The winners of the last two Stanley Cups needed seven games in the 1st round against Toronto, and in the 2nd round they advanced against a local rival with a “broom”. Tampa Bay beat Florida 2-0 for the fourth time and continue the march for the third title in a row.
Florida has started resolutely and bravely to at least drag out the neighborhood showdown and avoid the infamous reputation without a single win in the series, which the U.S. calls “swept”. Tampa Bay, on the other hand, won its tenth consecutive playoff series, joining the NY Islanders (19 series between 1980 and 1984) and Montreal (13 series between 1975 and 1980) as the third team in NHL history.
The Panthers dominated the ice, but could not solve the riddle of how to checkmate goalkeeper Strel. Andrej Vasilevski he eventually defended just about 49 shots and showed why he was a key Tampe Bay player with two consecutive NHL titles. The 27-year-old Russian from Tyumen saved 151 of 154 shots in four games with Florida.
Maroon broke the ice
Tampa Bay secured the victory in the last third: in the 47th minute it was first successfully tempered Pat Maroon, who slammed the tile in the air so that it was just behind Sergei Bobrovsky’s back. Czech Ondrej Palat 23 seconds before the end with a goal in the empty net solved the question of the winner.
“It’s really nothing special. The whole team is playing the game. Everyone is sacrificing, stopping the opponents’ shots. The boys are setting to block the tile. It’s not just me, it’s the whole team’s game. Of course I’m trying to do my best.” however, despite exceptional defenses, which were the key to success, Vasilevski remains modest, who was also the most useful player in the entire playoffs last year.
The NHL champions from 2020 and 2021, who had a lot more problems with Toronto at the beginning of the playoffs, are now calmly waiting for the winner of the Carolina series – New York Rangers, in which the Hurricanes lead 2: 1. easily drags on until the seventh game.
Kadri’s hat-trick for Colorado’s third win
In the West, a big step towards the conference finals was made by the favored Colorado, which in St. Louis won 6: 3 after the initial lag. The hero of the Missouri match was a Canadian Nazem Kadri with three goals and a pass.
The key was the second third, in which the guests scored three times in the 86th minute between the 23rd and 25th minute for the lead with 3: 1, Kadri then increased it to 4: 1 in the 28th minute. Canadian David Perron and Russian Pavel Bučnevič reduced the lead in the second half, but Kadri in the 50th minute and Finn Mikko Rantanen confirmed the victory of the Colorado team in the last minute.
NHL LEAGUE – FINAL
East, semifinals
TAMPA BAY – Florida 4: 0 2: 0 (0: 0, 0: 0, 2: 0) Maroon 47th, Palace 60th. Defense: Vasilevski 49; Bobrovski 23.
Wednesday at 1.00: NY RANGERS – CAROLINA 1: 2
West, semifinals
ST. LOUIS – COLORADO 1: 3 3: 6 (1: 0, 2: 4, 0: 2) Perron 6th, 38th, Buchnevich 40th; Johnson 23rd, Kadri 25th, 28th, 50th, Toews 25th, Rantanen 60th. Defense: Husso 31; Kuemper 17.
Wednesday at 3.30: EDMONTON – CALGARY 2: 1
In bold the state of victories; they play on four wins according to the 2-2-1-1-1 system.
Source: Rtvslo
