Eastern Conference Finals
A1 Florida Panthers (52-24-6, 11-5) vs. M1 New York Rangers (55-23-4, 10-5)
HC: Paul Maurice vs. Peter Laviolette
– Physical Teams, Star Power All Over.
– This Should Be An Epic Series!
– Teams Have Not Faced Elimination.
FLA Heading In: 4-1 vs. TB; 4-2 vs. BOS. Hot: Matthew Tkachuk (4-10-14 +2); Alexsander Barkov (5-8-13 +4); Carter Verhaeghe (6-5-11 +2); Anton Lundell (2-7-9 +3); Sam Reinhart (5-4-9 +3); Brandon Montour (3-5-8 +4); Gustav Forsling (2-5-7 +8); Cold: Dmitry Kilikov 0!
NYR: 4-0 vs. WSH; 4-2 vs. CAR. Hot: Mika Zibanejad (3-11-14 +2); Vincent Trocheck (6-8-14); Artemi Panarin (4-7-11 –2); Alexis Lafreniere (4-6-10 +1); Chris Kreider (7-3-10 –2); Jack Roslovic (2-5-7); Barclay Goodrow (3-2-5 +1); Cold: Adam Fox (0-4-4 +1); Kaapo Kakko (1-1-2 –1); Of Note Filip Chytil Makes Return. Played just one game.
Sergei Bobrovsky (8-3, 2.37 GAA, .902 SV) vs. Igor Shesterkin (8-2, 2.40 GAA, .923 SV)
GF 3.55 vs. 3.50; GA: 2.45 vs. 2.60; PP: 22% vs. 31%; PK: 86% vs. 89% Hits per 60: 47 vs. 30; Blocks per 60: 14.75 vs. 20; Score first: 5-1 vs. 4-1; Trail First: 3-2 vs. 4-1; Lead After Two: 4-0 vs. 4-1; Trail After Two: 1-3 vs. 2-1
I’m predicting a great series. I love both FLA-NYR as a winner. Could go 7. But I lean with NYR because of Shesterkin in net. I want FLA because of the Stanley Cup Final redo with a healthy team!
Game 1: FLA W 3-0: A complete effort from FLA and NYR had no answer for even the basics. Sergei Bobrovsky (W, 23 Saves); Igor Shesterkin (L, 24 Saves); Tkachuk, Verhaeghe, Bennett. An own goal essentially from Laff. I’m reserving judgement, but questions from Alec, Cooper and Ian as to the length of this series already! Game 2 looms as important.
Game 2: NYR W 2-1 (OT): Teams exchange goals in the first period as Trocheck scores early and Verhaeghe scores late. It holds until Barclay Goodrow gets the game winner at just past the 14:00 minute mark. Both goaltenders excellent as Shesterkin saves 26 of 27 in the win while Brobrovsky saves 28 of 30 in the loss.
Game 3: NYR W 5-4 (OT) Teams are tied at the end of the first period 2-2. Reinhart nets a pair on the powerplay. Lafreniere and Goodrow for NYR. Rangers take a 4-2 lead at the end of two. Lafreniere and Goodrow both get their second of the game and Goodrow scores an unbelievable SHG tally. Florida storms back to score a couple in the third period to even the game at 4-4. It’s Barkov and Forsling just over a minute apart from each other. (5:04 and 6:58). But NYR wins again in OT as Wennberg gets his first of the playoffs. Bobrovsky struggles as he stops just 18 of 23. Shesterkin takes the win as he saves 33 of 37.
Game 4: FLA W 3-2 (OT) Trocheck scores the opener for his eighth of the playoffs on the powerplay. It’s 1-0 Blueshirts after one. Bennett and Verhaeghe (PPG) make it 2-1 FLA after two. Lafreniere gets the only goal of the third and we go to overtime for the third straight game in this series! It’s a 2-2 tie. Reinhart gets an early PPG as Wheeler hooks Barkov and even though FLA ties the series at 2-2 with a 3-2 win in OT, so much controversy between missed calls occurs. Bobrovsky stops 21 of 23 in the victory. Shesterkin takes the loss and once again during this series is peppered but plays well. He saves 37 of 40 in the loss.
Game 5: FLA W 3-2 After a ridiculous opening of the first period that featured no goals… it was Kreider (SHG) and Forsling with back-to-back goals. FLA owns the third period though. Lundell off the rush and Bennett with the GWG on the empty-net with a nasty move. Lafreniere gets one with the extra attacker. Shetserkin insane once again in the loss as he stops 34 of 36. Bobrovsky 25 of 27 in the win.
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