Jussi Jokinen continues to be an instrumental part of the Carolina Hurricanes’ surprising postseason success and last night’s game was no exception.  Just like the Anaheim Ducks in the Western Conference, the Canes are playing surprisingly well in the playoffs and now lead the series 2-1 against the Boston Bruins, the east’s best team this season.

Hurricanes goaltender, Cam Ward, was coming off his fourth career playoff shutout and it seemed like the team was on a mission to prove that their first win was not a fluke.  It was definitely an intensely played game and the little feud between Zdeno …read more

What a crazy game!!!  I was hoping that the Anaheim Ducks would rebound after being beat by the Detroit Red Wings in Game 1 of this second round and they did not disappoint.  The two most recent Stanley Cup champions battled hard, matching goal for goal until it was all decided in third overtime, making this the longest playoff game so far this year!

I think both the Red Wings and the Ducks put a huge amount of effort into the game tonight but I do want to say that Detroit goaltender, Chris Osgood, didn’t seem to be on his game …read more

Just like many of the viewers at home, I’m sure the Boston Bruins were shocked to not only lose to the Carolina Hurricanes but to also be shut out by them.

Hurricanes captain, Rod Brind’Amour, played his 150th postseason game and goaltender, Cam Ward, recorded his second playoff shutout in four games, turning away all 36 shots he faced.
This spoiled the record for the Bruins who were the last unbeaten team left in this year’s playoffs and ended netminder, Tim Thomas’, 11-game winning streak.
The 3-0 victory (and it really could have been 4-0 but a goal was not allowed even though …read more

After yesterday’s action, the last two undecided series in the Western Conference are both tied up and I honestly couldn’t tell you which way this is going to go.  So far, I’ve been surprised so I’m not going to make any guesses.
The New York Rangers had an opportunity to eliminate the Washington Capitals but, with Sean Avery back in the lineup and coach John Tortorella suspended for one game, it looked like they were a bit lost.  The Caps took full advantage of the situation, winning the game 5-3.
It’s not that the Rangers didn’t try hard (32 shots on …read more

This was the first year that the Columbus Blue Jackets have ever made the playoffs and it looks like it’s going to be a short-lived run for the Cup.  Unless something miraculous happens, they are about to be swept by the Detroit Red Wings who won their third straight game in the series last night and need just one more win to eliminate the Blue Jackets.

It’s sad because it was the first time a playoff game was played at the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio and it was catastrophic.  There, in front of the franchise-record crowd of 19,219 fans, the …read more

The Vancouver Canucks are clearly on a roll after winning their third straight game in the quarterfinal series over the St. Louis Blues.  Unfortunately, veteran player, Mats Sundin, had to sit out of last night’s match and his status for Thursday’s contest is in question after he suffered and unspecified lower body injury.
“We’ll know in a couple days,” Canucks head coach Alain Vigneault said. “At this time it’s day to day, week to week, whatever you want to call it.”
This is the last thing old man Sundin needs.  He had been playing about 15 minutes per game but has really …read more

In probably the most intense matchup of the night, the Chicago Blackhawks hosted the Calgary Flames and it was an ugly game.  I think that both teams ended up acting in a way that was shameful considering the privilege associated with making the playoffs.  I was very disappointed.  The Flames were playing better than they have in a while and the Blackhawks began to get physical.  The Flames not only took the bait, they took it up to the next level and the rest of the game was as much about fighting as it was about playing.

Mike Cammalleri (CGY) sucker …read more

The New York Rangers took an early lead in the series by winning 4-3 over the Washington Capitals.  It was a hard battled game but, really, it came down to the amazing skills of NYR goaltender, Henrik Lundqvist, who managed to stop 32 shots on goal.  The ones that made it in were so good, he barely had a chance to save them.

Meanwhile, his Washington counterpart, Jose Theodore, was busy putting a lot of blame on himself.  After saying that his effort “just wasn’t good enough” coach Bruce Boudreau did very little to make the netminder feel better.  Boudreau added …read more

The 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs will begin next week and, with the remaining spots taken last night by the Anaheim Ducks and the St. Louis Blues, the NHL has announced the final matchups for the first round.
In the Western Conference the following teams will square off:

San Jose Sharks vs. St. Louis Blues
Detroit Red Wings vs. Anaheim Ducks
Vancouver Canucks vs. Columbus Blue Jackets
Chicago Blackhawks vs. Calgary Flames

Those are some interesting matchups. I predict that the Sharks will take out the Blues and the Wings will pick off the Ducks but I am not sure what will happen with the others. …read more

The teams who will compete in the 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs have been decided and I’m extremely excited!  There are a few surprises (Montreal just squeaking in) and things that I’m truly happy about (Chicago, Columbus and St. Louis making the cut) but aside from that, it’s pretty much what most of us could have predicted a couple months ago.  I am disappointed, though, that Dallas wasn’t able to pull it together this season to push past their problems and get to the postseason.  Maybe next year…
Here are a list of the teams that made it:

Eastern Conference

Western Conference

1
Z
Boston
114
1
Z
San Jose
117

2
Y
Washington
108
2
Y
Detroit
112

3
Y
New …read more