Stanley Cup Final Recap

Stanley Cup Final 

Arizona Coyotoes - 1 @ New Jersey Devils - 2 (2OT)

• New Jersey leads series 3-2

Nikolaj Ehlers has put the New Jersey Devils within one win of hoisting the Stanley Cup.

Jamie Oleksiak inexplicably took a penalty 3 seconds into the second overtime period to give the New Jersey Devils their sixth powerplay of the night. After failing to capitalise on the two powerplay chances they had in the first OT, Ehlers was not going to let this one pass him by. Fifteen seconds into the man advantage, Ehlers finished off a pretty give-and-go with Aleksander Barkov by scooping one on the backhand past Connor Hellebuyck to blow the roof off the Prudential Center. 

It was Ehlers second goal of the game. After a scorless first, Ehlers opened the scoring in the second period, again on the powerplay. Coincidentally, that goal came fifteen seconds after Andrej Sekera was sent off for interference. 

Johnny Gaudreau had the lone goal for the Coyotes. 

Outside of scoring  a goal himself, Connor Hellebuyck did just about everything his team could have asked for. He made 43 saves on the night, including several big saves in the first overtime. Not to be outdone, Jacob Markstrom made multiple highlight reel saves and finished with 36 saves. 

NOTES: ....The Arizona Coyotes were already the least discliplined team in the playoffs by a long shot. Including the six minors they took in Game 5, they have an astounding 121 penalty minutes. Contrast that to the Devils who are at the opposite end of the spectrum with a paltry 14.......With the win, the Devils improved their overtime record in the playoffs to 3-1 while the Coyotes fell to 2-3. 

THREE STARS

Nikolaj Ehlers (NJD): 2 goals (GWG), 1 hit, 7 shots, 1 giveaway, 27:08 TOI
Connor Hellebuyck (ARI): 43 saves, .956 SP%
Jacob Markstrom (NJD): 36 saves, .973 SP%