Blue Jackets sweep Lightning in 2019 playoffs’ first-round series

By Anthony Caruso III | Publisher

The Tampa Bay Lightning had the best record in the NHL. However, they did not make it out of the first-round of the 2019 NHL playoffs.

The Columbus Blue Jackets defeated the Lightning 7-3 at Nationwide Arena on Tuesday night. The Blue Jackets swept the series with the win.

Alexandre Texier being interviewed by the media after being drafted in the 2017 NHL Draft (Getty Images)

This is the first-time that Columbus has won a playoff series. Before this series, the Lightning had a 6-0 record over the past two seasons against the Blue Jackets.

In addition, this is the first-time that the Presidents’ Trophy winner was swept in the first-round. It is just the third-time that the Presidents’ Trophy winner has been swept in a series ever.

The Detroit Red Wings were swept in the 1995 Stanley Cup Finals. Plus, the Calgary Flames were swept in the 1988 Smythe Division Final.

The third period belonged to the Blue Jackets. Matt Duchene — who was acquired by the Blue Jackets in a blockbuster deal with the Ottawa Senators at the trade deadline — scored to make it 7-3.

Alexandre Texier scored his second goal of the game to make it 6-3. In addition, Artemi Panarin also scored an unassisted goal to make it 5-3.

Oliver Bjorkstrand gave Columbus a 4-3 lead late in the second period.

Brayden Point died the game at 3-3 with a power play goal. Cédric Paquette cut the Blue Jackets lead to 3-2 with his first goal of the series.

Seth Jones gave Columbus a 3-1 lead to begin the second period scoring.

The Lightning got on the board when Steven Stamkos scored. His goal cut the lead to 2-1.

Texier and Pierre-Luc Dubois scored the first two goals of the game for the Blue Jackets.

Blue Jackets goalie Sergei Bobrovsky was the winning net minder. He made 30 saves and had a 90.9% save percentage.

He allowed three goals in 59 minutes and 30 seconds.

Lightning goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy received the loss. He made 18 saves and an 81.8% save percentage. He allowed all four goals in 58 minutes and 26 seconds.

The Tampa Bay Lightning are the first team in NHL history to win the Presidents' Trophy and get swept in the first round of a best-of-seven playoff series. pic.twitter.com/IzCLChTu4U

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) April 17, 2019

We don’t have any words and we know you don’t want to hear them.

We understand your anger, your frustration, your sadness. Everything you’re feeling – we get it.

This isn’t the ending we imagined, and certainly not the one we wanted. Thank you for being there the entire way.

— Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) April 17, 2019

Congrats on an incredibly special series win for your organization, @bluejacketsnhl. You earned it.

Good luck the rest of the way. pic.twitter.com/9eBqdBNzKo

— Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) April 17, 2019

Flyers forward Chris VandeVelde suspended

The NHL has suspended Philadelphia Flyers forward Chris VandeVelde for two games without pay. He was suspended following an elbow to Chicago Blackhawks forward Jonathan Toews during NHL Game No. 1048 in Chicago on Wed., March 16.

The NHL’s Department of Player Safety announced the suspended on Friday afternoon. The incident happened at 19:30 of the first period.

VandeVelde was assessed a minor penalty for elbowing in the game.

He will forfeit $7,6661.30 based on his average annual salary under the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement. The money will go into the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.

The Flyers defeated the Blackhawks in the game, 3-2, from the United Center in Chicago. The Flyers had goals by Brayden Schenn, Ryan White and Radko Gudas.

The Blackhawks had goes from Toews and Marián Hossa.

With the win over the Blackhawks and the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday night, the Flyers are back in the playoff picture.

VandeVelde will miss Saturday afternoon’s game against the Pittsburgh Penguins at the Wells Fargo Center in South Philadelphia. He’s also expected to miss Monday night’s game against the New York Islanders at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y.

He may return on Tuesday night against the Columbus Blue Jackets at the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. If he doesn’t return for that game, he could return on Thursday night against the Colorado Avalanche at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Co.

Washington Capitals postpone two games due to Winter Storm Jonas

The Pittsburgh Penguins game at the Verizon Center with the Washington Capitals has been postponed due to Winter Storm Jonas. There’s been no make up date determined as of yet.

It’s the second straight Capitals game that was postponed from the snowstorm. Their Friday night game with the Anaheim Ducks was postponed, according to the National Hockey League.

The Capitals game with the Ducks was originally moved from 7 pm to 5 pm. That was before it was postponed all together.

Severe snow is now only affecting the Washington, D.C. area, but much of the East Coast.

According to the Capitals update, an email message was sent to ticket holders and communication updates by the team and on social media platforms. The team will accept tickets for the rescheduled date, which hasn’t been announced.

For entrance into the postponed games, all guests must keep their original tickets in order to attend the new game.

The Penguins host the visiting Vancouver Canucks at 12:30 pm EST at the CONSOL Energy Center in Pittsburgh, PA.

The Capitals will next be on the ice against the Philadelphia Flyers on Jan. 27th at 8 pm from the Verizon Center. Due to the storm, their last game was on Jan. 19th against the Columbus Blue Jackets at the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio.

The Capitals won 6-3 in that game.