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| Martin Brodeur halved his goal total from Game 1 by allowing just two pucks past him on Friday, he made 28 saves, but the Devils still trail two games to none to the Rangers. Brodeur has allowed some uncharacteristically soft goals in the playoffs and has been far from the dominating tender he has been for the past decade. |
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| Henrik Lundqvist stopped 26 of 27 shots on Friday night as the Rangers took a commanding 2-0 series lead over the Devils. In two games Lundqvist has allowed just two goals as his reputation continues to grow for the Rangers. |
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| Sean Avery scored his second goal of the playoffs on Friday night to help lead the Rangers to a 2-1 victory over the Devils. The Rangers now lead the series two games to none, and Avery is doing his best pest imitation getting under the skin of the Devils with his chirping, after the whistle ways. |
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| Martin Gerber may not have picked up the win on Friday, but he did just about everything he could to lead the Senators as he made 49 saves on the 53 shots he faced. Another loss for Gerber in the playoffs, but this one can hardly be laid at his feet as his team played soft defense in front of him. |
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| Ryan Malone scored two goals in the third period, including the game winner, on Friday night. Malone also added an assist in the win over the Senators. Pretty quietly this season Malone was able to score 27 times while contributing 103 PIM, so it would stand to reason that his gritty play would be successful in the playoffs. |
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| Sidney Crosby failed to record a goal on Friday but that was of little concern as he dished out four helpers in the Pens 5-3 victory over the Senators. Sid the Kid was flying on this night and he appears fully recovered from the ankle injury that hampered him most of the second half of the season. |
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| Evgeni Malkin set up three goals, two scored by Petr Sykora, on Friday night as the Penguins took a 2-0 lead over the Senators in the first round of the playoffs. Though he didn't score on the night, Malkin did take a game-high eight shots on goal. |
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| Daniel Briere, questionable to play most of the week due to an injured knee, not only played in Game 1 he was a force with two goals and an assist. Briere has always been a clutch performer and he will look to continue his scoring ways the next time out when the Flyers will attempt to even up the series. |
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| Vaclav Prospal scored two goals and added an assist in the Flyers 5-4 loss to the Capitals. Prospal scored 71 points in 79 games on the year, and his clutch scoring will go a long way to determining whether or not the Flyers advance in the playoffs. |
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| Mike Green scored two third period goals in the Capitals 5-4 victory over the Flyers. Green, who led all defensemen during the regular season with 18 goals, scored one of his two markers on the power-play. |
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| Alexander Ovechkin scored his first goal of the playoffs, a game winner with under five minutes to play in the Caps 5-4 victory over the Flyers. Ovechkin also added an assist on the night, and he proved yet again that there is no player in the NHL who is more exciting to watch. |
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| Robert Nilsson signed a three year, $5.5 million contract extension to remain with the Oilers, this according to TSN. Nilson is a fine player who continues to improve, but a even so, a 10 goal, 41 points season simply isn't enough to make Nilsson fantasy worthy. |
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| Scott Nichol broke his left thumb in Game 1 against the Red Wings and will now miss the rest of the series due to surgery to fix the break, this according to the AP. Nichol is a gritty, penalty killer type who will be sorely missed in the playoffs, though with a limited offensive game his loss has no bearing on any fantasy pools. |
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| Corey Perry skated for more than an hour for the second straight day on Thursday as he tries to return to the ice following a lacerated tendon in his right quadriceps, this according to the Los Angeles Daily News. "Trying to get my wind back is the big thing," Perry said. "I don't want to push it too hard and come back too soon. It's healing pretty quickly. Hopefully (I can play) next weekend." Perry hopes to be able to join his mates on the ice before the end of the Ducks first round matchup with the Stars. |
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| Dave Legwand just might suit up for Game 2 on Saturday for the Predators, this according to the Tennessean. Legwand has been skating in practice, but he hasn't played in over a month due to a deep bone bruise in his foot. |
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| Marc Savard suited up and played in the Bruins first playoff game despite an injured back, this according to the Boston Herald. “I felt good,” Savard said. “I’m just getting my air back. I took lot of short shifts. (Coach) Claude (Julien) just used me a bit. Hopefully I can help out more here as I feel better. I got hit hard a couple of times and everything is fine.” Savard should be able to produce points for the Bruins in the playoffs, that is if he and his mates can figure out a way to crack the Canadiens defense. |
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| Brian Gionta has pain and stiffness in one of his sides, and though he missed practice on Thursday, he still expects to play in Game 2 for the Devils, this according to the Star Ledger. Gionta scored only 22 goals this season, his lowest mark in three years, but he still provides the offensive spark off the wing that the Devils need. |
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| Tom Gilbert inked a new multi-year deal with the Oilers, according to tsn.ca. It is reportedly a six-year deal worth $24 million, and he will now avoid restricted free agency. He enjoyed a solid campaign as he scored 33 points, with one game-winning goal to his credit.
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| Alexander Ovechkin isn't worried about the Flyers' plan to play him physical in the first round of the playoffs, according to the Washington Post. Ovechkin stated, "If they hit me, good for them. I will try to hit them back and score goals. In the playoffs, everybody can be physical. There can be some bad things like cheap shots, because it's playoffs. But if they take a penalty, it's good for the Capitals. I don't care if somebody hit me. I like it." Ovechkin has racked up 112 points (65 goals) this season and he won't be intimidated by the hard hitting Flyers.
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| Colton Orr is out for Game Two against the Devils due to his broken toe, according to Newsday. This will be the seventh straight game he missed due to the ailment. He racked up 159 PIM over 74 games this season. |
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| Jason Smith will play tonight, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. He has been nursing a shoulder ailment and stated, "I feel fine. I'm confident I can go out and play and compete at a high level. I was a little sore upper-body-wise, but nothing major. I feel way better today than three days ago." This is good news for the Flyers' defensive captain. |
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| Jordin Tootoo scored the lone goal for Nashville in Thursday's 3-1 playoff loss to Detroit. He only scored 11 goals over 63 games in the regular season. |
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| Shane Hnidy scored the lone goal for Boston in Thursday's 4-1 loss to Montreal. He notably only scored two goals over 76 games in the regular season. |
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| Tom Kostopoulos generated a goal and an assist in Thursday's 4-1 win over Boston. He has really stepped up in the playoffs, as he only notched 13 points over 67 games in the regular season. |
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| Mike Ribeiro chipped in a pair of assists in Thursday's 4-0 win over Anaheim. He has scored 83 points in the regular season, with 56 assists, and is off to a great start in the playoffs. |
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| Brenden Morrow contributed a power-play goal and two assists in Thursday's convincing 4-0 win over Anaheim. He scored 72 points in the regular season, and has stepped up his game in the playoffs, evidenced by Thursday's performance. |
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| Jean-Sebastien Giguere stopped 33-of-37 shots in Thursday's 4-0 loss to Dallas. He remains a strong net-minder and should step up in his next outing. |
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| Scott Nichol sustained a left arm injury in the first period of Thursday's Game One loss to the Red Wings, did not return to action, and is doubtful for Saturday's game, according to the Tennessean. He has scored 18 points over 73 games, with one game-winning goal to his credit. He is also one of Nashville's top penalty killers, and its best face-off specialist.
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| Scott Parker is out for Friday's game against Minnesota, according to the Star Tribune. He is nursing an ankle injury. He has not scored any points over 25 games this season, and notched 70 PIM. |
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| Mark Parrish will not play on Friday against Colorado, according to the Star Tribune. He sustained a head injury when colliding awkwardly with Ruslan Salei. He scored 29 points this season, with six power-play goals, and his services will be missed. |
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| Martin Skoula is questionable to play against Colorado on Friday, according to the Star Tribune. He is nursing a leg ailment after getting hit with a shot by Ruslain Salei. He has scored 11 points this season, with one game-winning goal, and he is needed on the ice. |
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| Evgeni Nabokov made 21 saves in his sixth career postseason shutout and the Sharks' defeated the Calgary Flames 2-0 on Thursday night. The series is now all square at one game apiece. Nabokov, the All-Star who led the NHL with 46 regular-season was outstanding in a must game win for the Sharks. |
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| Marty Turco earned his fourth career postseason shutout as the Dallas Stars defeated the defending Stanley Cup champion Anaheim Ducks, 4-0, on Thursday night. Turco made 23 saves in the win. |
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