Western Semifinal Nightly Recap

Western Semifinal

Arizona Coyotes - 4 @ Anaheim Ducks - 3 (OT)

• Arizona leads series 3-2

Playoff overtime hockey always finds a way to make a hero out of somebody unexpected. This game was no different. 

Derek Grant scored his first goal of the playoffs 33 seconds into overtime and the Arizona Coyotes now have a chance to clinch the series on home ice.

It was a trio of unexpected contributors who helped the Coyotes get the win. Head coach Paul Maurice must have had a hunch because he sent his fourth line over the boards early in the extra session. Joel Kiviranta got the puck up to Oliver Kylington who slap-passed a shot that missed the net but bounced out the other side to an open Grant who deposited the puck into a wide open net.  The assists were the first points of the playoffs for Kiviranta and Kylington. 

Arizona led 1-0 after the first, despite only having 2 shots on goal. The Ducks would score the next two goals to take the lead but Arizona would square things back up before the period was out. Johnny Gaudreau (ARI) and Scott Laughton (ANH) scored in the third to keep things tied up and set the stage for Grant's game winner. 

Winnipeg Jets - 4 @ Colorado Avalanche - 3

• Winnipeg wins series 4-1

The Jets have landed in the Eastern Conference Final with a Game 5 victory over the Avalanche. 

Elias Lindholm and Mikko Rantanen put on another masterclass in the win. They finished the night with 3 points a piece and had a combined 13 points in the series (Rantanen: 3-4-7, Lindholm: 4-2-6). 

The Avalanche made some minor tweaks to their lineup. Notable was Jonathan Quick getting his first start of the playoffs in favour of Mike Smith. Smith, who was acquired by the Avs at the trade deadline, struggled after coming over in the trade going 2-4-1 in the games he played. But come playoff time he was between the pipes for Game 1 against the Predators and led them to next round. 

Quick played well considering the length of time from his previous start, but he and the Avs simply couldn't contain the Jets. This was especially true in the second period when the Jets fired 20 shots on net (and 41 in total). 

The Avs showed some fight in the third period. Down 3-1, Phil Tomasino scored to cut the lead to one. Elias Lindholm's second of the night got the Jets back up by two. Filip Forsberg scored with jsut over 2 minutes left to play but that was as close as they would get. With Quick pulled for the extra attacker the Colorado looked like they were going to tie it up, but Tuukka Rask made three huge saves and Mattias Ekholm blocked a Gabe Landeskog from in tight in the final minute.

THREE STARS

Elias Lindholm (WPG): 2 goals, 1 assist, +1, 3 hits, 6 shots, 1 SB, 2 GA, 1 TA, 23:46 TOI
Vladimir Tarasenko (ARI): 1 goal, 2 assists, +2, 2 hits, 3 shots, 1 takeaway, 17:07 TOI
Mattias Ekholm (WPG): 1 assist, +/- 0, 1 hit, 2 shots, 2 SB, 2 TA, 24:19 TOI