Wild hit hard by 2-0 loss, injury to Parise
ST. PAUL, Minn. — Mark Scheifele scored both goals for Winnipeg and Connor Hellebuyck made 30 saves for his seventh shutout this season, as the Jets beat the Minnesota Wild 2-0 on Tuesday night to take a 3-1 lead in the first-round playoff series.
Scheifele scored with 28 seconds left in the first period and tacked on an empty-netter with 11 seconds remaining, pushing the Wild to the brink of elimination.
Devan Dubnyk stopped 26 shots for the Wild, who played without star left wing Zach Parise because of a broken sternum suffered in Game 3. The injury will keep him out for at least the remainder of the series and likely longer if they advance
Parise scored in each of the first three games of the series. He is the Wild's all-time playoffs leader with 14 goals and 31 points.
After a six-goal outburst in their last appearance, the Wild had trouble generating the same kind of relentless attack and simply couldn't slide any pucks past Hellebuyck, who was named earlier in the day one of the NHL's three finalists for the Vezina Trophy.
GOLDEN KNIGHTS 1, KINGS 0
A second-period goal by Brayden McNabb enabled visiting Las Vegas to sweep the series 4-0 against Los Angeles.
CAPITALS 3, BLUE JACKETS 2
Nine minutes into the second extra period, Lars Eller scored on a rebound, and Washington’s playoff hopes went from dismal to slightly less so with a victory to cut host Columbus’ series lead to 2-1.
Braden Holtby was the game’s best player, finishing with 33 saves in his triumphant return as the Caps’ top goalie.
FLAMES FIRE GULUTZAN
Glen Gulutzan took the fall for the Calgary Flames' shortcomings this season with his dismissal Tuesday.
With a year remaining on his contract as head coach, Gulutzan was fired along with assistant Dave Cameron and Paul Jerrard less than two years after they were hired.
A poor home record, a wretched power play and a late-season dive contributed to Calgary finishing out of the playoffs with a 37-35-10 record.