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Morning Skate: Playoff hockey needs to go to its room and cool off a bit
Tensions are rising, and not in a good way.
David Banks-USA TODAY Sports
Lace ‘em up. Time for the Morning Skate.
* * *
LET’S JUST SETTLE DOWN, EVERYONE
As we near the first elimination games of the 2016 Stanley Cup playoffs, we’re starting to see nerves fray and tensions boil over for the teams on the brink.
Two days ago, it was the Philadelphia Flyers and their fans losing their composure in a spectacular meltdown. Chicago’s display as they fell down 3-1 in their series was no less egregious.
You had Corey Crawford leaving his net to pummel a Blues player who almost ran him over in the crease, starting a mini-brawl. Jonathan Toews getting in a shoving match with Vladimir Tarasenko. And then Andrew Shaw going ballistic and using a gay slur at an opponent in the final minutes.
It was another ugly night for the league. We’ll definitely have more on it later today on the site. But it you hate to see teams regress to that level when their backs are against the wall, whether they’re underdogs like the Flyers or defending champions like the Blackhawks.
WHAT HAPPENED LAST NIGHT
- Aside from the madness? Well, the Blues blitzed the Blackhawks with three goals in the final 40 minutes. They’re a win away from killing some playoff demons.
- Down 2-0 in the series, the Ducks made a goalie change for Game 3. It paid off with a shutout win.
- Tampa Bay took a 3-1 series lead thanks to a terrific three-point performance from Jonathan Drouin.
- Pittsburgh thoroughly dominated the Rangers in a Game 3 victory.
TONIGHT’S PLAYOFF FUN:
- It’ll be fascinating to see how the Flyers and their fans respond in Game 4 after Monday’s debacle.
- Can Minnesota turn the Stars into a lifeless turnover machine again?
- If Los Angeles can pull off a Game 4 win, they’ll head back home with home ice advantage in a best-of-three series.
- Florida will try to take and maintain a lead for the first time in the playoffs.
NEWS AND NOTES:
- Why has Philly’s penalty kill collapsed?
- Andrew Shaw said he didn’t remember what he said on the ice. Right.
- The Blues are refusing to lay down for the Blackhawks.
- Dallas has a lot of improvements to make before Game 4.
- What happened to the Rangers’ offense?
- The Sharks shouldn’t be worried about their power play.
- Kris Letang will not be suspended for chopping his stick at a player’s neck.
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