PITTSBURGH PENGUINS 4, WASHINGTON CAPITALS 3 (OT)
(Pittsburgh leads series 3-2)
In a Stanley Cup rarity, these teams played back-to-back games. Friday night they were in Pittsburgh, Saturday night in DC. Washington took a 2-1 lead into the 3rd, then the Penguins exploded, and took a 3-2 lead. With about 4 minutes left, Ovechkin scored a goal (thanks to excellent maneuvering from Nicklas Backstrom and Mike Green), his 10th of the playoffs. The two teams went into overtime, Pittsburgh got a power play after a blatant trip.
It was an unfortunate ending to what had been a great game. Evgeni Malkin tried a centering pass, the defenseman dove and tried to stop the puck with his extended stick, but the puck ricocheted off the stick, and right between Sergei Varlamov's pads. Sergei had been setting himself up to play the recipient of the pass. Shitty way to lose a game, and as a somewhat neutral fan, it was a disappointing end.
CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS 4, VANCOUVER CANUCKS 2
(Chicago leads series 3-2)
So much of playoff hockey is the ability to be physical, get into scrums, scraps, and outright fights, then cool down and play solid hockey while your opponent makes mistakes. The Blackhawks found their cool during and after an intense 2nd period, the Canucks lost theirs. 32 penalty minutes in the 2nd (couldv'e been 20 more easily), and a 2-1 Vancouver lead was erased late in the period. Kevin Bieksa committed a dumb high-stick penalty in the 3rd, and Chicago's Dave Bolland scores on the ensuing power play. Martin Havlat added the empty-netter. Vancouver only had 21 shots on goal, and only 10 in the final two periods.
When was the last time the Blackhawks had a chance to clinch a playoff series at home? They'll have one Monday night.
Sunday's games:
5:00 PM - Ducks @ Red Wings (Series tied 2-2)
7:30 PM - Hurricanes @ Bruins (Hurricanes lead series 3-1) - Vs
-The Commodore
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