2023 playoffs: A "Rooster Trick" just doesn't cut it
Leon Draisaitl scored four goals and lost. Same goes for Joe Pavelski.
Strange happenings in the NHL. A decade ago, a "Rooster Trick" got you leaguewide attention. Today, you can't even win a playoff game with one.
A pair of "Rooster Tricks" occurred in Game 1 of the semifinals and in both instances, the teams lost.
Last night, Leon Draisaitl added to his playoffs with four goals, the final one marking his 11th of the postseason. Trouble for Drisaitl is, no one else on the Edmonton Oilers could find the back of the net, including that guy named Connor McDavid. McDavid has 3 goals to Draisaitl's 11.
Despite Draisaitl's four goals, the Oilers lost Game 1 of its series with the Vegas Golden Knights 6-4. It turns out that working as a team is greater than a single man in the playoffs. Go figure.
Game 2: Saturday, 4 p.m. PT in Vegas
Game 3: Monday, 5:30 p.m. PT in Edmonton
Meanwhile, Joe Pavelski scored all four goals for the Dallas Stars, leading to a comeback that the rest of the team could not cap off.
Seattle: 4
— Dallas Stars (@DallasStars) May 3, 2023
Joe Pavelski: 4
INCREDIBLE.@budlight | #BudLightCelly | #TexasHockey pic.twitter.com/ND7Me7DCJC
Sadly for Pavelski and the rest of the Stars, it was the Seattle Kraken that scored in overtime and Pavelski's work was all for naught. Kraken lead the series 1-0.
Game 2: Today, 6:30 p.m. PT in Dallas
Game 3: Sunday, 6:30 p.m. PT in Seattle
On the ice in Toronto, it looks like the Florida Panthers have found their groove. Florida has reeled off four playoff wins in a row, including Tuesday's 4-2 win over the Maple Leafs. Matthew Tkachuk has 14 points this postseason and defenseman Brandon Montour has six goals.
Game 2: Today, 4 p.m. PT in Toronto
Game 3: Sunday, 3:30 p.m. PT in Florida
Finally, Timo Meier did not play in Game 1 of the New Jersey Devils' series with the Carolina Hurricanes. Meier was considered a "game time decision," but it's easy to wonder if that was just gamesmanship on the part of the Devils.
It would be understandable if Meier suffered a concussion or another injury after that hit by Jacob Trouba in Game 7 of the last series. Meier lay on the ice for a few minutes following the hit and while he returned to the game for the handshake line, concussions are tricky.
The Devils could use Meier. The team lost 5-1 in the opening game of the semifinal series, handing rookie goaltender Akira Schmid his first loss of the postseason.
Game 2: Friday, 5 p.m. PT in Carolina
Game 3: Sunday, 12:30 p.m. PT in New Jersey
