Morning Snapshots: Isles Stun Pens, Nucks Lose In OT + More

Via:sports.yahoo.com

• The New York Islanders fought back hard in game two of their first round series against the Penguins, winning 4-3. Even the return of Sidney Crosby, who had two goals, to the lineup wasn't enough for the Pens to get the victory. The turning point came early in the second period when, down 3-1, Islanders forward Kyle Okposo decided to fire his team up by fighting Matt Niskanen. The Isles scored only 14 second after the fight, added another to tie it up before the period was over, and Okposo himself added the game winner in the third. For a team that many thought was done, the Isles proved they can hang with the Pens.
• The Montreal Canadiens responded the best way they knew how after that devastating hit on Lars Eller in game one, on the scoresheet, as they downed the Ottawa Senators 3-1. Carey Price, despite losing a tooth when he was kicked in the face, was outstanding in the victory with 29 saves. His counterpart Craig Anderson couldn't match the effort, allowing three goals during the second period to ultimately seal his team's fate.
• The Minnesota Wild did everything they could to replicate their good performance in game one, but it was the Blackhawks's skill and tenacity that finally seem to have taken over. Michael Frolik and Patrick Sharp both picked up 2 goals in a 5-2 win. The Hawks looked fairly dominant in this one, outshooting the Wild 48-28, and Corey Crawford was there to make some big stops when the defense occasionally broke down. The Hawks simply took their game to another level, a level at which the Wild simply aren't able to perform at.
• Raffi Torres picked up the OT winner against his old team, as the San Jose Sharks defeated the Vancouver Canucks 3-2. It may have been a lucky win for the Sharks, who were outplayed badly over the final two periods by a Canucks team that looked to have flipped the switch. Roberto Luongo made some spectacular saves in the first to keep the Canucks in it, then Ryan Kesler took over with two beautiful goals in the second to take the lead. After dominating faceoffs all night and going 5 for 5 on the penalty kill, the Canucks looked poised for the victory with a minute to go, until Patrick Marleau tied the game after the puck barely squeaked through Luongo's pads. In OT, all it took was one bad pinch by Canucks defenseman Alex Edler for Brent Burns and Torres to head the other way on a two on one. Kevin Bieksa, who was the man back, misplayed his position and Torres had nothing but net to shoot at. Despite the great effort, the Canucks find themselves down 2-0 and now must win at least two games at the Shark Tank to have a hope in this series, a place where San Jose only lost twice all season.
• A quick update for the opening day of the IIHF World Championships: Slovakia beat France 6-2, the Czech Republic won 2-0 over Belarus, the Finns edged the Germans 4-3, and Switzerland shocked the home team Sweden 3-2.
• However the biggest story last night may have been the announcement that Jay Onrait and Dan O'Toole will be leaving TSN and taking their talents to Fox Sports. The SportsCentre duo has been loved by Canadians for years and will now be sharing their own brand of quirky humor with American audiences.

Thanks for reading, I'd love to hear your comments and don't forget to share if you like the content here at WAAP. I'll be back later today with your nightly playoff previews. Until then, enjoy Jarome Ignla proving last night he's more than just a sweet pair of hands. Just hope Shanny doesn't suspend him.