5 replies to this topic

[Dark Knight]

Please post your thoughts, pictures and comments on tonight's games in this thread.

Pittsburgh at Washington
Chicago at Vancouver

[ladiesandgentlemen]

Based on the team's poor performance in his absence during the season, I think the Pens could be cooked without Sergei Gonchar... though they did manage w/o him in finishing up the win yesterday.

But it will be very interesting to see if PIT is looking to even the score by taking out one of WAS's cornerstones (like Mike Green?). Ovechkin's team will be lucky to get out of this series unscathed, if they make it out...

And the Nuck/Hawk series is a toss-up as far as I can see. I think it all rides on Luongo vs. Khabibulin... the Bulin Wall vs the Bathroom Stall

[play puck]

It will make sense if Pittsburgh comes out with a physical mantalillity. It will be interesting in Vancouver. I think the first to score in the Hawks game wins.

[DropThePuck]

TSN's Ice Chips

Defenceman James Wisniewski (lung contusion) did not play in Game 4. He has not ruled out the possibility of playing in Game 5 on Sunday. - TSN

The Ducks did not skate on Friday. They will practice Saturday before Game 5 of their series with the Red Wings. - Orange County Register

Bruins forward Mark Recchi did not skate Saturday. Head coach Claude Julien said that he was banged up but will likely play Sunday. Andrew Ference will likely miss the remainder of the series with a lower body injury. - TSN

The teams dire situation is not lost on captain Zdeno Chara; "We are in a deep hole, we are all realizing that." - Boston Globe

Projected Lines - Game 5 vs. Hurricanes

Forwards:
Kessel - Savard - Lucic
Kobasew - Bergeron - Wheeler
Ryder - Krejci - Bitz
Yelle - Thornton - Axelsson

Defence:
Ward - Chara
Wideman - Stuart
Montador - Hnidy

Goaltender:
Thomas
Fernandez

The Hurricanes' speed has been the major factor in their two straight wins to take the series lead. - TSN

The Blackhawks feel patience will be a key to success against the Canucks. "That's the way they play and that’s the way we have to play," said Duncan Keith. "We have to be smart. They play well defensively as a team and they have a good goaltender. For us to win we’re going to have to be patient and play smart." - Chicago Tribune

Dustin Byfuglien, Matt Walker, Sammy Pahlsson, Martin Havlat and Andrew Ladd didn’t practice yesterday, but head coach Joel Quenneville said all will play in Game 5 tonight. - Chicago Sun Times

Projected Lines vs. Canucks

Forwards:
Sharp - Toews - Kane
Ladd - Bolland - Havlat
Versteeg - Pahlsson - Byfuglien
Eager - Burish - Brouwer

Defence:
Keith - Seabrook
Hjalmarsson - Campbell
Barker - Walker

Goaltender:
Khabibulin

Forward Tomas Kopecky will not play in Game 5 on Sunday and will be replaced by Justin Abdelkader. - Detroit Free Press

Forwards Ville Leino, Justin Abdelkader and Aaron Downey, defenceman Jakub Kindl and goalie Jimmy Howard have been called up from minor-league affiliate Grand Rapids. - Detroit News

Sergei Gonchar was injured on a knee-on-knee hit from Alexander Ovechkinin Game 4 and is expected to miss several weeks. With Gonchar out, the Pens have Alex Goligoski and Philippe Boucher as options. - TSN

Lines From Game 4 vs. Capitals

Forwards:
Kunitz - Crosby - Guerin
Fedotenko - Malkin - Talbot
Cooke - Staal - Kennedy
Dupuis - Adams - Satan

Defence:
Orpik - Gonchar (Out For GM 5)
Gill - Scuderi
Eaton - Letang

Goaltender:
Fleury
Garon

Possible Scratches:
Sykora, Godard
and Boucher

Sami Salo skated with the team Saturday morning and is a game time decision for tonight's contest. He will go for treatment and see how the injury responds throughout the day... Ossi Vaananen stayed out of today's morning skate with the scratches but Alain Vigneault said given he only plays eight-nine minutes per game, not to read too much into that... Adam Burish, Sammy Pahlsson and Scott Walker did not skate Saturday morning but will be available for Game 5 this evening. - TSN

Projected Lines vs. Blackhawks

Forwards:
D. Sedin - H. Sedin - Burrows
Raymond - Sundin - Kesler
Pyatt - Wellwood - Bernier
Hordichuk - Johnson - Rypien

Defence:
Mitchell - Bieksa
Ohlund - Edler
Vaaninen - O'Brien

Goaltender:
Luongo

The NHL will take no further action against Alex Ovechkin for his hit on Sergei Gonchar in Game 4. Ovechkin was handed a 2-minute penalty for tripping on the play. - TSN

Projected Lines - Game 5 vs. Penguins

Forwards:
Ovechkin - Fedorov - Kozlov
Fleischmann - Backstrom - Semin
Laich - Steckel - Bradley
Beagle - Gordon - Clark

Defence:
Morrisonn - Green
Poti - Jurcina
Sloan - Pothier

Goaltender:
Varlamov
Theodore

Scratches:
Schultz, Brashear, Fehr
and Nylander

[DropThePuck]

4 - Staal, J. (05:17 in 2nd), Fedotenko, R. (00:51 in 3rd), Cooke, M. (06:27 in 3rd), Malkin, E. (PPG, 03:28 in 1st OT)
3 - Ovechkin, A. (06:16 in 2nd), Backstrom, N. (PPG, 14:35 in 2nd), Ovechkin, A. (15:52 in 3rd)


Washington Capitals center Boyd Gordon (15) battles for the puck against Pittsburgh Penguins goalie Marc-Andre Fleury (29) and Alex Goligoski (3) during the first period of Game 5 of an NHL hockey second-round playoff series, Saturday, May 9, 2009, in Washington.
(AP Photo/Nick Wass)


Pittsburgh Penguins center Maxime Talbot (25) collides with Washington Capitals center Sergei Fedorov (91), from Russia, during the first period of Game 5 of an NHL hockey second-round playoff series, Saturday, May 9, 2009, in Washington.
(AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)


Washington Capitals goalie Simeon Varlamov (40) stops a shot by Pittsburgh Penguins left wing Chris Kunitz (14) as Capitals defenseman Mike Green (52) looks on during the first period of Game 5 of an NHL hockey second-round playoff series, Saturday, May 9, 2009 in Washington.
(AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)


Pittsburgh Penguins center Evgeni Malkin (71), from Russia, celebrates his game-winning goal overtime with teammate center Sidney Crosb, right, against Washington Capitals goalie Simeon Varlamov (40) in Game 5 of an NHL hockey second-round playoff series, Saturday, May 9, 2009, in Washington.
(AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

[DropThePuck]

4 - Byfuglien, D. (15:27 in 1st), Byfuglien, D. (18:22 in 2nd), Bolland, D. (PPG, 14:55 in 3rd), Havlat, M. (EN, 18:58 in 3rd)
2 - Kesler, R. (PPG, 17:54 in 1st), Sundin, M. (11:16 in 2nd)


Vancouver Canucks' Alexander Edler, left, looks on as Chicago Blackhawks' Samuel Pahlsson celebrates teammates Dustin Byfuglien's goal during the first period of Game 5 of an NHL hockey second-round playoff series at GM Place in Vancouver, Saturday, May 9, 2009.
(AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Jonathan Hayward)


Chicago Blackhawks' Adam Burish, center, puts Vancouver Canucks' Alexander Edler, right, into the boards as Canucks' Ryan Kesler, left, fights for control of the puck during the first period of Game 5 of an NHL hockey second-round playoff series at GM Place in Vancouver, Saturday, May 9, 2009.
(AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Jonathan Hayward)


Vancouver Canucks' Roberto Luongo, left, stops Chicago Blackhawks' Kris Versteeg during the second period of Game 5 of an NHL hockey second-round playoff series at GM Place in Vancouver, Saturday, May 9, 2009.
(AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Jonathan Hayward)


Vancouver Canucks' Sami Salo, of Finland, gives Chicago Blackhawks' Andrew Ladd a push as Canucks goaltender Roberto Luongo looks on during the second period of Game 5 of an NHL hockey second-round playoff series at GM Place in Vancouver, Saturday, May 9, 2009.
(AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Jonathan Hayward)