Even after playing hero, Kyle Turris had time for the community.
The Ottawa Senators center joined the Capital City Condors - a local hockey organization for kids with developmental disabilities - for dinner Saturday after he scored the overtime winner in Game 5 against the New York Rangers.
He has served as the honorary captain of the Condors since taking over for Matt Carkner, who selected him as his successor after departing the Senators for the New York Islanders in 2012.
Turris also hosts a golf tournament with the Condors, and the sixth annual Kyle Turris and Capital City Condors Golf Classic will take place next month.
The questions began right after an unlikely Game 5 win.
The Anaheim Ducks erased a 3-0 deficit late in the third period and went on to beat the Edmonton Oilers in overtime, setting up an opportunity to erase a dubious recent trend.
That's Anaheim's sixth Game 5 win of a 2-2 series in the last 5 years. Each of the last 4 years, they've gone on to lose Games 6 & 7. #Ducks
Here are three reasons why the Ducks will finish off the Oilers in Game 6.
Shake it off?
It's not that Anaheim won a pivotal Game 5, it's how the Ducks did it.
No one will soon forget that the Ducks scored three goals late in the third period with John Gibson on the bench to send the game to overtime, and the Oilers in particular were not pleased with what they saw as a clear goalie interference violation on the tying goal.
While momentum swings from game to game may be slightly overstated, there's no denying the Oilers weren't happy about how that one got away, especially considering their early 2-0 series lead has given way to a 3-2 hole.
That kind of collapse isn't easily forgotten.
It's a huge test of resiliency for the Oilers, and this is where the Ducks' playoff experience will pay off.
Getzlaf is dominating
Related to the above, Connor McDavid might be the best player in the world as soon as next season, but Ryan Getzlaf is giving the kid a lesson or two on what it takes to succeed in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
The veteran center sits in a tie with Pittsburgh's Jake Guentzel for postseason goals (8), and Getzlaf's 15 points trail only Evgeni Malkin (17). And over the last three games against the Oilers - all Ducks wins - Getzlaf has basically taken over the series.
Here's what Getzlaf was up to in Games 3-5 after the Ducks dropped the series' opening two contests.
Goals
Assists
Points
Shots
Game 3
1
1
2
1
Game 4
2
2
4
3
Game 5
1
1
2
8
Getzlaf drew the primary assist on Corey Perry's overtime goal to cap Game 5's epic comeback, and the captain - who's certainly been leading by example - doesn't want that one win to define his team.
Getzlaf on approach for Game 6: "We got to be remembered for the team that wins the series. Not the team that won the game."
Sekera was the recipient of a hit from Getzlaf early in Game 5 that forced him to leave the contest with an undisclosed injury.
In 11 games this postseason, Sekera had registered one goal and two assists with 18 shots on goal in an average of 21:10 per night, ranking fourth among Oilers defensemen.
His absence will mean the addition of Eric Gryba into the lineup, bringing all of 11 games of playoff experience to the table. It'll also mean more minutes for the likes of Adam Larsson, Kris Russell, and Oscar Klefbom, giving the Ducks opportunity to pounce on an increasingly taxed defense corps.
However, Bellemare refused the award, insisting goaltender Florian Hardy deserved it after turning away 42 of the 43 shots thrown his way. After some slight confusion, the award was indeed handed to Hardy.
Of course you could argue Hardy deserved the award based on this save alone.
Sekera was forced to leave Game 5 after taking a hit from Ryan Getzlaf after playing just 1:54.
The 30-year-old's omission was felt during the team's heart-breaking double-overtime loss in Game 5 as his injury forced Adam Larsson to play a league-high 44:58, while the remaining five defenders also played over 27:30.
Sekera has blocked the third most shots per game among all Oilers players and has averaged 21:10 of ice time in the postseason, the fifth highest mark on the team.
Game 6 goes Sunday night, with the Oilers needing a win to avoid elimination.
Karlsson, who leads the team with 11 points in 10 postseason games to date, has already set club records for assists (10) and points in a playoff year by a defenseman.
Three of those assists were earned in Saturday's Game 5 overtime win over the New York Rangers.
Granted, it's not a high bar to clear, but impressive nonetheless, especially seeing as he played the first round with a pair of hairline fractures in his foot and that he made an early exit from Game 4 against the Rangers.
Here's how Karlsson stacks up to Ottawa defensemen of playoff years past.
Player
Year
Games
Goals
Assists
Points
Erik Karlsson
2017
11
1
10
11
Wade Redden
2007
20
3
7
10
Wade Redden
2006
9
2
8
10
Joe Corvo
2007
20
2
7
9
Wade Redden
2003
18
1
8
9
Karlsson could have as many as two more games against the Rangers to add to those totals, and possibly also another round, provided the Senators can make good on a 3-2 series lead.
After a first round that was highlighted by some incredible goaltending performances - including some of the record-breaking variety - things appear to have settled in Round 2.
All eight of the remaining teams are now five games deep in the second round and with a few more games under their belt it appears skaters are beginning to find the holes in the opposing netminders, as goalies are not stopping pucks at nearly the same rate as they were in their opening series.
Goalie
1st Round SV%
1st Round G.A.A.
2nd Round SV%
2nd Round G.A.A.
Pekka Rinne
.976
.070
.928
2.03
Jake Allen
.956
1.47
.912
2.47
Henrik Lundqvist
.947
1.70
.909
2.75
Marc-Andre Fleury
.933
2.52
.925
2.61
Cam Talbot
.927
2.03
.913
3.30
John Gibson
.926
2.59
.901
2.78
Braden Holtby
.925
2.36
.876
2.78
Craig Anderson
.921
1.94
.898
3.30
There isn't a single goalie among the eight remaining clubs who is posting better numbers than they did in Round 1. In fact, some are playing leaps and bounds worse than in the conference quarterfinals, including Pekka Rinne, Jake Allen, Henrik Lundqvist, and Craig Anderson who are all giving up more than one goal per game more than they did in Round 1.
Of course, the most likely reason is that teams are now playing tougher competition in the second round, but even still these numbers are puzzling.
During the regular season, the average save percentage was .913, while the averaging goals-against average was 2.59. As we can see above, six goalies are stopping pucks at or below average rate and six are also allowing more goals against in Round 2.
It's an interesting trend, but who doesn't love more goals?
Slovenian forward Ziga Jeglic missed Sunday's game against Canada after being suspended two World Championship games for this dangerous kicking violation involving Switzerland's Thomas Rufenacht on Saturday.
After reviewing the incident, the IIHF ruled "that while Jeglic indicated that his only intention was to enter the bench as fast as possible, he intentionally and forcefully extended his leg in the direction of Rufenacht, risking to hit him in a vulnerable and dangerous position and so endangered the health of his opponent."
Jeglic will be eligible to return for Slovenia’s game against Finland on May 10.
It's a refrain that has to be running through the minds of those participating in the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs, where 23 games have been decided past regulation.
Here's a look at five of the best goals scored in extra frames.
Kevin Fiala: Game 3 vs. Blackhawks (Round 1)
Prior to suffering a season-ending leg injury, Kevin Fiala of the Nashville Predators played the role of overtime hero in Game 3 against the Chicago Blackhawks with one of the nicest goals we've seen at any point during the postseason.
Tyler Bozak: Game 3 vs. Capitals (Round 1)
A first-round series between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Washington Capitals featured no fewer than five games settled in overtime, with Tyler Bozak's nifty deflection from the slot in Game 3 serving as a finisher to remember.
Kyle Turris impressed in Game 5 against the New York Rangers by staying onside, tracking the puck following an initial shot that was blocked, kicking it up to his stick, and beating one of the best goalies in the world, Henrik Lundqvist.
All this and we're still only in the second round.
Here's what happened on Day 3 of the World Hockey Championship in Paris, France and Cologne, Germany.
Canada 7 - Slovenia 2
The Canadians flexed their offensive muscles with their most dominant performance of the tournament so far, improving to 2-0-0-0.
Nathan MacKinnon picked up the hat trick and an assist - earning player of the game honors - while his Colorado Avalanche teammate Tyson Barrie also picked up four points of his own (1G, 3A).
KHL forward Jan Mursak scored Slovenia's first tally late in the second period, while Jan Urbas picked up the team's second on a delayed penalty with just over two minutes remaining in the third period.
Canada outshot Slovenia 51-14.
The Canadians' next game comes Monday against Belarus, while Slovenia will enjoy a day off before taking on Norway on Tuesday.
For full scores and coverage, visit the IIHF's World Championship website.
