Note: Don’t forget to tune in to the Illegal Curve Hockey Show on TSN Radio 1290 from noon to 3 pm cst as we discuss all the latest from the 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs. We have an excellent list of guests all afternoon long to talk about all the latest from the post season. Special guest host will be yours truly along with Michael Remis and Darrin Bauming.
Jets news:
Winnipeg Free Press: Now its’ personal. While many Manitobans remained interested in the NHL during the 15 year absence of the Jets, now that Winnipeg is back in the major leagues many fans have become re-engaged in the fastest game on ice. Ed gives his top-10 list of “Things We Learned About the NHL” in the Jets’ return season.
Winnipeg Sun: American players say no thanks to Worlds. I think the bigger surprise is that Big Buff was still considering playing in the World Championships given the fact that he needs time to recover from a deep bone bruise. Both Wheeler and Bogosian would have been nice additions to the team but have chosen to take some time to relax and recover after a long season.
Affiliate news – St. John’s IceCaps:
The Telegram: King’s late goal give IceCaps the win in their first-ever playoff game. Given that Syracuse came in riding a hot streak, the Caps played a great road game and pulled off the victory. Pasquale was a difference maker, which is what St. John’s needs to move deep in the AHL playoffs. The power play faltered (going 0/5) but given all the new faces, this is not a big surprise.
The Post-Standard: King’s goal a crusher as St. John’s rallies for 3-2 playoff win over Crunch. Sometimes teams are so exhausted from fighting to make the playoffs, that they take their foot off the gas once they know they have clinched a spot. The Crunch will have a chance for revenge tonight at the War Memorial.
Manitoba Hockey news:
Winnipeg Free Press: Charleswood Hawks win MMJHL championship. For the fourth consecutive season, the Hawks are reigning supreme in Manitoba.
Stanley Cup Playoffs news:
The Tennessean: Predators eliminate Detroit in 5. Nashville is the first team to the 2nd round. This series was seen as a toss up by many pundits, who expected it to go at least 7 games. But on the strength of Pekka Rinne’s strong goaltending the Preds have knocked off their central division rival and will have some time off before they will find out who their next opponent will be. Nice to see a Jets fan in attendance.
Detroit Free Press: Playoff run ends with early first round exit. There are going to be a number of questions that need answering in Detroit after this talented, but older team was knocked out early in the 1st round. Mike Babcock in his post game comments talked about the last 3 early playoff exits by the Wings (2nd, 2nd and 1st round) and how that is not the Detroit way. Perhaps most important of all is whether or not team captain Nicklas Lidstrom will return for another season.
Philadelphia Daily News: Flyers fail to clinch. A 3-0 lead is now a 3-2 series lead heading back for Game 6 Sunday at the Wells Fargo Center. Last night’s game still resulted in 5 combined goals which considering how the previous 4 games had been played, is a low scoring affair. To put it into perspective, the Pittsburgh/Philly series has combined for 50 goals, whereas 3 other series each have combined for 22 goals.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Fleury shuts door on Flyers’ bid for 3rd period comeback as Penguins’ season remains alive. Fleury was simply spectacular. Philly sent everything they could at the Pens net last night and Marc-Andre stood tall in the face of this pressure.
St. Louis Dispatch: Sale of Blues to Stillman coming ‘soon’. Looks like the Blues will finally have some stability with local ownership as minority owner Tom Stillman has put together a group with significant wherewithal to run this franchise. We will ask Blues beat writer Jeremy Rutherford about how this will impact the Blues in the future.
