Western Quarterfinal Nightly Recap

Western Quarterfinal

Anaheim Ducks - 2 @ Minnesota Wild 1 (OT)

• Anaheim wins series 4-2

Shane Pinto provided the heroics and the Anaheim Ducks have advanced to the second round.

After combining for 10 goals in the game prior, the two teams locked down their defence and were tied at 1-1 at the end of regulation time. In overtime, he Wild were pressing in the attacking zone when an errant Matthew Tkachuk shot allowed the Ducks to quickly move the puck up the ice. Shane Pinto whistled a shot over the net but was able to bat the puck into the net as it bounced back to him off the glass. The game-winner was Pinto's first goal of the series.

Minnesota's entire team sacrifice their bodies all night long, finishing the night with 22 blocked shots. Alexander Romanov had 5 in just under 14 minutes of ice time.

Bryan Rust (ANH) and Brady Tkachuk (MIN) were the goal scorers in regulation. Rust's goal gives him 5 in total and now leads the playoffs in that category. 

Edmonton Oilers - 3 @ Arizona Coyotes 4

• Series tied 3-3

Arizona held off a late surge by the Oilers and the two teams will decide their fate in a Game 7 back in Edmonton.

With the score knotted at 1, the Coyotes scored 3 goals in a row to take a 4-1 lead midway through the third. The Oilers answered back with two of their own, including a Chandler Stephenson PP goal. 

This one could have went to overtime but an Edmonton goal was overturned after refs determined that it was knocked in off a high stick. Oilers head coach Mike Yeo was incensed and was lucky to not have received a bench minor for berating the officials. 

Johnny Gaudreau chose an opportune time to score his first goals of the post--season, as his second of the game in the 3rd period held up as the game-winner.

Winnipeg Jets - 2 @ Dallas Stars - 4

• Series tied 3-3

The Winnipeg Jets have been pushed to the brink by the wild card Dallas Stars.

The Jets led this one 1-0 when the first period horn sounded. Whatever was said in the Stars locker room during the intermission worked, as Dallas scored the next four goals and gave them a 4-2 victory. 

Jesper Bratt (3), Jack Eichel (3), Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (1) and Logan O'Connor (1) all scored for the Stars. Tyler Bozak (1) and Kyle Connor (2) had the goals for the Jets.

Dallas made a few alterations to their lines for this game. Joe Pavelski was promoted to the 1st line, which saw RNH center the 2nd and Jack Eichel drop to the 3rd line center spot. This had the desired effect as after finishing with just 22 shots on goal in Game 5 they barraged Tuuka Rask with 41 shots in Game 6, their highest shot count of the series. 

THREE STARS

Johnny Gaudreau (ARI): 2 goals (GWG), +2, 4 hits, 7 shots, 1 SB, 2 GA, 20:35 TOI
Shane Pinto (ANH): 1 goal (GWG), +1, 2 hits, 2 shots, 18:49 TOI
Kyle Okpose (DAL): 2 assists, +1, 2 pim, 2 hits, 1 takeaway, 13:26 TOI