Category Archives: NHL
Stanley Cup Finals in a Hurry
Game 1 of the Stanley Cup is tonight on NBC and don’t leave your seat because Game 2 is tomorrow night agian on NBC. The reason why they are on back to back nights might baffle you.
Penguins Win Game 1
The Pittsburgh Penguins held off a late surge from the Carolina Hurricanes to win Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals 3-2. The Penguins got off to a fast start scoring two goals in the first eleven minutes of play. The first came from Miroslav Satan who got the puck after coming out of the penalty box and beat Cam Ward with a nice backhand. Evgeni Malkin added another one 84 seconds later beating Cam Ward with a backhand that went just under Wards’ arm.
Cam Ward kept Carolina in the game in the second making a terrific glove save on a one timer off Bill Guerin’s stick. Chad LaRose then made it 2-1 beating Marc-Andre Fluery five hole. In the third Philippe Boucher gave the Penguins a 3-1 scoring on the power play. Boucher. who was only playing because Penguins coach Dan Bylsma decided to dress seven defensemen because of Sergei Gonchar’s knee injury, was key in the victory adding an assist in addition to the big third period goal. The Hurricanes made it close in the end scoring in the final 90 seconds on the power play but it wasn’t enough. They did have a great chance with under 30 seconds remaining but Eric Staal couldn’t put it home. Fluery was great all night and made his best save of the night at the end when stopped Staal. The series continues with Game 2 scheduled for Thursday night in Pittsburgh where the Hurricanes will look to even the series.
Eastern Conference Finals Preview: Penguins vs. Hurricanes
Both the Penguins and Hurricanes are coming off emotional seven game series in the previous round and have to put that behind them quickly. The Hurricanes have now played two seven game series and won them both on the road and will be the lower seed once again this round against the fourth seeded Penguins. The Penguins are playing great hockey winning four of the last five games in the series against Washington including a 6-2 blowout in game seven in Washington. The Hurricanes will need to find a answer for Sidney Crosby who has been on fire in the playoffs leading the league in goals with 12 and points with 21. The play of Sergei Gonchar will also be key. Gonchar came back to play in game seven and will get some rest in between the series and if he is at full strength the Penguins will really have an advantage along the blue line. Eric Staal will have to come up big for the Hurricanes if they want to advance. He is leading the team in points with 13 and when he has scored the Hurricanes have won every game. He only had one assist in the final three games of the series against Boston but should have some extra motivation this round going up against his brother Jordan. Cam Ward has been terrific so far in the playoffs but hasn’t seen an offense as dynamic and high-powered as the Penguins and a power play like the Penguins.
Prediction: Cam Ward will carry the Hurricanes but in the end they will not have enough fire power to combat Crosby and company. Penguins in 6
Western Conference Finals Preview: Red Wings vs. Blackhawks
This is a great match up for the NHL netting two rivals and Original 6 teams squaring off in the Conference Finals. The Red Wings are coming off a tough seven game series against the Ducks where they found a way to win in the final minutes of game seven. The Blackhawks are young an inexperienced but has beaten two good teams in the Flames and Canucks so far in the playoffs. Both teams have great blue lines that can do it all and it will be interesting to see who plays better in the series. The Blackhawks got behind early in games often against the Canucks and came back to win but that won’t be as easy against a veteran, playoff tested team like the Red Wings. The young kids on the Blackhawks haven’t shown their age yet in the playoffs but will be tested against the Red Wings. A key for the Blackhawks will be their power play which has been the best in the playoffs so far at a 29.4% against the penalty kill off the Red Wings. Jonathan Toews will draw Pavel Datsyuk, one of the best defensive forwards in the game but Datsyuk has struggled so far in the playoffs. Tomas Holmstrom did not have a point in the Anaheim series and will need to pick it up to take the pressure of Johan Franzen who has been carrying the Red Wings with 15 points in the playoffs.
Prediction: These two teams are very close talent wise and this has the makings of a great series and in the end I think the young kids of Chicago will get it done. Blackhawks in 7
