2022 WESTERN CONFERENCE QUARTER FINAL #2

 

Game 1:  A playoff game in LA for the first time since their inaugural season.  The SDA is rocking at the start and the Danes feed off the crowd and jump to a 3-0 lead after one, capped by a Hintz PPG with 3 seconds left in the period.  In the second, Barkov extends the lead before Draisaitl gets Alamo on the board, but Krejci scores to extend the lead to 5-1.  Mike Smith is pulled after 33 minutes, and the Danes are in control 5-1 after two.  But back-to back goals by Orlov make it a 5-3 game, and things get real interesting when Tolvanen makes it 5-4 with 3:23 left.  Some nervous moments at the end, but the Danes hold on for the 5-4 win.

 

Game 2:  Alamo gets an early goal from their 4th line, with defenseman Chychrun scoring at 2:26.  But Stephenson ties it in the latter stages of the period, so it’s 1-1 after one.  Period 2 is scoreless, and it stays that way until Scheifele gives LA the lead with under 5 minutes left in the 3rd.  After Stephenson hits the post with an empty-net attempt with a minute left, Alamo presses and gets another goal from their 4th line (Clutterbuck) to tie the game with only 16 seconds left.

 

So it’s playoff overtime hockey, and neither team gets much going as we approach the midway point of the overtime period.  When Nylander for LA hits the post 9 minutes in, it appears this may not be LA’s night.  But it’s the Danes turn to get some 4th line magic, and Yanni Gourde becomes the hero with the OT winner at 10:24.

 

So the Danes come away with 2 wins at home in two tough, one-goal contests.