What’s Going On In The Playoffs: Edmonton blew a 4-1 lead, the Boston/Florida is must watch TV, and more!
2 months ago
The second round of the 2024 post-season is upon us.
One Canadian team blew a lead to the other Canadian team, while there is just one undefeated team remaining in the playoffs.
Let’s dig into the latest What’s Going On In The Playoffs
Edmonton blew a 4-1 lead, lost Game 1 to the Canucks
The Edmonton Oilers defeated the Los Angeles Kings the same day the last What’s Going On In The Playoffs (WGOITP) was released, winning the series 4-1. Vancouver won their series on Friday, defeating the Nashville Predators 1-0 with a late third period goal to win the series 4-2.
Game 1 of the semifinal series was played on Wednesday, with the Oilers going up 4-1 in the game with just under seven minutes left in the second period. However, Vancouver would get one back before the second intermission, before three straight goals in the final 11 minutes of the third period gave them a 1-0 series lead.
The big question is, what matters more? Vancouver traded their first round pick to the Calgary Flames in exchange for Elias Lindholm (who scored his third goal of the playoffs), meaning that the sooner that the Canucks are out, the higher the pick will be. Is that more important than seeing their division rival fall in the second round again?
Game 2 is set for Friday at 8:00 PM MT.
Dallas also blew a three-goal lead, losing game one in overtime
Since the last WGOITP, the Dallas Stars won Game 5, the Vegas Golden Knights won game 6, but the series was ultimately won in Game 7, with the Stars defeating the Golden Knights 2-1 to take the series in seven.
Like the Oilers, the Stars had a 3-0 lead over the Colorado Avalanche, scoring three unanswered in the first period thanks to several power plays. However, the man advantage evened out in the second period, with the Avalanche scoring both of their goals on the power play in the second period. Early in the third, Nathan MacKinnon tied the game, before Miles Wood iced the game in overtime.
Similar to the other series in the west, this match-up has ramifications for the Calgary Flames as well. In exchange for Chris Tanev, the Flames received a conditional third round pick in 2026, with the condition being the Stars have to make it to the Stanley Cup Final for it to be the Flames’ pick. Had the Golden Knights won the first series, the 2024 third round pick would have turned into a 2025 second round pick.
Game 2 is set for Thursday at 7:30 PM MT.
Boston and Florida is a must watch series
Up 3-1 in the series, the Boston Bruins nearly blew another lead to the Toronto Maple Leafs, but managed to tie the game in the deciding Game 7, before scoring in overtime to send them to the second round. The Florida Panthers already defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning in the last WGOITP.
The first game was a decisive Bruins win, as the Panthers jumped out to a 1-0 lead, before the Bruins scored five unanswered. It was a complete turnaround in Game 2 though, as the Panthers won 6-1 with the Bruins scoring for, before six unanswered.
Tempers boiled over in the third period, as the two teams combined 148 penalty minutes, including a fight between former Flame Matthew Tkachuk and David Pastrňák, the latter’s first career National Hockey League fight.
Game 3 is set for Friday, taking place at 5:00 PM MT.
New York is now 6-0 in the playoffs
After sweeping the Washington Capitals, the New York Rangers are in good position to do the same to the Carolina Hurricanes.
However, the games have been a lot closer than the prior series for the Rangers. Game 1 saw them jump out to a 3-1 lead in the first period, but were outscored 2-1 in the third period, barely holding on for the 4-3 win. The second game was even closer, same score, but this one went to double overtime as Vincent Trocheck scored a power play goal to end the game, sending the series to Carolina with the Rangers being undefeated.
Funnily enough, of the six games the Rangers have played this postseason, they’ve failed to score exactly four goals just once, as they defeated the Capitals 3-1 in Game 3 of the first round. With that being said, it’s hard to count out a team until they lose a game at home.
Game 3 is set for Thursday at 5:00 PM MT in Carolina.
Thanks for reading! You can follow me on Twitter @Ryley_L_D.
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