It’s Tuesday, August 4, and there is no shortage of playoff hockey to watch throughout the day. While the Dallas Stars’ loss last night to the Vegas Golden Knights may still sting, they live to face another day, another game, and another opponent. In the meantime, there are six qualification games on tap today, but first, let’s recap the bevy of goals and upsets from yesterday.
While the Stars played 40 minutes of good-looking hockey yesterday, they collapsed in the third period, which allowed the Golden Knights to record four unanswered goals. Playing a solid 40 minutes of good hockey isn’t enough to win the game, as evidenced by the final score of 5-3 in favor of Vegas’ goal outburst in the final 20 minutes. Dallas will play the Colorado Avalanche tomorrow (Wednesday, August 5) beginning at 5:30 PM CDT.
The Stars and Golden Knights weren’t the only round robin matchup of the day yesterday. The Washington Capitals battled it out with the Tampa Bay Lightning. Both teams were still tied at two goals apiece when the horn sounded at the end of regulation, and again at the end of overtime. The Lightning recorded the 3-2 shootout win thanks to skilled wrist shots by Brayden Point and Nikita Kucherov.
On the qualification side of the playoffs, there were four games with some surprising results.
The Pittsburgh Penguins rebounded from the earlier trouncing at the hands of the Montreal Canadiens to tie the series at 1-1. Sidney Crosby, Jason Zucker, and Jake Guenztel put the Penguins on the board and kept them ahead of the chasing Canadiens throughout the game. The Canadiens’ lone goal came from a wrist shot by Jesperi Kotkaniemi near the end of the third period, allowing them to save a measure of face in the 3-1 loss to the Penguins. Game 3 of this series picks up again on Wednesday.
Yesterday, the Carolina Hurricanes once again proved their ability to dazzle in the postseason. With a 1-0 lead in the series against the New York Rangers, Carolina leaned on the gas and never let up. Andrei Svechnikov stunned the Rangers with his hat trick, and Sebastian Aho added three assists for a total of six stunning points from two Hurricanes. Carolina walked away with the 4-1 win and they now lead the best-of-five series 2-0. Game 3 is today and you won’t want to miss it.
After a bruising Game 1, the Calgary Flames and Winnipeg Jets squared off in Edmonton yesterday for Game 2. The Jets flipped the script from their stunning loss on Saturday and today averaged a goal on every 8.6 shots out of their total 26 at the net. Nikolaj Ehlers kept the game from going to overtime thanks to a tip-in during the Jet’s power play midway through the third period and giving the Jets the 3-2 win over the Flames. The series is now tied at 1-1 and Game 3 will air later today beginning at 5:45 PM CDT.
The final match yesterday featured the Edmonton Oilers returning the favor against the Chicago Blackhawks, humiliating loss for humiliating loss. While the Jets stormed back in their own matchup with an impressive rate of one goal per 8.6 shots, the Oilers scored every 5.8 shots. Connor McDavid’s hat trick ensured the Oilers cruising to a necessary 6-3 win in their own stadium. The series is split down the middle, 1-1, and Game 3 will air late Wednesday night.
Today’s slate of games features six qualification games, but no matches in the round robin. Beginning at 11 AM CDT, there is enough hockey to keep you company while working until the wee hours of the night. Here’s the full list and our choice for Eastern and Western Conference Match of the Day, including the first potential series sweep:
The full schedule kicks off at 11 AM CDT:
- 11 AM CDT: Florida Panthers @ New York Islanders (NBSCN, NHL.TV, MSG+, NYI leads series 1-0)
- 1:30 PM CDT: Arizona Coyotes @ Nashville Predators (NHL Network, NHL.TV, FS-TN, ARI leads series 1-0)
- 3 PM CDT: Columbus Blue Jackets @ Toronto Maple Leafs (NBCSN, NHL.TV, CBJ leads series 1-0)
- 5:45 PM CDT: Calgary Flames @ Winnipeg Jets (NHL Network, NHL.TV, series tied 1-1)
- 7 PM CDT: Carolina Hurricanes @ New York Rangers (NBCSN, MSG, CAR leads series 2-0)
- 9:45 PM CDT: Minnesota Wild @ Vancouver Canucks (USA Network, NHL.TV, MIN leads series 1-0)/