The Florida hockey players beat Tampa 6-1 and needed only five games to advance to the conference semifinals of the NHL. Dallas won the second game in Vegas to even the series at 2-2. Even Tomáš Hertl, who did not score for the third time in a row, could not prevent a 2:4 loss.
Florida overcame an even first period and revved its engines to full speed in the second act. After 45 seconds, Carter Verhaeghe sent the Panthers into the lead, and Aleksander Barkov made it 2-0 in the 33rd minute. Florida outshot Tampa 23:12 in the second 20-minute period, but in the end they went to the cabins with a score of 2:1. Victor Hedman scored the contact goal, meaning a chance to extend the series.
But the hope did not last long. Florida swept them off the table with four goals in the last ten minutes and began their journey to defending the conference title with a comfortable advance over their biggest rival.
The series between Dallas and Vegas is much more exciting. The best team in the Western Conference did not win once at home, but in Vegas they managed both games and tied the series at 2:2. The guests won the second point thanks to a 4:2 victory.
The Stars hockey players lost twice in the match, but in the second period they broke the score in their favor and in the third period they maintained a narrow lead. The winning goal was scored at 38:34 by Ty Dellandrea, who got into the game after the second match due to Radek Faksa’s injury.
NHL Playoff Round 1:
Western Conference – Game 4:
Vegas – Dallas 2:4 (1:1, 1:2, 0:1)
Goals: 15. Amadio, 24. Eichel – 18. Dadonov, 30. W. Johnston, 39. Dellandrea, 59. Hintz. Shots on goal: 34:32. Spectators: 18,333. Stars of the game: 1. W. Johnston, 2. Oettinger (both Dallas), 3. Eichel (Vegas). The series is 2:2.
Eastern Conference – Game 5:
Florida – Tampa Bay 6-1 (0:0, 2:1, 4:0)
Goals: 21st and 57th Verhaeghe, 33rd and 52nd Barkov, 55th Rodrigues, 59th Mikkola – 34th Hedman. Shots on goal: 39:32. Spectators: 19,750. Stars of the match: 1. Barkov, 2. Bobrovsky, 3. Verhaeghe (all Florida). The final state of the series 4:1.
