The hockey players of Vancouver, with Filip Hronk in the lineup, won on the ice of Nashville with a goal in the 59th minute 1:0, won the series 4:2 and advanced to the second round of the NHL playoffs. Defending Stanley Cup champion Vegas defeated Dallas 2-0 at home to force a decisive Game 7.
Vancouver won all three games in Nashville, each time by a goal. Friday’s duel was decided by an action 99 seconds before the end of the third period: Brock Boeser selflessly sent the puck from the rear guard with a backhand into the area in front of the goal, and Pius Suter finished promptly. Hronek, who did not score in the series, was also on the ice at the goal.
Arturs Šilovs, who has been in goal since Game 4 of the series after Thatcher Demko and Casey DeSmith were injured, is the unexpected starter. The Latvian goalkeeper has minimal experience with the NHL. So far, he has caught only nine games in the regular season of the NHL and added three more in this year’s playoffs. In the last match, he stopped 28 shots and recorded a clean sheet for the first time in his career in the competition. Vancouver will face Edmonton in the Western Conference semifinals.
In Vegas, too, there was a long wait for the opening goal. He fell in the 50th minute after an individual action by defender Noah Hanifin, who made a breakthrough with a shot from the right circle. Mark Stone secured the win with Dallas playing without a goaltender. Adin Hill picked up the clean sheet. Tomáš Hertl, who only scored in the opening game of the series (1+0), was also happy about the victory of the home team.
| NHL Playoff Round 1: |
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| Western Conference – 6th Matches: |
| Nashville – Vancouver 0:1 (final series: 2:4) |
| Vegas – Dallas 2:0 (series status: 3:3) |
