The playoffs are well under-way and we’ll provide readers with a glimpse into the NHL’s gutsiest performances from the week that was.
As of Monday night 23 NHL playoff games have been played, including five that went to overtime. Spectacular goals have been scored, corners have been grinded and gloves have dropped.
Here’s our five playoff warriors from the week that was:
1. Jonathan Toews, Chicago Blackhawks
Captain Serious is back to doing what he does exceedingly well: stepping up to the plate during the playoffs. Toews is tied for the league league in playoff points with five, after three hard-fought battles with the Nashville Predators. The ‘Hawks have a 2-1 series lead thanks to the play of Toews, including this beauty snipe from Sunday afternoon.
Toews added another goal in Game 1 and he assisted on goals by Niklas Hjalmarsson, Brent Seabrook, and most importantly, Duncan Keith on his Game 1 overtime-winner.
One thing I probably already knew but have re-learned in this series so far: Jonathan Toews is the best two-way hockey player in the world.
— Robby Stanley (@RStanley247) April 20, 2015
2. “Smith & Wilson”: Craig Smith and Colin Wilson, Nashville Predators
Toews may be having a good series, but two of his opponents on the Predators are doing their best to ensure their own teams succeeds. Forwards Craig Smith and Colin Wilson have both played consistent, impressive hockey for the Preds. Smith is tied with Toews for the league-lead in playoff points with five, while Wilson scored crowd-pumping opening goals in both Games 1 and 2.
Smith sniped twice in Game 2 (including his first career playoff goal) and assisted on Wilson’s game-opener. He also assisted on both Predators goals in Game 3.
Craig Smith leads the @PredsNHL to a game 2 victory! He’s the @EASPORTSNHL #HUT Player of the Game! pic.twitter.com/w5REYDO1kb
— NHL (@NHL) April 18, 2015
Meanwhile, the hockey gods blessed Wilson with two goals in Game 1 and another in Game 2. His goal and celebration in Game 1 fired up the crowd in Nashville.
3. Habs Grinders: Dale Weise and Torrey Mitchell
The Ottawa Senators keep jumping out 1-0 leads against the Montreal Canadiens and it always seems to be the grinders in red and white who clean up the mess.
Third and fourth-liners Dale Weise and Torrey Mitchell have played inspirational hockey for the Habs over three games against Ottawa. In Ottawa on Sunday night, the Habs were down 1-0 with just under six minutes left and Weise struck gold. In overtime he played the hero and struck again, scoring the game-winner 8:47 into overtime.
Mitchell has arguably served as one of the Canadiens’ best players through three games, while playing fourth-line minutes. He scored Montreal’s first goal of the 2015 Playoffs in Game 1 and assisted on both Weise goals in Game 3.
The grinders have made their mark this series:
#Habs Torrey Mitchell, Brian Flynn, Brandon Prust & Dale Weise have combined for 4 goals & 6 assists for 10 points with a +13 rating so far.
— Fred Poulin (@FredPoulin98) April 20, 2015
4. Kris Russell, Calgary Flames
Small defenseman Kris Russell has been playing big for Calgary after three games against the Vancouver Canucks. The Flames lead 2-1 in the series, and Russell scored the game-winner in Game 1 with just 29 seconds left.
Flames fans knew this guy was a tough player coming into the playoffs. After all, he led the entire league in blocked shots in 2014-15 with 283, an NHL-record. But he’ll also drop the gloves for a teammate.
In game three, Canucks forward Alexandre Burrows sent 18-year-old Sam Bennett a “Welcome to the show, kid” message. Russell came to Bennett’s defense.
Kris Russell is already pretty popular in these parts, dropping the gloves with Alex Burrows just shot up his popularity exponentially.
— Darren Haynes (@DarrenWHaynes) April 20, 2015
5. Frederik Andersen, Anaheim Ducks
Andersen has started all three Ducks playoff wins against the Winnipeg Jets, and he’s put up stellar numbers.
The Danish ‘tender was sitting second among all goaltenders in playoff GAA with 1.50, and third in save percentage, with .946 until Monday night. His numbers dropped off a bit after Game 3, but he still notched his third win. Carey Price is the only other goalie who has reached three wins thus far in the playoffs.
We have a feeling the Ducks’ play-by-play announcers like him to. Case in point: this save on Bryan Little, just prior to overtime Monday night in Winnipeg.
With fellow goalie John Gibson injured, Andersen likely knows he must perform for his team. It shouldn´t be a problem for him: he went 35-12-5 during the regular season with a .914 save percentage and a 2.38 goals-against average, despite battling several minor injuries that kept him out for long periods in February and March.