RTP Daily Thread: August 5th

We are just four days into the NHL’s re-start and already the first team is eliminated, as the New York Rangers dropped their third straight game to the Carolina Hurricanes. Of note for Sens fans, and perhaps comfort to New York fans, the Rangers become one of the 8 teams with a 12.5% chance at the first overall selection. Can you imagine Alexis Lafrenière beside Artemi Panarin and Mika Zibanejad?!

Tuesday’s Games:

Carolina Hurricanes 4, New York Rangers 1, CAR win series 3-0

• This was perhaps the most lop-sided series in terms of the run of play in its first two games and Tuesday afternoon’s affair was no different: the Hurricanes were the better start to finish. Sebastian Aho absolutely undressed Tony DeAngelo for a beauty on the third Carolina goal that effectively iced the game away in the final frame./

Calgary Flames 6, Winnipeg Jets 2, CGY leads series 2-1

• The short-handed Jets got the first goal courtesy of Nikolaj Ehlers but Calgary scored six of the next seven to easily walk away with the win. It’s hard to see Winnipeg getting back into this one after this performance./

Toronto Maple Leafs 3, Columbus Blue Jackets 0, Series tied 1-1

• After much hand-wringing in the Canadian national media following Columbus’ clinical defensive performance in game 1, the Leafs played one of their best games of the year and secured a 3-0 win in the process. Columbus managed only 20 shots on goal all night and Toronto got goals from Auston Matthews and John Tavares before Morgan Rielly iced the win with an empty net tally. Jake Muzzin left the game on a stretcher, after falling awkwardly into a Blue Jackets player and seemingly injuring his neck. His status remains unknown as of this writing./

Nashville Predators 4, Arizona Coyotes 2, Series tied 1-1

• After a surprising setback in Game 1, the Preds badly needed game 2 to prevent their season from being pushed to the brink and they responded with the first four goals of their game against the Coyotes before Arizona got two back late in the third to make the score line respectable./

New York Islanders 4, Florida Panthers 2, NYI leads series 2-0

• Mike Hoffman scored first and Aleksander Barkov broke a tie to give the Panthers a 2-1 lead, but the Isles were indomitable en route to a 4-2 win and a stranglehold on the series. Florida’s been a severe disappointment and you have to imagine there will be some changes if they bow out so meekly./

Vancouver Canucks 4, Minnesota Wild 3, Series tied 1-1

• Bo Horvat netted a goal and an assist and the Canucks rode 32 saves from Jacob Markstrom to a 4-3 win and a split of the first two games of their series with the Wild. Sorry, I didn’t stay up to watch this one so I don’t have any more thoughts about it!/

Wednesday’s Games:

New York Islanders @ Florida Panthers, Game 3, 12 pm EST, NYI leads series 2-0

• Can the Panthers stave off elimination? I’m doubtful! /

Nashville Predators @ Arizona Coyotes, Game 3, 2:30 pm EST, Series tied 1-1

• It would be a pretty big surprise if the Coyotes were to emerge from this series as Nashville is clearly the better team but all it takes is two more wins. Are you on Team Chaos?/

Tampa Bay Lightning @ Boston Bruins, 4pm EST Round Robin Series

• I’d wager this is a match-up of the league’s two best teams. I’m hoping we get to see these two face-off later in the play-offs, but if not this might the best hockey that’s played for a while./

Colorado Avalanche @ Dallas Stars, 6:30 pm EST Round Robin Series

• Colorado is coming off its stunning last second win over the St. Louis Blues while the Stars will be looking to bounce back from their round robin loss to the Vegas Golden Knights. After that game, Tyler Seguin said he may continue to kneel during the National Anthems, and that he was particularly interested in supporting players of colour who chose to do so. Given Nazem Kadri’s presence on the Avs, that may well again be the case tonight./

Edmonton Oilers @ Chicago, 10:30 pm EST Series tied 1-1

• Connor McDavid has six points in the first two games and yet the series is only tied at one game apiece. It would seem the Oilers are really going to test the limits of what just one player can do./