Colorado couldn’t have started better. On the night of Tuesday to Wednesday, as part of the NHL play-offs, the Avalanche perfectly started their first round series in the Western Conference with a big victory against the Nashville Predators (7-2). From the first period, the locals had largely made the difference, with the first five goals scored by MacKinnon, Toews, Cogliano, Makar and Lehkonen, before Landeskog and then again MacKinnon made it worse, with a goal in each of the final two periods. Two last periods during which, opposite, Duchene scored twice, but the gap between the two franchises was far too big.
Florida still led 2-1
In the Eastern Conference, the star franchise has not had the same success. The Florida Panthers were surprised by the Washington Capitals (2-4) at home. However, the locals still led 2-1 at the very start of the second period, thanks to Bennett and Giroux. The Capitals, after opening the scoring thanks to Wilson, have therefore reversed the trend, with three final goals scored in the final period by Kuznetsov, Oshie and Eller. Good introduction also for the Calgary franchise, in the Western Conference. The Flames disposed of the Dallas Stars, on the smallest of marks (1-0). A single goal scored at the start of the first period, through Lindholm.
Pittsburgh made the fun last
Finally, in the Eastern Conference, in their den of Madison Square Garden, the New York Rangers were surprised by the Pittsburgh Penguins, who won after three overtimes (3-4). A particularly tight game that saw New York lead 2-0, thanks to Fox, in the first period, and Copp, at the start of the second period, before regaining the advantage, still in this same period, through Kreider, while Guentzel, thanks to a double, had allowed his side to equalize. Just before the end of this same second period, the visitors equalized again, thanks to Rust. And if the third period did not allow the two franchises to decide, it was Malkin who ended up doing it, during his team’s 83rd shot on goal, almost six minutes from the end of the third overtime.
ICE HOCKEY – NHL / PLAY-OFFS 2022
Premier tour
Eastern Conference
FLORIDA PANTHERS (1) – WASHINGTON CAPITALS (8) : 0-1
Match 1 – Florida Panthers – Washington Capitals : 2-4
Match 2 on Thursday, May 5 at Sunrise
Game 3 on Saturday May 7 in Washington
Game 4 on Monday, May 9 in Washington
Game 5 (if needed) Wednesday, May 11 at Sunrise
Game 6 (if necessary) Friday, May 13 in Washington
Game 7 (if needed) on Sunday May 15 at Sunrise
NEW YORK RANGERS (4) – PITTSBURGH PENGUINS (7) : 0-1
Match 1 – New York Rangers – Pittsburgh Penguins : 3-4 ap
Match 2 on Thursday, May 5 in New York
Game 3 on Saturday, May 7 in Pittsburgh
Game 4 on Monday, May 9 in Pittsburgh
Game 5 (if necessary) on Wednesday May 11 in New York
Game 6 (if needed) Friday, May 13 at Pittsburgh
Game 7 (if necessary) on Sunday, May 15 in New York
Western Conference
COLORADO AVALANCHE (1) – NASHVILLE PREDATORS (8) : 1-0
Match 1 – Colorado Avalanche – Nashville Predators : 7-2
Game 2 on Thursday, May 5 in Denver
Game 3 on Saturday, May 7 in Nashville
Game 4 on Monday, May 9 in Nashville
Game 5 (if necessary) Wednesday, May 11 in Denver
Game 6 (if needed) Friday, May 13 in Nashville
Game 7 (if needed) on Sunday, May 15 in Denver
CALGARY FLAMES (3) – DALLAS STARS (7) : 1-0
Match 1 – Calgary Flames – Dallas Stars : 1-0
Game 2 Thursday, May 5 in Calgary
Game 3 on Saturday May 7 in Dallas
Game 4 on Monday, May 9 in Dallas
Game 5 (if necessary) on Wednesday May 11 in Calgary
Game 6 (if needed) Friday, May 13 at Dallas
Game 7 (if necessary) on Sunday May 15 in Calgary