Stanley Cup Playoffs April 27 2019 Recap
DUCHENE SCORES 2OT WINNER AS BLUE JACKETS RALLY TO EVEN SERIES
Matt Duchene scored a power-play goal at 3:42 of the second overtime as the Blue Jackets overcame deficits of 1-0 and 2-1 to pull even in their Second Round series. Columbus overcame multiple deficits to win a postseason game for the second time in franchise history (also Game 1 of 2018 R1: 4-3 OT W at WSH).
* Duchene, who was acquired by the Blue Jackets leading up to the 2019 NHL Trade Deadline, scored his first career overtime goal in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. He became the second player in franchise history to score the winner in a contest that required multiple overtimes, joining Matt Calvert in Game 2 of the 2014 First Round (4-3 2OT W at PIT).
* Columbus has converted on seven of its 18 power-play opportunities in the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs (38.9%), including going two-for-four in Game 2. Their power-play percentage is the highest among all teams in the 2019 postseason.
* Artemi Panarin (2-1—3) extended his point streak to six games (4-5—9) to establish a franchise record for the longest in a postseason, eclipsing the previous mark set by Boone Jenner in 2014 (3-2—5 in 5 GP). His point streak is the longest among all players in the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
* Seth Jones (0-2—2), who logged a game-high 38:01 time on ice, has recorded multiple points in each of the Blue Jackets’ last three games (1-5—6). He became the first defenseman to record multiple points in three consecutive playoff games since San Jose’s Brent Burns had an equal streak in 2016 (1-6—7 in 3 GP); the longest such run by a blueliner in NHL history is five games, a mark set by Montreal’s Larry Robinson in 1978 (1-9—10).
* Sergei Bobrovsky made 10 of his 29 saves in overtime, including several highlight-reel stops past regulation, to improve to 5-1 in the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs (2.01 GAA, .930 SV%).
INSIDE THE NUMBERS: OVERTIME GAMES, ONE-GOAL MARGINS APLENTY
* Saturday marked the seventh consecutive day to feature a game that required overtime, tied for the second-longest such stretch in a postseason in NHL history behind only a run of nine straight days from April 19-27, 2011.
* Thirteen of 52 games have required overtime in the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs (25%), including three which have eclipsed 80 minutes of total playing time. Road teams improved to 3-0 in games that have required multiple overtimes in the 2019 postseason.
* Saturday was also the 13th consecutive day to feature at least one game decided by a one-goal margin, the longest such streak in a postseason since an equal stretch from April 16-28, 2014.
ROOKIES HINTZ, HEISKANEN HELP STARS PULL EVEN
Rookies Roope Hintz (2-1—3) and Miro Heiskanen (1-0—1) combined for three of Dallas’ four goals as the Stars won Game 2 to even their Second Round series at 1-1. Dallas rookies have combined for six goals in the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs (6 of 24; 25%), its highest such total in a postseason in 36 years.
* Hintz, who also collected a highlight-reel assist on Heiskanen’s strike, leads all rookies with seven points in the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs (4-3—7 in 8 GP). His four goals are tied for the most in a postseason by a Stars rookie since the franchise began play in Dallas (w/ Niko Kapanen in 2003).
* Hintz became the second Stars/North Stars rookie in the last 37 years to record three points in a postseason game, joining Don Barber in Game 4 of the 1990 Division Semifinals (2-1—3 vs. CHI). He recorded his second multi-goal game of the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs (also Game 4 of R1: 2-0—2 vs. NSH) to become the third rookie in franchise history to record two multi-goal games in a postseason, joining Steve Christoff in 1980 and Dino Ciccarelli in 1981.
* Heiskanen, meanwhile, scored his second goal of the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs (2-1—3 in 8 GP) to join Curt Giles (2-4—6 in 1980) as the second Stars/North Stars rookie defenseman to score multiple goals in a postseason.
* The 19-year-old native of Espoo, Finland, has scored 14 goals in 2018-19 (regular season and playoffs combined), the second-highest such total in a season by a Stars/North Stars rookie defenseman behind only Brad Maxwell in 1977-78 (18 G). Only two defensemen in NHL history have scored more than 14 combined goals in a season before celebrating their 20th birthday: Phil Housley (19 years, 46 days) in 1982-83 (22 G w/ BUF) and Ray Bourque (19 years, 116 days) in 1979-80 (19 G w/ BOS).
^Ages based on final playoff game of respective season
* Ben Bishop (32 saves), who suffered a 3-2 loss in Game 1, improved to 11-3 (one no decision) following a loss within a postseason. A third-round pick by the Blues in the 2005 NHL Draft (85th overall), Bishop also improved to 10-2 in 12 career playoff appearances after allowing three or more goals.
The Second Round of the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs continues on Sunday with a pair of teams, the Hurricanes and Sharks, looking to take a 2-0 lead in their respective series with the Islanders and Avalanche.
* Carolina, coming off back-to-back overtime wins as visitors in Game 7 of the First Round (4-3 2OT at WSH) and Game 1 of the Second Round (1-0 OT W at NYI), aims to take a 2-0 lead on the road in a Stanley Cup Playoffs series for the second time in Hurricanes/Whalers franchise history. Hartford accomplished the feat in the best-of-five 1986 Division Semifinals – an eventual three-game sweep over the Quebec Nordiques.
* The Hurricanes can become the ninth team in NHL history to win three consecutive games in overtime in a postseason and second to accomplish the feat with each game taking place on the road; they would join the Kings, who did so in 2012 en route to capturing the franchise’s first Stanley Cup.
* San Jose, meanwhile, can extend its win streak to five contests with a victory in Game 2. The Sharks have earned five or more consecutive wins within a postseason on three occasions, doing so in 2004 (5-0), 2006 (6-0) and 2010 (6-0).
* San Jose has scored five goals in three of its last four contests, including in each of their last two (Game 7 of R1: 5-4 OT W vs. VGK and Game 1 of R2: 5-2 W vs. COL). The Sharks have never scored five or more goals in three consecutive postseason games.
Binnington, Dahlin and Pettersson Voted Calder Trophy Finalists
Goaltender Jordan Binnington of the St. Louis Blues, defenseman Rasmus Dahlin of the Buffalo Sabres and center Elias Pettersson of the Vancouver Canucks are the three finalists for the 2018-19 Calder Memorial Trophy, awarded “to the player selected as the most proficient in his first year of competition.”
Members of the Professional Hockey Writers Association submitted ballots for the Calder Trophy at the conclusion of the regular season, with the top three vote-getters designated as finalists. The winner will be announced 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 Calder Trophy, in alphabetical order:
Jordan Binnington, St. Louis Blues
The Blues’ rise to playoff contention aligned with the first NHL start for Binnington, who burst onto the scene Jan. 7 with St. Louis sitting last in the Western Conference, nine points out of a postseason berth. Binnington posted a shutout in his first start and went on to set a franchise record for shutouts by a rookie (five). The 25-year-old Richmond Hill, Ont., native finished the regular season with a 24-5-1 record, led the NHL in goal-against average (1.89) and ranked fourth in save percentage (.927). His nine-game winning streak from Jan. 23 – Feb. 19 stands as the third-longest in franchise history. Binnington is the first Blues player voted a Calder finalist since defenseman Barret Jackman became the franchise’s first-ever winner of the award in 2002-03. The last goaltender to capture Calder honors was Columbus’ Steve Mason in 2008-09.
Rasmus Dahlin, Buffalo Sabres
Dahlin, the first overall selection in the 2018 NHL Draft, led all rookie defensemen and ranked third among all rookies in points (9-35–44 in 82 GP). His 35 assists ranked second among all rookies, as did his average ice time per game (21:09). With his assist on March 20 vs. Toronto, Dahlin passed Bobby Orr (38 points in 1966-67) for the second-most points by an NHL defenseman before his 19th birthday. The Lidkoping, Sweden, native notched eight multi-point games this season, tied for the second-most by an 18-year-old defenseman in League history (Phil Housley: 13, Orr: 8). Dahlin is the first Sabres player voted a Calder finalist since Tyler Myers captured the award in 2009-10 and looks to join Myers, Tom Barrasso (1983-84) and Gilbert Perreault (1970-71) as the fourth rookie of the year winner in franchise history.
Elias Pettersson, Vancouver Canucks
Pettersson began his NHL career with a five-game point streak (5-3–8) and went on to lead all NHL rookies, and the Canucks team, in goals (28), assists (38) and points (66). He also doubled up as the NHL rookie and Vancouver leader in power-play goals (10) and game-winning goals (seven). Pettersson’s 66 points set a Canucks rookie record, besting the previous mark set by Pavel Bure (34-26—60 in 1991-92). He tallied multiple five-point games (2-3–5 vs. COL on Nov. 2 and 1-4–5 at STL on Dec. 9), becoming just the sixth rookie of the expansion era to accomplish the feat. Pettersson is the second Canucks player in as many seasons to be voted a Calder finalist, following the second-place finish by forward Brock Boeser in 2017-18, and is vying to become the first Vancouver winner of the Calder Trophy since Bure (1991-92).
History
From 1936-37 until his death in 1943, NHL President Frank Calder purchased a trophy each year to be given permanently to the League’s outstanding rookie. After Calder’s death, the NHL presented the Calder Trophy in his memory.