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| Elliis plays his heart out in loss | Friday 4/18, 11:43 PM CT |
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Dan Ellis was brilliant in Game 5 as he made 52 saves against the Red Wings but it wasn't enough as the Predators fell 2-1 in OT.
Our View: A goalie can't do much more than what Ellis did tonight as he stopped just about everything thrown at him in what was a dominating performance by the Wings. |
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| Osgood solid in win | Friday 4/18, 11:41 PM CT |
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Chris Osgood had a shutout until there were just :46 seconds left before rebounding to stop 20 of 21 shots in the Wings 2-1 OT victory over the Predators.
Our View: Osgood made management look like really smart in their decision to start him over Dominik Hasek in Game 5. After this outing, Osgood will certainly be back in net when the Wings go for the series clinching win. |
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| Franzen scores OT winner | Friday 4/18, 11:39 PM CT |
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Johan Franzen scored the game-winning goal at 1:48 of OT to lead the Red Wings to a 2-1 victory over the Predators to take a 3-2 series lead heading into Game 6.
Our View: Franzen also added an assist in the outing as he put a game-high nine shots on goal for the Wings. |
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| Dubinsky has 4-game point streak | Friday 4/18, 11:37 PM CT |
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Brandon Dubinsky extended his playoff scoring streak to 4-games on Friday night with a goal and an assist for the Rangers.
Our View: Dubinsky, who scored only 40 points during 82 games in the regular season, has lifted his game in the playoffs to include two goals and three assists the past four times he has stepped on the ice. |
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| Jagr rediscovers lost scoring touch | Friday 4/18, 11:35 PM CT |
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Jaromir Jagr scored a goal an added two assists in the Rangers series clinching victory over the Devils in Game 5.
Our View: Jagr has found his scoring touch just in time with eight points in his last four games, this after his worst regular season since 1991-92. |
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| Brodeur, mates fall to Rangers | Friday 4/18, 11:33 PM CT |
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Martin Brodeur permitted four goals on 22 shots as he fell to 1-4 against the Rangers as the Devils lost their first round matchup.
Our View: A terrible end to an otherwise brilliant campaign, Brodeur ended the playoffs with an awful 3.20 GAA against the Rangers. |
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| Legwand out for Game 5 | Friday 4/18, 8:07 PM CT |
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Dave Legwand was unable to play for the Predators in Game 5 due to his injured foot, this according to the AP. the team recalled Josh Langfeld to help out a suddenly shallow front line.
Our View: Legwand had a goal in two playoff games this season, but his injured foot just hasn't healed to the point where he can go every night. |
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| Arnott misses Game 5 | Friday 4/18, 8:05 PM CT |
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Jason Arnott was unable to play for the Predators in Game 5 due to the flu, this according to the AP.
Our View: A huge loss for the Preds who had hoped to take control of a 2-2 series tonight. |
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| Draper said Tootoo stepped on him | Friday 4/18, 7:55 PM CT |
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Kris Draper accused the Predators Jordin Tootoo of attempting to injure him by stepping on his back, this according to Sports Illustrated. "Anything he does isn't an accident, plain and simple," Draper said. For his part, Tootoo claimed innocence. "He was in a vulnerable position. I'm a straight-up guy, I would never intend to do something like that."
Our View: Tootoo has been a grating force in the playoffs and one of the main reasons the Wings have had so much trouble, but this isn't the first time that he has been accused of taking things too far. At this point, the league doesn't appear likely to step in. |
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| Ryan sent to AHL | Friday 4/18, 7:03 PM CT |
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Bobby Ryan was assigned to Portland of the AHL on Friday as the Ducks try to shake up their lineup to avoid losing to the Stars in the first round, this according to the AP.
Our View: Ryan skated in two playoff games without a point, in fact his only contribution on the scoresheet was a two-minute penalty. Ryan, the second overall pick in the 2005 draft has a luminous future, but that future will apparently not start until next season for the Ducks. |
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| Streit likely to miss Game 6 | Friday 4/18, 5:26 PM CT |
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Mark Streit, out with an injured hip, doesn't appear likely to play in Game 6, this according to TSN. Streit was unable to skate on Friday and will be a game-time decision at best.
Our View: Streit is a big loss on the blueline for the Habs, but with the possible return of Saku Koivu, at least the Canadiens will have another source of offense to help pick up the slack. |
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| Koivu could return for Game 6 | Friday 4/18, 5:22 PM CT |
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Saku Koivu, out with a broken foot, may be able to play for the Canadiens in Game 6, this according to TSN. Koivu skated for the third straight day on Friday. "If he says he's ready," head coach Guy Carbonneau said. "He's not a rookie. He's been hurt before. He's been in this league long enough to know what he needs to do and what he can do. I don't see a problem."
Our View: The addition of the team's heart and soul player could be enough to send the Habs onto the second round of the playoffs, not to mention providing the team with another weapon on offense. |
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| Marleau impressing everyone | Friday 4/18, 5:19 PM CT |
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Patrick Marleau continues to lead the Sharks both on and off the ice, this according to the San Francisco Chronicle. "He's played unbelievable," Sharks Ryane Clowe said. "He's really motivated. You can tell he's hungry. He's not a real rah-rah, vocal guy. If something has to be said he'll say it. It doesn't really make a difference because you get inspired by his play on the ice."
Our View: People have questioned Marleau's heart for years, but after taking a pounding against the Flames in Game 3 when he continued to come back for more, the questions are slowly subsiding. Through five games in these playoffs he has two goals and four assists, in addition to the grit. |
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| Carter continues to impresss coaches | Friday 4/18, 5:14 PM CT |
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Consider the Flyers happy that they didn't move Jeff Carter when they had the chance to this season, this according to the AP. “We’ve been happy with Jeff all year,” coach John Stevens said . “Maybe at times he didn’t score as consistently as perceived he should, but he’s a very responsible defensive player. He plays in every situation possible. He’s a very fit individual, so he’s capable of playing a lot of minutes
Our View: Carter has three goals and an assist in the first four games of the playoffs for the Flyers, and he continues to be the type of unlikely scoring source that team's need to be successful in the playoffs. |
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| Clowe leads Sharks in scoring | Friday 4/18, 4:47 PM CT |
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Ryane Clowe has eight points through five games of the playoffs and has become a dominating force on offense for the Sharks.
Our View: Skating with power and determination, Clowe has been the epitome of a power-forward in these playoffs bringing back memories of Cam Neely. |
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| Ward could play in Game 6 | Friday 4/18, 4:37 PM CT |
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Aaron Ward, who missed Game 5 with a hyperextended knee, could be available to play in Game 6, this according to the Boston Herald.
Our View: With Ward out of action, the Bruins dressed Andrew Alberts against the Canadiens. Ward scored 13 points with 54 PIM during the regular season, so while the team misses his presence, he isn't ever counted on to produce points. |
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| Bergeron out for Game 6 | Friday 4/18, 4:34 PM CT |
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Patrice Bergeron will miss Game 6 of the Bruins first round of the playoffs, this according to the Boston Herald. "He still has to get clearance. It’s very unlikely he’d play in Game 6,” said GM Peter Chiarelli. “Our doctors haven’t seen a concussion like this in 30 years.”
Our View: It sounds like Bergeron is pretty close, but then again, there is no reason to push him back into a game if he isn't capable of handling it, not after he has missed this much time. |
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| McLaren suffers injury | Friday 4/18, 4:30 PM CT |
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Kyle McLaren didn't play after his first shift in the second period of the Sharks Game 5 victory over the Flames, and there is no telling if he will be able to suit up in Game 6, this according to the San Jose Mercury.
Our View: McLaren was one of seven defensemen who was dressed for the game, so the Sharks weren't short-handed on defense. With Christian Ehrhoff back int the fold, the Sharks should be OK on the blueline. |
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| Gaboirk useless on ice | Friday 4/18, 4:28 PM CT |
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Marian Gaborik has now gone five games without a single point for the Wild, and he simply must score if the Wild are to comeback and emerge victorious in their first round matchup with the Avalanche.
Our View: For a player with as much skill as Gaborik possesses, it's almost impossible to believe he could go five games without a point. Being tagged a choke artist isn't an easy moniker to get rid of, so let's hope he has a big Game 6. |
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| Parrish out for first round | Friday 4/18, 4:25 PM CT |
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Mark Parrish, sufffering from a concussion, will not play in the first round of the playoffs no matter how long they go, this according to the Star Tribune. "It's just frustrating watching, not being able to help or having anything to say on the matter. Being injured during the season is hard, but during the playoffs is 18 times harder."
Our View: Parrish will have to hope that he gets the chance to play in the second round, though the Wild will need to win their next two games to make that a reality. |
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| Forsberg reunited with linemates | Friday 4/18, 4:23 PM CT |
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Peter Forsberg was reunited with his former linemates, Milan Hejduk and Paul Stastny for Game 5, and they looked great including a play on which Forsberg assisted on the game-winning goal by Stastny, this according to the Denver Post.
Our View: Wojtek Wolski was reunited with Joe Sakic and Andrew Burnette as well, and Wolski also scored a goal in the third period. |
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| Turco playing a fantastic goal | Friday 4/18, 4:18 PM CT |
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Marty Turco has played some inspired goal for the Stars this playoff season, finally putting behind him the rumors that he couldn't handle the pressure of the playoffs, this according to the Dallas Morning News.
Our View: Turco is now 3-1 with a 1.76 GAA with a shutout for the Stars who are one game from an improbable first round victory over the defending Cup champs. |
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| Brodeur struggling to find game | Friday 4/18, 4:15 PM CT |
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Martin Brodeur isn't playing up to his normal lofty standards in these playoffs, and that is one of the main reasons the Devils trail the Rangers 3-1 in the first round, this according to the Newark Star Ledger.
Our View: It's not like Brodeur has been terrible, he has posted a 2.98 GAA and .904 SV% through four games, but he has uncharacteristically allowed a few soft goals. If the Devils have any chance of coming back their HOF bound goalie will be at the center of it. |
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| Perry plays in Game 4 | Friday 4/18, 4:11 PM CT |
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Corey Perry suited up for Game 4 of the Ducks first round series with the Stars completing his comeback from a severed tendon above his right knee, this according to the Los Angeles Times. "I thought he was a little rusty, but I thought the more he played in the game, the more he showed the ability to get back to it," head coach Randy Carlyle said.
Our View: The Ducks need a minor miracle to overcome a 3-1 deficit to the Stars, but at least they will have Perry's ability to score back in the lineup moving forward. |
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| Ducks waivering in goal? | Friday 4/18, 4:08 PM CT |
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Jean-Sebastien Giguere figures to get the call in Game 5 tonight despite the back-to-back nature of the matchup with the Stars, though there is still a chance that Jonas Hiller could still get the call, this according to the Los Angeles Times.
Our View: Given the way these things go, we just can't see the Ducks rolling out their backup goaltender even if he did post a 2.06 GAA during the regular season. We would be awfully surprised if J-S isn't between the pipes for Game 5. |
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| Emery on the way out | Friday 4/18, 1:50 PM CT |
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General manager and coach Bryan Murray tells the Ottawa Citizen that he plans to trade goalie Ray Emery this summer and stick with Martin Gerber as the starter.
Our View: Given all the chaos swirling around Emery this season, we're not the least bit surprised. |
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| Gionta rests on Thursday | Friday 4/18, 12:08 PM CT |
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Brian Gionta sat out of practice on Thursday in order to rest, the Newark Star-Ledger reports. He will play on Friday.
Our View: Hopefully the rest will help, as the Devils need Gionta (and others) to step up. |
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| Staal misses practice, will play | Friday 4/18, 12:06 PM CT |
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Marc Staal did not practice on Thursday due to a sore left foot. He is in no danger of being out of the lineup on Friday. "He's 100 percent," head coach Tom Renney informs the Newark Star-Ledger.
Our View: Feel free to continue using the rookie in your fantasy playoff leagues. |
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| Rupp plans to play Friday | Friday 4/18, 12:04 PM CT |
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Michael Rupp (back) did not participate in practice on Thursday, but he plans to play on Friday night. "I'm trying to give myself the best chance for (tonight)," Rupp tells the Newark Star-Ledger. "I'm just a little locked up." The center has one assist in the series against the Rangers.
Our View: Rupp has no fantasy value. |
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| Cheechoo nets two in win | Friday 4/18, 12:19 AM CT |
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Jonathan Cheechoo scored twice the Sharks 4-3 victory over Calgary on Thursday night.
Our View: Joe Pavelski and Patrick Marleau added goals in the win. |
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