Top 5 Stanley Cup Playoff Upsets

One of the best things about the Stanley Cup Playoffs is that anybody can beat anybody on any given night… which means upsets happen pretty often (compared to other sports). With Wednesday’s historic upset pulled off by Montreal, we take a look at the top five upsets in the Stanley Cup Playoff history. It’s upsets like these that have made the playoffs so exciting over the years…

1. #8 Oilers over #1 Red Wings (‘06 WCQF)
There was no way the Oilers could win this series. Mike Babcock’s Red Wings were head-above-shoulders the best team in the NHL. With 124 points, the Wings ran away with the Presidents’ Trophy. Steve Yzerman, Nicklas Lidstrom, Pavel Datsyuk, and Brendan Shanahan were just going to be too much. On paper, the Oilers, who clinched their playoff spot in Game #81, didn’t have a chance.

But once the series started, Detroit realized they’d be in a dogfight. Chris Pronger and the Oilers went toe-to-toe with them in the first four games, forcing a 2-2 series tie. After a crucial road win in Game 5, 8th-seeded Edmonton had a chance to pull off the massive upset at home. It was a game for the ages, but the Oilers needed some 3rd period magic to finish off Detroit. They got it behind the heroics of Ales Hemsky. Hemsky’s game-winner with 1:06 to go in Game 6 will forever be remembered by Oilers fans (a goal that puts a smile on my face just thinking about it!)

Craig MacTavish’s gang went on to the Stanley Cup Finals that spring, and took the Hurricanes to a seventh game. This Edmonton team reeled off one of the most magical playoff runs in playoff history, as the team took the country by storm with Rexall Place rockin’ on a nightly basis. They not only stunned the whole NHL… they sent shockwaves through the world of sports.

2. #8 Canadiens over #1 Capitals (’10 ECQF)
Most experts assumed the Capitals would breeze through the Canadiens. Many of those same people also assumed that getting to the finals would be a cakewalk. I mean, they just had so much offense that it overshadowed the average-at-best defense and goaltending… right??

Montreal stole Game 1 in overtime, and held a 4-1 lead in Game 2. Disaster struck, though, as Nicklas Backstrom carried the Caps to a thrilling 6-5 overtime victory that night, tying the series. The Caps followed it up with impressive wins in Montreal, taking a commanding 3-1 series lead. At that point, both Jaroslav Halak and Carey Price were both rattled. This series was finished; a Washington-Philadelphia 2nd round series was already in the books. Jacques Martin, though, had the perfect gameplan to get the Habs back in the series.

After two memorable performances from Halak in Games 5 and 6, it came down to a decisive Game 7. Washington was still the heavy favorite despite losing momentum. Behind another astounding effort from Halak (41 saves) and the defense (41 blocked shots), the Canadiens ‘capped’ off the unthinkable comeback from a 3-1 series deficit – the first time an 8-seed has done that to a 1-seed – to win 2-1. There’s no telling how far this Canadiens team can go… it all depends on Halak’s play. But they’ve certainly etched their place in history with this upset.

3. #7 Mighty Ducks over #2 Red Wings (‘03 WCQF)
This series didn’t technically go down as a 1 vs. 8 matchup, but it certainly had the David vs. Goliath feel to it. Goliath had just won the Stanley Cup and was heavy favorites to breeze through their first round series against the pesky Mighty Ducks in 2003. David had other ideas.

J.S. Giguere put together a great 02/03 regular season campaign; he was Anaheim’s only chance at winning the series. He had to play out of his mind… and he did. Giguere took the Mighty Ducks on a memorable ride in 2003, and it all started with a stunning sweep of the defending champs. Game 1 went into triple overtime, where Paul Kariya would lift them with the winner. After stunning the Wings again in Games 2 and 3, Steve Rucchin’s overtime goal in Game 4 completed the improbable sweep at the Pond.

This was certainly one of the more memorable upsets in playoff history. And it was the way Babcock’s Mighty Ducks outworked the Wings that impressed so many. Carried by that style of play, the Mighty Ducks outlasted its opponents all the way to Game 7 of the finals, where they were beaten by a better New Jersey Devils squad. This Anaheim team is more proof of how David has a better shot at Goliath than people think…

4. #8 Sharks over #1 Red Wings (’94 WCQF)
Under the current format, this was the first time the 8-seed took down a 1-seed. San Jose, making their first ever playoff appearance, was heavy underdogs to Scotty Bowman and the Wings. The Sharks had only garnered a combined 63 points in its first two seasons in the league. But their turnaround, led by coach Kevin Constantine, was one for the ages. And the beat the Red Wings in 7 games in this series. At the Joe in Game 7, San Jose’s Jamie Baker scored the 3rd period game-winner to propel the Sharks into round two. The Sharks’ franchise has been known for playoff failure… but this is one of the bright spots Sharks fans can look back on.

5. #8 Canadiens over #1 Bruins (‘02 ECQF)
Jose Theodore, who won the Hart AND Vezina Trophies in 2002, backstopped the Canadiens to a stunning upset of rival Boston in the first round. Montreal beat the B’s in six games, inspired by the surprise return of Saku Koivu, who beat his bout with cancer. Theodore was brilliant in Games 5 and 6 as the Habs manufactured enough goals to pull off the unlikely upset. This series has a chapter by itself in the prolonged novel that is the classic Montreal-Boston rivalry.

Other big first-round upsets…
#8 Senators over #1 Devils (’98 ECQF)
#8 Sharks over #1 Blues (’00 WCQF)
#8 Ducks over #1 Sharks (’09 WCQF)
#7 Kings over #2 Red Wings ('01 WCQF)
#7 Canadiens over #2 Bruins (’04 ECQF)
#7 Maple Leafs over #2 Senators (’01 ECQF)

NHL10 Daily Simulation: MTL @ PIT

The NHL10 simulations keep rolling here in round two! Last year, my XBOX beat me win percentage wise. I’m out to turn it around!! The rosters are updated, injured players are out of the lineup, and the players’ overalls are as close to real life as possible.

So far, the XBOX has not been too accurate (5-11). Today, I let the computer play out tonight’s Pens-Habs game…

CANADIENS @ PENGUINS, GAME 1
Scoring Summary:
1st Period
PIT- Sergei Gonchar (2:00, Guerin and Crosby)
MTL- Scott Gomez (4:05, Pouliot and Gionta)
2nd Period
None
3rd Period
None
Overtime
PIT- Alexei Ponikarovsky (8:41, Dupuis and Goligoski)

Team Stats:
Shots
MTL- 29, PIT- 39
Power Plays
MTL- 0/2, PIT- 0/1

Final: Penguins 2, Canadiens 1 (OT)
3 Stars:
1. Ponikarovsky; 2. Halak; 3. Fleury

Tune in tomorrow as I’ll simulate Game 1 of Chicago-Vancouver!

Preview: Penguins-Canadiens

How They Got Here…
Penguins-
Round 1: 4-2 series W vs. 5) OTT
Canadiens-
Round 1: 4-3 series W vs. 1) WSH
Season Series…
3-1 Penguins
Previous Playoff Meeting…
1998 Eastern Conference Quarterfinals (4-2 Canadiens)
Tale of the Tape…
Forwards-
Edge: Penguins… Crosby and Malkin (among others) outweigh any offensive production the Habs can generate.
Defensemen-
Edge: Even… The Pens’ group is pretty solid; the Habs just shutdown the most explosive team in the NHL.
Goaltending-
Edge: Canadiens… Though Fleury has had his fair share of postseason success, Halak is on a different universe right now.
Special Teams-
Edge: Canadiens… Their penalty kill and power play are both top-notch.
Coaching-
Edge: Even… Martin is a bit more experience, but both he and Bylsma are quality coaches.
Experience-
Edge: Penguins… I give Pittsburgh the slight edge since this group was together, for the most part, all of last year.
Team X-Factors…
Penguins-
Alexei Ponikarovsky… When GM Ray Shero acquired Ponikarovsky from the lowly Leafs in March, the Ukrainian was expected to produce more than he has (3 goals in 22 games, including the playoffs). Ponikarovsky was a streaky player in Toronto, and it’d be a good time to get on a hot streak against a team he knows fairly well. If ‘Pony’ can get going next to Malkin, it should pay dividends for the Pens, who’ll need secondary scoring to prevail in this series.
Canadiens-
Andrei Markov… In Wednesday’s Game 7 in Washington, Markov played one of the best defensive games I’ve seen him play. He logged the most ice-time for Montreal, and blocked 6 shots. He’s going to have to keep up that pace here in round two… and produce more while he’s at it. Markov only tallied 4 points (all assists) against the Caps. The Habs need him to be more effective offensively, even if they’re not on the man advantage.
Key Injuries…
Penguins-
D Jordan Leopold (head, expected to return during series)
RW Tyler Kennedy (leg, questionable for start of series)
LW Chris Kunitz (undisclosed, questionable for start of series)
Canadiens-
D Jaroslav Spacek (illness, questionable for start of series)
D Paul Mara (shoulder, doubtful for rest of playoffs)
Keys to the Series…
Penguins-
1. Stronger penalty kill… Pittsburgh had a soft PK in the first round, surrendering 7 goals on 22 attempts from Ottawa. Against a high-powered power play unit like Montreal’s, Bylsma will have to work on getting that PK better.
2. Patience is a virtue… The Capitals were frustrated to no end by Montreal’s blue-line. Though effective, the Habs will have a tougher time stopping a more patient attack led by Crosby. If they don’t try to force shots when there’s not a lane, and can get Halak moving from side-to-side, they should be fine.
Canadiens-
1. Keep blocking shots… Martin’s Habs played a near-perfect Game 7, where they blocked 41 of the Capitals’ shots – 41! They averaged upwards of 25 per game during the series, and need to keep that going.
2. Contain Malkin… Crosby had 14 points versus the Sens, but he didn’t win the series by himself. The Canadiens need to try to shutdown Malkin’s line, and force Crosby to carry the team offensively. If ‘Geno has success, they’ll have trouble pulling another upset.
Burning Questions…
Penguins- Will they be able to get around the Habs’ defensive pressure?
Like I said, Montreal was able to frustrate Washington like no other team has done all year. I assume they’ll try to do the same thing to Crosby. But if Pittsburgh can dump and chase effectively, they’ll be able to generate scoring chances and crack the Great Wall of Halak.
Canadiens- Can Halak keep this success going?
Speaking of Halak… I don’t know if I’ve ever seen a three-game performance like Halak’s in my time of watching hockey. If he keeps up this high level of play, he has a chance to become J.S. Giguere circa 2003.
Why the Penguins will win…
Bylsma’s crew is the best team remaining in the Eastern Conference. Even if the Capitals were still alive, I’d consider the Pens the team to beat as the two-time defending conference champions (like I do with Detroit). This is a very hard team to beat 4 times in a 7-game series, mainly because of Crosby and Malkin. If Fleury is on his game, too, I don’t see the Penguins losing this series.
Why the Canadiens will win…
Halak is the only reason why Montreal would win this series. Like the aforementioned Giguere back in 2003, the Slovakian would have to put the team on his back and carry them. Not to say it’s impossible, but it’ll be incredibly tough. Also, they have to get more offensive production outside of Cammalleri’s top line. They’ve shocked everyone in the last week, but it’s going to be a tough turnaround between the first and second round.
Final Thoughts…
Cinderella could keep dancing past this round, but Halak has to be as good or better than he was against Washington. That’s a tough task… go with Pittsburgh in a tight series.
PREDICTION… PENGUINS IN SIX

Preview: Bruins-Flyers

How They Got Here…
Bruins-
Round 1: 4-2 series W vs. 3) BUF
Flyers-
Round 1: 4-1 series W vs. 2) NJ
Season Series…
Tied 2-2
Previous Playoff Meeting…
1978 Eastern Conference Semifinals (4-1 Bruins)
Tale of the Tape…
Forwards-
Edge: Even… The combination of Philly’s injuries and the return of Savard for Boston pulls this even.
Defensemen-
Edge: Flyers… If Pronger and Chara cancel each other out, I’ll take the rest of the Flyers’ back end.
Goaltending-
Edge: Bruins… I give the slight nod to Rask because he can take over a game and dominate.
Special Teams-
Edge: Even… Both teams were stellar on the PP and PK units in round one.
Coaching-
Edge: Even… Julien and Laviolette have done great jobs in their own right steering sinking ships back in the right direction this year.
Experience-
Edge: Bruins… The B’s have a few more players that have been through the postseason grind.
Team X-Factors…
Bruins-
Dennis Wideman… Wideman struggled this season after his 08/09 breakout campaign (I think most Bruins can say that). But he has played better of late next to Matt Hunwick, and has even started to chip in offensively again. I know it’s a big ‘if’… but if Wideman can elevate his game even further, it’ll give the B’s a great chance to come away with the series.
Flyers-
Claude Giroux… With Gagne and Carter down to injury, Giroux will be relied upon to step up offensively. He’s already done so, with a stellar 3-point effort in Game 5 vs. New Jersey. Now he has to play like that for a whole series. Giroux has a tremendous skill-set, and if he can find some open ice to use it, it’ll improve the Flyers’ opportunity to advance.
Key Injuries…
Bruins-
C Marc Savard (concussion, will return for Game 1)
D Mark Stuart (finger, doubtful for series)
D Dennis Seidenberg (forearm, doubtful for series)
Flyers-
C Jeff Carter (foot, out for series)
LW Simon Gagne (foot, could return later in series)
RW Ian Laperriere (head, out for rest of playoffs)
RW Aaron Asham (eye, probable for start of series)
G Michael Leighton (ankle, doubtful for series)
G Ray Emery (hip, out for rest of playoffs)
Keys to the Series…
Bruins-
1. Dominant Chara… ‘Big Z’ logged almost 29 minutes a game in round one, and that number won’t go down anytime soon. A key matchup in the series should be Chara against Mike Richards. The B’s need their 6’9” beast to be his dominant self.
2. Continued PP success… Out of nowhere, the Bruins’ power play found a spark (yes, without Savard). With him back in the lineup, it’ll be important for them to keep that success going against a solid Philadelphia PK unit.
Flyers-
1. Secondary Scoring… I’ve already mentioned Giroux as being a big factor, but others like Hartnell, van Riemsdyk, and even Timonen have to pitch-in when needed.
2. Boucher > Rask… There’s no doubt Boucher can carry over his success from last series. For the Flyers to win the series, though, he may have to be better than Rask. It should be a great goaltending duel!
Burning Questions…
Bruins- How much of a lift will Marc Savard’s presence bring?
I can’t imagine what the Garden will be like Saturday when Savard steps onto the ice again. Even if he can’t recapture his game right away, he’ll certainly give his teammates a shot of adrenaline.
Flyers- Can they continue to fight through the injuries?
Peter Laviolette’s gang is pretty banged up right now, and it can only get worse as this series goes on (it will be a battle every night). Without the likes of Gagne and Carter – and key PK’er Laperriere – the Flyers will need more players to step up.
Why the Bruins will win…
I really like Boston’s chances in this series. They’ve been playing great, desperate hockey since about the last 10 days of the regular season, and controlled most of the series against Buffalo (not saying Philly didn’t do either of things). Home-ice will play a big role, too, and they’ve really fed off the Garden crowd lately. The offense is starting to get contributions from different angles, and Savard will only help that. I just see this team advancing past this round, and maybe even to the finals with a bounce here and there.
Why the Flyers will win…
By no means am I taking anything away from the Flyers. They have just as good a chance at winning this series as the Bruins do. But the injuries will be difficult to overcome. When Carter went down in March, they went on a tailspin that almost cost them a playoff spot. Piling others on top of that won’t help their cause. Boucher will have to be stellar, and so will the defense in front of him. If they can take a game or two in Boston, they have a great shot. Rask has had their number in limited appearances, though.
Final Thoughts…
This should be a hard-fought, grueling series that just might go seven games; I don’t anticipate either team getting a two-game advantage. In the end, Rask will be the difference.
PREDICTION… BRUINS IN SIX

Morning Skate - Playoff Edition: 4/30

The Morning After:
Last night’s scores:
Sharks 4, Red Wings 3
Predictions record: 1-0

My 3 stars from last night:
1. Joe Pavelski, SJ (2 Goals, 1 Assist)
The ‘Big Pavelski’ came up big again, tallying 3 points and the game-winner.
2. Dan Boyle, SJ (3 Assists)
Boyle had a real strong game, picking up 3 assists and logging 28-plus minutes.
3. Johan Franzen, DET (1 Goal, 1 Assist)
‘The Mule’ had a solid showing despite the loss.
‘RLD Game-Changing Performance’ of the night:
Three-goal barrage… Midway through the 1st period, Pavelski, Dany Heatley, and Devin Setoguchi scored within a span of 1:19. They blitzed the Wings early, and set the tone for the game (and possibly the series).
---
Tonight’s Slate:
Montreal @ Pittsburgh, Game 1, 7:00 ET

Game of the Night:
Montreal Canadiens @ Pittsburgh Penguins
Game 1, 7:00 ET… TV: VERSUS, CBC, Local Networks

Players to watch:
MTL- Hal Gill
Going up against his former ‘mates, will Gill be a thorn in their side like he was against opponents when wearing a Pens uni?
PIT- Sidney Crosby
Crosby had an outstanding first round, and has lit up Montreal in his career.

Starting Goaltenders:
MTL- Jaroslav Halak (Playoff stats: 4-2, 2.46 GAA)
PIT- Marc-Andre Fleury (Playoff stats: 4-2, 2.75 GAA)

Injury Report:
MTL- Jaroslav Spacek (illness, questionable), Paul Mara (shoulder, out)
PIT- Chris Kunitz (undisclosed, questionable), Tyler Kennedy (leg, questionable), Jordan Leopold (head, questionable)

Game Thoughts:
Two days after pulling off the big upset, the Canadiens look to carry over the success to their series against the Pens. Pittsburgh has had some rest since eliminating Ottawa, and should be ready to go tonight. I expect to see the Habs keep it close behind Halak’s goaltending, but it won’t be enough. Go with the Pens here…
Prediction: Penguins 3, Canadiens 1

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The Wild, Wild... East?

A stunning, yet thrilling Game 7 last night capped off the most exciting, intense, insane first round of a Stanley Cup Playoffs dating back as far as I can remember.

Three of the bottom four seeds in the Eastern Conference are advancing to the second round. The Boston Bruins, Philadelphia Flyers and Jaroslav Halaks, err...Montreal Canadiens all have something in common. They were all labeled as the "underdog" heading into their first round series and they all came out on top.

Wild, an understatement for the Eastern Conference in the first round. What we, as fans, have witnessed during these playoffs have been nothing short of outstanding. The hits, the saves, the blocked shots, and of course the goals.

However, where we currently stand presents the potential "underdog" team to play in the conference finals.

The matchups:
Pittsburgh Penguins (4) vs Montreal Canadiens (8)
Boston Bruings (6) vs Philadelphia Flyers (7)

Two very interesting match-ups are now set in stone to begin tomorrow night from Pittsburgh.

Mike Green, the new "Mr. Softee", has the finger pointing in his direction on the downfall of the Washington Capitals, who blew a three games to one lead over the Montreal Canadiens. The Habs completed the upset last night in enemy territory as Halak pulled out another brilliant performance to help his team advance.

Although Alexander Ovechkin was able to produce on the offensive side of things, from a statistical standpoint, where was the "Gr8" one in Games 6 and 7? Likely completing his courses at the Joe Thornton school of "Big Game Choke Performances".

Now, Bruce Boudreau is getting criticized as well by the fan base.

In New Jersey, superstar acquisition Ilya Kovalchuk is taking his time in deciding if he will stay on board with the Devils or skip out of town as fast as he arrived.

With head coach Jacques Lemaire retiring as bench boss and moving upstairs, the coaching carousel that has been known to haunt New Jersey will continue.

Martin Brodeur played on top of his game the entire series, but it was not enough for the team as they were ousted in five games by the 7th-seeded Flyers.

Vezina front-runner Ryan Miller felt his heart snap in two for the second time this calendar year. If his runner-up performance during the 2010 Winter Olympic Games wasn't enough heartbreak, the Bruins opened up a fresh wound and poured salt all over it. A six game elimination for the Sabres left the team wondering what went wrong.

However, no blame should be placed on Miller, as he did everything in his power to keep his team alive.

The Ottawa Senators gave the Pittsburgh Penguins a scare with Pascal Leclaire putting together some fantastic performances of his own when he took over between the pipes for original starter Brian Elliott.

Daniel Alfredsson and Jason Spezza must have been in the back of the same classroom that Ovechkin was part of in between games during that series. The big guns failed to contribute and the Senators failed to advance.

The Penguins who are the most complete team, both on paper and on the ice left in these playoffs, do not have an easy opponent coming to town.

Think of it, Tuukka Rask, Brian Boucher, Jaroslav Halak and Marc-Andre Fleury are your remaining goaltenders. Three of the four do not have much of a resume, and two of the four have minimal to no playoff experience at all.

It's a wild ride within the Eastern Conference. At this point, the Eastern Conference Finals can come down to any of these four teams remaining.

Battles will be lost, hearts will be broken and on the flip side, wars will be won and promise will be fulfilled.

I wouldn't, if I were you, miss a second of what the second round has in store for these Eastern Conference Semifinals!

NHL10 Daily Simulation: DET @ SJ

The NHL10 simulations keep rolling here in round two! Last year, my XBOX beat me win percentage wise. I’m out to turn it around!! The rosters are updated, injured players are out of the lineup, and the players’ overalls are as close to real life as possible.

So far, the XBOX has not been too accurate (5-10). Today, I let the computer play out tonight’s Sharks-Wings game…

RED WINGS @ SHARKS, GAME 1
Scoring Summary:
1st Period
SJ- Rob Blake (5:42, Vlasic and Pavelski)
DET- Nicklas Lidstrom (17:44, Holmstrom and Rafalski)
SJ- Manny Malhotra (18:50, McGinn and Mitchell)
2nd Period
None
3rd Period
DET- Henrik Zetterberg (PP, 12:49, Franzen and Stuart)
Overtime
DET- Johan Franzen (PP, 13:23, Datsyuk)

Team Stats:
Shots
DET- 31, SJ- 28
Power Plays
DET- 2/4, SJ- 0/2

Final: Red Wings 3, Sharks 2 (OT)
3 Stars:
1. Franzen; 2. Howard; 3. Malhotra

Tune in tomorrow as I’ll simulate Game 1 of Pittsburgh-Montreal!

Playoff Fantasy: Round 2

Here at the RLD, we’ve decided to add ‘Playoff Fantasy’ to our repertoire this spring. It is a spin-off from Saturday Fantasy, which we’ve kept going for the last couple of years. Three of us participated every weekend this season, and Michael (AKA fantasy_hockey_guru) outlasted yours truly and Chris Wassel from The Program.

But for the playoffs, we’ve added Anthony Curatolo to the mix. He joined the RLD a month ago, and has done an exceptional job. The four of us will battle it out this postseason!

If you’re just visiting the RLD, here is the draft (and rules explanation) from round 1.

We have a rotisserie-type scoring, as the team with the most goals gets 4 points (Michael), and the least gets 1 (Chris). There are 9 categories (4 for goalies), and here are the results from round 1:

1. Anthony (28)
2. Michael (24)
3. Ryan (19)
4. Chris (18)

We’ll keep track of the stats throughout the playoffs, and the one with the most points in mid-June will be crowned champion!

Here’s our draft for the upcoming 2nd Round, in which we each drafted 4 forwards, 2 defensemen, and 1 goalie…

Round 1
Anthony: Jaroslav Halak
Ryan: Sidney Crosby
Michael: Henrik Sedin
Chris: Marc-Andre Fleury
Round 2
Chris: Pavel Datsyuk
Michael: Henrik Zetterberg
Ryan: Patrick Kane
Anthony: Michael Cammalleri
Round 3
Anthony: Johan Franzen
Ryan: Tuukka Rask
Michael: Mike Richards
Chris: Jonathan Toews
Round 4
Chris: Andrei Markov
Michael: Zdeno Chara
Ryan: Nicklas Lidstrom
Anthony: Claude Giroux
Round 5
Anthony: Chris Pronger
Ryan: Daniel Sedin
Michael: Sergei Gonchar
Chris: Duncan Keith
Round 6
Chris: Dustin Byfuglien
Michael: Mikael Samuelsson
Ryan: Marian Hossa
Anthony: Dan Boyle
Round 7
Anthony: Joe Pavelski
Ryan: Alexander Edler
Michael: Jimmy Howard
Chris: Dan Carcillo

Our 2nd round rosters:
Anthony…
Forwards- Cammalleri, Franzen, Giroux, Pavelski
Defensemen- Pronger, Boyle
Goalie- Halak
Chris…
Forwards- Datsyuk, Toews, Byfuglien, Carcillo
Defensemen- Markov, Keith
Goalie- Fleury
Ryan…
Forwards- Crosby, Kane, D. Sedin, Hossa
Defensemen- Lidstrom, Edler
Goalie- Rask
Michael…
Forwards- H. Sedin, Zetterberg, Richards, Samuelsson
Defensemen- Chara, Gonchar
Goalie- Howard

Preview: Blackhawks-Canucks

How They Got Here…
Blackhawks-
Round 1: 4-2 series W vs. 7) NSH
Canucks-
Round 1: 4-2 series W vs. 6) LA
Season Series…
Tied 2-2
Previous Playoff Meeting…
2009 Western Conference Semifinals (4-2 Blackhawks)
Tale of the Tape…
Forwards-
Edge: Blackhawks… I feel like they have a tad more quality depth than Vancouver.
Defensemen-
Edge: Blackhawks… Their blue-line corps has good versatility the premier shutdown pairing of Keith and Seabrook; Canucks lack depth if injuries occur.
Goaltending-
Edge: Canucks… Considering how he played in the last couple games of the first round, Luongo gets the nod here.
Special Teams-
Edge: Even… The matchup between Vancouver’s power play and Chicago’s penalty kill should be fun to watch!
Coaching-
Edge: Blackhawks… A slight edge goes to Joel Quenneville, taking nothing away from Alain Vigneault.
Experience-
Edge: Even… Neither team has much Cup-winning experience, and both were in this situation last year.
Team X-Factors…
Blackhawks-
Dave Bolland… The third-line pivot only had two points in Chicago’s series with the Predators. But he’s too important of a player to the Hawks’ lineup to ignore. Bolland can be a steady point-producer (given his role) and was a huge part in last year’s 2nd round victory over the Canucks. He collected 6 points in the series, including two back-breaking goals in Games 2 and 5. A strong series from Bolland will pay dividends for Quenneville and company, as he’ll likely be facing the top guns of Vancouver’s.
Canucks-
Ryan Kesler… Kesler was my X-factor for the Canucks’ in the first round. He had a solid six games, but will need to be better here. He only scored one goal, and needs to help Alex Burrows get his game back on track. There’s also a reason why he is a Selke finalist. Kesler plays a high-quality two-way game, which could give the ‘Hawks trouble in this series if he performs to his potential.
Key Injuries…
Blackhawks-
D Kim Johnsson (concussion, doubtful for series)
Canucks-
D Willie Mitchell (concussion, doubtful for rest of playoffs)
C Ryan Johnson (foot, doubtful for series)
D Nolan Baumgartner (knee, doubtful for series)
D Aaron Rome (ankle, questionable for start of series)
Keys to the Series…
Blackhawks-
1. Better 5-on-5 play… Man for man, the ‘Hawks were pushed to the limit by Nashville. They’ll be facing another team that is great at even strength in Vancouver, who outscored the Kings 17-7 while 5-on-5. Chicago has to be better in this area.
2. Contain Vancouver’s top line… Once Samuelsson was placed on the top line next to the Sedin twins, the Canucks were difficult to keep off the scoreboard. Keith and Seabrook should be given the tough task of trying to contain this line.
Canucks-
1. Steady Luongo… ‘Bobby Lou’ played better than I expected in round one, but he did have lapses within a game that still leave a slight cause for concern. The Canucks need him to be on top of his game, unlike in last year’s second round against these same Blackhawks.
2. Secondary scoring… If the ‘Hawks are able to slow down the Sedins, guys like Burrows and Mason Raymond – who combined for two points in round one – will need to step up.
Burning Questions…
Blackhawks- Can Antti Niemi out-duel Luongo?
Though Niemi had a solid first impression in the postseason, he wasn’t flawless. The Finnish youngster was more on than off versus Nashville, but will have to out-duel Luongo in the pressure moments.
Canucks- Are the penalty kill woes finally solved?
At one point during the first round, Los Angeles converted on 6 consecutive power play chances. But Vigneault’s gang was able to kill 11 of the next 12 to close the series. I’m assuming they gained a lot of confidence on the PK, which will be a vital part of this series.
Why the Blackhawks will win…
Chicago got through a tough 7-seed in Nashville, and their stars are starting to shine. Hossa, Toews, and Kane have come to the forefront at the right time. The ‘Hawks also have the back end to go even further than just this round. With Campbell back in the lineup, they arguably have the best defense corps remaining in the West. Their speed up front could be a problem for Vancouver’s blue-line, and Niemi is more solid/consistent in the crease than the Canucks saw in Quick.
Why the Canucks will win…
After a rough patch at the beginning of their first round series with L.A., the Sedins and company have found their groove. They got better as the games went on in the series, and Luongo is on top of his game. The Canucks are a dangerous team right now – dangerous enough to beat Chicago? Certainly. But that they have to get the job done. If injuries are suffered in this grueling series, their depth will be tested.
Final Thoughts…
This series can really go either way, and the rivalry between the two is only going to grow! I picked the ‘Hawks to win the Cup and I’m sticking to it.
PREDICTION… BLACKHAWKS IN SEVEN

Preview: Sharks-Red Wings

How They Got Here…
Sharks-
Round 1: 4-2 series W vs. 8) COL
Red Wings-
Round 1: 4-3 series W vs. 4) PHX
Season Series…
3-1 Red Wings
Previous Playoff Meeting…
2007 Western Conference Semifinals (4-2 Red Wings)
Tale of the Tape…
Forwards-
Edge: Red Wings… The winged wheel has an experienced group of forwards that had success against a quality defensive team in Phoenix.
Defensemen-
Edge: Red Wings… It’s closer than it appears, but Detroit’s depth here is the difference.
Goaltending-
Edge: Sharks… Taking nothing away from Howard, but Nabokov has played well and has more experience.
Special Teams-
Edge: Sharks… They had the best special teams unit in the league all year, and their PK is more consistent.
Coaching-
Edge: Red Wings… Babcock vs. McLellan; teacher vs. student.
Experience-
Edge: Red Wings… Really, this isn’t even close.
Team X-Factors…
Sharks-
Patrick Marleau… Throughout all of San Jose’s noted playoff failures, Marleau has been the popular one to blame (whether it’s deserved or not). Against Colorado, they were fortunate the second line carried the team offensively; if not, they may not be in this position right now. Now they’ll take on a much better opponent, and the top line featuring Marleau and Thornton has to step up and produce (much) more often. Marleau’s had his struggles recently, but this would be the perfect time for him to break out.
Red Wings-
Jimmy Howard… There were times in the first round where Howard looked like a rookie. But he recovered nicely, and put together a nice series against Phoenix. Detroit’s new star goalie will have to be more consistent. Frankly, a big series from Howard can make him a household name and on the cusp of stardom… but a shaky showing here could leave the Wings short of the conference finals for the first time since 2006.
Key Injuries…
Sharks-
D Niclas Wallin (lower body, questionable for start of series)
RW Jed Ortmeyer (lower body, questionable for start of series)
Red Wings-
RW Kirk Maltby (shoulder, doubtful for series)
Keys to the Series…
Sharks-
1. Sharp Nabokov… It’s safe to say ‘Nabby’ hasn’t had much career success vs. Detroit (8-17-2, 3.53 GAA). He was solid in round one, but will he mentally be able to keep it up?
2. Defend the ‘Tank’… We all know the Sharks’ problems with Detroit. A nice start at home may help rid those demons. Too many times have the opposing walked into the ‘Tank’ and taken the first game or two. It can’t happen now…
Red Wings-
1. Win special teams battle… One of San Jose’s few advantages in the series should be the special teams. That can easily change, though, if the Wings can strike on the power play and perform consistently on the penalty kill.
2. Control the 3rd period… In the Wings’ four wins over the Coyotes, they outscored them 11-1 in the final frame (but were outscored 4-2 in losses). Judging by those stats, it’d be a good idea for Detroit to control the third in this series.
Burning Questions…
Sharks- Can they ‘overcome’ Detroit’s tenacity and skill?
San Jose’s theme for round one was ‘overcome’. They overcame a fast and youthful Avalanche team… but this is a completely different animal. The Wings are in their heads a bit, and the Sharks need to match their tenacity and aggression on the puck.
Red Wings- Are they going to eventually run out of gas?
You wonder how much a hard-fought 7-game series can take out of this team, especially having gone to the finals the last two seasons. It’s also a quick turnaround from Tuesday’s game in Phoenix. In the end, I think they’ll be fine for at least another round.
Why the Sharks will win…
For the Sharks to win this series, they must have amnesia. The past needs to be totally out of their minds (not even the back of their heads). This is their opportunity to shake the playoff woes of that past. Detroit is the team they’ve measured up to the last handful of years. I almost feel like McLellan should pull a page out of Herb Brooks’ book and give the team the ‘you attack them’ speech he gave to the 1980 USA team (referring to the Soviets) in Miracle. All kidding aside, the Sharks are talented enough to win this series… the mindset just has to be there.
Why the Red Wings will win…
Just like he said before Game 7 Tuesday, Mike Babcock will have his team ready for this series (though the short rest). Datsyuk and Zetterberg are arguably playing as well as they ever have, and Howard is good enough between the pipes for them to go far. I don’t have much doubt the ‘old guard’ can get the job done in this series. As long as they have the stamina needed and a couple step up (Franzen, Bertuzzi, etc), I definitely see them pulling through.
Final Thoughts…
Like I said, this is San Jose’s chance to prove the doubters wrong. I just don’t see them getting past this hurdle with the current core. Detroit takes it in an epic seven-game series.
PREDICTION… RED WINGS IN SEVEN

'RLD Hockey Talk' - Episode 12 Outline

You can listen live here at the top of the hour!

12:00 CT
- Show Introduction
- Welcome in co-host Anthony Curatolo
- WSH/MTL Game 7 chatter

12:05 CT (roughly)
- Welcome in guest Craig Custance, Sporting News
- Recall more bizarre Round 1?
- Habs/Caps chatter
- Sharks/Wings chatter
- Hawks/Canucks chatter
- Young goalies... Rask, Howard, and Niemi
- 2nd round predictions
- Calgary Flames off-season look-ahead

12:30 CT (roughly)
- Welcome in co-hosts Chris Wassel and Buddy Oakes
- Reaction to Game 7 of WSH/MTL
- 2nd Round roundtable discussion
- Series preview: BOS/PHI
- Series preview: PIT/MTL
- Series preview: DET/SJ
- Series preview: CHI/VAN

12:55 CT (roughly)
- Who’s got Hart... Crosby, Ovechkin, or H. Sedin??

First Round Recap

EASTERN CONFERENCE
1) Capitals vs. 8) Canadiens
My prediction for this series:
Capitals in 5
How the series went:
Canadiens in 7

Three Stars of the Series:
1. Jaroslav Halak, MTL (4-2, 2.46 GAA)
2. Michael Cammalleri, MTL (5 Goals, 5 Assists)
3. Alex Ovechkin, WSH (5 Goals, 5 Assists)
Unsung hero:
Hal Gill, MTL

2) Devils vs. 7) Flyers
My prediction for this series:
Devils in 6
How the series went:
Flyers in 5

Three Stars of the Series:
1. Brian Boucher, PHI (4-1, 1.59 GAA)
2. Mike Richards, PHI (2 Goals, 6 Assists)
3. Chris Pronger, PHI (2 Goals, 3 Assists)
Unsung hero:
Kimmo Timonen, PHI

3) Sabres vs. 6) Bruins
My prediction for this series:
Sabres in 7
How the series went:
Bruins in 6

Three Stars of the Series:
1. Tuukka Rask, BOS (4-2, 2.18 GAA)
2. Ryan Miller, BUF (2-4, 2.34 GAA)
3. Miroslav Satan, BOS (2 Goals, 3 Assists)
Unsung hero:
Johnny Boychuk, BOS

4) Penguins vs. 5) Senators
My prediction for this series:
Penguins in 6
How the series went:
Penguins in 6

Three Stars of the Series:
1. Sidney Crosby, PIT (5 Goals, 9 Assists)
2. Matt Cullen, OTT (3 Goals, 5 Assists)
3. Evgeni Malkin, PIT (4 Goals, 4 Assists)
Unsung hero:
Matt Cooke, PIT

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WESTERN CONFERENCE
1) Sharks vs. 8) Avalanche
My prediction for this series:
Sharks in 4
How the series went:
Sharks in 6

Three Stars of the Series:
1. Joe Pavelski, SJ (5 Goals, 3 Assists)
2. Ryane Clowe, SJ (1 Goal, 7 Assists)
3. Evgeni Nabokov, SJ (4-2, 1.76 GAA)
Unsung hero:
Manny Malhotra, SJ

2) Blackhawks vs. 7) Predators
My prediction for this series:
Blackhawks in 6
How the series went:
Blackhawks in 6

Three Stars of the Series:
1. Patrick Kane, CHI (4 Goals, 3 Assists)
2. Jonathan Toews, CHI (2 Goals, 6 Assists)
3. David Legwand, NSH (2 Goals, 5 Assists)
Unsung hero:
Brent Sopel, CHI

3) Canucks vs. 6) Kings
My prediction for this series:
Canucks in 7
How the series went:
Canucks in 6

Three Stars of the Series:
1. Mikael Samuelsson, VAN (7 Goals, 4 Assists)
2. Daniel Sedin, VAN (4 Goals, 6 Assists)
3. Drew Doughty, LA (3 Goals, 4 Assists)
Unsung hero:
Alexander Edler, VAN

4) Coyotes vs. 5) Red Wings
My prediction for this series:
Red Wings in 6
How the series went:
Red Wings in 7

Three Stars of the Series:
1. Henrik Zetterberg, DET (6 Goals, 5 Assists)
2. Pavel Datsyuk, DET (5 Goals, 3 Assists)
3. Jimmy Howard, DET (4-3, 2.59 GAA)
Unsung hero:
Brad Stuart, DET

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Some of the top videos from the 1st round...

Morning Skate - Playoff Edition: 4/29

The Morning After:
Last night’s scores:
Canadiens 2, Capitals 1
Predictions record: 0-1

My 3 stars from last night:
1. Jaroslav Halak, MTL (41 Saves, 1 GA)
Halak put together another masterful performance as the Habs pulled the gigantic upset.
2. Hal Gill, MTL (1 Assist)
Gill was a force all night in the defensive zone, and had the primary assist on Moore’s winner.
3. Dominic Moore, MTL (1 Goal)
Speaking of Moore… the journeyman’s goal late in the 3rd proved to be the difference.
‘RLD Game-Changing Performance’ of the night:
The no-goal call… When Ovechkin scored early in the third, I really thought they had broken the seal on Halak. But Mike Knuble was called on a crease violation (but no goalie interference) during the play. The goal should’ve counted, but it didn’t. And the frustration piled up even more after that, and the Caps just couldn’t buy a goal. This was a critical call in the game.
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Tonight’s Slate:
Detroit @ San Jose, Game 1, 9:00 ET

Game of the Night:
Detroit Red Wings @ San Jose Sharks
Game 1, 9:00 ET… TV: VERSUS, TSN, Local Networks

Players to watch:
DET- Johan Franzen
‘The Mule’ didn’t score as many goals as expect in round one, and needs to start this series off well.
SJ- Joe Thornton
‘Jumbo Joe’ was hardly relevant in the Colorado series; it’d be a good idea for him to show up in this one.

Starting Goaltenders:
DET- Jimmy Howard (Playoff stats: 4-3, 2.59 GAA)
SJ- Evgeni Nabokov (Playoff stats: 4-2, 1.76 GAA)

Injury Report:
DET- Kirk Maltby (shoulder, out)
SJ- Niclas Wallin and Jed Ortmeyer (lower body, questionable)

Game Thoughts:
This promises to be a great series, and I don’t think tonight’s game will disappoint. The Wings didn’t have much time to prepare, but it won’t affect them as much as it would some other teams. San Jose really needs to win this game and get off on the right foot. I think they will, behind a solid effort from ‘Nabby’.
Prediction: Sharks 3, Red Wings 2

You can follow the Red Light District on Twitter @RLDhockey!

Halak gets the last laugh, Habs move on

Tomorrow, Jaroslav Halak will be individually flown to Montreal to be named mayor of the city, and will meet the team in Pittsburgh for Friday’s series-opener. Not really, but he has officially become the unofficial mayor after this past week! The Canadiens’ netminder stopped 131 of the 134 shots he faced in Games 5 through 7 – a .977 percentage. That is ridunkulous!

Halak’s three wins to close out the series were some of the more eye-popping goaltending performances you’ll ever see (particularly Game 6). A pending restricted free agent this summer, the Slovakian has earned himself a lot of dough since being re-inserted between the pipes for Game 5. Is it safe to say Carey Price’s days in Montreal are numbered? I’d say so.

Not only did Halak raise his salary for next year by a considerable amount, but he also got the last laugh against Alex Ovechkin. If you remember, Ovechkin told the media after Game 2 that he saw Halak’s arm shaking when he reached for the water bottle when the Caps came back – implying he was rattled and that the Caps figured him out. Wise move, Ovie.

Halak remembered that quote and made the ‘Great 8’ pay. It was truly one of the best strings of performances ever made by a Montreal goaltender. With that, he stepped into the territory of Patrick Roy, Ken Dryden, and Jacques Plante. By no means am I putting Jaroslav Halak in that same realm of Habs legends, but the last three games were legendary-esque from him.

Halak didn’t win this series by himself, though. He had a wall of defenders that virtually blocked/deflected everything the Caps threw at the net. In fact, the Canadiens blocked 25.4 shots a game in this series (including 41 tonight). That’s 9-plus more than their season average.

Jacques Martin’s gang was outstanding at throwing the high-flying Caps off their game. The penalty kill did their job, killing off 32 of Washington’s 33 power plays. Also, the defensive pairing of Hal Gill and Josh Gorges was dynamite all series long; they frustrated Ovechkin and Backstrom to no end, and was smart with the puck in their own zone.

The Capitals’ season came to an end much sooner than expected. The President’s Trophy jinx has struck again, as the odds-on favorite to win the Cup failed to make it to the 2nd round for the second straight postseason. We’ll have more on them later in the week, but I did warn you when I made them my #1 Cup pretender three weeks or so ago. GM George McPhee and coach Bruce Boudreau will have to look in the mirror for a bit and possibly tweak their offense-first mindset.

Where does this upset fall in the league’s history?? Waaaay up there. I wouldn’t put this past the Oilers’ upset over Detroit in 2006, but it is a damn close second! Not many people gave the Habs much of a chance to win more than a game or two, let alone the series.

Before the playoffs, the NHL itself said that ‘History will be made’ with its ad campaign. An 8-seed had never clawed back from a 3-1 series deficit to win a series over a 1-seed before tonight. History was made.

And who knows, maybe Halak will be the prime minister of Canada before too long!

Photo credit: Getty Images

Can Montreal really pull the upset?

Tonight, the 8th-seeded Canadiens make their way to the Verizon Center to face the President’s Trophy-winning Capitals for a Game 7 that surely will not disappoint. It seems like every game in this series has had some sort of drama and/or excitement; hopefully that doesn’t change tonight!

Jaroslav Halak has been a goalie possessed recently, while Washington’s offense is due for a big game (two goals in last two games). Something’s got to give, right?!

The Capitals’ power play is a big reason why this series is still going on. They indeed had the best man advantage unit in the regular season, but have converted just once out of 30 tries thus far. Halak obviously has something to do with that in recent games, but the Habs’ penalty kill did a good job limiting the Caps’ opportunities earlier in the series. Alex Ovechkin and company have to change these fortunes tonight, or frustrations may grow.

For the Canadiens to steal this game, their stars have to be their best players. Michael Cammalleri has stepped up the last couple games… who will it be tonight? The duo of Scott Gomez and Brian Gionta, in my opinion, has to be effective in this one. They’ve each collected just one point in the last four games. If the Habs have two lines clicking and a zoned-in Halak, they have a solid chance to advance.

The longer Montreal stays in the game, the more nerves/frustration/tension will build in the arena and on the Caps’ bench. Bruce Boudreau’s club needs to come out on fire and get the first goal. That said, I believe this will be similar to last year’s Game 7 between the Caps and Rangers in round one… low-scoring and tight-knit.

As I stated in my Morning Skate, I do see Washington ultimately pulling through. I just can’t see them checking out this early; but you never know, and that’s why they play the games! Enjoy the game tonight…

Hard-working Sens will be back again next year

The Ottawa Senators, who blew a three-goal lead in Game 6 on home ice, were eliminated by the Pittsburgh Penguins, in yet another overtime thriller, four games to two. This series was a lot closer than it appeared, despite it taking the Penguins six games to eliminate the Sens.

Cory Clouston deserves a lot of credit. He had his Senators playing great playoff hockey. There is something to be said for getting your team to buy into your opinion enough to hang with the defending champs in a seven game series.

And to think, they did all this with an inconsistent Jason Spezza and Daniel Alfredssson. The team's premier names couldn't score enough goals in the end. In part, the grinders and youngsters were a big reason why this series was so close.

That combined with some fine defensive play from the Senators' blueline is what kept this series a lot closer than many expected it to be.

With that being said, Ottawa's number one priority this off-season will be keeping Anton Volchenkov. He is slated to become a free agent come July 1st, and if GM Bryan Murray knows what is a must, this is exactly it. The price will be high, but it may be worth it; Volchenkov is a premier shutdown defenseman in the league -- something you don't see around the league too often anymore.

The goaltending tandem of Brian Elliott and Pascal Lecalire could prove to be a very powerful tandem in coming years. Yes, Elliott had a shaky playoffs and Leclaire had an incredibly shaky season; but both had points that proved they have the ability to be the team's starter when called upon. And not to mention Mike Brodeur, who showed in three games this season he is fully capable of NHL action.

Erik Karlsson and Jared Cowen are the two household names who will look to prove to Clouston and company that they are NHLers. Training camp remains part of the distant future but I'm sure there are thoughts in both player's minds.

There are many positives to take from this season, especially the playoff series with Pittsburgh. Despite losing, they skated on par for most of the series with the defending champs; something that can't be overlooked.

Milan Michalek, acquired in the off-season for Dany Healtey, will provide the Senators with a top six performer who, although is not on the same level as Heatley, will provide plenty of offense for the team. He needs to stay healthy (which could be difficult after his recent knee injury). I understand easier said than done but is an important point to factor in.

Two players who need to step up and contribute for a full 82-game schedule next season are Peter Regin and the aforementioned Karlsson. Regin struggled to find consistency during the regular season, but was effective next to Spezza and Alfredsson the last couple weeks. Karlsson was a power play machine when brought up to the NHL. If he can avoid the sophomore jinx, it will benefit the Sens greatly; he's their main offensive threat on the back end.

These Senators exceeded expectations this season with their hard work (and long winning streaks). The veterans will have to be driving force once again, and the goaltending has to be consistent. If the pieces come together again next year, they should be able to compete for the Northeast Division.

Photo credit: Getty Images
Ryan P. contributed to this blog

NHL10 Daily Simulation: MTL @ WSH

The NHL10 simulations have returned for the playoffs! Last year, my XBOX beat me win percentage wise. I’m out to turn it around!! The rosters are updated, injured players are out of the lineup, and the players’ overalls are as close to real life as possible.

So far, the XBOX has not been too accurate (4-10). Today, I let the computer play out tonight’s Caps-Habs game…

CANADIENS @ CAPITALS, GAME 7
Scoring Summary:
1st Period
MTL- Tomas Plekanec (12:27, Gill and A. Kostitsyn)
2nd Period
WSH- Brooks Laich (PP, 7:26, Knuble and Fleischmann)
3rd Period
MTL- Tomas Plekanec (18:26, Markov and A. Kostitsyn)

Team Stats:
Shots
MTL- 30, WSH- 23
Power Plays
MTL- 0/2, WSH- 1/2

Final: Canadiens 2, Capitals 1
3 Stars:
1. Plekanec; 2. Halak; 3. Varlamov

Tune in this weekend for more simulations!

Morning Skate - Playoff Edition: 4/28

The Morning After:
Last night’s scores:
Red Wings 6, Coyotes 1
Predictions record: 1-0

My 3 stars from last night:
1. Pavel Datsyuk, DET (2 Goals)
Datsyuk scored a pair of 2nd period goals, including a marvelous breakaway tally.
2. Nicklas Lidstrom, DET (2 Goals, 1 Assist)
One of Detroit’s dagger-goals was scored by Lidstrom, making it 3-1. He had a really solid two-way game.
3. Henrik Zetterberg, DET (3 Assists)
Zetterberg was all over the place, picking up 3 assists in the process.
‘RLD Game-Changing Performance’ of the night:
Brad Stuart… Phoenix still has life, despite the 3-1 deficit – until Stuart stuck the knife in their back. His goal while coming out of the penalty box with 4 ticks left in the second all but ended this one.
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Tonight’s Slate:
Montreal @ Washington, Game 7, 7:00 ET

Game of the Night:
Montreal Canadiens @ Washington Capitals
Game 7, 7:00 ET… TV: VERSUS, TSN, Local Networks
Series tied, 3-3

Players to watch:
MTL- Scott Gomez
Gomez started the series well, but has one point in the last four games.
WSH- Nicklas Backstrom
With his buddy Ovechkin inconsistent right now, ‘Backs’ has to step up (0 points in last 2 games).

Keys to the Game:
MTL- Great Wall of Halak… Halak has stopped 90 of the last 92 shots that have come his way, but will need to stay in this zone he’s currently in.
WSH- Get up early… After blowing a 3-1 series lead, the nerves/tension will be high in D.C. tonight. It’ll key for the Caps to score early and gain confidence.

Starting Goaltenders:
MTL- Jaroslav Halak (Playoff stats: 3-2, 2.77 GAA)
WSH- Semyon Varlamov (Playoff stats: 3-2, 2.48 GAA)

Injury Report:
MTL- Paul Mara (shoulder, out), Jaroslav Spacek (illness, questionable)
WSH- Tom Poti (eye, out), Milan Jurcina (hernia, out)

Game Thoughts:
The final day of a crazy first round is upon us! After taking a 3-1 series lead, the Caps suddenly have their backs against the wall. Montreal has won the last two elimination games thanks to Halak. He’s been dynamite between the pipes lately, but can’t let up now. For Washington, Ovechkin needs to be the star tonight. Montreal has done a quality job limiting his chances, but AO is good enough to break through that. He’s 1-2 in Game 7’s in his career, and hasn’t stepped up in ‘the big one’. I think he will, though, and the Caps will come away victorious. Halak will have another great effort, but Bruce Boudreau’s club isn’t going to depart in round one.
Prediction: Capitals 2, Canadiens 1

You can follow the Red Light District on Twitter @RLDhockey!
Don’t forget about our radio show at 1:00 ET on tomorrow, with Craig Custance of The Sporting News!

The Old Guard Pulls Through

Down 3-1 late in the 2nd period, the Phoenix Coyotes had a golden opportunity to close within one before the intermission. On their two-man advantage, they failed to get rubber behind Jimmy Howard; and in Game 7’s, missed opportunities will likely cost you.

Thanks to Brad Stuart, the Wings netted the dagger goal with 4.6 seconds remaining in period two. Stuart came flying out of the box (immediately following the 5-on-3 kill), and scored on the breakaway. It was a huge momentum swing in a game in which, frankly, Detroit never lost control.

Mike Babcock’s crew played a near-perfect Game 7, ultimately taking down the home (desert) dogs, 6-1. They also outshot the Coyotes 50-33. Pavel Datsyuk and Nicklas Lidstrom each scored two goals, while Jimmy Howard played well for being in this situation for the first time. They looked like the Red Wings we’ve grown accustomed to over the years.

Many people made a big deal about the numerous injuries they suffered this season. I was one to say they’d actually benefit from it, with some of the veterans from the recent postseason runs having fresher legs in the playoffs. That definitely showed in tonight’s doozie (or lack thereof), along with the oozing experience they possess.

Looking ahead to round two, the Wings’ task won’t get any easier. They may have the mental edge on San Jose, but they won’t have much time to celebrate/recover from this win. They’ll make the trip to the Bay Area for Thursday’s series-opener, a mere two nights from now. It’s certainly going to be an exciting and hard-fought series!

For Phoenix, this game obviously didn’t go the way they hoped; but that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t keep their heads up. They overcame a boat-load of adversity this season – on and off the ice. The disappointed fans clad in white rightfully gave the team a standing ovation in the closing moments of the game.

So, it’ll be Chicago and Vancouver in the Western Semi’s, along with the Wings and Sharks. These will be two entertaining and hard-fought series!!

Photo credit: Getty Images

Yotes-Wings: The Final Showdown

As if the first round of these Stanley Cup Playoffs have not been thrilling enough, the Phoenix Coyotes have elevated that by forcing the two-time defending Western Conference champions to a seventh game.

Tonight, from Jobing.com arena in Glendale, the Coyotes will look to place their name on the map by eliminating one of the league's most recognized franchises, the Detroit Red Wings.

Shocking to many, for when you take the likes of Nicklas Lidstrom, Henrik Zetterberg, Pavel Datsyuk, Todd Bertuzzi, Nicklas Kronwall, Tomas Holmstrom and company, you ask yourself if this is a reality.

The Phoenix Coyotes, led by Vezina finalist Ilya Bryzgalov, have pushed the old guard to the brink. For the Coyotes, this is in fact a reality.

What is developing to be a thrilling finale in what becomes one game, one final opening drop of the puck within this first round series that has kept most on the edge of their seats.

What can be said about the Red Wings that has not been done so already? An Original Six franchise that has been on top of the league time and time again. They have been involved in the last two Stanley Cup Finals and have barely taken a vacation from the playoffs.

For the Coyotes, who I discussed on my show "The Hockey Guys" to be this year's trade deadline winners, there is much to be said.

Wojtek Wolski, Derrick Morris, Mathieu Schneider and Lee Stempniak have all played vital roles down the stretch and thus far in these playoffs. Four names, four players, four key contributors for this team and all four were deadline acquisitions.

From the start of the season, it seemed as if the Coyotes were doomed. Their head coach was missing in action and the sale of the team was yet to be determined meaning the future in Phoenix was looking grim.

Although there are many issues that still remain to be fixed, the Coyotes have taken all the negative and turned it into a positive situation.

Head coach Dave Tippett, who is my winner of the Jack Adams award come June, stepped into a situation and fed his players a system. That system was bought into instantly. However, with no true superstar to lead this team there remained doubt that the organization would finish as a non-lottery pick.

Guess again!

Shane Doan, Ed Jovanovski, Keith Yandle, Radim Vrbata and Bryzgalov took their coaches wisdom both on and off the ice and utilized it to structure a team that finished the year with 50 wins and 107 points.

Tonight, the Coyotes will look to obtain some momentum to take down the mighty Red Wings. Momentum that needs to come from deep within, from situations that can be taken on from the entire season.

It all starts and ends here tonight. This Cinderella story has the ability to continue writing the book, adding a new chapter titled semifinals. However, each and every member of this organization, whether they are newcomers or old faces, must step their game up to a new level.

Fate and destiny are words not often used in articles as such, but for tonight they are the two biggest words that will hang over the Coyotes heads.

What will these two elements bring for this Cinderlla team when the clock strikes midnight tonight?

Welcome to the Krejci Show

Going into the first round, the Buffalo Sabres thought they had the obvious advantage in net with Vezina favorite and 2010 Winter Olympics MVP Ryan Miller manning the pipes. Tuuka Rask and the Boston Bruins had other ideas.

In this series the Bruins entered as the "underdogs"; but with the emergence of Rask, the disparity between the two teams was a lot less than the seeding suggested.

And in that elimination game, where the Bruins won 4-3 over the Sabres, one player truly took his game up a notch. And although he was good during the entire series, he did not have the points to show for it. Last night, for David Krejci, that all changed.

The young Czech centerman for these Bruins was a good two-way player throughout despite his production being minimal.

In a Game 6 with his team having a chance to advance to the next round, Krejci provided an offensive punch to help just that. His two goals and one assist led the Bruins to victory and the semifinals of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

He, along with many other Bruins, took a step backwards in the production department compared to last season. Injuries and inconsistencies throughout most of the year all took a vital role in the Bruins' anemic production as they were near last in goal-scoring this season. The talent level was always there for Krejci, it was just a matter of being able to find it once again.

Krejci completed the 82 game regular season tied for the top offense spot along with fellow pivot Patrice Bergeron on this team. However, with 52 points earned on the year for both, those numbers are nothing to brag about.

In the three seasons that Krejci has been a part of this club, they have reached the playoffs every year. His playoff numbers are respectable, as he has tallied 18 points in 24 career playoff games.

Krejci, being such a key member of the Bruins offense, with or without injuries, head coach Claude Julien knows that his reliance on the young Czech was paramount in order to for his club to advance into the second round.

Along with Krejci's resurgence, there comes more good news for this Bruins paltry offense as number one center Marc Savard is all set to return for round two.

This is key because whoever the Bruins are to face, they are going to need Savard's premier playmaking ability along with Krejci's solid two-way play.

If the Bruins' sorry offense was not privy to you the reader prior to this article, I have made that crystal clear that the team needs the two headed monster up the middle that is Krejci and Savard skating at top speed if they are to have any chance in extending their season.

With the continued solid play of Rask along with the aforementioned Krejci's play (and the imminent return of #91), these Bruins could put a scare into any opponent going forward.

Photo credit: Getty Images

NHL10 Daily Simulation: DET @ PHX

The NHL10 simulations have returned for the playoffs! Last year, my XBOX beat me win percentage wise. I’m out to turn it around!! The rosters are updated, injured players are out of the lineup, and the players’ overalls are as close to real life as possible.

So far, the XBOX has not been too accurate (4-9). Today, I let the computer play out tonight’s Red Wings-Coyotes game…

RED WINGS @ COYOTES, GAME 7
Scoring Summary:
1st Period
None
2nd Period
PHX- Martin Hanzal (6:43, unassisted)
PHX- Daniel Winnik (16:27, Nokelainen)
DET- Todd Bertuzzi (17:23, Filppula)
DET- Nicklas Lidstrom (19:41, Holmstrom and Franzen)
3rd Period
PHX- Radim Vrbata (10:44, unassisted)
DET- Pavel Datsyuk (PP, 15:51, Rafalski and Franzen)
1st Overtime
None
2nd Overtime
None
3rd Overtime
PHX- Zbynek Michalek (18:15, Hanzal and Vrbata)

Team Stats:
Shots
DET- 57, PHX- 64
Power Plays
DET- 1/4, PHX- 0/6

Final: Coyotes 4, Red Wings 3 (3OT)
3 Stars:
1. Hanzal; 2. Bryzgalov; 3. Michalek

Tune in tomorrow as I’ll simulate Game 7 between the Capitals and Canadiens!

Morning Skate - Playoff Edition: 4/27

The Morning After:
Last night’s scores:
Canadiens 4, Capitals 1
Bruins 4, Sabres 3
Blackhawks 5, Predators 3
Predictions record: 1-2

My 3 stars from last night:
1. Jaroslav Halak, MTL (53 Saves, 1 GA)
The Great Wall of Halak was in a zone last night, stopping almost everything that came his way. One of the best goalie performances I’ve ever seen.
2. Michael Cammalleri, MTL (2 Goals, 1 Assist)
Cammer’s pair of wicked wristers set the tone for the Habs early.
3. Jonathan Toews, CHI (1 Goal, 2 Assists)
Captain Toews played a solid all-around game, picking up 3 points.
‘RLD Game-Changing Performance’ of the night:
Jonathan Toews… The Predators clawed back from a 3-1 deficit with a pair of Jason Arnott goals before the end of 1st period. It didn’t take long, though, for Toews to swing the momentum back to Chicago, scoring a crucial power play goal with 30-plus seconds remaining in the period. It took some air out of the building right before intermission, and was the eventual game-winner.
---
Tonight’s Slate:
Detroit @ Phoenix, Game 7, 9:00 ET

Game of the Night:
Detroit Red Wings @ Phoenix Coyotes
Game 7, 9:00 ET… TV: VERSUS, TSN, Local Networks
Series tied, 3-3

Players to watch:
DET- Valterri Filppula
Filppula has had a great all-around series, especially as of late.
PHX- Keith Yandle
Yandle has also been good in this series, and needs to have a strong two-way game tonight.

Keys to the Game:
DET- Strike on the power play… Detroit has been so-so while on the man advantage throughout the series; the Wings need to capitalize when given the opportunity.
PHX- Feed off the crowd… The ‘Yotes should get a lift from the home faithful clad in white, but they have to use that energy wisely (no stupid penalties, etc).

Starting Goaltenders:
DET- Jimmy Howard (Playoff stats: 3-3, 2.86 GAA)
PHX- Ilya Bryzgalov (Playoff stats: 3-3, 3.01 GAA)

Injury Report:
DET- Patrick Eaves (undisclosed, probable), Kirk Maltby (shoulder, out)
PHX- Shane Doan (upper body, questionable), Scottie Upshall (knee, out), Kurt Sauer (head, out)

Game Thoughts:
Game Seven… soak that in for a minute! Every one has its own hero, goat, and special moment. What will happen tonight in the desert? Will goaltending be the determining factor? Will Doan be able to give it a go? Will snakes and octopi be thrown on the ice? Who knows! This has been a great back-and-forth series, and is deservedly going the distance. Goaltending is huge Game 7’s, so Phoenix has the edge there. But it’s Detroit, and I picked them to win the series. My head says Detroit… my gut says Phoenix. Using my brain here…
Prediction: Red Wings 3, Coyotes 2 (OT)

You can follow the Red Light District on Twitter @RLDhockey!
Don’t forget about our radio show at 1:00 ET on Thursday!

Lemaire Gone... What Now?

Well Jacques Lemaire has stepped down to take a position in the Devils organization. Now what are the Devils going to do? Many experiments have failed miserably and several first round exits in a row cannot be ignored. I swear it felt just like yesterday when Lemaire returned to New Jersey. Okay it lasted for a year and yet it felt like it went too fast. This video from Game 4 may have given an inkling that this retirement was possible. Listen to the entire thing. Yes I know it is a little over five minutes long but in retrospect, it provides much insight.



With Lemaire heading out of the Shark Tank that is the Devils coaching situation, what will Lou do now? First off I guess it is time to hit the Hockey Database. Oh lord help us on this one. First things first....here is that list.

1997-98	NJ Devils			82	48	23	11	0	0	107	0.652				Jacques Lemaire	Lost in rd 1
1998-99	NJ Devils			82	47	24	11	0	0	105	0.640				Robbie Ftorek	Lost in rd 1
1999-00	NJ Devils			82	45	24	8	5	0	103	0.628				Multiple coaches	Won Cup
2000-01	NJ Devils			82	48	19	12	3	0	111	0.677				Larry Robinson	Lost in Finals
2001-02	NJ Devils			82	41	28	9	4	0	95	0.579				Multiple coaches	Lost in rd 1
2002-03	NJ Devils			82	46	20	10	6	0	108	0.659				Pat Burns	Won Cup
2003-04	NJ Devils			82	43	25	12	2	0	100	0.610				Pat Burns	Lost in rd 1
2005-06	NJ Devils			82	46	27	0	5	4	101	0.616				Multiple coaches	Lost in rd 2
2006-07	NJ Devils			82	49	24	0	1	8	107	0.652				Claude Julien	Lost in rd 2
2007-08	NJ Devils			82	46	29	0	3	4	99	0.604				Brent Sutter	Lost in rd 1
2008-09	NJ Devils			82	51	27	0	2	2	106	0.646				Brent Sutter	Lost in rd 1
2009-10	NJ Devils			82	48	27	0	2	5	103	0.628				Jacques Lemaire	Lost in rd 1

Just for the record, there were a few games coached by John Maclean and Lou Lamoriello thrown in for good measure. Lamoriello coached most of the 05-06 season. There was a brief reign of terror known as Kevin Constantine as well. It seems hard to get a coach to stay more than 2 years in New Jersey of late. Aside from the early playoff exits since the 2003 Stanley Cup, New Jersey has a great regular season record. Hell they have ten 100 point seasons since the 97-98 season.

For whatever reason though, playoff success has always been a little distant. John MacLean seems to be the next logical guy to take the reins in the sense that he has paid his dues and hey he did guide the Lowell Devils to a playoff berth before being ousted in you guessed it, the first round (in 5 games). Now to have a little fun with this, I wanted to thank Julie Marie Halady for coming up with the idea for the Days Of Our Lives video....as seen here. Just insert Devils coaches in and it works well.



Days of our Devils Coaches sounds real catchy. This has real potential. So who could be next? I thought it might be time to have a little fun with this. Here is a list of candidates that we came up with. Some are not meant to be taken seriously and I think that most will be able to spot those in very short order.

• John MacLean (Current coach of the Lowell Devils)
• Brent Sutter (Coach of the Calgary Flames)
• The Pope (Savior of Catholics)
• Pat Burns (sentimental choice but impossible)
• Scott Stevens (in the Devils organization)
• Bobby Carpenter (Scout in Toronto organization)
• John Tortorella (Current NY Rangers coach)
• Insert Candidate Here

WHY? Why do I say that? Because there is always a feeling that a coach will come from "outside the box". The Devils have much to fix and whomever decides to take on this job has a series of hurdles to overcome that may be too daunting for most to take on. I still maintain that the next coach has to be austere but flexible and open minded. It is such a rare combination and THEN add in the patience that is required in dealing with Lou Lamoriello.

My question to every reader is can the Devils find that guy or the better question is this. Is that guy right under the Devils' noses literally? Something to ponder on this cold and rainy afternoon. I have my ideal choice and it is not the top guy on the list. I still maintain that somehow Michelle Kenneth and Kevin Weekes know the next coach of New Jersey but I cannot be sure on this. Stay tuned. The search will continue for the next New Jersey Devils coach.