NHL Playoff Roundup

Buffalo 3 Philadelphia 0: The series held true to form and Buffalo holds serve. Click here for yesterday's liveblogging where I expressed some astonishment at Tim Connolly's ability to skate the length of the ice untouched on a power play to score pretty much untouched.

As for the aforementioned Mr. Connolly:

I’ve been saying for most of this series that the key to Buffalo’s chances lie with Tim Connolly and this goal is a perfect example of that. Philly can match Forsberg against whomever Hitch wants, while Drury sees either him or Nedved’s line, depending on whose barn we’re in, but after that the Flyers don’t have anyone who can skate with the Connolly line and keep them under control.

Later, there's some hateration for both Peter Forsberg and NBC's Peter McNab. Despite the heavy media presence in the area, BFLOBLOG managed to avoid the Papparazzi:

I’m curious as to how things looked on national TV. Did they show some nice shots of the beautiful day, or the area? They had a camera crew on the way in, which we deftly avoided, but did it make the city look as great as it was today?

He'll be content to know that Bill Clement did mention that they couldn't find him.

Buffalo leads series, 3-2.

Colorado 3 Dallas 2, OT: Part of me wanted this game to go on forever. After all, what better way to reward NBC for partnering with the NHL than to see them forced to air a multiple OT playoff game that would stretch into their prime time schedule, or at least disrupt the Sunday night local news for a stretch.

But alas, it was not to be, thanks to Andrew Brunette, who put away the game and the series a little less than halfway through OT. I really don't know what else there is to say about this series other than what's been said before: Whenever Dallas needed a big save, Marty Turco didn't give it to them. Granted, it didn't help that Dallas blew 3rd period leads in both Games Three and Four with a power play in hand, but they'd been playing tight enough all season long that they kept the shot count down on Turco. One wonders why they couldn't do it in the playoffs.

One reason had to be Joe Sakic, who consistently outplayed Mike Modano all series long, and made his teammates who were lucky enough to be on the ice with him that much better. He seemed to be setting up or scoring every big goal, just the way a superstar is supposed to.

Unfortunately, I think this is a ride that ends for the Avalanche in the second round, and that's no matter who they wind up playing.

Colorado wins series, 4-1.

Carolina 2 Montreal 1: How long can Cam Ward keep this up? He's 21 and had three wins in a row in a playoff series where he's been working in relief of his team's #1 goalie, the shellshocked Martin Gerber (and just how badly will Ward have to play in order for him to get another shot before next October?).

Here's Red and Black Hockey:

Once again, Cam Ward was the big story. The unproven, unheralded backup goalie wasn't expected to play at all in this series. He hasn't just "filled in". He's stolen the job from Martin Gerber. I was kind of noticing, and my friend Andy also pointed out that Gerber was pouting a little over on the bench, and lagging behind in the pre-game skate. I don't know if he's still not feeling well, or if he's going all Arturs Irbe on us, or a combination of both. I still think we'll see Gerber again at some point. It just won't be on Tuesday night.

Here's Casonblog:

The PK let the Habs down again tonight. 'Canes took advantage of the opportunities they got, and Cam did the rest. He even got a piece of Kovalev's wicked wrister in the second. The boy is in a zone. Nuh, nuh, nuh....be the puck Cammy, be the puck.

Game #6 Tuesday. My advice for the Habs-stay in a Holiday Inn Express Monday night.

Sisu Hockey concurs on the Habs PK problems, and has some advice for Game Six back in Montreal:

Tuesday, the Habs have to come out flying. The last couple of games, a slow start has been their undoing. With the predictable early 'tone-setting' penalties, it helps to be the team controlling the play in the offensive zone.

Carolina leads series, 3-2.

San Jose 2 Nashville 1: Of all the first round series, this is the one I watched least, and the one where both teams had an emotional pull on me (which, come to think of it, was why I probably didn't want to watch). I wanted both of these teams to advance, because I find myself rooting for the non-traditional markets to break through big at playoff time. And boy, could the city of Nashville have used a trip to the second round.

Still, what Barry Trotz and David Poile have done there isn't going to go away in the course of one offseason, and they will be back. L&N Line is coming to terms with the end of the season:

Anyway, more playoff frustration for me personally (Braves, Titans, Preds, among others) and I've gotten far too used to it. It seems like every time one of those teams above make the playoffs, there is always a team better prepared. But of those three major teams above, I have more hope for the Preds than any of them because of the way they run their organization. And here's hoping they improve even that stellar record, because I'd like to never see a playoff series like this again. Next year, peace.

As for San Jose, what Caps fan wouldn't have a soft spot for ex-head coach Ron Wilson thanks to that run to the Finals in 1998? Wilson has won wherever he has coached, and Joe Thornton might just be the horse to get him back to the Finals in 2006.

Here's a scenario: It's Game Seven, and your favorite team is playing the Sharks with the game tied and a minute left. Just for fun, Wilson puts Thornton out there with Jonathan Cheechoo and Patrick Marleau on the wings? Are you nervous? If not, you ought to be...

San Jose wins series, 4-1.

Eric 06:54 AM

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