Stanley Cup Playoffs April 30 2018 Review
Point’s impressive performance lifts Lightning in Game 2; Karlsson nets OT winner as Golden Knights take Game 3
MONDAY’S RESULTS
The Lightning held off the Bruins in Game 2 en route to victory, while the Golden Knights earned their second overtime win of the postseason to regain a series lead vs. the Sharks.
POINT’S IMPRESSIVE PERFORMANCE POWERS LIGHTNING IN GAME 2
Brayden Point (1-3—4) collected his first career four-point game in the playoffs as the Lightning edged out the Bruins in Game 2 to pull even in their Second Round series.
Point (22 years, 48 days), who established a career high with 32-34—66 in 82 GP this season, is just the third player – and the youngest in Lightning franchise history – to collect at least four points in a playoff game, joining Tyler Johnson (2-2—4 in Game 2 of the 2016 FR vs. DET) and Vincent Lecavalier (1-3—4 in Game 2 of the 2011 CF at BOS).
Through 52 games in the 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs, there have been 11 instances of a player recording at least four points in a game. This marks just the second time in the last 20 years and the first time since 2006 that 11 such performances have occurred through the first 52 games of the postseason.
With Tampa Bay and Boston’s series tied at one game apiece, all four Second Round matchups featured a 1-1 series score after two games. It is just the fourth postseason that this has occcured since 1975, when the playoffs first saw four second-round matchups contested. The others: 1991 (PIT-WSH, MTL-BOS, STL-MNS and EDM-LAK), 1986 (MTL-HFD, TOR-STL, WSH-NYR and EDM-CGY) and 1984 (NYI-WSH, MTL-QUE, STL-MNS and CGY-EDM).
KARLSSON SEALS GOLDEN KNIGHTS VICTORY WITH OT GOAL
Despite surrendering the game-tying goal with 1:57 remaining in regulation, William Karlsson (1-1—2) scored 8:17 into overtime to lift the Golden Knights to victory and a 2-1 lead in their best-of-seven series vs. the Sharks.
Vegas is the second team in as many days to surrender a game-tying goal in the final two minutes of regulation and win, following Nashville’s effort in Game 2 of their series vs. Winnipeg on Sunday evening.
Reilly Smith (1-1—2) and Karlsson combined for a highlight-reel play on the Golden Knights’ third goal in a 4:46 span of the second period to extend their point streaks to six (1-8—9) and five (4-5—9) games, respectively. Smith and Karlsson are just the second set of teammates in NHL history to each post a point streak of at least five games in their team’s first Stanley Cup Playoffs appearance. Dave Lowry (5-5—10 in 7 GP) and Jason Woolley (2-5—7 in 5 GP) also did so for the Panthers during their run to the Stanley Cup Final in 1996.
Smith matched Pittsburgh’s Jake Guentzel (6-7—13 in 6 GP) – whose active streak dates to April 15 – for the longest point streak of the playoffs. In 2017, former Windsor Spitfire and current Predator Ryan Ellis (4-5—9) and Filip Forsberg (5-3—8) paced the postseason with respective seven-game stretches.
SNEAK PEEK AT TUESDAY’S ACTION
Two series shift cities for Game 3 on Tuesday deadlocked at one game apiece. Washington heads to Pittsburgh after earning a home split following a series-opening loss. Nashville, who similarly earned a Game 2 victory after dropping their series-opener on home ice, heads north to Winnipeg to continue its Second Round series with the Jets.
Stanley Cup Playoffs Schedule for Tuesday, May 1
|
Matchup |
Time |
|---|---|
| 7:30 PM ET | |
| 8:00 PM ET |
HABS SR. VP RICK DUDLEY LEAVES MONTREAL FOR CAROLINA
Montreal Canadiens general manager, Marc Bergevin, issued the following statement today following the appointment of Rick Dudley as senior vice president, hockey operations for the Carolina Hurricanes.
“I would like to thank Rick Dudley for his contributions to the Canadiens organization over the last six years. His vast hockey knowledge and extensive experience have been key assets to our team,” said Marc Bergevin. “On a more personal level, since I became an amateur scout in 2005, Rick has not only been a valuable advisor and confidant, but also a great friend I could always count on. On behalf of myself and the Montreal Canadiens, I wish Rick all the success in his new role with the Carolina Hurricanes.”
Rick Dudley joined the Montreal Canadiens organization as assistant general manager on May 9, 2012. He was promoted to senior vice president, hockey operations in the summer of 2014.
Marc Bergevin confirmed that the position of senior vice president, hockey operations will not be replaced within the hockey management group.