Sports Editor
Playoff hockey is always unpredictable and that’s the most thrilling part about it. In game seven of any series, no other game matters. The only difference is home-ice advantage.
The Boston Bruins and the Toronto Maple Leafs faced off in a game seven in the TD Garden on Monday, May 13. Boston got the crowd going with Matt Bartkowski scoring the game’s first goal off of a bad Toronto turnover. It didn’t take Toronto long to answer. Cody Franson marked his second goal of the playoffs to knot the game at one. After Franson’s goal, Toronto seemed to have the game in complete control after scoring three more unanswered goals. Nine minutes into the third period, Nathan Horton got the Bruins rolling again making the game 4-2 putting the energy back in the TD Garden. In the final two minutes, Milan Lucic chipped in a goal to put the Bruins down by one and with 51 seconds left, Patrice Bergeron tied the game sending the game into overtime with the momentum now fully on Boston’s side. As the players stepped on the ice for overtime, everyone was at the edge of their seats. Six minutes into OT, the puck bounced off of James Reimer’s leg pad and onto the stick of Patrice Bergeron who tied the game and put the biscuit into the back of the net as a helpless Reimer desperately tried to stretch himself to the opposite side of the net. A 4-1 Toronto control turned into a 5-4 Boston comeback. That is the magic of playoff hockey.
The San Jose Sharks shocked NHL fans by sweeping the defending 2011-2012 President’s Trophy winner Vancouver Canucks. Vancouver also made it all the way to the Stanley Cup Finals in 2010-2011. San Jose has gotten off to a good start in the playoffs this season. The Sharks continue to be dominant in the playoffs but have yet to reach the Stanley Cup in their 22 years of existence. Could this be their year? If they make it, they’ll have to go through the Chicago Blackhawks. San Jose plays the defending Stanley Cup champs LA Kings in the second round.
Rick Nash is playing in only his third round of the playoffs in his entire career. His tenure in Columbus resulted in one eighth seed position in the Stanley Cup Playoffs and the Blue Jackets were swept by the Detroit Red Wings. Now with the New York Rangers, his stint in the playoffs for the next couple of years should be longer than four games. In an uneventful game seven, the Rangers dominated the Washington Capitals on the Capitals home ice. The Rangers have the fire power to go deep into the playoffs and if they can be physical in their series with Boston they have a chance because no team gets past Boston without being physical.
Pittsburgh needs to step up their game if they want to get past the Senators. If they were to face a “real” team in the first round, unlike the Islanders who weren’t a threat to the Penguin’s playoff hopes, their chances at the next round could have been in jeopardy. Once they switched goaltenders from Marc-Andre Fleury to Tomas Vokun, they went back to the winning column. Will Pittsburgh’s star goalie have to watch the rest of the playoffs from the bench?
Eastern Conference Predictions
Pittsburgh Penguins vs Ottawa Senators Prediction: Penguins in 5
Boston Bruins Vs New York Rangers Prediction: Rangers in 7
Eastern Conference Predictions
Chicago Blackhawks vs Detroit Red Wings Prediction: Blackhawks in 7
LA Kings vs. San Jose Sharks Prediction: Sharks in 7
