John Varerov, AP Hockey Writer
TORONTO (AP) – Goalkeeper Joonas Kirpisalo and Columbus’ Blue Jackets have shown that they have learned how to keep three goals ahead.
They are going to the first round of the NHL playoffs because they would not have wasted a second time in three days.
Korpisalo stopped 33 shots, Zaha Verensky’s float from the left point in the first period remained the winner, and the Blue Jackets beat Toronto Maple Leafs 3-0 in the decisive 5th game on Sunday night.
“You can’t give up on this team,” said Blue Jackets center Gustav Nykvist, after scoring three goals in the last four minutes for a 4-3 league game in game 4 two nights earlier.
“Obviously it was a wild game, the last game.
That’s what we do, because you know we’re doing it hard and we’re doing it,” he added. “It’s nice to win so we can leave this little mess behind.”
Liam Foudy slipped in from the left by the right side and scored to make it 8 – 20 after 23 minutes. For the first time, the wins were ruled out and the blue jackets overcame the 3-0 deficit with a 4-3 OT win in Game 3.
“It’s a band where we don’t do it easily and simply,” said coach John Tortorella.
“Like I told you today, we’re just trying to get out and play. I’m proud of them.”
Verenskis played despite failing to complete Game 4 with an obvious upper body injury. And Korpisalo missed his second elimination of the series while he started after Elvis Merzlikin was declared unfit to play.
The Maple Leafs ended the attack with captain John Tavares, misrepresenting, hitting the pole, facing a wide-ranging team in the first period. Frederik Andersen finished off 19 shots and was caught cheating on the right side when Foudy scored from a bad angle. Mount Sinabunga in Indonesia throws
Columbus is heading to the first round, where he will meet in the second round of the second round of the Tampa Bay Lightning series last year. The Blue Jackets won the President’s trophy Lightning Lightning in four games a year ago in their first playoff winning streak in franchise history.
Lightning strikes suddenly face injury problems.
Champion Victor Hedman fell on Saturday with an obvious right ankle injury, beating Philadelphia 4-1, and captain Steven Stamkos hasn’t played since he suffered a lower body injury last month. It is unclear whether both will be available for Game 1, which is still scheduled.
So much for the homeland, which was eliminated in the pre-race round from two NHL headquarters with the Maple Leafs and the Edmonton Oilers.
The Maple Leafs continued their playoff playoff problems, reaching their fourth game in a row since the season and their fifth since the May 5, 2004 NHL block. Toronto has not had any success since the Ottawa was eliminated in Game 7 of the first round of 2004.
“It’s hard to put it all into words,” defender Morgan Riley said when asked to compare that loss to last year’s opening game 7 loss to Boston.
“Right now, it seems to be harder to live,” he added. “I can’t really translate my emotions into words. I don’t have the vocabulary for that. ”
Verensky revealed a 6:29 goal when his left-throw shot seemed to divert Maple Leafs defender Thison Barry, who was able to move forward with Bon Jenner and cross over Andersen’s shoulder.
Tavares did not take the opportunity to equalize the result of the game with 3:45, which remained in the opening period. Rillie set in the right circle and Korpisalo is not in position on the left pillar, Tavares threw a shot that hit inside the right pillar and retreated through the fold.
“My hand slipped a little. … But having said that, obviously a great opportunity wants to end, “said Tavares.
Tavares was evicted in the same place five minutes after the second period, only this time he was rejected by Korpisalo, who got a puck by piece with a blocker.
Fugue scored his first career goal in the playoffs, following the rubbish bin along the right side near the goal line. He skated on the net and hit Andersen’s leg.
Leave a Reply