Category: Puck Blog

Senators’ duo stymies Sidney in openerAdam Kimelman NHL.com April 14, 2010 It’s no surprise, then, that the Ottawa Senators made slowing the Penguins’ captain a large part of their strategy going into the start of their Eastern Conference Quarterfinal series. The shock was that they were able to accomplish their goal. Every team goes into

Rick Gano The Canadian Press April 14, 2010 Nashville’s Pekka Rinne and Chicago’s Antti Niemi share a homeland. On Friday night, the two Finnish goaltenders will have something else in common when they make their debuts in the Stanley Cup playoffs. The six-foot-five Rinne went 32-16-5 this season and hopes to use his big frame

Elliott Pap, Vancouver Sun April 14, 2010 There aren’t many Stanley Cup rings in the Vancouver Canucks’ dressing room and, given the team’s history of never winning one, obviously the jewelry has been captured elsewhere and been imported. Mikael Samuelsson won his ring two years ago while a member of the Detroit Red Wings and

Ilya Kovalchuk gets shot at performing under pressure as New Jersey Devils face Flyers in playoffsKristie Ackert New York Daily News April 14, 2010 Kovalchuk, who had five seasons with at least 41 goals (including two with career-best 52) for Atlanta, will try to win his first playoff game in his eighth NHL campaign. “I

It goes without saying that goaltender is a focal point for every playoff team, but for the low-scoring, defense-first Nashville Predators, the position’s importance becomes elevated even further. In their 11th season, the Predators will make their fifth postseason appearance this week –- also their fifth in the last six seasons — and they will

Devils ride surge into playoffsTom Gulitti The Record April 13, 2010 The biggest difference, however, is the presence of Ilya Kovalchuk, the two-time 50-goal scorer who Lamoriello acquired in a Feb. 4 trade with Atlanta. The addition of Kovalchuk, who scored 41 regular-season goals, has given the Devils a potent one-two punch with Zach Parise,

Rochester Amerks reinforced as Florida sends team seven playersDemocrat and Chronicle April 13, 2010 The Rochester Amerks benefited Monday from the Florida Panthers not making the National Hockey League playoffs as the parent team sent seven players to Rochester. Goalie Tyler Plante, defensemen Jason Garrison and Keaton Ellerby and forwards Shawn Matthias, Victor Oreskovich, Steve

Predators to pose stern 1st-round test Adam L Jahns Chicago Sun Times April 12, 2010 The last time the Blackhawks played the Nashville Predators, there was snow on the ground and Christmas decorations on houses, trees and bushes. It was Dec. 27, and the Hawks won 5-4. The Hawks have played 44 games since then.

A Regular Season To Remember JJ Guerrero CanucksHockeyBlog.com April 11, 2010 The Canucks won 49 games, tying the franchise record set by the 2006/2007 edition. Their 30 home wins is a franchise record. They scored 268 goals, 2nd in the NHL only to Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals. It’s their highest goal total since

The Top 10 NHL playoff storylines to watchSean Leahy SportsShizle.com April 11, 2010 5. New Jersey’s added dimension of Ilya Kovalchuk Since being dealt from the Atlanta Thrashers on February 4th, Kovalchuk has posted 10 goals and 15 assists in 27 games with the Devils. He brings a dimension to the New Jersey lineup that