Both games on Thursday went to overtime, and it had everything to do with goaltending.
NHL playoff scores 2016: Pekka Rinne and Kari Lehtonen save their teams in OT wins
Both Game 4s on Thursday belonged to the goalies.
Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
No team needed a strong start in net more than the Dallas Stars. Kari Lehtonen started Game 2 and got pulled. Antti Niemi started Game 3 and got yanked in a 6-1 drubbing. Coach Lindy Ruff decided to go back to Lehtonen in Game 4. You could call it a gamble, but at this point starting either of them is a gamble.
Either way, it paid off in spades. Lehtonen was terrific, stopping 24 saves and plenty of grade-A chances down the stretch. Throw in a more defensively responsible performance in front of him, and the Stars managed to eke out (that's a pun, you'll get it in a few minutes) an overtime win in Game 4.
But that game was quick compared to the epic penned by the Nashville Predators and San Jose Sharks in their Game 4. The Predators won in triple overtime, but it almost seems unfair that Sharks goalie Martin Jones gets saddled with a loss. His 41 saves were often phenomenal, dwarfed only by the theatrics that Pekka Rinne was showing off at the other end. Teams with lesser netminders might have found a way to lose in the third period; as it is, the Predators and Sharks survived for almost TWO WHOLE GAMES thanks to their goalies on Thursday.
Scores
Stars 3, Blues 2 (OT)
Predators 4, Sharks 3 (3 OT)
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3 things we learned
1. The Stars responded to Game 3 in the best way
Two outcomes were possible after Dallas got routed in Game 3. They could either come out in Game 4 as a drained hockey club, still shaken up and reeling from one of the worst playoff losses in franchise history. Or they could come out with purpose. The latter came to fruition, as the Stars played defensively responsible hockey and made the most of the chances the Blues gave them. It was a far cry from how they played two days earlier.
2. San Jose’s penalty kill came to play
All-in-all, the Predators had five power play chances in Game 4. They scored on none of them. A lot of that is a result of Jones’ brilliance, but the rest of the penalty killers for the Sharks pitched in their best special teams performance of the playoffs, a huge reason the game lasted as long as it did.
3. James Neal has a terrific goal war cry
"Okay, James, you can buy two things from the ice cream truck." pic.twitter.com/KzvFwzZtxu
— SB Nation NHL (@SBNationNHL) May 6, 2016
Impact Moment I
Cody Eakin had a rough game, but he totally redeemed himself at the end:
Impact Moment II
Joe Pavelski looked like he ended Game 4 in the first overtime, but it was waved off after further review. Here's why:
guessing they 1st reviewed to make sure it was not gloved in; he gets his stick on it pic.twitter.com/JGd526okar
— Stephanie (@myregularface) May 6, 2016
once they determined that was a good goal, they reviewed interference. no goal due to interference. pic.twitter.com/DJ2JkeuKS5
— Stephanie (@myregularface) May 6, 2016
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.
ok.... i wont lie... i moved a lil bit ... itll never happen again https://t.co/y9SOh1A4Ab
— Tony X. (@soIoucity) May 6, 2016
if we win this game im super gluing everything in this room. besides my dog... she might need to live her life at some point too.
— Tony X. (@soIoucity) May 6, 2016
Stat of the Night
The @PredsNHL have required multiple overtimes in 5 of 10 playoff OT games (1-3), including each of their last three (2 vs. CHI in 2015 FR).
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) May 6, 2016
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