Golden Knights Complete Sweep of Kings
This Las Vegas Golden Knights story just continues to get better and better for the expansion team in their first season. Adding to all the records they've broke, the Golden Knights completed the sweep of the Los Angeles Kings on Tuesday night with a 1-0 win on the road. Playing in their first playoff series, the Knights made quick work of the veteran Kings, as the former King, Brayden McNabb scored against his former team in the second period for the lone goal of the decisive Game 4, which was also his first career playoff goal. All four of the Golden Knights' wins were by just one goal, as they took the first game in overtime at home and shut the Kings out twice. Marc-Andre Fleury stopped 31 shots in his fourth consecutive start on Tuesday, helping his team join the 1970 Pittsburgh Penguins as the only teams to win their first four playoff games. Las Vegas out-shot Los Angeles, 31-21, on the night, as they won the series despite scoring just seven goals in total. They surrendered just three to the Kings, who were looking to pull off another 3-0 series comeback like they did in the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs. It was a series for the goaltenders, as Fleury earned his 66th career playoff win, while Jonathan Quick had a 1.55 goals against average and a .947 save percentage in the four games. The Golden Knights will now await the winner of the San Jose Sharks-Anaheim Ducks series, which the Sharks lead 3-0.
Capitals Avoid 3-0 Hole With Double-Overtime Win
The Washington Capitals seemed to be on track to the same result as the first two games of their first-round series, and that's an overtime loss, but this one was on the road Tuesday night. Although, they were able to stretch it into double overtime, where Lars Eller netted the game-winning goal for a 3-2 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets. Tom Wilson and John Carlson also scored for the Caps, who won the game exactly nine minutes into the second overtime period. Braden Holtby made 33 saves for the Capitals, who overcame dropping consecutive games in overtime on their home ice. Pierre-Luc Dubois and Artemi Panarin both scored for the Blue Jackets, who got 42 saves from Sergei Bobrovsky, just one game after he stopped 54 shots in a Game-2 overtime victory. Panarin's goal forced overtime with 4:12 to play in regulation, as the Blue Jackets had the crowd at Nationwide Arena expecting a 3-0 series lead on the top-seeded Capitals. Washington got the win on the road despite coming up empty on three of their four power play opportunities, but that was not from a lack of scoring chances. The Capitals have out-shot the Blue Jackets, 133-92, in the first three games. They will look to stay aggressive and complete the comeback when they visit the Jackets for Game 4 of the series on Thursday night.
Pelicans Top Blazers Again in Portland
The New Orleans Pelicans are showing up more than anyone expected them to, and it isn't the star everyone expects to stand out in Anthony Davis. Instead, it's Jrue Holiday who has led the Pelicans to now a 2-0 series lead following a 111-102 win over the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday night. Holiday scored a career playoff-high 33 points to help his team shoot 51 percent from the floor, including hitting half of their shots from three-point range in the win. Rajon Rondo also stepped up for a second straight game, falling just short of his 11th career playoff triple-double with 16 points, 10 rebounds, and nine assists. Davis did have a productive night with a double-double of 22 points and 13 rebounds, as the Pelicans capitalized on the Blazers' surprising backcourt struggles. C.J. McCollum did bounce back a bit with 22 points to lead Portland, but Damian Lillard was held under 20 points again at 17. This comes after Lillard and McCollum combined to shoot 13-for-41 in the series-opening loss. To add to that, the Trail Blazers were also shorthanded with Evan Turner leaving due to a toe injury and Jusuf Nurkic exiting with a leg injury. The Blazers now hit the road, hoping to avoid a 3-0 series hole in their fifth consecutive playoff berth, as the Pelicans will host Game 3 of the series on Thursday night.
This Las Vegas Golden Knights story just continues to get better and better for the expansion team in their first season. Adding to all the records they've broke, the Golden Knights completed the sweep of the Los Angeles Kings on Tuesday night with a 1-0 win on the road. Playing in their first playoff series, the Knights made quick work of the veteran Kings, as the former King, Brayden McNabb scored against his former team in the second period for the lone goal of the decisive Game 4, which was also his first career playoff goal. All four of the Golden Knights' wins were by just one goal, as they took the first game in overtime at home and shut the Kings out twice. Marc-Andre Fleury stopped 31 shots in his fourth consecutive start on Tuesday, helping his team join the 1970 Pittsburgh Penguins as the only teams to win their first four playoff games. Las Vegas out-shot Los Angeles, 31-21, on the night, as they won the series despite scoring just seven goals in total. They surrendered just three to the Kings, who were looking to pull off another 3-0 series comeback like they did in the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs. It was a series for the goaltenders, as Fleury earned his 66th career playoff win, while Jonathan Quick had a 1.55 goals against average and a .947 save percentage in the four games. The Golden Knights will now await the winner of the San Jose Sharks-Anaheim Ducks series, which the Sharks lead 3-0.
Capitals Avoid 3-0 Hole With Double-Overtime Win
The Washington Capitals seemed to be on track to the same result as the first two games of their first-round series, and that's an overtime loss, but this one was on the road Tuesday night. Although, they were able to stretch it into double overtime, where Lars Eller netted the game-winning goal for a 3-2 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets. Tom Wilson and John Carlson also scored for the Caps, who won the game exactly nine minutes into the second overtime period. Braden Holtby made 33 saves for the Capitals, who overcame dropping consecutive games in overtime on their home ice. Pierre-Luc Dubois and Artemi Panarin both scored for the Blue Jackets, who got 42 saves from Sergei Bobrovsky, just one game after he stopped 54 shots in a Game-2 overtime victory. Panarin's goal forced overtime with 4:12 to play in regulation, as the Blue Jackets had the crowd at Nationwide Arena expecting a 3-0 series lead on the top-seeded Capitals. Washington got the win on the road despite coming up empty on three of their four power play opportunities, but that was not from a lack of scoring chances. The Capitals have out-shot the Blue Jackets, 133-92, in the first three games. They will look to stay aggressive and complete the comeback when they visit the Jackets for Game 4 of the series on Thursday night.
Pelicans Top Blazers Again in Portland
The New Orleans Pelicans are showing up more than anyone expected them to, and it isn't the star everyone expects to stand out in Anthony Davis. Instead, it's Jrue Holiday who has led the Pelicans to now a 2-0 series lead following a 111-102 win over the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday night. Holiday scored a career playoff-high 33 points to help his team shoot 51 percent from the floor, including hitting half of their shots from three-point range in the win. Rajon Rondo also stepped up for a second straight game, falling just short of his 11th career playoff triple-double with 16 points, 10 rebounds, and nine assists. Davis did have a productive night with a double-double of 22 points and 13 rebounds, as the Pelicans capitalized on the Blazers' surprising backcourt struggles. C.J. McCollum did bounce back a bit with 22 points to lead Portland, but Damian Lillard was held under 20 points again at 17. This comes after Lillard and McCollum combined to shoot 13-for-41 in the series-opening loss. To add to that, the Trail Blazers were also shorthanded with Evan Turner leaving due to a toe injury and Jusuf Nurkic exiting with a leg injury. The Blazers now hit the road, hoping to avoid a 3-0 series hole in their fifth consecutive playoff berth, as the Pelicans will host Game 3 of the series on Thursday night.
