The conference semifinal round of the 2015 NHL playoffs is in full swing. Each series has played two games so far with the mixed results. Three of the four feature two games to none leads while the Capitals and Rangers are tied one game each.
Ducks still Perfect
The Anaheim Ducks continue to be unbeaten in the playoffs as they defeated the Calgary Flames 3-0 on Sunday night. This coming on the heels of a 6-1 victory in game one on Thursday. The Ducks have not lost a game thus far in the postseason. They swept the Winnipeg Jets in round one.
Unlike the Jets series, Anaheim has not trailed through the first two games of this series against the Flames. The Ducks are also getting balanced scoring so far in this series as seven different goal scorers have tallied.
The series now shifts to Calgary for games three and four starting Tuesday night.
Lightning striking in Montreal
The Tampa Bay Lightning also hold a two games to none lead in their series against the Montreal Canadiens. The Lightning continue to ride high following their game seven victory over Detroit in round one.
Game one of this series needed double overtime. Nikita Kucherov scored 2:06 into the second extra session to give Tampa a 2-1 victory. Game two saw the Lightning power play finally score. .
Entering game two, the Lightning were a combined 0 for 23 with the man advantage in the playoffs. Sunday saw them break through in a major way. The Tampa power play scored four of the six goals in route to a 6-2 drubbing of the Canadiens.
The series now moves to Tampa for games three and four beginning Wednesday.
Chicago being Chicago
It's the playoffs so Chicago is being, well, Chicago. After dispatching of the Nashville Predators in six games, the Blackhawks have taken two games to none lead on the Minnesota Wild. This is the third straight year the two teams have met in the playoffs with Chicago winning both.
Patrick Kane scored two goals on Sunday to help the Hawks to a 4-1 victory. Chicago held on to a 4-3 victory in game one. In that game,they blew a 3-0 first period lead before Teuvo Teravainen Scored in the final minute of the second period. His first goal of the playoffs was the game winner.
The series now shifts to Minnesota on Tuesday night.
Rangers and Caps head to DC
The New York Rangers and Washington Capitals split the first two games of their Eastern conference semifinal at Madison Square Garden. Washington got a last second goal to earn a 2-1 victory in game one on Thursday.
Henrik Lundqvist and company responded with a 3-2 victory on Saturday in game two. So far this postseason, the Rangers have scored more than two goals just twice in seven games. They will need to find a way to get more pucks in the net if they expect a return to the finals.
Game three is in Washington tonight.
Bill Minchin is a contributing writer for Flyerdelphia. Follow Bill on Twitter @wtfd103074
