I'm still not sure why the NHL decided to put a Game 1 and Game 7 on the same night.
NHL playoff scores 2016: As 1 round closed, another opened in a rare night of hockey
The end of the first round felt oddly subdued thanks to the start of the second on the same night.
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
In actuality, it was most likely arena availability scheduling on the part of Tampa Bay and Brooklyn. Even so, they couldn't have waited a day to line their schedule up with the Penguins and Capitals on Thursday? Amalie Arena looks pretty clear then.
The mix certainly made for a strange Twilight Zone, time travel feeling, going from the Islanders weathering a Lightning storm in the second round opener to the closer of the first round that saw the Predators emerge victorious. One could almost forget that the first pair of teams weren't playing for all the marbles on a night when their western brethren were.
That might explain why Ben Bishop had such an off-night of hockey -- allowing four goals on 13 shots in Tampa Bay's 5-3 Game 1 loss to the Islanders -- just hours after being named a Vezina Trophy finalist. Not that the Lightning were coming off a six-day break or anything.
Or it was why the Ducks came out flatfooted in a Game 7 must-win situation at home and found themselves facing elimination after allowing two goals in the first 20 minutes. Not that they were outplayed when the games mattered the most.
Wednesday was a weird limbo situation, as we were stuck in the ether between the closing of one playoff door and the opening of another. It certainly didn't feel like a do-or-die situation with a Game 7 to end the first round. Whether that was on the lack of bite from the Ducks until the third period or witnessing a Game 1 moments beforehand, it's hard to say.
But, the past is in the past. The Ducks were the last to fall after allowing the Predators to get the better of them once again. Round 2, here we come.
Scores
Islanders 5, Lightning 3
Predators 2, Ducks 1
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3 things we learned
1. John Tavares continues to be hot for the Islanders
A lot of Islanders touched the puck, and scored goals, in New York's 5-3 victory over Tampa Bay. But continuing upon his nine-point performance from the first round, Islanders captain John Tavares had two points in the key Game 1 win. As it stands, Tavares' power play goal that yanked Bishop in the second stood as the game-winner when the Lightning stormed back to make it 4-3 late in the third period.
So far, Tampa Bay has yet to learn from their Florida neighbors: contain Tavares.
2. Maybe we were all wrong about Pekka Rinne?
Sure, he let in three-plus goals in each of Anaheim’s three wins in the series, but the Ducks did not light him up like many believed. Rinne had his worst career save percentage this year -- a cool .908 -- in seven seasons that he’s played over 2,000 minutes. He may not have been the difference maker for Nashville in this series, but he wasn’t the downfall of the Predators as people predicted.
3. Roberto Luongo and Tony X are the friendship Hockey Twitter deserves
Newly minted hockey fan Tony X had his first encounter with the not-so-secret Twitter of Panthers goaltender Luongo and what a gift their interactions were.
You don't know the half of it Tone... Can I call you Tone? https://t.co/88Ba7nS5Vn
— Strombone (@strombone1) April 28, 2016
illl allow it. ive been told you have top 5 peripheral vison in all of hockey. i will be doing my googles on u https://t.co/CfloEV0gqM
— Tony X. (@soIoucity) April 28, 2016
@soIoucity don't google 2011 SCF
— Strombone (@strombone1) April 28, 2016
ill watch that first..... so itll kinda be like a comeback story. started from the bottom now we here https://t.co/tr5ePpmlLI
— Tony X. (@soIoucity) April 28, 2016
@soIoucity more like started from the bottom now we still here...but I like your enthusiasm. Give it some time. That will change
— Strombone (@strombone1) April 28, 2016
Impact Moment
It’s a tie between Erik Condra’s scary injury from colliding with the boards ...
... and Islanders head coach Jack Capuano taking a puck to the face.
Tweets from Tony
Remember Tony, AKA @soloucity on Twitter, who fell in love with hockey during the Blues/Blackhawks Game 7? We're dedicating a section in our recaps to the gems of his Twitter account during the playoffs.
i am lowkey right now and hockey got basically 2 halftimes to get snacks nba and nfl losing lowkey https://t.co/5WsuDWLCUY
— Tony X. (@soIoucity) April 28, 2016
Stat of the Night
Ducks opponents in Game 7
— Greg Beacham (@gregbeacham) April 28, 2016
2013: 2 goals in first 16:37
2014: 2 goals in first 8:48
2015: 2 goals in first 11:55
2016: 2 goals in first 15:53
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