Analysis: The NHL playoffs are off to an odd start, from the net out

The greatest goal-scorer of his generation was held without a point for the first time in a series in his nearly two-decade NHL career.

The best goaltender in the league this season has given up a first round-high 19 goals. Vancouver has lost a Vezina Trophy finalist, used three different guys in net and taken a 3-1 series lead anyway; the Canucks, in fact, won Game 3 at Nashville 2-1 while putting the puck on net just 12 times. Edmonton, with all of its scorers, won a game with just 13 shots -- a 1-0 shutout behind the goalie everyone thought was their biggest liability to make a run at the Stanley Cup.

The start of the playoffs has been anything but predictable, which is exactly what hockey fans have come to expect this time of year.

Bucking the trend of recent Presidents' Trophy winners bowing out early, the New York Rangers swept Washington in the first round by keeping Alex Ovechkin off the scoresheet for the first time in his 15 trips to the postseason.

How did they do it? “It’s a secret,” MVP candidate and fellow Russian winger Artemi Panarin said.

Whatever secret sauce the Canucks are using, everyone in the league would take it. They lost Vezina Trophy finalist Thatcher Demko to injury after he won Game 1 against Nashville but Casey DeSmith bounced back from a loss to beat the Predators in Game 3. When he was unavailable, it was Arturs Silovs to the rescue in his playoff debut, backstopping a comeback overtime victory to put the Predators one loss from elimination.

"I don’t think the moment’s too big for him," coach Rick Tocchet said. “I’m proud of the goaltenders. It’s a next-man-up mentality. Those guys know it’s the next man up.”

Connor Hellebuyck is unquestionably the man for Winnipeg, and he's the front-runner to win the Vezina after being the best goalie in the league during the regular season. In four playoff games against Colorado, Hellebuyck has allowed 19 goals for a save percentage of .870 — a far cry from his .921 over 60 starts from before the series began.

Hellebuyck allowed four goals to the Avalanche on 30 shots in a blowout loss Sunday that pushed the Jets to the brink of elimination. Coach Rick Bowness pulled him after two periods because he was under pressure the entire time he was in net.

“I don’t think those goals are his fault,” center Mark Scheifele said. “He’s our backbone. He’s our heart and soul. Just a change of scenery, I’m sure. He’s our backbone.”

The Edmonton Oilers didn't expect goalie Stuart Skinner to be their backbone, especially having reigning MVP Connor McDavid and longtime running mate Leon Draisaitl around to score a bunch of goals. So, naturally, they beat the Los Angeles Kings 1-0 in Game 4 thanks to one goal set up by McDavid and Draisaitl, and Skinner stopping every shot he faced.

“He was great for us," said defenseman Evan Bouchard, who scored. “He was the rock. When we made mistakes he was there to support us. When you’re not letting in any goals, you’re going to win the game.”

The other Vezina finalist, Florida's Sergei Bobrovsky, gave up 13 goals through the Panthers' first four games against Tampa Bay. Yet he and the defending Eastern Conference champions are one win from moving on to face Boston or Toronto.

The Bruins are up 3-1 in that series and the Maple Leafs losing in the first round is a familiar stumble for Toronto fans. The team's core group led by Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner and William Nylander is 1-6 in the first round over the previous seven years.

AP Sports Writers Teresa M. Walker in Nashville, Pat Graham in Denver and Joseph Reedy in Los Angeles contributed.

AP NHL playoffs: https://apnews.com/hub/stanley-cup and https://www.apnews.com/hub/NHL

This story has been corrected to show Bobrovsky's goals-against was through four games, not three.

New York Rangers left wing Alexis Lafrenière (13) shakes hands with Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) following Game 4 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Sunday, April 28, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Tom Brenner)

Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck makes a pad-save in the first period of Game 4 of an NHL Stanley Cup first-round playoff series against the Colorado Avalanche, Sunday, April 28, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Vancouver Canucks goaltender Arturs Silovs (31) blocks a shot on goal against the Nashville Predators during the second period in Game 4 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Sunday, April 28, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Vancouver Canucks center Elias Lindholm (23) scores a goal past Nashville Predators goaltender Juuse Saros (74) in overtime during Game 4 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Sunday, April 28, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. The Canucks won 4-3. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Actor Will Ferrell, right, cheers as Edmonton Oilers goaltender Stuart Skinner stands in goal during the second period in Game 4 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series between the Los Angeles Kings and the Oilers Sunday, April 28, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

DALLAS (AP) — Colorado finally got to play with the lead against the Dallas Stars, though the Avalanche are still behind in the series.

Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar scored two goals, the second after Casey Mittelstadt’s go-ahead tally in the third period, and they beat top-seeded Dallas 5-3 in Game 5 on Wednesday night. The Avs snapped their three-game losing streak and extended the second-round Western Conference series.

“Obviously a do-or-die game from here on out in the series,” Makar said. “Each of us, we feed off each other. ... And I felt like we were back to kind of like forcing their hand tonight.”

When Mittelstadt scored just 1:12 into the third period to make it 3-2, it was the first time the Avalanche had led in the series except for when Miles Wood scored 11 minutes into overtime to win the series opener.

“It was great,” league MVP finalist Nathan MacKinnon said about playing with a lead. “They didn’t do that much, but anytime we can get a lead it’s important so we’re not chasing all series.”

Makar made it 4-2 with an unassisted goal just over three minutes later. His shot from the middle of the right circle went through the legs of goalie Jake Oettinger and proved to be the deciding goal and MacKinnon scored on a lone assist from Artturi Lehkonen with 3:10 left.

MacKinnon also had the only assist on Lehkonen’s power-play goal in the very last second of the first period.

“We knew we were going to get their best game in the series, and they did,” Stars coach Pete DeBoer said. “Their big guys all are on the scoresheet tonight, which we’ve probably anticipated would happen.”

Avalanche goalie Alexander Georgiev had 23 saves. Oettinger stopped 22 shots.

Joe Pavelski had his first goal of these playoffs for the Stars, and had his second assist this postseason. Miro Heiskanen and rookie Logan Stankoven also scored for Dallas, and Jason Robertson had two assists.

Game 6 is Friday night in Colorado, where the Stars outscored the Avs 9-2 while winning Games 3 and 4. Dallas is 4-1 on the road this postseason — and 3-4 at home.

This was the sixth time in franchise history that the Avs won Game 5 after falling behind 3-1 in a best-of-seven series. They have never come back to win the series.

After going 0 for 8 on power plays while losing the previous three games, Colorado scored tying goals on both of its opportunities with a man advantage in the first two periods.

“I felt like once we were getting pucks, it was right on and off the stick, and trying to avoid a little bit of the pressure,” Makar said, when asked what changed in Game 5. “Having that different mentality, an attack mentality, and not trying to back down or trying to look for the perfect play.”

Makar got his power-play goal on a 50-foot wrister through a bunch of traffic in front of the net with 3 1/2 minutes left in the second period to tie the game at 2-2.

“Tough-go for a handful of games ... it’s a huge response after goal one, after goal two,” Colorado coach Jared Bednar said.

Mittelstadt’s go-ahead goal came after Zach Parise hit the puck across the crease and Mittelstadt knocked it in, a ricochet off the right post that hit the back of Oettinger’s leg and went in.

Pavelski scored on a backhander from just outside the crease after a pass from Matt Duchene midway through the first period, after Robertson had poked the puck away from defenseman Josh Manson.

After 14 games without a goal, including the last three games of the regular season, Pavelski got his 74th career playoff goal to extend his record for the most by a U.S-born player. That is also the most by any active player.

Colorado got even at 1-1 with 0.6 seconds left in the first period on Lehkonen’s slap shot from the top of the slot.

“You’ve got to get out of the period there,” DeBoer said.

Heiskanen scored his fourth goal in this series, and his fifth of the playoffs, put Dallas up 2-1 in the second. He dropped the puck back to Pavelski, who passed ahead to Robertson, who made a move toward the right side of the net before a nifty crossing pass to Heiskanen on the other side of Georgiev on a power play.

Rantanen had the secondary assist on Makar’s first goal for his 100th career playoff point (33 goals and 67 assists). It came in his 80th career postseason game, making him only the eighth NHL player to reach that milestone in that many games or fewer. He is only the fourth player in Avalanche franchise history to reach 100 playoff points — Joe Sakic’s 188 tops that list.

It was Bednar’s 49th playoff victory, matching Bob Hartley for the most in franchise history. Both have led the Avalanche to Stanley Cup titles, Hartley in 2001 and then Bednar their next one in 2022.

AP NHL playoffs: https://apnews.com/hub/stanley-cup and https://www.apnews.com/hub/NHL

Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon, right, watches the puck after his shot was blocked by Dallas Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger during the second period in Game 5 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup second-round playoff series, Wednesday, May 15, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

A shot by Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar, not visible, gets by Dallas Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger (29) for a goal during the third period in Game 5 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup second-round playoff series, Wednesday, May 15, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Colorado Avalanche's Nathan MacKinnon (29), Jonathan Drouin (27), Devon Toews (7), Artturi Lehkonen (62) and Cale Makar (8) react after Makar scored a goal against Dallas Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger, top, during the third period in Game 5 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup second-round playoff series, Wednesday, May 15, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Colorado Avalanche left wing Artturi Lehkonen (62) reacts after teammate defenseman Cale Makar (8) scored a goal against the Dallas Stars during the third period in Game 5 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup second-round playoff series, Wednesday, May 15, 2024, in Dallas. Looking on are Stars' Thomas Harley (55) and Tyler Seguin (91). (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Colorado Avalanche left wing Zach Parise (9) and Dallas Stars center Logan Stankoven (11) compete for the puck during the first period in Game 5 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup second-round playoff series, Wednesday, May 15, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Dallas Stars defenseman Esa Lindell (23) falls on the ice while challenging Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon (29) for the puck during the second period in Game 5 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup second-round playoff series, Wednesday, May 15, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Dallas Stars center Logan Stankoven (11) and Colorado Avalanche left wing Artturi Lehkonen (62) chase after the puck during the first period in Game 5 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup second-round playoff series, Wednesday, May 15, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Colorado Avalanche right wing Mikko Rantanen (96) reacts after receiving a high stick from Dallas Stars defenseman Chris Tanev (3) during the second period in Game 5 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup second-round playoff series, Wednesday, May 15, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar passes the puck against the Dallas Stars during the second period in Game 5 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup second-round playoff series, Wednesday, May 15, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Colorado Avalanche right wing Mikko Rantanen (96) eyes the puck after a power play scoring shot by teammate Cale Makar, not visible, during the second period in Game 5 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup second-round playoff series against the Dallas Stars, Wednesday, May 15, 2024, in Dallas. Looking on are Stars' Jake Oettinger (29) and Esa Lindell (23). (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Colorado Avalanche left wing Artturi Lehkonen (62) skates by his bench after scoring a power play goal against the Dallas Stars during the first period in Game 5 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup second-round playoff series, Wednesday, May 15, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Dallas Stars center Joe Pavelski (16) celebrates his first period goal with Miro Heiskanen, left, and Ryan Suter in Game 5 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup second-round playoff series against the Colorado Avalanche, Wednesday, May 15, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Dallas Stars players celebrate a goal by Joe Pavelski, center, during the first period in Game 5 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup second-round playoff series against the Colorado Avalanche, Wednesday, May 15, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)