NHL Opening Round Playoffs
Montreal Canadiens center Dominic Moore (42) celebrates his goal with Benoit Pouliot (57) and Maxim Lapierre (40) during the third period of Game 7 of the NHL playoffs against the Washington Capitals, Wednesday, April 28, 2010, in Washington. The Canadiens won 2-1 and eliminated the Capitals from the playoffs.
Detroit Red Wings center Pavel Datsyuk (13) scores on Phoenix Coyotes goalie Ilya Bryzgalov during the second period of Game 7 of an NHL first-round playoffs Tuesday, April 27, 2010, in Glendale, Ariz. Datsyuk scored twice in a span of less than two minutes and buried the Coyotes 6-1 in Game 7 to win the series, 4-3.
Chicago Blackhawks center Patrick Sharp (10) scores against Nashville Predators goalie Pekka Rinne (35), defenseman Dan Hamhuis (2) and right wing Patric Hornqvist (27), in the first period of a first-round NHL Western Conference playoffs game on April 26, 2010, in Nashville, Tenn. The Blackhawks won 5-3 to win the series 4-2.
Washington Capitals Mike Knuble is stopped by Montreal Canadiens goaltender Jaroslav Halak as Canadiens defenseman Andrei Markov moves in during the third period in Game 6 of a first round NHL playoffs, April 26, 2010, in Montreal. Halak made 53 saves and Michael Cammalleri scored twice in the first period for eighth-seeded Montreal, which stayed alive with a 4-1 victory over the Capitals and forced a Game 7 in the first-round series.
Buffalo Sabres right wing Jason Pominville (29) skates away as Boston Bruins right wing Mark Recchi, left, celebrates his goal with teammates Matt Hunwick, David Krejci (46), and Zdeno Chara (33) during the first period of Game 6 in Boston, Monday, April 26, 2010. Krejci had two goals and one assist as Boston beat Buffalo 4-3 in Game 6 and advanced to the Eastern Conference semifinals.
Phoenix Coyotes goalie Ilya Bryzgalov (30) deflects a shot during the second period in a first-round NHL playoffs against the Detroit Red Wings in Detroit, Sunday, April 25, 2010. Bryzgalov made 31 saves in the Coyotes' 5-2 win over the Red Wings.
A dejected Los Angeles Kings bench watch the Vancouver Canucks celebrate Alex Burrows empty net goal during the third period in Game 6 of a first-round NHL hockey Western Conference playoffs in Los Angeles, Sunday, April 25, 2010. Vancouver won 4-2.
San Jose Sharks center Joe Thornton, left, reaches out to take control of the puck as Colorado Avalanche center Paul Stastny, center, and Sharks left winger Patrick Marleau look on in the first period of Game 6 of the teams' first-round NHL Western Conference playoffs in Denver on Saturday, April 24, 2010.
Chicago Blackhawks' Marian Hossa (81) celebrates after scoring the game-winning goal as Nashville Predators' Shea Weber reacts during the overtime period in Game 5 of an NHL hockey Western Conference first-round playoffs, Saturday, April 24, 2010, in Chicago. The Blackhawks won 5-4 in overtime.
Pittsburgh Penguins' Matt Cooke (24) celebrates Pittsburgh's first goal of the game as Ottawa Senators' Matt Carkner (39) and goaltender Pascal Leclair (33) look on during the second period of an NHL playoffs in Ottawa, Ontario, Saturday, April 24, 2010.
Phoenix Coyotes goalie Ilya Bryzgalov, left, and defenseman Adrian Aucoin, center, react as Detroit Red Wings left winger Tomas Holmstrom, right, of Sweden, celebrates teammate Pavel Datsyuk goal in the third period of an NHL first-round playoffs Friday, April 23, 2010, in Glendale, Ariz. The Red Wings won Game 5 by a score of 4-1.
Vancouver Canucks' Mikael Samuelsson, left, celebrates his goal with teammate Sami Salo during the third period of Game 5 in an NHL western conference playoffs at GM Place in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, on Friday, April 23, 2010. Samuelsson scored twice and added an assist in a 7-2 rout of the Kings on Friday night. That gave the Canucks a 3-2 lead in the Western Conference first-round playoff series.
Boston Bruins' Miroslav Satan (81) looks to shoot the puck on Buffalo Sabres goalie Ryan Miller during the second period of a first-round NHL playoffs in Buffalo, N.Y., Friday, April 23, 2010. Miller made 34 saves and was helped at every turn by his teammates, who blocked 19 shots in the first two periods and 26 overall, beating the Boston Bruins 4-1.
Montreal Canadiens goalie Jaroslav Halak, left and teammate Josh Gorges (26) defend the net against Washington Capitals right wing Eric Fehr, bottom right, during the third period of Game 5 of the NHL playoffs, Friday, April 23, 2010, in Washington. Halak made 37 saves in his return to the net as the Canadiens won 2-1.
Chicago Blackhawks goalie Antti Niemi (31) blocks a shot by Nashville Predators right wing Martin Erat (10) in the first period of a first-round NHL Western Conference playoffs on Thursday, April 22, 2010, in Nashville, Tenn. Rookie Antti Niemi stopped 33 shots for his second shutout as the Blackhawks beat the Nashville Predators 3-0 and tied the series at 2-2.
Colorado Avalanche right wing Darcy Tucker (16) is unable to score past San Jose Sharks goalie Evgeni Nabokov (20) and defenseman Dan Boyle (22) in the third period of Game 5 of a first-round NHL playoffs Thursday, April 22, 2010, in San Jose, Calif. Nabokov stopped 28 shots to record his seventh career playoff shutout, Couture scored twice and the Sharks beat the Avalanche 5-0 to take a 3-2 edge in their Western Conference series.
Ottawa Senators' Matt Carkner, center, celebrates his game-winning goal in the third overtime period of a first-round NHL playoffs against the Pittsburgh Penguins, with teammates Chris Neil, left, and Andy Sutton, right, in Pittsburgh on Thursday, April 22, 2010. The Senators won 4-3 forcing a game 6.
2010 NHL Playoffs
Philadelphia Flyers' Blair Betts (11), Darroll Powe (36) and Kimmo Timonen (44), of Finland, celebrate with goaltender Brian Boucher after the Flyers beat the New Jersey Devils 3-0 to win the NHL first-round playoffs 4-1 Thursday, April 22, 2010 in Newark, N.J.
Vancouver Canucks center Henrik Sedin, left, scores the winning goal past Los Angeles Kings defenseman Matt Greene, and goalie Jonathan Quick as left wing Alex Burrows looks on during the third period in Game 4 of a first-round NHL hockey Western Conference playoffs in Los Angeles, Wednesday, April 21, 2010. Sedin scored the go-ahead goal with 2:52 to play, and the Canucks connected four times in a wild third period to even the series with a 6-4 victory.
Washington Capitals' Alex Ovechkin, right, celebrates his second goal with teammates Nicklas Backstrom, upper left, and Alexander Semin during Game 4 of the NHL Eastern Conference quarterfinals, Wednesday, April 21, 2010, in Montreal. The Capitals defeated the Canadiens 6-3 to take a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series.
Buffalo Sabres goalie Ryan Miller (30), Tyler Myers (57), and Toni Lydman (5) react after giving up the winning goal as Boston Bruins left wing Marco Sturm (16) and teammate Matt Hunwick, left, celebrate in the second overtime period of Game 4 of an NHL hockey playoffs in Boston on Wednesday, April 21, 2010. The Bruins won 3-2.
San Jose Sharks center Joe Pavelski, right, looks for a pass as Colorado Avalanche right winger Brandon Yip, center, and goalie Craig Anderson cover in the overtime of the Sharks' 2-1 victory in Game 4 of the NHL Western Conference playoffs in Denver on Tuesday, April 20, 2010. Pavelski scored 10:24 into overtime giving top-seeded San Jose a 2-1 victory tying the Western Conference series at two games apiece.
Chicago Blackhawks right wing Marian Hossa (81), falls after colliding with Nashville Predators defenseman Shea Weber, right, in the third period of a first-round NHL Western Conference playoffs Tuesday, April 20, 2010, in Nashville, Tenn. The Predators won 4-1 to take a 2-1 lead in the series.
Detroit Red Wings goalie Jimmy Howard stops a shot by Phoenix Coyotes' Martin Hanzal, in the third period of Game 4 of a first-round NHL Western Conference playoffs in Detroit, Tuesday, April 20, 2010. Howard had a 29-save shutout, Henrik Zetterberg scored twice and Pavel Datsyuk had a goal, leading Detroit to a 3-0 series-evening win over the Coyotes in Game 4.
Philadelphia Flyers' Jeff Carter celebrates after scoring a goal against New Jersey Devils goalie Martin Brodeur in the second period of the NHL playoffs, Tuesday, April 20, 2010, in Philadelphia. Carter scored two goals to lead Philadelphia to a 4-1 victory over New Jersey and a commanding 3-1 lead in their Eastern Conference playoff series.
Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sydney Crosby (87) celebrates his team's first goal along with teammate Chris Kunitz, left, against the Ottawa Senators, as Matt Carkner looks on, during the first period of the first-round NHL playoffs in Ottawa, Tuesday April 20, 2010. Crosby had four points, including two of Pittsburgh's five goals in the second, leading the Penguins to a 7-4 win over the Senators to a 3-1 series lead.
Washington Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin celebrates with teammate Mike Knuble after scoring the fourth goal against the Montreal Canadiens during the second period Monday, April 19, 2010 in Montreal. The Capitals notched a 5-1 win over Montreal and a 2-1 lead in the series.
Los Angeles Kings team members celebrate a goal by defenseman Drew Doughty (8) as Vancouver Canucks goalie Roberto Luongo stands in goal during the first period in Game 3 of a first-round NHL hockey Western Conference playoff series, Monday, April 19, 2010, in Los Angeles. The Kings won 5-3, taking a 2-1 series lead.
Boston Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask covers the puck after the attempt by Buffalo Sabres right winger Mike Grier (25) as Bruins defenseman Dennis Wideman, second from left, defends during the third period of Game 3 of an NHL hockey playoff series in Boston on Monday, April 19, 2010. The Bruins won 2-1 to take a 2-1 lead in series.
Chicago Blackhawks goalie Antti Niemi (31) blocks a shot by Nashville Predators' Martin Erat during the third period of Game 2 of an NHL hockey first-round playoff series Sunday, April 18, 2010, in Chicago. The Blackhawks won 2-0 to tie the series 1-1.
Pittsburgh Penguins' Evgeni Malkin scores past Ottawa Senators goaltender Brian Elliott during second period in NHL playoff action in Ottawa on Sunday, April 18, 2010. Sidney Crosby had a goal and an assist, Malkin scored his third playoff goal, and Pittsburgh beat Ottawa 4-2 to take a 2-1 lead in the Eastern Conference series.
Phoenix Coyotes winger Petr Prucha (16) scores on Detroit Red Wings goalie Jimmy Howard (35) during the third period in a first-round NHL playoff hockey game in Detroit, Sunday, April 18, 2010. Prucha and Radim Vrbata scored midway through the third period to lift the Coyotes to a 4-2 victory and a 2-1 series lead.
As members of the Colorado Avalanche celebrate the scoring of the winning overtime goal by Ryan O'Reilly, San Jose Sharks left winger Ryane Clowe reacts to the Avalanche's 1-0 victory in Game 3 of the teams' NHL Western Conference first-round playoff series in Denver on Sunday, April 18, 2010. Colorado leads the series 2-1.
Philadelphia Flyers' Daniel Carcillo, left, and Simon Gagne celebrate after Carcillo's game-winning goal in overtime of an NHL first-round playoff game against the New Jersey Devils, Sunday, April 18, 2010, in Philadelphia. Carcillo scored 3:35 into overtime to give the Flyers a 3-2 victory against the Devils and a 2-1 advantage in the Eastern Conference series.
Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8), of Russia, scores a goal past Montreal Canadiens goalie Jaroslav Halak, second from left, of Slovakia, Jaroslav Spacek (6), of the Czech Republic, and Roman Hamrlik (44), also of the Czech Republic, during the third period of Game 2 of the NHL hockey playoffs, Saturday, April 17, 2010, in Washington. The Capitals won 6-5 in overtime.
Members of the Los Angeles Kings celebrate teammate Anze Kopitar's overtime game winning goal against the Vancouver Canucks in the first round of an NHL western conference playoff hockey game at GM Place in Vancouver, Canada, on Saturday, April 17, 2010. The Kings won 3-2.
Buffalo Sabres goalie Ryan Miller and Tyler Ennis (63) look on as Boston Bruins' Michael Ryder, top right, celebrates his goal with teammate Vladimir Sobotka (60) and Andrew Ference, center, after a Bruins goal during the third period of a first-round NHL playoff hockey game in Buffalo, N.Y., Saturday, April 17, 2010. The Bruins won 5-3.
San Jose Sharks center Joe Pavelski (8) scores, getting the puck past Colorado Avalanche goalie Craig Anderson to send the game into overtime late in the third period of Game 2 of a first-round NHL hockey playoff series Friday, April 16, 2010, in San Jose, Calif. San Diego scored a power-play goal 5:32 into overtime, enabling the Sharks to even their first-round Western Conference series with a 6-5 victory.
The Detroit Red Wings' Henrik Zetterberg, of Sweden, right, celebrates his first goal in the third period against the Phoenix Coyotes, with teammate Todd Bertuzzi (44), as referee Chris Rooney looks on in a first-round NHL playoff hockey game between the Phoenix Coyotes and the Detroit Red Wings Friday, April 16, 2010, in Glendale, Ariz. The Red Wings defeated the Coyotes, 7-4.
The Nashville Predators' J P Dumont, left, celebrates with Cody Franson after scoring a goal during the third period of Game 1 of their NHL Western Conference quarter-final hockey game against the Chicago Blackhawks in Chicago, Friday, April 16, 2010. The Predators won, 4-1.
The New Jersey Devils' Zach Parise (9) and Philadelphia Flyers' Jeff Carter (17) watch as the puck goes into the net, past Flyers goaltender Brian Boucher, right, during the third period of an NHL first-round playoff hockey game Friday, April 16, 2010, in Newark, N.J. The Devils defeated the Flyers, 5-3, to even the series at one game apiece.
The Pittsburgh Penguins' Kris Letang (58) celebrates his third-period goal against the Ottawa Senators with teammates Chris Kunitz (14) Bill Guerin, second from left, Sidney Crosby (87) and Mark Eaton, rear left, in a first-round NHL playoff hockey game in Pittsburgh, Friday, April 16, 2010. The Penguins won, 2-1, evening the series at a game apiece.
Vancouver Canucks' Mikael Samuelsson, center, celebrates his goal against the Los Angeles Kings with teammates Pavol Demitra, left, Henrik Sedin and Daniel Sedin during the second period of an NHL first-round playoff game in Vancouver, British Columbia, Thursday, April 15, 2010. Samuelsson's second goal 8:52 into overtime gave Vancouver a 3-2 victory.
Montreal Canadiens' Tomas Plekanec (14), of the Czech Republic, is congratulated by teammates after scoring the game-winning goal during overtime of Game 1 of the NHL playoffs against the Washington Capitals, Thursday, April 15, 2010, in Washington. The Canadiens won 3-2.
Buffalo Sabres goalie Ryan Miller stops a shot under pressure from Boston Bruins' Mark Recchi (28) as Sabres' Derek Roy (9) defends during the second period in Buffalo, N.Y., Thursday, April 15, 2010. Miller was remarkable in making 38 saves including 23 in the second period in the Sabres' 2-1 playoff-opening victory.
Phoenix Coyotes' Ilya Bryzgalov (30) makes a save on a shot by Detroit Red Wings' Todd Bertuzzi (44) as Coyotes' Derek Morris (53) defends in the second period, Wednesday, April 14, 2010, in Glendale, Ariz. The Coyotes defeated the Detroit Red Wings 3-2.
Colorado Avalanche defenseman Scott Hannan, left, celebrates after right wing Chris Stewart, not shown, scored past San Jose Sharks goalie Evgeni Nabokov (20) and defenseman Rob Blake (4) in the last minute of the third period of Game 1 on Wednesday, April 14, 2010, in San Jose, Calif. The Avalanche defeated the Sharks 2-1.
Philadelphia Flyers' Scott Hartnell, left, celebrates with goaltender Brian Boucher after they defeated the New Jersey Devils 2-1, Wednesday, April 14, 2010, in Newark, N.J.
Pittsburgh Penguins' Matt Cooke (24) and Ottawa Senators' Andy Sutton (5) battle in front of Senators goalie Brian Elliott, right, during the first period in Pittsburgh on Wednesday, April 14, 2010. The Senators won 5-4.