Morning Skate: April 20

The Morning After:
Yesterday’s results:
Devils 4, Panthers 0
Capitals 2, Bruins 1
Coyotes 3, Blackhawks 2 (OT)
Blues 2, Sharks 1

RLD 3 stars of the night:
1. Braden Holtby, WSH (44 saves)
2. Martin Brodeur, NJ (26 saves, shutout)
3. Mikkel Boedker, PHX (1 goal)
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Tonight’s slate:
Flyers @ Penguins, 7:30 ET, Game 5
Red Wings @ Predators, 8:00, Game 5

#5 Philadelphia Flyers @ #4 Pittsburgh Penguins
Game 5… 7:30 ET… TV: NBC Sports Network, TSN, Local Networks

Series: 3-1 Flyers

Projected starting goaltenders:
PHI- Ilya Bryzgalov (Playoff stats: 3-1, 4.96 GAA)
PIT- Marc-Andre Fleury (Playoff stats: 1-3, 5.43 GAA)

Injury report:
PHI- James van Riemsdyk (foot, questionable), Nicklas Grossmann and Marc-Andre Bourdon (upper body, doubtful), Chris Pronger (concussion, out), Andrej Meszaros (back, out), Blair Betts (knee, out)
PIT- Paul Martin (undisclosed, questionable)

Game thoughts:
So… the Penguins aren’t going to go away quietly, eh? They at least didn’t in Game 4, as they embarrassed the Flyers 10-3 in Philadelphia. However, that was just one win for the Penguins, who will need three more in succession if they wish to survive for the second round.

The only chance the Penguins have to make this series again is if Fleury carries over his success from the last two periods of Game 4. Bryzgalov hasn’t been any better, so it will bode well for Pittsburgh if Fleury can turn it around. Despite Philadelphia having a lot of success in the Steel City recently, I see the Pens squeaking out a win tonight to put the pressure on the Flyers in Game 6.
Prediction: Penguins 4, Flyers 3
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#5 Detroit Red Wings @ #4 Nashville Predators
Game 5… 8:00 ET… TV: CNBC, CBC, Local Networks

Series: 3-1 Predators

Projected starting goaltenders:
DET- Jimmy Howard (Playoff stats: 1-3, 2.79 GAA)
NSH- Pekka Rinne (Playoff stats: 3-1, 2.01 GAA)

Injury report:
DET- Darren Helm (forearm, out), Joey MacDonald (back, out), Patrick Eaves (concussion, out)
NSH- Hal Gill (lower body, questionable)

Game thoughts:
If you were to go by how the teams have played on the ice throughout this series, it would at least be tied 2-2 or Detroit would be leading 3-1. But they’re not. Rinne and the Predators, despite not playing their best and shifting lines around, are up 3-1 and have a chance to close out the Red Wings tonight on home ice.

This is not a game the Predators are taking lightly. It’s their first ever 3-1 series lead, but they know Detroit is going to be desperate. The Predators will need another big game from Rinne, and maybe get some contributions from their top forwards. Meanwhile, Mike Babcock’s club must have a good start to take the crowd out of it. I predicted the Predators would win the series in six games, and the Red Wings will bring their A-game. It should be a good one!
Prediction: Red Wings 4, Predators 3 (OT)

Video of the day:


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