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| Miikka Kiprusoff deserves a boat-load of credit, making 37 saves on 39 total shots on goal to lead the Calgary Flames to a 3-2 victory in the first game of the playoff series with the San Jose Sharks. The Sharks have skaters and shooters and the Flames, considered heavy underdogs, will need a top performance from this goalie to have a shot. Tonight, he came up huge. |
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| Mikko Koivu, C, Minnesota Wild | Wednesday 4/9, 11:18 PM CT |
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| Mikko Koivu served as the team catalyst for the Minnesota Wild this evening, scoring one goal and assisting on another, in the midst of a much-needed playoff win, but the effort was for naught as the Wild fell in OT, 3-2. Koivu did his best work with the Wild down 2-0 in the third period, and that is an effort fans and future opponents had better recognize as the Wild move forward. |
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| Joe Sakic, C, Colorado Avalanche | Wednesday 4/9, 11:14 PM CT |
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| Joe Sakic showed why the Hall of Fame has a place set for his name, scoring the game-winning goal and adding an assist to lead the Colorado Avalanche to a 3-2 OT victory over the Minnesota Wild to take a one-game lead in the first round of the NHL Playoffs. It was a great overall team effort for the Avs, but as has happened so many times in the past, it was Sakic getting it done when it mattered most. |
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| Minnesota right wing Mark Parrish has left tonight playoff matchup against the Colorado Avalanche with a head injury, according to CBSSports.com. Parrish had an awkward collision with Ruslan Salei in the second period, both chasing after a loose puck. Parrish had to be helped off the ice by trainers and his status moving forward is unknown at this time. |
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| Gary Roberts, LW, Tampa Bay Lightning | Wednesday 4/9, 9:13 PM CT |
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| Gary Roberts may have missed a large portion of the regular season with a broken leg, but his return couldn’t have gone better in leading the Penguins to a 4-0 win over the Ottawa Senators. Roberts buried a puck in the net in the first period and returned for seconds in the third period with is second goal of the day. He also tossed in 16 PIM at the end of regulation. |
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| Pittsburgh goalie Marc-Andre Fleury did his job, working with a little help from a strong defensive support group, and kicked each and every one of the 26 shots the Ottawa Senators put on goal to lead the Penguins to a 4-0 victory in the first game of their playoff battle. While shutouts aren’t the norm for this young tender on the rise, Fleury has been steady for the Pens in the late weeks of the season and could be hitting his stride at just the right time. |
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| Evgeni Malkin wasted no time in introducing his tall talents to the world of playoff hockey, working as the driving force in Pittsburgh’s 4-0 win over the Ottawa Senators. Malkin recorded one goal and two assists on the evening in an effort the Ottawa defense simply could not stop. Malkin was one of the most underrated superstars in hockey this season and it now appears he’ll use the playoff stage to bring his name into households across the hockey nation. |
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| Veteran Brendan Shanahan knows all about playoff hockey, so it should come as no surprise that the old-time hockey man posted one goal and one assists in the Rangers’ 4-1 victory over the New Jersey Devils. The win gives the Rangers a one-game edge in the first-round series, a battle Shanahan is sure influence again in the not-so-distant future. |
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| Scott Gomez, C, New York Rangers | Wednesday 4/9, 8:34 PM CT |
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| Scott Gomez did his part in the Rangers’ 4-1 win over the New Jersey Devils, the first game of their first-round playoff series. Gomez put the puck on the sticks that mattered, picking up three assists to help New York take a 1-0 advantage in the series. |
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| Ask most hockey experts, or players around the league and to-a-man most will tell you Brian Campbell is the difference between the Sharks being the favorites in the West and potentially a first round loser. Calgary may not be the deepest team in the NHL but they boast three key elements for postseason success: Captain and all-around stud forward Jarome Iginla, veteran netminder Miikka Kiprusoff and emerging Norris candidate Dion Phaneuf on defense. Will it be enough to upset to take the red-hot Sharks out of loop for the Cup? Mike Keenan's troops have not lost a meaningful game since acquiring offensive defenseman Brian Campbell from Buffalo just before the trading deadline. Since adding Campbell, the club's offense has found its groove. Add Vezina trophy candidate Evgeni Nabokov in goal and you have a recipe for postseason success. |
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| Brett Clark, D, Colorado Avalanche | Wednesday 4/9, 5:25 PM CT |
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| The Avalanche head into Game 1 seeking Lord Stanley's Cup, and do so with reasonably good health. Winger Marek Svatos and defenseman Brett Clark are definitely out for this series.
The Wild have their own issues, especially on the blueline. Nick Schultz (emergency appendectomy) and Kurtis Foster (fractured femur) are out. Expect veterans Keith Carney and Sean Hill to see a lot of ice time in this series, while No. 1 blueliner Brent Burns may be asked to help shut down the Stastny line. |
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| The Rangers go into this series with plenty of confidence, since they registered 15 out of a possible 16 points in the season series versus the Devils--dropping only the final regular-season game in a shootout. However, many believe that the Devils are the favorites to come out of the East due primarily to Martin Brodeur postseason experience. New York will try to take advantage of their superior offensive depth, and they will lean heavily on the playoff experience of forwards Jaromir Jagr, Chris Drury, Brendan Shanahan and Scott Gomez. They'll also rely heavily on goalie Henrik Lundqvist in Game 1.
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| Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and the rest of the Pittsburgh Penguins host the injury-riddled Ottawa Senators in the 2-7 match-up tonight. The Senators limp into tonight's Game 1 missing three key players: Captain Daniel Alfredsson (knee/head) and centers Mike Fisher (knee) and Chris Kelly (leg). Therefore, Ottawa's lineup will have a makeshift look to kick things off. Martin Gerber will get the starting nod between the pipes and in a nutshell, few give the Sens a chance tonight. They are simply too damaged and have more in-house turmoil than Big Brother. |
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| Updating an earlier report, Daniel Briere will play in Game 1 of the Flyers first-round matchup with the Capitals on Friday, this according to a report on SI.com. "Right now, I believe I'll be in right from the get go," Briere said. "That's what I believe, but we'll see how it improves. But I think I'll be ready to go." Didn't we tell you he would play earlier today? Nostradamus would be proud. |
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| Tomas Holmstrom, who has dealt with multiple injuries the past month and a half, will skate on the Wings top-line in the playoffs with Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk, this according to the Detroit Free Press. The team will go with a second line of Valtteri Filppula-Joahn Franzen-Dan Cleary. Holmstrom was born to play in the playoffs with his rough and tumble style, and few forwards in the league can cause as much trouble in front of the net as Holmstrom. |
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| Kurtis Foster is making slow progress on his long road to recovery from a devastating leg injury (broken femur) suffered on March 19th, this according to NHL.com. Foster will need a "miracle" to be ready for camp next season, but he still plans on resuming his NHL career at some point next season. We wish him well. |
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| Ryan Carter, who missed over a month and a half with a wrist injury that required surgery, says he is ready to for the playoffs after playing in the teams final regular season game, this according to the Los Angeles Times. "I did test it and it was fine. There were no situations that I couldn't play in. It's good." Carter's return to the lineup could mean that veteran Doug Weight ends up being a healthy scratch, so keep that in mind in playoff pools. |
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| Corey Perry, RW, Anaheim Ducks | Wednesday 4/9, 1:18 PM CT |
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| Corey Perry returned to the ice on Tuesday for the first time with his teammates since suffering a torn right quadriceps muscle, this according to the Los Angeles Times. "Today, it felt great," Perry said. "That's why I stayed out and did a couple of drills with the team. If it continues to be like that, it could be quicker than everybody thinks." It still appears likely that Perry could play at some point in the first round though the team is taking a cautious approach to his return to game action which means that he could still miss at least half of the first round. |
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| Mike Komisarek has not yet been medically cleared to play because of his injured hip, this according to TSN. The team hopes that he will be able to skate in practice on Wednesday and then receive clearance from the medical staff. Komisarek is your standard defensive defensemen and his sturdy, rugged play will be needed in the playoffs. |
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| With the team missing Daniel Alfredsson up front, the pressure is squarely on the shoulders of goal keeper Martin Gerber, this according to the Ottawa Sun. Can Gerber handle the spotlight? In eight career playoff appearances he owns a horrific 13.53 GAA. Certainly he will be better than that, but he will likely have to also be substantially better than the 2.72 GAA he produced in the regular season this year if the team is to make it past the Penguins. |
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| Peter Forsberg continues to battle injuries but that doesn't mean he has lost his passion for the game. In fact, he is saying that he would like to play beyond this season, this according to the Denver Post. "When I signed here, I said I wanted to play beyond this year. But we'll see what happens in the offseason." How about this Peter, why don't you worry about actually playing this season before we start worrying about next year? Forsberg suited up for just nine of the 18 games that he was available for this year, but he still produced 14 points in those nine games. He has been one of the greatest playoff performers in league history, so keep that in mind in playoff pools. |
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| Dave Legwand, C, Nashville Predators | Wednesday 4/9, 12:54 PM CT |
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| Dave Legwand hopes to be able to return to practice on Wednesday in his attempt to return from a knee injury to play against the Red Wings in Round 1, this according to the Tennessean. "I would say he's making some progress,'' HC Barry Trotz said. "I still think he's probably very doubtful for the first couple of games, but maybe there's hope for after.'' Let's face it, the Predators have about a 10% chance of making it to the second round, and that number would shrink even further if Legwand is unavailable to play at any point of the series. |
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| Daniel Briere skated in about half of the Flyers practice on Tuesday while wearing a no-contact jersey in his attempt to make it back from a knee injury for the Flyers first playoff game, this according to the Philadelphia Enquirer. "I was on the ice for just over a half-hour and I'm feeling better and better every day, which is very positive," Briere said. "The good thing is we still have 3 more days to go before the first game, so I'm confident." Here's a bet we'll make with you; Briere will play in Game 1, the question is will the leg respond enough to allow him to do the things he needs to do in order to score points? |
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| Jason Smith, D, Ottawa Senators | Wednesday 4/9, 12:44 PM CT |
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| Jason Smith, the Flyers captain, is suffering from an upper-body injury, and after missing the team's final regular season game and practice on Tuesday, it is uncertain if he will be able to play in Game 1 against the Capitals, this according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. Smith doesn't offer any upside in fantasy pools, but his loss on the blueline would be a huge negative for the team since Smith is exactly the type of player that is needed in the playoffs. |
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| Christian Ehrhoff likely won't be able to play in Game 1 against the Flames, this according to the Sharks Official Website. “He probably won’t play tomorrow,” head coach Ron Wilson said on Tuesday. Who will take Ehrhoff's spot in the lineup? Wilson did not say but he will have to chose between Sandis Ozolinsh, Alexei Semenov and Matt Carle. |
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| Patrick Marleau will skate on the Sharks second line with Joe Pavelski and recently returned Ryan Clowe, this according to the team's Official Website. Marleau has actually been playing LW with Pavelski at C, and the duo has been magical over the last month. Adding the rugged Clowe, recently back in the lineup after missing most of the year with knee surgery, could make this a formidable line. |
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| The Senators will have to juggle their lines due to multiple injuries, the most important one being to captain Daniel Alfredsson, with the first line consisting of Dany Heatley, Jason Spezza and Randy Robitaille, this according to the Ottawa Citizen. Here is how the other lines will breakdown: Martin LaPointe-Cody Bass- Christoph Schubert, Chris Neil-Dean McAmmond and Nick Foligno, Shean Donovan-Antoine Vermette-Cory Stillman. |
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| Patrice Bergeron returned to practice with the Bruins on Tuesday and though he won't play in Game 1, it now appears that he has a legitimate chance to return to play in the first round, this according to the Boston Globe. Out since October 27th with a concussion, Bergeron went through a full-contact, full-strength practice that included a couple of hits and came out no worse for the ware. His addition to the lineup could offer a huge emotional lift to the squad, and the kid can play a bit too. |
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| Chris Clark, RW, Washington Capitals | Wednesday 4/9, 11:59 AM CT |
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| Chris Clark skated at practice on Tuesday, but remains uncertain to play on Friday, according to the Washington Post. He has battled a months-long groin injury that limited him to only 18 games played this season. He is a team captain and his return would boost the Capitals in the playoffs. |
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| David Steckel returned to practice yesterday for the first time since breaking a finger on his right hand in March, and he is expected to play on Friday, according to the Washington Post. He scored 12 points over 67 games this season, and has one game-winning goal to his credit. |
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| Corey Crawford could hold a larger role next season, according to the Chicago Tribune. Crawford could play as many as 30 games behind starter Nikolai Khabibulin next season, and GM Dave Tallon noted, "He showed he can play; it's time. He has had two really good years in the American Hockey League. We're very confident in his abilities." Crawford went 1-2 over three starts this season, with a .929 SV%.
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