NHL Morning Papers: Playoff Teams (Thursday Edition)

Here are the morning papers for the Western Conference playoff match ups:

Detroit versus Nashville:

• Once again, quick goals led to Detroit’s downfall last night, writes Helene St. James. After last night’s performances by Dominik Hasek and Chris Osgood it looks like we have a full-fledged goaltending controversy on our hands in Detroit. Steve Schrader of the Detroit Free Press wonders why the same script happens to the Wings every year?
• With last night’s impressive 3-2 home victory, the Predators have turned this series into a best-of-three, writes John Glennon. With the offensive production the Predators have been getting from their defensive corps, who needs forwards? Quick goals are the Predators’ specialty.

San Jose versus Calgary:

• With his grit and determination, Patrick Marleau has proven to the hockey world why he is the captain of the Sharks, writes Ann Killon. Meanwhile, the San Jose defense wants to continue doing what it’s doing, as the team kept the Flames to a meager ten shots on goal in Game 4. Apparently a lot of the Sharks did not even know about Evgeni Nabokov’s post Game 3 comments.
• Robyn Regehr thinks some of his teammates have more to give on the ice, writes Erik Duhatschek. It is fairly simple, the Flames need to get more shots on net, writes Randy Sportak. The frustration in Calgary boiled over yesterday, as assistant coach Rich Preston and Jarome Iginla got into a bit of a yelling match.

Minnesota versus Colorado:

• The Wild has only led for four minutes in their entire series with Colorado, yet the series is tied at two with a big Game 5 tonight, writes Michael Russo. The Avalanche are not in this series to fight, writes Kent Youngblood. Furthermore, any talk of the Avalanche looking for revenge in Game 5 is unfounded.
• Jordan Leopold picked just the right time to get into coach Joel Quenville’s good books, writes Terry Frei. Look for Game 5 to be a physical affair. Beware Wild fans, Mark Kiszla is back for more!

Anaheim versus Dallas:

• The Ducks know the key to their series with Dallas is to not cross the line. Anaheim looks like it’ll be getting a huge boost with the expected return of Corey Perry to the team’s line up for Game 4.
• Dave Tippett couldn’t care less that the Stars have a poor home record in the American Airlines Center. Mike Heika has covered the Stars all season long but he says he does not have a clue what to expect from this team. In a more serious story, hockey is surely not the most important thing on Joel Lundqvist’s mind, writes Heika.

The morning papers for the teams that did not qualify for the playoffs are soon to follow…

For Illegal Curve, I’m Richard Pollock.

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