Can’t get enough playoff action? Well you’re in luck as the NHL has served up two mouth-watering postseason games that will definitely whet your hockey appetite tonight. Kicking things off this afternoon is the pivotal Game 2 clash between the New York Rangers and Ottawa Senators.
Following shortly thereafter is the Eastern Conference showdown between the defending champion Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitals. Which teams will grab the crucial victories tonight? Read on below for a quick breakdown of these two important games and while you’re at it, you can check out our preview of Cubs vs. Red Sox.
The Ottawa Senators drew first blood in their much-anticipated best-of-seven series with the New York Rangers, posting a thrilling 2-1 victory in Game 1 Thursday night. Robert Karlsson was the man of the match for Ottawa, scoring the game-winner from an impossible angle with 4:11 left in the third period. It was the 26-year-old defenseman’s first goal and seventh point of the playoffs.
All is not lost, though, for the Rangers who showed they can go toe-to-toe with the higher-ranked Senators. Much of the credit should be given to Henrik Lundqvist who was tremendous again between the pipes for New York in Game 1. He made 43 saves against Ottawa in the series opener. The 35-year-old had a 1.70 goals-against average and a .947 save percentage in the first round against the Montreal Canadiens.
If Game 1 was any indication of what this series would be like, then we’re in for one epic showdown. The Pittsburgh Penguins eked past the Washington Capitals in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference Second Round clash with a heart-stopping 3-2 win on Thursday night. Nick Bonino scored the game-winner in the third period for the Penguins who improved to 5-1 this postseason.
It was the duel of hockey stars Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin, however, which set the pulses racing in the series opener. Crosby scored two quick goals at the start of the second period before Ovechkin pulled one back with a scorching 35-foot shot. Expect more fireworks to come from these two stars in Game 2. Ovechkin now has 22 points (11 goals, 11 assists) in his career in the postseason while Crosby has 17 (10 goals, seven assists).
Writer’s Prediction
Washington (-145) evens the series at one game apiece.
