Here are the morning papers for Sunday the 5th of April:
- Ryan Getzlaf tallied four assists last night in a dominating performance against the Sharks. Last night’s win in San Jose put the Ducks four points away from clinching a playoff spot.
- Did you know the Thrashers have the NHL’s best record over the past month?
- After many years of being waived and released, Tim Thomas sure deserved his four-year contract extension. The recently signed Thomas talks about Sean Avery’s antics yesterday in Boston. Yesterday’s win over the Rangers clinched first place in the Eastern Conference for the Bruins. Kevin Paul Dupont tells readers that Tim Thomas is worth the money, but he wonders what’s next for the Bruins cap-wise?
- Bucky Gleason goes Inside the NHL in this morning’s Buffalo News. Here are Gleason’s power rankings as well. It was another missed opportunity for the Sabres last night.
- The Flames could be in trouble if they come up against the Blackhawks in the playoffs. The Flames need their top guns to pick it up. There is a reason the Flames called up youngsters to play against Minnesota.
- The Hurricanes continued to be unbeatable at home and clinched a playoff spot in the process, writes Chip Alexander.
- With lots of playoff experience, Nikolai Khabibulin is going to be a key for the Blackhawks heading into the playoffs.
- Avalanche fans are getting a chance to see how many teams’ fans feel by consistently missing the post-season. Terry Frei has some kind words about Ian Laperriere.
- The Blue Jackets are still in good shape to make the playoffs, but they just cannot seem to shake their Nashville struggles. If the Jackets make the playoffs, the television situation could be tricky.
- The Stars beat the Blues on Saturday but they were also officially elminated from the playoffs.
- The Wings want to get their game going heading into the playoffs and today versus Minnesota is a perfect time to start. Detroit has to increase its focus. Chris Osgood is going to be the Wings’ starter in the playoffs.
- Terry Jones wonders why the Oilers didn’t play like they did Saturday night for most of the season? At least it was a positive result last night. Joanne Ireland says there is no rift in the Oilers locker room.
- Tomas Vokoun is starting in net today for the Panthers versus Pittsburgh. “We’re going to have to win out,” said Panthers forward Gregory Campbell.
- Brian Boyle demonstrated the skill and ability on Saturday that the Kings management thinks he has. Read about the Kings’ long-time director of security Luo McClary.
- Cal Clutterbuck talks a lot of trash and Michael Russo of the Star Tribune has a few great examples. Russo also says the Wild organization needs to take a look in the mirror in his Sunday Insider.
- The Habs look like a new team these days, and the Leafs got a taste of that yesterday night, writes Pat Hickey.
- Jason Arnott returned to the lineup with a boom and proved why he’s the Predators captain, as Nashville defeated Columbus in a shootout and is now back in playoff position. Ville Koistinen got some meaningful playing time last night.
- After some great play by Martin Brodeur, the Devils sit one point away from winning the Atlantic Division.
- Even with many call-ups in the lineup, the Islanders were better than the lowly Lightning on Saturday. Mark Streit’s groin is still tight.
- John Tortorella thought Tim Thomas deserved the extra penalty for his response to Sean Avery’s move to hit him in the head during a television timeout. (Writer’s note: The idiocy of Sean Avery continues…) When the Rangers needed a goal, they couldn’t get one.
- Even though the Senators cannot make the playoffs, they continue to play hard. Bruce Garrioch has tons of rumors in his Sunday column.
- What should Flyers fans expect from JVR? The Flyers lost ground in the race for home-ice last night by losing in a shootout to Ottawa.
- The Coyotes got destroyed by the Kings yesterday.
- The Penguins lost 3-2 in overtime to the Hurricanes in what could have easily been sold as a playoff game. Marc-Andre Fleury and Cam Ward have sure been carrying the load for their respective teams. The Penguins play the Panthers today.
- Jeremy Roenick was not happy with how the Sharks played last night against San Jose. Patrick Marleau is being extra careful with his lower-body injury.
- “We’re a better team than what we displayed tonight,” said Blues coach Andy Murray after his team fell into ninth spot in the Western Conference. The unheralded group playing defense for the Blues deserves a lot of credit.
- In daily news, the Lightning lost last night. Martin St. Louis is going to play for Canada at the World Championships. Is Steve Stamkos to follow?
- The Habs dominated the Leafs yesterday at the ACC. Joe Nieuwendyk was the key to landing Tyler Bozak and Christian Hanson, writes Mark Zwolinski. Apparently Bozak likes Ron Wilson. Hanson is already paying his rookie dues.
- The Canucks lost to Edmonton but their hearts were in another place.
- Eric Fehr and Tomas Fleischmann have struggled as of late.