NHL Match Review Roundup for Friday March.26.2011 –Part 2
There are a few teams in the NHL that have been striving since the start of the season. Namely, the Atlanta Thrashers, who have won a number of games throughout the season, and not just after the All-Star Game break. But you can call it destiny that they
are probably not going to be making the postseason this time, as they still have a tough schedule ahead of them.
In the eight games that remain, four of them are with big teams like Philadelphia, Montreal, Boston and Pittsburgh. Even if they want to make it to the playoffs, teams like these are the biggest hurdle in their path.
Vancouver Canucks vs. Atlanta Thrashers
Facing off against a team like Vancouver is bound to bring doom for the Thrashers. It was exactly that when they lost 3-1 at the Philips Arena in Atlanta, Georgia on Friday night.
Canucks' goalie, Roberto Luongo, was another problem for them on his own, as he made 30 deflections in a near shutout.
Mason Raymond scored the first goal during the second period after a lockdown in the first. Atlanta still had hope of catching up, but those hopes were soon washed away when centre Alex Bolduc extended the lead to 2-0.
"The second goal was really a killer," Thrashers coach Craig Ramsay said.
Bryan Little gave his hometown crowd a breath of fresh air when he scored their first with a little over five minutes remaining in the third. They weren’t able to breakdown Vancouver’s defence any further. Alex Burrows potted his 22nd of the season
shorthanded on an empty net with 13 seconds left to go.
One thing the Thrashers do have in their favour is that they’ve only been shutout once this season. Their goalie Chris Mason made 23 saves against the Canucks.
Vancouver made history after their victory by gaining the most points (107) their franchise has ever made in a season. They have high hopes of bringing home the Stanley Cup for the first time in club history.
Atlanta will face the Ottawa Senators on Sunday. They must win at least six out of their eight remaining games if they want to secure a playoff berth.
Carolina Hurricanes vs. Tampa Bay Lightning
The Hurricanes have moved closer to the elite eight and are fully trying to take down the Buffalo Sabres for that last eight number spot. They created an alarming situation for the Sabres after they defeated the fifth number Lightning’s 4-3 at their own
St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa Bay, Florida.
Carolina extended their winning streak to three in a row now while the 2004 Stanley Cup champions have lost four straight. Critics might say that Tampa’s in a slump right now, having lost to the Islanders and Senators recently. But it doesn’t fade Carolina
who is just looking for wins any way possible.
The Hurricanes have adopted one strategy and that is to shoot the puck whenever you get the chance. They had 39 opportunities at the net as compared to Tampa’s 21. Away goalie Cam Ward made 18 saves, while home goalie Dwayne Roloson had to cope with 35.
Simon Gagne fired the first through Ward 7:12 in the first period. All-Star rookie Jeff Skinner tied it up a little over five minutes later to end the first 1-1.
Erik Cole broke the tie midway through the second and extended the lead 3-1 in the third during a power play making it his second of the night. Captain Eric Staal scored Carolina’s final goal on a power play sponsored by Steven Stamkos for tripping Skinner.
Tampa tried to answer back fast as Vincent Lecavalier shortened the lead and Gagne fired a second one 52 seconds later. It was 4-3 with nearly six minutes remaining, but they weren’t able to catch-up after that.
"Regardless our situation in the standings, that would've been a tough loss, given how our hockey club played for, oh, I don't know, 56 minutes," Carolina coach Paul Maurice said. "I was real pleased with the effort we got out of everyone."
Both Tampa and Carolina face each other for the last time this season in April which will be their final regulation season game as well.
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