Vegas Golden Knights (1) vs. Chicago Blackhawks (5)
The three-year old Vegas Golden Knights franchise dispatched the Chicago Blackhawks in five games, taking down the former central division powerhouse 4-3 in game five.
Chicago’s captain center Jonathan Towes took the lead for the Blackhawks in their last stand, giving the team a 1-0 lead early in the game. Winger Alex DeBrincat followed suit and lifted Chicago to a 2-0 lead.
However, the momentum of the game began to shift back to Vegas when winger Max Pacioretty scored a goal in the final minute of the first to make the score 2-1.
The Golden Knights came out swinging to start the second when winger Mark Stone shot a one-timer past Chicago’s goalie Corey Crawford. Despite winger Patrick Kane giving the Blackhawks the lead again later on, Chicago ultimately fell flat and blew their lead a second time to fall out of the playoffs.
Tampa Bay Lightning (2) vs. Columbus Blue Jackets (4)
The Tampa Bay Lightning exacted revenge on the Columbus Blue Jackets, taking down Columbus five games. Last year, the Lightning, who won the President’s Trophy, were swept in the opening round of the playoffs by the Blue Jackets, who won their first playoff series that same year.
Tampa Bay center Brayden Point’s fifth goal of the series included a series-winning overtime goal in game five to elevate the Lightning to the second round.
The final game came down to the wire, featuring four lead changes and going to overtime, where the Lightning came out victorious by a 5-4 margin. This was the second overtime game of the series, with the first being a five-overtime thriller in game one.
Boston Bruins (4) vs. Carolina Hurricanes (5)
The defending Eastern Conference champion Boston Bruins took down the Carolina Hurricanes in five games, with the Bruins taking the series with a 2-1 win in game five.
In game five, Carolina defenseman Haydn Fleury gave the team a 1-0 lead midway through the first. This lead would hold into the second, with Krejci notching a power-play goal at 15:20.
Boston capitalized on another man advantage after center Patrice Bergeron followed up on Krejci’s shot that went behind the net to put the Bruins up 2-1 going into the third.
The Bruins held the Hurricanes to a mere six shots in the third period to close out the series.
Colorado Avalanche (2) vs. Arizona Coyotes (7)
The Colorado Avalanche absolutely dominated their series against the Arizona Coyotes, capitalized by back-to-back 7-1 blowouts in both games four and five.
Colorado wasted no time in running the score up in game five, as the Avalanche led by a staggering 6-0 by the end of the second. Arizona goalie Darcy Kuemper, who played brilliantly in the series prior, couldn’t reproduce that same effort against the young guns of Colorado, ultimately getting pulled in the third.
New York Islanders (6) vs. Washington Capitals (3)
The New York Islanders were at a disadvantage going into game five against the Washington Capitals, who are two years removed from a Stanley Cup victory.
For game five, the Isles inserted wingers Ross Johnston and Michael Dal Colle over center Derick Brassard and injured winger Cal Clutterbuck. However, the Capitals, with star center Nicklas Backstrom playing on the third line, had a difficult time producing goals.
Johnston and Dal Colle played a simple but effective game while forward Anthony Beauvillier scored twice. Fellow winger Josh Bailey potted a goal and recorded two assists. Goalie Semyon Varlamov 21 saves to close out the series.
Dallas Stars (3) vs. Calgary Flames (6)
The Dallas Stars snuffed out the Calgary Flames in six games with a comeback 7-3 win in game six.
Stars’ winger Denis Gurianov scored out of seven of Dallas’ goals, with three coming in the second. Dallas dug themselves out of a three-goal deficit the Flames put them in, but the Stars opened the floodgates to unleash seven unanswered goals.
Stars’ defensemen Miro Heiskanen had a goal and three assists on the night, while former San Jose Sharks’ captain and current Stars’ forward Joe Pavelski had one goal and two assists.
Dallas goalie Anton Khudobin made 38 saves to close out the series and propel the Stars forward.
Philadelphia Flyers (1) vs. Montreal Canadiens (8)
After the Montreal Canadiens ground out a tough game five win against the top-seeded Philadelphia Flyers, the Habs needed another bold effort to remain in the series. However, Montreal didn’t have it in them as Philadelphia took the series with a 3-2 win in game six.
Without winger Brendan Gallagher, the Habs were without an important locker room presence. The Flyers got on the board early, as a shot deflected off Montreal defenseman Shea Weber and past goalie Carey Price only twenty-eight seconds into the game.
Philadelphia scored quickly after that and went up 2-0 off a power play. Habs’ center Nick Suzuki cut the Montreal’s deficit down to 2-1, but the two goal lead the Flyers earned was too much for Habs to come back from, falling short of game seven by a goal.
Vancouver Canucks (5) vs. St. Louis Blues (4)
Arguably the biggest upset of the postseason so far, the young, hungry Vancouver Canucks took down the defending Stanley Cup champion St. Louis Blues in six games, taking game six in a decisive 6-2 win.
The Canucks sent the Blues’ heroic goaltender from last year Jordan Binnington to the bench in the second period with three goals in a 6:03 span. Binnington’s performance in the bubble was dreadful, as he finished 0-5 across the round-robin series and the first round.
Canucks’ center Brandon Sutter had three assists while fellow center Elias Petterson added two assists. Vancouver goalie Jacob Markstrom made 34 saves to close out the series, putting an end to St. Louis’ miserable 2-6-1 postseason run.
