NHL Match Roundup for Friday March.18.2011 Part 1
Friday night brought disappointment for some and delight for others as eight teams faced off each other in four high tension pre-playoff games.
League leaders faced defeat from a runner-up team while lower ranking teams fought their way up to the playoffs.
Most of the action was going on in the Eastern Conference. The situation is building up to become congested with teams throwing each other down to remain in the elite eight, mimicking the Western Conference.
Washington Capitals vs. New Jersey Devils
It looks like no matter how hard Devils try and how much they have improved their game play, post All-Star Game break, they continue to lose important games and get shutout when they need to win the most.
They are still six points below the top eight, and with eight games remaining in regulation season, it looks like they’ll be able to blame some hot goalies for their exile.
Washington’s coach, Bruce Boudreau, was all praise for his goalie after the game, saying that his confidence is everything.
Capitals’ Michal Neuvirth locked down New Jersey in his fourth shutout of the season, playing only his second NHL season.
He has drastically improved in all aspects of his defending abilities. Washington had less than half the shot attempts compared to the Devils, but he still made 33 perfect saves unlike the 38-year-old Martin Brodeur, who only managed to make nine saves.
"When you don't have a lot of offense, you have to do it other ways," said Capitals All-Star Alex Ovechkin who picked up two assists himself. "Mike was solid in net. He was once young and new and didn't know how he would act. Not anymore."
Capitals steadily took over the match.
Jeff Schultz scored his first of the season nearly midway through the first, Mike Knuble extended the lead in the final moments of the second and scored his double of the night halfway through the final, off a second assist by Ovechkin and John Carlson.
New Jersey flew too high, and now they are falling hard. It’s the first time since early January that they’ve lost consecutive games, losing previously to the third lowest ranked team in the NHL, Ottawa Senators, on Thursday.
Washington faces conference leaders, Philadelphia Flyers, on Tuesday in accordance with their six-game road trip, while Devils still have a chance when they fly to Columbus on Sunday to meet Blue Jackets.
New York Islander vs. Carolina Hurricanes
Joni Pitkanen dampened the Islanders hope of erasing their two-game losing streak, but instead extended it to three when he fired the overtime game winner to tie it with Buffalo for a playoff berth at the RBC Center in Raleigh, North Carolina.
New York grabbed the match in the second, but was forced unwillingly into OT to face a 3-2 defeat.
"As a team, it's really important that you can find a way to get to that desperation level," Hurricanes coach Paul Maurice said. "Then we found it, were able to change gears and good things started happening."
Carolina’s superstar rookie, Jeff Skinner, scored the opening goal of the match, late in the first and also assisted the game winner to Pitkanen in OT.
Islanders’ centre, Frans Nielsen, replied a little over a minute later to tie it at the end of the initial 20 minutes.
Islanders is a young team. It is growing and it will take time for them to compare themselves with the experienced franchises.
Rookie goalie, Al Montoya, nearly performed as well as Hurricanes goalie, Cam Ward, who admired him of his blocking ability. They made 32 and 35 saves respectively.
Michael Grabner scored his NHL rookie leading 29th goal of the season to lift up the Islanders 2-1early in the second.
Entering the final, pressure was high on both teams as the Islanders tried to defend their lead but Erik Cole got a quick shot at the 15:23 mark which popped over Montoya’s left shoulder.
Pitkanen shot the game winning goal in OT when Montoya was distracted by defensemen Derek Joslin with 1:02 left to go.
Hurricanes have reached the top eight in time, with a few games remaining and a challenging line-up of matches ahead of them.
They’ll have to give it all that they’ve got if they want to overthrow the reenergized Buffalo Sabres.
They’ve got another easy two points waiting for them when they face Senators on Tuesday.
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