Panthers, Rangers, Jets, and Canucks take Game 1!

Game 1 | April 21, 2024 | Florida Panthers 3, Tampa Bay Lightning 2

Florida Panthers won Game 1 of the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Tampa Bay Lighting which took place at Amerant Bank Arena with a final score of 3-2. 

The Panthers won the faceoff at the start of the first period and after a few hits and shots before they struck first with a goal scored by Sam Reinhart at 13:43. There were multiple giveaways on the Panthers behalf which did not result in any Lightning goals. The first penalty of the game was called on Nick Perbix for holding and put the Panthers on the power play. The Panthers power play opportunity was unsuccessful and after more missed shots on goal, the Lightning ended up answering back with 3 minutes and 58 seconds left of the first period after Anthony Cirelli scored and tied the game. The period ended with a tied score of 1-1. 

Both teams had multiple shots on goal and power play opportunities during the second period, however, they were unable to break the tie. The game remained at a standstill after a scoreless second period and also ended with 1 minute and 36 seconds left on the Panthers’ power play. 

The Panthers’ power play opportunity carried into the third period which resulted in a power play goal scored by Carter Verhaeghe and made it a one-goal game. The start of the third period was very physical as there were multiple hits recorded by the Lightning who were able to gain puck possession during the latter half of the third period. Panthers’ Matthew Tkachuk ended up making it a two-goal game after scoring a goal assisted by Aaron Ekbald at 02:05. This was then followed up with the Lightning’s C. Stamkos scoring a power play goal with 10 seconds left of the period after Verhaeghe received a cross-checking penalty. The Lightning’s push in the latter half of the third period was commendable, however, it was not enough to tie the game which resulted in a Panthers’ Game 1 victory. 

Game 1 was a physical game on the Lightning’s behalf as there were multiple hits during all three periods. Lightning’s goaltender, Andrei Vasilevskiy, had a save percentage of 0.926 and saved 25 out of 27 shots on goal. Panthers’ goaltender, Sergei Bobrovsky, had a save percentage of 0.895 and saved 17 out of 19 shots on goal. Although Bobrovsky had a lower save percentage, this did not hinder the Panthers from winning Game 1 of round one of the playoffs with a final score of 3-2. 

The Florida Panthers lead 1-0 in round one of the playoffs against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Game 1 | April 21, 2024 | New York Rangers 4, Washington Capitals 1

The New York Rangers won Game 1 of the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Washington Capitals which took place at Madison Square Garden with a final score of 4-1.

The Rangers started off the first period with a faceoff win by Mika Zibanejad who also had the first shot on goal. Both teams’ power play opportunities in the first period were unsuccessful. Despite having good scoring chances, the first period remained scoreless. 

Matt Rempe put the Rangers on the board with a goal at 15:43 which was followed up by Artemi Panarin scoring the second Rangers goal 33 seconds later and making it a two-goal game. The Rangers extended their lead with another goal which was scored by Jimmy Vesey at 13:37. Caps finally got onto the board and made it a two-goal game after Martin Fehervary scored about halfway through the period. Caps were given another power play opportunities during the second period, however, they were unable to capitalize on the man-advantage. The second period ended with a score of 3-1 in the Rangers’ favor. 

The third period, like the second period, was controlled by the Rangers and the Caps were unable to connect and score a goal against Rangers’ goaltender, Igor Shesterkin. Chris Kreider ended up scoring the last goal of the game at 03:43 which secured the 4-1 win for the Rangers as the Caps remained scoreless in the third period. Three 10-minute misconducts were given during the last minute of the third period to Rangers’ Braden Schneider and Caps’ Tom Wilson and Dylan Mcllarth. 

Game 1 had a lot of blocked shots from both teams and unsuccessful power play opportunities. Rangers’ goaltender, Igor Shesterkin, had a save percentage of 0.952 and saved 20 out of 21 shots on goal. Caps’ goaltender, Charlie Lindgren, had a save percentage of 0.871 and saved 27 out of 31 shots on goal. 

The New York Rangers lead 1-0 in round one of the playoffs against the Washington Capitals.

Game 1 | April 21, 2024 | Winnipeg Jets 7, Colorado Avalanche 6

Winnipeg Jets won Game 1 of the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Colorado Avalanche which took place at Canada Life Centre with a final score of 7-6.

The game started with a Jets faceoff win and multiple hits recorded by both teams. The first shot on goal was by the Avs who ended up having multiple scoring chances but were unable to get the puck past Jets’ goaltender, Connor Hellebuyck, until Valeri Nichushkin scored at 13:50. The Jets answered back a few minutes later with a goal scored by Josh Morrissey and would make it a two-goal game after Vladislav Namestnikov scored with 8 minutes and 3 seconds left of the first period. The Avs scored two goals with 1 minute and 42 seconds between each goal which were scored by Miles Wood and Nathan MacKinnon. Avs one-goal lead would be nulled after Jets’ Mark Scheifele tied the game with four minutes left in the first period. Both teams remained disciplined throughout the first period. 

 The Avs had multiple scoring attempts during the second period but struggled to score on them. The teams played 4-on-4 hockey for 2 minutes after Jets’ Morrissey received a cross-checking penalty and Miles Wood received a roughing penalty after standing up for his teammate at 14:16. Although the Avs had puck possession, they were unable to score before the penalties expired. Captain Adam Lowry made it a one-goal game for the Jets after he scored on Avs’ goaltender, Alexander Georgiev. The Jets had puck possession later in the second period but were unable to score again before the end of the period which ended with a score of 4-3 in the Jets’ favor. 

The Jets maintained control during the beginning half of the third period as C. Lowry extended their lead at 16:29 and Kyle Connor scored to make it a three-goal lead at 14:09. Avs’ Artturi Lehkonen cut the deficit and made it a two-goal game once again after scoring 1 minute and 22 seconds after the Jets’ goal. Connor would score again and make it a three-goal game at 11:06. The Avs did not go down without a fight as they mustered two more goals before the end of the third period. Their 5th goal of the game was scored by Cale Makar at 07:36 and their 6th goal was scored by Casey Mittelstadt with only 30 seconds left in the third period. The Avs were unable to tie the game before the end of regulation which resulted in a Jets’ win. 

Game 1 was a hard fought battle for both teams as the Jets were maintaining their lead and the Avs made their last pushes to tie and attempt to win. Avs goaltender, Alexander Georgiev, had a save percentage of 0.696 and saved 16 out of 23 shots on goal. Jets’ goaltender, Connor Hellebuyck, had a save percentage of 0.870 and saved 40 out of 46 shots on goal. 

The Winnipeg Jets lead 1-0 in round one of the playoffs against the Colorado Avalanche.

Game 1  | April 21, 2024 | Vancouver Canucks 4, Nashville Predators 2

Vancouver Canucks won Game 1 of the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Nashville Predators which took place at Rogers Arena with a final score of 4-2.

The first period started off with a couple missed shots on goal for both teams. The Canucks had the first power play opportunity after Colton Sissons received a cross-checking penalty. The Preds’ PK worked hard and the Canucks were unable to get the goal past Preds’ goaltender, Juuse Saros. After multiple scoring chances, Preds’s Jason Zucker scored 3 minutes and 45 seconds left in the first period. It was a very physical period as multiple hits were recorded by both teams. Canucks’ goaltender, Thatcher Demko, made a remarkable save during this period despite letting one goal in. Saros finished the first period strong and maintained the Preds’ one-goal lead. 

Canucks’ Elias Lindholm tied the game with a goal scored 47 seconds into the second period. Each team had their fair share of scoring opportunities but their goaltenders did not let any slip past them until the second half of the period. Ryan O’Reilley gave the Preds a one goal lead after scoring a goal that was assisted by Gustav Nyquist and Filip Foresberg. Canucks were on the penalty kill twice during the last 7 minutes of the second period after Carson Soucy received a holding penalty and Filip Hronek received a holding penalty which put the Preds on the power play. Even with two power play opportunities, the rest of the period remained scoreless with the Preds up by one-goal. 

The third period started with the Canucks having puck possession and a power play opportunity after Preds’ Jeremy Lauzon received a cross-checking penalty. Being down by one goal, the Canucks fought hard on their man advantage but were unable to capitalize on it. The Preds had their chance on the power play during the third period after Phillip Di Giuseppe received a tripping penalty but resulted in no goals. The score remained 2-1 in the Preds’ favor until Canucks’ Captain Quinn Hughes scored at 11:01 and made it a tied game (2-2). The Canucks finally had the lead in this game after Dakota Joshua scored 12 seconds after C. Quinn’s game-tying goal. The Preds had multiple scoring opportunities in the last 6 minutes of the game and pulled their goalie with about two minutes left in the period to have the man-advantage (6-on-5). Despite their efforts, they were unable to get the puck past Demko and the Canucks secured their win with an empty-net goal scored by Joshua at 1:28. The game did end with a delayed penalty on the Preds, however, this did not change the results of the game as the Canucks still won with a final score of 4-2. 

Game 1 was an intense battle especially with the Preds doing well in the first two periods of the game and the Canucks trailing behind until the third period. Preds goaltender, Juuse Saros, had a save percentage of 0.850 and saved 17 out of 20 shots on goal. Canucks’ goaltender, Thatcher Demko, had a save percentage of 0.909 and saved 20 out of 22 shots on goal. 

The Vancouver Canucks lead 1-0 in round one of the playoffs against the Nashville Predators.

Game 1 Results

• Florida Panthers lead 1-0 in round one of the playoffs against the Tampa Bay Lightning 

• New York Rangers lead 1-0 in round one of the playoffs against the Washington Capitals

• The Winnipeg Jets lead 1-0 in round one of the playoffs against the Colorado Avalanche

• The Vancouver Canucks lead 1-0 in round one of the playoffs against the Nashville Predators

Who do you think is going to win Game 2? 

Comment down below!