Habs/Pens Game 1 Preview

Does he have another incredible performance in him? The hockey world will know when the puck drops shortly after 7 p.m. tonight. I cannot make any promises about blogging this one tonight. Lots of stuff on my plate this evening. If and when I do get to sit down and watch, I will definitely blog from that point. The Pens did ok against a hot goalie in LeClaire but Jaro is playing slightly better than him. I also like Montreal's 'D' a little more than Ottawa's but truth be told, I don't see the Canadiens getting past the Caps and then disposing of the Pens. The defending champs take this one in 6.....or 7.

SLACKER!!

Wow, I missed the 1st game of the 2nd round last night. Sorry 'bout that. New comedy on NBC and I was trumped on the television. Sharks scored 3 quick ones in the 1st and held on for the W and 1-0 series lead.

Caps/Habs Game 7 Neglect

Sorry about missing this one. Had other hockey related stuff to tend to Wednesday evening. We all know the deal though. Halak was the difference maker in the series. Caps had all the pieces in place to make a loooong playoff run. We'll see what kind of changes they make in the offseason. My workload gets a little bit lighter with the field cut in half. Let's get ready to drop the puck on the Conference Semis.

Red Wings/Coyotes Game 7

After a scoreless period in which Bryzgalov stopped everything the Red Wings threw at him, the puck is down in the second. 30 seconds in, Detroit goes up a man.


Pavel Datsyuk gives the Red Wings a 1-0 lead on the power play.

Coyotes get a chance after Eaves goes off for tripping.

Now it's time for some 4-on-4.


Pavel Datsyuk just undressed Bryzgalov. Looked like one of his shootout moves. 2-0 Wings.

Coyotes strike out on the power play.


Shot off the face-off from Vernon Fiddler beats Howard who was really not set. 2-1 Red Wings.

The action is back and forth with the Red Wings applying most of the pressure. So much so that Phoenix takes a penalty. Detroit a man up with just under 8 to go in the 2nd.


Bryzgalov cannot stop 'em all and with 2 seconds left in the power play, Lidstrom makes it 3-1 Wings.

All sorts of penalty calls late in the 2nd. Somehow the 'Yotes end up with a 5-on-3 for 1:12. Here may be their only chance to get back in this.

Phoenix does not capitalize one the power play.


Late in the 2nd Stuart makes it 4-1 Red Wings. We all know the story of the Phoenix. They need to pull something like that off or it's over.


Just a little bit over 6 minutes gone in the 3rd and Bertuzzi bangs home a rebound to make it 5-1.


And the hits just keep on coming. Lidstrom on the power play. 6-1.

And that's how it ends. Detroit eliminates Phoenix in 7. The 2 western semi-final matches are set. One more game 7 tomorrow to figure out the east.

Red Wings/Coyotes Game 7 Preview

There really isn't much to say about this one. It's a Game 7 folks. It doesn't get any better than this. Well, this one will be that much more special as it is being played in Phoenix. That joint will be all about the "white-out" and I am sure the building will be shaking long before the anthem is belted out. This is going to be a good one. Really interested to see if Doan gets on the ice for the Coyotes with the season on the line. Then we get another Game 7 on Wednesday night at the Habs try to upset the Caps. Buckle up folks!

Chicago/Nashville Game 6

This game is tied at 1 about halfway through the 1st. One of these early games needs to end so I can get a look at this one.

We have a 1st period track meet in Nashville. 3-2 Blackhawks with about 3 minutes to go in the 1st. Because of the fact Washington was on CSN, I have to wait for the Versus feed to head out to Nashville before I can watch.

4-3 Chicago with a little less than 10 minutes to go in the 2nd period. Wild and wooly 1st where all the goals were scored.

Still have a 4-3 score after 2 periods. Nashville with a total of 4 shots on goal in the 2nd. The Chicago power play has had 10:00 of power play time and have not dented the twine.

Nashville needs to win the period to either force OT or win outright to force a 7th game.

Oops! Dropped the ball (wait maybe the puck) on this one. Kind of nodded off after a tough workout last evening.

Nashville poured it on in the 3rd outshooting the Hawks 15-3. Madden adds and empty netter with 8 seconds to go and we have more handshakes.

Chicago will face Vancouver in Round 2.

Caps/Canadiens Game 6

Action is fast and furious already in this game. Lots of pushing and shoving after just about every whistle.

I can hear the Stayin Alive Theme in the background.


Mike Cammalleri scores on the power play to put the Habs up 1-0.


Less than 2 minutes later it's Mike Cammalleri again. To put Montreal up 2-0.

Bell Centre is going nuts.

Montreal with a really huge opportunity here on the power play with about 8 minutes to go in the 1st. That short circuits as Metropolit goes off. 20 seconds of 4-on-4 and then it's the Caps chance to try with the man advantage. Make that a 2-man advantage for the Caps.

No dice for the Caps.

Period ends with Halak seeing a ton of rubber. Caps outshoot the Habs 18-10.

2-0 Canadiens end of 1.

More than halfway through the 2nd period and the score remains 2-0 Montreal. Halak is the difference as the Caps have 30 shots already and nothing to show for it.

2-0 Habs end of 2. 33-13 shots advantage for the Caps. Third period should be a doozy as the Caps definitely have the firepower to not only tie, but overtake the Habs.


Less than 5 minutes into the 3rd and Maxim LaPierre beats Varlamov from a bad angle. 3-0 Habs.

It was only a matter of time. Halak had faced 50+ shots.


Eric Fehr scores with 4:50 to go and gives the Caps some life. 3-1 Habs.


Empty net goal added by Plekanec seals the deal.


Game 7 is going to be crazy in D.C. Roles reversed from last year. Caps were down 3-1 and had to play 7. This year they were up 3-1 and yet again they are going to a 7th and deciding game.