New Jersey’s Finnish striker Erik Haula had two goals and one assist as the Devils blanked the New York Rangers in the NHL playoffs for the third time in a row. New Jersey stifled the Rangers’ offensive arsenal with a 4-0 win, and the series is broken with a 3-2 victory over the Devils.
The sixth match will be played at Madison Square Garden on the night before Sunday Finnish time, and TV2 will show the match from 3:05.
The Devils, one of the super surprises of the season, lost the first two games at home 1–5, but have managed to stop themselves and turn the series around with their fast game. In three matches, Rangers have scored only two goals, and the dangerous superiority has already gone without a hit 13 times in a row.
– It was a tough place to lose two games at home. The fans left the hall early, and the mood was not very good. We had to change the way we play a little and now we have four chains and a goalkeeper who plays well, Haula told Urheilu in the Prudential Center’s uumeni.
The name of a goalkeeper who plays well is Akira Schmidt. Experienced coach Lindy Ruff pulled the 22-year-old Swiss from the deck after losing matches, and Vitek Vanecek too replaced Schmid has played at a dazzling level. The shutout of the night was Schmid’s first in the playoffs.
– Vitek didn’t get our best games, and something probably had to be changed. Schmid has played well all season and whenever he has had a chance, he has let the seam win games, Haula praises.
Haula has collected the same number of points (3+2) in five matches, being one of the most conscientious players in his team in two directions. I don’t care about my own performance, as long as the team wins.
– It was a fun night and an important victory, but we won’t think about it any more, but let’s turn our eyes to the next game. Now the successes came to me and in the next game then to someone else.
The Rangers side has plenty to think about. The team strengthened its already famous attack before the transfer deadline Patrick Kane and With Vladimir Tarasenkobut after two winning games the machine has coughed badly and Schmid has taken the lead from the team.
– We got off to a good start and played the game we want in the winning games. We have had chances in the last games as well, but we just can’t score goals. Something should come up, Rangers Kaapo Kako regretted.
Last year, the Rangers came out of a similar situation to continue against Carolina, and the locker room draws strength from the experience.
– We made this more difficult than it could have been. We got up last year too, and we just need to get a few bounces. That’s where it turns.
The sixth game offers the Devils a chance to end the streak, but Haula knows that it won’t be easy.
– It will be the hardest game of the series and we will get their best performance from Rangers. The noise is sure to be amazing and you just have to be ready. You have to focus only on your own playing.
Tampa Bay grabbed their straw card
In Toronto, the Maple Leafs had a chance to advance to the second round for the first time in 19 years, but the curse was not broken, at least not yet. Tampa Bay claimed an away victory in the fifth match with a score of 4–2. The series is now 3-2 to Toronto, and the sixth game will be played in Tampa.
Toronto’s 19-year playoff record is grim, having lost 11 straight games when the team has had a chance to advance.
Toronto Yankee star Austin Matthews narrowed it down to 2-3 three and a half minutes before the end, but Alex Killorn finished the Final Readings on a blank note. Tampa’s star guard who received a lot of criticism for his moves during the series Andrei Vasilevskiy found his level again by saving 28 pucks.
– Ever since I came to Tampa, Vasilevski has been our best player every night. He is our cornerstone by giving us a lot of extra boost with his saves. He keeps us in the games, successful in scoring Anthony Cirelli praised.
– We had our chances, but we didn’t use them. We were in a good position after the goal going into the third period, but the third goal put us in too difficult a place today, Matthews reflected after the loss.
Vegas sent Winnipeg on summer vacation
Vegas became the first team to secure a spot in the second round as the Golden Knights beat Winnipeg for the fourth time. Vegas was better in the fifth game 4–1 and the series was broken for Vegas by the same score.
Chandler Stephenson opened the scoring already in the first minute, and at the beginning of the second period by Mark Stone, by William Karlsson and with Stephenson’s hits, Vegas ran away with the win.
of Winnipeg Saku Mäenalanen played just under eight minutes in the match.
New Jersey Devils – New York Rangers 4–0 (wins 3–2)
NJ: Haula 2+1, +3, 18.32
NY: Second 0+0, 13.28, Mikkola 0+0, 15.02
Toronto Maple Leafs – Tampa Bay Lightning 2–4 (wins 3–2)
Vegas Golden Knights – Winnipeg Jets 4–1 (wins 4–1)
W: Mäenalanen 0+0, 7.41
Erik Haula and Kaapo Kakko were interviewed by Heiko Oldoerp.