The first round is nearing its climax, and then we will have to worry about teams we hate advancing.
Tuesday was another lovely night in the first round of the NHL playoffs, with two overtimes, one series elimination, and two teams left feeling a self-choke is very much within reach.
The Leafs, who took a 3-0 series lead thanks to two overtime victories, failed to close out the series at home and now face a Game 6 in Ottawa. The Devils, after blitzing to a 3-0 lead, went into a shell that lasted all the way through the first OT (miraculously without giving up the winner) before the Canes knocked them out on a power play in the second OT. (Jacob Markstrom made the save of the first round late in regulation, but it will be forgotten.)
Out west, the Kings had another bizarre goalie interference challenge and lost their third in a row, giving the Oilers a chance to deposit them again at home. And the Wild took Vegas to overtime but conceded quickly to fall behind in that series, 3-2.
Islanders News
- Gary Bettman admits there will not be an All-Star Game but rather an Olympic “kickoff” at UBS Arena and environs.
- On the latest Islanders Anxiety, Dan and Mike react to the media scramble for GM candidates, the dismissal of the radio team and Mike Sullivan’s firing in Pittsburgh. [LHH]
- The draft lottery will be Monday, May 5. The Islanders have a 3.5% chance. [NHL]
- Clean out day revisited: Max Tsyplakov on his first season in North America. [Isles]
- Prospect Report: Some guys did some things in their postseasons. [Isles]
Elsewhere
- Some justice: Brandon Hagel is out for Game 5, so his concusser Aaron Ekblad gets suspended for two games. [NHL]
- Rick Tocchet sounds like he wants to be closer to family, declines to return as Canucks coach. [NHL]
- Tocchet’s departure — apparently turning down a five-year deal — stings for the Canucks, who already have enough drama. [Sportsnet]
- Facing elimination, the Avalanche give Mackenzie Blackwood the ol’ goalie vote of confidence. {John Candy face: “Sure…sure.”} [NHL]
- A theory: Kyle Dubas, hired to be GM in Pittsburgh, was too passive and acted like his predecessor Ron Hextall in making ill-advised “we’re still in it” signings, but NOW he’s ready to tell Fenway Sports Group their Bahstuhn coach is out and to tell Sidney Crosby he doesn’t have his favorite coach anymore. [Athletic]
- Hughes, Makar and Werenski are the Norris finalists. [NHL]
- There are a lot of coach openings around the league, but some of them are terrible. [TSN]