The second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs has certainly delivered excitement, and Tuesday night was no exception.
In the only playoff game of the night, the Dallas Stars secured a 3-1 victory over the Winnipeg Jets in Game 4, establishing a dominant 3-1 lead in the series. Forward Mikael Granlund was the offensive hero, netting the first hat trick of his playoff career, while goaltender Jake Oettinger provided a stellar performance, standing tall in the net.
With another night of playoff action concluded, let`s take a closer look at some of the standout performances from Tuesday`s contest.
3. Nikolaj Ehlers | LW | Jets
The Jets maintained an aggressive offensive posture throughout Game 4 but struggled to translate their efforts into goals. One positive aspect for Winnipeg was the play of star winger Nikolaj Ehlers, who scored the team`s lone goal early in the second period.
During a power play opportunity that carried over from the first period, Ehlers found himself with the puck near the side of the Dallas net just over a minute into the second frame, as the man advantage was expiring. With a challenging angle, Ehlers managed to fire a shot that found its way past Oettinger. From an offensive perspective, it would be difficult to find a more impactful Jets player than Ehlers. He has now scored three goals in the series and has consistently shown a knack for getting to the net.
2. Jake Oettinger | G | Stars
Jake Oettinger faced difficulties against the Jets during the regular season, recording a 3.25 goals-against-average in four games. However, he has completely reversed his performance in this second-round series, turning aside 31 of the 32 shots he faced in the Game 4 win.
Oettinger frequently came to the Stars` rescue throughout Tuesday`s game with spectacular saves. One particularly crucial moment occurred approximately six minutes into the second period when the Stars committed a neutral zone turnover while on the power play. This led to a breakaway opportunity for Jets star Kyle Connor. Attempting a backhand move, Connor was thwarted by Oettinger, who slid across expertly to shut down the potential scoring chance.
Oettinger has been victorious in three of his four starts in the series, maintaining a 2.00 goals-against-average and a .929 save percentage. He has also been exceptional when playing on home ice, boasting a 13-2 record in his last 15 home starts. While Connor Hellebuyck impressed with a shutout earlier in the series, Oettinger has arguably been the more consistent goaltender up to this point.
1. Mikael Granlund | C | Stars
Despite the Jets often having the edge in offensive zone time and momentum in Game 4, Mikael Granlund single-handedly propelled his team to victory with his impressive hat-trick performance on Tuesday.
Granlund`s impactful night began when he drew a holding-the-stick penalty on Jets defenseman Dylan DeMelo, setting up a power play. On the ensuing man advantage, Granlund carried the puck up from the defensive zone, skillfully maneuvered around Jets forward Parker Ford, and unleashed a wrist shot that beat Hellebuyck under the glove. In the second period, Granlund provided offense once more. Entering the offensive zone on a two-on-one with teammate Roope Hintz, he elected to shoot himself, sending a powerful shot over Hellebuyck`s glove. Finally, Granlund clinched the hat trick with a one-timer, set up by Stars defenseman Miro Heiskanen, who was playing his first game since January after recovering from a knee injury.
This marked only the second multi-goal game of Granlund`s postseason career, the first being against the Blackhawks in Game 3 of the second round in 2014. Granlund was highly engaged throughout Game 4, recording five hits and winning three face-offs in addition to his three goals. He has seamlessly fit into Dallas` top line since being acquired before this season`s trade deadline and could be a vital asset as the Stars pursue their second Stanley Cup in franchise history.
Elton Marrow