrAi
— Stephanie (@myregularface) April 18, 2016
Moments later, the Islanders’ Ryan Pulock scored to cut the lead to 2-1 and New York outscored Florida 3-1 in the second period to send the first NHL playoff game at Barclays Center to overtime. Thomas Hickey completed the rally when he slipped the check of Jaromir Jagr, took a feed from Brock Nelson in the slot and ripped a shot past Roberto Luongo to give the Isles a 4-3 win and a 2-1 series advantage.
“It was a fun one, especially at home. The crowd was going crazy,” goaltender Thomas Greiss told reporters after stopping 36 of 39 shots. “Battling back like that and then winning it in overtime was a great job.”
Best individual performance — Brian Elliott, G, St. Louis
Elliott became the first St. Louis goalie to make 44-plus saves in a playoff game since Curtis Joseph did it on April 20, 1994 (47 saves). In 42 regular-season games this year, Elliott led the NHL with a .930 save percentage. In three playoff games, he has stopped 105 of 109 Chicago shots for a .963 save percentage to outduel the Blackhawks’ Corey Crawford (.930).
Best visual — Brian Boyle taunts Justin Abdelkader
Game 2 of the Detroit-Tampa Bay series ended with Abdelkader pounding the Bolts’ Mike Blunden while Blunden was on the ground, leaving Blunden bloodied and apparently in need of nine stitches. When Game 3 ended, a line brawl nearly erupted at the final horn. Boyle tried to goad Abdelkader into a fight but Abdelkader declined, showing the referee his taped hand, which would have earned him a match penalty had he chosen to fight. Regardless of circumstance, his refusal to engage earned this memorable taunt from Boyle.
— Stephanie (@myregularface) April 18, 2016
Best team stat — Nashville Predators
With a 3-2 win in Anaheim on Sunday, the Preds took a 2-0 series lead in the playoffs for the first time in their 17-season history.
Best individual stat — Brent Seabrook, Chicago Blackhawks
Brent Seabrook doesn’t get as much attention as Duncan Keith on the Chicago blue line but he has scored some huge goals for the Hawks over the years. His first-period goal was the 20th goal of his playoff career, pushing him past Doug Wilson and Bob Murray for the franchise record by a defenseman.
Worst sportsmanship or best gamesmanship — James Neal, Nashville Predators
A GIF is worth a thousand words, as Ducks goalie John Gibson covers up a rebound with Neal doing a drive-by.
James Neal doing James Neal things pic.twitter.com/5ylRpMEG3I
— Pete Blackburn (@PeteBlackburn) April 18, 2016
Best sequence of saves — Corey Crawford, Chicago Blackhawks
Crawford is being overshadowed in this series by Blues goalie Brian Elliott, but he had a brilliant sequence in the second period. First, he robbed Jori Lehtera by doing the splits and making a post-to-post glove save. He didn’t stop there. He stopped Lehtera again during a goalmouth scramble, and then he made three consecutive stops on Vladimir Tarasenko to maintain Chicago’s 2-1 lead.
Worst use of momentum — Anaheim Ducks
From Jan. 20 until the end of the regular season, the Ducks went 27-7-3 to rise from a non-playoff position to first place in the Pacific Division. That gave rise to the belief that Anaheim could finally get over the hump and win the Cup that narrowly eluded it last season.
Instead, Nashville has a 2-0 series after two wins in Anaheim and the Ducks are in danger of a first-round exit that could cost coach Bruce Boudreau his job.
Best non-scoring move — Artemi Panarin, Chicago Blackhawks
Watch the guy who should win the Calder Trophy absolutely undress St. Louis defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk on this scoring chance.
Panarin scoring chance pic.twitter.com/aQpKL8Zqcw
— Stephanie (@myregularface) April 17, 2016
Best non-scoring move, Part II — Andreas Athanasiou, Detroit Red Wings
Panarin still gets the nod because Athanasiou missed the net, but this double spin-o-rama would make Denis Savard proud and Athanasiou did score later in the game.
Absolutely sick moves from Athanasiou pic.twitter.com/wCUNpvRdUB
— Pete Blackburn (@PeteBlackburn) April 17, 2016
Best blue line performance — Nashville Predators
The Preds would get a lot of votes in a poll that asked which team’s blue line is the best in the NHL. On Sunday, they got goals from Shea Weber, Mattias Ekholm and two assists from Roman Josi to beat the Ducks.
Best quote — Detroit coach Jeff Blashill on Andreas Athanasiou
“When he wants to own the moment, he’s great.”
Best thing to look forward to Monday — Los Angeles-San Jose, Game 3
The Sharks have been down this road before. Even if they win this game, they’re going to be reminded that they have been down this road before. The only way San Jose can erase memories of that blown 3-0 series lead two years ago against the Kings will be to close the deal this time around. Of course, they’ll also have to overcome the fact they were 18-20-3 at home this season; the worst home record of any playoff team.
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