Western Quarterfinal Nightly Recap

Western Quarterfinal 

Minnesota Wild - 2 @ Anaheim Ducks - 4

• Anaheim leads series 2-0

Mikael Backlund scored a pair and the Ducks found an unlikely hero on their fourth line.

Early in the third, Anaheim controlled play, hemming Minnesota in their own zone for nearly three straight minutes. An exhausted set of Wild players couldn't clear the zone and TJ Tynan capitalised by snapping home the eventual game winner. 

Minnesota would score on their only powerplay of the game late in the third to get the game to 3-2, but Mike Hoffman answered with a powerplay goal of his own in the last minute of play. 

Arizona Coyotes - 1 @ Edmonton Oilers - 3

• Series tied 1-1

The Oil didn't disappoint in front of another sellout crowd, evening their series against the Coyotes at one apiece.

Edmonton got goals from three different players and Juuse Saros was brilliant in the second period. Arizona pressed hard after falling behind 2-0 and peppered Saros with 17 shots over the last half of the period before Nico Hischier finally solved him for his first goal of the series. Saros had the crowd on their feet after making several highlight reel, acrobatic saves. 

Dallas Stars - 1 @ Winnipeg Jets - 3

• Series tied 1-1

Winnipeg got all the offense they would need in the first period, securing the win and head to Dallas in what is now a best-of-5 series.

Brandon Tanev and Mikko Rantanen potted their firsts of the post-season and Curtis Lazar added an empty net after Dallas pulled Chris Driedger with just over two minutes to play in the third in an effort to tie the game.

Colorado Avalanche - 6 @ Nashville Predators - 2

• Colorado leads series 2-0

Nashville got caught in an avalache of goals and now head back to Colorado down 2-0 in the series.

After scoring the game-winner in Game 1, Jujhar Khaira kept his hot hand going with another goal and an assist. 5 other Avs got in on the scoring, including Frederick Gaudreau (1-1-2) who also had the primary TJ Brodie's game-winner.

Alexis Lafreniere, Josh Bailey, Nick Backstrom, Bowen Byram, and Matt Dumba were all -3 on the night and Carter Hart let was in net for all 6 goals against on 39 shots. The Predators will have to decide whether to stick with Hart in Game 3 or start Jeremy Swayman and see if that can provide a spark for a team in desperate need of one. 

THREE STARS

Juuse Saros (EDM): 26saves, .963 SP%
Mikael Backlund (ANH): 2 goals, +2, 4 pim, 5 shots, 13:47 TOI
Mikko Rantanen (WPG): 1 goal, 1 assist, +2, 1 hit, 5 shots, 2 giveaways, 22:05 TOI