NHL playoffs: 4 stories from Saturday night
Calgary advances over Vancouver, Chicago eliminates Nashville
The kids were all right in Calgary as the Flames eliminated Vancouver, and the Blackhawks capped off a wild series against Nashville. The Islanders lived to play another day, while Detroit took a 3-2 series lead over Tampa Bay.
Here are four stories from Saturday night:
Flames put away Canucks
The Calgary Flames stormed back to clinch a 4-2 series victory over the Vancouver Canucks. Down by three goals in the first 10 minutes of the game, Calgary rallied to claim an unlikely 7-4 triumph.
The Flames' first line stepped up huge in the comeback win.
Jiri Hudler, Sean Monahan and Johnny "Hockey" Gaudreau combined for 10 points. They had seven total heading into Game 6, so with the monkey off their backs, they were free to have a little fun on an empty-net goal.
Matt Stajan was responsible for the tie-breaker with 4:27 remaining to force Vancouver to opt for the extra man.
Calgary will be happy to have their top line performing accordingly as they face the Western Conference regular-season champion Anaheim Ducks in the second round.
No better story in the NHL this year than Calgary. Analytics are important. No one should ignore that data. But the will of an athlete...
—@Real_ESPNLeBrunBlackhawks eliminate Predators
The Chicago Blackhawks ended their first-round series against the Nashville Predators with a wild 4-3 victory.
Each team came out fighting, exchanging three goals apiece in the opening frame. The game remained deadlocked 3-3 until Duncan Keith scored with 3:48 remaining in the third.
Chicago managed to rally after going down 3-1 halfway through the first. The turnaround began when Blackhawks goalie Scott Darling was pulled after facing 12 shots.
Corey Crawford was perfect in his place. It was nearly an exact role reversal from Game 1, where Crawford got the boot for allowing three goals on 12 shots. A goalie controversy could be brewing as Chicago heads to the second round.
Corey Crawford on if <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Blackhawks?src=hash">#Blackhawks</a>' goaltending situation is back to normal: "What's normal?"
—@ChrisKucIslanders set up Game 7
The New York Islanders managed to stave off elimination with a 3-1 victory over the visiting Washington Capitals.
Islanders forward Nikolay Kulemin forced Game 7 with his go-ahead goal at the midway mark of the third period.
Pending the result of Monday's game in Washington, Saturday night's game may have been last time the Islanders play at Nassau Coliseum.
Fortunately for the hometown fans, their team closed out the game in memorable fashion. As the horn sounded to close out the match, Capitals defenceman John Carlson took one last shot on Jaroslav Halak.
Needless to say, the Islanders were not impressed.
Mrazek gets 2nd playoff shutout
The regular season's highest scoring team was shutout by Detroit Red Wings goalie Petr Mrazek for the second time in the series.
As such, the Tampa Bay Lightning are now on the brink of elimination after a 4-0 Game 5 defeat.
Steven Stamkos led his team in scoring with 43 goals and 72 points in the regular season, but hasn't recorded a single goal in the post-season and has only chipped in with two assists.
The loss highlighted Tampa Bay's recent lack of firepower.
The Lightning have just 10 shots on goal half way through this game. Steven Stamkos has been held to one.
—@ODonnellFox13The fans at Amalie Arena weren't very impressed with their team's performance.
GIF: This woman's reaction = bruuuuuuuuuuh <a href="http://t.co/MWb6LGtVgI">pic.twitter.com/MWb6LGtVgI</a>
—@cjzero