Evan’s NHL Daily: Prosvetov Returns, Stone Makes An Impact

It took until day three of the NHL playoffs, but we finally have some victories for road teams. Toronto did what the Avalanche need to do, bouncing back from a Game One loss and taking a win in Boston. Out in Dallas, Mark Stone returned the same day he returns every season and helped the Golden Knights take down the top team in the West.

With the Avalanche, Justus Annunen missed practice again and is “still sick” according to his head coach, so Colorado decided to make a move in net that gives them a fallback option on Tuesday night.

All that and more in this Tuesday edition of Evan’s Daily.

Colorado Hockey Now

Colorado handled the physicality of Winnipeg pretty well in Game One, and Casey Mittelstadt showed well in his first career playoff game.

Jared Bednar had a message for his team and to Alexandar Georgiev on Monday.

I did open up a tip jar, and I really appreciate everyone who has made donations. Again, NOTHING is expected, and don’t feel obligated to send anything, but it helps with travel, which can be difficult this time of the year.

Prosvetov Returns

Would the Avalanche use Ivan Prosvetov in an NHL playoff game? We’re about to find out.

Arvid Holm was the only goaltender on the ice for an optional skate on Monday, but as soon as we were done talking to Jared Bednar, the Avalanche announced a move, swapping Holm for Prosvetov. It’s pretty significant.

There was no way the Avalanche were throwing Holm into a playoff game with 0 NHL experience. Any other backup goaltender, and they probably make a switch on Sunday night. I highly doubt Prosvetov would start Game Two, but calling him up signals that Annunen isn’t likely to be healthy. In Prosvetov, they have someone with NHL experience that they’d be a lot more comfortable throwing into a playoff game, if they needed to. That seems like a pretty clear message to Georgiev. Your leash is short if you have another night like you did on Sunday.

Mark Stone Makes His Return

We all knew it was coming. Just look at this.

Mark Stone's transactions the last 3 seasons: #VegasBornhttps://t.co/soeYUn3o3R pic.twitter.com/vshLfpbFtI

— CapFriendly (@CapFriendly) April 22, 2024

Well, Stone returned for the Golden Knights on Monday night, and made an immediate impact, scoring the first goal of the series. Road teams have struggled early in the playoffs, but the Golden Knights became the only road team in the NHL playoffs to take Game One. They did it against the top team in the West, and managed to make Jake Oettinger look as ordinary as he has looked most of the season, scoring four times on just 15 shots. Game Two is on Wednesday night between these teams.

Around The NHL

It looked like Patrick Roy’s Islanders were going to steal a win in Carolina, but they crumbled in a big way.

TWO GOALS IN 10 SECONDS TO TAKE THE LEAD

IT'S PANDEMONIUM IN RALEIGHWOOD pic.twitter.com/gSrIHBGnGz

— Carolina Hurricanes (@Canes) April 23, 2024

The game was not particularly close. New York kept the shot total close in Game One, despite losing. That was not the case in Game Two. Carolina finished with 82 more shot attempts than the Islanders in Game Two. That’s not a typo. Carolina loves to shoot, and managed to hold the Islanders to just 28 shot attempts of their own. That’s a huge gap, and now Patrick Roy has to find some answers back on home ice.

The Avalanche are hoping that Georgiev can give them the same bounce-back performance that Ilya Samsonov gave the Maple Leafs in Game Two. Samsonov stopped 27 shots after looking very beatable in the opening game, and Auston Matthews scored a sweet goal to tie the series up.

AUSTON MATTHEWS SHAKE AND BAKE!! pic.twitter.com/BbweHHekfy

— Spittin' Chiclets (@spittinchiclets) April 23, 2024

Did the Bruins make the right call starting Linus Ullmark?

Out in Edmonton, it went about as expected. The Kings couldn’t slow down Edmonton’s stars, giving up six goals and allowing Zach Hyman to pick up a Game One hat trick. Edmonton has a relatively easy path to the Conference Finals if they play their cards right.

National Hockey Now

Carter Verhaeghe was built for the NHL playoffs.

The Predators need a short memory to recover from a tough Game One loss.

What’s old is new again in the NHL, as Lindy Ruff is going back to the Sabres.