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| Veteran center Jeremy Roenick brought all of his tools for success to the arena tonight and helped the San Jose Sharks win the deciding Game 7 in this first-round playoff series 3-5 over the Calgary Flames. Roenick put two goals in the net and added two assists to the cause in a dominating display of hockey prowess, pushing the Sharks to the second round of the playoffs to face the Dallas Stars in the Western Conference semifinals. |
Our View: Roenick was a healthy scratch in Game 6, an understandable decision with Roenick touting just three shots on goal in the playoffs and no points or PIMs heading into that game. Tonight he got the call and made good on the opportunity.
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| Calgary vetern RW Owen Nolan tried to will and work the Flames into the contention and the second round of the NHL playoffs, but his offerings fell short against a San Jose team on the prowl, taking the series-deciding Game 7 by a score of 3-5. |
Our View: Nolan scored his third goal of the playoffs to break the game in favor of Calgary at 2-1 in the second period, but the team scored just one more the rest of the way and came up short.
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| Calgary RW Jarome Iginla did what he could to put the Flames into the contention and move them on to the second round of the NHL playoffs, but his strong skills were no match for a San Jose team on the prowl and too loaded to break, taking the series-deciding Game 7 by a score of 3-5. |
Our View: Iginla scored his fourth goal of the playoffs to tie the game at 1-1 in the first period, but the team scored just two more the rest of the way and came up short.
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| Washington LW Alexander Ovechkin may have enjoyed a wondrous season to remember, but his efforts fell short this evening as the Capitals fell 3-2 in overtime to the Philadelphia Flyers, ending the seven-game first-round series as the Flyers move on to face the Montreal Canadiens. |
Our View: Ovechkin netted one goal and one assist, putting a full barrage of shots (nine in all) on the net but finding frustration and loss at the end of the evening.
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| Philadelphia RW Joffrey Lupul pulled his Flyers to the next level, netting the game-winning overtime goal as Philadelphia emerged victorious in Game 7 of the first-round series against the Washington Capitals. |
Our View: Lupul is just getting started on a promising NHL career, registering 46 total points in 56 games this season. This is one to remember.
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| Philadelphia defenseman Kimmo Timonen may deserve the star of the evening as the Flyers pull into the Eastern Conference semifinals, beating the Washington Capitals in Game 7 3-2. |
Our View: Timonen registered two helpers, including the key pass on the game-winning goal by Joffrey Lupul in OT.
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| Detroit forward Tomas Kopecky underwent successful knee surgery today, repairing a torn ligament in his left knee, and will need six months to recover, accorind to the Associated Press. |
Our View: Kopecky injured the knee on April 3rd against Columbus and is expected to be fully healed by the beginning of next season.
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| Dallas defenseman Sergei Zubov participated in the team's practice today and spent the full time on the ice, thus giving the indication that he may be available for the 2nd round of the playoffs, accoring to CBSSports.com. |
Our View: Zubov has been out since January 19th with a several issues, including surgery performed on February 24th to place a screw in a bone in his right foot. He started skating again after that, then had a recurrence of the sports hernia injury that dates back to last year's playoffs, which led to surgery earlier this month in Germany - his second operation for that injury since last season. Coach Dave Tippett didn't say when Zubov might play, but listed the defenseman as "day to day," though he indicates Zubov will practice with the team again on Wednesday.
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| Mike Green will play in Game 7 against the Flyers, the Washington Post confirms. The defenseman suffered a mysterious, unexplained injury in Game 6. "I wouldn't miss it for the world. They would have to cut off one of my legs," Green explains. |
Our View: Green has been great for the Caps in the series, and there's no way he was going to miss this one.
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| Tom Poti will be available for Game 7 against the Flyers, the Washington Post confirms. The defenseman took a shot to the head in Game 6 and had a headache. |
Our View: We really didn't expect Poti to miss a game like this, but this news confirms he didn't suffer a more serious concussion.
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| Branko Radivojevic faces ACL surgery this off-season and he will likely be sidelined for at least four months, probably six, according to the Star Tribune. "Obviously this is bad timing for me right now. But I'm looking forward to rehab and getting myself back." |
Our View: Branko may not be back with the Wild next season since he is an unrestricted free agent, but no matter where he ends up his fantasy value is minimal given the role he plays on the ice (only 17 points in 72 games this past season).
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| Mike Green has helped to pick up the slack of having an injured Jeff Schultz (upper-body injury) on the blueline as he has scored three goals and seven points heading into Game 7 of the Caps series with the Flyers, this according to NHL.com. |
Our View: Green has been a godsend this season as he has scored 21 goals and 63 points in 88 regular season and playoff games. The club will once again look for offense from their rearguard in Game 7 when the Capitals will be playing their first Game 7 at home since May 1, 1992.
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| Mike Richards and his Flyers teammates will take on the Capitals in Game 7 tonight after losing Games 5 and 6 to Washington. |
Our View: Richards has done his part to help the Flyers avoid blowing this series as he has scored a point in four straight games, and he does have six points in six games following up a regular season that saw him score 75 points in 73 games.
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| It turns out that Scott Niedermayer wasn't fined $500,000 by the NHL, he was actually fined by the Ducks, this according to TSN. Apparently the story was originally mis-reported and the truth is that the league's CBA says that a team must fine a player who misses training camp if that team uses the "missing" player's salary to sign another player which the Ducks did in Mathieu Schneider. |
Our View: Niedermayer has known that this fine was coming since he made the decision to miss training camp and virtually the first half of the season the year while deciding whether or not he wanted to continue his career. Don't feel bad for Scott, he has made enough dough that he will be able to afford his next meal.
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| Jarome Iginla and the Flames take on the Sharks in Game 7 tonight, and Iginla will look to return to the scoresheet after he was held pointless in the Flames Game 6 victory. |
Our View: Iginla has been held pointless in two of the six games thus far, but in the other four contests he has recorded two points each time out. If he scores tonight the Flames will probably win. If he doesn't, they will likely go home.
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| Brian Campbell energized the Sharks and led them on their tremendous late season run with 19 points in 20 games, but he has been invisible in the playoffs so far with just two assists and an even rating through six games heading into the Sharks Game 7 matchup with the Flames, this according to the San Jose Mercury News. |
Our View: Honestly, Campbell has looked lost on many a shift in this matchup almost as if he was a rookie in his first playoff series. Game 7 would be a great time for Campbell to step up and be the player he was during the regular season since he has looked nothing like that player thus far against the Flames.
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| Glen Murray failed to record a point in the Bruins series loss to the Canadiens and even worse it appears that he suffered a severe injury to his ribs in Game 7, this according to the Boston Herald. “They said (the ribs) were either broken or cracked, but he was in quite a bit of pain,” said Bruins HC Claude Julien. |
Our View: After five straight seasons of at least 24 goals during which time he averaged 33 a season, Murray limped home to only 30 points this season, 17 of which were goals. This also marked the third straight season that Murray failed to play in 65 games, so heading into to next season it's best to realize that Murray may never return to his 30+ goal scoring ways.
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| After being nominated for the Norris trophy Zdeno Chara learned that he faces surgery on the shoulder that limited him for much of the final quarter of the season, this according to the Boston Herald. “I don’t know for sure, but it looks like it,” said Chara. |
Our View: This situation just makes what he was able to accomplish this season even more impressive. Look for the massive rearguard to be in a surly mood come 2008 which certainly doesn't bode well for forwards who will skate into the Bruins' zone.
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| Zdeno Chara was nominated for the Norris trophy awarded to the leagues best defensemen, this according to NHL.com. |
Our View: Chara didn't generate the publicity that some of the other big name defensemen did this season, but when it was all said and done he produced 17 goals, 51 points, a +14 and 114 PIM for the Bruins. This was also his fourth straight season of at least 10 goals, 40 points and 100 PIM, so he is a very consistent force from the blueline.
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| Dion Phaneuf was nominated for the Norris trophy awarded to the leagues best defensemen, this according to NHL.com. |
Our View: Phaneuf was a fantasy force all season, and his combination of goals (17), points (60), power-play production (33 points) and PIM (182), marked him as the best fantasy option on the blueline this season.
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| Nicklas Lidstrom was nominated for the Norris trophy awarded to the leagues best defensemen, this according to NHL.com. |
Our View: The most obvious call since someone stated that Wayne Gretzky was pretty good on skates. Lidstrom finsihed the year with 10 goals and 70 points, the second figure led all defensmen, and his +40 also led the position.
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| Kyle McLaren will be out of the lineup for Game 7 against Calgary tonight, according to the Mercury News. The defenseman has been dealing with a sore right knee that required surgery in January, but the Sharks said on Sunday that he is suffering from a groin injury. |
Our View: The enforcer will be missed on the ice for San Jose, but won't be missed as a fantasy performer, as he only notched 11 points over 60 games in the regular season.
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| Jeremy Roenick will return to the Sharks' lineup for Game 7 on Tuesday, according to The Mercury News. He was a healthy scratch for Game 6 but will be ready to go tonight and he stated, "The coach makes a decision and as a player I have to accept those decisions and do what's best for the hockey club. It doesn't matter if I was surprised. It's my job to be ready when I'm asked to go. But I really don't know what to expect in terms of playing time. You just have to be prepared for when you go on the ice and do the job when I'm out there. I've just always tried to be a guy who comes through. I think it's desire in wanting to be the go-to guy. If you're not afraid or anxious, it can be a great thing. I can't wait to play in big games."
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Our View: This will be the sixth Game 7 of his career, but his fantasy value remains low, as he is yet to notch a point in the current series with Calgary.
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| Enforcer Jim Vandermeer is likely to play at forward once again in Game 7, according to the Calgary Herald. |
Our View: In Game 6, he played well and replaced the less versatile Eric Godard, who was a healthy scratch.
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| Mike Richards scored a goal in Monday's 4-2 loss to Washington in Game 6. He notched six points over the six games. |
Our View: The Flyers' MVP contributed 75 points in the regular season, and should remain a solid source of production until they play their final game.
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| Alexander Semin was named the Third Star for Monday night as he contributed one goal and one assist in a 4-2 win over Philadelphia, according to NHL.com. |
Our View: He has scored a goal in three straight games, and should remain hot in Game 7.
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| Carey Price earned Second Star honors on Monday night, as he stopped all 25 shots in a 5-0 shutout win over Boston, according to NHL.com. That was Game 7 of the series. |
Our View: He bounced back nicely from back-to-back losses, and helped Montreal advance to the next round of the playoffs.
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| Alexander Ovechkin scored a pair of goals in Monday's 4-2 win over Philadelphia, according to NHL.com. His heroics helped force a seventh game in the series. |
Our View: He scored seven points over the six games of the series so far, and should remain hot in Game 7.
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