SAD NEWS: New York Rangers announced that Matt Rempe is Leaving immediately today after Facing…..
Not playing their best hockey against an opponent full of desperation, the New York Rangers relied on a familiar recipe to move on in the NHL playoffs.
Artemi Panarin scored the go-ahead goal on the power play early in the third period, Igor Shesterkin made 23 saves and the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Rangers finished off a sweep of the Washington Capitals with a 4-2 victory in Game 4 on Sunday night to advance to the second round.
“The things that we’ve done in the regular season over 82 games is something that we continue to do,” center Mika Zibanejad said.
“We’ve been building toward this, and I still think we can be better, but a great, hard-fought series, and it’s nice [to get] a win.”
The Winnipeg Jets are on the verge of getting eliminated in five games in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs for the second straight season.
A 5-1 loss Sunday to the Colorado Avalanche sent the Jets into a 3-1 series hole while facing numerous questions about what has gone wrong with them since they won Game are self-inflicted,” Jets coach Rick Bowness said.
“Want to take penalties? Want to play a three-quarter ice game? You’re playing right into their hands.”
One of the main questions facing the Jets: What’s going on with star goaltender and 2020 Vezina Trophy winner Connor Hellebuyck?
Hellebuyck entered the playoffs with a 37-19-4 record, a 2.39 goals-against average and a .921 save percentage.
It was the sort of season that allowed the Jets to finish with 52 wins and 110 points and become discussed as a serious challenger in the Western Conference.
It’s also why Hellebuyck is in line to potentially win a second Vezina as he finished the regular season ranked second in wins, second in save percentage, third in GAA among goaltenders with more than 40 games and fifth in shutouts.
This postseason, however, has provided a contrast.
The Jets were formidable in the regular season in part because they allowed 29.6 shots per game, 11th fewest in the NHL, while also giving up the ninth-fewest scoring chances per 60 minutes, according to Natural Stat Trick.
