NHL 24 Franchise Mode Career

[JurassicPuck]

Canucks Steal a Win in Edmonton Despite Connor McDavid's Three Point Performance

By Russell Dawson / Vancouver Canucks
May 9, 2024

As the series shifts to Edmonton the battle of Rogers begins at Rogers Place in Edmonton, the inferior stadium of course.

Quinn Hughes would snipe his first goal of the playoffs almost 5 minutes into the first with a laser from the high slot. It would be Sam Gagner that would tie it up with a shot in a similar spot to Quinn's goal. The score would remain 1-1 through the first with shots 12-9 Vancouver. Something to note was Andrei Kuzmenko played just one shift during the first and was not on the bench for the second. Something to keep an eye on for sure.

To start the 2nd, it was none other than Connor McDavid who would score his first of the series after an incredible rush up the ice that resulted in a breakaway goal. Canucks would have their own star center Elias Pettersson score to tie it up just a minute later with another goal line goal, something he's starting to gain a reputation for one would think. These two teams would be deadlocked at 2 a piece as we head into the 3rd period.

Of course if he was gonna score one he was going to score two as McDavid fired a wrister over the glove of Demko to make it 3-2 Oilers. Vancouver kept fighting to try and tie the game up but Stuart Skinner was standing strong in net. That was until Carson Soucy fired a seeing eye wrist shot on net which hit the back bar past Skinner and effectively tying the game at 3! At this point you almost just wanted to get to the overtime frame but the Canucks had other ideas. Boone Jenner fired what looked like an easy save on net but it hit a defenseman in front and slid under the pad of Skinner! 4-3 Canucks with just under 4 minutes remaining. Head Coach Bear Schenn had the Nucks play some real tight defensive hockey, allowing the Oilers to get just two shots after the Jenner goal, giving Vancouver the win and the 2-1 series lead.

Game Recaps | May 8, 2024
	5 - 1 Final BOS leads series 3-0
Boston Bruins (7-0)		Montreal Canadiens (4-5)
Game Notes Tanner Pearson's injury from last game is listed as just day-to-day and is expected to be in for Game 4. Bruins fans however blew a sigh of relief as Ullmark returned for this one after missing Game 2. With the injuries, Sean Farrell would make his Playoff Debut for the Canadiens. Boston continues their dominance this postseason with their 7th straight win in a 5-1 clobbering. McAvoy and Heinen both had two goals a piece.

[JurassicPuck]

Scores Around the League

Game Recaps | May 9, 2024
	2 - 3 Final - OT FLA leads series 2-1
New Jersey Devils (5-2)		Florida Panthers (6-3)
Game Notes Dougie Hamilton (Knee) was not available for tonight's game. The Florida Panthers continue to roll through these playoffs as they secure a 3-2 OT victory over the Devils. Bobrovsky made 33 saves and it was 39 year old Corey Perry that would score the OT winner. Timo Meier had a notable game for the Devils as he had points on both of New Jersey's goals with an assist and a goal himself.

	2 - 4 Final COL leads series 2-1
Winnipeg Jets (5-4)		Colorado Avalanche (6-2)
Game Notes Iafallo is confirmed to miss the next week or so due to a pulled groin so Phil Kessel would slot back into the lineup for this one. It was Alexandar Georgiev that shut the door on the Jets with a 40 save performance in a 4-2 Avalanche win

Playoff Storylines to Watch

Corey Perry turning back the clock
With five points through 3 games, including an OT winning goal, Corey Perry looks like how he did back in his heyday. The former Anaheim Duck has been a catalyst for this Panthers offense and looks like he's 29 rather than 39. Can he do enough to get this Panthers team back to the Cup Finals?

[JurassicPuck]

Thatcher Demko and the Canucks heading back to Vancouver with 2 Wins and a 3-1 Series Lead

By Russell Dawson / Vancouver Canucks
May 11, 2024

Andrei Kuzmenko was ruled out for Game 4 due to an abdominal strain. As a result Vasili Podkolzin would be called up and be given a huge opportunity on the second line alongside Jenner and Garland. Garland would swing to the left side so Podzy can play his natural right wing.

It's a big Game 4 for both clubs as Edmonton looks to even the series while the Canucks want to take a commanding 3-1 series lead.

Leon Draisaitl opens the scoring on a 5-on-4 Power play courtesy of a Conor Garland slash. J.T. Miller would eventually tie it up with under 5 minutes remaining off of a rebound. Another almost eery thing to note was Arshdeep Bains left the game after his first shift, almost having identical time on ice to Kuzmenko last game. It will be interesting to see what the diagnosis is for his ailment. Edmonton headed into the second with double the shots of Vancouver and momentum on their side from the energetic Oilers fanbase at Rogers Place.

However it was Christopher Tanev who scored, his second of the series, to make it 2-1 VAN and it would stay that way until the end of the period despite the Oilers doubling the Nucks in shots 30-14. The team just needed one more solid period from Demko and they'd be loving life headed back to Vancouver.

The Canucks came out on the offense in the third despite leading by one but it worked as Conor Garland scored to give a two goal lead to the good guys. Canucks fans went crazy when they realized Vasili Podkolzin had the primary assist on the goal, his first NHL playoff point of his career. Edmonton was stifled in the third as once again Bear Schenn had his team play tight and defensive and it worked, only allowing 5 shots in period number three. Ilya Mikheyev would basically ice the game with 3:57 left in the third after a rebound came out to him in the crease. The Canucks will head back to Rogers Arena for a chance to eliminate the Oilers in Game 5

Game Recaps | May 10, 2024
	6 - 0 Final BOS wins series 4-0
Boston Bruins (8-0)		Montreal Canadiens (4-6)
Game Notes With Montreal already down in the series and having big injuries to three of their top players, it was pretty much certain Boston was going to come out of this series on top. They complete their second sweep of these playoffs and have yet to lose a game. Jake Allen came back earlier than expected from injury to play in this game and it was noticeable that he was not playing at 100%. He faced over 35 shots and the Canadiens were heavily outplayed. This juggernaut of a Bruins team is not just marching to the Stanley Cup finals, their sprinting. David Pastrnak will finish with 12 points through 8 games while Linus Ullmark has been perfect with a 7-0 record and an incredible .938 SV% and 1.74 GAA

[JurassicPuck]

Scores Around the League

Game Recaps | May 11, 2024
	2 - 3 Final FLA leads series 3-1
New Jersey Devils (5-3)		Florida Panthers (7-3)
Game Notes The Panthers came into Amerant Bank Arena and came out with two wins to their name as their one win away from advancing to the Eastern Conference Finals for the second year in a row. Despite Dougie Hamilton and Alexandre Carrier making their return's to the series, the Devils were unable to get the victory. Sergei Bobrovsky made 39 saves in the win.

	1 - 3 Final COL leads series 3-1
Winnipeg Jets (5-5)		Colorado Avalanche (7-2)
Game Notes The Jets without their star goalie fall to a 3-1 series deficit and lose both games at home in Winnipeg. Having to go back to Colorado will be a tough challenge for Kyle Connor and the likes but they'll need to come out with a win if they want to keep their playoff hopes alive

Playoff Storylines to Watch

Barkov on the Milk Carton
Since coming back from injury, Sasha Barkov has yet to record a point through four games. Clearly he is still battling pain from the MCL Sprain he suffered mid-season and isn't quite back to form yet. They'll need him to pick up his play if they want to close out the Devils

[JurassicPuck]

Edmonton Stays Alive with a 3-0 Win and a Stuart Skinner Shutout in Game 5

By Russell Dawson / Vancouver Canucks
May 13, 2024

At the pre game skate today for the Canucks it was shared to the media that Arshdeep Bains suffered a pulled groin last night in Edmonton and will be out until the end of the month. While he hasn't been as good as of late, it's still a blow to the depth scoring of the Canucks. Pius Suter will slot into the lineup and move to the 4th line center spot while Joshua moves to the L4 left wing.

Leon Draisaitl would open the scoring with a powerplay goal from the high slot after Pius Suter took a hooking minor. That would end up being the only goal of the opening frame.

It was all Edmonton in the second as well as Kane and McDavid would up the lead to 3-0. Stuart Skinner was shutting the door and the Canucks were struggling to beat him. Vancouver failed to capitalize on 6 minutes worth of powerplays in the second period.

The Canucks would throw 10 shots on net during the third and would fail to put one past the Oilers, resulting in a 3-0 loss in this one. The powerplay fails to score despite 3 different opportunities, including a four minuter.

It was learned after the game that Sam Lafferty suffered an upper body injury and likely won't be available for Game 6.

[SENS_AK27]

Just caught up on this Series. Great to see you back posting again JP, really loving the layouts.

[JurassicPuck]

Scores Around the League

Game Recaps | May 13, 2024
	3 - 2 Final - OT FLA leads series 3-2
New Jersey Devils (6-3)		Florida Panthers (7-4)
Game Notes The Panthers best defenseman Brandon Montour was injured in this one (Pulled Groin) as the Devils keep the series alive with a 3-2 victory. Make it 3 straight games where the score ended up 3-2. Tyler Toffoli is the 1st Star of the game with a 2 goal night, including the OT Winner

	2 - 1 Final COL leads series 3-2
Winnipeg Jets (6-5)		Colorado Avalanche (7-3)
Game Notes Winnipeg gets a massive win on the road with a tight 2-1 win. Brossoit stands on his head as he makes 40 saves on 41 shots to hold the Avs offense to 1 goal. Gabe Vilardi provided the offense for the Jets as he had both of the teams goals.