FINAL		T
	Pittsburgh	2
	Detroit	1
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Team Game Threads: PensBurgh Winging it in Mowtown
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Congrats to IC reader pattywins who predicted that the Penguins would win the Stanley Cup.

Final		T
	Pittsburgh	0
	Detroit	5
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Pre-Game Notes:

• Why Canadians are hoping for the Penguins:  According to a study by Brock (Ontario) University professor Ernest Biktimirov, by way of Toronto’s Globe and Mail, when an Eastern Conference team wins the Stanley Cup, the Canadian stock market goes up. When the Western Conference wins, it goes down.
• For fans of Horse racing today was the 3rd leg of the Triple Crown and Summer Bird was the big winner.
  

Game Notes:

• Kris Draper is playing in his 200th NHL playoff game.  Not bad for the $1 man.
• 1st Period:  Insane pace to this period.  Went 7 minutes and 19 seconds before the first whistle.  First whistle of game was for a Kronwall penalty.  No shots given up on the power play. 
• While it is still quite early Datsyuk’s impact has been felt with a hit on Malkin and an assist on Cleary’s goal.  And how about Cleary who was supposedly not playing tonight.  Looks ok to me.
  
• 1st Period Stats:
  Shots: Pittsburgh 10, Detroit 8
  Hits: Pittsburgh 10, Detroit 15
  Giveaways: Pittsburgh 5, Detroit 3
  Faceoffs: Pittsburgh 4, Detroit 5
• 2nd Period:  Penguins nicely killed off the rest of the Wings powerplay.  However with the Penguins on a change, Osgood got it to Hossa who sent Filppula on the breakaway.  He becomes the first goalie since Brodeur and Giguere in 2003 to get an assist in the Stanley Cup Finals.
  
• Then the Detroit defense got involved with powerplay goals by Kronwall and Rafalski.  Zetterberg roofed a powerplay goal to finish off the period.
  
• Cannot believe how quickly the Penguins unraveled this period.   They took 5 penalties and the Wings capitalized 3 times.  With Datsyuk back you cannot give the Wings opportunities.
• Should be an interesting 3rd period.
• 2nd Period Stats:
  Shots: Pittsburgh 6=16, Detroit 15=23
  Hits: Pittsburgh 11=21, Detroit 14=29
  Giveaways: Pittsburgh 4=9, Detroit 4=7
  Faceoffs: Pittsburgh 12=16, Detroit 10=15
• 3rd Period:  Hossa takes a stupid penalty.  Wings kill the powerplay.  Not sure this is the same Detroit team.
• Chris Osgood with a shutout.  Pretty quiet period. 
• 3rd Period Stats:
  Shots: Pittsburgh 6=22, Detroit 6=29
  Hits: Pittsburgh 14=35, Detroit 13=42
  Giveaways: Pittsburgh 4=13, Detroit 7=14
  Faceoffs: Pittsburgh 8=24, Detroit 6=21

Post-Game Thoughts:

• Teams that win Game 5 have gone on to win 14 of the last 19 Stanley Cups dating back to 1950 when the Red Wings did so against the New York Rangers.
• Osgood with his 15th career postseason shutout (Wings record), 2nd of the 2009 post season and 3rd in the Stanley Cup Finals.
• Penguins will not play anything like they did tonight in Pittsburgh.  Expect a way more disciplined team on Tuesday night.
• The impact of Datsyuk’s return was immense.
• The Wings haven’t won by such a large margin in over 12 years, when they defeated the Flyers in 1997 in Game 3 of the Finals 6-1.
• Lidstrom played in his 233 game tonight, which tied him for 5th all time with Scott Stevens.

Courtesy of Greatest Hockey Legends we get some interesting numbers:

The team that grabs the 3-2 series lead in the Stanley Cup finals has a likelihood of winning of 81.3%. That is an overall record of 26 wins and 6 losses.

Those numbers are greatly propped by home team statistics. If the home team can take game 5, the likelihood of winning moves up to 95.5%. Only once in 22 tries has the home team failed to win the Cup under these circumstances.

For complete story click here.

Post-Game Press Conference via NHL.com:

Detroit Coach Mike Babcock

Your thoughts on the lift Datsyuk gave the team? 
Well, I think I said this earlier, if they played the series without Malkin and Crosby and they suddenly come ?? this guy’s one of the best players in the world both offensively and defensively in the winter. Just makes the team more comfortable. We need plays, and suddenly we relaxed and we made plays. 

You often talk about timing on’ a penalty kill. The timing of that first one when it was scoreless, looking back, how big was that?
Real big. The other thing that was so important for us was we talked a lot about preparing for these games was the special teams battle had to be better. We just couldn’t keep losing that battle. We had to compete harder and be better on both specialty teams in order to have success. Our guys have a lot of pride and we wanted to do that.

Pittsburgh Coach Dan Bylsma:

Looking back, the timing of the first penalty kill that they had after you were really doing well on the power play, what kind of factor do you think that was on the game?
Again, home building, they get the kill. If we score a goal, it’s a different momentum in the game. But there’s a lot of hockey to play at that point. I wouldn’t say that was the particular turning point in the game. But they did gain momentum from it. They were aggressive and got pucks down the ice, and forced us to go back several times, which is what you do on a good penalty kill. And they certainly gained momentum from the kill, and the crowd at that point.

Can you talk about facing Datsyuk back in the lineup, and what he really added? Another dimension to the first line to the Wings?
 Yeah, I thought that line got to the offensive zone more. They had it in the first four games, that was certainly there for him. Controls the puck well, and, like the good players, the great players do in the game, they can move it to their line mates. They support the puck, and then they can make those plays.  He certainly did that, and they were a bigger presence in the offensive zone as a result.

FINAL		T
	Detroit	2
	Pittsburgh	4
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Game Notes:

• Period 1: Both teams started with good energy.  Lots of opportunities.
• Malkin gets it started on the powerplay for Pittsburgh:
  
• And on a 4 on 4 (first of the Stanley Cup Finals), Darren Helm with a beauty wrist shot to tie it up:
  
• 1st Period Stats:
  Shots: Detroit 19, Pittsburgh 11
  Hits: Detroit 14, Pittsburgh 18
  Giveaways: Detroit 2, Pittsburgh 1
  Faceoffs: Detroit 14, Pittsburgh 11
• 1st Period Intermission:  Gary Bettman on Versus.  Pretty much does same interview as he did on CBC.  Including using the same lines such as “I don’t prejudge judges”.
  
• 2nd Period:  Period had barely started before Brad Stuart scores courtesy of a screen on Fleury, by Gonchar and Guerin. 
  
• And no sooner had this happened then the Penguins started to roll.  Perhaps the most dangerous penalty killer on either team, Jordan Staal got it started with a nice shorty.  And then no surprise Malkin to Crosby to give the Pens the lead.  And a beauty by Kennedy after a sweet pass from Crosby.  3 goals in a span of 5:33.
  
• 2nd Period Stats:
  Shots: Detroit 9=28, Pittsburgh 11=22
  Hits: Detroit 13=27, Pittsburgh 10=28
  Giveaways: Detroit 4=6, Pittsburgh 4=5
  Faceoffs: Detroit 11=25, Pittsburgh 8=19
• 3rd Period:  Guess the referee’s got the memo as they have put the whistles away.  (watch Orpik on Zetterberg in front of the net with McCreary watching).
  
• The Wings look tired and the Penguins look like they are just getting reved up.
• 3rd Period Stats:
  Shots: Detroit 11=39, Pittsburgh 9=31
  Hits: Detroit 6=33, Pittsburgh 4=32
  Giveaways: Detroit 0=6, Pittsburgh 3=8
  Faceoffs: Detroit 9=34, Pittsburgh 7=26

Post-Game Thoughts:

• I believe the team that has the most shots has lost every game of the series.  Memo to Wings and Pens, don’t shoot.
• Turning point in the game and possibly the series was Jordan Staal tying the game on the shorthanded opportunity.  Brian Rafalski just looked lost with Staal bearing down on him.
• Crosby and Malkin are the first two teammates since Messier and Leetch (94) to have over 30 points in the Stanley Cup Finals.
• In both Detroit’s victories they won 3-1 and in both Pittsburgh’s victories they won 4-2.  Odd.
• Lakers beat the Magic 100-75 in Game 1 of the NBA Championship and I think Phil Jackson is like 41-0 when he wins the 1st game of a series. 
• Congrats to the Big Unit, Randy Johnson on his 300th win tonight, a 5-1 victory over the Washington Nationals (technically the club he got his 1st major league win with when they were the Montreal Expos back on September 15th, 1988. [my birthday, no less]).  Doesn’t appear that baseball will ever have another 300 game winner.  Trivia:  Who did he defeat in his first outing?

Post-Game News Conference

Pittsburgh Coach Dan Bylsma:

Can you just talk about Jordan’s shorty, is that the kind of goal that can change the complexion of the series?
Well, it certainly changed the complexion of the game. They had the two power plays. There would have been a chance to go up 3?1. And Jordan with speed up the ice, makes a strong move to the net like he can with his big body and scores a great goal for us, energizes our team. But also the building that kind of got us rolling from there in the second.

Do you get the sense that Sidney Crosby might be wearing Henrik Zetterberg down a little bit? Is that your observation tonight?
Well, in order to put him out in the situations where Sidney’s going to play in an offensive situation and also play them on the power play, you know, that’s a lot of time for a guy to handle. We saw, I don’t know how many minutes it was tonight, but 25 in last game. You know, it’s a challenge chasing Sidney Crosby around the ice.

Detroit Coach Mike Babcock:

Mike, that shorthanded goal, do you have any concerns about that’s the type of goal that could change the complexion of the series or swing the momentum in their direction?
Well, I always have a concern any goal can swing the momentum. You never know what shift or what play or anything can turn the momentum one way or the other in your favor. Obviously, we had the game going pretty good. The crowd was pretty quiet. We were playing all right. Then our power plays, like I said, hurt us for sure, and sucked the life out of us.

Did you notice any lack of composure on your team when the tide turned and you got down a goal or two? And I’m talking, there is some suggestion in the Pen’s room that they heard some of your guys chirping at each other, and the composure wasn’t there that that they normally see?
I don’t know that anybody was chirping at each other. I don’t think anyone would argue that whatsoever. I thought they were on top of us. We were turning pucks over, and helping them.

How did the decision on Datsyuk get made? Was it made long before game time?
Well, I got a text from Pete. I texted Pete about 3:00 o’clock, he’s our athletic therapist, and to see what the scoop was. And he just told me at that time he didn’t think Pav would be going. He’s still went for warm?up though. Pavel was pushing it to try to go. But Pete gave me the head’s up.

FINAL		T
	Detroit	2
	Pittsburgh	4
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Game Notes:

• Period 1: Pittsburgh starts out flying as was expected.  Loaded up first line with Crosby, Malkin and Guerin.  Osgood has been solid under the Pens pressure.
• Not sure how I feel seeing the Penguins White Out.  I mean, I like it, but is very throwback to the old Winnipeg Arena days.
• Talbot makes a nice defensive play, puck comes back to the Detroit zone, Wings fail to clear and Malkin gets it to Talbot for a shot on Osgood.  
  
• The Wings started to take over offensively and Zetterberg scored on a nice set up by Leino.
   
• Pretty good back and forth periods.  Both teams had control. 
• Wish the Refs would put the whistles away.  Game 1 – 3 penalties total, Game 2 – 3 penalties total (not counting those that happened at end of 3rd).  Game 3 – 3 penalties through 20 minutes.
• 1st Period Stats:
  Shots: Pittsburgh 7, Detroit 12
  Hits: Pittsburgh 14, Detroit 9
  Giveaways: Pittsburgh 4, Detroit 3
  Faceoffs: Pittsburgh 10, Detroit 13
• 2nd Period:  Good start to the period.  Both teams have had opportunities.  Best so far was by Detroit’s Samuellson on the breakaway.  Listen for that PING.
  
• Both teams have tightened up.  That was the first scoreless period of this series.
• 2nd Period Stats:
  Shots: Pittsburgh 4=11, Detroit 14=26,
  Hits: Pittsburgh 10=24, Detroit 3=12
  Giveaways: Pittsburgh 3=7, Detroit 1=4
  Faceoffs: Pittsburgh 8=18, Detroit 6=19
• 3rd Period:  Osgood stands tall in the face of good Pittsburgh pressure in first 3 minutes of the third.  It seems like guys have an affinity for the post as Talbot makes a PING of his own.
  
• 3rd Period Stats:
  Shots: Pittsburgh 10=21, Detroit 3=29
  Hits: Pittsburgh 12=36, Detroit 5=17
  Giveaways: Pittsburgh 2=9, Detroit 0=4
  Faceoffs: Pittsburgh 5=23, Detroit 5=24

Post-Game Thoughts:

• Excellent team effort by the Penguins tonight. Holding Detroit to 0 shots for 10 minutes (from 2 minutes to go in 2nd to 8 minutes into 3rd). Overall limited Detroit to just three 3rd period shots.
• I thought Talbot gave a heroic effort for the Pens.  He was fantastic.  Crosby was also very good.
• The biggest break came with the Wings up 2-1 and the Refs failed to notice that there were 6 Penguins on the ice.  Now if this was for a few seconds its understandable, but the 6th man was on the ice for 21 seconds.  Why exactly are there 4 officials on the ice?
•  I expected Hossa to step up and he didn’t.  Zetterberg was the best Wings player by far.
• Home clubs have won the first three games of the Stanley Cup Final for the fourth consecutive season.

Post-Game News Conference:

Pittsburgh Head Coach Dan Bylsma:

Can you say what that win means for confidence and, secondly, Marc-Andre Fleury’s performance especially in that second period?
Well, you know, especially after the second period coming back in the third, playing a strong third, getting the power?play goal, obviously being down 2?0 in the series, we needed to get that win. But I think especially after the way we rebounded from the second and getting the win, you know, 2?1, now we have a chance to tie this thing up with Game 4.

How much were you able to take advantage of the line changes tonight? 
Well, you could see what Mike was trying to do with getting Zetterberg out there on the change every chance he could get. I think the one advantage we had tonight because they were trying to get Zetterberg out there so much, there were times when he got out there tired.  

The wings don’t have a lot of weaknesses, but they’re 14th in the playoffs in the PK. Is that an area that you’re hoping to exploit coming into this series, and you scored twice tonight on the power play?
I think one of the things the Wings do well in their PK is they pressure initial pucks into the zone. Their shrink in first 8 seconds they do very well. We feel we have to break that. Get that possession time and establish that zone time to kind of break them down.  Our guys did a great job tonight.  We broke the pressure when they did have loose pucks and did start to be aggressive again. We came up with good sticks and kept that thing alive. And I don’t know what time it was on the clock when we scored that, but it was well past 1:20 into that PK. They were tired. Our guys were tired. But the determination with the sticks and guys in front of that we got the big goal.

Detroit Head Coach Mike Babcock:

Can you talk about the advantage of them having the last change with what they’re trying to do with Crosby and Malkin when they’re home here?
It just makes it easier to get people on and off the ice smoother, and get what you want. But we had that for two games, too. So it works out.

It seemed as though they’ve been letting a lot of the interference on the forecheck go. And then all of a sudden there was a call. Did that surprise you?
No, they told us that they were going to clamp down on it. But I’d seen four from one particular guy on their team prior in the game that never got called. So that’s ?? you know, in a series they call what they think’s a penalty, and they’re trying to do the best they can just like the teams.

How frustrating was it for you earlier in the first period it looked like they had an extended time with six guys on the ice. Looked like you didn’t notice for a while. No one seemed to notice. Then you guys caught on. I saw banging the sticks there and no call. Must have been a frustrating moment there?
I mean, what do you want me to say? (Laughing). You know, I mean. See you guys tomorrow.

Happy 57th Birthday Gary Bettman.

How did the Commish spend his birthday? Being interviewed by his arch-nemesis Ron MacLean. Last line of the interview:

MacLean: “What would you tell the owners if they asked where the team should move to?”
Bettman: “I’d tell the owners before I’d tell you.”

Here is the video.

FINAL		T
	Pittsburgh	1
	Detroit	3
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Game Notes:

• Period 1: Pretty good energy by Helm to start the game.  Fleury looks good early.   Pens are much better on the faceoffs tonight.  Pittsburgh has dominated the last 10 minutes of the 1st period.  Detroit didn’t have a shot for almost 8 minutes during that time.
  
• 1st Period Stats:
  Shots: Detroit 7, Pittsburgh 11
  Hits: Detroit 14, Pittsburgh 11
  Giveaways: Detroit 9, Pittsburgh 5,
  Faceoffs: Detroit 7, Pittsburgh 9
• Period 2:  Wings have been flying for most of the period with a few Pittsburgh outbursts.  After some good Detroit pressure forced an icing, Helm wins a faceoff to Ericcson.
  
• Detroit kept up the pressure and after a mad scramble similar to what happened on the Pittsburgh goal, as Malkin just finished his penalty, Valteri Filppula scores a beauty to give the Wings a 2-1 lead.
  
• 2nd Period Stats:
  Shots: Detroit 16, Pittsburgh 9
  Hits: Detroit 10, Pittsburgh 12
  Giveaways: Detroit 6, Pittsburgh 2
  Faceoffs: Detroit 11, Pittsburgh 12
• 3rd Period:  Detroit is 10-0 when leading after 2 periods in the 2009 Playoffs.  24 straight going back to last season’s playoffs.
• Just when it looked like Pittsburgh would get back into the game, Crosby was denied by the post and the kid from Muskegon, Michigan Justin Abdelkader scores on a 1 on 3.
  
• And as the game was winding down, after a Malkin wrist shot, a little poke at Osgood makes him fall over and perhaps to set the tone for Game 3 a little melee erupts.  Main participants were Malkin and Zetterberg.
  
• 3rd Period Stats:
  Shots: Detroit 3, Pittsburgh 12
  Hits: Detroit 10, Pittsburgh 10
  Giveaways: Detroit 6, Pittsburgh 5
  Faceoffs: Detroit 6, Pittsburgh 6
• Final Game Stats:
  Shots: Detroit 26, Pittsburgh 32
  Hits: Detroit 34, Pittsburgh 33
  Giveaways: Detroit 21, Pittsburgh 12
  Faceoffs: Detroit 24, Pittsburgh 27

Post-Game Thoughts:

• Teams that are up 2-0 thru two games in the Stanley Cup Finals are 31 and 1 when they’ve swept the first two games at home.
• I believe that Osgood deserves the Conn Smythe for the Wings (i’m not declaring the series over yet) but to this point it is hard to find another player on Detroit who has been more important to his team.  That being the case, Zetterberg has simply been spectacular all over the rink. 
• The Wings are now 11-0 when they have the lead heading into a 3rd period of the 2009 Playoffs.
• No big surprise, NHL rescinds Malkin suspension.
• Of the 44 teams to take a 2-0 series lead in the Stanley Cup Finals, 41 have gone on to win the Stanley Cup.  It hasn’t been done since the 1971 Montreal Canadiens. 

Post-Game News Conference:

Detroit Head Coach Mike Babcock:

• Q:  Relative to the performance by your team in period 1, what was your frame of mind at the end of that period and what did you see change in the 2nd period for Detroit?
  A.  I thought in the first ten minutes it was all us and then I thought in the second ten minutes it was all them.  We had it going real well, we were coming out of our zone, we were sailing into their zone, and suddenly we turn the puck over 4 times in a row through the neutral zone and they took over and they were on top of our D.  And I thought the 2nd period was much the same until we got up 2-1 and then we stopped playing and they took it to us for the remainder of that period.  And then I thought the 3rd period was what you’d expect when you’re up.
• Q.  Its a year later and you are in a similar position as last year up 2-0, same series or different series in your mind?
  A.  I think way different.  I think last year the Malkin’s and the Crosby’s were engaged about Game 3.  I think this year when the puck dropped, they were engaged.  This Pittsburgh team has played hard from the drop of the puck. 
• Q.  Talk about the play of Helm.
  A.  Well I think Helmer has been great.  Without Pavel, who’s a Heart trophy candidate, if you don’t have someone fill in, you can’t be succesful. 
• Q.  There was talk that the back-to-back would hurt you, has it?
  A.  Well I think it’s hurt us.  Don’t ever kid yourself.  I thought we were exhausted out there tonight but it’s amazing what will does for you.  We talked about that before the game.  We found a way to win 2 games but we haven’t been as good as we are capable of being. 

Pittsburgh Head Coach Dan Bylsma:

• Q: You did have a discussion with Bill McCreary before the start of the 3rd, did it have something to do with the Hossa/Dupuis situation or was it a more general thing?
  A:  It was more a concern about their guy being at the top of the crease, in the blue paint, but that’s normal talk between a coach and a referee, and that’s the time to do it.
• Q:  Could you give us a sense as to how this game differerd from last night in terms of what you needed to do and what you saw happen out there tonight for your team?
  A:  I think it ended up being a lot alike.  We had stretches where we played good, we got scoring chances and pucks around their net and didn’t capitallize when we needed to and they got timely goals and they got goals in and around our net and they ended up with the victory.
• Q:  Going into Game 3 what can you guys do differently?
  A:  In each of the first two games we have been able to play in the offensive zone for periods of time, we have been able to get shots, have been able to outshoot a good Detroit team, but they’ve been able to get the timely goals, they’ve been better in getting pucks in and around the net and getting that goal that’s what they’ve done better and as a result they have two wins.  So there are some positives that we can draw upon and we have to focus on those and get better at our game.  Continue to get to the offensive zone, get to the goalie and look for to those loose pucks and build on that and that’s what we will do when we get back for Game 3.

FINAL		T
	Pittsburgh	1
	Detroit	3
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Richard’s Post-Game Notes:

• I enjoyed the fact that the referees did not decide the game and, instead, allowed for the players to dictate the pace.
• Obviously the active boards were a determining factor in tonight’s game–two of the Wings’ three goals came off of active boards.
• The Red Wings dominated the face-off circle.
• Chris Osgood’s save on Evgeni Malkin’s breakaway could be considered the game’s turning point.
• It will be intersting to see who has the edge in Sunday night’s game with such a short time between games.  Considering how much the Wings have been playing and that they are older, I’d give the edge to Pittsburgh.
• One last thing: I’d expect Sidney Crosby to be a heck of a lot better tomorrow night.

David’s Game Analysis:

The crowd was energized and came early.  This was the scene at 6pm.  Puck drop wasn’t until 8pm.

This guy was the best dressed Penguins fan in the building.  He had a bag full of signs, although his best was Malkinmania as it tied into his Hulk Hogan costume.  The Don Cherry sign was a close 2nd.

The CBC crew (Kelly Hrudey & P.J. Stock) chat with IC Contributor David Minuk

View from the CBC booth of the pre-game skate.

Just before game time.

Turning point in the game.  No more important play in the game then the save by Osgood versus Malkin on the breakaway.

With just 10 seconds remaining and the Wings up by a couple the crowd erupts.

Lots of Crosby fans in the building, this guy just wasn’t one of them.

David’s Post-Game Thoughts:

• Helm is unbelievably exciting to watch.  His energy level is without equal on the ice right now.
• Osgood’s save on Malkin as I stated above was the turning point in the game.  He was solid as per usual.
• Crowd was great.  Didn’t see any empty seats.  Did see lots of Pens fans.  I did not know that Detroit-Pittsburgh is a shorter drive than Pittsburgh-Philadelphia.  Aside from the some good natured ribbing, no real incidents to report.
• Hossa and Zetterberg were very, very good tonight.
• I didn’t really notice Crosby.  Malkin played a great game.
• It was unusual to see Detroit being outshot.  (32-30 in favor of Pittsburgh).

Three Stars:

• 1st Star: Chris Osgood:  He got some lucky bounces tonight but also made the big save as well as many little ones to give his team the win. 
• 2nd Star: Evgeni Malkin:  Without question the Penguin you notice most on the ice.  He’s big, fast and aggressive.  He threw his weight around (4 hits), was dangerous offensively (1 assist, 4 shots) and kept a lackluster Pittsburgh team in the game.
• 3rd Star:  Darren Helm:  The little engine that could.  Tonight it wasn’t about him scoring.  It was all about taking the body.  He threw 8 hits tonight.  He had one shift where he skated towards the penalty boxes hit a Pen into the boards (crowd cheered) and then skated back towards the bench and hit another Pen (crowd erupted even more).

FINAL OT		T
	Chicago	1
	Detroit	2
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Game Notes:

• Period 1: Pretty back and forth.  Both teams have had some good pressure although Detroit has carried the play courtesy of 2 powerplays.  Huet has been great, facing 21 shots.  Osgood hasn’t been as busy but no bigger save than the one on Sharp in tight.
  
• 1st Period Stats:
  Shots: Detroit 21, Chicago 9
  Hits: Detroit 14, Chicago 16
  Giveaways: Detroit 6, Chicago 6
  Faceoffs: Detroit 8, Chicago 9
• 2nd Period: Hawks come out flying in the 2nd but Osgood is playing great.  Appears the ice is titled one way.  Lots of powerplays.  Highlight was Darren Helm killing 25 seconds of a Hawks PP.
  
• 2nd Period Stats:
  Shots: Detroit 10, Chicago 11
  Hits: Detroit 13, Chicago 11
  Giveaways: Detroit 6, Chicago 2
  Faceoffs: Detroit 12, Chicago 3
• 3rd Period:  Osgood has been simply marvelous.  Dan Cleary with under 10 to go in the 3rd tips a Hossa shot past Huet to put the Wings up 1-0.
  
• But the Hawks come back on the strength of a Kane backhand that gets past Osgood.
  
• But the save of the night and perhaps of the playoffs (at least for the Hawks) was made by Huet with under 20 seconds to go in the 3rd period with Franzen on the doorstep.
  
• OT: It ended quickly.  The goal wasn’t pretty but it was appropriate that Helm scored as he was the freshest player on the ice for the Wings.
  

3 Stars:

• 1st Star: Chris Osgood.  Simply amazing.  The little engine that everyone said couldn’t shows that he could and he can.  He was incredible and was the difference in the why the Wings won tonight. 
• 2nd Star: Cristobal Huet.  He faced a ton of Wings shots and stopped almost everything.  The pressure he felt must have been enormous but he stood up to the test and made perhaps the save of the playoffs (see above) to keep the overmatched Hawks in the game.
• 3rd Star: Darren Helm.  His energy level was great.  From killing penalties in the 1st to scoring the OT winner he was a little bit of everything tonight.

Post Game Press Conference:

Detroit Head Coach Mike Babcock. 

• Q.  Can you comment on Darren Helm’s play?
  A.   I thought he did a great job.  He’s played with great tempo all series, he’s gotten better each and every game.  Obviously with the people we’ve had out he’s gotten more and more opportunity and you know he’s the kind of player that people in Michigan here, and Detroit in particular can really relate to.  He’s a blue collar guy who goes out and works hard and gives an honest days work everytime he’s out there and he’s like the energizer bunny, he hits the ice and his feet are going full out.
• Q.  Can you talk about the goaltending duel between both goaltenders tonight.
  A.  I thought Huet, in particular was outstanding in the 1st period, we had some great looks and he did a great job.  I thought Ossie made some great saves at the start of, I don’t know if it was the start of the 2nd or 3rd period, but there was 5 minutes where they took over the game totally and Ossie made some great saves and kept us in it.  Down the stretch in those games any time it’s tight like that obviously anything can happen and obviously both goalies were outstanding.
• Q.  What does it mean to get back to the Cup Finals?
  A.  Obviously its not very easy in the cap world today, its very difficult, but to have the opportunity with Pittsburgh again should be a lot of fun and there should be a lot of hype about this series.
• Q.  Do you worry about the attention around Hossa becoming a distraction?
  A.  Well I hope not.  If he is mentally tough then its no distraction.  I don’t know why he would let it be a distraction….he made a decision to come to our team, I think he’s very happy with the decision he made, I know we are happy to have him, and all the power to him.
• Q.  What growth did you see from the Blackhawks over the course of the season and this series?
  A.  I just think the last couple of years in particular they have really come a long, long way.  Guys you didn’t even know their names, now are household names and are legitimate NHL players.  I think, Kane’s a great player don’t get me wrong, but to me the guy you build the franchise around is the Toews kid, and he’s just a will machine.  He just keeps coming and keeps coming.  And I’m very impressed with Keith and Seabrook on the backend.  I think they are as good a matchup pair as your going to have.
• Q.  Talk about Dan Bylsma, he played for you in anaheim didn’t he?
  A.  Ya he did.  Danny is a good guy.  He’s honest, hardworking, quaility guy who brought energy on a regular basis..he was a good team guy, had a positive attitude all the time and was a good family guy and obviously a real good coach.

Chicago Head Coach Joel Quenneville. 

• Q. What did you think of the play of Huet?
  A.  I thought he played great. He should be commended for the game he played, kept us in there, we weathered the storm in the 1st period and gave us a chance to be in the game and made some key saves throughout the game.
• Q.  What were your thoughts on the game winner?
  A.  They made a nice play. Those end boards are more lively than any other building and really jumped off the end boards and there were some scrambles as the game progressed.  I thought Helm had a heck of a game. 
• Q.  Any solace in taking this team (Det) tooth and nail in all these games?
  A.  We got to find out what playoff hockey is all about.  We went up against the best and the lesson you can learn is you don’t just win a Cup and think your the best team, you gotta go prove it and here they are again, fighting for the Cup, so they should be commended on how well they played and maybe we can take something from them.

FINAL		T
	Pittsburgh	4
	Carolina	1
Game Preview
Game Scoresheet
Team Game Threads the PensBlog Canes Country
Game Recap

Game Notes:

• Carolina is 5-0 when facing elimination games. (Tied for 5th longest streak in NHL history).
• 1st Period
• Eric Staal opens the scoring with his 10th of the playoffs.  The Canes are 7-0 in the playoffs when he scores.
  
• Carolina carried the play for the first 5 minutes.
• Fedotenko gets his 6th of the playoffs to tie the game on a shot from Boucher at the point to tie the game.
• Eric Cole has not scored a goal in the last 31 games.  (5 assists in 31g)
• Talbot scores a weird goal.  What’s worse. Daryl ’Razor’ Reaugh saying OMG.
  
• 1st Period Stats:
  Shots: Pittsburgh 9, Carolina 5
  Hits: Pittsburgh 10, Carolina 13
  Giveaways: Pittsburgh 2, Carolina 2
  Faceoffs: Pittsburgh 10, Carolina 10
• 2nd Period: Canes start on the PP but have nothing doing.  Battle of the goalies.
• Guerin scores on a nice feed from Crosby to give the Pens a 2 goal lead.
  
• 2nd Period Stats:
  Shots: Pittsburgh 10, Carolina 16
  Hits: Pittsburgh 10, Carolina 20
  Giveaways: Pittsburgh 1, Carolina 2
  Faceoffs: Pittsburgh 11, Carolina 10
• 3rd Period:  Both goalies continue to play well.  Pens have a 5 on 3 with 7 minutes to go in period.
• Crosby unselfish as you would expect on a 2 on 1 with an empty net passes to the former Hurricane Adams to give Pittsburgh the lead and ensure that Pittsburgh advances to the Stanley Cup Finals with a sweep in the Eastern Conference Finals.
• Guerin making his 1st cup appearance since 1995 when he won as a rookie with the Devils.
• 3rd Period Stats:
  Shots: Pittsburgh 6, Carolina 10
  Hits: Pittsburgh 5, Carolina 8
  Giveaways: Pittsburgh 3, Carolina 2
  Faceoffs: Pittsburgh 9, Carolina 10
  

3 Stars:

• 1st Star: Marc-Andre Fleury.  He made some spectacular saves throughout the game.
• 2nd Star: Sidney Crosby.  2 Assists tonight and continued to show why he wear’s the C.
• 3rd Star: Eric Staal.  He did everything he could tonight without much help from his team.

Post Game Press Conference:

• Pittsburgh Head Coach Dan Bylsma. 
  
  Q.  How did it feel getting through the series in 4 games?
  A.   To be real honest, I didn’t think it felt easy at all, you know I look back at the games we were down  in game 2, 3-2 after 1 and 4-4 mid way thru the 3rd and ends up 7-4 but it certainly didn’t feel like that throughout the game and they make it a 1 goal game in Game 3 and the place gets pretty rambunctious,  and we had to battle it out to get the win and it ended up being a big number but it didn’t feel that way and tonight again they got the early lead and i thought it was the game that was the hardest for us to get into the offensive zone and play there so from that standpoint tonight was there best game in terms of limiting our time with the puck….They battled in every game, came at us in every game and they never quit.
  
  Q.  How did you feel about Sidney Crosby touching the Prince of Wales Trophy?
  A.   I’ve won a confernece final and not touched it and lost.  The team that we played touched it and won. …Past history at least in Pittsburgh is that Mario touched it the two years they won the conference finals.Q.  Where in the season do you think this team came together?
  A.   We had a 5 game road trip and won all 5 games on that road trip, won the 5th game in a shootout, but it was the 4th game in Florida, I don’t recall the total number of shots we put up but I think it was 45 or in that range and only won the game 2-1, we were persistant in our game plan to get to the offensive zone,  and we won game 1 in Chicago, we won in Dallas but it was that win in Florida that the success started to breed a bigger buy-in, as this was the way to play and getting the win in Washington against a team that had beat us pretty soundly, I think in the 3rd game that I was coaching, that was a big win after the Florida game to accent the fact that now we are having success, this is the way we need to play and its about doing that for 60 minutes every night.
• Carolina Head Coach Paul Maurice  

  Q.  What do you say to your team in the intermission?
  A.   I thought the fight was better tonight.  We talked about staying in it as long as you possibly can.  Your down 1, down 2 didn’t want it to get to 3, thought we could get back.  Keep fighting.

  Q.  How demoralizing was the fluttering goal?
  A.   At the end of the day they said all the right things on the bench, they kept trying to stay in the fight.  Pittsburgh played very, very well.  I don’t think we had a lot left in the tank.  We had gone to the well a lot of times, we spent a lot to get here and earned the right to be here…we had spent an awful lot.
  
  Q.  How inspired did Stall play tonight?
  A.   I thought he was great.  Its a really good sign for his career and for this franchise.  For me it was almost a season in a series in that early on and when we first got here, we have a player that cares so much and had taken the weight of the team on his shoulders and was trying every shift to be the difference for the hockey team and feeling that pressure and not having it work for him.  And then really settled into his game as a leader and was simplier, harder, faster, played a better quality game for the remainder of the year and all of a sudden starts scoring starts playing and this series for him almost revisited the start of the year, pushing for offence at times thats not there, having it burn ya, feeling like your efforts there but some of the things that were happening you just couldn’t explain.  I thought he settled back down tonight, played a real smart, smart game.  

Ongoing Phoenix Saga Daily Tidbit:

From Globe and Mail - Balsillie reinforces bid ultimatum:

The NHL and Jerry Moyes will trade punches today in court over the timing of Moyes’s disputed sale of the Phoenix Coyotes – but the main event remains a hearing next month, which will decide if the NHL team can be relocated.

In the meantime, though, the lawyer for Jim Balsillie, the prospective buyer of the financially crippled team, scored the sharpest jab in documents filed yesterday with the U.S. bankruptcy court in Arizona.

Richard Rodier’s declaration sought to take the air out of the NHL’s argument that the Coyotes cannot possibly be moved in time for the 2009-10 season. If successful in his bid, Balsillie plans to move the team to Hamilton.

For complete story, click here.

Update: Agent Allan Walsh is reporting, via Twitter, that Nicklas Lidstrom is out of the lineup for today’s game with a lower-body injury.  Its the first time Lidstrom has missed a playoff game since 1991/92.  Chris Chelios is in.  Havlat is also playing game 4. 

FINAL		T
	Detroit	6
	Chicago	1
Game Preview
Game Scoresheet
Team Game Threads: Winging it in Mowtown Second City Hockey
Game Recap

Game Notes:

• 1st Period:  Detroit without Lidstrom, Datsyuk and Draper yet playing a pretty good 1st period.  Hossa finally shows up and scores a shorthanded goal.  Franzen scores with 20 seconds to go. 
  
• 1st Period Stats:
  Shots: Detroit 14, Chicago 9
  Hits: Detroit 15, Chicago 8
  Giveaways: Detroit 3, Chicago 5
  Faceoffs: Detroit 12, Chicago 12
• 2nd Period:  Wings start on the powerplay and Hossa takes a Filppula pass, shoots on net and Filppula puts home the rebound.  With Detroit up 3-0, Chicago goes to powerplay, Toews puts it in after a big Stuart hit on Havlat and Hossa roars back to give the Wings a 3 goal lead and knocks Huet from the game.  In comes Crawford whose welcome to the post season is a Zetterberg roofer on a 5 on 3.
  
• And Havlat hasn’t returned since 3:33 of the 2nd as a result of this Stuart hit.
  
• 2nd Period Stats:
  Shots: Detroit 10, Chicago 10
  Hits: Detroit 5, Chicago 9
  Giveaways: Detroit 2, Chicago 2
  Faceoffs: Detroit 12, Chicago 14
• 3rd Period:  Huet is back in net for the Hawks and Conklin is in for Detroit as Babcock doesn’t want his goalie to get run over.  Pierre McGuire is reporting that Havlat is not back on the bench for the 3rd.  Eager gets tossed with his 2nd 10 minute misconduct of the game.  And with under 5 to go Versteeg gets tossed while chirping from the bench.  Zetterberg scores another on the powerplay.
  
• 3rd Period Stats:
  Shots: Detroit 9, Chicago 9
  Hits: Detroit 4, Chicago 11
  Giveaways: Detroit 0, Chicago 4
  Faceoffs: Detroit 8, Chicago 10
• Final Stats for Game 4:
  Shots: Detroit 33, Chicago 28
  Hits: Detroit 24, Chicago 28
  Giveaways: Detroit 5, Chicago 11
  Faceoffs: Detroit 32, Chicago 36

Three Stars:

• 1st Star: Marian Hossa was a beast tonight for the Wings.  He stepped up in the absence of Datsyuk and Lidstrom and led Detroit to victory.  Finished the game with 2 goals and 1 assist, none bigger than his shorthanded goal which really set the tempo for the game.  Interesting stat for Hossa; it seems like he only scores during Game 4′s.  He’s scored 2 goals in every game 4 of these 3 rounds.
• 2nd Star: Valtteri Filppula was a great compliment to Hossa.  Finished the game with a goal and 2 assists.  Played a really good two way game. 
• 3rd Star(s):  Kronwall and Stuart.  Kronwall didn’t get rattled by the crowd, played a ton of minutes (23+) and finished with 2 assists.  Stuart had a massive hit on Havlat and played big minutes against the Hawks top line.

Mike Babcock’s Post Game Press Conference:
(courtesy of Joe from Winging it in Mowtown)

On Nick Lidstrom Status:
“was in the cab on the way over here. without pav and drapes and kope, you start to say to yourself, oh boy.”

On Wing’s keeping composure:
“Kronwell in my opinion had a really nice finished check, and they were too busy making amends to that, which put us on the power play a lot.”

On Patrick Kane:
“till today, we played nick against him. we just try to play a good five-man unit. thought we had some good penalty kill time. you’re never going to slow him down totally. Game 3: i thought that line dominated a few shifts territorially despite not getting on the scoresheet.

On Osgood’s status:
“I’d never give him time off. He was dehydrated, they put him onto the IV, didn’t work, he’ll get the fluids back.”

Joel Quennville’s Post Game Press Conference:
(courtesy of Joe from Winging it in Mowtown)

On penalty called at the end of the 1st:
“We witnessed the worst call in the history of sports at the end of the second period.”  “They destroyed whatever was happening on the ice.”  “I’ve never seen anything like it.”  “I couldn’t find the penalties. You could argue along the way. They ruined the whole game. That’s the gist of what I’m trying to say.”

On giving up the shorthanded goal in the 1st:
“Shorties are tough ones to give up. Both teams had a few chances, but we had momentum, we lose it on the shorty. We come out to start the third and find out you’re short-handed.”

On Havlat’s status:
“Marty was fine was ready to go…had a good start. he really progressed the last two days. We did what we could…we’ll see how he is going into wednesday.”

On Khabibulin’s status:
“Habi is day-to-day, off tomorrow, we practice tuesday, we’ll see how it is”

Ongoing Phoenix Saga Daily Tidbit:

From CBC.ca – Winnipeg building a case for NHL consideration:

By the end of June, Winnipeg Mayor Sam Katz might be ready to have another conversation with National Hockey League commissioner Gary Bettman.

On June 22, U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge Redfield T. Baum will preside over a hearing in Phoenix to decide whether the Coyotes can be relocated.

“If there’s an opportunity [to secure an NHL franchise] … at that point in time, we would definitely have some conversation with Gary Bettman,” Katz told CBCSports.ca over the phone from Winnipeg.

Ever since the Winnipeg Jets moved to Phoenix following the 1995-96 season, there has been plenty of talk of a team returning to the city.

For complete story, click here.

FINAL		T
	Pittsburgh	6
	Carolina	2
Game Preview
Game Scoresheet
Team Game Threads PensBurgh Canes Country
Game Recap

Game Notes:

• Only two teams, the 1975 Islanders (Pittsburgh Penguins) and the 1942 Maple Leafs (Detroit Red Wings), have come back from 3-0 deficits to win the series.
• Malkin had his 6th multi point game in a row.  He sits behind Sydney Mines, Nova Scotia’s Tony Currie who had 7 in a row in 1981 with the St. Louis Blues and, no surprise, the man who owns the record, Wayne Douglas Gretzky who had 8 in a row with the Edmonton Oilers in 1983.
• Coming into the game, Carolina had been 5-0 when scoring first. 

Game Highlights:

Hodgson named CHL player of year, Tavares top prospect:
From CBC.ca 

Top draft prospect John Tavares had no problem seeing his national junior teammate Cody Hodgson named Player of the Year in Canadian junior hockey.

Hodgson, of the Brampton Battalion, won the Canadian Hockey League award Saturday afternoon at a gala in Rimouski, Que., beating out Brett Sonne of the Calgary Hitmen and goaltender Nicola Riopel of the Moncton Wildcats.

Tavares, the star forward for the London Knights who is expected to be picked first overall in the NHL draft next month in Montreal, was Player of the Year as a 16-year-old in 2007. Justin Azevedo of the Kitchener Rangers won it last year.

For complete story, click here.

FINAL OT		T
	Detroit	3
	Chicago	4
Game Preview
Game Scoresheet
Team Game Threads: Second City Hockey Winging it in Mowtown
Game Recap

Game Notes:

• Osgood is playing his 101st playoff game for the Wings.
• Maltby is back in the line-up.
• Hossa only has 1 point in his last 5 games.
• 1st Period:  All Chicago.  Chicago’s Martin Havlat left game after a Kronwall hit.
  
• 2nd Period: All Detroit.  Wow.  3 goals in 4:23.
• Intermission:  VS. touts new show FanArchy.  Seems kinda insane.  Slobs yell at each other about the other guys team.  I’m in.
  
• 3rd Period:  Wow.  Huet is in.  He hasn’t played since Easter Sunday.  Khabibulin isn’t even on the bench as Corey Crawford is now the back-up.   Pretty even period.  Both teams have had some great opportunites to score.
• OT:  Predicition.  If Det scores I think it will be Franzen and if Chi scores then I think it will be Toews.  Well I was wrong.  Sharp gets the goal and Chicago gets the win 1:52 into OT.
  

Last Night’s Trivia:

Question:
Which two NHL players use the Börje Salming curve on their sticks?

Answer:
Swede: Mikael Samuelsson
American: Craig Conroy

Chelios says Roenick apologized; Babcock still peeved
From Detroit Free Press:

Kris Draper spotted Red Wings teammate Chris Chelios in the visitors’ locker room at the United Center this morning, laughed and yelled out, “Sing, ‘O Canada,’ ” just as Chelios shrugged into a Made in Detroit tee.

The day before, NHL forward Jeremy Roenick, whose Sharks were eliminated in the first round, had told Comcast Sportsnet that Wings coach Mike Babcock “doesn’t like” Chelios, “has a grudge against American players,” and that, “some of the things that Babcock says to Chris Chelios, it would make your stomach churn.”

While both Chelios and Babcock addressed the matter Thursday, they did it again today, too. Chelios played the whole thing down, saying, “JR is JR, and the NHL would be boring without JR. There’s nothing to it. I’m very happy here in Detroit. I always have been. JR says stuff — what are you going to do? He called me to say he’s sorry.”

Chelios said his relationship with Babcock is the same as with every other coach — always business, never personal. “Never had an issue or a problem with him the four years we’ve been here. I think the only problem I’ve had with a coach was Mike Keenan, but he liked the confrontation. It’s been a great relationship here. No complaints.”  

For complete story, click here.

FINAL		T
	Carolina	4
	Pittsburgh	7
Game Preview
Game Scoresheet
Team Game Threads Canes Country the PensBlog
Game Recap

Game Notes:
1st Star:  Evgeni Malkin.  I’m not sure if you remember this picture that IC put out during the 2nd round looking for the missing superstar but he has been re-discovered and has been fantastic in the 3rd Round.  He finished tonight’s game with 3 goals and 1 assist.

Illegalcurve Trivia:
Heard this yesterday and thought I would test IC readers knowledge of obscure hockey facts.

Question: Which two NHL players use the Börje Salming curve on their sticks?

Hint 1: Both players play in the Western Conference.
Hint 2: One player is a Swede like Salming and the other is an American.
Hint 3: The Swede is still playing in Round 3 and the American was knocked out in Round 1.

Ongoing Phoenix Saga Daily Tidbit:

From NHL.com

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman spoke passionately on his weekly radio show Thursday about how the League’s case involving the Phoenix Coyotes and BlackBerry magnate Jim Balsillie is solely about the rules and regulations and has nothing to do with the city of Hamilton, Ont.

“This is about League rules and every sports league has got to have them,” Bettman said on the “NHL Hour on Sirius/XM radio” (streamed every Thursday on NHL.com, 3 ET). “The two most important issues for any sports league is who owns your franchises and where they are located. Anybody suggesting the issue is beyond that doesn’t understand the way leagues work and doesn’t understand me, quite frankly. Efforts to vilify the league or me are silly. It doesn’t have any impact.”

For complete story, click here.

Here is a picture passed along to me late this afternoon by a Chicago fan.  Should be a good one tonight.

FINAL		T
	Carolina	2
	Pittsburgh	3
Game Preview
Game Scoresheet
Team Game Threads Canes Country PensBurgh
Game Recap

In case you missed the game here are some highlights:

FINAL		T
	Chicago	2
	Detroit	5
Game Preview
Game Scoresheet
Team Game Threads: Second City Hockey Winging it in Mowtown
Game Recap

And for those, like me, who were at a wedding instead of watching Game 1, here are the highlights from that game.

• Two game sevens at the same time–God bless the NHL
• If you are in the United States, but not in the home television market of one of the four teams playing tonight, and you want to watch both games, get the cheque book out because it will cost you $79.00–way to build an audience for your game NHL.
• Tremendous speed demonstrated by Darren Helm on that second goal for the Red Wings
• The people I am watching with prefer to watch Detroit-Anaheim–I wholeheartedly disagree
• The room is stunned about the multiple game sevens at the same time–especially after I just yelled and ranted about it yet again
• I don’t care how good their production values are, or how many “big names” are on their panel, games just feel more important when they are shown on CBC rather than on TSN
• The room is wondering why Zetterberg seems impervious to pain when he blocks a shot–questioning if he is a cyborg?
• We missed the Boston goal–again, why are both game sevens at the same time?? SOMEONE TELL ME!
• A fourth person has joined our viewing party, and unsolicited of me mentioning anything, he asked, incredulously, why both of the game sevens are at the same time??
• Teemu Selanne just keeps on producing. He has been a pleasure to watch over his entire career.
• Beauchemin blows a tire, and the Red Wings jump on the opportunity to regain their two goal lead
• Hiller is being tended to by the Ducks trainer, after being crashed in the crease–Ducks PP
• Two goals scored in Boston-Carolina–two goals missed because we were watching Detroit-Anaheim
• The Ducks capitalize on an iffy penalty call on the aforementioned “crashing of the crease”, and Corey Perry scores to make it 3-2
• 2 game sevens. Both in intermission at the same time. The disaster of NHL scheduling continues unabated. Silver lining is it gives me unfettered access to the Jays game.
• Bobby Ryan completes the Ducks comeback in Detroit. 3-3 twelve minutes to go. Assist to that stick that caused Samuellson (sp?) such troubles
• I would like to thank ESPN’s Bill Simmons for coming aboard the “my god the NHL doesn’t know how to schedule games” bandwagon. Bill, it’s great to have you with us.
• Huge shot block by Kronwall–that hurt him though
• Third goal in the Boston-Carolina game that we have missed due to having to watch two games at once.
• Newfies represent! Dan Cleary with the go ahead goal in Detroit! 3:00 to go
• I think Peter Laviolette mugged a homeless man for that suit jacket
• Jays lost. I hate the Yankees
• The people I was watching with have left to get food. I am sitting alone in his living room, while his wife and her friend are watching Grey’s Anatomy in their bedroom. Awkward.
• Lucic ties it up for Boston. He’s a beast.
• Ten to go…these two game sevens have been terrific–too bad they are being played at the same time.
• Pierre McGuire–Still annoying.
• Pierre McGuire is so annoying he makes me dislike Milan Lucic simply because Lucic’s play excites Pierre so very much
• Wow. OT.–If i had an overwhelming preference as to who wins, I would be a nervous wreck
• Laviolette’s jacket is still hideous.
• From a Bruin’s blog: “I’m just throwing this out there. If another Bruin scores in this game, they can have my daughter’s virginity. You’ll have to wait 16 1/2 years until she’s legal, but the offer stands.”
• Just to remind everyone–Many Americans have not been able to see the game thanks to the NHL being on Versus and the worst run of the professional sports. Congrats Commissioner Bettman!
• From Bill Simmons’ chat: Patrick (Kansas City, MO): “Never been around, seen, or been interested in NHL before. You piqued the interest, but when I turned on Versus there was a recap show on. How do they not turn on the overtime of the Boston/Carolina? This is probably the NHL’s one shot for me, and they’re blowing it like McGrady in the clutch”
• As Lloyd Mandelbaum said, “it’s go time”
• I don’t want to look down at the keyboard, for fear I miss the goal–The OT ZONE!
• What a defensive play by Lucic! Saved the game!
• Kudos to Pierre for successfully calling that Carolina timeout before it happened. When he doesn’t yell, he can be valuable.
• “next shot wins” says Gord Miller….”Random glitch in a video game comment” says the room of people watching with me.
• Scott Walker SCORES!!! They are going to riot in Boston!
• Thanks folks. This has been fun. Exhausting, but fun. See you for the Conference Finals previews.

FINAL						FINAL 1ST OT		T
	Anaheim	3					Carolina	3
	Detroit	4					Boston	2
Game Preview						Game Preview
Game Scoresheet						Game Scoresheet
Team Game Threads: Winging it in Mowtown Battle of California						Team Game Threads: Stanley Cup of Chowder Canes Country
Game Recap						Game Recap

Detroit defeats Anaheim and advances to the Conference Finals.

Carolina/Boston: OT Winning goal by Scott Walker

Ongoing Phoenix Saga Daily Tidbit:

• Balsillie’s bid to buy Coyotes ‘illusory at best, a sham at worst’: NHL

Jim Balsillie’s offer to buy the Phoenix Coyotes and the process surrounding the sale of the struggling NHL team are “illusory, at best, and a sham, at worst,” according to court documents filed by the NHL.

In an objection filed to a U.S. bankruptcy court in Arizona, the NHL says the Canadian billionaire and co-CEO of BlackBerry maker Research In Motion Ltd. has broken fundamental rules in his Coyotes purchase proposal.

Balsillie, 48, offered $212.5 million US on the basis that he can move the team to southern Ontario, an offer that went public last week after Coyotes majority owner Jerry Moyes announced bankruptcy.

Balsillie fired back, arguing that no matter the league’s claim, the Coyotes remain bankrupt.

For complete story, click here.

In game analysis: The Caps have inexplicably not shown up tonight. Out shot 16-5 in the first period. Over 10 turnovers in the first period alone. Two goals in the first two minutes of the 2nd period. Varlamov is getting pulled. His youth was his un-doing in this game. Theodore is in, but is it too little too late?

FINAL		T
	Pittsburgh	6
	Washington	2
Game Preview
Game Scoresheet
Team Game Threads: the PensBlog Japers’ Rink
Game Recap

Penguins/Capitals Post Game Analysis:

I’m shocked that Washington went out so meekly.  I thought Pittsburgh would win but not nearly as handily as they did.  Crosby/Malkin/Staal and Fleury showed that last year was no fluke and the Penguins are going to give the B’s or Canes fits in the next round.  Varlamoz played well above his pay grade but in the end, the more talented team won the series. 

Ongoing Phoenix Saga Daily Tidbit:

• Hamilton council approves Balsillie lease option for Copps Coliseum

Jim Balsillie might not own the Phoenix Coyotes yet, but he has a place to house the team if everything goes his way.

On Wednesday, Hamilton city council unanimously approved an option on a long-term lease for Balsillie on Copps Coliseum.

The deal gives Balsillie until October to bring an NHL franchise to the arena. In exchange, Balsillie is promising to sign a lease for up to 32 years if he secures the Coyotes.

Balsillie is also committing on paper to $5 million Cdn in renovations to the Coliseum by fall 2010.

For complete story, click here.

FINAL		T				FINAL		T
	Boston	4					Detroit	1
	Carolina	2					Anaheim	2
Game Preview						Game Preview
Game Scoresheet						Game Scoresheet
Team Game Threads: Stanley Cup of Chowder Canes Country						Team Game Threads: Winging it in Mowtown Battle of California
Game Recap						Game Recap

Will there be any hits like this tonight?

Wings/Ducks Recap:

• Hiller continues to be all 3 stars for Anaheim.  If not for him this series would have been over long ago.  None more important with less than 5 seconds to go in the 3rd on a shot by Hossa.  38 saves total.
• Corey Perry and Ryan Getzlaf both stepped up for the Ducks tonight. (Both has 1 G and 1 A tonight). 
• Ericsson cost the Wings the 1st goal.  Not sure why he decided not to take Getzlaf but had he taken the man the Ducks are not scoring that goal.
• I’m not sure why Samuelsson is playing with Datsyuk and Zetterberg on the power play.  He was awful tonight.
• Franzen scored a nice PP goal (his 8th of the playoffs) in the 3rd period to bring the Wings to within a goal.
• The reffing seemed horribly inconsistent.
• The Ducks are 6-0 all time at the Honda Center in Game 6′s after tonight. 

Here are some end of game shenanigans;

Ongoing Phoenix Saga Daily Tidbit:

• NHL objects to order requesting details of Reinsdorf offer.

The National Hockey League on Tuesday filed an objection with a U.S. bankruptcy court after being ordered to turn over documentation relating to its purported discussions with Jerry Reinsdorf about his interest in buying the Phoenix Coyotes.

In court documents, the NHL argued that premature disclosure of any expressions of interest in the team could be harmful and said the motion should be denied.

“Pending the determination of who is in rightful control of the debtors, there is no justification for the efforts of the debtors’ former principal, [majority team owner] Jerry Moyes, to harass the league with such discovery that may prove wholly unnecessary,” the NHL wrote.

“Premature disclosure of confidential discussions will jeopardize value for the league and all of its member teams, including the Phoenix Coyotes, as well as the team’s creditors.”

For complete story, click here.

FINAL 1ST OT		T				FINAL		T
	Washington	5					Vancouver	5
	Pittsburgh	4					Chicago	7
Game Preview						Game Preview
Game Scoresheet						Game Scoresheet
Team Game Threads: Japers’ Rink The PensBlog						Team Game Threads: Nucks Misconduct Second City Hockey
Game Recap						Game Recap

Blackhawks/Canucks Recap:

Was this game real?  Seriously.  A 7-5 hockey game to clinch the series for the young Hawks and send them to the 3rd round for the first time since 1994/95 season.  Coincidentally back in 1994/95 they lost that series to the Wings (4 games to 1) who are looking like they will be the Hawks next opponent.  Kudos to Buffalo, N.Y., native Patrick Kane who notched a hat trick (1st for Hawks in playoffs in last 15 years) and an assist in the victory.  Little IC Trivia:  Who scored the last hat trick for the Hawks during the playoffs?

TSN’s Darren Dreger spoke with NHL players on the Walker Punch: 

I spoke to 20 NHL players in an informal poll regarding the Scott Walker-Aaron Ward incident, asking if Ward’s punch on Walker was a sucker-punch and whether it should have been a suspendable offence. 14 of the players who responded said “absolutely, it was a sucker-punch, and Scott Walker of the Carolina Hurricanes should be suspended.” Six said “no, it was not a sucker-punch”.

To give you a sample of some of the reaction of those who said no, one player said “not a sucker-punch, but dirty, and Walker should be suspended if Ward misses any time.” Another player voting no said, “hey, when the game is starting to get chippy, it is the responsibility of everyone to be ready, especially when you are being physical.” One of the players who voted “yes” said “Walker knew what he was doing – this was intentional.”

So 14 players voted yes, Walker should have been suspended for a sucker-punch, and six said no. I said to NHL Hockey Operations: look, there’s so much debate out there with the players, coaches, general managers, even here on the NHL on TSN panel: what is a sucker-punch? And according to the answer I got back, the definition is, “a sucker-punch is when an unsuspecting player is punched.” So it seems that 14 players would argue that if you have your arms at your sides, then you’re unsuspecting.

Ongoing Phoenix Saga Daily Tidbit:

• NHL ordered to turn over Reinsdorf documents

The NHL has been ordered to turn over documents relating to the league’s purported discussions with Jerry Reinsdorf about his interest in buying the financially troubled Phoenix Coyotes.

A motion requesting the documents was filed by Coyotes ownership on Monday in U.S. bankruptcy court in Arizona, and the court ruled the NHL has until 10:00 a.m. ET on Tuesday to produce them.

The aim behind the request was “to examine the content of [the league's discussions with Reinsdorf] and the potential offer outstanding by Mr. Reinsdorf related to these purported interests,” according to the court documents.

For complete story, click here.

• Coyotes owner yielded control for $38M: NHL

Phoenix Coyotes majority owner Jerry Moyes gave NHL commissioner Gary Bettman an “irrevocable proxy” to control his franchise on Nov. 14 in exchange for $38 million US in league money to stay afloat, according to court documents filed in Arizona.

“As a condition to providing this support, the league required Mr. Moyes … to execute proxies in favour of the commissioner of the NHL to control the equity and operation of the [club],” the NHL argues in its objection to the bankruptcy proceedings.

“Moyes asked that he be allowed to retain his titles to avoid public embarrassment, and the league so agreed, but with the express understanding that he had no authority … to take any action outside the normal course of business, including filing for bankruptcy”.

For complete story, click here.

FINAL		T				FINAL		T
	Anaheim	1					Carolina	0
	Detroit	4					Boston	4
Game Preview						Game Preview
Game Scoresheet						Game Scoresheet
Team Game Threads: Battle of California Winging it in Mowtown						Team Game Threads: Canes Country Stanley Cup of Chowder
Game Recap						Game Recap

Wings/Ducks Review

• Osgood is the 1st star once again.  Whenever the Wings decide to slow start it Osgood steps up and makes the big saves, none bigger than on Erik Christensen with a few minutes left in the 2nd period with a 2-1 Detroit lead.
• Wings outplayed the Ducks in almost every facet of the game. 
• Johan Franzen scored his 18th postseason goal in his last 19 games.
• Game wasn’t as close as the score would indicate.

Ongoing Phoenix Saga Daily Tidbit:

• Mayor says Hamilton only working with Balsillie.

Eisenberger, speaking on CTV’s Question Period on Sunday, made the comments amid a Hamilton Spectator report suggesting an investor group believed to be led by developer Tom Gaglardi was interested in moving the Atlanta Thrashers to Hamilton.

Eisenberger did not deny conversations with other groups, but said he had no plans for a face-to-face meeting this week with anyone other than Balsillie.

For complete story, click here.

FINAL OT		T				FINAL		T
	Pittsburgh	4					Chicago	4
	Washington	3					Vancouver	2
Game Preview						Game Preview
Game Scoresheet						Game Scoresheet
Team Game Threads: PensBurgh Japers’ Rink						Team Game Threads: Second City Hockey Nucks Misconduct
Game Recap						Game Recap

HNIC Report:

Ron MacLean seems to be the only guy behind the idea of Balisille moving the team to Southern Ontario.  LeBrun, Strachan and Milbury all seemed very anti-Balisille.  (or at least anti his methods of acquiring a team).  LeBrun indicated that Balisille’s methods have turned off any Governers who might have approved of him.

Ongoing Phoenix Saga Daily Tidbit:

• Balsillie says tight deadline in Coyotes fight could be good thing

One of the most intriguing questions asked in the interview involved any possible contact with NHL commissioner Gary Bettman.

MacLean: Has Gary Bettman called? Is there any chance this can get settled before [the judge's ruling]?

Balsillie: “That’s a fair question, Ron. The important thing when you do what I do is I talk to a lot of people in my work and in hockey and my philanthropy, and it’s just not appropriate for me to talk about private conversations.

“I have a lot of rapport and relationships, and I just don’t and I just won’t talk about who calls and when they call and what it was about, because it’s not respecting people and the position.

“It’s not how I build relationships and I’m just not going to comment.”

Bettman has helped foil two previous attempts by Balsillie to purchase NHL clubs and move them to Ontario, once with the Pittsburgh Penguins and the other with the Nashville Predators.

For complete story, click here.

FINAL		T				FINAL		T
	Washington	3					Boston	1
	Pittsburgh	5					Carolina	4
Game Preview						Game Preview
Game Scoresheet						Game Scoresheet
Team Game Threads Japers Rink PensBurgh						Team Game Threads Stanley Cup of Chowder Canes Country
Game Recap						Game Recap

Washington/Pittsburgh:

• Odd Fact:  Team that scores first has lost every single game. 
• Varlamov looked very, very human.
• Still not sure about Ovechkin’s knee on knee with Gonchar.  Apparently no supplementary disclipline will be forthcoming.

Boston/Carolina:

• Odd Fact:  Every time Staal scores the Canes have won the game.
• Boston has lost all 21 series that they trailed 3 games to 1.
• Staal & Ward were beasts for Carolina tonight.
• Being a healthy scratch was very helpful for Samsanov tonight.

Ongoing Phoenix Saga Daily Tidbit:

• Daly: NHL controls Coyotes, 3 local owner options.  Highlight of the interview:

SL: Bottom line, do you think that next season there will be a franchise in Phoenix?

BD: Yes, I do.

SL: What about three years from now?

BD:  Yes, I do.

FINAL 1ST OT		T				FINAL		T
	Vancouver	1					Detroit	6
	Chicago	2					Anaheim	3
Game Preview						Game Preview
Game Scoresheet						Game Scoresheet
Team Game Threads: Nucks Misconduct Second City Hockey						Team Game Threads: Winging it in Mowtown Battle of California
Game Recap						Game Recap

Looks like a Pens fan has had enough of Alex the Great. 

“I’m killing Ovechkin. I’m going to jail. I don’t care anymore,” said the message, according to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

“We became aware of an inappropriate comment on a message board and referred it to the appropriate authorities,” said a statement released Thursday by the Capitals.

For complete story click here.  Update:  The police have traced the threat to a 17 year old boy whose name cannot be released because he is a juvenille.

Jumping the Gun:

From TSN.ca

Hamilton Mayor Fred Eisenberger confirmed that he had a meeting with a representative of Balsillie’s legal team on Thursday where discussions took place to have the city enter into an agreement involving the potential team and the downtown arena.

For complete story click here.

Seems like they are putting the cart before the horse.  Shouldn’t you own the team first?

After 40 Minutes Notes:

Moyes claims he still owns the Coyotes.  He also said that he had never heard of the Reinsdorf offer.  The intrigue continues.

Detroit/Anaheim Game Thoughts:

Looks like the Wings have figured out the secret of Jonas Hiller as they chased him 38 minutes into the contest.  Welcome to the 2nd Round Mr. Hossa, where have you been?  The potential injury to Ryan Getzlaf who only played 2 minutes 43 seconds in the 3rd could have MASSIVE implications in this series.  If the Ducks want to win he has to be healthy.

FINAL 1ST OT		T				FINAL 1ST OT		T
	Washington	2					Boston	2
	Pittsburgh	3					Carolina	3
Game Preview						Game Preview
Game Scoresheet						Game Scoresheet
Game Recap						Game Recap

And to think they considered changing the overtime.  Is there anything more exciting in the playoffs then OT?  As if Pens fans weren’t clutching their hearts at the thought of a goal and going down to the Caps 3-0.  As they say on commercials for Monster Truck shows and I think the sentiment applies to OT hockey games “You pay for the whole seat, but you’ll only need the EDGE!” (please imagine that last sentence using a Monster Truck voice).