Morning Snapshots: Nyquist The Hero In OT, Blues Take Game Two + More

Via: zimbio.com

• The Ducks fought back from a 4-1 deficit in the third period to send the game to OT, but the Wings managed to preserve the victory with a goal from Gustav Nyquist at 1:21 of the extra frame. Damian Brunner led the way for Detroit, with a goal and two assists, while Johan Franzen also netted two goals. Saku Koivu , Kyle Palmieri and Bobby Ryan all picked up two points for the Ducks. The series now shifts back to Detroit for game three tied 1-1 with the Wings taking back home ice advantage. Rookie defenseman Danny Dekeyser, who has been brilliant since joining the Wings, looks like he will be out for the rest of the playoffs after suffering a broken thumb on a slash by Teemu Selanne.
• Blues defenseman Barret Jackman picked a good time to score his first career playoff goal, breaking a 1-1 tie with just 50.4 second left in regulation to give St.Louis a 2-1 win and a 2-0 series lead. Kings goalie Jonathan Quick played well after his embarrassing gaffe in game one, but couldn't out-duel Brian Elliot who was brilliant again in victory. Despite being down 2-0, the games have been very close and the Kings remain confident heading back to LA, where they lost just four times this season.
• Ottawa's goal Craig Anderson was a monster against the Canadiens, picking up 48 saves as the Sens took game one 4-2. The Habs set new team playoff records for shots, but it wasn't enough to put the Sens away. Montreal led 2-1 after two, but Carey Price couldn't preserve the victory, allowing three goals in the final frame. 
• The game was highlighted by an ugly incident when Ottawa defenseman Eric Gryba nailed Montreal's Lars Eller with a huge open ice hit. Eller, who has been one of Montreal's hottest players, was bleeding profusely on the ice before being stretchered off and taken to hospital as a precaution. He suffered a concussion and multiple facial fractures on the play. Though the head wasn't the principle point of contact in my opinion, Gryba recieved a 5 minute major, a game misconduct and will get a phone hearing from the league to see if supplemental discipline is required. All of this could have been avoided though if Montreal's Raphael Diaz hadn't fed Eller a perfect suicide pass...has he never seen clips of Scott Stevens before?
• The Washington Capitals drew first blood against the New York Rangers, scoring three goals in the second period on their way to a 3-1 victory in game one. Alex Ovechkin got it started with a power play goal, his 31st career playoff goal setting a Caps franchise record. Carl Hagelin was the only Ranger able to put one past Cap's netminder Braden Holtby, who was excellent and finished with 35 saves. Rick Nash had a good game for New York, with 16 shot attempts, but remains without a playoff victory in his career and will have to be better in game two for the Rangers to turn this series around.
• Penguins captain Sidney Crosby returned to practice with his regular linemates Pascal Dupuis and Chris Kunitz yesterday. Though Crosby has not yet been cleared to play by his doctors, a return seems imminent. Jussi Jokinen was also back on the ice after getting knocked out of the last game after a knee on knee incident with Marty Reasoner.
• And finally, Boston defenseman Andrew Ference was suspended one game yesterday for an illegal check to the head of Toronto's Mikhail Grabovski. The play did not draw a penalty during the game, but was reviewed by the league and determined to be reckless and deserving of punishment.

That's all for now everybody, thanks for reading. I'll be back later with my nightly look at tonight's playoff action. Also, with the IIHF World Championships kicking off today, don't forget to check out my special preview post from yesterday. For those of you wondering, here's a look at the Gryba/Eller incident from last night: