May 4, 2025

[SharksGM]

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May the fourth be less cringe than it usually is, and it was a mixed bag of games with no ATIs or OTs that ended with every series being 2-1, with #5 seed MTL the only bottom half seed in the East to claim a series lead.

OTT scores 68 seconds into the game and follows up with 2 more goals. Kravtsov's first of the playoffs gets NJ within 2 at 34:07, but nothing else went in after that and the game ended up being a close copy of game 2, with the crucial difference being that Pickard was solid instead of melting down, and OEL was the general hero. OTT regains home ice advantage and leads 2-1.

NYI open and close scoring, but unfortunately for them give up 6 straight goals to TB inbetween. Shots were even but Jesper Wallstedt was handily outplayed by Carey Price, and three stars Hoeflin, Kessel and Stenberg all finished with 1G 1A each. TB leads 2-1.

The only really close game of the evening features lead changes galore as per usual. Jack Hughes scored twice for PIT, each time grabbing them a lead that they then blew. Hughes came up big and assisted on Boldy's game-winner with under 3 to go in the 3rd, and Jack Campbell spared the Pens from OT. PIT was outshot 31-19 but Jake Oettinger faltered in net for NYR, who lead the series 2-1.

Finally, Patrik Laine's dominance came to an end as Russian forwards stole the show in MTL: Kitsyn x2 and Amirov for the home team, and Anisimov for TOR. Unfortunately, the Leafs' Varlamov was not so impressive in net, letting in 5 on 24 shots. TOR loses in part due to being one of umpteen teams suffering from low challenge percentages, and now trail the series 2-1 to the Habs.