11:54 PM: Don't trade in that Nintendo Wii just yet...this September, when NHL 11 is released for the Playstation 3 and Xbox 360, a new hockey game "NHL Slapshot" will be coming for the Wii...and who better to grace the game with his presence than the Great One himself - Wayne Gretzky...

What excites me most - it'll come complete with a brand new hockey stick controller attachment (I assume you'd somehow connect it to the existing remote just like you'd do a Racing wheel, golf club, tennis racket, or even boxing gloves)...the idea is you'll have full control of your stick to either stick handle, shoot the puck, or even cross check your opponent into the boards...early reports indicate both the Wii-mote and the Nunchuk will both somehow connect to this thing...all levels of pro hockey will be represented, from the CHL, NHL, AHL, etc...you'll enter the game as a Pee Wee player and have an opportunity to work your way up to the pros - with The Great One as your coach and mentor...or you can choose to enter in the skates of a young Gretzky, Crosby, Luongo, etc...

EA has remained tight lipped on this thing, rightfully so...an official announcement isn't expected until next Monday at the earliest...chances are they'll wait until after the Cup is awarded...

I haven't been this excited about a Wii Game since Punch Out...well the new Mario was a big deal too...

Is it September 7th yet!??

10:58 PM: The more I watch Chris Pronger play, the more I'm convinced of what a classless idiot he is (I could replace idiot with another well used derogatory adjective, but there could be kids reading this) - good defenseman, when he wants to be - but no class, and no spine...two games in a row now, he took the game puck away so that Antti Niemi can't put it on his mantle...sore loser...couldn't even face the media without getting belligerent...you know, some days I answer the same question 10-15 times, and am happy to do it...he got upset for having to answer the same question 4 times...give me a break...you're supposed to be Canadian, grow some patience already...it might actually help your game...I guess when you make millions of dollars and are heralded as one of the game's best you can afford to be a little cocky...who knows...

Anyhow, Chicago wins by the same 2-1 score - Eager's goal stands up as the winner...Patrick Sharp hit the post on the empty net attempt, but it doesn't matter - the Blackhawks lead the series 2-0 as the scene shifts East to the city of not-so-brotherly love...you can be sure nobody is going to get the Philly Flu for Game 3...we've got ourselves a series...this game I think was more reflective of what we can expect the rest of the way...the goalies settled down and both teams played not to lose...didn't work this time for the Flyers...

Game 3 Wednesday night...you wonder how Chicago could lose at this point, again Kane, Toews and Buff were kept off the score sheet, yet they still win - that's when you know you have a team with lots of depth...

But...this is why we play the games...can't take Philly lightly after what they've managed this playoff...

Word of advice to any Chicago media types - don't drive...fly and rent a car with Pennsylvania license plates...just in case...

10:27 PM: Philadelphia gets within 1 - Simon Gagne with his 8th, on a power play, at 5:20...it's 2-1...

9:58 PM: Troy Brouwer, 2 minutes for roughing...at 19:24...Philadelphia will take 1:24 of power play time into the 3rd to try and cut into Chicago's sudden 2 goal lead...as Jon Cusack whoops it up behind the visitor net...no sign of Vince Vaughn tonight...

Speaking of actors, I mentioned Gary Coleman's passing on Friday...well Saturday we lost Dennis Hopper...who had been battling prostate cancer for the better part of the last year or so...Hopper, best known for "Easy Rider", "Apocalypse Now", and "Hoosiers", was one of the best actors to cast if you needed somebody to play a villain's role...who could forget "Rebel Without A Cause"...and in recent times 1993's "True Romance", and 1994's "Speed"...I've got a pretty good idea what I'll be watching Friday night after Game 4...one or more of the aforementioned...

9:54 PM: It was quiet for 37:09, but now the Blackhawks have scored two quick ones...Marian Hossa and Ben Eager - 28 seconds apart - 2-0 Chicago with 2 minutes left in the second...Hossa's 3rd and 1st in 9 games, at 17:09, and Eager's 1st, at 17:37...

And they're going nuts at the Madhouse...

8:58 PM: No dice...Chicago is 0 for 2 on the PP...dying seconds of the 1st period...still scoreless...

8:56 PM: Probably going to be a parade of Philadelphia players to the box now...Tomas Kopecky gets 2 for roughing, Mike Richards 2 for elbowing, Dan Carcillo, 2 for unsportsmanlike...power play, Chicago...

8:52 PM: It took 74:48 for Philadelphia to take a penalty...Blair Betts for Cross Checking...and the Flyers killed it off...

8:35 PM: The most telling stat of Game 1 and maybe this series by the time it's all said and done has to be the plus/minus - as in 0 points and minus 9 for the Kane/Toews/Byfuglien line...yet, Chicago still somehow won the game 6-5...

For Philadelphia, it's simple - Michael Leighton must get back to standing on his head...

Nothing to report through 7 minutes...except maybe Philadelphia has yet to take a penalty in this series, but Chicago gets another one...

Kris Versteeg goes off, and Dan Carcillo has started his yapping...I can't believe he continues to get away with that...interference the call...

8:19 PM: I'm just waiting to hear that Chicago Blackhawks theme on the organ - you know, like they used to do in EA Sports' NHL 94, the Sega CD version...or even the Sega Saturn after it...looks like I'll have to settle for "The Phantom Of The Opera" and "The Star Spangled Banner"...

I don't get why they didn't give us more organ music in the later versions of the game...I mean, sure, they do give us organ, but not enough in my opinion...

Face off is imminent...

8:03 PM: Eminem - I'm Not Afraid?!  Not sure if the song was written with Hockey in mind, but it works as a backdrop to Game 2...

Michael Leighton starts tonight, Oskars Bartulis and Dan Carcillo are in...James Van Riemsdyk and Ryan Parent are out...no lineup changes for Chicago...

10:55 PM: Kopecky's goal stands up as the game winner - and the Chicago Blackhawks, in their red home jerseys with the white and black trim, win a wild Game 1...

Be here Monday for Game 2 - same bat time, same bat channel...

10:34 PM: Tomas Kopecky puts the Hawks ahead 6-5 at 8:25 of the 3rd...his 4th...

Chicago is now leading on the shot clock...32-28...they've been relentless this period...

2nd period just finished...ten goals scored after 40 minutes of Game 1...Blackhawks had a real flurry there for awhile, Philadelphia was up by 10 shots, well now it's a narrow 26-24 lead...

3rd period is going to be a blast...

9:53 PM: Troy Brouwer's 2nd goal, 3rd point of the game and 4th goal of the playoffs at 15:18 chases Michael Leighton - Brian Boucher is back in goal for Philadelphia for the first time since Game 4 of the Boston series...Marian Hossa quietly has 2 assists...

9:40 PM: Seems Glenn Healy has the perfect description of this game...1st save wins...Kris Versteeg squares the affair again...his 5th at 9:31...it's 4-4...

Flyers are up 23-13 in shots...Michael Leighton hasn't given up this many goals since Game 3 against the Habs...

9:38 PM: They can hear Blair Betts' 1st goal of the playoffs all the way back in Philadelphia - it hit the post and made a lot of noise on the way in...not your typical Betts goal, but the Flyers lead 4-3 in the 2nd with less than 12 minutes remaining...time of the goal 7:20 of the 2nd...and silence falls upon the United Center again...

9:25 PM: Patrick Sharp ties it 3-3 with his 8th at 1:11 of the 2nd...

9:03 PM: Danny Briere scored his 10th, with just 27 seconds left in the 1st (19:33)...Flyers lead 3-2 after 20 minutes...lead on the shot clock 17-9...

8:56 PM: What did I just say?  Scott Hartnell gets his 4th at 16:37, on a power play...we're tied 2-2...all of a sudden Philadelphia leads 14-9 in shots...

8:46 PM: There's been talk all week about how Chicago hasn't faced a rough and tough team like Philadelphia in the playoffs so far....well Philadelphia hasn't faced a team with Chicago's skill and speed either...the Hawks took a penalty, but they are not afraid to try shorthanded...the top scoring team in the regular season, and in the playoffs as well just showed us why...Dave Bolland got a shorthanded break and made it count at 11:50 of the first...2-1 Chicago...

I'm not too sure how much more the Hawks will want to test the Flyers' power play, though...they got lucky on that one...

8:38 PM: Troy Brouwer gets it back and sends the Madhouse on Madison into a frenzy with his 3rd...it's 1-1...just took 68 seconds...7:46 of the first...

8:36 PM: Ouch!!  Ville Leino put the puck into the slot, hit Niklas Hjalmarsson in the face and it deflected in...1-0 Flyers at 6:38 of the first...Scott Hartnell was in the crease, but didn't touch it...Leino's 5th...Hjalmarsson was bleeding all the way back to the bench...

8:32 PM: Game 1 of the Cup Final just underway - there's a nice breeze in Ottawa tonight...cool enough to give my air conditioner a break...somehow that just doesn't sound right...

Chicago just killed off a penalty, and just got their first shot on Michael Leighton...

14:03 left in the 1st...Pronger and Byfuglien just got acquainted...

11:40 AM: Big night tonight - Chicago and Philadelphia face off in Game 1 of the finals...

I have to say, I'm a little stunned with Gary Bettman's annual state of the league address - for once he appears to have grown a bit of a backbone.  Obviously miffed over the IIHF's comments over players choosing not to play for their country after already representing their countries in the Olympics, Bettman seemed a little threatening in his always carefully chosen words: "At some point when we're engaged on really substantive issues with the players' association I am certain that will be on the list of things we talk about.  I'm not happy with the way the IIHF somehow feels it has an entitlement to these great athletes who risk their careers and put themselves out of their own time without anything but love of country."

High on his priority list of things to mention, was obviously the Phoenix situation, which he seems confident is going to work out just fine.  For probably the first time, however, he seemed to show genuine regret over Winnipeg and Quebec moving..."I'd like to try and fix something that I wish might not have happened in the first place, not unlike what we did in Minnesota."  The message is clear for fans in both markets - be patient...

There was the usual rhetoric on how all 30 NHL markets are stable, and the "market is not flooded with teams" for sale...this, of course, all contrary to what the media has been reporting over the past year or so...

A few more fine points - there will be two Outdoor games this year - the annual New Year's event, this year from Pittsburgh, game between the Penguins and Washington Capitals, and another one in Calgary in February between the Flames and Montreal.  Kind of weird that they wouldn't give them Toronto or Ottawa, or even Vancouver...wasn't the whole point of these things to give every team a chance?  Montreal gets to go to an outdoor game for the second time...there was also speculation Washington will get an outdoor game at some point...

There are proposals being considered for a change in format to the All-Star Game...

Apparently the salary cap will go up $2 million, not down as originally expected...

Next season's schedule is slated to be released June 22, a few weeks earlier than normal...it had been bandied about that the NHL was working on two possible schedule scenarios, one with Phoenix and one with WInnipeg...of course, we'll never know unless we can somehow find a talking fly on the wall...

And finally, a research and development camp is scheduled for August 18-19 in Toronto where it's expected testing will be done on new equipment and potential rule changes...

Just another day in the life of the NHL...

Sad news today out of Provo, Utah - Gary Coleman, best known for his role as Arnold Jackson on the 70s sitcom "Diff'rent Strokes", has passed away from what doctors call an "intercranial hemorrhage"...which he actually suffered yesterday, and seemed, like Bret Michaels, would recover from...he was just 42....

It had not been an easy life for the TV star...diagnosed with kidney disease at age 2, he had his first of two kidney transplants at age 5 and in recent years was receiving dialysis treatment...as an adult, he was only able to achieve a height of 4" 2'...

As if all of the health issues weren't bad enough, when he was 21, his mother tried to gain control of his assets through the courts, claiming he was incapable of handling his own affairs, a legal battle which inevitably cost him more than half of his fortune...

His legal troubles didn't stop there - as recently as 2008, Coleman pled no contest to disorderly conduct after a fan sued him after an altercation at a Utah bowling alley.  The fan claimed the actor punched him and attempted to run him over with his truck...

In recent years, Coleman was seen in the absolutely insane computer video game Postal II and its Apocalypse Weekend expansion...as I recall, he even made a cameo in the movie adaptation...

A lot of people probably don't remember this, but back in 2003, Coleman ran for California State Governor, and ended up placing 8th behind winner Arnold Schwarzenegger...

Not really sure what it is about the summer months...but we lost Michael last year, now Gary...it seems every year I lose more of my childhood...

Get those Diff'rent Strokes DVDs now...they're sure to sell out quickly...

Rest in peace, little buddy...

5:40 PM: A hot, hot day in Ottawa today...temperature with humidex was expected to reach the high 30s Celcius, forcing the city to call a heat alert for today and tomorrow...just to put this in perspective, this never EVER happens in May...we usually have to wait until late June early July for this...last summer, we didn't have one heat alert - not one (if we did I missed it)...seems like I had a couple of nice days on the deck and all of a sudden it was winter again...well we're being rewarded this year for sure!!!

A few tidbits...there was talk in the Ottawa Sun today that Anton Volchenkov has put his house up for sale - speculation is he's getting set to sign a multi year contract with Washington that will pay him what he's asking, around $5 million plus per...Bryan Murray has repeatedly said he just simply doesn't have it in the budget...I don't know, but the Senators let Zdeno Chara walk, and now they might be letting the league's most fearless shot blocker walk too...

The big news today, though, just announced after 3 PM - Steve Yzerman has left his position with the Detroit Red Wings to become the new general manager of the Tampa Bay Lightning...there is a nice young core there, and with Steve at the helm, you just never know...

And get your bets in - Vegas odds and bookies alike are favoring Chicago (4-11) over Philaelphia (9-4) to win the Stanley Cup...shouldn't come as a big surprise to anybody...if you bet $100 and Chicago wins, you'd only make about $36, on the flip side, if the Flyers win, you'd make $125 more with the same bet...of course, I'm no betting man...

And P.K. Subban's hockey season is not over - the Habs assigned him as well as Ben Maxwell to Hamilton, where they're both expected to play Game 7 Wednesday night between the Bulldogs and Texas Stars...

9:40 PM: And Mike Richards picks up the trophy and carries it right to the locker room...Jonathan Toews didn't touch it yesterday...now the former Olympic team mates will face off for Hockey's ultimate prize...

Finals preview will be up by Thursday night...take care and behave yourselves, especially in Montreal...you had a hell of a run...as for Philadelphia, see you in Chicago...

As Ron Maclean put it - Rocky Balboa goes up against Rocky Wirtz...nice!!

Talk to y'all later...

9:34 PM: 4-2 last night for Chicago...4-2 tonight for Philadelphia...Jeff Carter with his second of the game into an empty net at 19:37...Carter's 4th...

And the Flyers win in 5...the Stanley Cup Finals will probably not get underway until Saturday...it's only Monday...looks like I sit on the deck all week...

Montreal will hate the feeling at this moment, but no shame whatsoever for what they were able to accomplish this year...while they fell a little short of uLAr's prediction from 2003, for awhile there I thought they would actually do it...

Here comes the Prince of Wales Trophy...

9:17 PM: Glen Metropolit, 2 minutes for tripping...so much for that...

7:45 left...

9:16 PM: 1:45 left in the double minor...nothing doing yet...the Philadelphia penalty killers are relentless...

9:13 PM: Double minor to Chris Pronger for high sticking P.K. Subban...is this the turning point Montreal is looking for?

9:09 PM: Look out...Scott Gomez has just scored his second of the playoffs, and 1st goal in 18 games...it's 3-2...with about 12 minutes left in the 3rd...the Habs need more of this...we got a hockey game now!!!

8:26 PM: Ian Laperriere, wearing a full face shield, blocked a shot which charged up the crowd, and seemed to charge up the team - 2 quick goals by Philadelphia - Aaron Asham at 3:07 of the 2nd, and Jeff Carter just 1:24 later, at 4:31 - 3rd of the playoffs for both players...

What can I say, these players have a lot of guts...to win at this level, they have to...not for the faint of heart, this game...

Montreal is on a power play...but they aren't making a good case for just their second man advantage goal of this series...they just haven't been able to duplicate Game 3's effort and relentless fore check...

3-1 Flyers...in the game, and in the series...

8:05 PM: We're deadlocked 1-1 after the first period of Game 5 at the Wachovia Center - Brian Gionta got Montreal up 1-0 early with his 9th, just 59 seconds in...then it was Mike Richards with a shortie at 4:25, his 6th...Jaroslav Halak only faced six shots, but the five saves he made were remarkable...the Habs had 10 shots on Michael Leighton...

2nd period just underway...

3:50 PM: And finally...yesterday the Memorial Cup final was on between the host Brandon Wheat Kings, who got to the final after beating a very determined Calgary Hitmen in overtime, and the Windsor Spitfires - last year's champions.  Well, they're now repeat champions...for only the 8th time in CHL history, a team has won back to back championships - it wasn't even close - a 9-1 romp...Taylor Hall became the first player in CHL history to win Memorial Cup MVP two years in a row (Edmonton Oilers' management, are you paying attention?!?!)...the way this Windsor team got to where it is today is an amazing story in itself - they did like Philadelphia did against Boston - they were down 3-0 against the Kitchener Rangers in the OHL semi-final before coming back to win the next four straight, earning them a berth in the final, which they also won in 4 straight...a 12 game winning streak in total...most of the wins of the convincing variety...

And the Brandon Wheat Kings still search for that elusive Memorial Cup...they've never won it...even with a young Wayne Gretzky as their captain...weird but true...

2:35 PM: You probably heard at some point last week about Team Canada's quarterfinal loss to Team Russia at the World Championships...a tournament the Russians have dominated over the past several years...while Canada has had success on the World Junior/Olympic stage, Russia and the Czech Republic seem to trade championship's at the yearly IIHF event...well, the Czechs are back on top of the world after stunning the explosive Russians by a 2-1 count to win the Gold Medal at one of the hardest World tournaments to win...Jaromir Jagr was on record with a lot of criticism for some of his better known comrades for declining the invitation to the event, which later prompted the IIHF to single out other pros like Sidney Crosby, etc for not showing up after their respective teams got knocked out of the Stanley Cup playoffs...needless to say there's been a lengthy ongoing debate about whether or not the IIHF should even hold the annual event on Olympic years, provided of course the NHL continues to participate beyond Vancouver...you already know my opinion on the matter...

Well Jagr must like the group that showed up just fine now...led by Tomas Vokoun's 35 save effort and Jagr's goal helped the underdog Czech's knock off Alex Ovechkin, Evgeni Malkin, Pavel Datsyuk et al...Jakup Klepis, a former Ottawa Senators first round draft pick, who never got to play with the Sens before being traded to Washington, was absolutely brilliant in the tournament, playing on the top line with Jagr...captain Tomas Rolinek, who is best described as the Czech Republic's version of Ryan Smyth, scored the eventual game winner after Ovechkin and Sergei Fedorov collided with each other...despite the comedy of errors, it's a well deserved win from a team not expected to even qualify for the quarterfinals...

Not unlike the Stanley Cup playoffs, the World tournament this year held a few surprises - Germany was in the Bronze Medal game and darn near won it...Denmark went much farther than anyone ever expected too...Canada, Finland and the U.S.A. all fell short of expectations...in U.S.A's case, they were forced to play in the relegation round and finished a measly 11th...the World, unfortunately, was not watching...

12:37 PM: So on Friday, the NHL and Glendale came to an agreement over the foreseeable future of the Phoenix Coyotes - Glendale agreed to pay up to $25 million of the Coyotes' operating losses for the 2010-11 season.  In the agreement, an ultimatum - Glendale has until Dec 31, 2010 to find a buyer for the team, or else they will be sold to the highest bidder, and potentially moved...this according to a Globe And Mail report, so buy into that however you see fit...

I wonder how Winnipeg truly feels about being dangled this carrot every week or two...has the NHL considered that if and when a franchise would become a reality there again that maybe the fans may have forgotten there was ever a team there?  As it is, most forum posts I read are along the lines of "it would be awesome, but I'll believe it when I see it"...I hope it can happen for them, but wonder if Winnipeg's time has past...food for thought...

10:34 AM: So, by now, you're probably already aware that the Chicago Blackhawks are the 2010 Western Conference Champions - after a 4-2 win in Game 4 against the San Jose Sharks...this one will be a bitter pill to swallow for the men from Northern California...in more ways than one...

The Sharks were actually alright in this one early - Logan Couture, who had a hell of a playoff, got his 4th at 11:08 of the 1st, and after 20 minutes it was 1-0 San Jose...

But then, like they've been doing all playoff long, they got themselves into penalty trouble...and against this Chicago team, that spells trouble at the best of times...Devon Setoguchi took two minutes for a hook on Patrick Kane, and Patrick Marleau actually put the Sharks up 2-0 with a shorthanded goal at 7:35 of the 2nd, his 8th...then the Hawks went to work...Brent Seabrook with his 3rd, even strength at 13:15 made it 2-1, and Dave Bolland, who for some reason I feel so good for when he scores, given what he went through with his back injury - he got his 5th at 18:38 of the 2nd, and after 40, we were tied 2-2...if this is sounding eerily similar to Game 3, well that's because it was almost a carbon copy...just no overtime this time...

In the 3rd, Dan Boyle was the goat again...it never fails...that puck over the glass delay of game penalty always seems to come back to haunt teams...it was the determining factor in 2006 when Carolina faced Buffalo in Game 7, and history repeated itself again in 2010 Game 4 in the Windy City...the hero of the week, Dustin Byfuglien, whose goal celebration photo is now on the front page, did it again - at 14:05 of the 3rd, on the delay of game power play, Byfuglien scored his 8th and 2nd GWG in as many games...Kris Versteeg would score his 4th into an empty net at 19:18...and what can I say - the Chicago Blackhawks are Western Conference Champions...after falling short last spring, they're in for the first time since 1992...they'll await either Philadelphia, who with a win tonight will join them in the Stanley Cup Final, or Montreal who we'll have to wait and see if they have any more magic left...saw a lot of Quebec license plates over the weekend...not sure what that means, but hopefully the fans haven't given up...

As for San Jose...one more round this time, but more of the same...high expectations, can't execute when it matters most...

If the East wraps up tonight, it's unclear when the Stanley Cup Final will start, but my money would be on Thursday or Saturday...if I were a betting man...

9:07 AM: So, on Saturday, Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Final was one to forget quickly, if you're a Montreal fan...if you're a Philadelphia fan, you loved it...

First and foremost, the team got an emotional lift when they learned both Jeff Carter and Ian Laperriere would both be dressing...a lift they carried throughout the entire game...can't imagine what it'll be like at Wachovia Center after they play God Bless America...

Anyhow, they were making such a big deal after Game 2 about how Michael Leighton tied Bernie Parent for most shutouts in a playoff series (franchise record, not NHL record)...well, he broke it in Game 4 with his 3rd shutout of this series...we had no scoring until 5:41 of the 2nd - Claude Giroux with his 7th would be the eventual game winner...Ville Leino added insurance at 14:53, his 4th, and Claude Giroux would ice it with an empty netter at 18:47 of the 3rd, his 8th and 2nd of the game - Philly won Game 4 by a score of 3-0 on Montreal ice...Flyers lead the Eastern Conference final 3-1 and are going home for tonight's game...

There's an article in today's Sun that says the Habs have the Flyers right where they want them...we'll see...they've certainly managed to defy the odds so far...and don't talk to Philadelphia about defying odds...

8:17 AM: ...I guess I didn't realize just how great the weather was going to be...the mercury hit 29 Celcius yesterday...although that was south in Watertown, but it was equally as warm back here in Ottawa, or so it seemed...today we're supposed to hit or surpass 30 Celcius...bring on summer...

So a lot has happened in the hockey world since Friday night...we already have a Stanley Cup finalist, and we could know as soon as tonight the other one...the Memorial Cup final happened as did the World Championship Gold medal game...and the NHL issued an ultimatum to Glendale...

More to come, but I'll cover it all during the day...I'm actually working today, but I get the feeling it won't be all day...

11:27 PM: I won't be around this weekend as I'm again heading to upstate NY...which unfortunately means I'm going to miss Game 4 of both series, but at least I have XM in the car...

I'll blog on what went down on Sunday night...hopefully both series will still be going...after tonight, though, it's not looking good for San Jose...

Hope everyone has a great Victoria Day weekend...the weather will be great...

11:13 PM: Queue up The Fratellis...as the Chicago Blackhawks put a Chelsea Dagger into the hearts of the Sharks...Dustin Byfuglien with his 7th of the playoffs, none bigger, 12:24 into the 1st overtime period...Hawks lead the series 3-0 and need just one more win to advance to the Finals...

10:45 PM: OK...so either Patrick Marleau will get the Hat Trick and get the Sharks back into this series, or Jonathan Toews will get a goal to go with his 2 assists...those are my predictions...

OT is imminent...

10:37 PM: As TSN gets set to wrap up their NHL broadcast season, we head to OT...as they all hold their collective breath on Madison Avenue...

Weird how TSN and CBC are splitting coverage of the series...CBC takes over from Sunday afternoon on...provided there is actually a Game 5...we have not had a sweep in these playoffs yet...

Goal predictions coming right up...

10:33 PM: San Jose is not going away...Patrick Marleau with his 2nd of the game and 7th of the playoffs at 15:37 - tied 2-2...

2 minute warning...

10:24 PM: Dave Bolland, fresh out of the penalty box, capitalized on yet another Dan Boyle gaffe, his 4th of the playoffs at 13:05 of the 3rd period...and it's 2-1 Chicago with under 6 minutes left...I get the feeling if we go to 3-0 this time there will not be a 7th heaven comeback...it only took 35 years for it to happen for just the 3rd time...twice in the same playoff??  No way...

9:16 PM: Jonathan Toews has just beat Stan Mikita for the longest playoff scoring streak in Chicago franchise history - it's his 12th straight game of these playoffs where he has registered at least a point, and tonight it's an assist on Patrick Sharp's 7th, at 6:59...a power play goal...

Special teams are the story in this one so far...we're tied 1-1...

9:10 PM: Patrick Marleau makes it 1-0 Sharks at the four minute mark of the 2nd...5 on 3, his 6th...

9:03 PM: Game 3 of the Western Conference Final from Chicago is scoreless in the 2nd period...

9:47 PM: 5-1 - finally the Habs get a power play goal in this series...my old buddy Marc-Andre Bergeron, his second, at 19:29...and you can put it in the win column...Montreal is back in this Eastern Conference Final series...Game 4 Saturday afternoon...

9:44 PM: The "Flyers Suck!" chants are flying now...Roman Hamrlik and Scott Hartnell just got into a fight...we'll have to wait and see if there's a suspension for instigating in the last five minutes...

Montreal will finish the game 5 on 3...

9:41 PM: It was starting to look like a road team wasn't going to be able to score in this series, until Simon Gagne ended that threat with his 7th at 8:22 of the 3rd...the first 168:22 of this series, the road team was shut out...

9:10 PM: 4-0 Habs...Brian Gionta with his 8th, 2 minutes into the 3rd...nice deke!!!

8:36 PM: Just saw a trailer for "The Karate Kid" remake with Jackie Chan...Pat Morita must be turning over in his grave...the original Mr. Miyagi was able to catch a fly with his chopsticks, but Chan needs a fly swatter!?!?

8:32 PM: Who says home ice doesn't matter?  I've always said it does by the time we get this far...

3-0 Montreal, on Dominic Moore's 4th...a 30 foot wristshot at 11:33...

Don Cherry brought up a good point in Coach's Corner...keep an eye on #18....Mike Richards...he was a one man wrecking crew to turn around the Boston series...

Ole Ole Ole Ole...

7:56 PM: Now that is more like it from Montreal - it's 2-0 after 20...it only took the Canadiens 137:05 to score a goal, but Mike Cammalleri matched his jersey number with his 13th at 7:05, and Tom Pyatt with his 2nd at 16:52...he only needs to score 92 more to match his...

Habs will start the 2nd with just over 30 seconds left of a 5 on 3...and they lead 2-0...Jaroslav Halak has been stupendous...again...

Apparently they caught the person who vandalized Hickey's car...the dummy bragged about it on Facebook...

2:16 PM: So we shift scenes to Montreal tonight for Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Final between the Habs and Philadelphia Flyers...

I know there's been a lot of talk about the riot in Montreal after the Game 7 win against Pittsburgh where 41 were arrested, but don't be so quick to cast halos on the Philly fans just yet - apparently a few fans vandalized a car with Quebec plates parked in the media section of the Wachovia Center after Game 1 - the car belonging to none other than veteran Montreal hockey writer Pat Hickey...fans had covered the car with garbage, stolen the license plates, and slashed a tire...the vehicle, a 1999 Honda Accord with well over 350,000 miles on it, also lost a bug guard off the front...

As if that wasn't bad enough, apparently a Radio Canada (French CBC) mobile broadcast unit was vandalized just as they were about to do a live segment - fans evidently pulled the plug and poured beer on the control panel...gotta love Philly...no wonder I leave my windows closed and lock my doors when passing through...

Now come on - that's just a waste of good beer!!!!  Although, the culprits were probably already wasted as it was...but to me that's no excuse!!

Be here tonight at 7 PM sharp...and keep your hands off my Molson...haven't decided yet if it'll be Rickard's Red or Canadian...what I do know for sure is the BBQ will be on...that reminds me...I'm out of pretzels...

12:55 AM: So far, this Western Conference Final series is turning out like the regular season did - Chicago and San Jose split their seasons series, both winning twice in each other's barn...well, so far to start this series, Chicago has won the first two games in San Jose...not sure if the Sharks will be able to do the same in Chicago...even though the Blackhawks haven't exactly lit it up at the United Center, they've won when they had to...

Too early to call a sweep in this one, but it's certainly possible...

So the Hawks win 4-2...they were up 1-0 after 1, then in the 2nd they blew the lid off and silenced the Sharks' faithful...at 6:59 of the second, Dustin Byfuglien scored his 6th, then at 8:29, Jonathan Toews with his 7th on a power play...at 11:08, Patrick Marleau would get the Sharks on the board and break Antti Niemi's shutout bid - on a power play as well, his 4th, and it was 3-1...this is where we stood after 40...Troy Brouwer would ice it 6:18 into the 3rd, his 2nd - they originally gave the goal to Niklas Hjalmarsson, but upon further review...the Sharks would make a game of it - at 15:32 Patrick Marleau would score his 5th and 2nd of the night, but then San Jose got into penalty trouble...even though Marian Hossa missed an empty net, twice, Chicago would still win Game 2 4-2...Game 3 Friday night from the Windy City...

10:32 PM: Andrew Ladd went roof daddy on Evgeni Nabokov at 12:48, his 2nd, and the Chicago Blackhawks lead 1-0 in Game 2 of the Western Conference Final...this after Patrick Marleau almost stripped Kris Versteeg of the puck...unfortunately almost doesn't count...

5 minutes left in the 1st period...

9:36 PM: 2nd straight playoff shutout for Michael Leighton - Flyers win 3-0 and lead the series 2-0...Game 3 on Thursday night back in La Belle Province...

More history tonight - Leighton becomes the first Philly goalie to get two shutouts in a playoff series since Bernie Parent did it back during the Flyers' Cup runs in 1974 and 1975...he has played 165 minutes and 50 seconds of shutout hockey...

9:16 PM: I don't know if the Philly fans are taunting Montreal or if they've decided to adopt the Ole Ole Ole chant...but anyway, it's 3-0 on Ville Leino's 3rd of the playoffs, at 10:24 of the third period...probably the worst goal I've seen Jaroslav Halak give up this spring...it went through his glove...or least it seemed that way...

If you're a Montreal fan, you can take solace in the fact Games 3 and 4 are at the Bell Centre...maybe it'll be one of those series where home ice is actually an advantage...as they say, a series is not truly over until you lose a game at home...but don't tell that to Philadelphia, winners of 5 straight, potentially 6...

Michael Leighton hasn't let in a goal since the 1st period of Game 7 against Boston...and his team has scored 13 unanswered goals since...it's the only reason they're here instead of Boston...

8:50 PM: More of the same in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Final - Montreal can't buy a goal - but they could start crashing the net a little bit more...better yet, get physical on Philadelphia, period...easier said than done evidently...shots are 26-13 in favor of the Habs, but it's Danny Briere with his 9th, 4:16 into the first, and Simon Gagne with his 6th, 15:49 into the second, both goals scored with the man advantage, and after 40 minutes, it's 2-0 Flyers...Canadiens are 0 for 3 on the power play...Flyers are 2 for 2...

20 minutes left for Montreal to get back in this series...San Jose-Chicago Game 2 at 10...

9:26 PM: Philadelphia continues to astonish and amaze...7:30 remaining as they tend to a referee who got injured on the last play...it's 5-0 Flyers...Scott Hartnell got one by Carey Price, his 3rd, at 12:13...

The only thing left to be decided is whether or not Michael Leighton will let one in...for all intents and purposes, we can assume the Flyers will go up 1-0 in the series...back to the drawing board for Montreal, who for once are actually out shooting the opposition as opposed to being out shot...Game 2 on Tuesday...

You can make it 6-0...Philly better be careful about running up the score here...the Hockey Gods don't like it when you run up the score...especially against Montreal...Claude Giroux has his 6th...at 13:26...took just four seconds from the TV timeout...

Good night...see you for Game 2...5 minutes left in this one...long enough for a brawl or two I would think...

8:31 PM: Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Final is all Philadelphia so far - Braydon Coburn with his 1st on the power play at 3:55 of the 1st, James Van Riemsdyk with his 2nd, just 30 seconds into the 2nd, Danny Briere with his 8th at 4:23 and Simon Gagne at 9:53, his 5th on the power play...it's 4-0 Flyers...under 7 minutes left in the 2nd period...Carey Price is now in goal for Montreal after Jaroslav Halak let in 4 goals on 13 shots...the Habs so far have 19 on Michael Leighton but he has stood his ground...

The big adjustment Montreal will have to make is simple...get behind Philly's defense and somehow get Chris Pronger off his game...so far easier said than done...

6:09 PM: Looks like it'll be a tight, low scoring series between the Sharks and Hawks - Game 1 goes to Chicago - a slight 2-1 win...it was Patrick Sharp scoring his 6th, 7:44 into the 2nd to tie the game 1-1, and Dustin Byfuglien, who might end up in the voting for the Conn Smythe if he keeps this up - got his 5th and the GWG 13:15 into the 3rd...incidentally, it was Byfuglien who took the penalty that led to the 1-0 San Jose goal, so not only did he come back and score the winner, he got that one back at the same time...shots were 45-40 in favor of San Jose - Antti Niemi stopped 44 of them and answered the bell in goal for Chicago...no problem in net there...

Game 1 between Montreal and Philadelphia coming up in about an hour...they're saying Ian Laperriere has been skating, but it still remains doubtful he'll return from a brain contusion in time to help Philadelphia's cause...there was a lot of talk in Montreal that Andrei Markov might return, but that apparently is not going to happen...

No hockey Monday, then Tuesday we have a double header, East Game 2 at 7, West Game 2 at 10, nothing Wednesday, then we alternate series from Thursday on...Game 3 from Montreal 7 PM on Thursday, Friday, Game 3 from Chicago at 8 PM, then Montreal Game 4 is a 3 PM afternoon matinee on Saturday, ditto for Chicago Game 4 on Sunday...

Guess for the NHL off nights there's always the Memorial Cup...not to mention the Worlds...in Brandon on Monday a good one between Calgary and Windsor, and Wednesday it's the host Brandon against Calgary...tie breaker if necessary on Thursday, Semi-final on Saturday and final on Sunday...Tuesday it's Windsor vs Moncton...Brandon won today...Windsor won this past Friday...Calgary yesterday...if you want to see some future NHL stars, check out some of this tournament if you can, it's always good hockey...

4:16 PM: Game 1 of the Western Conference FInal between San Jose and Chicago is early in the 2nd period - and it's the Sharks with a 1-0 lead - Jason Demers on the power play at 11:19 of the 1st got things going - his 1st of the playoffs...

9:42 PM: History has been made...the Philadelphia Flyers were down 3-0 in the series, and even down 3-0 in tonight's game!!  But like they've been doing for the better part of 2 months now, they stormed back to win Game 7 4-3, and win the series 4-3...Game 1 against Montreal will be Sunday...

It was looking early like Boston was going to run away with this one...Philly got into some early penalty trouble, and the Bruins capitalized - Scott Hartnell sat for high sticking, and at 5:27, Michael Ryder scored on the power play, his 4th - Boston was out to a 1-0 lead...shortly thereafter, Danny Briere took another high sticking penalty, and at 9:02, Milan Lucic made the Bruins 2 for 2 with the man advantage, his 4th, and they led 2-0, and the crowd was going nuts at the Garden...Lucic would add an unassisted marker at 14:10, and it was 3-0 - as I've been saying since the lockout and the rule changes - the most dangerous lead in hockey - and it was!!  At 17:12, the rally began - James Van Reimsdyk - where have you been?  Claude Giroux assisted on his 1st of the playoffs, and it was 3-1 Boston after 1 period.

2:49 into the 2nd, Scott Hartnell got Ryder's power play goal back - his 2nd, and it was 3-2...Danny Briere then made amends for Lucic's power play goal at 8:39, and we were tied 3-3 in the game, and in the series - and the crowd started to get restless...

In the 3rd - history...yet another too man men on the ice bench minor, this time assessed to Boston, at 11:10...and the Flyers scored the go ahead goal at 12:52, on the power play, and the Flyers led 4-3 with mere minutes to go...a lead they would never relinquish...

Shots were 27-25 in favor of Boston, and Michael Leighton was one save better than Tuukka Rask...but, if there's one thing that really sucks about all of this, the Bruins are denied a date with Montreal in the conference final...however, don't think for one second the next series isn't going to be legendary...

Philadelphia returns to the Conference final for the 2nd time in 3 seasons...and they do it in dramatic fashion and accomplish what only the 1975 New York Islanders and the 1942 Toronto Maple Leafs before them...

I have the perfect rhetorical "What If" question now when they produce the next "History Will Be Made" TV Ad - "What if Philly gave up after Game 3?"

So we're set - San Jose-Chicago and Philadelphia-Montreal...1st vs 2nd, 7th vs 8th...does it get any better than this?!?  I know the Habs must be sick of travelling to Pennsylvania...but at least they shouldn't have to go far...

11:39 PM: It has to be an awesome time to be in or around Boston...the Celtics tonight won their way into the NBA's Eastern Conference Final as they beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 94-85 in Game 6 of what pundits were saying was going to be a sure Cleveland victory...not so...

Of course, tomorrow night is the big Game 7 between the Boston Bruins and the Philadelphia Flyers - the most unlikely Game 7 you're likely to see in a long while...

It's funny, with all the talk today being Montreal's Game 7 victory over Pittsburgh, and the aftermath celebration gone too far, not too many are discussing the history taking place in the other Eastern series...

Boston was up 3-0 in the series, so if you haven't tuned in for a few days, you might be shocked to find out we're going to 7 - yes Philadelphia can become just the 3rd NHL team in history to win a series after losing the first three games...and 1st since the 1975 NY Islanders - ironically enough, that team also went into the old Igloo and knocked off the Pittsburgh Penguins back in the day...almost 35 years ago to the day...scary...

So, all the odds are against it happening, and conventional wisdom will tell you it shouldn't happen - but then tell me how it is that Montreal is still alive!?  Throw all the home ice advantage odds out the window too, teams are 3-0 in Game 7 on the road in these playoffs...Detroit in round 1 against Phoenix, and of course, both Montreal wins...

History will be made indeed...no matter who wins tomorrow night, it is already written...I wonder if the NHL in their wildest dreams ever expected this?!

By the way - it was announced today that both Conference Final series will start Sunday...Chayanne, the world renowned Latin star from Puerto Rico, is playing a concert at the Shark Tank on Saturday night...don't expect great ice as the sultry star will exude a lot of heat, and melt thousands of women's hearts along the way...I think I actually have one of his CDs...sounds a lot like Ricky Martin...if you've ever seen the movie "Dance With Me", the one with Vanessa Williams...yeah, that guy...

Anyhow - San Jose-Chicago is the NBC game of the week, it'll get underway at 3 PM EST, and the Montreal series will be at 7 PM - location to be determined of course...

10:43 PM: Philadelphia is now just the 6th NHL team to come back from down 0-3 to force a Game 7...of course, there haven't been that many win the fourth game...but, after what we've seen in the Eastern Conference so far, would anybody be surprised to see it happen?!

1st vs 2nd for the West, are we about to see 7th vs 8th for the East?...the two last teams to qualify for the playoffs could end up playing each other...who would've thunk it!??  Well, we'll find out Friday night if it comes to fruition...

Game 1 of the Western Final will probably go Saturday, and the East Sunday...but no schedule has been released yet...

10:33 PM: So, the bottom 3 seeds of the Eastern Conference are the only ones left...#6 and #7, Boston and Philadelphia are still battling it out...and Montreal is on to Round 3, having taken out the President's Trophy winners in Round 1, and the defending Stanley Cup Champions in Round 2...in 14 hard fought games...Holy Halak!!!!

Best end of the game call came from Montreal's CJAD - "You can tear down the Igloo, Sidney has left the building!!!"...

It's 2-1 late for Philadelphia, but Boston is coming on...Danny Briere scored the 2-0 goal at 16:20 of the 2nd, his 6th on a power play...Michael Leighton was exactly 1 minute away from the shutout, but Milan Lucic has his 3rd to make it 2-1...

9:20 PM: Pittsburgh was the recipient of the 31st too many men on the ice penalty of these playoffs, and Brian Gionta made them pay at exactly 10 minutes of the 3rd...it's 5-2 for les bleus, blancs et rouges...

It's become Montreal West over here...Pointe Claire or Kirkland, take your pick!!!  I don't know if it's intentional, but there are at least 2 car alarms going off over in the parking lot of either Tim Horton's or the grocery store...

8:33 PM: Jordan Staal has cut the Montreal lead in half - at 16:30, his 3rd...it's 4-2...we've got a game now!!!

8:23 PM: Philadelphia has an early 1-0 lead on Mike Richards' 5th at 6:58 of the 1st...in Game 6 against the Bruins...the Flyers were down 3-0 in this series and now look to force it to 7...what more would you expect in a 6th vs 7th second round match up??

8:17 PM: I love listening to Glenn Healy talk about how when he was goalie, some of the things he got to see...must have got to see an awful lot on the bench, eh?  At least he's stopped with his "when we won the Cup" stories...

Finally, Pittsburgh gets on the board...it's 4-1...Chris Kunitz with his 4th at 8:36...here it comes...are you ready Habs?

8:12 PM: No sooner did I say it...Moen - his 2nd, shorthanded at 5:14 - Habs lead 4-0...and Marc-Andre Fleury's night is done - Brent Johnson is now in net...Brian Gionta almost had his 2nd of the game to make it 5-0...

The Forum Ghosts appear to have invaded the Igloo...is history about to be made?

8:08 PM: Mike Cammalleri - his 12th - it's 3-0 Habs...in Game 7...3:32 into the 2nd...something about #32 tonight...does that mean Travis Moen scores the next goal??

Pens are going to the power play again...they've been shooting blanks so far...

7:57 PM: At the 1st intermission of what could be the last ever game played at Mellon Arena...especially if Pittsburgh doesn't pick it up...it's 2-0 for Montreal...Dominic Moore scored his 3rd at 14:23, after what probably should have been a holding penalty on Matt Cooke...

The Habs better be ready for the Pens in the 2nd though...can't see them not coming out with a vengeance at some point...that certainly did not look like the defending Stanley Cup Champions in the 1st...

On the other hand - it appears Sidney Crosby doesn't have an answer - plain and simple, time to stop making excuses and get going...so let's go!!!  It's not tied any more Sid...

7:23 PM: Marc-Andre Fleury is lucky the score is not already 3-0...two posts for Montreal...

Unfortunately, they're now in the penalty box...power play, Pens...

7:16 PM: They're packing in 21,000 Plus - standing room only at the Bell Centre, to watch a game on the jumbotron...and their team, 800 km away, has them cheering early...

Habs score an early power play goal - Brian Gionta, just 32 seconds in after Sidney Crosby boarded Josh Gorges...his 6th...and it's 1-0...barely had enough time to crack open a Molson...this is Game 7 folks...

Hal Gill is back on D...should help...

9:28 AM: Tonight, we know for sure one series will end - possibly two...if Boston wins tonight, then we have no hockey until at least Saturday...Game 7, if necessary, will be Friday...for sure we have nothing on the schedule Thursday...maybe, just maybe, I'll get some video gaming in...depending on the weather of course...apparently they're calling for rain...

11:59 PM: "Made up my mind to make a new start...goin' to California with an aching in my heart..."...for a big silver trophy...

Blackhawks win in 6...again...and the Sharks await...both teams split the season series in their opposing team's barn...should be a dandy...

11:47 PM: 2 more quick goals for Chicago - this time 25 seconds apart...Patrick Kane with his 7th, Dustin Byfuglien with his 4th...Kane at 8:17, Byfuglien at 8:42...you'll recall Kane took over Game 6 of the series between these two last year with a hat trick, well he's been pretty quiet throughout this series, until now...

5-1 Hawks...about 8 1/2 remaining...

11:33PM: The Canucks are on the board...Shane O'Brien with his 1st, 3:44 into the 3rd...the crowd is buzzing...lots of time left...

11:11 PM: An absolute killer - Dave Bolland scores shorthanded, his 3rd, with just 45 seconds left in the 2nd period...after 40 minutes, the Blackhawks lead 3-0...still 57 minutes of power play time for the Canucks when the 3rd starts...but the damage may already be done...

20 minutes left...

10:40 PM: Kris Versteeg, only 36 seconds after Brouwer's goal, scores his 3rd at 2:36, and just like that it's 2-0...

10:38 PM: Troy Brouwer opens the scoring with his 1st, 2 minutes into the 2nd...1-0 Hawks...

10:34 PM: Nothing to report on the scoreboard after 20...shots were 13-12 in favor of Chicago...

Sami Salo can never EVER be accused of being soft ever again...it was first thought he blocked a shot with his chest, which would have been bad enough, but later it was revealed he actually got it in the most sensitive of areas if you're a man...if you know what I mean...and he's out there playing in Game 6, saying to HNIC's Scott Oake he wouldn't want to miss a game like this - found the right medication...he's sucking it up and playing...better him than me...EEEYOWCH!!

9:52 PM: Blistering pace to start Game 6 of the Chicago-Vancouver series...and both goalies are keeping it scoreless...about halfway through the first period...once again, it's a must win for the Canucks, or else the Hawks will be singing an old Led Zeppelin tune...Going To California...

9:39 PM: Simon Gagne scored his 3rd and 2nd of the night to make it 4-0 Flyers at 6:48 - Michael Leighton completed the shutout, and the Boston-Philadelphia series is now 3-2, advantage Boston, but heading back to the city of brotherly love for Game 6...

In Montreal, Maxim Lapierre got the 4-2 goal at 11:03 of the 3rd, and it's a good thing, because late at 18:36, with the goalie pulled, Bill Guerin got the Penguins within 1...but it wasn't enough...we're going to Game 7 between Pittsburgh and Montreal...the Penguins streak of road playoff clinchers ends at 5...if they want to keep playing, they'll have to win at home...imagine that...

Vancouver-Chicago Game 6 tomorrow night...

Mike Cammalleri has 2 goals on the game...the first of which was scored 1:13 into the game to get the crowd into it early...but Sidney Crosby finally scored his first of this series, 6th of the playoffs, at 7:22, and we were tied 1-1 after the 1st period of play...

The second period is just finished, and after Kris Letang got a power play goal, his 5th, to make it 2-1 Penguins at 5:21, it was all Habs...Mik Cammalleri with his 2nd of the game and his 11th at 10:45 tied it 2-2...and Jaroslav Spacek, playing his first game since Game 4 of the Washington series, at 13:15 scored his 1st and after 40, it's 3-2 Montreal...they'll have 1:26 of power play time to start the third period, with Matt Cooke in the box serving 2 minutes for tripping...

The big story in Boston is Philadelphia's goalie - Brian Boucher left the game with an apparent knee injury, and Michael Leighton is forced into action...his first game since March 16!!!  The Flyers are up 3-0...Ville Leino at 6:41 of the 1st with his 2nd, Scott Hartnell at 11:16 of the 2nd with his 1st, and Simon Gagne, on a power play, his 2nd at 17:53...

Big finish coming up...

11:54 PM: OK, so tonight Vancouver was on the ropes in Game 5 of the Blackhawks-Canucks series, and they found a way with a 4-1 win...biggest difference was more disciplined play - Vancouver's players didn't allow Chicago's players to get under their skin - this allowed the Canucks to execute their game...

This one wasn't even close...it had more of a Game 1 tone to it - 59 seconds in, Christian Ehrhoff with his 3rd, assists from the Sedin twins, and it was an early 1-0 lead for the Canucks...at 14:24, Kevin Bieksa would get his 2nd and first of 2 on the night, and it was 2-0 after 20 minutes...Sami Salo left the ice on a stretcher after blocking a shot with his chest just as the buzzer sounded, and he did not return...scary stuff...

13 minutes into the 2nd, Bieksa would get his 3rd and 2nd of the game, on a power play, and it was 3-0 Vancouver...Dustin Byfuglien was serving the first 2 minutes of a double minor - 2 for a slash, and 2 for unsportsmanlike...

Roberto Luongo made 29 saves on the night, but the shutout bid would be broken 12:51 into the 3rd as Jonathan Toews got his 6th...Alex Burrows would score into an empty net at 19:15, and we head to Vancouver for Game 6...

Tomorrow, it's do or die for Montreal in Game 6 of their series with Pittsburgh...the Penguins will be looking to close out their 6th straight series on the road...of course, the Canadiens will be looking to prolong things to 7...same story for Philadelphia as they will look to avoid going down in 5 to Boston at the Garden...

Speaking of Boston - for those who called for the Cleveland sweep...how do you like the Celtics now??  Rajon Rondo with a triple-double in Game 4...series is tied 2-2...the other 3 NBA second round series all could end in a sweep - in fact Phoenix already completed their sweep against San Antonio...the LA Lakers are on the verge of sweeping Utah, and Orlando is up 3-0 on Atlanta...looking forward to seeing the Celtics-Magic rematch, but Lebron will be looking to have a say too, in what is now a best of 3...

Almost halfway to the Stanley Cup...and the NBA Finals...it'll be nice to see Boston in the final four in both tournaments...that hasn't happened in a long time...

12:38 AM: With the goalie pulled, and less than a minute left, Dan Boyle got called for holding Henrik Zetterberg - so for 52.2 seconds, Detroit had the 6 on 4 power play, but they were unable to capitalize...Sharks win the game 2-1, win the series 4-1, and they are the first to move on to the final four...Detroit, take nothing away from them, they battled hard right to the bitter end...and considering all they've accomplished over the past several seasons, can hold their heads high...

The old cliché was true in this series - your best have to be their best...and Marleau and Thornton certainly were that tonight and throughout this series...and don't discount the fans...they were chanting "Beat Detroit" throughout most of the third...with season ticket holder and living legend Neil Young in attendance and whooping it up with everyone...

I think if Chicago gets by Vancouver, and all indications are they will, it's going to pose a unique challenge for the Sharks...but for now, we'll let them enjoy a few days off...of course, Chicago is still my pick to come out of the West...and once we know for sure we can look forward to a long series...

Game 5 from the United Center is a 8:00 EST start Sunday night...the only game on the docket tomorrow...Game 5 Flyers-Bruins and Game 6 Pens-Habs is Monday...

And whatever you do...don't forget Mom...Happy Mother's Day to all...

12:09 AM: Patrick Marleau with his 3rd at 6:59 has made it 2-1...Big Joe gets an assist...

Approaching the halfway mark of what could be Detroit's final period of play this season...but, you know they won't give up for a second...

12:07 AM: "The Mule" Johan Franzen took a vicious hit from Doug Murray...he was very slow to get up but seems OK...

Sharks have just scored...

12:02 AM: Joe Pavelski was awarded a penalty shot, but missed high on Jimmy Howard's glove side...we're still tied 1-1 with just over 15 minutes left...

11:18 PM: We're approaching the halfway mark of Game 5 between San Jose and Detroit - Brian Rafalski and Joe Thornton have traded their 3rd goals and it's tied 1-1...there was no scoring in the 1st...Rafalski was at 2:40 and Thornton was at 4:54, just 7 seconds into a Brad Stuart elbowing minor on Joe Pavelski...Big Joe got one for Little Joe...

10 minutes left in the 2nd period...to this point, shots are 18-7 in favor of the Sharks...

9:40 PM: Close...but no cigar...Pittsburgh hangs on for the 2-1 win, and the 3-2 series lead...Game 6 Monday back in Montreal...

9:39 PM: 29.7 seconds left...Montreal has just scored a power play goal...it's 2-1...just as the CBC had just posted a stat how the Habs had never been shutout twice in a series since 1983...not tonight...

Mike Cammalleri with his 9th...at 19:29...

8:26 PM: 2-0 Pittsburgh, as Sergei Gonchar scored his 2nd, one of his typical blasts from the point that Halak never saw...at 9:50 of the 2nd period...

8:19 PM: 13:28 to go in period 2...and the Penguins have Marc Andre Fleury to thank for the fact that it's still 1-0...by the same token, Montreal has Jaroslav Halak to thank for the same thing...

7:52 PM: Seems Lapierre was OK - saw him in the thick of things at the end of the first...

It's 1-0 Pittsburgh on Kris Letang's 4th, a power play goal - goal scored at 18:18...a hard hitting punishing 1st is in the books...

Time for Coach's Corner...

7:24 PM: Maxim Lapierre appears to be hurt...more to come...

7:10 PM: Just about ready for Game 5 of the Pittsburgh-Montreal series from the Igloo...Game 5 between San Jose and Detroit later tonight...

--------------------

Today in Germany, Steven Stamkos scored a goal and an assist, and Ray Whitney, on his 38th birthday, had two assists...Matt Duchene, Chris Russell, Corey Perry and Rene Bourque also tallied, as Canada beat Italy 5-1 in in their first game of the Round Robin at the Worlds...yesterday, a shocker - the host Germans beat the Americans 2-1 in OT...maybe equally as shocking - today, Denmark beat the Finns 4-1...not so shocking...Switzerland beat Latvia 3-1...

Canada's next game is Monday against Latvia...2 PM EST start...

This is a long tournament...Bronze and Gold medal games aren't until May 23...

--------------------

In Vancouver last night, it was Game 4 between the Blackhawks and Canucks...and when I updated you last night, it was tied 2-2 after the first 20 minutes...Brent Seabrook got his first just 18 seconds in...Kyle Wellwood would tie it only 1:16 later at 1:36, his 2nd...as they did in Game 3, again the Canucks would get into penalty trouble - and Jonathan Toews would get his 3rd of the playoffs, with the 5 on 4, and it was 2-1 at 9:23...the Canucks would get a rare power play of their own, and Daniel Sedin would get his 5th on it, at 14:36 we were tied 2-2...

In the 2nd, it would be all Chicago...while Sami Salo was off for holding Andrew Ladd, Jonathan Toews would get his 4th and 2nd of the night, another power play marker, and it was 3-2 Chicago just 27 seconds into the middle frame...Daniel Sedin, Alex Burrows and Mason Raymond would start a Vancouver parade to the box, and at 12:47, Patrick Shark would get his 5th, another power play goal, and it was 4-2...Toews would get the hat trick at 15:22 and it was 5-2 Hawks...Alex Edler would get his 2nd, on yet another man advantage situation - and the margin was 5-3...Chicago, after 40 minutes...and they'd never look back...

Tomas Kopecky would make it 6-3 with his 3rd, 6:59 into the 3rd...Henrik Sedin would get it to 6-4 with his 3rd at 14:37...Dave Bolland would seal the 7-4 win with an empty netter at 19:23, and more importantly, the 3-1 series lead goes to Chicago...so we have 3 series on the verge of ending in five, and only one looks like it will go to 6 or 7...

Last night in Philadelphia, like Detroit, the Flyers faced elimination in a four game sweep if they didn't produce a win...at home no less...well, like the Red Wings the night before, it didn't happen...this one was way closer though...

It took until 15:37 of the first period before we had our first goal, and it was Mark Recchi with his 5th, and the Bruins led 1-0...at 19:06, Danny Briere tied it with his 5th...only three penalties called, but the referees were letting a lot of stuff go...

In the 2nd, Philadelphia took control of the game, or so they thought...at 4:28, Chris Pronger got his 4th, and Philadelphia had their first lead of the series...at 8:35, Claude Giroux made it 3-1...and they were going nuts in the Wachovia Center...but Michael Ryder scored his 3rd at 10:56, and the Bruins were within 1 - it was 3-2 Flyers after 40 minutes...

In the 3rd, the Bruins were not going away - Milan Lucic got his 2nd on a power play while Ville Leino was serving a hooking minor on Zdeno Chara (not sure how you can hook somebody twice as big as you) - at 3:49 was the Lucic goal, and we were tied again...3-3 now...Leino would make up for it at 14:20, to put Philly ahead 4-3, and what appeared would be the game winner, but at 19:28, with the goalie pulled, Mark Recchi would tie it again - 4-4, Recchi's 6th and 2nd of the night, and we would need overtime...if you read the top note from May 7 just below, you'll learn how it ended...

10:17 PM: Simon Gagne keeps Philadelphia alive and the Flyers, like the Red Wings, avoid the sweep...his 1st of the playoffs, after he comes back from injury - seems to be the theme of this series - it was the same story for Marc Savard in Game 1 for Boston...Savard's goal got the series started, and Gagne's goal prevented the series from ending...goal scored at 14:40 of the 1st overtime...it's now a 3-1 series advantage for Boston, and they're heading home for Game 5...

The irony of it all is I called the goal in Game 1, and uLAr called it tonight...

In Vancouver, it's Game 4 between the Canucks and Chicago Blackhawks, and it's tied 2-2 late in the 1st period...

Game stories and more coming later...as the rivalry and tradition continues...

10:03 PM: We're about 11 minutes into OT in Philadelphia, Game 4 of the Bruins-Flyers series, tied 4-4 - if Boston wins, it's over...

Picks - uLAr has Milan Lucic for Boston, Simon Gagne for Philadelphia, I've got Mark Recchi for Boston (it'll be a hat trick if he gets it), and Kimmo Timonen for Philadelphia...

12:58 PM: So, Detroit managed to stay alive with a commanding 7-1 win, are we in for another blowout in Philadelphia tonight?

Boston will be without the services of David Krejci as he injured his wrist - supposedly for the rest of the playoffs...however, don't read too much into that, given Jordan Staal was already back playing last night...

So the IIHF World Championships get underway today from Manheim, Germany.  Canada plays their first game of the tournament tomorrow morning against Italy.  Captain Canada, Ryan Smyth, was named captain of the team - rightfully so in my humble opinion.  Smyth makes his first appearance at the event for the first time in five years.  He captained the team from 2001-05.  Canada will again have a very strong presence, boasting the likes of Ray Whitney, Francois Beauchemin, Corey Perry, Steven Stamkos, and perhaps even Jordan Eberle.  As I mentioned somewhere in this blog before - Craig MacTavish will be the head coach.

Ideally, Canada would relish an opportunity to meet up with Russia again for the Gold Medal - they've lost the two previous meetings.  Alex Ovechkin will play for Russia after it was expected he would still be playing in the Stanley Cup playoffs...Team USA takes on Germany today to kick it all off...

TSN will have the Canada-Italy game tomorrow morning at 10:00 AM...

10:15 PM: OK...so here's what happened tonight:

In Montreal - it was pretty much unanimous even among the Habs' faithful that if they didn't win this game, chances were not good they'd come back down 3-1 again, not against the defending champs...so this game was an obvious must win...and Tom Pyatt got the home crowd into it early, at 2:32 of the 1st, his 1st, and the Canadiens led 1-0...53 seconds later, at 3:27, Maxime Talbot tied it with his 2nd...27 seconds later, Hal Gill took a holding penalty on Pascal Dupuis...at 5:18, Chris Kunitz put Pittsburgh ahead 2-1, 1:26 into the power play, his 3rd...after 20 minutes, the Penguins led 2-1...no scoring in the 2nd period...

After realizing they needed to regroup and get more puck support in the offensive zone, in the 3rd period, the Habs got it going - tying the game at 2:07 on Maxim Lapierre's 2nd, and at 3:40 Brian Gionta scored his 5th and put Montreal ahead for good....Jaroslav Halak would do the rest...I mentioned the save on Malkin earlier, it certainly went a long way to helping the cause...

So we go back to Pittsburgh tied 2-2...Game 5 Saturday night...I really do wonder how many people in Montreal who had tickets to UFC on Saturday will decide to watch the game instead...as rare an event as it is in Canada...

Now, in Detroit, Game 4 between the Sharks and Red Wings has turned ugly...this one was over on the scoreboard before the first period was half over...Todd Bertuzzi has a 5 point night - scoring at 5:40 of the first on a power play, it's Big Bert's 2nd...2:10 later, it was Johan Franzen with his 4th...it's been a special night for The Mule...Bertuzzi got an assist with Henrik Zetterberg...at 10:43, Franzen again, his 5th, Bertuzzi and Nicklas Lidstrom assisted - Wings led 3-0...33 seconds later, Franzen would get the natural hat trick - his 6th at 11:16, 4-0 Detroit...at 18:50, Franzen thought he had his fourth, but the goal was given to Valtteri Filppula, his 4th - after 20 minutes, Detroit held a 5-0 lead and served notice they weren't going out in 4 straight without a big fight...they dared and taunted the Sharks at every turn to make a move...

In the 2nd, Thomas Greiss replaced Evgeni Nabokov in net, but it didn't matter....Brian Rafalski would get a power play goal at 3:05, 6-0 Wings...Dany Heatley would bust the shutout bid at 19:11 of the 2nd, but the damage was already done, and after 40 minutes, Detroit led 6-1...

Emotions are in motion in the 3rd...penalties galore (64 minutes in penalties in this period alone), and Johan Franzen has managed his 4th of the game and 7th of the playoffs...Joe Thornton, Ryane Clowe, and Kris Draper were all assessed 10 minute misconduct penalties...fisticuffs aside, it's 7-1 Detroit, winding down, there's 3:39 left...no way the Sharks are going to score 6...so we will head back to San Jose for Game 5...is this just another blip on San Jose's radar, or the start of something more historic!?

For tonight, I'm on the fence as to which game was more impressive - the Habs tying their series, or the Wings staving off elimination with an exclamation point...

I'll have more on this and the Detroit game when I catch my breath...

So will anybody show up at the fight on Saturday night?

9:20 PM: UFC 113 will be at the Bell Centre on Saturday night, but the excitement will pale in comparison to this...especially if the Habs hang on to win...

9:16 PM: Mark down this save - Evgeni Malkin on a break with a full head of steam - and Halak stopped him cold...remember that one...

9:06 PM: I think if Jaroslav Halak keeps making big saves like the one he just made with Pittsburgh on the power play, Bob Cole is going to have a seizure...

8:55 PM: I can't believe Jordan Staal is playing in this game...although I guess it can't be any more surprising than seeing Curt Schilling pitch in the ALCS with a tendon sewed back on to his ankle...where Staal got cut was just under the tongue of the skate, so I guess as long as he keeps it protected...still seems like he shouldn't be back playing already...if it was me, I'd probably be typing this from my bed...

Say what you will about these athletes making millions of dollars, but these guys are tough as nails...anything to win, I guess...

8:49 PM: Tied 2-2 in Montreal...Maxim Lapierre...3rd period just underway...

More to come on who has scored what...it's looking like Octopus's revenge tonight...

3-2 Habs...OK...I'm sitting down and watching this one...looks like Brian Gionta...

8:43 PM: OK...so we're barely 4 minutes into the 2nd period of Game 4 between San Jose and Detroit - and it's already 6-0 Red Wings...Evgeni Nabokov has been yanked in favor of Thomas Greiss...barring a miracle, looks like this series will not end in a sweep...

Montreal is down 2-1 to Pittsburgh after 40 minutes...

--------------------

So upon further review, it appears Byfuglien was given the Hat Trick after all...of course, as most players will say this time of year, individual stats don't matter as much as getting the win for your team...

12:14 AM: Blackhawks win the game 5-2, and now lead the series 2-1...looks like they're giving the 3rd Byfuglien goal to Patrick Kane...so he doesn't turn the trick after all, but maintains the assist...Kane's 7th...

12:01 AM: When the night started he was still looking for his first of the playoffs, now he has 3...Dustin Byfuglien gets the Hat Trick...at 13:58...and it's 5-2 Chicago...

11:48 PM: Marian Hossa finally gets his 2nd goal of the playoffs at 7:45 of the 3rd - Chicago's 2 goal lead is restored - 4-2...11 minutes left...

11:16 PM: 3-2 now - Burrows got one back...his 2nd of the playoffs at 19:06 of the 2nd...we're in for a great 3rd!!!

Time to hit the showers...

11:08 PM: See what happens when a player makes an ass of himself?  The refs ignore you...Byfuglien got away with a clear hooking or interference call on Henrik Sedin...no call...

11:03 PM: Alex Burrows took a dumb penalty - boarding on Brian Campbell (official call appears to be unsportsmanlike conduct), just as Chicago iced the puck to give Vancouver what would have been an offensive zone face off...and Dustin Byfuglien made him pay...his second of the night and second of the playoffs at 11:24 of the 2nd...it's 3-1...

The Canucks are falling apart...they're in the box again...you CANNOT do that against this team...if the Hawks weren't awake already, they are now!!

10:56 PM: Just past the halfway mark of the game - and Jannick Hansen has his first career playoff goal at 9:07 of the 2nd to cut the Vancouver deficit in 1/2...he seemed to come from nowhere to deflect it in from the side of the net...

It's 2-1 Chicago, with 9:48 left...the Canucks are still buzzing...

10:21 PM: 27th Too many men penalty - this time to Vancouver...1st period is over...1:44 in power play time left for Chicago when the 2nd starts...

Keeping an eye on Daniel Sedin and Dave Bolland...they took offsetting roughing minors and have been chirping at each other ever since...

Will also keep an eye on Roberto Luongo - he went down awkwardly on a save and was slow to get up...

On a rainy night in Ottawa - time to take out the trash...I'll be back...

10:16: Dustin Byfuglien at 16:47 makes it 2-0 Chicago...his first of the playoffs...on a power play...

Now he's going to the penalty box...

10:08 PM: Not sure what it was that clicked in Game 2 for Chicago, but ever since it did, the Hawks have been relentless...Antti Niemi seems to be in some kind of a groove tonight...as Jim Hughson aptly put it - "Finns beat the Swedes"...

7:30 left in the 1st...

9:53 PM: Blackhawks kill off the penalty...and get on the board first - at 5:19, either Kris Versteeg or Marian Hossa have their second goals of the playoffs...so far it's Hossa drawing an assist...either way, points for both...

9:44 PM: 26th Too Many Men penalty in these playoffs - this one goes against Chicago...

The 3rd game between Boston and Philadelphia started out all Flyers - after The Star Spangled Banner and God Bless America, Arron Asham scored his second to put his team ahead 1-0 just 2:32 into the game...

Then, it was all Boston, but it came with a price - they lost both David Krejci and Adam McQuaid to injury...neither would return...the situation seem to spark the team - Blake Wheeler got his first at 4:11, Miroslav Satan got his 5th at 5:45 - and after the 1st, the Bruins led 2-1...no scoring in the second...in the 3rd, Mark Recchi at 2:30 made it 3-1, on a power play, while Arron Asham was in the sin bin for tripping...the Flyers couldn't get anything going offensively, going 0 for 4 with the man advantage, yet still managed a huge shot advantage - 35-20 total (tell me again why Toronto traded Tuukka Rask?!?!?)...but it was Patrice Bergeron icing it with an empty netter at 18:08, and it's Boston with a 4-1 win and a 3-0 series lead...Philadelphia even tried pulling Brian Boucher, putting Johan Backlund in for 1:24, then putting Boucher back in, just to save a time out - Backlund didn't face a single shot as the Flyers were on one of their 4 man advantages - old school Mike Keenan trick there, pull the goalie and put him back in...but it didn't work...

The Philadelphia Flyers have not been swept in a playoff series since 1997 in the finals against Detroit...ironically enough, in 2010, both could go out in 4 straight in the 2nd round...at home no less...

9:42 PM: Game 3 in Philadelphia is over - Game 3 in Vancouver just about to begin...

San Jose has a 3-0 lead in their series against Detroit...

So a pretty uneventful game in Montreal - nothing doing on the scoreboard until the 3rd, when Evgeni Malkin scored his 5th on a power play at 1:16...the Habs couldn't keep their emotions in check, and paid for it...Marc-Andre Fleury only had to make 18 saves, but many good ones, particularly one late in the 3rd on Mike Cammalleri, he gets his 4th career playoff shutout, Pascal Dupuis iced it with an empty netter with 15 seconds left...his 2nd, and the Penguins take a 2-1 series lead...the Pens seemed to feed off the Montreal crowd more than their home team did...

In Detroit - the Red Wings needed a win to avoid digging a big hole, well it didn't happen - Tomas Holmstrom, after having a goal disallowed, scored at 13:33 of the 1st, his 4th - Daniel Cleary got his 2nd at 18:37, but Devon Setoguchi would reply just 1:19 later, his 5th - 2-1 Detroit after 20 minutes...at 1:42 of the 2nd, Henrik Zetterberg made it 3-1, a lead that would last into the 3rd period...and Big Joe took over...scoring to make it 3-2 at 6:42, just his 2nd, but his biggest so far...Logan Couture would tie the game 3-3 with his 3rd at 13:17...we would need OT...

Didn't get my picks up in time - internet connection decided to quit on me at the most inopportune time (always happens to me at least once during the playoffs, doesn't it?!)...for the record, I would have gone with Joe Pavelski or Darren Helm...anyhow, Joe Thornton will finally be heralded as a hero in the playoffs - he fed Patrick Marleau for one beauty of a game winner...7:07 into the 1st overtime - and San Jose has a 3-0 series lead...Detroit is in big trouble - but, if any team could ever come back from 0-3, the Red Wings have the team to do it...won't be in 6 now, though...

Sharks have won their 3rd straight game by a score of 4-3...could this be an omen that we'll go 7?!?

In Chicago it was Game 2 between the Blackhawks and the Vancouver Canucks...we knew this was going to be a series, and now we're certain of it...things were not looking good for Chicago early...it was 1-0 Vancouver on Mason Raymond's 3rd at 1:22, then at 5:02 on a 5 on 3 power play, it was Mikael Samuelsson with his 8th - Canucks led 2-0 early...

Then back came the Hawks...at 7:40, Brent Seabrook got his 1st...shots were 13-11 after 1 in favor of Vancouver, and they led 2-1 after 20 minutes...

No scoring in the 2nd, shots were 9-7 Chicago, tied 20-20 between the two teams after 40...

In the 3rd, the wheels fell off for Vancouver...at 6:49 Patrick Sharp scored a shorthanded goal to tie the game 2-2, his 4th...Kris Versteeg was snake bitten all night - he had at least 4 or 5 good scoring opportunities - finally at 18:30 of the 3rd he was rewarded with his 1st and the game winner - Patrick Kane iced it with an empty netter...Hawks win 4-2, series tied 1-1 heading back to Vancouver...final shots were 34-26, Chicago...

--------------------

Tonight in Boston it was Game 2 between the Bruins and the Philadelphia Flyers - and the bad blood we were all expecting boiled over...but more importantly, the Bruins took a 2-0 series lead...

1st period - Johnny Boychuk got things going at 5:12 with his 2nd of the postseason, but Mike Richards tied it 1-1 at 17:06 with his 4th...after 20 minutes Philadelphia led 10-7 in shots

2nd period - 2 more players with their 4th goals - Miroslav Satan at 9:31, and Danny Briere, late, at 19:35, and we were tied 2-2 after 40...

3rd period, it was tied until 17:03, when Milan Lucic finally got going, his 1st of the playoffs was the game winner...and the Bruins lead this series 2-0 - heading to Philadelphia...slight edge in shots 27-26 for Boston...and they get the edge on the scoreboard too...

They say a series is not over until the home team loses a game...we'll see if the Orange and Black faithful can give the Flyers another boost...

11:28 PM: Watching the final moments of Vancouver-Chicago Game 2 - and Chicago has just scored to make it 3-2...exactly 1:30 left in the 3rd...

Recap of this game and the earlier one in Boston coming up...

11:39 PM: Montreal-Pittsburgh is tied 1-1 after a 3-1 final for the Habs - Mike Cammalleri added another goal for insurance at 17:06 of the 3rd...nice breakaway goal to seal it - Halak was the difference again...12-6 were the shots for Pittsburgh in the 3rd, give Jaro 38 total saves on the night...Montreal played a very patient and conservative game...and it worked...

Craig Adams got ejected from the game 30 seconds after the goal - 5, 10 and a game - checking from behind on Marc-Andre Bergeron...it remains to be seen if Adams will play the next game - I'm sure it'll be all the talk in the Montreal papers...Game 3 Tuesday...the Bell Centre will be rockin'!!!

No such luck for the Detroit Red Wings - they go home down 2-0 against the San Jose Sharks...Joe Pavelski with 2 more goals to give him 9 on the postseason, Ryane Clowe with his 2nd, and guess who chipped in with his 1st and the game winner 12:37 into the 3rd??  Joe Thornton.  Finally he comes up big in a playoff game...Dany Heatley had 3 assists - it was Pavel Datsyuk with his 6th, Tomas Holmstrom with his 3rd on a power play, and Nicklas Lidstrom with his 4th...Lidstrom's goal actually put the Wings up 3-2 before Pavelski tied it on a power play, and, well, what can I say - Big Joe finally came through...Sharks win 4-3 for the 2nd straight game...

So we head to Motown...can the Red Wings come back?  They've done it before...

Game 2 from Boston and Chicago tomorrow...Antti Niemi will be back in net for the Blackhawks as they will look to make adjustments against Vancouver...as for Boston-Philadelphia, not sure if either team needs to change anything...

3:49 PM: Can't believe at this stage there is still doubt on who Montreal would start in goal - I guess it wasn't enough to see Carey Price's meltdown in the 1st round - there shouldn't even be any doubt - we're through 40 minutes - Jaroslav Halak has made 26 saves, shots are 27-15 in favor of Pittsburgh, but it's Montreal leading 2-1 on the scoreboard in Game 2...if they had to rely on Price, the Habs wouldn't even be here...period...

Real goalie controversy there, right?!?

3:28 PM: 2-1 Montreal thanks to Mike Cammalleri's 7th - a power play goal scored at 7:27 of the 2nd...Scott Gomez has assists on both goals...

Nearing the halfway mark of the game...

2:52 PM: Brian Gionta's 4th at 15:48 ties the game 1-1 - under 3 minutes left in the 1st now...

2:39 PM: Early going of Game 2 between Montreal and Pittsburgh - Matt Cooke with his 4th at 4:38 has the Penguins off to an early 1-0 lead...now we're just past the halfway mark of the 1st period...

11:30 PM: All Vancouver for Game 1...after taking a 2-0 lead into the 2nd, the twins combined to make it 3-0, Henrik scoring his 2nd just 32 seconds in...then Kyle Wellwood on a power play at 10:59, his first, and Michael Grabner at 16:21, his 1st - it was 5-0 Canucks after 40 minutes...

After giving up 5 goals on 25 shots, Antti Niemi would sit and Cristobal Huet would face only 3 Vancouver shots in the 3rd...Patrick Kane would get a power play marker of his own, 2:07 in, his 5th, but then Roberto Luongo shut down the Hawks the rest of the way to preserve the 5-1 win, and a 1-0 series lead for Vancouver...36 saves for Luongo, many of the tough variety...Canucks were out shot 37-28 but managed a convincing win...once again, goaltending was suspect for Chicago...perhaps they never should have got rid of Khabibulin...

9:12 PM: After 20 in the Windy City - Game 1 between the Blackhawks and Canucks, and it's Vancouver with a 2-0 lead - Christian Ehrhoff and Mason Raymond both with their second goals of the playoffs, Ryan Kesler drawing assists on both goals...Raymond also drawing an assist...shots are 17-13 in favor of Chicago...Chicago is 0 for 2 on the power play, Vancouver has not yet been given a power play opportunity...

3:46 PM: He hasn't played in almost two months - so I figured as he eased himself back into the lineup he must be long overdue for a big goal - and he came through for me - Marc Savard, at 13:52 of the 1st overtime period, his 1st - wins the game...it's Savard's second career overtime goal in the Stanley Cup Playoffs...I can only imagine what he must have been going through sitting and watching, unable to contribute to the cause...especially during that double overtime game 4...

Boston out shot Philadelphia 15-4 in the overtime...the Flyers had a couple of good opportunities - none better than a Dan Carcillo breakaway that Rask read all the way...

Bruins lead the series 1-0...looks like this is going to be a good one...the vibe in Boston right now must be insane...beautiful sunny day, and the fans, 20,000 plus will converge on the streets...

Cheers will be packed tonight!!!  The Celtics are on the road in Cleveland as they get set for Game 1 of their second round NBA Playoff series...can't believe they're calling for a Cavaliers sweep...whoever predicted that must have forgotten that Boston won the championship two years ago...

3:21 PM: It was almost over within the first 20 seconds...Brian Boucher had be very sharp...the Bruins have the Flyers hemmed in their own end...

3:17 PM: As they get set for the 136th running of the Kentucky Derby in very wet conditions, they're getting ready for the 1st overtime...on a sky blue sunny day in Boston...

Picks - Boston - Marc Savard; Philadelphia - Claude Giroux...

Just over 3 minutes left...

2:49 PM: 4-3 - Mike Richards, his 3rd, at 12:37...Flyers were on another power play...

2:40 PM: David Krejci out waited Brian Boucher, and makes it 4-2 Boston at 7:25 of the 3rd...his 4th...Satan gets an assist, and looks like his goal might be his 3rd game winner of these playoffs...

11:32 left...power play coming up for Philly...

2:32 PM: The Flyers are coming on, but Tuukka Rask is shutting the door...

2:25 PM: Is it just me, or has that Jared guy, spokesman for Subway, gained back some weight?  He still looks pretty good though...

3rd period underway...

2:04 PM: Chris Pronger was incensed after the Satan goal, thought the Referees missed an interference penalty call after the Bruins executed the perfect pick play near the hash marks - Pronger got his revenge on the power play at 15:42, his 3rd - it's now 3-2...

And...the Flyers are going back to the man advantage...Bruins are unraveling fast...and the refs are not missing the interference calls now...2:49 left in the 2nd...

1:53 PM: Miroslav Satan had 2 game winners in Round 1, and has put the Bruins up 3-1 in Game 1 of Round 2...goal scored at 11:43, his 3rd, on that same power play I mentioned...Dan Carcillo, Mike Richards and Marc Savard all took roughing minors...

The Boucher chants are in full effect...similar to Vancouver's "LUUUUU!!!" chants for Roberto Luongo, every time Tuukka Rask makes a save, the fans are not booing, they're chanting "TUUUUUUUUU!!!!!"...just taking another page from Johan Hedberg's "Moose" chants way back when...

Also hearing a lot of "TUUKKA!!!" chants between face offs...with the organ music going it almost sounds like the fans are saying "YOU SUCK!!"...gotta love the New England faithful...

1:46 PM: Ryan Parent has answered for Philadelphia - his 1st at 7:38 of the 2nd period - it's 2-1...

10:02 left...Bruins are going on the power play...

1:04 PM: Patrice Bergeron makes it 2-0 Bruins...under 7 minutes left in the 1st...12:54 the time of the goal, his 3rd...Bergeron assisted on the first goal, so he already has a 2 point game...

12:57 PM: Looks like this game has settled down long enough for me to finally get that coffee started...about 1/2way thru the 1st...some nice aroma over here right now...

12:46 PM: Steve Begin jumped into Sturm's spot, and has his 1st of the playoffs, not just this year, but EVER - 1-0 Boston, early...goal scored at 2:39...

12:43 PM: I said Marco Sturm needs to be better, well he might not get the opportunity - he had to be helped off the ice in the first minute...

Huge ovation for Marc Savard who just took his first face off in a long time...March 7th was when a well placed Matt Cooke hit put him out with a concussion...he was finally cleared to play on Thursday...

12:30 PM: We're 1/3 of the way through 2010 already - can you believe it?  Not to mention 1/4 of the way through the playoffs...

So round 2 is just nicely underway - last night we had Game 1 between Pittsburgh and Montreal.  Since Friday nights for me are usually spent A) out for dinner and B) picking up supplies, I didn't actually get to see the game other than highlights (I don't think the folks that run the legendary Dragon Restaurant (Chinese Food) on Montreal Road are hockey fans...there's not even a TV in there).  What I did hear of the game was on XM (very nice to have all the games in the car at your fingertips at all times).

Anyhow - Pittsburgh has a 1-0 series lead, and by all accounts the game seemed a lot closer than the final score would indicate.  It's starting to look like the Penguins power play is going to be a big factor in this series - while Washington for the most part shot blanks (1 for 33), Pittsburgh is not going to miss too many opportunities 5 on 4...and that was evident in the box score - 4, count them, 4 power play goals...

Montreal actually got things started early, P.K. Subban got his first career playoff goal - it's the "rookie gets his first NHL goal in the playoffs before he's played a regular season game" situation - unassisted at 4:30...then the Habs got into penalty trouble - and the Pens made them pay - Sergei Gonchar at 8:38, and Jordan Staal (who looked like he's finally coming around), at 13:27...Pittsburgh led 2-1 after 1...

Incidentally, Subban might be sticking around for awhile - Andrei Markov left this game with a "lower body injury" - evidently he was seen leaving the Igloo on crutches...not good...speculation is a right knee injury. 

Pittsburgh didn't get out of this game unscathed either, as Staal, shortly after scoring his goal, suffered what appears was a foot laceration...the debate ensues as to which injury is worse...if you look at Montreal's record with and without Markov over the regular season, I think you'll have your answer...but, we play the games for a reason, right??

More Pens in the 2nd - Kris Letang, on another Pittsburgh power play at 2:34 - another too many men penalty...TSN had counted 21 after round 1, but so far in round 2 this looks like the first one...can't wait for the fiery graphic during the next panel discussion...

Mike Cammalleri got the score within 1 again at 15:27, his 6th, but Craig Adams put the Penguins ahead 4-2 late, at 18:36 of the second...both goals even strength...

One more power play goal from Pittsburgh in the 3rd, while Brian Gionta was off for delay of game - Alex Goligoski with his second - replay seemed similar to a goal he scored in Game 1 against Ottawa, perfect on the tape feed from Sidney Crosby, shot, goal...5-2 Pittsburgh...

Mike Rupp took an undisciplined penalty and sat 4 minutes for roughing, and Brian Gionta capitalized, making it 5-3, but that would be as close as Montreal would come - Bill Guerin iced it with an empty netter, and the Penguins win Game 1 by a final score of 6-3...

Take all of the power play goals away from this game, and Habs win 2-1 on full strength play...the message from coach Jacques Martin for Game 2 will be simple - stay out of the freaking box - play disciplined...you know they will not want to go home down 2-0 in the series, especially to this team...get the split and take their chances in the home barn...

So...today - 2 games - Philadelphia-Boston series starts in a matter of minutes, and Chicago hosts Vancouver at 8 PM for Game 1 of that series...

I picked up some Dunkin' Donuts Cinnamon Spice coffee when I was in upstate NY last Saturday, and I think I'm gonna go brew me a pot...in Boston's honor...

--------------------

For questions, comments, disagreements, or just to say hi, please send E-mail to puckin45@puckinaround.net

More Puckin' Around...