2011 NHL playoffs - opening rounds
Boston Bruins players including defenseman Adam McQuaid (54), defenseman Zdeno Chara, center, and left wing Milan Lucic (17) celebrate the game-winning goal by teammate Nathan Horton during the overtime period against the Montreal Canadiens in Game 7 of a first-round NHL Stanley Cup playoffs in Boston Wednesday, April 27, 2011. The Bruins won 4-3 to win the series.
Tampa Bay Lightning's Ryan Malone (6), Simon Gagne (12), Martin St. Louis (26), Teddy Purcell (16) and Steven Stamkos (91) begin celebrating the Lightning's 1-0 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins in the deciding Game 7 of a first-round NHL Stanley Cup playoffs in Pittsburgh on Wednesday, April 27, 2011.
The Vancouver Canucks celebrate Alex Burrows' game winning goal during the overtime period against the Chicago Blackhawks in game 7 of an NHL Western Conference quarterfinal Stanley Cup playoffs in Vancouver, British Columbia on Tuesday April 26, 2011. Burrows scored his second goal 5:22 into an overtime and the Canucks avoided a historic playoff collapse by knocking Chicago out in the first round with a 2-1 win on Tuesday night.
Philadelphia Flyers' Danny Briere, left, and Andrej Meszaros, right, join in celebrating Ville Leino's (22) goal in the third period in Game 7 of a first-round NHL Stanley Cup playoffs with the Buffalo Sabres, Tuesday, April 26, 2011, in Philadelphia. The Flyers won 5-2.
San Jose Sharks center Joe Thornton celebrates after scoring the winning goal against the Los Angeles Kings during overtime of Game 6 of a first-round NHL Stanley Cup playoff game in Los Angeles, April 25, 2011. Thornton scored 2:22 into the extra session to give San Jose a 4-3 victory over the Kings and send the Sharks to a first-round series win.
Pittsburgh Penguins center Maxime Talbot (25) is stopped by Tampa Bay Lightning goalie Dwayne Roloson (35) during the third period in Game 6 of a first-round NHL Stanley Cup playoff game, April 25, 2011 in Tampa, Fla. The 41-year-old goaltender, who says the key to thriving in the postseason is to have a short-term memory, stopped 27 shots Monday night to outplay Pittsburgh's Marc-Andre Fleury and beat the Penguins 4-2 to force a Game 7.
Members of the Chicago Blackhawks celebrate an overtime win against the Vancouver Canucks in Game Six of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2011 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the United Center on April 24, 2011 in Chicago. The Blackhawks defeated the Canucks 4-3.
Nashville Predators center Nick Spaling (13) scores against Anaheim Ducks goalie Ray Emery and Ducks' Andreas Lilja (3) in the third period of Game 6 of a first-round NHL Stanley Cup playoff game, Sunday, April 24, 2011, in Nashville, Tenn. Spaling scored his second goal of the game at 4:53 of the third period and the Predators won a playoff series for the first time in their history, beating the Ducks 4-2.
2011 NHL Playoffs - Opening Rounds
Los Angeles Kings goalie Jonathan Quick (32) blocks a shot by San Jose Sharks center Logan Couture, right, as Kings defenseman Rob Scuderi, center, helps in the action during the third period in Game 5 of a first-round NHL Stanley Cup playoffs in San Jose, Calif., Saturday, April 23, 2011. The Los Angeles Kings defeated the San Jose Sharks 3-1.
Boston Bruins right wing Nathan Norton (18) beats Montreal Canadiens goalie Carey Price for the game-winning goal during the second overtime period in Game 5 of a first-round NHL Stanley Cup playoffs in Boston, Saturday, April 23, 2011. The Bruins won 3-2, taking a 3-2 lead in the series.
Tampa Bay Lightning's Steven Stamkos (91) collects a rebound before backhanding it past Pittsburgh Penguins goalie Marc-Andre Fleury (29) for a first-period goal in Game 5 of the first-round of NHL Stanley Cup playoffs in Pittsburgh Saturday, April 23, 2011. Stamkos scored his first two NHL playoff goals and the Lightning emphatically avoided elimination with an 8-2 victory.
Washington Capitals' Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom celebrate Ovechkin's goal during the second period in Game 5 of a first-round NHL Stanley Cup playoffs with the New York Rangers Saturday, April 23, 2011 in Washington. Ovechkin raced past and around defenseman Marc Staal to score the game's highlight goal in the second period. The Capitals made short work of the Rangers, beating them 3-1 to win the first-round series in five games.
Nashville Predators center Jerred Smithson celebrates after scoring the winning goal during overtime in Game 5 of a first-round NHL Stanley Cup playoffs in Anaheim, Calif., Friday, April 22, 2011. Smithson scored 1:57 into overtime, and the Predators moved to the brink of winning a playoff series for the first time, stunning the Ducks 4-3 on Friday night to take a 3-2 series lead.
Buffalo Sabres' Tyler Ennis, left, pumps his fist after scoring the game-winning goal in the overtime period in Game 5 of a first-round NHL Stanley Cup playoffs, with the Philadelphia Flyers, Friday, April 22, 2011, in Philadelphia. Joining him is Brad Boyes. The Sabres won 4-3, taking a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series.
San Jose Sharks right wing Ryane Clowe, right, scores off Los Angeles Kings goalie Jonathan Quick, left, as defenseman Jack Johnson reaches in, during the second period in Game 4 of a first-round NHL Stanley Cup playoff game, April 21, 2011, in Los Angeles. Clowe scored twice, Jason Demers added another goal in the second period and the Sharks won 6-3 to take a 3-1 lead in the first-round series.
Chicago Blackhawks' Marian Hossa celebrates his goal against the Vancouver Canucks during the second period of Game 5 of an NHL Stanley Cup playoffs first-round series in Vancouver, British Columbia, April 21, 2011. Hossa scored two goals and the Blackhawks stayed alive in their Stanley Cup title defense, routing Vancouver 5-0 to cut the Canucks' lead to 3-2.
Boston Bruins right wing Michael Ryder (73)celebrates with teammates after scoring the winning goal against Montreal Canadiens goalie Carey Price (31) during the first overtime period of Game 4 of a first-round NHL Stanley Cup playoff series in Montreal, April 21, 2011. Ryder scored 1:59 into overtime to give Boston a 5-4 victory over Montreal on Thursday night, tying the first-round series 2-2.
Detroit Red Wings' Niklas Kronwall (55) and Valtteri Filppula (51) celebrate a goal scored by teammate Daniel Cleary as Phoenix Coyotes' Ilya Bryzgalov, bottom left, falls into the net and Coyotes' Michal Rozsival (32) skates past during the third period in Game 4 of a first-round NHL Stanley Cup playoffs series Wednesday, April 20, 2011, in Glendale, Ariz. The Red Wings defeated the Coyotes 6-3 and earned a 4-0 sweep in the series.
Buffalo Sabres goalie Ryan Miller, left, battles for the puck with Philadelphia Flyers' Daniel Carcillo (13) during the first period of Game 4 of a first-round NHL Stanley Cup playoffs in Buffalo, N.Y., Wednesday, April 20, 2011. Miller stopped 32 shots -- including a tremendous glove stop on Danny Briere and an outstretched stick save to foil Mike Richards during the frantic final nine minutes -- in a 1-0 victory that evened the series at 2.
Nashville Predators goalie Pekka Rinne (35) looks back after a shot by Anaheim Ducks' Corey Perry (not shown) gets past him for a goal in the third period of Game 4 of a first-round NHL Stanley Cup playoff hockey series on Wednesday, April 20, 2011, in Nashville, Tenn. Ducks center Brandon McMillan (64) and Nashville Predators defenseman Shea Weber (6) look on. The Ducks won 6-3 to even the series at 2-2.
Pittsburgh Penguins players mob James Neal after he scored the game-winning goal during double-overtime in Game 4 of a first-round NHL Stanley Cup playoffs on Wednesday, April 20, 2011 in Tampa, Fla. Neal scored 3:38 into the second overtime giving the Penguins a dramatic 3-2 victory over the Lightning.
Washington Capitals' Jason Chimera, Scott Hannan, Marcus Johansson and John Erskine, from left, celebrate after Chimera scored the game-winning goal in the Capitals' 4-3 defeat of the New York Rangers in the second overtime of Game 4 of an NHL Stanley Cup first-round playoffs, at Madison Square Garden in New York on Wednesday, April 20, 2011.
Members of the San Jose Sharks celebrate a game-winning goal by right wing Devin Setoguchi during overtime in Game 3 of a first-round NHL Stanley Cup playoff series against the Los Angeles Kings, Tuesday, April 19, 2011, in Los Angeles. The Sharks won 6-5.
Chicago Blackhawks center Dave Bolland (36) prepares to shoot in the second period of Game 4 against the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday, April 19, 2011, in Chicago. Bolland scored a goal and had three assists as the defending Stanley Cup champs avoided being swept with a 7-2 win.
Detroit Red Wings' Patrick Eaves, left, celebrates a goal scored by teammate Ruslan Salei as Phoenix Coyotes' Ilya Bryzgalov (30) and David Schlemko (6) stand unaware of where the puck is during the first period in Game 3 of a first-round series, April 18, 2011, in Glendale, Ariz.
Pittsburgh Penguins center Tyler Kennedy (48) celebrates after scoring a goal against the Tampa Bay Lightning during the third period in Game 3, April 18, 2011 in Tampa, Fla. Marc-Andre Fleury stopped 25 shots and Kennedy stepped up offensively when the sputtering Penguins needed him most to score the winning goal in a 3-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Boston Bruins' David Krejci scores past Montreal Canadiens goalie Carey Price during the first period in Game 3 of an NHL Stanley Cup playoffs first-round series, April 18, 2011, in Montreal. Krejci and Nathan Horton scored first-period goals to lead Boston to a 4-2 win over the Montreal on Monday night as the Bruins won on the road after dropping the first two games of their first-round series at home.
Philadelphia Flyers goalie Brian Boucher stops a shot by Buffalo Sabres' Brad Boyes (22) during the third period in Game 3 of a first-round NHL Stanley Cup playoff series, in Buffalo, N.Y., April 18, 2011. Boucher stopped 35 shots as the Flyers' new starter to lead them to a 4-2 victory and grab a 2-1 series lead Monday night.
Anaheim Ducks forward Kyle Palmieri ends up on the bottom of the pile as Ducks and Nashville Predators players tangle in the first period of Game 3 of a first-round NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoffs Sunday, April 17, 2011, in Nashville, Tenn. The Predators won 4-3 to take a 2-1 lead in the series.
Brandon Dubinsky (17) and Vaclav Prospal (20) of the New York Rangers celebrate after Prospal scored a third period goal as Alex Ovechkin (8) of the Washington Capitals skates away from the celebration in Game Three of the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Madison Square Garden on April 17, 2011 in New York City. The Rangers won 3-2.
Los Angeles Kings defenseman Drew Doughty (8) smiles after scoring against the San Jose Sharks as he is surrounded by center Oscar Moller (9), left wing Kyle Clifford (13), and defenseman Alec Martinez (53) during the second period in Game 2 of a first-round NHL Stanley Cup playoffs in San Jose, Calif., Saturday, April 16, 2011. Doughty had two goals and two assists as the Kings beat the San Jose Sharks 4-0.
Montreal Canadiens goaltender Carey Price (31) makes a save as defenseman Brent Sopel, right, and Boston Bruins' Nathan Horton look on during the second period in Boston, Saturday, April 16, 2011. Price stopped 34 shots to lead Montreal to a 3-1 victory and give the Canadiens a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.
Buffalo Sabres goalie Ryan Miller looks down after giving up a goal to Philadelphia Flyers' Ville Leino, during the second period in Game 2 of a first-round NHL Stanley Cup playoff series, Saturday, April 16, 2011, in Philadelphia. Philadelphia won 5-4.
Detroit Red Wings Tomas Holmstrom, second from left, and Todd Bertuzzi (44) congratulate teammate Pavel Datsyuk on his goal during the first period in Game 2 of a first-round NHL Stanley Cup playoffs in Detroit, Saturday, April 16, 2011. The Red Wings defeated the Coyotes 4-3.
Vancouver Canucks' Daniel Sedin, 22, of Sweden, and Chicago Blackhawks' Patrick Sharp, 10, battle for the puck in front of Vancouver goalie Roberto Luongo, center, as Jonathan Toews, far left, Kevin Bieksa, top, and Dan Hamhuis, far right, look on during the first period of game 2 of a NHL Western Conference quarterfinal Stanley Cup playoffs in Vancouver, British Columbia on Friday April 15, 2011. The Canucks survived three near-comebacks and a frantic final few minutes to beat the Blackhawks 4-3.
Anaheim Ducks center Ryan Getzlaf, middle celebrates his goal against the Nashville Predators during the second period of Game 2 of a first-round NHL Stanley Cup playoffs in Anaheim, Calif., Friday, April 15, 2011. Getzlaf and Corey Perry each had a goal and two assists, Ray Emery made 31 saves in his first playoff start in nearly four years, and the Ducks' offensive stars led them to a 5-3 victory.
Tampa Bay Lightning goalie Dwayne Roloson (35) blocks a shot in the third period of Game 2 of a first-round NHL Stanley Cup playoffs against the Pittsburgh Penguins in Pittsburgh Friday, April 15, 2011. The Lightning won 5-1.
Washington Capitals goalie Michal Neuvirth (30) defends the goal against New York Rangers left wing Sean Avery (16) during the third period in Game 2 of a first-round NHL Stanley Cup playoffs on Friday, April 15, 2011, in Washington. New York managed only 22 shots on Michal Neuvirth and the rookie stopped every single one, getting his first playoff shutout in a 2-0 victory that gave Washington a 2-0 lead.
San Jose Sharks center Joe Pavelski is mobbed by teammates after scoring the winning goal against the Los Angeles Kings to win 3-2 during overtime in Game 1 of an NHL first-round Western Conference playoffs in San Jose, Calif., April 14, 2011.
Buffalo Sabres' Mike Weber (6) loses his stick as he and Ryan Miller (30) defend against a shot by Philadelphia Flyers' Claude Giroux (28) in the third period of Game 1 of first-round NHL playoffs, April 14, 2011, in Philadelphia. Miller stopped 35 shots for his second career postseason shutout and Patrick Kaleta scored to lift the Buffalo Sabres to a 1-0 win.
Boston Bruins center Brad Marchand, left, shoots as Montreal Canadiens goalie Carey Price makes the save in the first period of a first-round NHL playoffs in Boston, April 14, 2011. Price earned his third playoff shutout with a 31-save performance in a 2-0 win.
Vancouver Canucks' Roberto Luongo, left, stops Chicago Blackhawks' Duncan Keith, center, and Jake Dowell, right, during the second period of Game 1 of an NHL first-round playoffs, on Wednesday, April 13, 2011, in Vancouver, British Columbia.
Anaheim Ducks goalie Dan Ellis watches Nashville Predators center Mike Fisher's goal during the second period of Game 1 of a first-round NHL playoff game in Anaheim, Calif., Wednesday, April 13, 2011. Fisher had two goals and an assist, goalie Pekka Rinne made 27 saves, as the Predators beat the Ducks 4-1.
Pavel Datsyuk (13) of the Detroit Red Wings celebrates his second-period goal against the Phoenix Coyotes in Game 1 of the first-round NHL playoffs at Joe Louis Arena on April 13, 2011 in Detroit. Datsyuk and Johan Franzen scored midway through the second period to put the Red Wings ahead after they killed four penalties in the first, and Detroit beat Phoenix 4-2.
Pittsburgh Penguins goalie Marc-Andre Fleury (29) blocks a shot by Tampa Bay Lightning's Teddy Purcell (16) in the first period of Game 1 of a first-round NHL playoffs in Pittsburgh, Wednesday, April 13, 2011. Fleury made 32 saves in the Penguins' 3-0 victory.
Washington Capitals Mike Green (52), Brooks Laich (21) and Nicklas Backstrom (19), celebrate the game-winning goal by Alexander Semin, top right, in overtime of Game 1 of a first-round NHL playoffs against the New York Rangers, Wednesday, April 13, 2011, in Washington. The Caps won 2-1.