Saturday Faceoff: First round disappointments

In every playoff series, there are surprises and disappointments. It’s just how it is. However, here are three (two players, one team) that really stood out in the last two weeks. Patrick, Bryan and I debate who the biggest disappointment was in round one.

Marian Gaborik
By Ryan Porth

If Marian Gaborik was not a disappointment in the first round, I don’t know what you consider a disappointment.

See you next year, Calgary

(Ed. Note: To correspond with our 'Welcome to the Playoffs' burning question feature, we continue to take a closer look at the non-playoff teams.)

Record: 41-29-12, 94 points; 10th Western Conference
Stretch that killed them: Mar. 10 – Mar. 30 (2-5-2)

Morning Skate: April 30

Tonight’s Slate:
Bruins @ Flyers, 3:00 ET
Predators @ Canucks, 9:00

Games of the Night:
Game 1: Boston Bruins @ Philadelphia Flyers
3:00 ET… TV: NBC, CBC

Midnight Wrap-Up: April 29

Tonight’s scores:
Lightning 4, Capitals 2
Sharks 2, Red Wings 1 (OT)
Predictions record: 1-1

RLD 3 Stars of the Night:
1. Benn Ferreiro, SJ (1 Goal)… Ferreiro was the unlikely overtime hero for the Sharks – in his first playoff games and on his birthday, no less!
2. Steve Downie, TB (1 Goal, 1 Assist)… Downie tallied two more points as he is providing some nice secondary production for the Bolts.
3. Joe Pavelski, SJ (1 Goal)… Pavelski may have been the best player on the ice for the Sharks tonight, and scored the game-tying goal in the third.

A look back at Philadelphia’s 2010 comeback

The Boston Bruins and Philadelphia Flyers will face-off in the Eastern Conference Semifinals for the second straight year. If this series is as good as last year’s, we hockey fans will certainly be in for a treat.

Next year’s Penguins will be stronger

Holding a 3-1 series lead, only to see it slip away, is a tough way to end the season. Adding offensive woes and an anemic power play to the equation makes matters worse. But the 2010/11 Pittsburgh Penguins had some tough breaks throughout the season, which put a cap on how far they could realistically go. Expect them to return to normal next season.

See you next year, Toronto

(Ed. Note: To correspond with our 'Welcome to the Playoffs' burning question feature, we continue to take a closer look at the non-playoff teams.)

Record: 37-34-11, 85 points; 10th in Eastern Conference

Stretch that killed them: Oct. 18 through Jan. 3 (10-21-3)

Morning Skate: April 29

Tonight’s Slate:
Lightning @ Capitals, 7:00 ET
Red Wings @ Sharks, 10:00

Games of the Night:
Game 1: Tampa Bay Lightning @ Washington Capitals
7:00 ET… TV: TSN, VERSUS

Midnight Wrap-Up: April 28

Tonight’s scores:
Canucks 1, Predators 0
Predictions record: 1-0

RLD 3 Stars of the Night:
1. Pekka Rinne, NSH (29 Saves, 1 GA)… The only reason why the Predators stayed in the game was Rinne’s sensational play.
2. Roberto Luongo, VAN (20 Saves, Shutout)… Luongo didn’t have to make too many pressure-packed saves, but got the shutout nonetheless.
3. Ryan Kesler, VAN… Kesler won 19 of 30 faceoffs, logged 23 minutes of ice-time, and was a menace in the defensive zone.

See you next year, Dallas

(Ed. Note: To correspond with our 'Welcome to the Playoffs' burning question feature, over the next couple weeks we will be taking a closer look at the non-playoff teams.)

Record: 42-29-11, 95 points; 9th Western Conference
Stretch that killed them: Mar. 13 through Apr. 2 (1-5-3)

Morning Skate: April 28

Tonight’s Slate:
Predators @ Canucks, 9:00 ET

Game of the Night:
Game 1: Nashville Predators @ Vancouver Canucks
9:00 ET… TV: CBC, VERSUS, Local Networks

Preview: 1 Canucks vs. 5 Predators

Canucks can't breathe easy as Nashville awaits

Preview: 2 Sharks vs. 3 Red Wings

Sharks and Wings meet again in second round

Preview: 1 Capitals vs. 5 Lightning

Preview: 2 Flyers vs. 3 Bruins

Bruins seeking revenge against rival Flyers

First Round Recap

What a first two weeks it was in the Stanley Cup Playoffs! Here’s a quick recap of the first round…

EASTERN CONFERENCE
1) Capitals vs. 8) Rangers
The pick: Capitals in 6
The result: Capitals in 5

Three Stars of the series:
1. Michal Neuvirth, WSH (4-1, 1.38 GAA, .946 SV%)
2. Alex Ovechkin, WSH (3 Goals, 3 Assists, -1)
3. Alexander Semin, WSH (3 Goals, 1 Assist, +4)
Unsung hero:
Jason Chimera, WSH (2 GWG)

Midnight Wrap-Up: April 27

Tonight’s scores:
Bruins 4, Canadiens 3 (OT)
Lightning 1, Penguins 0
Predictions record: 0-2

RLD 3 Stars of the Night:
1. Dwayne Roloson, TB (36 Saves, Shutout)… ‘Roli’ delivered a clutch 36-save shutout in Game 7 to move on to round two.
2. Nathan Horton, BOS (1 Goal)… For the second time in this series, Horton was the overtime hero. This time, he sends the B’s to the second round.
3. Tomas Plekanec, MTL (1 Goal, 1 Assist)… Though in a losing effort, Plekanec had two points: a shorthanded goal and the primary assist on the game-tying goal late in regulation.

Will Lightning strike in round two?

That is the question that hockey media and fans alike are asking after the Tampa Bay Lightning knocked out the Pittsburgh Penguins in seven games after trailing the series 3-1.

The Lightning showed that they have what it takes to have success in this year's playoffs with a smart coach, offensive depth, smart defensive play and a strong goaltender Dwayne Roloson. Put those all together and you have one dangerous hockey club.

Bruins and Habs go the distance

It is only fitting that a series between the Boston Bruins and Montreal Canadiens would go the distance and give us a seventh game that would go into overtime.

Unfortunately for the Canadiens, the overtime and the end result of the series did not go as planned. Bruins forward Nathan Horton, playing in his first playoff series, scored in overtime to give the Bruins the game and the series, as well as a chance at revenge against the Philadelphia Flyers in round two.

NHL11 Game 7 Simulations: MTL at BOS, TB at PIT

The last two postseasons, we’ve brought you EA Sports simulations of select games on a daily basis. This year I’ve decided to only do these for Game 7’s. The rosters are updated, injured players are out of the lineup and the players’ overall totals are as close to real life as possible.

Today, I let the computer on NHL 11 play out Game 7 of Bruins-Canadiens and Penguins-Lightning…

See you next year, New Jersey

(Ed. Note: To correspond with our 'Welcome to the Playoffs' burning question feature, over the next couple weeks we will be taking a closer look at the non-playoff teams.)

Record: 38-39-5, 81 points; 11th Eastern Conference
Stretch that killed them: Oct. 8 – Jan. 8 (10-29-2)

Canucks survive major scare

It was a series for the ages. It was a Game 7 for the ages. And it all ended with the Vancouver Canucks finally ridding the demons and beating the Chicago Blackhawks – but it took overtime of the seventh game to slay the defending champs.

Morning Skate: April 27

Tonight’s Slate:
Canadiens @ Bruins, 7:00 ET
Lightning @ Penguins, 8:00

Games of the Night:
Game 7: Montreal Canadiens @ Boston Bruins
7:00 ET… TV: CBC, VERSUS, Local Networks
Series: Tied 3-3

Midnight Wrap-Up: April 26

Tonight’s scores:
Canadiens 2, Bruins 1
Flyers 5, Sabres 2
Canucks 2, Blackhawks 1 (OT)
Predictions record: 3-0

RLD 3 Stars of the Night:
1. Alex Burrows, VAN (2 Goals)… Burrows is the hero in Vancouver, scoring the OT winner on a great individual play to get to the second round.
2. Corey Crawford, CHI (36 Saves, 2 GA)… The dude deserved a better fate. Heck, Crawford probably should be the first star of the night. What a performance by the rookie.
3. Danny Briere, PHI (1 Goal, 1 Assist)… Briere’s goal and assist helped his Flyers elude a pesky Buffalo club.
Close but no cigar: M. Cammalleri and C. Price, MTL; R. Luongo and R. Kesler, VAN

Flyers prevail in memorable, feisty series

The first round battle between Philadelphia and Buffalo had everything you could ask for in a playoff series – intensity, controversy, drama, overtime, etc. Not a game went by without something substantial happening. In the end, last year’s Eastern Conference Champions prevailed in seven hard-fought games with Tuesday’s decisive 5-2 win.

See you next year, Minnesota

(Ed. Note: To correspond with our 'Welcome to the Playoffs' burning question feature, over the next couple weeks we will be taking a closer look at the non-playoff teams.)

Record: 39-35-8, 86 points; 12th in Western Conference

Stretch that killed them: Oct. 7 - Apr. 10th (kidding)... 3-10-2 from Mar. 6 - Apr. 7.

Video: Top Canucks-Blackhawks moments

In honor of tonight's much-anticipated Game 7 in Vancouver, TSN has the Top 10 moments between the Canucks and Blackhawks...

NHL11 Game 7 Simulations: BUF at PHI, CHI at VAN

The last two postseasons, we’ve brought you EA Sports simulations of select games on a daily basis. This year I’ve decided to only do these for Game 7’s. The rosters are updated, injured players are out of the lineup and the players’ overall totals are as close to real life as possible.

Today, I let the computer on NHL 11 play out Game 7 of Flyers-Sabres and Canucks-Blackhawks…

Morning Skate: April 26

Tonight’s Slate:
Bruins @ Canadiens, 7:00 ET
Sabres @ Flyers, 7:30
Blackhawks @ Canucks, 10:00

Games of the Night:
Game 6: Boston Bruins @ Montreal Canadiens
7:00 ET… TV: CBC, Local Networks
Series: 3-2 Bruins

Midnight Wrap-Up: April 25

Tonight’s scores:
Lightning 4, Penguins 2
Sharks 4, Kings 3 (OT)
Predictions record: 1-1

RLD 3 Stars of the Night:
1. Joe Thornton, SJ (1 Goal, 1 Assist)… ‘Jumbo Joe’ came through in the clutch, scoring the series-clinching goal in overtime. He also set up the team’s first goal.
2. Steve Downie, TB (1 Goal, 2 Assists)… Downie’s three points helped lift Tampa Bay past Pittsburgh to force a Game 7.
3. Ryan Malone, TB (1 Goal, 1 Assist)… At times it seemed like Malone was going to eventually cost his team, but his breakaway slapper sealed the win for the Bolts.

Can Chicago finish off the comeback?

The defending champs were done. Fini. Vancouver was ready to exorcise some demons by sweeping the Blackhawks to move on to round two.

Three games later, the series has taken a 180-degree turn (and then some). On Tuesday, Chicago has the chance to make history by becoming the fourth team in NHL history to win four consecutive games when facing elimination.

See you next year, Atlanta

(Ed. Note: To correspond with our 'Welcome to the Playoffs' burning question feature, over the next couple weeks we will be taking a closer look at the non-playoff teams.)

Record: 34-36-12 (80 points), 12th in Eastern Conference
Stretch that killed them: 3-11-5, Jan. 7 through Feb. 25

Canucks have more questions than answers

The Vancouver Canucks are the President's Trophy winners for the 2010-11 NHL season. Given to the team with the best record in the regular season, the Canucks were guaranteed home-ice advantage throughout the playoffs, something every team longs for. When the trophy was presented, as is the superstition, no players touched it.

Not the trophy they are after, right? Right.

Capitals poised for something greater

With their 4-1 series victory over New York, the Washington Capitals showed that they are a much different hockey club than years past.  In their series against the Rangers, the Capitals showed that not only can they get timely goal scoring, but that they can play solid defense and get good goaltending to win hockey games.

Morning Skate: April 25

Tonight’s Slate:
Penguins @ Lightning, 7:00 ET
Sharks @ Kings, 10:00

Games of the Night:
Game 6: Pittsburgh Penguins @ Tampa Bay Lightning
7:00 ET… TV: CBC, VERSUS, Local Networks
Series: 3-2 Penguins

Midnight Wrap-Up: April 24

Tonight’s scores:
Flyers 5, Sabres 4 (OT)
Predators 4, Ducks 2
Blackhawks 4, Canucks 3 (OT)
Predictions record: 1-2

RLD 3 Stars of the Night:
1. Nick Spaling, NSH (2 Goals)… Spaling scored twice (including the game-winner) as he was an unexpected source of offense in their series-clinching win.
2. Ville Leino, PHI (1 Goal, 1 Assist)… Leino has struggled in the second half, but he came up big for the Flyers with the OT winner.
3. Ben Smith, CHI (1 Goal)… Chicago’s rookie scored the overtime winner to keep Chicago’s season alive.
Close but no cigar: D. Briere and B. Boucher, PHI; D. Bolland, CHI; J. Tootoo, NSH; T. Vanek, BUF

Predators finally get over the hump

Barry Trotz has manned the Predators bench since Day One of the franchise n ; even though the team has approached these playoffs with a business-like mentality, even he couldn’t swipe the smile off his face after Nashville’s first ever playoff series win.

“All I’m gonna say is I’m glad we have a (defibrillator) machine next to the bench,” Trotz joked at the start of his post-game press conference.

The Predators punched their ticket to the second round with Sunday’s 4-2 over the Anaheim Ducks.

See you next year, St. Louis

(Ed. Note: To correspond with our 'Welcome to the Playoffs' burning question feature, over the next couple weeks we will be taking a closer look at the non-playoff teams.)

Record: 38-33-11, 87 points; 11th Western Conference
Stretch that killed them: Jan. 2 through Feb. 12 (4-9-4)

Morning Skate: April 24

Today’s Slate:
Flyers @ Sabres, 3:00 ET
Ducks @ Predators, 6:00
Canucks @ Blackhawks, 7:30

Games of the Day:
Game 6: Philadelphia Flyers @ Buffalo Sabres
3:00 ET… TV: NBC, TSN
Series: 3-2 Sabres

Midnight Wrap-Up: April 23

Tonight’s scores:
Lightning 8, Penguins 2
Capitals 3, Rangers 1
Bruins 2, Canadiens 1 (2OT)
Kings 3, Sharks 1
Predictions record: 3-1

RLD 3 Stars of the Night:
1. Jonathan Quick, LA (51 Saves, 1 GA)… Quick did not make many flashy saves, but he put together a spectacular performance from start to finish to keep his team's season alive. His 51 saves were a Kings franchise playoff record...
2. Tim Thomas, BOS (44 Saves, 1 GA)… The Vezina Trophy favorite was sensational, making a bevy of clutch saves that enabled the Bruins to win in double overtime.
3. Steven Stamkos, TB (2 Goals, 1 Assist)… Stamkos finally broke through in the playoffs by scoring twice and tallying three points.  He was one of three Bolts to get two goals.
Close but no cigar: A. Ovechkin and M. Neuvirth, WSH; C. Price, MTL; S. Gagne and P. Kubina, TB; N. Horton, BOS

Preds staring at golden opportunity

In Friday’s Game 5, the Nashville Predators flipped the script from last postseason. This time they were the ones tying the game late in regulation and winning it early in overtime to take a 3-2 series lead. What that 4-3 win over the Anaheim Ducks has earned them in Game 6 is a chance to win their first playoff series and get over the proverbial hump.

See you next year, Ottawa

(Ed. Note: To correspond with our 'Welcome to the Playoffs' burning question feature, over the next couple weeks we will be taking a closer look at the non-playoff teams.)

Record: 32-40-10, 74 points; 13th in Eastern Conference.
Stretch that killed them: Nov 15 to Dec 13, 3-10-2

Saturday Faceoff: More devastating loss?

We saw a bevy of great games this week, but none more bizarre and stunning as Game 3 in Los Angeles and Game 4 in New York. Both games featured teams blowing big leads and losing in overtime. Which loss was more devastating?

Rangers losing 4-3 to Washington
By Patrick Hoffman

Coming back to Madison Square Garden down 0-2, it was imperative that the New York Rangers do everything they could to make it a series against the Washington Capitals.

Morning Skate: April 23

Today’s Slate:
Lightning @ Penguins, 12:00 ET
Rangers @ Capitals, 3:00
Canadiens @ Bruins, 7:00
Kings @ Sharks, 10:30

Games of the Day:
Game 5: Tampa Bay Lightning @ Pittsburgh Penguins
12:00 ET… TV: VERSUS, CBC, Local Networks
Series: 3-1 Penguins

Video: Ryan's incredible goal

This goal by Anaheim's Bobby Ryan (coming off a two-game suspension) may go down as one of the all-time greats in Stanley Cup Playoff history...

Midnight Wrap-Up: April 22

Tonight’s scores:
Sabres 4, Flyers 3 (OT)
Predators 4, Ducks 3 (OT)
Predictions record: 2-0

RLD 3 Stars of the Night:
1. Tyler Ennis, BUF (2 Goals)… Ennis has quietly been really good this series and scored twice for the Sabres, including the OT winner.
2. Jordin Tootoo, NSH (2 Assists)… This is not a typo – Tootoo had two primary assists and played the best game of his career. He has really come a long way…
3. Jerred Smithson, NSH (1 Goal)… Smithson’s one-timed a great feed from Tootoo to put Nashville up 3-2 in the series.

Friday Night Fights

The best fights of the playoffs thus far...

See you next year, Columbus

(Ed. Note: To correspond with our 'Welcome to the Playoffs' burning question feature, over the next couple weeks we will be taking a closer look at the non-playoff teams.)

Record: 34-35-13, 81 points; 13th Western Conference

Stretch that killed them: Feb. 27 through Apr. 9 (3-12-7)

Does home-ice advantage matter in the playoffs?

When talking about clinching a Stanley Cup playoff spot in the National Hockey League, media, fans and teams alike all talk about how important home ice advantage is. They all mention how well the team plays at home, how the crowd is like the “7th” man and that you play all season long to get home ice at the most important time of the season.

With all of that said, however, home ice advantage sometimes really isn’t what it is cracked up to be and should not be looked at as the be all and end all come playoff time. Whether you are the 1st or 8th seed, you want to play well whether it is at home or on the road.

Thinking Out Loud

- Playoff hockey is as good as it gets. However, you’d hardly know that actual games are going on if you’ve been following Twitter lately. The biggest conversation and debate topics have been centered on suspensions and hits, not the great hockey being played.

Morning Skate: April 22

Tonight’s Slate:
Sabres @ Flyers, 7:30 ET
Predators @ Ducks, 10:00

Games of the Night:
Game 5: Buffalo Sabres @ Philadelphia Flyers
7:30 ET… TV: VERSUS, TSN, Local Networks
Series: Tied 2-2

Midnight Wrap-Up: April 21

Tonight’s scores:
Bruins 5, Canadiens 4 (OT)
Blackhawks 5, Canucks 0
Sharks 6, Kings 3
Predictions record: 2-1

RLD 3 Stars of the Night:
1. Michael Ryder, BOS (2 Goals, 1 Assist)… Ryder’s surprising two goals and three points lifted Boston to a huge road win in Montreal.
2. Duncan Keith, CHI (2 Goals, 2 Assists)… Keith had two goals and two primary assists to help the ‘Hawks stave off elimination once again.
3. Marian Hossa, CHI (2 Goals, 1 Assist)… Hossa finally showed up in the series and made Roberto Luongo look bad on two breakaway goals.
Close but no cigar: R. Clowe, SJ; C. Crawford, CHI; C. Kelly, BOS; M. Cammalleri, MTL

So you want to play Detroit...

As teams progress toward the playoffs, fans and players get caught up in the emotion, and they start to feel invincible. Trust me, I get it. The playoffs are an amazing experience, one that tastes even better when you don't get to experience it every year. Right, Detroit? Oh, wait... 20 years straight. Never mind.

As the playoff mind sets in, however, two things happen. The Red Wings shift into a higher gear, and other squads say they want to the Wings in the first round. These people are insane.

See you next year, Islanders

(Ed. Note: To correspond with our 'Welcome to the Playoffs' burning question feature, over the next couple weeks we will be taking a closer look at the non-playoff teams.)

Record: 30-39-13, 73 points; 14th in the Eastern Conference
Stretch That Killed Them: October 23 - November 26 (1-14)