Top Goals, Saves From Stanley Cup Playoffs Round One
By Ryan Mayer, CBS Local Sports
We're through four games of the Stanley Cup Playoffs in each of the series and we've had our fair share of highlights so far. With one team already making it through after the Ducks completed the sweep of the Jets last night, let's look at the top goals and saves in separate categories.
Top Goals
Emerson Etem Dances To A Goal
This came as part of the 5-2 victory for the Ducks last night in sweeping the Winnipeg Jets. Etem tied the game by leaving two different defenders in his wake and flipping the puck casually into the top shelf where grandma hides the peanut butter.
That's just nasty. Poor Winnipeg, those fans were so happy just to be back in the postseason. Well, there's always next year.
Vladimir Tarasenko Dekes Dubnyk
Another goal from last night, Tarasenko is known throughout the league for his dangling ability and he showed off against the Wild in Game 4 last night. A half-breakaway for him turns into a forehand backhand move that leaves Dubnyk with no shot of getting his pads on it.
Unfortunately, there will be no more Tarasenko highlights in this postseason as Minnesota took home the 4-2 series win. The Wild continue to be one of the best stories in the league.
Patrick Sharp Spinning And Winning
This is an incredible display of skill both to be able to snipe the top corner from in close, but also skating ability as he's able to execute that spin in tight quarters in front of the crease before burying the puck.
Another postseason, another Blackhawks team primed to make a Stanley Cup appearance. These guys are ridiculous. They'll get red-hot goalie Devan Dubnyk and the Wild in Round 2 though.
Top Saves
Frederik Andersen Robs Andrew Ladd
I don't mean to continue to pick on the Jets here, but this save by Andersen is a big reason why they're going to be making an early trip to the golf course this spring. The game was tied at 4-4 in Game 2 of the series and the Ducks goalie absolutely denied access to Jets F Bryan Little who had a wide open net with 1:08 left in regulation and the Jets on the power play.
Carey Price Stops Zibanejad From Highlight Reel Finish
That honor belongs to Carey Price who made a great pad save on a shot from Zibanejad after he decked through three different defenseman. It's not as flashy as Andersen's save, but it's more impressive because of his quick ration and recovery. Watch it and see how Price is actually trying to poke the puck off the stick of the Sens forward only to find it out of reach and then have to quickly stick of the right pad as he's sliding away from that side of the net.
The Senators did get two wins against Price and the Canadiens, but Montreal closed them out in Game 6. Now they await the winner of the Detroit Tampa Bay series. Speaking of which…
Petr Mrazek Absurd Stick Save
I was trying to find the right adjective to use for Mrazek's stop. Absurd was the word that I kept repeating to myself over and over again while watching this. If you didn't see it live, prepare yourself. If you did, then just bask in the glow of how ridiculous this save is. Also, further evidence of how unbelievable this was, the announcer thinks it's a goal at first.
Unfortunately, it didn't help his team much because Tampa Bay still struck for 5 goals in a 5-2 win to force Game 7. Not a bold prediction, but nothing will beat this save in the playoffs.
The magic will continue throughout the chase for Lord Stanley's Cup and we'll be watching for more amazing goals and unreal saves.
