NHL Playoff Morning Papers (Friday Edition): Malkin and Crosby dominate the Wings, reaction to Joe Sacco’s hiring and NHL executive says Islanders will take Hedman

Stanley Cup Final

Detroit Red Wings (2) versus Pittsburgh Penguins (4)

• “We weren’t good at all defensively,” said Chris Osgood after his team’s 4-2 loss in Game 4.  For all the talk about the Wings’ penalty killing being poor, the team’s power play has been awful in this series.  The challenge of stopping Crosby and Malkin together proved to be too much.  The Wings organization is saying that Pavel Datsyuk is close to returning to the lineup.  Without Datsyuk in the lineup, the Wings are having a hard time keeping up with the Penguins’ fire power.  Steve Schrader of the Detroit Free Press wasn’t very impressed with the officiating.  Are the Wings wearing down?
• Sidney Crosby delivered last night, writes Eric Duhatschek.  Crosby elevated his game but so did Evgeni Malkin.  So Crosby and Malkin elevated their games, but what about Jordan Staal’s momentum changing goal?  “That definitely changed the game,” said Maxime Talbot.  The Penguins have full confidence in netminder Marc-Andre Fleury and he proved why last night.  Pittsburgh is winning because the players are playing their game.

Teams that are not in the playoffs

• The NHL and NBC are said to be close to agreeing on a two-year contract extension.
• An NHL executive says the Islanders are going to select Victor Hedman with the number one overall pick.
• The Thrashers have re-signed Anssi Salmela, the defenseman they received in return for Niclas Havelid.
• David Krejci’s hip surgery was deemed a success.
• Mario Tremblay will not be back as an assistant coach for the Wild next season but did say he’d love to have the same job with the Canadiens if possible.
• Islanders center Doug Weight was impressed with John Tavares during their time together on the Island.
• Here are the details on the other group that wants to bring another hockey team to Southern Ontario.
• Jim Matheson gives Oilers fans the latest on Craig MacTavish’s next job, possible assistant coaches for Pat Quinn and Tom Renney and what Edmonton might do in net.
• In Vancouver, GM Place is going to undergo some renovations.
• Over in Montreal, here’s the latest on George Gillett’s finances.
• According to Bruce Garrioch, the Tampa Bay Lightning only plan on spending to the salary cap floor next season.

The Avalanche’s new coach

• Mark Kiszla of the Denver Post thinks Joe Sacco has been hired to absorb some losses until Patrick Roy is ready to come aboard.
• Sacco has learned coaching techniques from Ron Wilson and Jack Parker, but he wants to be himself too.
• Sacco’s players in Lake Erie of the AHL think he will do a good job in Colorado.
• Here is an article profiling new Colorado GM Greg Sherman.
• One of Sherman’s first responsibilities is to figure out what’s next for Joe Sakic.
• Don’t expect a power struggle in the front office, writes Terry Frei.

The Coyotes situation

• Jim Balsillie answers three questions for the Arizona Republic.
• NHLPA boss Paul Kelly thinks the NHL’s time in Phoenix should come to an end.
• Some experts think that no matter which way Judge Redfield Baum rules, that either side will appeal.  (Writer’s note: Balsillie has said he won’t appeal if he loses, but who knows.)

AHL Calder Cup Final

• Randy Turner of the Winnipeg Free Press gets the sense that the fans really, really care about the outcome of the Moose games, when maybe they once did not.  Blow outs–not the Moose’s forte, but close games are.  Hershey coach Bob Woods promises that his team’s fans will be loud too.  Meanwhile, Bears defenseman Bryan Helmer cannot believe how long it’s been since he won the Calder Cup.