image: TSN

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 whereas Anaheim’s Jonas Hiller was spectacular.  Both of them were tested quite a bit but Hiller faced an whopping 62 shots (Detroit was definitely trying!) while Osgood dealt with 46.

I was riveted throughout the regulation portion of the game, anxious during first OT, on the edge of my season for second OT and pulling my hair out by the time third OT began.  Fortunately, it didn’t last very long since, after just about a minute, Anaheim’s Todd Merchant fired a wrist shot through traffic and beat Osgood, who never saw it coming.  I can’t really think of too many games that were won by Merchant so I’m sure the Ducks are pretty happy with him right now.

The teams meet again on Tuesday night at the Honda Center in Anaheim.

Post from: Hockey Beat

image: TSN

The Washington Capitals hosted the Pittsburgh Penguins this afternoon and it was a hard-fought game but, in the end, it was Washington that skated away with a 3-2 victory.

Crosby started the scoring early in the first period but the Caps scored twice, including a goal from Ovechkin, to put them ahead by one going into the second.  After that, it was really back-and-forth until finally, Tomas Fleischmann scored the game-winner for the Caps.

I also want to mention that Simeon Varlamov continues to do well for Washington in net (no sign of Jose Theodore anywhere, so far…) but it’s kind of funny to note that he’s now played in more playoff games (seven) than he has in regular season games (six).  Maybe he just works better under pressure.

The teams square off again on Monday night and I seriously cannot wait.  I hope they bring the same intensity as they did today.  If they do, I could see this series easily going to Game 7.

Post from: Hockey Beat

image: TSN

During last night’s game, I saw a team that looked like they were positively starving for the Stanley Cup and, if they continue to play that way, they could make it.  Many people (myself included) have been really critical of Vancouver since they rely so heavily on the skills of their goaltender, Roberto Luongo, but last night, they earned that victory as a team.  They showed maturity on the ice and no traces of cockiness after the win.  I don’t know what coach Alain Vigneault is saying in the locker room but it is working.

Post from: Hockey Beat

image: TSN

I didn’t see the game but I saw highlights last night as I sat half-asleep on my couch.  I didn’t realize until just now that it was Jonas Hiller between the pipes for the Ducks and not JS Giguere.  That makes this victory even crazier.  I know Hiller and Giguere played the same number of games and that Hiller had a few more wins but this was his very first playoff game and he nailed it!  I can’t even believe it.  The Sharks probably never knew what hit them!

Post from: Hockey Beat

image: TSN

There were a couple goals that I know Habs goaltender, Carey Price, would love to have back since he seemed to lose his edge late in the game.  He did, however, save 35 shots on goal while his Bruins counterpart, Tim Thomas, had to save only 26.  Interim Montreal coach, Bob Gainey, needs to have a talk with his defencemen, I think…

Post from: Hockey Beat

image: TSN

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 “there’s times when you sit there, you need the save, and he didn’t make the save when we needed it.”   Things got a little insane when the coach said it was possible that he would use rookie Simeon Varlamov in Game 2 on Saturday.  “There’s a chance anything could happen,” Boudreau said. “When you lose, you make changes.”

Uhhhhh… it was one loss and it wasn’t even by a large margin.  Let’s not get crazy.  I think this series could get really interesting.

Post from: Hockey Beat

image: Newscom

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. Vancouver is red hot right now but Columbus is also doing well. The thing that is going to make this pairing sizzle, though, is the battle between goaltenders, Roberto Luongo (Canucks) and rookie Steve Mason (Blue Jackets). I can’t stand Vancouver (although, I have to admit that they’ve been amazing) so I want them to lose the series but I will be watching these games whenever I can just to see whether Luongo or Mason will come out on top. The Chicago vs. Calgary games could go either way since both teams have been patchy throughout the season and Calgary has been really struggling since acquiring Olli Jokinen at the trade deadline. They had been doing so well so it’s anyone’s guess whether they will be able to shake off whatever is bothering them in order to get more effective on the ice…

image: Newscom

In the Eastern Conference, you will find the following matchups:

• Boston Bruins vs. Montreal Canadiens
• Washington Capitals vs. NY Rangers
• New Jersey Devils vs. Carolina Hurricanes
• Philadelphia Flyers vs. Pittsburgh Penguins/li>

I can’t even believe that Boston is going to battle Montreal in the first round.  Both were part of the original six teams that made up the NHL and they are long-time rivals.  The fans are going to go crazy and I wish I could head back east and watch a Montreal game with my family.  I don’t know who will win the Caps vs. Rangers series but, if it comes down to it, I think that Alexander Ovechkin is going to do all that he can to stay in the game.  After the season that goaltender, Martin Brodeur, has had, I’m hoping the New Jersey Devils will beat out the Carolina Hurricanes but I don’t think it’s obvious enough to make a prediction.  Also, although it may not be as rooted in history as the Montreal/Boston series, it’s going to be intense when the Flyers take on the Penguins.  It’s going to be one long “Battle of Pennsylvania” for the fans and I am hoping the Pens skate away with a strong victory. I know that Sidney Crosby and Evgeny Malkin are going to want that second chance after narrowly losing the Stanley Cup finals last year.

I’d love to hear what you think!  Which matchups are you most looking forward to and who do you think will move on?

Post from: Hockey Beat

Here are a list of the teams that made it:

Who do you think will take home Lord Stanley?  I think that the two teams leading each conference (Boston and San Jose) are going to be tough to beat so I wouldn’t be surprised if either of them won the finals (I think Boston might be a little more likely).  Still, the playoffs can be so unpredictable so it’s hard to tell…

image: NBCUMV

Post from: Hockey Beat

image: TSN.ca

It has been almost nine years since the Blue Jackets were added to the NHL and I’m sure this victory was sweet since they were the only active team to have never qualified for the postseason.  They only needed one point to secure the playoff spot.  “To get that one point was huge, to come back after being down 2-0,” Rick Nash said. “To get the win was even more important. We’re going to try to win these last two games to keep our position in the standings. I don’t know if it’s quite sunk in yet. We’re so used to playing out the season.”

There are only four playoff berths remaining but the Blackhawks also need a single point to make it to the postseason for the first time since 2002 (and only its second in 11 seasons).

I’m glad the Calgary Flames traded Kristian Huselius to them because he really had lost his game and it seems like he’s back to playing the way that he should.  Of course, rookie goaltender, Steve Mason, is making a huge impact despite suffering for a while with mononucleosis.  Will he lead this team to the finals in his first year in the NHL the way Cam Ward did for the Carolina Hurricanes?  I guess we’ll have to wait and see.

Post from: Hockey Beat