The Pittsburgh Penguins completed the sweep and the only thing I can say about the elimination of the Carolina Hurricanes is that I’m grateful they’ve been put out of their misery.  They definitely battled hard in the first two rounds but they seemed to fall apart against the Pens in the Eastern Conference Finals.

image: Zuma Press

The Penguins enjoyed an easy 4-1 win over the Hurricanes with goals from Max Talbot (who also had two assists), Ruslan Fedotenko, Bill Guerin and Craig Adams (empty-netter).  Captain, Sidney Crosby had two assists and goalie, Marc-Andre Fleury, stopped 30 shots on net.  In the end, Pittsburgh outscored the Hurricanes 20-9 in the series.

I think that this young team has one thing on its side now – experience.  They were in this position just a year ago and, hopefully, they learned something.

I really held my breath when they brought out the Eastern Conference Championship Trophy.  I wasn’t sure if they were going to touch it since it is considered bad luck.  In the end, Crosby bravely went right up to it and skated away with it.  “We didn’t touch it last year and things did not go the way we wanted to, so we switched it up,” Crosby said. “We know what we want.”

image: Zuma Press

With this series wrapped up, I’m guessing hockey fans will be watching what happens over in the Western Conference where the defending Stanley Cup Champions, the Detroit Red Wings, are just one win away from eliminating the Chicago Blackhawks.

If the Red Wings succeed in taking the conference, it will be the first time two teams met again for a Stanley Cup rematch since the Edmonton Oilers and the New York Islanders battled in 1983 and 1984.

I lost my voice screaming and yelling during the Stanley Cup Finals last year and I’m ready to do it again.  I guess I better go stock up on ice cream and popsicles.

The Pittsburgh Penguins skated away with a massive 6-2 win over the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 3 last night and has placed them just one win from clinching the 2009 Eastern Conference Final.  However, if the past two series are any indication, the Carolina Hurricanes shouldn’t be considered defeated just yet.

image: Zuma Press

Pens captain, Sidney Crosby, and Evgeni Malkin were again HUGE for their team.  Thinking back to last year, I believe that a major factor in their loss was the fact that Malkin just didn’t seem able to deliver.  This is, of course, a new season and it’s amazing to see what a difference a year can make.  “Sid and Geno, they bring their level and they make everybody better,” right-winger Bill Guerin said. “Everyone’s talent level goes up. That’s what they do for us.”  I would be inclined to agree considering how well this series has gone for the Penguins.

Carolina goaltender, Cam Ward, had another rough night since Pittsburgh outshot his team 40-34.  He was able to turn away 34 shots but it just wasn’t enough.  His counterpart, Marc-Andre Fleury, made 32 saves.

If they can complete the sweep on Tuesday night, the Pittsburgh Penguins will become the Eastern Conference champions for the second year in a row (they lost to the Detroit Red Wings in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final).

Last night’s game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Carolina Hurricanes began and ended with a lot of intensity. It was a bit of a busy day for me so I thought I’d put the game on while I got dinner ready and I could barely believe that, in the first 20 minutes, five goals were scored. In the end, that first period was the one that made the most sense since things got downright crazy after the break.

image: Zuma Press

Throughout the second and third periods, 16 penalties were called including a 10 minute match penalty for Carolina’s Ryan Bayda, and a matching 10 minute game misconduct for Pittsburgh’s Kris Letang.  As the minutes went by and the goals kept coming, both teams just seemed to reach their boiling point.  Players looked frustrated and angry but one person on the ice was celebrating.

image: Zuma Press

Evgeni Malkin had an incredible night.  He got a hat trick and his parents were screaming and cheering so much in the stands that I’m sure it made it that much better.  Carolina was definitely trying to get physical with him and, instead of falling apart, he channelled his energy and became unstoppable.  He completed his first career playoff hat trick with a suitably amazing goal – a backhander right into the net.  Incredible.  Watch his three goals.

After their 7-4 victory last night, the Penguins lead the series 2-0 as they get ready to head to Carolina for games 3 (Saturday, May 23) and 4 (Tuesday, May 26).   Since Carolina has been full of surprises throughout the playoffs, I’m very interested to see what they do when they’ve got home-ice advantage.

images: Zuma Press

It was a great first game in the 2009 Eastern Conference Finals tonight as the Pittsburgh Penguins hosted the Carolina Hurricanes.  Just when it seemed that it was going to go a certain way, things changed and it got more exciting by the minute.  In the end, the Penguins were left with a 3-2 victory.

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During the first period, Carolina outshot Pittsburgh 12-9 but it felt more like the Pens were dominating.  With goals from Miroslav Satan (fresh out of the penalty box) and Evgeni Malkin, those first twenty minutes really seemed to be in Pittsburgh’s favor.

In the second period, the Hurricanes were outshot 6-12 but they seemed to be more in control.  They were putting a lot of pressure on goalie, Marc-Andre Fleury, who had to come up with some amazing saves but, finally, let a shot by Chad Larose slip behind him.

In the third, both teams put in a huge effort but the goal by Philippe Boucher (Pittsburgh) remained the game-winner, although Joe Corvo scored on a power play for Carolina with just more than a minute and half left in the game.

The Hurricanes seemed to be in an absolute frenzy in the final moments and, despite a very close call, they just couldn’t tie up the game.  As has been the case throughout the postseason, Carolina continues to surprise and put forth an effort that is reminiscent of that in 2006 when they took home Lord Stanley.  I would love for the Penguins to move on to the next round but I wouldn’t be shocked at all if they didn’t make it.

The Detroit Red Wings eliminated the Anaheim Ducks last night and it really was a battle to the finish.  With a final score of 4-3, it wasn’t exactly a runaway victory.  Still the 2008 Stanley Cup Champions have advanced to the next round and it should be interesting to see this well-oiled team comprised of many veterans face off against the youth and vigor of the Chicago Blackhawks.

For the first time in the postseason last night, Jonas Hiller showed how human he really is.  He got knocked in the net and, as if that wasn’t bad enough, his helmet fell off and when he went to stand up, he hit his head on the crossbar.  He ended up getting pulled (he still made 36 saves) and was replaced by Jean-Sebastien Giguere who, correct me if I’m wrong, hadn’t made an appearance in the playoffs until that moment.

I was starting to think that this game was going to go to overtime but with just three minutes left in the game, Dan Cleary won for the Red Wings, sending the defending Stanley Cup champions to the Western Conference finals for the third straight year.

On the east coast, the Carolina Hurricanes upset the #1 Eastern Conference seed, the Boston Bruins, by eliminating them in overtime of Game 7.  It doesn’t get much closer than that.

I really was a little shocked and disappointed by this turn of events.  Truly, as naive as it might sound, I thought that the Bruins and the San Jose Sharks might be the last two teams standing after the amazing seasons they had but they were eliminated by teams that I really had dismissed (Carolina and Anaheim, respectively).  Sometimes I like being wrong but this isn’t one of those times. 

The Bruins’ amazing season came to an end last night at 18:46 into overtime when Scott Walker used his hands to put the puck behind Bruins netminder, Tim Thomas, instead of using them to punch Aaron Ward in the face. 

The Hurricanes will go on to face the Pittsburgh Penguins in the Eastern Conference finals which means that Eric Staal and Jordan Staal will be competing against each other.  They will be just the fourth set of brothers to do that.  Who are their parents going to cheer for?

images: Zuma Photos

The Boston Bruins were facing elimination tonight but they rallied and won Game 6 and have now pushed the series against the Carolina Hurricanes to Game 7.

image: TSN

They are the highest remaining seed in the playoffs at this point and, like the San Jose Sharks (the #1 seed was eliminated in the first round), the Bruins have been showing some weakness.  They rebounded in a big way tonight and staved off elimination.

Barely five minutes into the game the Bruins were up 2-0 and managed to keep a two-goal lead in the end.  Now they will get to play Game 7 at home in Boston.

“From the time we fell behind 3-1 in the series, our goal was to create a Game 7,” coach Claude Julien said. “We’re there now. … Getting to Game 7 is one thing. Now we’ve got to decide what we’re going to do with it.”

I don’t know what is going to happen in that final game.  The Bruins are a great team and have had a great season but the Hurricanes continue to surprise so I really won’t discount them, home advantage or not.

The NHL has chosen not to hand down a suspension to Carolina Hurricanes forward, Scott Walker, after he punched Boston Bruins defenceman, Aaron Ward, and may have broken his orbital bone.  Walker was fined $2,500 but many don’t believe that it was enough.

Many people believe that Walker is guilty of sucker punching Ward and therefore felt that he should have been banned from some games.  I feel like this ruling might have been a little different if the Canes weren’t fighting to stay in the playoffs.

"I accept the League’s decision," Walker said in a statement. "Based on what was said on the ice as I was dropping my gloves, it was my understanding that I was engaged in an altercation."  Carolina GM, Jim Rutherford, weighed in on it as well: "We are satisfied with the League’s ruling.  After our team received several punches throughout the series leading up to Game 5, it was a matter of time before one was going to be thrown back."

Meanwhile, Bruins coach, Clause Julien said: "Personally, I know we’re all entitled to our opinion, (but) I’d be disappointed.  In reviewing what I saw, I just didn’t like what happened. I’m not going to start comparing and stuff like that. I just don’t think there was any need for that. He sucker punched him once coming into the scrum when (Ward) was involved with another player, and then he dropped his gloves and sucker punched him.”

In case any of you are thinking (like my husband) that Ward should have done something to prevent his own injury, Julien has words for that as well:  "I don’t care what people say about Ward should’ve protected himself.  He had no intention of getting involved. We asked our guys to stay composed and not fall into that trap and he just did that. A guy with Walker’s experience should know better than to sucker punch a guy and, again, this is an area that I don’t deal with. I deal with my team and let other people deal with the situation.”

Watch the altercation from last night’s game and judge for yourself:

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 Chara (Boston) and Eric Staal (Carolina) continued to mount.

The teams were tied 2-2 when the third period ended.  Although Carolina had a good momentum going, Boston netminder, Tim Thomas, really did try his best and made a spectacular save on Matt Cullen and had to reach behind himself and guess where that puck was to stop it from going in.  Thomas hasn’t allowed a goal in third period during the postseason so I wasn’t surprised when they went to overtime.

Jussi Jokinen received a pass and did a really smooth rotation in front of the net before putting it behind Thomas to win in overtime.  I wanted Boston to win but I can’t deny that it was just a really sweet goal.

image: TSN

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.

image: TSN

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 I think it was clearly in) marks the first time Carolina has beaten the Bruins all season.

If anyone was thinking that the Boston Bruins might slow down after a stellar season and after easily eliminating the Montreal Canadiens, they were wrong.  The Bruins took on the Carolina Hurricanes last night and skated away with a massive 4-1 victory.

image: TSN

Marc Savard had a big night and was a major force against the Hurricanes.  He scored twice in the win and, along with goaltender, Tim Thomas, the Bruins sent a message to the Hurricanes – this series could be over very quickly.

Jussi Jokinen scored the lone goal for Carolina.  I think the team looked a little tired and they probably were compared with the Bruins, who have had a nice long break since they finished the first series against the Habs.

The teams play again tomorrow night in Boston.

image: TSN