Stanley Cup Playoffs April 28 2019 Recap
HURRICANES STORM BACK TO CLAIM 2-0 SERIES LEAD ON THE ROAD
With their fans surging outside in Raleigh, Warren Foegele and Nino Niederreiter each scored in the opening 1:05 of the final frame to help the Hurricanes rally and take a 2-0 lead in their series with the Islanders. They have won four straight games dating to Game 6 of the First Round, marking the second-longest playoff win streak (tied) in Hurricanes/Whalers history, trailing only a seven-game run in 2006 en route to the franchise’s first Stanley Cup.
* This marks the first time in franchise history that the Hurricanes/Whalers hold a 2-0 lead in a best-of-seven series after claiming each victory on the road. Overall, this marks the fifth time in franchise history that they have won the first two games in a best-of-seven series. The others: 1987 Division Semifinals (4-2 L vs. QUE), 2002 Conference Quarterfinals (4-2 W vs. NJD), 2006 Conference Semifinals (4-1 W vs. NJD) and 2006 Stanley Cup Final (4-3 W vs. EDM).
* Carolina’s quick strikes to open the third period established a franchise mark for fastest two goals to begin a playoff period, surpassing the previous record set by Ray Whitney and current head coach Rod Brind’Amour in the final frame of Game 2 in the 2006 Conference Quarterfinals (1:15) against Montreal.
* Carolina sits two wins shy of the reaching the Eastern Conference Final despite finishing the game without the services of six regulars – including starting goaltender Petr Mrazek, one of three players who left Game 2 with injury.
* Mrazek stopped nine of 10 shots he faced – extending his shutout streak to 135:04 – before Curtis McElhinney entered in relief of Mrazek and stopped all 17 shots directed toward him (with help from the posts and captain Justin Williams). McElhinney, making his first appearance since April 6, became the third-oldest goaltender in NHL history to earn his first postseason victory.
* Did You Know? Rangers head coach Lester Patrick took the crease at age 44 in Game 2 of the 1928 Stanley Cup Final, winning the game 2-1 in overtime and the best-of-five series 3-2.
* Niederreiter scored his fourth career playoff game-winning goal. Niederreiter (5th overall in 2010) is one of two players on the Carolina roster that was a first-round pick of the Islanders (also defenseman Calvin de Haan: 12th overall in 2009).
* Foegele sparked the Hurricanes rally with a goal 17 seconds into the third period. A third-round pick (67th overall) in the 2014 NHL Draft, Foegele boosted his postseason totals to 5-2—7 and trails only Erik Cole (6-3—9 in 2002) for the most goals and points by a Hurricanes/Whalers rookie in a single playoff year.
BARRIE’S THREE-POINT OUTING HELPS AVALANCHE EVEN SERIES WITH SHARKS
Tyson Barrie (1-2—3) notched his second career three-point playoff outing, while Nathan MacKinnon (1-1—2) and Mikko Rantanen (0-1—1) each extended their point streaks to help the Avalanche even their Second Round series with the Sharks at one game apiece.
* Colorado won at SAP Center for just the third time in the last 10 years (COL: 3-16-5 including regular season and playoffs). Prior to Sunday, their last victory in San Jose came on Dec. 28, 2015; their other win in that span was Game 1 of 2010 Conference Quarterfinals.
* Barrie, who established franchise records for career goals, assists and points by a defenseman this season, became just the fourth Avalanche/Nordiques blueliner to register multiple three-point outings in the playoffs (also 0-3—3 in Game 5 of 2019 R1).
* Rantanen (5-6—11) and MacKinnon (4-7—11) have combined for 22 points while finding the score sheet in each of Colorado’s past six contests. They are the first Avalanche players with a playoff point streak of at least six contests since Peter Forsberg (4-6—10 in 7 GP) and Joe Sakic (4-4—8 in 6 GP) each did so during the 2004 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
The Second Round series between the Blues and Stars shifts to Dallas after the latter skated to a victory in Game 2 at Enterprise Center.
* Dallas forward Roope Hintz (4-3—7 in 8 GP) sits tied with Carolina’s Warren Foegle (5-2—7 in 9 GP) for the most points among rookies in the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Hintz’s four goals equal the highest single-postseason total by a Stars rookie since the club began play in Dallas.
* No stranger to long playoff runs, Hintz helped HIFK reach the championship series in the Finnish Elite League in 2015-16. In the 2017 playoffs, Hintz propelled his club to the Semifinal after leading the postseason in assists (11) and points (14), including a five-point outing (1-4—5) in a 6-5 overtime defeat in the bronze medal game. He then led all rookies in assists during the 2018 Calder Cup Playoffs to help the AHL’s Texas Stars reach the Final, tallying 4-8—12 in 22 playoff games.
* Blues rookie Jordan Binnington has recorded 29 wins in 38 starts since making his first career NHL start on Jan. 7 (regular season and playoffs combined). He can match the League record for fewest starts to record his 30th career NHL win (39 GS), a mark set by Frederik Andersen on Oct. 31, 2014 (w/ ANA).
GAME 3 WINNER AFTER A TWO-GAME SPLIT: DID YOU KNOW?
When a best-of-seven series is tied 1-1, the winner of Game 3 owns an all-time series record of 213-103 (67.4%) – including a 1-3 mark in the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
* The Stars franchise is 14-5 all-time when holding a 2-1 series lead in a best-of-seven (.736), including a 5-4 mark when those series began on the road (.556). When they win Game 3 after splitting the first two games in a best-of-seven, the Stars/North Stars own an all-time series record of 7-3.
* The Blues are 10-9 all-time when holding a 2-1 series lead in a best-of-seven (.526), including a 7-4 mark when those series began at home (.636). When they win Game 3 after splitting the first two games in a best-of-seven, St. Louis owns an all-time series record of 7-7.
* This marks the sixth time that the franchises have split the first two games in a best-of-seven series. The winner of Game 3 has claimed the series in two of the previous five instances (STL in 2016 R2 and MNS in 1991 DF); the Blues rallied to win the 1968 Semifinals, while the North Stars did the same in the 1971 Quarterfinals and 1984 Division Finals.
Crosby, Kucherov and McDavid Voted Hart Trophy Finalists
Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby, Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Nikita Kucherov and Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid are the three finalists for the 2018-19 Hart Memorial Trophy, awarded “to the player adjudged to be the most valuable to his team,” the National Hockey League announced today.
Members of the Professional Hockey Writers Association submitted ballots for the Hart Trophy at the conclusion of the regular season, with the top three vote-getters designated as finalists. The winner will be revealed Wednesday, June 19, during the 2019 NHL Awards™ presented by Bridgestone at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas.
Following are the finalists for the Hart Trophy, in alphabetical order:
Sidney Crosby, C, Pittsburgh Penguins
Crosby (35-65—100 in 79 GP) reached the 100-point milestone for the sixth time in his 14 NHL seasons to propel the Penguins to their 13th consecutive playoff berth, the longest active streak in the League. Only five players in NHL history have recorded more 100-point campaigns: Wayne Gretzky (15), Mario Lemieux (10), Marcel Dionne (8), Mike Bossy (7) and Peter Stastny (7). Crosby, who ranked sixth in overall scoring, also reached the 30-goal milestone for the ninth time and 60-assist plateau for the sixth time. He picked up his 1,200th career point March 5 vs. FLA, requiring the 11th-fewest games in NHL history to achieve the feat (927 GP). A two-time Hart Trophy winner (2006-07 and 2013-14), Crosby also topped Pittsburgh forwards in both time on ice (1,658:21) and plus/minus (+18). The 31-year-old Cole Harbour, N.S., native – who is a Hart Trophy finalist for the seventh time – is vying to become the ninth player to win the award at least three times.
Nikita Kucherov, RW, Tampa Bay Lightning
Kucherov (41-87—128 in 82 GP) led the NHL with 128 points – the most by any player since 1995-96 – and 87 assists – the most by any player since 2006-07 – to capture his first career Art Ross Trophy and help the Lightning tie a League record for wins in one season (62). Kucherov, who also topped the NHL in power-play scoring (15-33—48), collected at least one point in 62 of 82 appearances (75.6%). That included a League-best 38 multi-point games, highlighted by a pair of five-point performances: Dec. 22 at EDM (1-4—5) and Feb. 18 at CBJ (2-3—5). The 25-year-old Maykop native, who set franchise records for assists and points in one campaign, also broke Alexander Mogilny’s single-season NHL record for points by a Russian-born player (76-51—127 in 1992-93 w/ BUF). Kucherov is seeking to become the second player in Tampa Bay history to take home the Hart Trophy, following Martin St. Louis’ win in 2003-04.
Connor McDavid, C, Edmonton Oilers
McDavid (41-75—116 in 78 GP) factored on 50.7 percent of Edmonton’s 229 goals, the highest figure of any player in the League, as he raised his point total for the fourth time in as many NHL seasons. McDavid – who ranked second in overall scoring – never went consecutive games without a point, becoming the eighth player in League history to achieve the feat within a single campaign (minimum: 50 GP). The others: Gretzky (7x); Lemieux (3x); and Paul Kariya, Jari Kurri, Elmer Lach, Darry Sittler and Steve Yzerman (1x). McDavid did so while topping NHL forwards in average time on ice (22:50) and sharing second place among all skaters with a career-best nine game-winning goals (including three in overtime). The 22-year-old Richmond Hill, Ont., native – who won the Hart Trophy in 2016-17 – is attempting to join Gretzky (4x) as the second player in League history to capture the award multiple times prior to his 23rd birthday.
History
The Hart Memorial Trophy was presented by the NHL in 1960 after the original Hart Trophy was retired to the Hockey Hall of Fame. The original Hart Trophy was donated to the NHL in 1924 by Dr. David A. Hart, father of Cecil Hart, former manager-coach of the Montreal Canadiens.