The Stanley Cup Playoffs have been full of drama recently, and Friday`s games continued that trend.
Friday`s action kicked off with a thrilling overtime victory for the Florida Panthers, who defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs 5-4. Veteran Panthers forward Brad Marchand netted the decisive goal in OT, after Morgan Rielly of the Maple Leafs had forced extra time by tying the game at 4-4 late in the third period. Marchand was one of five different players to score for Florida, a win that reduced Toronto`s lead in the series to 2-1.
In contrast, the game in Winnipeg was a much less dramatic affair. The Jets secured a dominant 4-0 win over the Dallas Stars, leveling their second-round series at one game each. Jets forward Nikolaj Ehlers contributed a goal and an assist, and goaltender Connor Hellebuyck posted his first shutout of the playoffs by stopping all 22 shots directed his way.
Following another exciting night on the ice, let`s highlight some of the standout performances from Friday`s games.
3. Nikolaj Ehlers | LW | Winnipeg Jets
Winnipeg forward Nikolaj Ehlers missed the first five games of the team`s opening-round series against the Blues due to a foot injury sustained late in the regular season. However, in just his fourth game back, Ehlers appeared to be regaining his top form, contributing a goal and an assist in Game 2 versus the Stars.
Ehlers demonstrated a strong offensive instinct early in Friday`s matchup. Only 3:35 into the game, he controlled the puck and attempted a shot from the slot that was blocked by Stars defenseman Cody Ceci. Ehlers quickly recovered the puck and fired a shot that narrowly evaded goaltender Jake Oettinger, leading to a rebound that Gabriel Vilardi tapped in. Later in the same period, Ehlers found the back of the net himself when his shot deflected off Stars defenseman Esa Lindell. He sealed his performance with a late empty-net goal. Ehlers led the team with six shots on goal and played aggressively throughout the night.
2. Brad Marchand | C | Florida Panthers
The acquisition of Brad Marchand at the trade deadline, after spending his entire career with the Boston Bruins, was a significant move for the Panthers. Marchand`s experience and clutch ability were on full display when Florida needed it most, as he scored the overtime winner in Game 3.
At the 15:27 mark of overtime, Marchand received a pass from Dmitry Kulikov and showed remarkable patience in the offensive zone. He skillfully maneuvered into the far face-off circle before releasing a shot. The puck deflected off Maple Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly and sailed over the shoulder of goaltender Joseph Woll, securing the victory. This goal highlights the common hockey wisdom that sometimes simply getting the puck towards the net can lead to favorable outcomes.
1. Connor Hellebuyck | G | Winnipeg Jets
After earning the Vezina Trophy as the NHL`s best goaltender last season, Connor Hellebuyck was again named a finalist for the award this month. While he had a challenging first round against the Blues with a 3.71 goals-against average and .830 save percentage, Hellebuyck was spectacular in Friday`s Game 2 win.
Facing a potent Dallas Stars offense, Hellebuyck turned aside all 22 shots he faced. He appeared poised and collected throughout the game, making numerous crucial saves. In the second period particularly, Hellebuyck made several vital stops to keep Dallas scoreless. Late in that frame, he stopped a shot from defenseman Thomas Harley, and then quickly slid across to glove the rebound before Evgenii Dadonov could capitalize. This kind of elite performance is exactly what the Jets require from Hellebuyck to overcome the Stars in this series.
