Artturi Lehkonen scored 1+1 when Colorado tied the series against Seattle. Tampa Bay, the dynasty of recent years, is in a difficult situation.
Joel Sippola,
STT Sports
The reigning Stanley Cup winner Colorado Avalanche, who lost to Seattle in their opening game in the first round of the NHL, showed Finnish guts in the second game and leveled the series with a 3–2 win.
Myo’s second match started in a bad way for Colorado. of Seattle Justin Schutz and Brandon Tanev hit in the opening set and went to the break with the visiting team leading 2–0.
After this, the specialist in important goals emerged: Artturi Lehkonen. The Finnish striker scored an important goal at the beginning of the second period. Cale Makar shot and Lehkonen guided the puck in.
In the third set, Lehkonen took on an important role again. He fired at the Seattle keeper Philip Grubauer. This was blocked by a defender in front of him For Devon Toews, who tapped in the puck. Lehkonen hits the assist point and powers 1+1.
Lehkonen has scored important goals before. Last year, he scored the championship-clinching goal for Colorado in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Finals. In the same playoffs, he knocked out the Edmonton Oilers in the conference finals with his goal.
The series is now tied at 1–1.
Goal for Kako, Devils in a difficult situation
The New York Rangers, one of this season’s championship favorites, have been convincing so far in the opening round of the playoffs. The Rangers, who started as a visiting team, have deprived the young team of the New Yersey Devils of the home advantage and already lead the series 2–0.
The Rangers won the second game in New Yersey with a score of 5–1. However, the Devils’ Finnish striker was responsible for the opening goal of the match Erik Haulawho in the middle of the opening set crushed the puck with superior strength.
In the second period, however, Rangers went for it with three goals. The pace stick was waved Chris Kreider with two hits.
Rangers scored the last goal of the evening Kaapo Kakowho shot the puck into the goal By Filip Chytil serving. Defender Niko Mikkola got an assist on the goal.
The series of matches in the playoffs is in a difficult situation for the relatively inexperienced young Devils team, as the series continues with the next two matches at Rangers’ home hall.
– There is of course frustration in the air. We just got hit for the second straight game, you know? We know we’re not playing at our level and it’s biting us in the rear right now, said the regular season scorer of 99 points Jack Hughes frustrated to ESPN.
The players of Rangers and Devils were given a total of eight demerits in the last period of the match. Among the Finnish players, Mikkola got ten minutes.
A crushing loss for Tampa without their star defender
The thrilling play between Toronto and Tampa has been a real goal celebration for the first two games. In the previous match, Tampa won 7–3, but now it was Toronto’s turn to rumble.
Toronto beat Tampa 7-2 and leveled the series. One of the best players in the NHL for years John Tavares scored a hat trick in the NHL playoffs for the first time in his career. Mitchell Marner your butt with powers 2+1.
Struggling with injuries, Tampa’s lineup was missing key defenders Viktor Hedman mixed Erik Cernak. The absence of Hedman, who was voted MVP of the playoffs three years ago, leaves a huge hole in Tampa’s defense.
In the last three years, Tampa has won two Stanley Cups and has been to the finals three times.
In the last match of the evening, Vegas defeated Winnipeg 5–2 and leveled the series at 1–1. of Winnipeg Saku Mäenalanen caught the assist.
NHL playoffs, 1st round:
New Jersey–New York Rangers 1–5
NJD: Haula 1+0
NYR: Second 1+0, Mikkola 0+1
Wins 0–2
Toronto–Tampa 7–2
Wins 1-1 Colorado–Seattle 3–2
COL: Lehkonen 1+1
Seattle: Tolvanen 0+1 Wins 1–1
Vegas–Winnipeg 5–2
Winnipeg: Mäenalanen 0+1 Wins 1–1