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2011 NHL Playoff Coverage
Montreal Canadiens 2 Boston Bruins 0
In one of the most anticipated match ups of the post season the Original Six rivals that have been going at it all season took to the ice for their first game in round one of the playoffs.
After a shaky post season in 2010 Montreal’s starting goaltender Carey Price started this post season a little more sturdy with the shut out of the Bruins; but as a goaltender it is always good to get a little help from your friends out front.
Canadiens Brian Gionta needed less than three minutes to take a pass from Scott Gomez for a snap shot past Bruins net minder Tim Thomas.
In the first two period each team was given the same amount of power play chances while in the third the only penalty called was a late one to Bruins captain Zdeno Chara for roughing.
It would be another snap shot from Gionta and Gomez late in the third that would secure the series lead for Montreal over Boston.
Buffalo Sabres 1 Philadelphia Flyers 0
It’s Miller time in Philly as Buffalo Sabres goaltender Ryan Miller turns aside all 35 shots from the Flyers in the series opening game.
The first noted action for the game came just over four minutes after puck drop when Flyers captain Mike Richards and Sabres were called for coincidental roughing minors.
Without Chris Pronger on the blueline for the Flyers they only took two penalties in the game. Coincidence? Maybe. Maybe not. Buffalo on the other hand had over double the amount of penalties assessed to them.
The only goal of the game came just under six minutes into the third period when Sabres Patrick Kaleta put a wrist shot past Flyers rookie goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky. Kaleta’s goal would become the game winner and give Buffalo the first lead of the series.
Los Angeles Kings 2 San Jose Sharks 3 (OT)
In a hard fought battle in California the Sharks eventually came out on top.
It took 45 shots on goal and overtime for the Sharks to finally get the win over the Kings late last night. San Jose had taken an early lead in the game when Dany Heatly went backhand on Los Angeles goalie Jonathan Quick just 28 seconds into the game.
The first period would come to an end with the Sharks up 1-0 but things would become heated after Kings Jarrett Stoll would put a questionable hit on Sharks defenseman Ian White. White was hit into the boards behind the net and did not return to the game. The hit was not seen on ice by the refs.
After White left the ice and the puck was dropped Sharks Ben Eager and Kings Kyle Clifford dropped the gloves with less than 30 seconds remaining in the period.
The second period would see Kings captain Dustin Brown tie the game on the power play with a slap shot off of a fed from Justin Williams in Williams first game back from injury.
Rookie Logan Couture would give the Sharks the lead again just minutes after Brown’s goal only to have Williams go backhand on Antti Niemi and tie the game again and eventually force overtime.
It would take until 14:44 of overtime before Sharks Joe Pavelski would but the puck past Quick for the series lead over the inner state rival Kings.
Up into the Netting
Debating the question: Could Ilya Bryzgalov be his own worst enemy?
It might be tradition in Detroit to throw an octopus on the ice for good luck; however, if you get caught it is a $500 fine as one fan just found out.
Did I just hear that? Did you hear it? Take a listen to Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin’s post game interview after the game one win over the Rangers and see if you hear it.
Mike Colligan takes a look at how Marc-Andre Fleury’s season comes full circle.
The Edmonton Oilers have secured the first pick in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft for the second season in a row.
Todd Bertuzzi may be an outcast in 29 (and sometimes all 30) NHL cities but he may have earned his wings with at least 20,000 Detroiters.
Janne Virtanen pointed out on Twitter that the Minnesota Wild’s first round draft pick from the 2010 NHL Entry Draft Mikael Granlund set a new record for the most points for a players under 20 in the SM-liiga playoffs.
Today’s random video features Ducks forward Teemu Selanne:
Tonight’s Playoff Schedule
New York Rangers at Washington Capitals
7:30 p.m. EST on TSN and VERSUS
Tampa Bay Lightning at Pittsburgh Penguins
7:00 p.m. EST on CBC (HD)
Chicago Blackhawks at Vancouver Canucks
10:00 p.m. EST on CBC (HD) and VERSUS
Nashville Predators at Anaheim Ducks
10:30 p.m. EST on TSN