Eastern Conference
Boston Bruins (1) versus Montreal Canadiens (8)
- “We got beat by a better team,” said Canadiens coach and GM Bob Gainey. The Bruins conquered some of their demons yesterday night, writes Kevin Paul Dupont. “It was definitely a good feeling to beat your old team here in Montreal and get the last one,” said former Canadiens winger Michael Ryder. Of course Milan Lucic and Mike Komisarek had a chance to go at it last night. Any talk about David Krejci being tired should be put to rest, as the young center was tremendous in the series. Looking to Round 2, Andrew Ference is moving closer to a return to the lineup.
- Pat Hickey says Carey Price has clearly regressed over the past two seasons. “People were rude, people were unfair, so he stood up for himself. What’s wrong with that?” said Bob Gainey about the Canadiens fans’ treatment of Carey Price. Red Fisher wonders if Bob Gainey will be back next season?
Washington Capitals (2) versus New York Rangers (7)
- NHL teams that are down 3-1 in a series like the Capitals comeback to win only 8.7% of the time. Mike Wise says that the pressure is on Alexander Ovechkin to take his team past the first round like his superstar counterpart Sidney Crosby. The Capitals just were not desperate at the start of Game 4 and it showed. At least Brian Pothier has played well since being put into the lineup after Game 1.
- Chris Drury is just plain clutch. For everything the Capitals throw at the Rangers, Henrik Lundqvist is inevitably there to catch it. “That’s why they pay me the big bucks,” said the netminder also known as the King. The Rangers now sit only one win away from a huge upset, writes Larry Brooks.
New Jersey Devils (3) versus Carolina Hurricanes (6)
- The Devils have to have a short memory when it comes to the no-call at the very end of Game 4. Is an angry Martin Brodeur exactly what New Jersey needs? The Devils most likely will not have Jamie Langenbrunner and Bryce Salvador for Game 5.
- It is impossible to predict what will happen next in the ultra tight Hurricanes/Devils series.
Pittsburgh Penguins (4) versus Philadelphia Flyers (5)
- “A team doesn’t get any more desperate than in a situation like that,” says Sidney Crosby about the Flyers tonight. Tyler Kennedy knows what it is like to blow a series lead, so he doesn’t want to be on a team that does it again. Craig Adams has really helped the Penguins in the face-off department. Do the Penguins need to sit Petr Sykora?
- While the Flyers have probably outplayed the Penguins in three of the four games, the Flyers fans just want results. Philadelphia has more confidence down 3-1 versus Pittsburgh this playoffs than they did last playoffs. Let’s be honest though, Marc-Andre Fleury hasn’t been the team’s only problem.
The Western Conference Morning Papers will be a little late this morning. I apologize for the delay.
