Here are the morning papers for Saturday April 11:
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The Anaheim Ducks sidestepped their way into the playoffs last night by virtue of their shootout win over the Dallas Stars. In the same article, note the return to action of Francois Beauchemin, only making the Ducks more dangerous on the back end. Teemu Selanne never had a doubt that the Ducks were going to make the playoffs.
- The Los Angeles Kings are playing out the string, and will finish their season this afternoon against the San Jose Sharks.
- Along with the very existence of the whole franchise, the future of Don Waddell as GM is very much in doubt in Atlanta.
- Grizzled Boston columnist Dan Shaugnessey with a salute to hockey parents. Patrice Bergeron will sit out the last two games of the season after blocking a shot with his foot.
- The Sabres are a disappointed bunch by coming so close, yet missing the playoffs. After 21 years and 1371 games, is this the end of Teppo Numminen’s tremendous career?
- The Flames played last night with only 15 skaters, and it showed in a 5-1 loss to the Oilers. Here are the predictions for tonight’s Flames-Oilers rematch.
- The Carolina Hurricanes are thrilled to be entering tonight’s game against the Devils with only playoff seeding on the line, as opposed to last year’s season finale.
- The Chicago Blackhawks have clinched home ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs and will play either the Flames or the Canucks.
- Ian Laperriere plays his thousandth game today, ending a miserable year for the Avalanche.
- Tonight, in front of a sold out crowd in Columbus, the Blue Jackets need one point to clinch 6th spot.
- The Dallas Stars season mercifully ended last night with their shootout loss to the Ducks in Anaheim
- The Red Wings got good news when Marion Hossa’s MRI on his injured groin came back negative, but he will miss the final two regular season games.
- With nothing on the line, the Oilers came out flying on home ice versus the Flames last night. Jeff Deslauriers came out from the witness protection program, having sat for the past 36 games, to get the win.
- Having missed the playoffs yet again, the Panthers organisation is left asking, “what if”
- The Wild did their part by winning last night, but they didn’t get the help they needed from other teams, and thus they are eliminated from the playoff contention. The futures of Jacques Lemaire and Marian Gaborik are very much in question in Minneapolis-St. Paul.
- With their loss to the Wild, the Predators hopes for a 5th straight playoff season came crashing to a halt.
- The Devils, locked into the number 3 seed, will play their final regular season game, still unsure of who their first round playoff opponent will be.
- Islanders head coach Scott Gordon sees positives in how his young team played in the second half of the season.
- If the Rangers are to make noise in the playoffs, they will have to do it while occupying the stalls in the visiting team dressing room.
- With nothing to play for in Toronto tonight, the Senators are ready for whatever might be thrown at them, gong show and all.
- John Stevens likes what he sees from his Flyers team entering the playoffs
- With the salary cap no longer an issue, the Penguins recalled Miroslav Satan, adding to their depth up-front.
- Here’s David Pollak’s bits and pieces from the San Jose Sharks frontline.
- In front of a boisterous crowd, the St. Louis Blues clinched their first playoff birth in three years.
- The misery that has been the Lightning’s season, finally ends tonight. Writer’s note: I bet you can count on one hand, the number of paying customers at the Lightning-Thrashers game tonight.
- Brian Burke is not only building the hype in Toronto, but he may be on his way to building a winner.
- The Canucks end the season this afternoon versus the Avalanche, and one point will clinch them the Northwest Division and the 3rd seed in the Western Conference.
- Donald Brashear is content to play out the year, and then resume contract negotiations. A preview of tonight’s meaningless Caps-Cats game.
