The NHL playoffs are full of mixed results, with no comebacks

The NHL playoffs are missing close games and comebacks that seem to happen every year with all the intensity after the season.

With the exception of games with empty nets that widen the gap, in 10 of the 20 games of the first round by Friday night, three or more goals were scored. For comparison, there were only four games with one goal, with two reaching at least one session in overtime.

There were almost no comebacks along the way with teams jumping out, rarely giving up control.

“If you fall behind, I guess you’re chasing the game,” said Florida Panthers interim coach Andrew Brunet, whose team, which won the Presidential Trophy, lost Saturday in Washington 6-1 to add to list of unilateral results. “It makes you reveal a little bit. And then sometimes things go the other way and you keep pushing. I think you see it all over the league, in fact, a lot. “

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Watching 4 games on Sunday, Carolina, Minnesota, Toronto and Edmonton beat their opponents 2-1 (53-27). First of all, the Oilers have beaten the Los Angeles Kings 6-0 and 8-2 in the last two games.

It was also difficult to return to the game after the lag.

Only two teams lost as of Friday night when they scored first, then Florida scored six goals on Saturday after taking a 1-0 lead. Pittsburgh was the only team to win the first 20 games after falling behind by two goals in a 4-3 victory over the New York Rangers in overtime.

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If you delve into the game, then Washington’s victory in the first game in Florida was the only time the team won after falling behind in the third period.

This comes after a regular season in which four teams – led by 24 Florida wins – won more than 20 games when passing the first goal. And 13 teams at least once overcome the deficit of three goals.

“The score in the game doesn’t matter, be it a 2-1 triple overtime or a little more one-sided,” Oilers coach Jay Woodcroft said. “It doesn’t matter. It’s one game. “

HURICANES IN BRUINS, CAROLINA LEADS IN SERIES 2-1 (12:30 PM EDT, ESPN)

Carolina and Boston are dealing with injury issues.

In the 3rd game on Friday, the Hurricanes lost winger Jordan Martinuk due to a lower body injury. Martinuk’s injury could open up space for veteran Derek Stepan with 106 playoff games in his resume.

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“Obviously, this is not an ideal situation, but for me it is an opportunity,” said Stepan.

Coach Rod Brind’Amour said Hurricanes will also consider launching Anti Raant into the net in Game 4. He was knocked out of Game 2 early after receiving a header from Boston’s David Pastrnak, and rookie Peter Kochetkov took over the game. and start the game 3.

Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy said Hampus defender Lindholm is improving but will miss his second game in a row after a sharp strike by Andrei Svechnikov of Carolina in the second game.

WILD’S BLUES, MINNESOTA LEADS IN SERIES 2-1 (4:30 PM EDT, TBS)

The St. Louis Blues are another hit in their blue line.

Defender Tori Circle withdrew from Game 3 on Friday in the first period due to a lower body injury and did not return.

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“It’s going to be a while,” coach Craig Berub said Saturday.

St. Louis has already dealt with injury issues for other defenders Robert Bortuzzo and Nico Lady.

Bortuzzo took the puck in the face and withdrew 2 games in the first period. The lady was withdrawn from Game 2 due to an upper body injury he received and missed in Game 1. Berube did not offer a timeline for their return, saying the team would evaluate how they rode on Saturday.

Minnesota has won each of the last two games with a four-goal advantage, first 6-2 in Game 2 and then 5-1 in Friday’s 3 away game.

MAPLE LEAFS at LIGHTNING, Toronto leads 2-1 series (19:00 EDT, TBS)

Lightning feels like they exploded in Game 3, spending too much time in the penalty area against the team that played the best game of the regular season in the league.

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Over the past three postseasons he has twice ruled the Stanley Cup with a score of 16-0 in games after losing in the playoffs.

“Let’s be honest, if you’re going to spend 10 of the first 40 minutes in the penalty area, it won’t help you either,” said coach John Cooper.

The Maple Leafs know the series is far from over.

“I don’t think we’ve achieved anything yet, obviously. … But I like where we are as a group, ”said Toronto defender Morgan Rielli. “We’re focused, we’re not going too far ahead, and it’s important to keep it under control.”

OILERS at KINGS, Edmonton leads 2-1 series (22:00 EDT, TBS)

The Kings must figure out how to slow down the Euler attack.

After winning the first game in overtime, the Kings have lost in the last two games with a total score of 14-2. This made the “Oilers” the first team in the history of the league, which lost the first game of the playoff series, and then won each of the next two with a difference of at least six goals, according to STATISTICS.

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Edmonton has a 5 on 11 (0.455) in power play to lead all teams in the postseason and they took control in the second period (plus -25 shots, plus -5 goals). For comparison, Los Angeles – 1 in 12 (0.083) with an advantage in men.

“We have to look at it 2-1,” central Kings Philip Dano said. “You don’t want to look at all the goals. We didn’t play very well, but, yes, we had to work hard to be the best. “

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AP Hockey Writers John Wowrow in Buffalo, New York; and Stephen Wino in Washington; and AP Sports Writers Fred Goodall in Tampa, Florida; and Joe Reedy in Los Angeles; contributed to this report.

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Follow Aaron Beard on Twitter at https://twitter.com/aaronbeardap

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