LAS VEGAS. Jesper Fast became a superhero in North Carolina last night.
He decided another sudden drama – and sent the Hurricanes to the conference finals in the Stanley Cup playoffs.
– Well, it’s clear that it’s the biggest goal I’ve scored, the 31-year-old from Småland told Sportbladet after the decisive 3-2 victory against New Jersey.
He is primarily known as defensive warrior and effective “shutdown” forward, Jesper Fast, and before this year’s playoffs he had not scored a single sudden death goal during his ten-year NHL career.
But suddenly it happens…
Already in Carolina’s opening duel against the New York Islanders, he decided the second game at home in PNC Arena in overtime – and last night, when they were in position to hit in round five against the New Jersey Devils, he struck again.
Step forward in the blur
On a power play seven minutes into the first overtime period, Jesper appeared in the mess in front of Devils keeper Akira Schmid and headed in a shot from Jesperi Kotkaniemi.
At that moment, the entire quarterfinal series against the New Jersey Devils was decided and the Hurricanes were first of all ready for the conference final round.
– Yes, incredibly fun, of course, says “Quckie” when we reach him a little over an hour after the ecstatic moment in the home barn.
– Biggest goal I’ve achieved? As I said, I’ve never scored any overtime goals during my NHL career, so already that against the Islanders was big, but yes, this hits even higher.
The fact is, however, that the 31-year-old from Nässjö has generally been extremely toxic in this year’s playoffs. The goal last night was his fifth and thus he moves up alongside Adrian Kempe at the top of the Swedish shooting league.
– Many of our best offensive players are injured, so others have had to step up and yes, again, it’s of course fun that I was able to contribute so much, he continues.
Now the journey continues with the first appearance in the conference finals since 2019 – against the Florida Panthers or the Toronto Maple Leafs.
– Yes, we’ll see which of them makes it through. Regardless, it will be a lot of fun, says the hero Fast.
Disappointment for the Devils
However, it’s not fun for the Devils, who thought they had something really big going on when they knocked off the Rangers in the first round – and the fact that the rest of the world agrees that the young team will go much further in the future doesn’t help at the moment.
– No, it just sucks right now, says captain Nico Hischier.
In theory, young star Jesper Bratt is available for the WC after tonight’s result, but he will sign a new contract this summer, so the chance of him joining Tre Kronor is slim.
In the fifth meeting between Seattle and Dallas on Friday night, Dallas won 5–2. Swedish Adam Larsson scored one of Seattle’s two goals. Dallas leads 3-2 in games and the teams meet in a sixth game on the night of Sunday, Swedish time.
2023-05-12 04:32:20
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