April 20, 2003
NHL Playoff Roundup
Dallas ends Edmonton's season; the Flyers set up the knockout; the Wild stay alive.
Stars 3 Oilers 2: For the fifth time in six years, the Stars have polished off the Oilers, the sort of streak that begins to cause mass psychosis among a city's fans -- believe me, I've seen it here in Washington with respect to the Penguins. So what have we learned after six games? Certainly, the Stars were able to win, but seemed to lack that killer instinct we expect out of some Stanley Cup champs. The Oilers kept coming back, and were never really out of any game in this series with the exception of Game Two. The Stars get the Ducks next, a team that plays a game that's mighty similar to the Oilers -- and with a goalie who's playing tougher than Tommy Salo. Stars win series, 4-2.
Flyers 4 Maple Leafs 1: In the 2002 playoffs, winger Sami Kapanen scored just once in 23 games with the Carolina Hurricanes. He doubled that amount in just last night's game, scoring twice on the power play. If anything, it simply looks as if the Flyers are finally wearing the Maple Leafs down. To come back and win the series, the Leafs will have not win games on back-to-back nights on Monday and Tuesday. As a reward for their efforts, the Flyers will get a date with either Ottawa or New Jersey. Flyers lead series 3-2.
Wild 3 Avalanche 2: Wild coach Jacques Lemaire had one more surprise for the Avalanche yesterday when he started his Godson, Manny Fernandez, in net for Minnesota. It worked, at least for this Game Five -- a number that seems to have caused particular trouble for the Avalanche over the course of their history. It was the fourth time the Avalanche have lost a Game Five at home in five season where they had the opportunity to clinch a series. What does this tell us? Nothing more, I'm afraid, than the fact that the Western Conference is as wide open as the East. Avalanche lead series 3-2.
This afternoon at 3:00 p.m., the Lightning have a chance to close out the Capitals in Washington. Tonight in St. Louis, the Canucks will continue their uphill battle to stay alive against the Blues.
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