2006 NHL Playoffs

Conference Finals: (2) Carolina vs. (4) Buffalo — AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker

Carolina Hurricanes' Rod Brind'Amour (17) watches teammate Justin Williams' goal as Buffalo Sabres goalie Ryan Miller (30) sees the puck fly into the goal in the third period of Game 7 of the NHL's Eastern Conference finals Thursday, June 1, 2006, in Raleigh, N.C. The Hurricanes won 4-2 to advance to the Stanley Cup finals.

Conference Finals: (6) Anaheim vs. (8) Edmonton

Edmonton Oilers' Ryan Smyth, center, celebrates their 2-1 victory as Anaheim Mighty Ducks' Ryan Getzlaf, left, and Samuel Pahlsson look on in Game 5 of the NHL hockey Western Conference finals, May 27, 2006, in Anaheim, Calif.

Conference Finals: (6) Anaheim vs. (8) Edmonton

Edmonton Oilers goalie Dwayne Roloson blocks a shot from the Anaheim Mighty Ducks during the third period in Game 2 of the NHL Western Conference finals, May 21, 2006, in Anaheim, Calif. The Oilers won 3-1.

Semis: (5) San Jose vs. (8) Edmonton

The Edmonton Oilers celebrate a goal by Shawn Horcoff, left, with an assist from Ryan Smyth, center, against the San Jose Sharks during the third period of Game 6 in the second round of the NHL playoffs in Edmonton, May 17, 2006.

Semis: (1) Ottawa vs. (4) Buffalo

The Buffalo Sabres' Jason Pominville, center, celebrates his game-winning goal with teammates, from left to right, Derek Roy, Toni Lydman and Jay McKee, during overtime in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference semi-finals in Ottawa, May 13, 2006. The Sabres won the game 3-2 and the series, 4-1.

Semis: (5) San Jose vs. (8) Edmonton

The Edmonton Oilers' Ryan Smyth celebrates in front of the San Jose Sharks' Josh Gorges, left, and Scott Hannan, center, after Smyth scored in the third period of Game 5 of an NHL Western Conference semifinal series, May 14, 2006 in San Jose, Calif. The Oilers won 6-3 to lead the series 3-2.

Semis: (6) Anaheim vs. (7) Colorado

From left, Anaheim Mighty Ducks defenseman Sean O'Donnell, goalie Ilya Bryzgalov, and defenseman Ruslan Salei stop a shot by Colorado Avalanche center Brett McLean, during the third period of the Ducks' 4-1 victory, May 11, 2006. Anaheim swept the series to advance in the playoffs.

Semis: (2) Carolina vs. (3) New Jersey

Carolina goaltender Cam Ward, center, celebrates with teammates after the Hurricanes beat the New Jersey Devils, 3-2, in Game 3 of second-round Eastern Conference playoffs, May 10, 2006 in East Rutherford, N.J. The Hurricanes lead the series 3-0.

Semis: (5) San Jose vs. (8) Edmonton

San Jose Sharks defensemen Josh Gorges (6) pulls Oilers wing Brad Winchester to the ice as Sharks defenseman Scott Hannan (22) hovers above during the first period of Game 2 of the NHL Western Conference semifinals in San Jose, May 8, 2006.

Semis: (5) San Jose vs. (8) Edmonton

Edmonton Oilers goaltender Dwayne Roloson, the San Jose Sharks' Patrick Marleau, left, and the Oilers' Steve Staios, right, watch the flight of the puck in the first period of their NHL Western Conference second-round playoff game, May 7, 2006, in San Jose, Calif.

Quarters: (2) Dallas vs. (7) Colorado

Colorado Avalanche goaltender Jose Theodore mourns the passing of the puck during the first period of Game 2 of an NHL hockey Western Conference semifinal series, May 7, 2006 in Anaheim, Calif. The Mighty Ducks' Scott Niedermayer celebrates, still guarded by the Avalanche's Brett Clark. The Mighty Ducks won the game 3-0, taking a 2-0 lead in the series.

Quarters: (4) Buffalo vs. (5) Philadelphia

Buffalo Sabres goalie Ryan Miller stops a shot by the Philadelphia Flyers' Mike Knuble in the second period of their NHL playoff game, May 2, 2006, in Philadelphia. The Sabres dominated from the first faceoff, flexing their scoring muscle in a 7-1 win to take the series 4-2.

Quarters: (2) Carolina vs. (7) Montreal

The Carolina Hurricanes' Cory Stillman is mobbed by teammates after scoring the winning goal against the Montreal Canadiens during the first overtime period of Game 6 of the quarter-finals in Montreal, May 2, 2006. Carolina won the game 2-1 to eliminate the Canadiens.

Quarters: (4) Nashville vs. (5) San Jose

The San Jose Sharks' Joe Thornton (19) and Jonathan Cheechoo (14) try to gain control of the puck in front of Nashville Predators goalie Chris Mason and defenseman Danny Markov in the first period in Nashville, Tenn., April 30, 2006. The Sharks defeated the Predators, 2-1, to win their first-round of NHL playoff series, 4-1.

Quarters: (1) Detroit vs. (8) Edmonton

Edmonton Oilers goalie Dwayne Roloson tries to get his glove on the puck as the Detroit Red Wings' Pavel Datsyuk slides past the net during the second period of a Western Conference quarterfinals game at Edmonton's Rexall Place, April 27, 2006. The Red Wings won, 4-2.

Quarters: (3) New Jersey vs. (6) New York

The New York Rangers' Steve Rucchin flies into the New Jersey Devils' bench after being checked by the Devils' David Hale during the first period of the first round of the playoffs at Madison Square Garden, April 26, 2006 in New York. The Devils won, 3-0.

Quarters: (1) Ottawa vs. (8) Tampa Bay

The Ottawa Senators' Vaclav Varada and the Tampa Bay Lightning's Dan Boyle hit the ice during a second period brawl, April 25, 2006 in Tampa, Fla. The Senators defeated the Lightning 8-4.

Quarters: (4) Buffalo vs. (5) Philadelphia

The Buffalo Sabres' Jason Pominville scores on Philadelphia Flyers goalie Antero Niittymaki as the Flyers' Eric Desjardins looks on during the third period of their first-round playoff game at HSBC Arena in Buffalo, N.Y., April 24, 2006. The Sabres won 8-2.

Quarters: (3) Calgary vs. (6) Anaheim

Calgary Flames goalie Mikka Kirpusoff looks up as the Anaheim Mighty Ducks' fourth goal goes in the net during the third period of Game 2 of the Western Conference quarter-finals in Calgary, April 23, 2006. The Ducks beat Calgary 4-3 to even the series at a game apiece.

Quarters: (1) Detroit vs. (8) Edmonton

One look tells the story: The Detroit Red Wings celebrate their double-overtime win as the Edmonton Oilers file off in Game 1 of their NHL quarterfinal hockey game against the Edmonton Oilers in Detroit, April 21, 2006. The score was 3-2.