National Hockey League Playoff Game Capsules
Philadelphia, PA (SportsNetwork.com) – Steve Mason waited five years and two days to make his next postseason start, and didn’t waste the opportunity, stopping 37 shots to lead the Philadelphia Flyers to a 2-1 decision over the New York Rangers to even this Eastern Conference quarterfinal series at two games apiece. In his first start since exiting an April 12 game at Pittsburgh with an upper-body injury, Mason allowed a first-period strike from Dominic Moore and then stayed perfect for the rest of the contest to record his initial playoff victory. Mason last saw significant postseason action during his rookie season, in the 2009 Western quarters against the Detroit Red Wings, losing all four games for the Columbus Blue Jackets and giving up 17 goals — six in his last appearance as a starter on April 23, 2009. Matt Read and Jakub Voracek supplied the offense for the Flyers, who recovered from a 4-1 defeat in Tuesday’s Game 3. Henrik Lundqvist came up with 23 stops for the Rangers, who can steal back momentum on home ice for Game 5 on Sunday afternoon.
Final Score: Chicago 3, St. Louis 2 (OT)
St. Louis, MO (SportsNetwork.com) – For the fourth time in five games, the Chicago Blackhawks and St. Louis Blues went to overtime. And for the first time in their opening-round series, the road team won a game. Jonathan Toews scored on a breakaway at 7:36 of the extra session, and the Blackhawks beat the Blues 3-2 on Friday night at Scottrade Center to take a 3-2 lead in this best-of-seven set. The Blackhawks captain skated down the middle alone in on St. Louis goaltender Ryan Miller, pulled the puck to the backhand and slipped it inside the right post and past Miller’s left pad, giving the defending Stanley Cup champions their third straight win. Corey Crawford made 27 saves for Chicago, which will look to close out the series Sunday at home. Miller also stopped 27 shots for a St. Louis that welcomed back its captain to the lineup. David Backes returned after missing the previous two games with an upper-body injury. The forward was injured late in Game 2 after absorbing a vicious check from Brent Seabrook, a hit that earned the Chicago defenseman a three-game suspension he finished serving Friday night.
Final Score: Anaheim 6, Dallas 2
Anaheim, CA (SportsNetwork.com) – Ryan Getzlaf registered a goal and two assists in his return to the lineup, helping the Anaheim Ducks beat the Dallas Stars, 6-2, at Honda Center. Friday’s Game 5 triumph gave Anaheim a 3-2 lead in this Western Conference opening-round playoff series. The Ducks can eliminate the Stars on Sunday, but in order to do so, they will have to become the first road team to win a game. The Stars outscored Anaheim 7-2 in winning Games 3 and 4 at home after suffering a pair of one-goal losses in California. Pulled from Wednesday’s 4-2 setback, Frederik Andersen, like the rest of his Anaheim teammates, bounced back with a 34-save performance. The Ducks, who set a club playoff record with four power-play goals, scored three times in a 5:42 span early in the third period to turn a close contest in a rout. Dallas goalie Kari Lehtonen was given the hook in the third after allowing five goals on 21 shots.
Categorized in: NHL