Moments after his team finished off the New York Rangers in Game 7 and Carolina dispatched New Jersey, Washington Capitals coach Bruce Boudreau summed it up perfectly.
"We're playing Pittsburgh, right?” Boudreau said. “Welcome to the circus.”
Babcock, Carlyle a cut above
Thursday, April 30, 2009 | 06:00 PM ET | Posted by CBC Sports StaffWhen the Detroit Red Wings take the ice for Game 1 of their second-round Western Conference series against the Anaheim Ducks, they do so without centre Kris Draper. The veteran forward, a four-time Stanley Cup winner, was ruled out of the first two games of the series when team doctors wouldn't give him clearance to play. Draper missed the entire opening round against the Columbus Blue Jackets due to an upper-body injury.
"I'm real disappointed," Draper said. "I honestly thought I was going to get some good news today." He'll be re-evaluated Sunday to determine whether he'll be available for Games 3 and 4 next week in Anaheim.
It's run and be run in the playoffs
Thursday, April 30, 2009 | 03:55 PM ET | Posted by CBC Sports StaffThe Chicago Blackhawks had the second-best power play in the first round, clicking at 29.2 per cent against the Calgary Flames.
The Vancouver Canucks, meanwhile, had the second-best penalty kill at 95.8 per cent and they earned it, being the second-most penalized team taking close to seven minors per game against the St. Louis Blues.
The Blues, at times, were playing five forwards on their powerplay, which struggled to even appear dangerous. It will be a whole different picture with the likes of Brian Campbell on the other side.
Can Chara silence Staal?
Thursday, April 30, 2009 | 02:16 PM ET | Posted by CBC Sports StaffEric Staal scored the game-winning goal in Game 7 to catapult his team into the second round. He is Carolina's best player. He leads the Hurricanes with seven points in the playoffs.
But in four regular-season matches against the Bruins, Staal didn't register a single point, much of it because he was seeing Zdeno Chara in every game.
Canucks back at full strength
Wednesday, April 29, 2009 | 08:39 PM ET | Posted by CBC Sports StaffThe Vancouver Canucks had a rather sloppy practice the day before the start of Round 2, but all players were present and accounted for.
Willie Mitchell is recovering from "overall body soreness" and said Tuesday he will play in Game 1. Mats Sundin is also ready to go after missing Games 3 and 4 in St. Louis. Speculation had him suffering from a hip or groin injury, but there has been a knee brace sometimes hanging in his locker stall.
Hurricanes dig deep to win instant classic Game 7
Wednesday, April 29, 2009 | 01:37 AM ET | Posted by CBC Sports StaffOne of the surprising aspects of Carolina’s late comeback against the Devils in Game 7 on Tuesday night was that they scored twice in the final 80 seconds without pulling goalie Cam Ward.
Coach Paul Maurice said his five players on the ice were tired and he didn’t see the point in taking Ward off and putting one fresh guy out with five tired players.
Heartbreak for the Devils
Wednesday, April 29, 2009 | 01:13 AM ET | Posted by CBC Sports StaffThe sound of 17,625 fans who have witnessed a collapse by the home team in the final 80 seconds of a Game 7 is deafening.
If the Prudential Center sellout crowd in Newark, N.J. on Tuesday night didn’t know how to react after the Devils were eliminated from the playoffs by the Carolina Hurricanes, neither did coach Brent Sutter.
Tortorella plays underdog card
Tuesday, April 28, 2009 | 02:40 PM ET | Posted by CBC Sports StaffWhile Rangers coach John Tortorella’s exchange after practice with New York Post reporter Larry Brooks made headlines yesterday, he also made it clear that he will be trying to motivate his players with the “no one believes in us” angle.
Salvador will sit out Game 7 for Devils
Tuesday, April 28, 2009 | 12:12 PM ET | Posted by CBC Sports StaffDevils defenceman Bryce Salvador admitted his injured left knee is not 100 per cent and coach Brent Sutter did not want to make any changes on defence, so Andy Greene will remain in the lineup for Tuesday night’s seventh game in Newark. N.J.
Sharks lost series before Game 6
Tuesday, April 28, 2009 | 03:12 AM ET | Posted by CBC Sports StaffThe Sharks may have been eliminated Monday night, but players and coaches agreed that wasn’t when they lost their series against the Ducks.
So when did they really undo their post-season of promise and reinforce their image of playoff pretenders? Take your pick: Losing the first two games at home or failing to show up for Game 4 in Anaheim?
Recent Post
- Crosby vs. Ovechkin: 'Welcome to the circus'
- Thursday, April 30, 2009
- Babcock, Carlyle a cut above
- Thursday, April 30, 2009
- It's run and be run in the playoffs
- Thursday, April 30, 2009
- Can Chara silence Staal?
- Thursday, April 30, 2009
- Canucks back at full strength
- Wednesday, April 29, 2009
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