Where Does The Flyers Goaltending Go From Here?

If you're the Philadelphia Flyers right now, are you hoping for a miracle? Or are you just hoping that the Bruins don't give up any more goals like the goals they got on Saturday afternoon?

The answer is something in goal. The Bruins put up seven goals today in a 7-3 beating of Philadelphia in Game 1, leaving Philadelphia to ponder their goaltending. That was probably the biggest key in today's game.

The starting goaltender at the beginning of the game was Brian Boucher. After a 5-1 lead, he was pulled and replaced by Bobrovsky. But Bobrovsky's two give-up goals and a hot Boston goalie leaved Philly in a 1-0 series hole. Now it seems we have the goaltending problem.

I thought Bobrovsky was always the solution in goal, but I don't know what the Flyers' coaches are thinking right now. Are they actually thinking that Brian Boucher is actually the better answer than Bobrovsky. Okay, let's assume that's the case for a moment. He gave up five goals and was yanked for it. So now are you ready to question him as a starting goaltender? I think he's probably the worst goaltender of his playoffs. He is constantly being yanked and he's giving up a few goals that Bobrovsky could've easily made. Sounds like Bobrovsky's the better choice. But if Philadelphia, they need to find goaltending that works and right now it's not working out that well. Bobrovsky's had trouble in net a few times and Boucher is seriously getting its GAA up. Maybe it's time to call it quits.



Not yet, anyway. That was only Game 1. Game 2 is Monday night and we'll see what Flyers coach Peter Laviolette will do with the goaltending situation in order to make it effective for Game 2. I think Bobrovsky will get the start because he has proven himself a better goaltender for the Flyers this season. However, that might not be the case. Can Brian Boucher redeem himself if Bobrovsky doesn't pull the weight? Or is it lights out again on Monday? We'll see, puckheads.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d8Xapi9QI6A

Matthew Barnaby breaks down Game 1 as well as the goaltending situation in the link to the video above.

What Did We Learn From Game 1 in the Predators-Canucks Series?

Game 1 happened tonight between the Vancouver Canucks and the Nashville Predators in the Western Conference Semifinals. You have the Vancouver Canucks who won an emotional Game 7 against the Chicago Blackhawks. Alex Burrows the OT game-winner. Then you have the Nashville Predators who took the Ducks to six games and eventually won it thanks to their tall goaltender called Pekka Rinne. You would expect that their two factors would come into play. Well, for both teams, it certainly was a good night.

The deciding score, however, went by the way of the Vancouver Canucks who scored the only goal of the game in a 1-0 win over the Predators in Game 1. You can look at the defensive plays, the offensive failings of both teams, but what really stands out in this game is the magnificent goaltending of Pekka Rinne. He stopped every shot that came to him. He held the goal in net. He was spectacular making sure to gobble up those loose rebounds and kick them back to his teammates. He is probably one of the best goaltenders of the year. However, the factor didn't side with him. He let in one goal and that cost the Predators a chance in Game 1.

Game 2 might be different. The Predators could come out with their fire and passion. They really need to get Pekka Rinne some help on the offensive side of the net. Their defense is spectacular but their offense definitely was not on its game. The intensity will need to build up for a Nashville team that emphasizes so much on defense, but in Game 2, the offense needs to come around. Mike Fisher is a great player as is Patric Hornquist and David Legwand. They need to get their game together and get some pucks on goal. If they don't, Game 2 will find Vancouver winning it.



Nothing can be said much about the Vancouver Canucks right now, since they did everything they could tonight. They didn't let their emotions from the Game 7 win impact what they could do on the ice tonight. It wasn't a pretty win, but it was a good one. The offense was great, it was just that Pekka Rinne was too good of a goalie in net tonight.

That's Game 1 in the books. What will happen in Game 2 between these two epic rivals? If you come back on Saturday, I'll tell you what I expect to see. Until then, keep reading, puckheads!

Matthew Barnaby has the recap of Game 1 and his analysis of the game in the video link here: http://www.youtube.com/user/ESPN?blend=1&ob=5#p/u/8/J3Zo3pyKi_o. The embedding was disabled by ESPN so I could not link it here.

Western Semifinals Previews

Well, the quarterfinals are over and we're left with eight teams battling for the epic prize of the Stanley Cup. We'll make our predictions first in the Western Conference and the Eastern Conference will come later in another post. So we've got the Predators-Canucks and the Red Wings-Sharks. Sounds like two good great matchups for the second round.

(5) Nashville Predators vs. (1) Vancouver Canucks
The Canucks managed to get by the Chicago Blackhawks in Game 7 while the Nashville Predators whitewashed the Anaheim Ducks in Game 6, leaving both teams feeling pretty good about themselves right now.

The Predators are playing solid defense right now thanks to the help of Ryan Suter, Jordin Tootoo, and Shea Weber. Mike Fisher is having an impact on that offensive as well as Patric Hornquist. They also have the high-and-tall goaltender in Pekka Rinne who is manning that net and is giving the team a chance to get some pretty good offense going.

But if you're the Nashville Predators, you can't feel as good playing the Vancouver Canucks then the Detroit Red Wings or San Jose Sharks. The Sedin twins are making magic happen in Vancouver and Daniel Sedin, the potential hart trophy candidate is making things work in Vancouver. Alex Burrows is providing the offense that is needed in order to get to the Cup. He had that breakthrough OT winner in Game 7 and we might just see it again.



This is the first time that Nashville advanced past the first round but I think that the pressure and the criticism that Vancouver went through will help them win this series. Nashville is doing pretty well, but ultimately Vancouver has too much depth and is a better thing offensively than Nashville is. The defense of Nashville will be exposed, so I will pick the Canucks to win it in six games. Matthew Barnaby and E.J. Hradek also have their predictions as well on this ESPN video.

(3) Detroit Red Wings vs. (2) San Jose Sharks
This two teams played last year in the Western Conference semifinals with San Jose taking the deciding series 4-1 and forcing Detroit to miss the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time in two years.



Detroit better be on the watchout this time, though, as San Jose is proving that they are healthy enough and well-rested enough to provide the offensive scoring they need to really put Jimmy Howard in the hole and allow for Antti Niemi to get some breathing rest. Niemi didn't do too well in the first round, giving up rebounds and allowing for the Kings to score on some of those opportunities. I think Niemi will make those saves but I doubt they'll be great and/or pretty ones. San Jose has two pretty good lines that provide that scoring they need to beat Howard and the defense of the Red Wings

Detroit is fighting the injury problems. Johan Franzen has been pretty banged up and Henrik Zetterberg is returning from an injury, but I don't know how good he'll be on the ice. Johan Franzen can be a factor but how good of a factor? They have offense, but the question is can their players provide the highly-skilled offense they had before their injuries? If not, San Jose will get a lot of defense on these two when they come down the ice.

This is going to be a tight series. It could go either way. Both teams have plenty of offense they can bring, but all in all, I think the San Jose Sharks find a way to beat the Detroit Red Wings and advance to another Western Conference Finals match.

Well, that's it for the Western Semifinals preview. Catch back later for the Eastern Conference Semifinals preview. Lightning-Capitals and Bruins-Flyers. Can the Bruins beat the Flyers again this time? And will the Capitals beat the Lightning in a Southeast playoff series? I'll tell you later, puckheads.

Matthew Barnaby and E.J. Hradek have more analysis and predictions for the two series in the videos above.

Who should the Hart Trophy Winner Be?

Attention all puckheads and people who are interested in trophies and such. Our Hart Trophy winners for the 2010-2011 season have been called and boy do we have some good names on this list.

Anaheim Ducks' Corey Perry, Vancouver Canucks' Daniel Sedin, and Tampa Bay Lightnings' Martin St. Louis have been nominated as the Hart Trophy candidates for this season for their outstanding work on the ice and as being potential MVP candidates for this season.

All have had record seasons in the past but nothing compares to what they've done this season for the team. Corey Perry lead the league in goals with 50 and has already won the Rocket Richard trophy. Daniel Sedin (104) and Martin St. Louis (99) were first and second, respectively, in overall points this season. Corey Perry was third in points with 98.

Sounds like three potential candidates who could win the award on June 22 at the NHL awards in Las Vegas, but who ultimately deserves the Hart Trophy?

Want my answer? It's not Martin St. Louis. Yes, he was second in the league with points, but he hasn't helped his team at times this season when they really needed it. Daniel Sedin's brother, Henrik Sedin, won it last season and he sounds like a good winner, but most of his points were on assists. My real answer to this question is Corey Perry.



Why? He helped the Anaheim Ducks stay in the playoff race when it felt like they weren't going to get in at all. He scored his first three hat tricks this season and he looks poised to score more next season. He has helped the Ducks in many ways seemed possible and he has helped overtime game winners such as the March 19th game against LA or the March 20th game against Calgary, both of which helped Anaheim stay in that playoff hunt. He has shown the resiliency of a good player even when Ryan Getzlaf and Jonas Hiller were out for a good number of times. He has proven he is the ultimate MVP of the league this season. Daniel Sedin and Martin St. Louis are good candidates but there are times when they have proven they can't really show MVP credentials and haven't helped their team at times.



Well, that's my prediction for the Hart Trophy candidate. Hope you guys agree with me on Corey Perry. If you have another reason why, you can tell me, but this is my pick. Look out later for Western Conference and EAstern Conference semifinal previews, with videos from the experts at ESPN detailing what's going to happen. Later.

The Canadiens Force to 7

Last night was a night for the Montreal Canadiens. Down 3-2 in the series, they needed to find some way to give themselves a chance to get back into the series and send this thing back to Boston.

They ultimately got their wish as they held off the Boston Bruins in Game 6 with a big 2-1 win and forcing a Game 7 that happens tonight in Boston. Mike Cammalleri and Brian Gionta scored on 5-on-3 powerplay chances and Carey Price held the net and made 31 saves in arguably one of his best performances in the playoff series so far.

The Bruins had a really tough time closing it out in Montreal and like I said in an earlier post, teams that go into Montreal usually have a tough time playing, either getting close wins or losing by one or two goals in a game in which the Canadiens controlled the entire ice from start to finish. Milan Lucic of the Bruins received a misconduct in the loss. He has over one hundred penalty minutes and among the players with 100+ penalty minutes, only Ducks player Corey Perry has more points than Lucic.



The Canadiens are 6-1 in playoff games where they have faced elimination and no doubt they'll be hoping to get the win tonight when they face the Boston Bruins again in back-to-back games, this time being Game 7. Will the Canadiens fire in on all cylinders tonight facing elimination? I think they have that shot. They showed Boston what happens when they face elimination and the Bruins took that bait. Now they'll have to hope they can close things out at home.

The goaltending of both teams will be the difference maker in Game 7, as both Tim Thomas and Carey Price have shown they know what it takes to win a Game 7 in hockey. This is the 8th Game 7 meeting between these two Original Six rivals and there's no doubt it's going to be this intense, so the goaltending is definitely the key in this game.

Offense and defensive woes have been problems for both these teams in several games in the series, so it looks like these problems will be addressed for both teams. At least Game 7 won't be in Montreal because last night after a disallowed goal, Canadiens fans were given a warning about a minor penalty if they delayed the game any longer. At least in Boston they don't throw stuff like that.

Game 7 is tonight. Will the Bruins move on? Or will the Canadiens finally take the series and move on to the semifinals. Anything is possible tonight, puckheads. All we need to do is sit back and watch the show.

The Sharks Move On, The Kings Go Home

Crossing down the line, behind the net, crashing the net in front. Joe Thornton scores and the San Jose Sharks clinch the series and move on to the next round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Joe Thornton gives it to them.

Yeah, that would probably be my radio play-by-play if I was announcing something on TSN or Versus or whatever. Point is, the San Jose Sharks have finally ousted their bitter rivals in the series, the Los Angeles Kings, and as such have allowed themselves to move on in the series, getting rid of a few demons along the way.



Throughout the series, I thought it would go back and forth with both teams struggling to gain some systematic advantage in this series. But in the end, the LA Kings really could not stop an overpowerful San Jose team that was hungry to get to the second round.



But I'll move back to the San Jose Sharks in a moment and we'll just talk about what happened to the Los Angeles Kings in this series. Well, for one, it's their defense. Yes, it looked stellar at times, and it helped them get two big wins on the road, but it really didn't translate to their home-ice advantage. They lost all three gams at home and they lost all three games that went into overtime. (Games 1, 3, and 6) Jonathan Quick did all he could in this series, but ultimately the lack of offense and the pressure of the defense really couldn't help these Kings get out of the hole and into the second round. They have not advanced to the second round in two seasons and haven't been able to do so since the 1993 Stanley Cup Finals when Wayne Gretzky was still on the team. He even attended the game they still weren't able to get themselves the win that would've allowed them to go to Game 7. Their powerplay was also horrendous. It was only 5-for-24 in the series, meaning the Sharks knew how to use defense when down a man.

That's enough about the LA Kings. Now to give my time to the San Jose Sharks. I'd like to say congratulations to them because they showed a lot of heart and knew how to keep the LA Kings behind them, except in that Game 3 but they came back and won it. I think some things can be changed for the second round, such as defense. All in all, however, the Sharks proved they knew they can fight even through the toughest times on the ice. Their offense was intact. Antti Niemi proved to be the big star in net in this series and guys like Dany Heatley and Joe Thornton stepped it up in big ways to allow for the Sharks to move on to the second round.

But there are some things that need to be cleared up. The emotional factor is a big deal but some players like Jamie McGinn need to keep themselves in check and prevent their big hits, which McGinn received and had a game misconduct that pretty much allowed the Kings to remain on the powerplay for the rest of regulation.

A good series, I must say. Probably one of the best series I've seen in such a long while. Back and forth game, but the Sharks ultimately took it out. Now that the Ducks and the Kings are out, the Sharks are the only California team that's still left in the playoffs. And they still got a long way to go.

Will the Canadiens Strike Back?

Game 6 is tonight between the Montreal Canadiens and the Boston Bruins and boy have things turned around for the better for the Boston Bruins. This is Game 6 at the Bell Centre and the Montreal Canadiens have not won at home yet.

Game 5 was a surpriser as Boston finally got a huge home win and managed to take a 3-2 lead in the series but Montreal is looking at trying to get their home win and force the series back to Boston for Game 7.

Mike Cammalleri is doing things well for the Montreal Canadiens with 5 assists and 2 goals, totaling 7 points so far in these playoffs. But he's to do better tonight if he's expecting to win for his team and force the series back to Boston.

So will Mike Cammalleri and the Canadiens strike back? Or is this Boston's game? I think the Canadiens will come out tonight and allow for Carey Price to get some breathing room as they finally get that offense doing and allow the defense and goaltender Price to do their jobs. Tim Thomas will have to be good tonight, but it might not be enough as the Canadiens know what they need to do in order to stay alive in this series.



I don't think the Boston Bruins will have enough tonight as they did in Game 5. Yes, they had a big emotional win at home, but Montreal knows how to punish teams with emotion. They hit the goal hard and they smack it into the net. That's something Montreal knows they can get past in crucial games.

The bitter rivalry between the two teams is rather extraordinary. Fights during the regular season and a big playoff series right now should make for some exciting hockey for us tonight. Bruins-Canadiens tonight at 4:00 pm PT. Should make for some playoff hockey, puckheads.

Will the Vancouver Canucks Seal the Deal in Game 7?

The Chicago Blackhawks have fought all the way back in the series with the Canucks to tied the series 3-3. Once in a 3-0 hole, the Blackhawks have found the offense they were trying to generate and have stuck it to the Canucks in Games 4, 5, & 6. With Game 7 in Vancouver tonight, it seems like the Canucks are just one loss away from being ousted by the eighth seed and the defending Stanley Cup champions.
We all remember the Flyers coming out of a 3-0 hole last year against the Bruins to win the series 4-3. But will the Canucks be the same team as the Bruins last year? Or is there a chance they'll stand up and take on the Blackhawks in Game 7? I think the Canucks have what it takes to close the deal this time. They are the President Trophy winners and I think that kind of reputation can put the Blackhawks out.

Another good thing about the Canucks is that the Sedin twins are on fire right now, especially Daniel Sedin, who has five goals in this series and 7 points. His brother, Henrik Sedin, has five assists. The Sedin twins really work well on the offensive line.
According to ESPN.com, Canucks head coach Alain Vigneault has decided to start goaltender Roberto Luongo for Game 7, just a game after benching him. I think this is the time where Roberto Luongo returns to the form he showed at the beginning of the series and to make some spectacular saves on Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews, and Marian Hossa. And trust me when I say this, goaltending is the most important position in the playoffs.
If the Chicago Blackhawks want to complete their comeback tonight, they'll have to do it without the services of one of their emerging stars in this series, Bryan Bickell. He has two goals and two assists in the series but after undergoing surgery to repair his wrist, he will be out six to eight weeks, which could last as far as the first part of the Western Conference Finals, if the Blackhawks even make it that far.

That'll make it harder for the Blackhawks to deal with, since Bickell was one of their most offensive players out there in this series. So the Canucks have a little breathing room, but they are still on the hot seat and still the team playing with a lot of pressure on their back. Will the high and mighty Canucks finally end it? Or will the Blackhawks make history and be the second team in two seasons to come back from a 3-0 hole to win the series? It will all be determined tonight, puckheads. That game is supposed to be a thriller.

Sabres or Flyers in Game 7?

Game 7 is tonight between the Buffalo Sabres and the Philadelphia Flyers and boy do both of these teams really fight hard for every inch of ice. Coming into Game 7, both have won 3 games thanks to a very productive power play and better productive penalty kill.

So who really takes the reigns tonight and move on? Do the Philadelphia Flyers take one more step in returning to the Stanley Cup Final. Is this Buffalo's time to really rip into the hearts of Flyer fans and move on?
I would give some of the advantage to both teams, as their power play and their production on all ends of the ice to win this game. But all in all, the Philadelphia Flyers are going to move on.

Why, you say? Well, the Flyers have been able to work in dire Game 7 situations before and this one is no different. They know that Buffalo is going to come out with heart and try to win Game 7 and make their own fans feel pretty good about what they've accomplished. But the Flyers know better. They have great skill, exceptional plays on offense and defense, and a couple of great players in Mike Richards and Jeff Carter. So they know what's at stake for them and they're just trying to get back to the Stanley Cup Final and for once, win it this time around.
Well, it should be an interesting game tonight but I believe that the Philadelphia Flyers have the willigness to move on and head for the Eastern Conference semifinal round. Sorry, Buffalo, but I don't think this Sabres team has what it takes to really take advantage of the situation and move on to the second round, while Philadelphia does.

What's Next for the Ducks?

My team, the Anaheim Ducks, are officially done with their season and many Ducks fans, like myself, are feeling the pain and horror of what has happened during these playoffs. But like all other fans out there, we have to move on and sometimes try to forgive and forget.
The Ducks lost their Game 6 to the Nashville Predators 4-2 effectively eliminating the Ducks from the playoffs and allowing Nashville to move on for the first time in their franchise history. I guess that paves the way for Nashville to continue its hot defense and scoring in the second round.
But we're not talking about the Nashville Predators. We're talking about the Ducks. Now that their season is over, what are we going to expect next from this great franchise? Is Teemu Selanne going to be back next season or his career over? Will Jonas Hiller be replaced in goal by Ray Emery or Dan Ellis or will he be able to counter his vertigo and come back and be a starting goaltender again? What's Doug Murray going to do in the offseason with trading and free agents? Will he make a shot at current Dallas Stars player Brad Richards or will he give some of his rookies a chance to fight for a spot?
Well. Let's take a look at each option one part at a time. First, the Teemu Selanne saga. Yes, we all know that Teemu Selanne had a heck of a year, scoring tying goals with only six seconds left in the game, or scoring big goals in games that count. He has been that effective on the ice this season for the Ducks and, besides Corey Perry (the hands-down Hart Trophy winner), has been the most effective Duck I've seen in recent weeks. So I really don't know if he might come back or if he's decided to call it a career here. He's around 40 years old and it looks like he's scoring like he's still in his early 30's. I'm guessing this is his last stint as a Duck, but I ponder this question for Teemu: Why quit while you're hot?
On to the next topic. Will Jonas Hiller be an effective goaltender for the Ducks again? Or has he lost that job to Dan Ellis or Ray Emery? Well, Ray Emery has been doing pretty well for the Ducks in the last part of the season as well as in the playoffs, but I don't know if he's going to stick around in Anaheim. Dan Ellis has proven himself as a reliable starting goaltender, but he really hasn't had that much action since he left Nashville a couple summers ago. Jonas Hiller's vertigo symptoms might be getting better, but you still don't know if he's fully recovered from these effects. So, it looks like it's going to be a toss-up on this question, because we don't know what will happen to Jonas Hiller and if Ray Emery and Dan Ellis are going to be the big factors in goal for Anaheim in the years to come. I guess goaltending will be the big issue here for Anaheim going forward. We'll see how it goes throughout the summer.
Now on to my last topic after general manager Bob Murray's offseason. Will he sprint for a big free agent and sign a guy like Dallas Stars' forward Brad Richards? Or is there that chance he could give his rookies a chance to prove themselves? I think he might get Brad Richards at one point, but that seems a little far to talk about right now and the fact that the free agent list doesn't come out until after the playoffs, so I don't know much about the free agency. I think, however, that Bob Murray has a good collection of rookies that he thinks can really prove themselves at the next level. Emerson Etem, Kyle Palmeiri, Nick Bonino, and Jake Newton are excellent candidates to have breakout seasons next year. Cam Fowler was pretty good as a rookie this year on that defensive line. Matt Beleskey has had his share of greatness from time to time so it all can depend. I think Kyle Palmeiri has the likely chance of moving up, as well as Nick Bonino. Both have excellent skill as a center and winger, respectively, so there's that chance that Bonino and Palmeiri will have their last lickings of the AHL and finally join the NHL permanently. All's floating around the NHL offseason and we'll see what Bob Murray decides to do.
Well, it seems I pretty much covered everything. Thank you, Ducks fans, for your loyal support to the team and the organization this season. Look forward to cheering on the Ducks again next year. But keep an eye on my blog, though. You never know what I can write about. As for the rest of you puckheads, looks like the Ducks season is finally at its close and things keep going forward for everybody else.

Time to Finish It for the Sharks

Tonight's the night for the San Jose Sharks to try and close out their series with the Los Angeles Kings. It won't be easy considering the fact that they are playing in Los Angeles, where attendance capacity is supposed to exceed almost 18,200 or maybe more, and where it is expected to get very, very loud in terms of Kings fans.
The Sharks are currently having a 3-2 lead in the series, but all that momentum could very well change after tonight's game if they don't win. They came back from a 4-0 deficit in Game 3 to win it in overtime 6-5. They took a decisive Game 4 victory, leaving the Kings to win Game 5 3-1 and force the series back down to LA.
Let's check it here. Do you think the Sharks will win and close it out? Or is LA showing that they have enough to force a Game 7 back up in San Jose? My guess is that San Jose will probably close it out tonight after knowing how to play in LA and leave the loudness of the crowd in its seats. But look for LA to actually make some noise for the Sharks and allow Sharks goaltender Antti Niemi to make some huge saves which he hasn't done yet.
I think Antii Niemi will have a good time, and I think Logan Couture and Patrick Marleau will create a short bit of offense that'll allow them to score right through that Kings defensive line and in past Kings goaltender Jonathan Quick. The defense of the Sharks is looking all right to me. Dan Boyle, Niclas Wallin, and Jason Demers have been tremendous on that offensive line, allowing only 3 goals in their last two games, although one of those was a loss.
For the Kings, without Anze Kopitar still not in the lineup, things could get tougher for them as Justin Williams, Jarret Stoll, and Ryan Smyth will have to provide the bulk of the offensive unit. Jonathan Quick will have to be solid in net tonight if he expects to lead the Kings to a win and force the series to Game 7 in San Jose. The defense, including Jack Johnson, has looked rough at times, but it has provided some big key defensive plays that have allowed them in stay in close games. Looks like a big defensive game will be one of the keys for the Kings in forcing a Game 7.
Well, Game 6 is tonight at STAPLES Center and we'll see if the Kings can actually pull it off and force a Game 7, or if San Jose will finally close it out here. As I said earlier, I expect the Sharks to finish it here. They know LA and they know how to keep those fans in their seats and not up on their feet. Should be a great game tonight, puckheads!

Put the Blackhawks on Elimination Alert

The Canucks and the Blackhawks have fought two previous series in the past. Each time, the Blackhawks have come out on top in those two games, winning it in six games.

This time around, it seems like the Blackhawks are headed for elimination. After losing 3-2 to Vancouver in Chicago on Sunday, there are down 3-0 in a series, hoping to get a crucial Game 4 win and flip the series back to Vancouver. But that seems like the conclusion in Vancouver will ultimately end it for the Blackhawks.

Down 3-0 in a series with the President Trophy-winning Vancouver Canucks is something that the Blackhawks will have to live with once this series is over. Their defense is not bad, but it has given up some bad goals to the Canucks and it's not looking good for Corey Crawford who is struggling to find himself this post-season.

But never fear for Blackhawks fans in Game 4. I predict that they will come out with heart and passion in Game 4 to actually win a game in the series and therefore not be swept in a four-game series by the Vancouver Canucks. That is, if the Canucks really want to press the Blackhawks tomorrow night.

This is already a done series so just book it that the Canucks are going to make it the second round. As for the Blackhawks, they got the worse end of the deal when the regular season ended. They said thank you to the Wild when they defeated the Stars and knocked them out, but they had a first round date with the Vancouver Canucks and it did not look good for them. Time to start thinking about next season, Blackhawk fans.

What Is Wrong With the Bruins?

Feeling the pressure of the NHL playoffs? Or are the teams just digging themselves into their holes? Well, for the Boston Bruins, it is definitely both. After two back-to-back losses at home versus the Montreal Canadiens, the Bruins are certainly not getting what they wanted out of their home-ice advantage.
I won't be able to tell you what happened in Game 1 because I didn't watch the game but I can honestly say that Game 2 did not turn out the way I expected. So what happened? You might've seen the problems, but if you didn't watch both of the games, I'll tell you right away.
Major, major problems. The first major problem is defense. Without Zdeno Chara in the lineup, the defense has problems and it certainly showed within the first three minutes of Game 2 when their defense couldn't help Tim Thomas out and it allowed for Montreal's Mike Cammalleri and Mathieu Darche to score two goals within the first three minutes of the game.
The second major problem is what I mentioned in that defense. Zdeno Chara. He is the leader of this club and without his leadership on the ice, the Bruins are boiled down to a non-elite team in these playoffs. Montreal was able to capitalize on his absence by getting two big road wins heading back into Montreal.
So far, this is not good for the Bruins. They will now have to try to solve their problems in Montreal, a place where it gets very, very loud and it makes it hard for the offense ,and more importantly defense, of the Bruins to really get pucks past Carey Price.
Well, Game 1 and 2 didn't turn out the way the Bruins had hoped for. They wanted to win both of those games but instead they had defensive woes, an absent Zdeno Chara, and a lack of scoring. Games 3 and 4 will be in Montreal, but don't expect the Bruins to really get a good amount of defense and offense going. After all, it's Montreal and if you go into Montreal in the playoffs, don't expect a great win. But we'll see if the Bruins' defense actually gets it going and if Zdeno Chara makes it back onto the ice. The playoffs live on, puckheads.

Did Marc Crawford Really Deserve the Exit?

Ahh, comes the time again where coaches, general managers, and other types of personnel get fired from the teams. Usually after the regular season, it's the coaches. Right now, four coaches have gotten the gate. Ottawa fired Cory Cluston, Minnesota fired Todd Richards, Florida fired Peter DeBoer, and Dallas fired Marc Crawford.

I think the most surprising name out of all these people is mostly Marc Crawford. Now I'm going to say this and if I said it again, then I apologize. I am a hater of the Dallas Stars as are most of other hockey fans in the world, mainly the Ducks (my team), Sharks, Kings, and Bruins. But do we really give any credit to general manager Joe Nieuwendyk for his handling of this situation?

One of Marc Crawford's best seasons as a coach probably had to be this one. He almost led the Dallas Stars into the playoffs and would've gotten it if they had beaten Minnesota, which they didn't. (By the way, I thank the Wild for that.) He came back late and scored some big victories that led to the final stretch of a few series. He was great with Vancouver and Los Angeles and it would've been fine by me had he kept going for another season.

As we had saw, Joe Nieuwendyk was definitely ready for a new regime in his office and it started out with a new coach. We won't know who the coach is for probably a while, but I'm guessing it is someone that Nieuwendyk feels he can carry the team to the next level.

I personally like Marc Crawford for his sense of play and his attitude towards the game, though sometimes it can get a little rough and a little heated at times. He is certainly a coach that takes the game well, and it seems like Dallas was headed in the right direction.

Now that Crawford is out, what else is next? Will the Dallas Stars falter next season? After all, Brad Richards is a free agent and he might go where the money brings him. Looks like Dallas started off again at Square One and it looks like more things will be set in motion for an almost-playoff team.

Who Will Get In? Hurricanes or Rangers?

The last weekend of the NHL regular season is upon us, and this means that teams are pushing to get into the playoffs. Teams like Dallas, New York Rangers, Carolina, and Chicago are the last remaining teams to bid for playoff births and so far it sounds like it's going to be a battle til the end.

Chicago and Dallas both won tonight, and have days off tomorrow. Then Chicago will take on Detroit at home, while Dallas will finish their regular season off in Minnesota.

But that's a story for tomorrow or Sunday. Today it's all about the New York Rangers who are struggling right now to get into the playoffs and are hanging on by a thread. Tied with Carolina with 91 points, both teams are trying to get that final eighth spot. So what happens?

Well, the New York Rangers have a home date with the New Jersey Devils and it seems like the Devils will want to play spoiler to the Rangers. Meanwhile, Carolina plays host to the Tampa Bay Lightning, already a team in the playoffs.
The thing is, Carolina just beat Atlanta silly. So it looks like Carolina might have more upside to try and nab that last playoff spot. The New York Rangers, on the other hand, have more problems. Ryan Callahan is out and it seems like the goaltending is just not what it used to be. They lost a 3-0 game AT HOME to the lowly Atlanta Thrashers who are out of the playoffs. It seems like the Thrashers have started the spoilers and the Devils are just waiting to finish it.

The Carolina Hurricanes or the New York Rangers? Who will pull the spoiler: Tampa Bay Lightning or New Jersey Devils? For me, it seems like the Hurricanes are plugging in the right direction while the Rangers are biting their nails, hoping that Tampa Bay helps them out and beats Carolina. They are also hoping that they can beat New Jersey and get in. But it all comes down to this: the team with the most willpower will get their spot in the playoffs.

Saturday night should be an interesting couple of games. The Eastern Conference playoffs will be finalized tomorrow night. The Carolina Hurricanes and the New York Rangers will meet their match tonight and we'll see who takes home that final playoff spot. Enjoy your intense Saturday hockey, puckheads!