Morning Skate: Playoff Edition (5/12)

The Morning After:
My 3 stars from last night:
1. Patrick Kane (3 goals)
Wow, wow, wow! Kane’s unbelievable game eliminates Vancouver.
2. Jonathan Toews (2 goals, 1 assist)
Captain Toews was right by Kane’s side with 3 big points.
3. Viktor Kozlov (2 goals)
Kozlov had 2 big goals in the Caps’ season-saving win.
Best atmosphere: Chicago
The UC was going CRAZY as the ‘Hawks advance to the conference finals.
‘RLD Game-Changing Performance’ of the night:
Caps’ penalty kill… It wasn’t necessarily a great PK by Washington because the Pens had many chances on that power play at the end of regulation. But that was Pittsburgh’s chance, and the Caps killed it off. I think they carried the momentum from that into overtime, and eventually won.
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Tonight’s Slate:
Bruins @ Hurricanes, Game 6, 7:00
Red Wings @ Ducks, Game 6, 10:30

Game of the Night:
1) Boston Bruins @ 6) Carolina Hurricanes
Game 6, 7:00 ET… TV: VERSUS, TSN, Local Networks
Hurricanes lead, 3-2

Players to watch:
BOS- Milan Lucic
Look for ‘Looch’ to be a physical force tonight… and maybe contribute offensively.
CAR- Eric Staal
0 points, -3 rating in Game 5… Staal must be better, and I think he will be.

Starting Goaltenders:
BOS- Tim Thomas (Playoff stats: 6-3, 1.77 GAA)
CAR- Cam Ward (Playoff stats: 7-5, 2.14 GAA)

Injury Report:
BOS- Aaron Ward (eye, questionable), Andrew Ference (lower body, questionable), Matt Hunwick (spleen, out), Marco Sturm (knee, out)
CAR- Ryan Bayda (illness, questionable)

Game Thoughts:
Boston certainly played a great game on Sunday, but can’t get much better. Carolina was awful in Game 5, and will be energized by the ‘Caniacs’. It’s going to be a close, hard-hitting affair without a doubt. I just like Ward to outplay Thomas tonight, and for the ‘Canes to march on.

Prediction: Hurricanes 3, Bruins 2
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2) Detroit Red Wings @ 8) Anaheim Ducks
Game 6, 10:30 ET… TV: VERSUS, CBC, Local Networks
Red Wings lead, 3-2

Players to watch:
DET- Mikael Samuelsson
I have a hunch that Samuelsson will score a big goal tonight.
ANA- Scott Niedermayer
He’s a -4 in the last 2 games… that must change if the Ducks have any shot.

Starting Goaltenders:
DET- Chris Osgood (Playoff stats: 7-2, 1.97 GAA)
ANA- Jonas Hiller (Playoff stats: 6-5, 2.18 GAA)

Injury Report:
DET- Brian Rafalski (upper body, questionable), Kris Draper (upper body, questionable), Tomas Kopecky (face, out), Andreas Lilja (head, out)
ANA- Bret Hedican (back, out)

Game Thoughts:
This game almost seems like a sure thing. I’m very confident that the Ducks’ run is coming to an end tonight. Detroit is so good when they get the other team on the brink. They have too many veterans to have a letdown game. Anaheim is losing their luster it seems like, especially Jonas Hiller. I foresee another steady beat-down from the Wings tonight, but the Ducks won't go quietly.

Prediction: Red Wings 5, Ducks 2