With the start of the NHL Playoffs comes a start of 16 teams’ quest for the Stanley Cup. Four of those teams are one step closer to the Cup while four other teams are one step closer to elimination.
Let’s briefly recap Wednesday’s games:
New York Rangers 4 Washington Capitals 3 – Despite being outshot 35 to 21, the Rangers ended up scoring more goals. New York netminder Henrik Lundqvist made 32 saves while Washington’s Jose Theodore made just 17. The Capitals had dominated the play on the ice although the scoreboard doesn’t suggest that. If Washington wants to get back in the series, Jose Theodore will really need to step up his game…and Alex Ovechkin will need to start scoring goals.
Pittsburgh Penguins 4 Philadelphia Flyers 1 – It’s starting to look like a reenactment of last year’s Eastern Conference Finals with Pittsburgh obliterating their cross-state rival. Goals from Crosby, Kennedy, Malkin, and Eaton lifted the Penguins to a blowout victory over the Flyers. Now would be a good time to call on Carter for the scoring.
New Jersey Devils 4 Carolina Hurricanes 1 – Down the front stretch of the regular season, the Hurricanes had been destroying several homes in the NHL while the Devils weren’t able to stick a fork in anybody. With Langenbrunner and Parise each getting 1 goal and 1 assist, someone on the Carolina squad needs to “Staal” the Devils’ netminder if a 36-year old from Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta led the team in scoring during the regular season.
Vancouver Canucks 2 St. Louis Blues 1 – Chris Mason made very few mistakes during the game…and it cost his team as the Canucks take Game 1 in this best-of-7 series. If the Blues want to get back in the series, someone whose name is not Brad Boyes needs to step up…Earth to Patrik Berglund!
