Panarin finds right time to shine
New York Rangers forward Artemi Panarin had a relatively quiet series against the Pittsburgh Penguins until overtime in Game 7, when he finally decided to shoot the puck. Panarin put a shot through traffic and beat goalie Tristan Jarry on his glove side for the overtime and series winner at 4:46, and with nine seconds remaining on a power play. Panarin had six shots on goal in Game 7, none better or bigger than his last one. It was a single-game series high in shots on goal for him. He had five each in Games 3 and 5, but a combined four in the first two games, none in Game 4 and three in Game 6. He blamed himself for not shooting enough, saying, "Maybe I should listen to everyone's advice and actually get out there and take shots." If he continues to do it, Panarin should be a much bigger threat in the second round against the Carolina Hurricanes. -- Dan Rosen, senior writer
Jarry was up to the task for Penguins
If Jarry had any rust on him from not playing since April 14, he shook it off early. He looked calm, composed and certainly prepared to play Game 7 despite missing Pittsburgh's final six regular-season games and the first six games of the series with a lower-body injury. It makes you wonder: had the Penguins had Jarry all series would they have blown a 3-1 lead? They didn't, and goalie Louis Domingue did what he could, but Jarry clearly was a difference-maker for the Penguins in Game 7. He made 26 saves, including stopping Rangers forward Tyler Motte on a shorthanded breakaway at 8:39 of the third period when the Penguins were leading 3-2. He couldn't help them hold the lead, just like Domingue couldn't in Games 5 and 6, but Jarry certainly looked the part of a No. 1 goalie in Game 7, adding another what-if question in Pittsburgh.-- Rosen
Oettinger is stellar
All due respect to the Calgary Flames, but Dallas Stars goalie Jake Oettinger was tremendous in the Western Conference First Round. He made 64 saves in Game 7, an incredible performance for any goalie, let alone one who got his first Stanley Cup Playoffs starts in this series. His final numbers: 3-4 with a 1.81 goals-against average, .954 save percentage and one shutout in seven games. The 23-year-old put to rest any concerns the Stars had about him being able to handle the pressure of the postseason. -- Tracey Myers, staff writer
Flames stick with it
This was a big test for the Flames, who were looking to win their first playoff series since defeating the Vancouver Canucks in six games in the 2015 Western Conference First Round. They could've gotten frustrated against Oettinger, but they just kept going. As forward Matthew Tkachuk said, "we peppered him so much," and they finally broke through. The Flames should be feeling good entering their second-round series against the Edmonton Oilers. As Flames coach Darryl Sutter said, you have to be mentally tough in postseason hockey. The Flames took a big step in that department in Game 7. -- Myers
