The NHL playoffs continued on Thursday with a slate of interesting games as the Washington Capitals continued their last season run against the New York Rangers with a win in Game 1 to take an early 1-0 series lead as the Stanley Cup is now 15 wins away.
The teams are playing for the third time in a row in the playoffs and the fourth time in five seasons and with a goal from Alex Ovechkin the team has all the momentum it needed to take Game 1. The Rangers slumped for the start of the season but came on towards the end and was able to secure the sixth seed after finishing with nine wins over the final stretch of games and avoided a matchup with the Penguins. The Caps are deadly after playing so well over the second half and the series could be another repeat of last season when they went seven games as the one and eight seeds.
Henrik Lundqvist had 27 saves and Washington was able to capitalize on its chances before the Rangers were despite the team taking a 1-0 lead early in the game. The team was without Marc Staal and Ryane Clowe for the game and now have to come back from an early 1-0 hole. The Ottawa Senators took an early lead in their all-Canada series and Craig Anderson made an astonishing 48 saves in the game for the team to take a 1-0 lead and the advantage as the road team.
The St. Louis Blues appear to be in control of their series against the Stanley Cup champion LA Kings, as the team is now up 2-0 after a 2-1 victory in Game 2 at home as the series now shifts towards the Califnria Coast. The team made a comeback after being held scoreless for most of the game and ended up netting two goals in the third period to get the win.
The Ducks and Red Wings may have played the most entertaining game of the night, as Detroit took Game 2 in overtime after blowing the lead late in the game and allowing three goals by the Ducks in the final period. The series is now tied 1-1 as it shifts back to Detroit. On Friday night the Wild and Blackhawks go in Game 2, as do the Sharks and Canucks, while the Islanders and Penguins will pick up after the 5-0 drubbing by the Penguins minus Sidney Crosby.
