The NHL playoffs could have some very interesting games on Friday night as a number of teams are in position to advance to the second round, including the defending champion Los Angeles Kings, the Anaheim Ducks and the Boston Bruins.
The New York Rangers kept themselves out of that position with a win on Wednesday night, as they had the chance to fall 3-1 behind the Capitals after losing the first two games on the road. The Rangers came back alive in the next game after being shutout in Game 2, winning 4-3 before getting a victory with the same score in Game 4, both times coming at Madison Square Garden.
The Rangers had issues scoring in the early part of the series, but since being shutout in Game 2, the team has outscored the Caps eight to six. The team had the first goal of the series with an early score from Carl Hagelin in Game 1, but after allowing three straight goals the team lost the first game 3-1 and then was shutout by goalie Braden Holtby in Game 2 in overtime, with Mike Green scoring the game winner against Henrik Lundqvist.
Lundqvist has been excellent since then despite allowing six goals in two games, as he has been great at the end of both games to stop Washington rallies, including when the team had a six on four advantage at the end of Game 3. Lundqvist won the Vezina Trophy last season as the best goaltender in the NHL and he is a finalist again. The Capitals did a good job of coming back to tie the score in both Games 3 and 4, but the Rangers were able to hold tight to keep the leads in each game. Derek Stepan has found his scoring touch and the team appears to be clicking at the right time.
Hagelin scored his second goal of the series in Game 4 and added two assists, while Derek Brassard was excellent in Game 3 with the same line as well as a clutch power play goal. Brassard is leading the team in points and assists in the series, while Mike Green is tops in goals for the Capitals. The Rangers would love to take a road win and a 3-2 advantage in the series and they will need Lundqvist to be on top of his game again to do so.
The Maple Leafs and Bruins has been a hard fought series, but Toronto was unable to pull through for its first home playoff win in over a decade and now the team has the chance to head home in Game 5 with the Bruins up 3-1 in the series. The Bruins have been able to answer at every turn and the play of David Krejci has been clutch, including his overtime winner to clinch a hat trick in Game 4.
The Blues are the higher seed than the Kings, but last year's Stanley Cup champions know what it's like to play on the road and they now have a 3-2 advantage heading into Game 6 at home. Jonathan Quick has been stellar for the Kings in net after taking MVP in the finals last year and Mike Richards and Jeff Carter have come through for the team on offense. The Ducks and Red Wings series may end as well, as Anaheim is up 3-2 in Game 6, which will be in Detroit in hockey town.
