Stanley Cup Playoffs Review – August, 18, 2020
AVALANCHE SCORE SEVEN GOALS TO GO UP 3-1 ON COYOTES
Colorado scored seven goals in a postseason contest for the first time since Game 2 of the 2002 Conference Semifinals (8-2 W vs. SJS) to go up 3-1 in its First Round series with Arizona. The Avalanche hold a 3-1 lead in a best-of-seven Stanley Cup Playoffs series for the 13th time in franchise history – they went 10-2 in the 12 previous series, including seven instances where the clinching win was earned in Game 5.
* Nazem Kadri (2-1—3), who scored two power-play goals in the final four minutes of the first period, leads Colorado with four goals this postseason (4-5—9 in 7 GP). He had three career playoff goals entering the 2020 postseason (3-7—10 in 19 GP).
* Cale Makar (1-1—2) scored a highlight reel goal 19 seconds into the third period, his second tally of the 2020 postseason (2-4—6 in 7 GP). He is the fourth Avalanche/Nordiques rookie defenseman with multiple goals in a single playoff year, joining Bruce Bell in 1985 (2-2—4 in 16 GP), Jeff Brown in 1987 (3-3—6 in 13 GP) and Jon Klemm in 1996 (2-1—3 in 15 GP).
* Through seven games this postseason, Makar has matched the point total from his breakthrough run in the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs (1-5—6 in 10 GP).
* Nathan MacKinnon (0-2—2) has found the score sheet in each game contested by Colorado this postseason (2-7—9 in 7 GP). He became the fifth different Avalanche/Nordiques player with a point streak of seven-plus games from the start of a postseason and first since Peter Forsberg in 2004 (4-6—10 in 7 GP).
BRUINS STUN HURRICANES WITH MULTI-GOAL COMEBACK WIN IN THIRD PERIOD
Trailing by two goals in the third period, the Bruins scored four times in a span of 6:51, including a pair from Jake DeBrusk (2-0—2), to erase the deficit and hold on for a Game 4 win and a 3-1 series lead.
* It marked the 11th time in franchise history that the Bruins have rallied from multi-goal deficit in the third period to win a playoff game and the fifth time completing such a comeback in regulation. Prior to Game 4, the previous time the Bruins rallied from a multi-goal deficit in the third period to win a postseason game in regulation was Game 2 of the 2014 Second Round (5-3 W vs. MTL).
* The Bruins have posted a multi-goal, third period comeback win in the postseason against the Hurricanes/Whalers franchise twice before – they also did so in Game 4 of the 1990 Division Semifinals against Hartford (6-5 W) and Game 5 of the 1999 Conference Quarterfinals against Carolina (4-3 W in 2OT).
* Boston’s four goals in a span of 6:51 was the sixth fastest four goals in a playoff game in franchise history. The fastest four goals in a postseason game in Bruins history was four goals in 4:14 during Game 6 of the 2011 Stanley Cup Final. Brad Marchand, who scored Boston’s third goal in Game 4, had the first of those four in 2011.
* DeBrusk has scored 13 playoff goals since making his postseason debut in 2018 – only Patrice Bergeron (16), David Pastrnak (16) and Marchand (16) have more playoff goals for Boston over that span.
BLUES EVEN SERIES WITH SECOND WIN IN AS MANY DAYS
One day after earning their first win of the 2020 postseason in overtime of Game 3 on Sunday, the Blues posted another victory in Game 4 on Monday led by a pair of goals from Ryan O’Reilly (2-1—3) to even their series with the Canucks at two games apiece. It marked the first time the Blues had won postseason games in consecutive days since Games 2 and 3 of the 2002 Conference Quarterfinals against Chicago – a series they won in five games.
* O’Reilly recorded multiple points in both wins (also 0-2—2 in Game 3) to become the first Blues player to record multiple points in consecutive days during the playoffs since Al MacInnis in Games 2 and 3 of the 1999 Conference Quarterfinals vs. PHX (April 24-25, 1999).
* O’Reilly recorded a combined 2-3—5 in Games 3 and 4 on Sunday and Monday. Only three players in Blues history have recorded more combined points across consecutive days in the playoffs – with all three doing so in Games 3 and 4 of the 1982 Division Semifinals against Winnipeg: Joe Mullen (3-5—8 in 2 GP), Bernie Federko (1-6—7 in 2 GP) and Brian Sutter (4-2—6 in 2 GP).
* Alex Pietrangelo (1-1—2) also posted multiple points to increase his career postseason totals to 8-42—50 in 90 GP. Only two other defensemen in Blues history have recorded 50 playoff points with the franchise: MacInnis (14-44—58 in 82 GP) and Chris Pronger (10-41—51 in 85 GP).
GOODROW, GOURDE HELP LIGHTNING TAKE 3-1 LEAD IN FIRST ROUND SERIES
Barclay Goodrow and Yanni Gourde each had 1-1—2 to help Tampa Bay take a 3-1 lead in its First Round series. The Lightning hold a 3-1 lead in a best-of-seven Stanley Cup Playoffs series for the seventh time in franchise history – they went 6-0 in the six previous series, including five instances where the clinching win was earned in Game 5.
* Tampa Bay held a 2-0 lead in Game 4 for just 99 seconds before Columbus cut the deficit to 2-1. Overall, the First Round series between the Lightning and Blue Jackets has been tied or within one goal for 317:31 of 330:27 total game time (96.1%).
PREVIEW OF TODAY’S ACTION
Tuesday’s four-game slate features the Islanders and Golden Knights looking to become the first teams to advance to the Second Round of the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Flyers aiming to go up 3-1 on the Canadiens as well as the Stars and Flames squaring off with a 3-2 lead in their First Round series on the line.
* Teams that hold a 3-0 lead in a best-of-seven series own an all-time series record of 190-4 (.979).
* Teams that hold a 3-1 lead in a best-of-seven series own an all-time series record of 278-29 (.906).
* When a best-of-seven series is tied 2-2, the winner of Game 5 owns an all-time series record of 211-58 (.784).