Quest for the Stanley Cup begins today as the First Round gets underway.
LIGHTNING, RED WINGS AGAIN FACE OFF IN OPENING ROUND
The defending Eastern Conference champion Lightning face the Red Wings in the First Round of the postseason for the second straight year when the teams begin their series at Amalie Arena. In 2015 – their lone other playoff meeting – Tampa Bay won a seven-game series, powered by a 31-save shutout from Ben Bishop in a 2-0 Game 7 victory. Bishop, who led the NHL with a 2.06 goals-against average and ranked second with a .926 save percentage this season, stopped 153 of the 166 shots he faced in last year’s series vs. DET (1.87 GAA, .922 SV%, 1 SO). The Lightning and Red Wings split their four-game series in 2015-16, with each club winning both of its contests on home ice.
DEFENDING CHAMPION BLACKHAWKS VISIT BLUES IN GAME 1
The defending champion Blackhawks, who are looking to become the first repeat Stanley Cup winners since the 1997-98 Red Wings, visit the rival Blues at Scottrade Center in Game 1 of their First Round series. This marks the 12th all-time playoff meeting between these teams and second in the last three seasons. In 2014, Chicago overcame a 2-0 series deficit – led by three game-winning goals from captain Jonathan Toews (including the GWG in OT of Game 5 at STL) – to eliminate St. Louis in six contests in the opening round. The Blues won three of the five matchups between these clubs this season, with all three of their victories coming after regulation (STL: 3-2-0, CHI: 2-0-3).
PENGUINS, RANGERS MEET IN THIRD STRAIGHT POSTSEASON
The red-hot Penguins, who won 14 of their final 16 games of the season, play host to the Rangers at CONSOL Energy Center in Game 1 of their opening round series. These teams are meeting in the playoffs for the seventh time overall and third consecutive season. Pittsburgh won the first four series between these clubs, but New York has claimed each of the past two – that includes a seven-game victory in the 2014 Second Round in which it overcame a 3-1 series deficit for the first time in franchise history (a feat duplicated in the 2015 SR vs. WSH). The Penguins posted a 3-1-0 record against the Rangers in 2015-16 (NYR: 1-2-1), with all three victories coming during their final 20 games of the season.
IN NON-PLAYOFF NEWS
The Toronto Maple Leafs announced Wednesday that the team has signed defenceman Morgan Rielly and forward Nazem Kadri to new six-year contracts.
Rielly, 22, led all Maple Leafs defencemen with a career-high 36 points (nine goals, 27 assists) while skating in all 82 games this year. The native of Vancouver, British Columbia also led the team with 23:13 of average ice time per game. Since entering the league in 2013-14, the fifth overall selection in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft has collected 92 points (19 goals, 73 assists) in 236 regular season games. Rielly was named to Team Canada’s roster for the 2016 IIHF World Championship earlier this week.
Kadri, 25, led the Maple Leafs with 45 points (17 goals, 28 assists) in 76 games this season. In parts of seven NHL seasons, the London, Ontario native has registered 197 points (81 goals, 116 assists) and 207 penalty minutes in 326 regular season games. Kadri was originally selected by the Maple Leafs with the seventh overall pick in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.
SNEAK PEEK AT WEDNESDAY’S ACTION
All Times Eastern
Detroit Red Wings @ Tampa Bay, Game 1, 7:00 p.m.
NY Rangers @ Pittsburgh, Game 1, 8:00 p.m.
Chicago @ St. Louis, Game 1, 9:30 p.m.
Facebook Comments