Random Thoughts On The Stanley Cup Conference Quarterfinals: Day Eight

By Mike

Washington: 6; Montreal: 3
Washington leads the series 3-1
Well, Carey Price was given the opportunity to vanquish both the doubters of him being a starter and those who thought he was too immature to be an effective goaltender in the NHL. The contest was tight and tied at 2 after two and a half periods of play when the Capitals responded by scoring two goals in under a minute. How did Price respond? He shot the puck at Jason Chimeria after he scored, earning his team a two-minute penalty kill and drew another two-minute minor after Niklas Backstrom scored the empty netter with 11 seconds left in the game. In the end, he squashed his opportunity to do either and now the Capitals are in prime position to eliminate the Canadiens on home ice for Game 5. To be fair, the Capitals are playing some splendid hockey and the Canadiens' "defense-first" approach is starting to get worn against the best offense in the league. Yet when you're in a "must-win" game, you have to hold your composure. What would have happened had he not shot the puck at Chimeria? Who knows; maybe Montreal would have rallied back and won. Regardless, I think Jaroslav Halak should get the start for Game 5 because win or lose, he's been the Habs go-to-guy, even though they haven't deserved him as much as he deserves an NHL job.

Boston: 3; Buffalo: 2; 2OT
Boston leads the series 3-1
Well, in a battle of two Eastern Conference teams you had to expect some of this to spill over...

Be that as it may, the Sabres picked the worst moment to have a too-many-men penalty in the second overtime and Miro Satan, a guy who was signed midway through the season, scored the deciding goal. The game's going to go back to Buffalo where the Sabres may have a chance at winning, but it seems that not only has Boston regained their form, but that no Vanek means no victories, which could spell the end of Buffalo's playoff run.

Vancouver: 6; Los Angeles: 4
Series is tied 2-2
This was a close one folks and the game was in a dead heat until the Sedins scored with less than 3 minutes to go. L.A. pulled the goalie, lost control of the puck, and Selke Trophy finalist (and fellow Detroiter) Ryan Kesler sunk the empty netter. When the game ended, Vancouver's Kevin Bieska got tied up with the new pride of Scarbourough, Ontario, L.A.'s Wayne Simmonds. This series reminds me very much of the Phoenix-Detroit series going on and both have very similar parallels. L.A.'s done better than I figured they would, but it's now a best-of-three game series. Game 5 should be way intense.