Palmieri's goal highlights strong game from third line

Published May. 17, 2015 7:44 p.m. ET

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Kyle Palmieri has quietly avoided the question that has been following him throughout the Anaheim Ducks' postseason: Why hasn't he scored any goals?

Ducks' coach Bruce Boudreau demurred the question in Calgary, instead saying that he's talked with Palmieri about his game. The very next day, Palmieri rewarded Boudreau's loyalty with a strong defensive showing. He blocked shots, forechecked and aided in a huge penalty kill. 

Still, the question remained. 

Palmieri had been a playoff gamer in the years prior, scoring six goals (eight points) in Anaheim's last two postseason appearances. Coming into Sunday night's series-opening game against the Chicago Blackhawks, he was scoreless with two assists. That knack for scoring big goals in big playoff moments seemed to be eluding him. 

But it's elusive no more: It took 10 games, but finally, Palmieri scored and he scored big, Sunday at the Honda Center in the Ducks' 4-1 win in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals. 

"It feels nice to get that first one of the playoffs," he said. "Tonight, with the pace of the game, it was nice to get that one. And for our line, especially, we had a good game but we've got to continue to do that."

Both Palmieri and his linemate, center Nate Thompson, scored. The third piece to that third-line puzzle, Andrew Cogliano, created both chances, and the line combined for four points. It was a rare game in which the Ducks' stars didn't show up much on the scoresheet, but it proved that Anaheim is far more than just their first two lines. 

"In all playoffs, there is somebody throughout history in any sport who comes up and plays better – and their numbers are better – than in the regular season," Boudreau said. "You're not going to win unless you have four lines playing. Palmieri, Thompson and Cogliano were very good today. Those guys played really good, but you need it if you want to be successful."

Goals get all the glory, but sometimes it's not about scoring goals. Sometimes goals are simply a reward for the less glory-worthy things. Palmieri and Thompson have done their fair share of the little things that don't show up on a scoresheet.

For Thompson, the goal was a reward. But for Palmieri, it was a sigh of relief.

A natural goal scorer who scored 14 in the regular season, Palmieri needed to make adjustments to his game this season in order to improve his defense. But he never expected his defense to be better than his offense in the postseason. 

"Looking back at the first two rounds, I was maybe thinking and playing a little too safe," he said. "It's something that, coming into the playoffs it's good to play safe and you have to make the simple plays, but it was kind of me slowing myself down a little bit."

Palmieri tried not to apply too much pressure on himself. It was much easier to remain calm and confident when the team was winning. But still, there was some natural frustration.

"When we're not winning, I think you see everyone frustrated, especially guys that want to score. But when you're winning and you're not scoring, I think it's a matter of trying to get yourself going," Cogliano said. "I've been trying to tell him, things change in a hurry. Things can happen really quickly. All of the sudden you get a couple goals, and you're the hero. It's a matter of sticking with it and a matter of playing the right way."

So he stuck with the defense, the one part of his game that hadn't failed him, and it paid off: His second-period goal came off the forecheck. The play that started it all was a check on defenseman David Rundbland.

All at once, that pressure went away. Palmieri was so overcome with excitment that that he didn't even get up off the ice before celebrating. 

"To get his first, I think it will really help him," Cogliano said. "He's one of those guys where if you give him a couple chances, he'll score."

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