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Series wrap-up: The Panthers needed just five games to take out the Lightning
Marc-Olivier Cook
Series wrap-up: The Panthers needed just five games to take out the Lightning
Credit: Getty Images

The Canadiens’ season is over.

But yesterday, there were also two other NHL games.

Here’s what caught our eye:

It’s over for the Lightning too

The first period of Game #5 between the Lightning and the Panthers didn’t lack for action.

The two clubs exchanged two goals in the opening frame… and that set the tone for the game:

In the second period… both clubs also had the same mission: to score.

Aleksander Barkov and Jake Guentzel took turns scoring and the game was tied 3-3 :

It was really after that that we saw the Panthers take control of the match.

Sam Bennett was chased down, the Florida team was able to resist the Lightning’s five-man attack…

And that same Bennett scored coming off the bench. It changed the game:

The Panthers never looked back.

They were able to eliminate the Lightning in just five short games with a 6-3 victory, and that’s a bit of a surprise.

Because in reality, some people thought the Tampa Bay team would go all the way.

The Lightning really looked dangerous with their big offensive players… but the Panthers did a great job throughout the series of neutralizing Tampa Bay’s best elements.

The Panthers deserve credit.

And now they’re in a position to rest up before facing the Leafs or Sens.

Hellebuyck

You’d have thought Connor Hellebuyck’s game had started well when you look at this save.

The Jets goalie quickly stole a goal from the Blues :

But… we saw the Hellebuyck of the playoffs come back afterwards.

The Jets’ netminder allowed two goals on the first five shots he faced. Not a good enough performance from the best goalie in the world:

But… Hellebuyck was able to reposition himself and it helped his team win the game.

The Jets took advantage of their goaltender’s “confidence” to score three unanswered goals (including one in an empty net), when the score was 2-2.

The Blues took off their goalie at the end of the game to attempt a comeback and scored.

But at 5-3, the damage was already done.

The Jets won (5-3) to take a 3-2 lead in the series. Hellebuyck wasn’t great in front of his net, allowing three goals on 19 shots, but hey.

It’s the result that counts, I guess…

It should also be noted that Mark Scheifele was shaken up during the game.

The Jets player was solidly beaten by Brayden Schenn AND Radek Faksa during the game:

After the duel, Jim Montgomery (Blues coach) said Scheifele was injured on the check he received from Faksa.

And Jets coach Scott Arniel… said afterwards that he didn’t know Montgomery had a medical degree and that the Blues coach “was in the field”.

Sounds promising for the rest of the series!


Extension

– This is what it takes.

– It’s all happening!

– Top scorers of the night :

(Credit: NHL.com)

– Four series that could end tonight :

(Credit: NHL.com)
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