This is the first time I’m writing about hockey in a while, so I thought I would get everyone up to speed on how the playoffs finished up, and what we can expect heading into this unique 2021 NHL Season.

SWEET 16:

LIGHTNING 4 BLUE JACKETS 1(3-2,1-3,2-1,3-2,5-4)

The 6:13 minute 5OT opener set the tone for this series, with Brayden Point scoring winner, off Jonas Korpisalo, who made an NHL record 86 saves in the loss. Meanwhile, Tampa Bay goaltender Andres Vaslevelski made 61 saves in the victory.

Point also need the series with an overtime winner in game 5, capping a late Bolts comeback after they fell behind 4-2 in the 3rd period.

BRUINS 4 HURRICANES 1(4-3,2-3,5-2,3-1,3-1)

Game one was highly contested, with the Bruins winning it in double OT, after a clutch Patrice Bergeron tally. After the game two defeat, Boston lost goaltender Tuuka Rask for the season due to “personal reasons”, but backup and veteran Jaraslov Halak helped righten the ship, as Boston rebound to win three straight, and eliminate the young, and upstart Hurricanes for the second straight year.

ISLANDERS 4 CAPITALS 1(4-2,4-2,2-1,2-3,4-0)

This was Barry Trotz against his own team, and he won this out, as led by Anthony Beauvilliue, Mathew Barzal(OT winner in game 3), Brock Nelson, and goaltender Seviyon Varlamov, they took out the Alex Ovechkin-led Capitals in a five game upset.\

FLYERS 4 CANADIENS 2(2-1,0-5,1-0, 2-0, 3-5,3-2)

This series was eye-opening because of how close it was, as the hottest team in hockey was being challenged by the 24th rank’d team in playoff series. Led by Carey Price, Montreal held their own in a tight and chippy series, but Claude Giroux, and rookie goaltender Carter Hart were too much to handle, as the Flyers advanced.

GOLDEN KNIGHTS 4 BLACKHAWKS 1(4-1,4-3,2-1,1-3,4-3)

This was the Robin Lehner show, as he backstopped Vegas to a win against his former team, while Max Pacorietty helped lead offensive attack for the #1 seed out West. This was a commendable fight from the Blackhawks, but the Golden Knights were too good.\

STARS 4 FLAMES 2(2-3, 5-4,0-2,5-4,3-2,7-3)

What Flames fans will remember from this series, is how they had a lead late in game 4 up 2-2 in the series, and then it all fell apart, in an OT loss. Down 3-2 in the series, Calgary blitzed to a 3-0 first period lead, but then “Flame’d out”, as Dallas scored seven unanswered goals for the series-clincher.

AVALANCHE 4 COYOTES 1

Game 1: Avalanche 3, Coyotes 0

Game 2: Avalanche 3, Coyotes 2

Game 3: Coyotes 4, Avalanche 2

Game 4: Avalanche 7, Coyotes 1

Game 5: Avalanche 7, Coyotes 1

Nazeem Kadri, and Nathan MacKinnon propelled the red-hot Avs to the win.

CANUCKS 4 BLUES 2(5-2, 4-3,2-3,1-3,4-3,6-2)

This was a huge upset, as the young Canucks took out the reigning champions, led by young star Bo Horvat, who also scored the game-winner in OT. MEAnwhile, Vancouver goalie Jacob Markstrom outplayed Jordan Binimgington throughout the series.

ELITE 8:

LIGHTNING 4 BRUINS 1:(2-3,4-3OT,7-1, 3-1,3-2 2-OT2X)

In a battle of the leagues top teams during the regular season, Tampa Bay just seemed to be a step ahead of Boston after that game one loss, and it showed in that 7-1 game 3 thrashing, as well as the. 2OT game 5 win, sending them to the Eastern Conference Finals. Meanwhile, we once again saw the Presidents Trophy winners fail to capture the ultimate prize, with this years victims being the Boston Bruins, who were shockingly outclassed, and outplayed in this series.

ISLANDERS 4 FLYERS 3(4-0,3-4OT, 3-1, 3-2, 3-4OT,4-5OT,4-0)

This was a classic series for the ages, as the Islanders won three in regulation, and led 3-1 in the series, before Philly showed their resolve and won two thrilling overtime games, to force a seventh one. But goals by Jordan eberle, Anthony Beauvillie, and a perfect performance in goal by Varlamov, sent the suddenly surging seventh seeded Islander to the final four.

VEGAS 4 VANCOUVER 3(5-0, 2-5,3-0,,5-3,1-3,4-0, 3-0)

This was yet another classic playoff series,with Vegas scoring three goals in the 3rd to win, and take a 3-1 series lead. But a 43 save performance in game 5, and a 47 save performance in game 6, by rookie goaltender Jacob Markstrom kept the Canucks season alive. It came down to game seven, but the completion the jaw-dropping upset wasn’t to be, as forced to start Thomas Demko because of a back to back, the Canucks saw Vegas score some goals in a 3-0 shutout win for Robin Lehner, sending the Knights to the West final.

STARS 4 AVALANCHE 3(5-3, 5-2, 4-6, 5-4, 3-6,1-4,5-4OT)

If you love goal, this entire series is for you as you can see by the scoreline. Down 3-1, Colorado fought back behind Nathon Mcckinnion, as the Avs scored five goals in the first period of game five to set the tone there, and won game six with their defense to force a winner-take-all game 7.

In the first game seven at a neutral site in NHL history, Dallas scored first, but Colorado came back with two of their own to take a 2-1 lead. Both teams would trade goals three times, with the Avalanche finding themselves up 4-3, but a Jimmy Monta goal, with 2:20 to go forced overtime. In the extra frame, Joel Kiviranta completed the hat-trick with the series-clinching goal.

FINAL FOUR:

LIGHTNING 4 ISLANDERS 2(8-2,2-1,3-5,3-1,1-2(2OT), 2-1)

Game one set the tone, as Tampa routed the Isales 8-2, then settled in for a much closer series, that ended with an Anthony Corelli OT winner, sending the Lightning to the Stanley. Cup finals for the first time since 2004.

STARS 4 VEGAS 1:(1-0), 0-3, 3-2(OT), 2-1,3-2(0T))

This was the Antonie Khoudoubin show, as he stole the show in net for Dallas in a series that also included two OT winners from Alexander Radoulov(game 3), and the series-clincher by Dennis Karianov, as the Stars were headed back to the finals for the first time in 21 years.

Stanley CuP FINAL: LIGHTNING 4 STARS 2(1-4,3-2,5-2,5-4(OT)

The abnormal, unique, and historic run was complete. A game one loss was followed by three straight wins, including an OT winner by Kevin Shattenkirk, to give Tampa bay a commanding 3-1 series lead, and one win away from the Stanley Cup.

However, aCorey Perry OT winner kept the Stars alive, but an Nadre Vaslevsky shutout, great play by Nikita Kucherov (conn Smyth winner), and gold by Brayden Point, and Blake Coleman put this 11 month season to rest, as the Tampa Bay Lightning captured the Stanley Cup at the NHL bubble in Edmonton, for the first time since 2004. Captain Steven Stamkos, won”comeback player o of the tournament” only playing three minutes due to injury, but scoring on his lone shot of the bubble in game three of this series, catapulting the Lightning spirits. This win avenged last seasons first round sweep, at the hand of Columbus, when the Lightning won 62 in the regular season, but failed to produce come playoff time.

This victory also gives veterans like Ryan Mcdonah, and Pat Maroon(second straight cup after winning it in 2019 with ST Louis), rings.

As for Dallas, it was a memorable run that was truly awe-inspiring to watch, but they came up two wins short of glory.