A rough night for Ovechkin, a showcase of saves, and an unexpected highlight-reel goal. Here are four things we learned in the NHL on Friday.
Panthers finally get in the win column
It took five attempts, but the Florida Panthers finally got their first win of the season on Friday night, and they did so against the reigning Stanley Cup champs by a score of 6-5.
While the monkey is officially removed from their backs, it was no easy victory. Florida built up a 4-1 lead in the first period but frittered it away in the second before allowing the Capitals to push it into overtime on a late goal from Nicklas Backstrom. Three-point nights from Vincent Trochek and Jonathan Huberdeau proved to be the difference in this one, which was settled in a shootout.
The last remaining winless team? That’s the Detroit Red Wings, who just so happen to be visiting the Panthers Saturday night. The Red Wings are 0-5-2 through seven games so far. (By the way, as we learned Thursday, there is no undefeated team.)
Rough night from Ovi
We so often focus on his highlight-reel goals that it’s easy to forget how physical a game Alex Ovechkin plays. Washington’s captain didn’t factor into the scoring Friday, but hoo boy, did he ever make an impact. He came into Friday’s game like a wrecking ball, levelling a pair of Panthers with a couple of massive open-ice hits.
Early in the second period, Ovechkin delivered a high hit that went unpenalized but sent Mark Pysyk to the locker room with an upper-body injury. Panthers head coach Bob Boughner wasn’t happy about the hit going unnoticed, and called for it to be reviewed following the game.
Then one period later, Aleksander Barkov went down hard after getting up close and personal with Ovi’s shoulder in open ice and was clearly shaken as a result of the captain-on-captain crunch.
Thankfully, he was just fine and would remain in the game, even getting the last laugh when scored a stunner in the shootout to help his club claim victory.
Have a day, Dubnyk
Friday night’s matchup between the Minnesota Wild and Dallas Stars quickly turned into a goaltending clinic, with Ben Bishop and Devan Dubnyk taking turns shutting down their opponents through a scoreless first two periods. But it was Dubnyk who was the biggest star of the show in Dallas, thanks to his second-period heroics.
Minnesota’s netminder was simply incredible, facing 24 shots in the middle period alone and stopping every single one of ’em to keep things scoreless. (Watch a compilation of his best in the video atop this post.)
He would eventually let one puck past him in the third, but his team pulled off the win in front of him by scoring three third-period goals of its own for the victory.
Rinaldo wows with game-winner
Snipe, leap, celebrate. Nashville Predators forward Zac Rinaldo isn’t exactly known for posting highlights, but his gorgeous game-winning goal Friday against the Calgary Flames is certainly worth watching a few times.
The game-winner helped the Predators to their fourth straight win and also served as a well-timed pick-me-up for the team after starting goalie Pekka Rinne left early with an apparent injury. (No word yet on his status.)
[relatedlinks]
