ANAHEIM, Calif. -- The preseason pick by many to play for the Stanley Cup and even pass the silver chalice never got within shouting distance of it, trudging dejectedly off the ice just like previous versions did.
Game 7 is the bogeyman that terrorizes the Anaheim Ducks and the supposed Cup favorite once again couldn't rid it from their dreams. The fourth consecutive time that one has been at Honda Center ended without satisfaction just as the others had.
On Wednesday night, Nashville joined Detroit, Chicago and the Kings that finished off the Ducks in front of their own fans. Pekka Rinne stopped 36 shots and the Predators won, 2-1, to take the first-round series and advance to the Western Conference semifinals.
The Predators move on to face the San Jose Sharks. The Ducks move on to an offseason of hard questions, the first of which may be to determine if Bruce Boudreau will remain as coach.
Boudreau has been at the helm of all four Game 7 defeats at home and his career record in series-deciding games fell to 1-7 overall, with his lack of success following him from Washington to Anaheim. His lone victory came in 2009 with the Capitals against the New York Rangers.
ISLANDERS 5, LIGHTNING 3
TAMPA, Fla. -- Shane Prince scored twice during a three-goal first period and John Tavares had a goal and an assist in the New York Islanders' victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 1 of their second-round playoff series.
Taking up where he left off in helping the Islanders advance beyond the first round for the first time in 23 years, Tavares assisted on Travis Hamonic's goal that erased an early deficit and later scored his sixth postseason goal on a blistering shot from the left circle to give New York a 4-1 lead midway through the second.
Tampa Bay pulled to 4-3 on third-period goals by Nikita Kucherov and Valtteri Filppula before Cal Clutterbuck's empty-netter sealed the victory in the final minute.
Thomas Greiss finished with 33 saves for the Islanders. They were outshot 28-10 over the last two periods.
Sports on 04/28/2016