Two teams advanced to the second round of the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs on Sunday, while the Rangers put the Flyers on the ropes.
Stanley Cup playoffs 2014
Scores, highlights and reaction from Sunday’s games
Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
2 - 4 NYR leads, 3-2
1 - 5 CHI wins, 4-2
4 - 5 (OT) ANA wins, 4-2
5 things to know
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Handshakes heal all wounds
Brent Seabrook's illegal hit on David Backes in Game 2 was the ugliest moment of the first round, spurring tensions between the two teams to their highest point. For all the fighting and the hatred spewed on and off the ice after the hit, it was great to see Seabrook and Backes hug it out in the postgame handshakes after Game 6. Only in hockey would a man shake the hand of the guy who nearly concussed him. -
You were wrong to underestimate the Blackhawks
Expecting the defending Stanley Cup champions to roll over and die was a mistake. Granted, they looked completely out of their element after two playoff games and hadn't shown their usual consistency all season. But in a series of two underachieving contenders, the Blackhawks proved their worth with four straight wins to eliminate St. Louis. The key was the play of Jonathan Toews, who rattled off three goals and five points during Chiago's comeback. Whichever team advances to play Chicago, it had better come prepared for a fight because the Blackhawks are finding their legs at the right time.
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Philadelphia needs to find a way past King Henrik when it counts
The Flyers' goal late in Game 5 was their first third-period goal against Henrik Lundqvist in the series, a sign that the Flyers aren't coming up big when they need to the most. The remedy? Don't fall behind early. Philadelphia has dropped each of the last two games in which it was outscored by the Rangers in the first period. Lundqvist knows how to shut the door in the playoffs, and Philly might not get a chance at a comeback if it falls behind in Game 6.
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The Ducks won the road battle
The home team won every single game in the Ducks-Stars series until Game 6, when the Ducks finally figured out their road woes and completed a miraculous comeback against the Stars. Considering how well it played at home, Dallas has to be kicking itself for letting its play slip in the three road games it lost.
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Anaheim has a goalie problem
Bruce Boudreau raised eyebrows when he decided to start rookie Frederik Andersen over veteran Jonas Hiller in round one, and the results were mixed. Andersen has been pulled from the net twice now, after giving up four goals on just 12 shots in Game 6. It's clear that Boudreau doesn't trust Hiller, for whatever reason, so who knows who he'll start in the second round. He had better think long and hard about that decision, because his team's season depends on him getting it right.
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