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| Ryan Suter scored a goal and added a helper in Monday's critical 5-2 win over the Red Wings. |
Our View: Suter hadn't put a puck in the net since late February, and he picked a good time to find his range.
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| Dan Cleary chipped in two assists in Monday's playoff loss to the Predators. |
Our View: Cleary had been a little quiet since coming back from a broken jaw in late March.
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| Dave Legwand was back in action on Monday night, and he chipped in a goal against the Red Wings. He had missed 14 straight games due to a deep bone bruise in his left foot. |
Our View: The center came back at the right time, as the Predators badly needed a win.
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| The Canucks fired general manager Dave Nonis on Monday. "The decision to relieve Dave of his duties was difficult," chairman Francesco Aquilini tells the Ticker. "I think this important change in leadership is critical to the future of the team and the direction we need to take." The Canucks finished at the bottom of the ultra-competitive Northwest division. |
Our View: The Canucks also cited a lack of Sedins on the team. They could use three or four more of those guys.
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| Sidney Crosby followed up his four-assist outing with a one-goal, one-helper showing in Monday's 4-1 win over the Senators. |
Our View: We hear wonderful things about this Crosby youngster.
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| Martin Gerber's tough postseason continues. He stopped 34-of-38 shots on Monday and took his third straight loss against the Penguins. Gerber has allowed four goals in each of the three games. |
Our View: Gerber really hasn't been very good since the turn of the calendar year.
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| Marian Hossa netted one goal and dished out two assists in the Penguins 4-1 win over the Senators on Monday night. The Penguins are now up 3-0 in the series, and Hossa has six points. |
Our View: Hossa is giving the Penguins a good return following the huge trade in late February. The forward is also bumping up his price tag, as he will be an unrestricted free agent this summer.
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| Jordan Staal continues to fill the number three center position on the Penguins behind Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, and his teammates respect the work he does, this according to Sportsnet. "He does a lot of great things for us," Crosby said of Staal. "He's offensively gifted but I think sometimes his defensive play gets overlooked." |
Our View: Staal, centering a line with Tyler Kennedy and Jarkko Ruutu, has failed to score a point in two playoff games, but after a season of just 12 goals and 28 points, that's not overly surprising for Staal who is forced to play a defensive game.
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| Tomas Plekanec has two assists and no goal through the first three games of the season and feels that he can, and needs, to play a whole lot better moving forward, this according to Sportsnet. "The last two games, I played like a little girl out there," Plekanec said. "I definitely have to be hungrier, harder around the net and respond to the game a little better. Right now, obviously the confidence is not right where it should be for me. But one good shift can turn it around." |
Our View: Well, we know one guy who can be honestly self critical. The good news for Plekanec is that he has still gotten on the scoredboard with two assists and the Habs still have a 2-1 advantage over the Bruins even though some of the Habs top scoring options have struggled. Look for more offense from the 29-goal scorer moving forward.
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| The Ducks have allowed the Stars to score six power-play goals in two games, a major reason while they trail the Stars two games to none in the first round of the playoffs. “I don’t know why we’re giving so many goals on the PK," Jean-Sebastien Giguere said, according to the AP. "This is where the games in playoffs are won and lost. We have to find a way to be better on the PK.” |
Our View: Giguere certainly can fault the PK unit for his personal struggles, but a 4.50 GAA through two games is more than double the 2.12 mark he posted during the regular season and not helping anyone who rostered Giguere in a playoff pool.
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| Teemu Selanne has a goal in two games for the Ducks, but they have managed only two goals in falling behind two games to none to the Stars. |
Our View: Travis Moen has the other goal for the Ducks while Chris Kunitz, Chris Pronger, Mathieu Schneider and Ryan Carter have failed to register even an assist, and unless that changes in a hurry, the Ducks will find themselves in a hole they cannot climb out of.
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| Jordin Tootoo has two goals and has been a general pest in the first two games of the Preds series with the Red Wings, but the team will need a better effort to avoid falling behind the Wings 3-0 on Monday night. |
Our View: Alexander Radulov has the only other goal for the Predators who simply must find a way to solve Dominik Hasek or they will likely be sitting at home very soon.
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| Joe Thornton, Jonathan Cheechoo and Milan Michalek, the Sharks top line, has failed to produce a single goal as the Sharks trail the Flames two games to one in the first round. |
Our View: There is plenty of blame to go around in the Sharks dressing room, but when your top line goes three games without producing a goal, well, you know where the blame starts.
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| Marian Gaborik has failed to record a point in the Wild's first two games of the playoffs, something that must change if they are going to defeat the Avalanche, this according to the Denver Post. |
Our View: Gaborik, Pavol Demitra, Brian Rolston and Pierre-Marc Bouchard have combined for one goal and two assists in the first two games, so Gaborik is not alone in struggling to solve Jose Theodore.
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| Ryan Malone (flu) missed practice for the Penguins on Sunday, but he is still expected to be in the lineup for the Pens for Game 3 on Monday against the Senators, this according to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. |
Our View: Malone has four points in two games and has been a huge factor skating on a line with Evgeni Malkin and Petr Sykora thus far, and look for that to continue as the trio has undeniable chemistry right now.
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| Peter Forsberg skipped practice on Sunday to rest his body, but he is still expected to participate in Game 3 against the Wild on Monday, this according to the Denver Post. "I haven't seen anyone not practice so much and still play at a high level like he is," Milan Hejduk said. "In the past, it was the same thing. He was unbelievable." |
Our View: Forsberg has a goal and an assist in two playoff games and should continue to be a point-per-game performer as long as the Av's hang in the playoffs.
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| Patrick Marleau was beaten up in Game 3 for the Sharks as he took two big hits that led to a cut over his eye and a bloody nose, this according to the San Jose Mercury News. The Sharks were not happy with either hit, especially the second one. "I clearly thought it was an elbow right in the face," HC Ron Wilson said. "I was kind of surprised we ended up on the short end of the stick." |
Our View: The Sharks failed to respond physically, again, on Sunday night as the Flames took it to them. However, Marleau deserves credit for bouncing back up as he didn't seem intimidated in the least not even missing a shift.
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| Saku Koivu (broken foot) appears to be schedule to return to the ice later in the week, and the team is hopeful he will be available for a Game 7 if the first round goes that long, this according to the Montreal Gazette. The same schedule also appears to be in place for Francis Bouillion who is out with a bruised ankle. |
Our View: Koivu would be a huge addition to the Canadiens lineup for the offense, and intangibles, he brings to the club.
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| Denis Grebeshkov signed a 1-year contract extension with the Oilers on Monday, this according to TSN. |
Our View: Grebshkov had three goals and 18 points in his first year with the Oilers and has a bright future in the NHL, though that future may or may not include much help on the offensive side of the puck.
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| Patrice Bergeron still isn't sure when he'll return to game action. He suffered a Grade 3 concussion in October. "I’m still waiting for the OK from the doctors," Bergeron tells the AP after practice on Monday. "I went to see them and they wanted me to have some more practices before getting back out there. It’s the doctors’ decision right now." |
Our View: The Bruins could only be a few days away from rendering this storyline useless. Bergeron's return would obviously be a boost, but the club can't count on him to help them overcome the Habs.
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| Sean Avery's actions have caused the league to install a new rule regarding conduct around the goalie. The Rangers forward waved his stick in front of Martin Brodeur on Sunday night, attempting to block the Devils goalie's vision. The NHL acted on Monday. "An unsportsmanlike conduct minor penalty will be interpreted and applied, effective immediately, to a situation when an offensive player positions himself facing the opposition goaltender and engages in actions such as waving his arms or stick in front of the goaltender’s face, for the purpose of improperly interfering with and/or distracting the goaltender as opposed to positioning himself to try to make a play," NHL director of hockey operations informs the AP. |
Our View: It's a bit surprising that nobody thought of it before Avery.
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| Daniel Alfredsson may play in Game 3 for the Senators, this after knee and head injuries were thought to be forcing him to the sidelines for the entire first-round of the playoffs, this according to TSN. "We're going to talk again this afternoon and see where we go with him," HC Bryan Murray told reporters Monday. "I'm not shutting the door on it. He's the boss. If he feels he can play then he's in." |
Our View: It's do or die time for the Senators who already trail two games to none, so if Alffie doesn't play tonight, he will likely have about four months to convalesce.
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| Jason Spezza will play in Game 3 for the Ottawa Senators after all in the team's must-win, this according to TSN. |
Our View: The Senators need all the weapons they can muster at this point since the Penguins clearly have them on the ropes. Look for Spezza to be flying all over the ice tonight.
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| Marc Savard notched an assist and an overtime goal in a 2-1 win over Montreal on Sunday, and his heroics earned him Third Star honors for the night, according to NHL.com. Boston now trails 2-1 in the series, and the win notably snapped a 13-game losing streak against Montreal. |
Our View: Savard generated 78 points over 74 games this season, and he will need to remain hot if Boston expects to come back and win the series.
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| Martin Biron was named the Second Star of Sunday night, according to NHL.com. He earned the honor by stopping all 24 shots by the Capitals in a 2-0 shutout win. He helped Philadelphia even the series at 1-1. |
Our View: That was notably his third shutout in the last four games, dating back to the regular season.
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| Owen Nolan was named the First Star of Sunday night, according to NHL.com. He earned the honor by contributing two assists and the game-winning goal in a 4-3 win over San Jose. |
Our View: He was held pointless in the first two games of the series, and picked the perfect time to break out.
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| Jaromir Jagr contributed three assists in Sunday's 4-3 loss to the Devils. The Rangers still lead the series 2-1, and Jagr has notched four points over the three contests. |
Our View: Jagr scored 70 points in the regular season, and should remain a key contributor through the playoffs.
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| Patrik Elias scored his first goal in the playoff series against the Rangers on Sunday, as the Devils went on to win 4-3. The Rangers lead the series 2-1, and Elias has scored a point in all three games (two assists and the goal). |
Our View: Elias should remain a steady source of points through the remainder of the series with the Rangers.
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| Doug Murray scored a goal in a losing effort, as San Jose fell to Calgary 4-3 on Sunday. That was his first point in the series. |
Our View: Murray only scored one goal over 65 games in the regular season, and will be hard-pressed to score another one in this series.
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| Dion Phaneuf chipped in a goal and an assist in Sunday's 4-3 win over San Jose. That was his third point in the series. |
Our View: Phaneuf scored 60 points in the regular season, and the defenseman remains a steady source of points in the playoffs.
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| Jarome Iginla notched a goal and an assist in Sunday's 4-3 win over San Jose. He now has four points in the series. |
Our View: Iginla racked up 98 points in the regular season, and has not cooled off in the playoffs.
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| David Jones seemingly made a fast recovery from his left ankle injury, as he practiced at close to full speed after leaving the Xcel Energy Center on Friday night in a walking cast, according to the Denver Post. The rookie stated, "It hurt a lot in the game, and I couldn't finish it. But that day off really took care of it. I iced it all day, and it feels great." The team noted that he may play tonight.
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Our View: He scored six points over 26 games this season, with one power-play goal, and his fantasy stock remains low for the playoffs.
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| Mark Parrish will miss the next two games against Detroit, according to the Denver Post. He is still nursing his concussion. |
Our View: He scored 29 points this season, with six power-play goals, and his services will be missed.
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| Nick Schultz skated with the team on Sunday, but he is still not ready to return to action, according to the Denver Post. He is recovering from an appendectomy. |
Our View: Schultz is the team's most consistent defender, and his services will be missed.
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| Dave Legwand is questionable for Game 3 against Detroit on Monday, according to the Tennessean. He has missed 14 straight games due to a deep bone bruise in his left foot, and Coach Barry Trotz noted, "He skated four days in a row and the foot sort of flared up just a little bit. We're just letting it settle it down a little bit."
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Our View: He has scored 44 points over 65 games in the regular season, and he is needed back on the ice, especially since Detroit leads the series 2-0.
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| Owen Nolan capped off a big night and a big comeback by scoring the game-winner with 3:45 to go against the Sharks. The veteran forward also registered assists in the second period and earlier in the third. He was pointless in the previous two games of the series. |
Our View: The former Sharks captain bites his old team, huh?
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| Curtis Joseph saved the Flames on Sunday night. He replaced an inept Miikka Kiprusoff after the starter allowed three goals within the opening five shots and three-plus minutes. Joseph proceeded to stop all 22 shots he faced and earn a win, as the Flames won 4-3. |
Our View: Think Cujo might get a chance to start in Game 4? We'll have to wait and see.
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