Finnish defenseman Miro Heiskanen is having a great shot in the hockey NHL playoffs. Roope Hintz left the ice after blocking a shot by a Colorado player.
Riku Porvari,
STT Sports
Miro Heiskanen the great game mood was once again too much for the Colorado Avalanche. Dallas Stars, represented by a Finn, beat Colorado 5-1 in the second round of the NHL hockey playoffs the night before Tuesday.
The victory was the third in a row for Dallas. Dallas now leads the series 3–1.
– We wanted to control the match and get an excellent start. In the opening set we played well and in the second set we defended well, Heiskanen assessed after the match Dallas website.
Heiskanen scored a goal and got assists from two of his team’s hits. The defender has collected 4+8=12 power points in 11 playoff matches.
With that amount, he leads his club’s internal playoff point exchange. The second one is Wyatt Johnston (7+4=11) and the third superstar Jason Robertson (3+7=10).
In addition, Heiskanen is the league’s second most efficient defender in the playoffs. The above only represents the Edmonton Oilers Evan Bouchard (3+10=13).
Dallas’ Finnish forward Roope Hintz played just over six minutes in the match. Colorado defenseman by Sean Walker the shot hit Hintz’s knee, and the Finn left the ice at the end of the opening set. After that, Hintz didn’t play in the match anymore.
– I think Roope blocked at least three shots in the match. The whole team tries to block. They (Colorado) have an offensive team and we have to stay close to the puck and block shots, Heiskanen estimates.
Celebrating his 21st birthday Wyatt Johnston shook up the night’s match with 2+1 performances.
– He is incredible and fun to watch. She’s only in her twenties, but still stunning. He probably deserved (an extra birthday present). Let’s see what he gets, Heiskanen described.
Jesperi Kotkaniemi cleared the pass
Jesperi Kotkaniemi grabbed the assist Yevgeny Kuznetsov for the game-winning goal as the Carolina Hurricanes beat the New York Rangers.
The Carolina Hurricanes, who were in a tight gap, saved themselves with a goal in the third period after the host team New York Rangers had already pushed the visitors to the brink of the abyss.
The second period of the match ended with New York leading by one more goal, but Carolina, who turned the tables, eventually won 4–1 and narrowed New York’s lead to 3–2 in the fifth meeting of the Eastern Conference series.
The equalizer was scored by a Canadian forward at the beginning of the third period Jordan Staalafter which the suddenly energized Carolina continued the scoring spree with three more shots that hit the goal.
About other Finns in Carolina Sebastian Aho was on ice for more than 20 minutes, Teuvo Teräväinen 18 and Rangers’ Kaapo Kakko more than 12, but they missed points.
Kotkaniemi, who reached the power points, played 9 minutes. Kotkaniemi ended a scoreless season that had lasted for weeks, as almost a month had passed since his previous power points. The last time Kotkaniemi scored was on April 17 against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
The first team to win four matches will advance. New York needs just one win to knock Carolina out of the playoffs, while Carolina needs two more to make the playoffs. The sixth match of the series will take place early Friday Finnish time.
Update 5/14/2024 at 8:45 AM: Added Miro Heiskanen’s comments to the story.