NHL Playoff Recaps: Knights edge Oilers, and Hurricanes blast Devils
The Daily Goal Horn
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NHL Playoff Recaps: May 3, 2023
The Stanley Cup Playoffs second round action continued on Wednesday night with the other two series opening up.
In Vegas, the Golden Knights and Edmonton Oilers combined for 10 goals in what will likely be a high-scoring matchup throughout. Let’s recap.
NHL Playoff Recaps: Knights edge Oilers
Golden Knights 6 vs Oilers 4
Ivan Barbeshev scored twice and Mark Stone and Jack Eichel each had a goal and an assist as the Vegas Golden Knights overcame a four-goal performance by Leon Draisaitl to defeat the Edmonton Oilers, 6-4, in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals Wednesday night in Las Vegas.
Michael Amadio and Chandler Stephenson also scored and Zach Whitecloud added two assists for Vegas, which won its fifth straight playoff game. Laurent Brossoit made 23 saves.
Draisaitl, who has 11 goals in seven playoff games, became the first Oilers player to score four goals in a playoff game since Hall of Famer Jari Kurri against Los Angeles on April 9, 1987. Connor McDavid, Zach Hyman, Evan Bouchard and Mattias Ekholm each had two assists and Stuart Skinner finished with 28 saves for Edmonton, which suffered its first regulation loss since a 7-4 setback at Toronto on March 11.
Game 2 of the best-of-seven series is Saturday afternoon in Las Vegas.
NHL Playoff Recaps: Canes blast Devils
Hurricanes 5 vs Devils 1
Jesper Fast had a goal and an assist as the Carolina Hurricanes collected a 5-1 win over the visiting New Jersey Devils in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference semifinal series on Wednesday in Raleigh, N.C.
Jordan Martinook and Jordan Staal each had two assists, while Brett Pesce, Seth Jarvis, Jesperi Kotkaniemi, and Brady Skjei all scored for the Hurricanes. Frederik Andersen made 18 saves.
It was an impressive blend of both offense and defense for the Hurricanes, as the Devils couldn’t generate consistent pressure against Carolina’s blanketing forecheck and backcheck.
While the Hurricanes finished the game with a relatively even 23-19 shots advantage, Carolina set the defensive tone early by outshooting New Jersey 10-1 during a lopsided first period.
Nathan Bastian had the only goal for the Devils, who also lost by a 5-1 score in the first two games of their first-round series with the New York Rangers.
Game 2 is on Friday in Raleigh.
–Field Level Media