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| Backstrom solid in loss | Saturday 4/19, 11:35 PM CT |
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Niklas Backstrom stopped 28 of 30 shots on Saturday night but it wasn't enough as the Wild lost Game 6 and the first round series to the Avalanche.
Our View: Backstrom did his part holing the Avalanche to two goals three times and three goals twice in six games, but his mates just didn't score enough to extend the Wild's season. |
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| Gaborik goes out with a whimper | Saturday 4/19, 11:33 PM CT |
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Marian Gaborik had six shots on goal and also managed his first point of the first round, an assist, but it wasn't enough to stop the Wild from being eliminated by the Avalanche.
Our View: Gaborik managed just one point in six games, this after scoring 42 goals with 83 points during the regular season, and while it's tough to blame a series loss on one guy, it will be a long off-season for this Czech superstar. |
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| Smyth scores game-winner | Saturday 4/19, 11:31 PM CT |
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Ryan Smyth has had an uneven campaign for the Avalanche this season, but he scored the game-winning goal to vault the Avalanche past the Wild and into the second round.
Our View: Smyth has long been known as a "money player", and he showed that to be true once again tonight. Smyth only had two goals and an assist in the series, but he is primed for a big playoff if the Avalanche advance. |
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| Theodore caps series win | Saturday 4/19, 11:29 PM CT |
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Jose Theodore stopped all but one of the 35 shots that were thrown his way in Game 6 as the Avalanche defeated the Wild 2-1 to win the series four games to two.
Our View: Remember back when Theodore was nothing more than a backup to Peter Budaj at the start of the year? Things certainly have changed as he looked great starting every game of this series. |
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| Schultz returns to lineup | Saturday 4/19, 9:46 PM CT |
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Nick Schultz returned to the Wild's lineup in time to play in Game 6 against the Avalanche, this according to the AP.
Our View: Schultz had been outing for almost two weeks due to an appendectomy, and is a welcomed addition to the lineup after suiting up for 81 games during the regular season. |
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| Higgins scores twice in defeat | Saturday 4/19, 9:02 PM CT |
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Christopher Higgins scored twice on Saturday night but it wasn't enough as the Habs fell to the Bruins 5-4.
Our View: These were the first two points of the series for Higgins who has been mostly invisible after a 27 goal regular season. |
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| Price beaten like rented mule | Saturday 4/19, 9:00 PM CT |
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Carey Price allowed five goals last time out and it was more of the same on Saturday night as he once again allowed five of 36 shots passed him in the Canadiens loss.
Our View: Price allowed five goals the first four games of this series but he has now been beaten 10 times in two games as this series will go to a deciding game in Montreal. |
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| Sturm scores late winner | Saturday 4/19, 8:58 PM CT |
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Marco Sturm scored the game-winning goal with less than three minutes left to cap a wild third period as the Bruins won 5-4 to force a Game 7 with Montreal.
Our View: Sturm has always been a clutch performer, he has scored at least five game-winning goals in five of the last seven seasons, and tonight he scored a sweet goal to win it. |
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| Kessel scores twice | Saturday 4/19, 8:56 PM CT |
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Coming back from being a healthy scratch, Phil Kessel scored two goals in Game 6 top help force a Game 7 with the Canadiens.
Our View: Kessel also scored a goal in the last game and now has three goals in two games after being a healthy scratch for three games. What a comeback for the kid. |
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| Prospal has goal, assist | Saturday 4/19, 4:56 PM CT |
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Vaclav Prospal scored a goal and had an assist on Saturday, though it wasn't enough as the Flyers lost 3-2 to the Caps.
Our View: Prospal now has three goals and five assists in the playoffs as he has been everything that the club hoped for when they brought him over at the trade deadline. |
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| Briere scores two more points | Saturday 4/19, 4:54 PM CT |
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Daniel Briere assisted on both the Flyers goals in their 3-2 loss to the Caps in Game 5.
Our View: Briere has been one of the leading scorers in the playoffs with five goals and four assists in five games, and he is one of the main reason the Flyers lead the Caps three games to two in Round 1. |
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| Ovechkin held without a point | Saturday 4/19, 4:53 PM CT |
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The Capitals won Game 5 against the Flyers to pull within one game at 3-2, though superstar Alexander Ovechkin was once again held without a goal.
Our View: Ovechkin has five points in five games in his first playoffs, so it's not like he has vanished, but he will need to play with the reckless abandon that produced 65 goals and 112 points during the regular season if the Caps are to move on to the second round. |
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| Huet makes 30 saves | Saturday 4/19, 4:51 PM CT |
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Cristobal Huet rebounded from some spotty goaltending the past couple of games to stop 30 of 32 shots on Saturday in the Caps 3-2 victory.
Our View: Huet had allowed nine goals in his past two outings, so it was nice to see this bounceback performance. |
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| Fedorov first star in victory | Saturday 4/19, 4:49 PM CT |
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Sergei Fedorov scored a goal and added an assist as he was named the first star of the Capitals 3-2 victory over the Flyers on Saturday. As a result, the Caps pulled within one game at 3-2.
Our View: Fedorov has been a true catalyst for the Caps since he was brought in at the trade deadline, and he now has three points in five playoff games. |
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| Flames need more secondary scoring | Saturday 4/19, 4:47 PM CT |
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Alex Tanguay has been held without a goal through the first five games of the Flames/Sharks matchup, this according to the Calgary Sun. Also held off the scoreboard has been Kristian Huselius and Craig Conroy.
Our View: Given that three of their top-6 forwards are without a goal, it's not at all surprising that they trail 3 games to 2 in the series. The Flames will look to extend the series to a seventh game with a victory on Sunday. |
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| Gaustad to have sports hernia operation | Saturday 4/19, 4:44 PM CT |
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Paul Gaustad will not be able to participate for Team USA at the world championships next month as it was announced that he will need surgery for a sports hernia next week, this according to the Buffalo News. "It's really disappointing because my biggest honor in hockey was to get named to that team," Gaustad said.
Our View: Gaustad is an average offensive player, he scored 36 points in 82 games on the season, but he plays a solid all-around game and is a model citizen. |
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| Bouillon back for Game 6 | Saturday 4/19, 4:26 PM CT |
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Francis Bouillon, out with and injured ankle, will be on the ice for the Habs in Game 6 on Saturday, this according to TSN.
Our View: Bouillon has missed the entire playoff up until this point, and his return will be a welcome boon for a team that still might be without D Mark Sreit (hip). |
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| Zubov still on the sidelines | Saturday 4/19, 4:24 PM CT |
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Sergei Zubov, out because of a sports hernia and subsequent operations, has increased his workout load of late and is now working out in pads with the Stars extra players, this according to the Dallas Morning News. Still, it appears that he is not close to returning to game action. "He's still not in the discussion," HC Dave Tippett said.
Our View: The Stars still lead the Ducks three games to two in the first round, so a perfect scenario for Zubov would be for the Stars to win Game 6, have a few days off, and then hope he can return early in Round 2. |
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| Boucher out of Round 1 | Saturday 4/19, 4:21 PM CT |
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Philippe Boucher will not play for the rest of the Stars first round series with the Ducks because of an injured hip, this according to the Dallas News.
Our View: Boucher has missed 44 games this season due to a variety of injuries, with this hip injury being merely the latest set back. He will be re-evaluated next week, but it sounds like he may be out for some time. |
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| Maltby returns to ice | Saturday 4/19, 4:19 PM CT |
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Kirk Maltby skated on Saturday in his attempt to come back from a hamstring injury, and he hopes to practice with his mates on Monday, this according to the Detroit Free Press. "It's definitely feeling better and I'm getting closer."
Our View: Maltby isn't fantasy worthy by any means, but his brand of tenacious defense and playoff savvy is a welcomed addition to any real life squad. |
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| Knuble out of first round | Saturday 4/19, 4:13 PM CT |
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Mike Knuble is out for the remainder of the Flyers first round series with Washington thanks to an injured left hamstring, this according to NHL.com.
Our View: This is a potentially huge injury as Knuble is such a force on the power-play (15 goals this season). Hopefully he will be able to make it back for Round 2 if the Flyers make it that far. |
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| Koivu hoping to return for Game 6 | Saturday 4/19, 8:59 AM CT |
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It appears the Montreal Canadiens may hit a stroke of luck and get captain Saku Koivu back on the ice for tonight's Game 6 against the Boston Bruins, according to SLAM Sports.
Our View: The Canadiens are up in this best-of-seven series 3-2 and reports indicate the team's medical staff have passed Koivu in testing and have let the team know he is good to go. Thus it is believed that the final decision rests in the hands of Koivu himself, and if he says he's good to go, he will be in action tonight. Koivu will be taking part in the team's morning skate and we expect an announcement about his status shortly after that. |
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| Morrow leads by example | Saturday 4/19, 12:12 AM CT |
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Brenden Morrow had an assist and 10 PIM in the Stars 5-2 loss to the Ducks in Game 5.
Our View: Through five playoff games this season Morrow has three goals and three assists as he continues to lead in the scrums and on the scoreboard. |
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| Ducks offense produces five goals | Saturday 4/19, 12:11 AM CT |
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Teemu Selanne scored a goal and added an assist in the Ducks 5-2 victory over the Stars. Defensemen Sean O'Donnell also scored a goal and added an assists while Corey Perry scored his first goal of the playoffs.
Our View: The Stars were able to solve Marty Turco on this night and got offense from all over the lineup. |
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| Giguere backstops victory | Saturday 4/19, 12:09 AM CT |
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Behind the spectacular goaltending of Jean-Sebastien Giguere, the Ducks won their first home game of the first round to pull within one game of the Stars, three games to two, heading into Game 6. On the night, J-S stopped 40 of 42 shots.
Our View: Giguere had struggled with the second of back-to-back outings this season, but that certainly wasn't the case on Friday night. |
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