[Sport] NHL Playoffs 2013 - Round 1

[I'm trying out something new for my NHL playoffs series this year. Since there are so many games, I'm going to watch the highlights each day and jot down some thoughts on each one. I'll add a summary of each series once it's decided, and put up the post when the round is complete.]

Round 1 of the 2013 Stanley Cup playoffs has finally been completed. There's been some great ice hockey being played, so how did the series go for the teams that participated? My apologies in advance - Blogger ate some of the game summaries, so there are a few missing.

East Conference

Islanders vs Penguins

Game 1 - Penguins look scary. 2m55 of highlights, almost all of it Penguins goals, or saves from the Islanders goaltenders. The New York team barely got a look in; incredibly one-sided from what I could see. Fleury much better than last year's quarter-finals, actually making some saves. Lets see if he keeps it up.

Game 2 - Much closer. Fleury back to his usual self, although Nabakov wasn't exactly stellar either. Good to see Crosby back on the ice and making a contribution. Islanders showed real resolve to stick with it and win out in the end.

Game 3 - Crosby continues to work as a great set-up man for the rest of the team. But the Penguins nearly threw this one away. The Islanders started strongly, and the Penguins seemed asleep then a 5-on-3 led to 2 goals in rapid succession for the Penguins. That seemed to wake them up, and they were strong in the 2nd period. But the Islanders didn't give up, and put on a show in the 3rd to tie the game. Another penalty though in overtime and the Penguins won. The powerplay unit for the Penguins is very strong indeed, but Fleury seems to have the same problem as Luongo - he loses something in the playoffs.

Game 4 - This really was reminiscent of the Penguins-Flyers series last year. The Penguins were powerful enough to score easily on offense, and Fleury's reprising his sieve act. Plus the Islanders attacking force is none to shabby.

Game 5 - (Lost by Blogger)

Game 6 - (Lost by Blogger)

Final score: 2-4 - The Islanders put on a good show, but ultimate couldn't stop the offensive juggernaut that is the Penguins team. That being said, the Penguins looked shaky on defence after a strong start to the series. I think swapping in Vokhoun for Fleury was a good call, as it settled them down; I wouldn't be surprised to see him at least start the second round.

(Source: sbnation.com)

Senators vs Canadiens

Game 1 - Not much to comment on. Seemed scrappy from the highlights, at both ends of the ice for both teams. Some suspect defending from both teams, and poor shooting. Hopefully the quality of play will improve.

Game 2 - Well the Canadiens improved. A lot. Highlights suggest they were completely dominant, although a powerplay late in the 2nd half for the Senators could have turned the momentum were it not for heroics from Price in goal. Apart from that, the Senators didn't get much of a look in, and gave away a silly goal as well. Not a good game for them.

Game 3 - This one was looking fairly close until the 3rd period. Then the Senators went nuts, and the Canadiens apparently stopped trying. A blow-out, even by ice hockey standards, but completely in the opposite direction to the previous game. This one's going to swing back and forth.

Game 4 - This was an interesting one. The Canadiens looked like they were going to run away with it to start with, as they were breaking through on quick counter-attacks, whilst the Senators didn't seem to be able to even get shots on target. But they persevered, and managed to tie the game in the dying seconds. Then in overtime they pulled out a great passing play to knock it in. Scrappy from the Senators, but they're on top.

Game 5 - It seemed like the Canadiens gave up on this one, and it was a rout.

Final Score: 4-1 - I want to say this was an exciting series, but it really wasn't; there were two big margin wins by the Senators. It seemed that whenever the Canadiens went behind, their heads dropped and they stopped caring.

(Source: blogs.thescore.com)

Rangers vs Capitals

Rematch from last year - interesting to see how the games compare.

Game 1 - Holtby a hero for Capitals, but Lundquist also made some excellent stops. Momentum swings back and forth, and seemed close. Should be a good series.

Game 2 - Very close game. No goals until the winner in overtime, and not many opportunities for either team from what I could see. I'd give the edge to the Capitals, so the score was probably fair.

Game 3 - Another incredibly close game. This series is turning out to be a real thriller.

Game 4 - Holtby again pulling off some great saves, but he also made a monumental screw-up to give away a silly goal to start the game. The Capitals offense wasn't giving him much help either; most of the game seemed to be the Rangers camped out in the Capitals' end of the rink.

Game 5 - (lost by Blogger)

Game 6 - (lost by Blogger)

Game 7 - This was the most lopsided game of the entire series. The Rangers were on top from the start, and the Capitals never looked like they were going to do anything. Lundquist was great, and posted a second consecutive shutout. A bit of a letdown in terms of a finish.

Final score: 4-3 - A very close, very entertaining series (much like last year's meeting in round 2) that ended rather anticlimactically. Until the last game the standard was incredibly high, particularly from the goaltenders, and there were some nail biting games. No triple overtime this year, but the Rangers knock out the Capitals for a second time in a row.

(Source: sbnation.com)

Maple Leafs vs Bruins

Seems weird watching the Bruins without Tim Thomas.

Game 1 - Glaringly obvious which team was previous Stanley Cup Champions, and which team making playoffs for first time. Maple Leafs need to step up game if going to make it close. Bruins dominated, scoring from all over the place.

Game 2 - Much better performance from the Maple Leafs, and a deserved win. They played some great hockey, but the Bruins seemed subdued compared to their normal, physical selves.

Game 3 - Bruins on top again, and in a big way. The Maple Leafs seemed intent on giving away the puck in disadvantageous positions, and the Bruins made them pay.

Game 4 - Missed game

Game 5 - (lost by Blogger)

Game 6 - (lost by Blogger)

Game 7 - What. A. Game! The Maple Leafs looked like they had it sewn up, but the Bruins put on an amazing comeback to score three goals in the last 12 minutes! Then they scored in overtime to win the game and series! 

Final score: 3-4 - This was an interesting series. The Maple Leafs put on a great show, and were certainly no pushovers for the 2011 champions. They blew a bit hot and cold, but so did the Bruins to be honest.

(Source: usatoday.com)

West Conference

Wild vs Blackhawks

Game 1 - Closer than I expected going into the game. Crawford letting in some soft goals, but also with some brilliant saves. Great OT goal to win the game. Wild looking like they'll make a series of it.

Game 2 - Crawford brilliant again, with some great goalmouth stands. This was more like the Chicago team we're used to seeing: dominating, and opportunistic.

Game 3 - Home-rink advantage tells for the Wild. More of the same from Game 1, with a close encounter that swung back and forth. Not much to comment on really.

Game 4 - Blackhawks back on top. Loss of Harding hurt the Wild as it took the replacement a while to settle, but he did well. The speed of the Blackhawks though, combined with their battling for the puck, seemed to be too much.

Game 5 - Again, the Blackhawks were too much for the Wild, and Crawford was outstanding in goal.

Final score: 1-4 - This series started off looking like it would be close, but it seemed as though the Blackhawks stepped up their intensity for the last couple of games and really got on top, overpowering the Wild.

(Source: sbnation.com)

Red Wings vs Ducks

Game 1 - Ducks continue good form from regular season. Looked generally to be on top, although great goaltending at both ends; Howard only thing keeping it close for Red Wings.

Game 2 - Polar opposite to game 1. Both teams seemed to score at will (reminded me of Penguins-Flyers series last year), and the Red Wings dominated the start. But the Ducks showed great resolve to tie the game up after being 3 goals down twice!. Hiller managed to keep the Ducks in the game at the end and take it to overtime, but the Red Wings were too strong.

Game 3 - Started with the Red Wings seemingly on top, but a 5 minute penalty in the second period seemed to be the game changer. The Ducks only came out with one goal, but after that they romped to an easy win. Similar to Game 1 for the 3rd period.

Game 4 - Another momentum swing. Hiller kept the Ducks in it, and was unlucky with the winning goal in OT; I thought he'd stopped it. Datysuk scored a brilliant goal to tie the game near the end as well - a beautiful shot. This one could go all the way.

Game 5 - This was an interesting one. Back and forth, with some beautiful goals being scored by both teams. A fairly quiet 3rd period meant overtime, and the game ended a bit anticlimactically I thought, with a simple knock in for the Ducks.

Game 6 - (Lost by Blogger)

Game 7 - A familiar story. The Red Wings jumped to an early lead, and the Ducks couldn't muster enough offensive power to reel them back in.

Final score: 4-3 - This looks like it was a close series, and in some ways it was. Four of the games went to overtime, and it went to the full 7 games. Yet there was a recurring theme through many of the games here; the Red Wings start strong whilst the Ducks struggle to get up to speed, leading to an early lead for the Red Wings. The Ducks then get into their stride, but have to work hard to get back on terms, and either fall short as the Red Wings control the game, or force overtime only to lose as the Red Wings move into a new gear. In the end the Ducks, who looked strong in the regular season, just couldn't overcome their sluggishness at the start of games.

(Source: abclocal.go.com)

Sharks vs Canucks

Game 1 - Interesting to see Luongo in goal. Hope the Canucks won't be swapping in and out through the playoffs like last season. Thought Schneider played better during regular season too. Luongo makes some great saves in first half, but started to lose it later in the game. Not helped by defensive players though. At other end Canucks seemed hesitant on shots. Closely matched teams, score doesn't reflect game.

Game 2 - Similar pattern to the first game for Luongo. Canucks still seem hesitant and uncertain; maybe pressure is getting to them? Should probably have won though, but good pressure by the Sharks at the end of regulation time to tie it, and then win in overtime.

Game 3 - Schneider has his turn in goal, but doesn't do much better than Luongo did. An easy win by the Sharks in the end, and again not many highlights for the Canucks. As usual, they seem to be choking in the playoffs. The Sharks might be severely underrated I think.

Game 4 - A better game for the Canucks, and they seemed a bit more like the team we're used to seeing. But they just couldn't keep it up, and their penalty killing was poor, which cost them.

Final Score: 4-0  - I wouldn't have predicted that going into this series, but after what I've seen it's a fair result. The Canucks were lacklustre, and the Sharks looked strong and cohesive. Another disappointing year for, and from, the Canucks. 

(Source: blogs.thescore.com)

Kings vs Blues

Blues prove last year was no fluke by getting in again.

Game 1 - Blues dominant for game. Good goal to lead, and great fore-checking to keep the defending champions at bay. Again, great goaltending. Unusual to see empty net actually work out, but late tying goal (31s left!) could have robbed the Blues. Then a poor decision by Quick/hustle by Steen leads to a simple goal for the Blues to win. Comedy ending.

Game 2 - Close, tense game. Great last minute win by the Blues, but it could have gone either way. More poor defence of dump-offs to the corner by the goalies, at both ends, which could easily have given away more goals.

Game 3 - Close, hard fought match. Kings' goal was fortunate; I really thought Elliot had it iced, but somehow it squeaked out to an attacker. The Blues really seem to be going after Quick, and had a couple of opportunities to repeat the silliness of Game 1. Lots of scrapping, tough checking, and physical play.

Game 4 - Back and forth game that could have gone either way. This one's hotting up.

Game 5 - (lost by Blogger)

Game 6 - (lost by Blogger)

Final Score: 4-2 - The St Louis Blues were so close, yet ultimately so far, from knocking out the defending champions. The Kings have had an up and down season, and at times looked outplayed; but for the heroics of Quick in goal, the result could well have been different. But ultimately the Blues were let down by some of their top players, who didn't produce when it mattered.

(Source: fansided.com)

So there you have it. Two of my favoured teams are through to Round 2, and two have been kicked to the curb. My next post in this series will look at the match-ups for the next round, and may even feature some predictions.