The Anaheim Ducks and Calgary Flames -- the West's first and seventh seeds, respectively -- are famous for their often baffling third period comebacks. These improbable wins happened frequently in the regular season, and so far, the playoffs have been no different.
2015 NHL playoff scores: Ducks come back again, take down Jets
Thursday’s playoff action was highlighted by Anaheim’s 25th third period comeback of 2014-15.
Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Calgary achieved yet another come-from-behind victory on Wednesday against Vancouver, doing so by scoring with 30 seconds left in regulation.
On Thursday, Anaheim lived up to its reputation, as well: Trailing 2-1 after 40 minutes, Corey Perry scored twice in the final stanza and led the Ducks to a 4-2 triumph over the Jets.
Earlier in the night, the New York Rangers took down the physically and mentally injured Pittsburgh Penguins, 2-1, while Pavel Datsyuk and the Detroit Red Wings defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning 3-2 despite a 14-shot effort.
In St. Louis, the Blues continued their well-documented playoff struggles by falling to the Minnesota Wild, 4-2.
Scores
New York Rangers 2, Pittsburgh Penguins 1
Detroit Red Wings 3, Tampa Bay Lightning 2
Minnesota Wild 4, St. Louis Blues 2
Anaheim Ducks 4, Winnipeg Jets 2
3 things we learned
1. Mrazek deserved to start over Howard
Red Wings head coach Mike Babcock opted to start the somewhat untested Petr Mrazek, 23, instead of veteran goalie Jimmy Howard, who had struggled to close out the regular season. This decision proved to be a great one, as Mrazek stopped 44 of 46 shots.
2. St. Louis fell flat...again
The Blues are often mocked for their playoff ineptitude, and after Thursday's series opener against Minnesota, this criticism should continue to mount. St. Louis was vastly outplayed for the majority of the contest; its top line of Alex Steen, Jori Lehtera and Vladimir Tarasenko was remarkably impotent, and failed to register a single shot on goal until 57 seconds were left in regulation.
3. Pavel Datsyuk may be 36, but he’s still a star
GIF Datsyuk did a thing pic.twitter.com/dQyyEcL9uo
— Stephanie Vail (@myregularface) April 10, 2015
Impact moment
Luke Glendening scored the game-winner for Detroit on the penalty kill with this spin move:
GIF: Nice little move by Luke Glendening to beat the Lightning D pic.twitter.com/cK4UKkEZUf
— Pete Blackburn (@PeteBlackburn) April 17, 2015
Stat of the night
Via NHL PR: Datsyuk’s goal eight seconds into the second period is fastest to start a period in Detroit Red Wings playoff history. The former record belonged to Gordie Howe, who scored nine seconds into the first period on April 1, 1954.
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