Morning Snapshots: Brunner Scores In OT, Blues/Kings Find Offense + More

Via: thenewsbuzz.com

• Damien Brunner scored the overtime winner with five minutes to go in the extra frame last night to give the Red Wings a 3-2 win, and even their first round series with Anaheim at two games. The Ducks had a 2-1 lead midway through the third, but an absolutely beautiful snipe by Pavel Datsyuk tied the game with six and half minutes to go. The Wings pushed the offense hard all night, finishing with 49 shots of Ducks goalie Jonas Hiller, who made some great saves but was let down by his defense on the game winning goal. Credit to the Wings defense too, who held all of the Ducks big guns pointless on the night. 
• The Toronto Maple Leafs couldn't take advantage of a raucous home crowd, as they fell 5-2 to the Boston Bruins. The Bruins showed their playoff experience and were led on the scoresheet by David Krecji and Milan Lucic, who both picked up three points. Phil Kessel went from game two hero to goat in this one, as his horrible giveway at his own blue line allowed Dan Paille to walk in and score a shorthanded goal to put the Leafs down 4-1, just when it seemed they might make a comeback. Tuukka Rask was brilliant as well, making 45 saves on 47 shots. The series now sits at 2-1 Bruins.
• The offense finally got going for the Rangers last night, as they were able to put four past Captials goalie Braden Holtby in a close 4-3 win. They won the special teams battle as well, scoring a power play goal and going three for three on the penalty kill. The game winner came with 6:25 to go in the third, as Rick Nash made a great, hard pass to Derek Stepan in front of the net, who knocked it in for his first goal of the playoffs. Derek Brassard finished with three points for the Rangers, who have now pulled back into the series, down 2-1 going into game four tomorrow. Capitals superstar Alex Ovechkin was held pointless for the first time in this series, and seven games overall. 
• Finally there was some offense in the Blues/Kings series last night, as Los Angeles won 4-3 to even the series at two games apiece. Those seven goals equaled the total scored by both teams through the first three games. The big guns came through for the Kings as Anze Kopitar, Jeff Carter and Justin Williams, who scored the winner at 8:30 of the third, were all able to put goals past Blues netminder Brian Elliot. LA's Jonathan Quick didn't have a great night, but his 19 saves on only 22 shots was enough to get the victory. The home team has won every game of this series, which now shifts back to St. Louis for game five.
• Brendan Gallagher of the Montreal Canadiens, Jonathan Huberdeau of the Florida Panthers and Brandon Saad of the Chicago Blackhawks were announced as the finalists yesterday for the Calder trophy as best NHL rookie. You can read more here.
• Ron Rolston, who took over the head coaching duties of the Sabres after Lindy Ruff was fired in Februrary, had the interim tag officially taken off his title by the team yesterday. Roslton led Buffalo to a 15-11-5 record after his hiring this season, and becomes the 16th coach in team history.
• Here's your update from day four of the IIHF World Championships: Slovakia beat Germany 3-2, the surprising Swiss defeated the Czechs 5-2, Finland got past France 3-1 and Sweden doubled up on Belarus 2-1. Switzerland has been the surprise of the tournament so far, defeating top teams Sweden, Canada and now the Czech Republic to sit first in Group S with 8 points. 

That's all for now, thanks for reading. Check back later when I'll have your usual nightly playoff previews, and don't forget to comment and share if you like the content here at WAAP. Remember how I said earlier how beautiful that goal was by Pavel Datsyuk? Here it is, just in case you didn't believe me: