Kings 2

Flames 4

After struggling off and on all season GM Kevin and the Flames seem to have righted the ship going into the playoffs and kicked off round 2 with a pretty convincing home victory over the youthful Kings. The Flames wasted little time getting on the board taking a 1-0 lead a mere 1:51 into the first period by Johnny Gaudreau. What is more surprising was that was Gaudreas first of the post season and he wasn't the only Flames star to struggle early into the playoffs despite the teams success. Andy Greene quickly replied for the Kings to tie it but that was pretty much the only time GM Rumpels squad appeared in this game as the Flames peppered Halak with 16 shots with Sam Bennett getting his first enroute to a 2-1 first period lead. The game leveled off in the second period as both teams traded chances but Halak showed some early signs of fatigue giving up 2 more Flames goals and this was pretty much game over at that point. The third period was more of the same as both teams traded chances before Jimmy Vesey was finally able to cut into the Flames lead but that goal was far too late to make a difference coming at the 15:47 mark. Cam Talbot climbed to a very impressive 5-0 in the playoffs after a very up and down regular season. Flames lead series 1-0

Preds   1

Hawks  3

This game featured 2 western powerhouses as both franchises have been solid for many years and are always favorites to come out of the western conference. With all the firepower available you would expect some firewagon hockey but this one was a boring defensive struggle throughout with special teams being the difference! The Blackhawks managed a 2-0 lead through 2 periods despite having only 14 combined shots and when they scored their 2nd PP goal of the game in the 3rd to take a 3-0 lead it was over. The Preds didn't just fold the tent however and played their best hockey of the game in the 3rd throwing 14 shots on "the King" but he was largely equal to the task stopping 13 of them before finally giving up his shutout at 15:42 while shorthanded. After being largely critisized in the offseason for trading for Lundqvist, GM Yee appears to be having the last laugh as he is now 4-0 this postseason ! Hawks lead series 1-0