4/1 Scoreboard and Playoff Update

Last night we saw the start of the Quarterfinals for the Major Junior Playoffs as all 4 OHL 2nd Round Matchups got underway as we really start to get an idea of who could possibly contend for the OHL & Memorial Cup Titles. As for the WHL & QMJHL, they will start the 2nd Round Matchups tonight.

The Northern Conference Championship Series is almost set as the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs have ousted the Colorado Eagles. While Rapid City can end the Missouri Mavericks Season tonight with a win. The South is getting tight as the Laredo Bucks have tied the series against Allen, while game 4 of Brahmas VS. Jackalopes is tonight from the NYTEX Sports Center in North Richland Hills.

The AHL saw the Hershey Bears being on the brink of clinching home ice for the AHL Calder Cup Playoffs. But with a win by the Hamilton Bulldogs, that they will have to wait a little bit. The NHL saw the Ottawa Senators clinch a playoff spot and the Washington Capitals clinch Home Ice Advantage in the Eastern Conference and are on the verge of clinching the Presidents Cup and Home Ice Advantage of hosting the Stanley Cup Finals if they reach the Cup Finals.

Also the North American Hockey League Playoffs will get underway tonight as the Tornado will travel to St. Louis as they have a huge task of taking down the 3 time Robertson Cup Champion St. Louis Bandits. Other great matchups include the Alaska Avalanche against the Fairbanks Ice Dogs and the very competitive North Division as the Marquette Rangers will be taking on the Motor City Metal Jackets, while the Traverse City North Stars go up against the Janesville Jets.

This is also the final weekend of the United States Hockey League Season. The drama will be out west as the Sioux City Musketeers and the Tri-City Storm will be fighting it out for the 4th & Final Playoff Spot in the West Division.


Professional Scores

National Hockey League

Florida Panthers 1 Boston Bruins 0 (1-0, 0-0, 0-0)
www.nhl.com/ice/gamecenter.htm?id=2009021149

Buffalo Sabres 2 Toronto Maple Leafs 4 (1-1, 1-1, 0-2)
www.nhl.com/ice/gamecenter.htm?id=2009021150

Philadelphia Flyers 4 NY Islanders 6 (0-3, 1-1, 3-2)
www.nhl.com/ice/gamecenter.htm?id=2009021151

Atlanta Thrashers 1 Washington Capitals 2 (0-1, 1-0, 0-1)
www.nhl.com/ice/gamecenter.htm?id=2009021152

The Washington Capitals have clinched Home Ice in the Eastern Conference


Carolina Hurricanes 3 Ottawa Senators 4 (SO) (0-1, 2-0, 1-2, 0-0, 0-1)
www.nhl.com/ice/gamecenter.htm?id=2009021153

With Last Night's Win, the Ottawa Senators have clinched a playoff spot.


Columbus Blue Jackets 2 Detroit Red Wings 3 (1-1, 0-1, 1-1)
www.nhl.com/ice/gamecenter.htm?id=2009021154

St. Louis Blues 2 Nashville Predators 3 (1-0, 1-2, 0-1)
www.nhl.com/ice/gamecenter.htm?id=2009021155

Vancouver Canucks 3 Los Angeles Kings 8 (0-3, 2-2, 1-3)
www.nhl.com/ice/gamecenter.htm?id=2009021156


Teams that can Clinch Playoff Spots tonight:

Vancouver can clinch with at least an OT Appearance against the Anaheim Ducks

Nashville Predators (Off Tonight) If Calgary losses to Colorado tonight.


American Hockey League

Toronto Marlies 2 Hamilton Bulldogs 3 (0-2, 1-0, 1-1)
http://theahl.com/stats/game-summary.php?game_id=1007136

Toronto VS. Hamilton Game Story:
http://theahl.com/-dogs-hold-off-marlies-win-fourth-straight-p141822


Lake Erie Monsters 3 Peoria Rivermen 1 (1-0, 2-0, 0-1)
http://theahl.com/stats/game-summary.php?game_id=1007138

Lake Erie VS. Peoria Game Story:
http://theahl.com/monsters-win-close-gap-in-north-race-p141824


Tonight's Playoff Clinching Scenarios
http://theahl.com/friday-s-clinching-scenarios-p141351


Central Hockey League Playoffs

Look for the Texas Brahmas VS. Odessa Jackalopes & Colorado Eagles VS. Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs Game Stories.


Major Junior Playoffs

Western Hockey League

The 2nd Round begins tonight. Here's a look at the Conference Semifinal Series'


Eastern Conference

#1 Calgary Hitmen VS. #5 Medicine Hat Tigers

#2 Brandon Wheat Kings VS. #3 Saskatoon Blades


Western Conference

#1 Tri-City Americans VS. #6 Kelowna Rockets

#2 Vancouver Giants VS. #5 Portland Winterhawks*

*The Portland VS. Vancouver Series will have Portland have home ice advantage because of the Winterhawks had the better record, despite the Giants winning the B.C. Division.


Ontario Hockey League

Kitchener Rangers 5 London Knights 8 (1-3, 2-2, 2-3)
www.ontariohockeyleague.com/stats/game-summary.php?game_id=16721

London Knights Lead Series 1-0

Plymouth Whalers 1 Windsor Spitfires 5 (0-2, 1-1, 0-2)
www.ontariohockeyleague.com/stats/game-summary.php?game_id=16722

Windsor Spitfires Lead Series 1-0

Mississauga St. Micheal's Majors 4 Ottawa 67s 1 (1-0, 1-1, 2-0)
www.ontariohockeyleague.com/stats/game-summary.php?game_id=16714

Mississauga Lead Series 1-0

Brampton Battalion 3 Barrie Colts 5 (1-2, 1-3, 1-0)
www.ontariohockeyleague.com/stats/game-summary.php?game_id=16734

Barrie Leads Series 1-0


Quebec Major Junior Hockey League


The QMJHL Quarterfinals begin tonight. Here's a look at the Series'.

#1 St. John Seadogs VS. #8 Gatineau Olympiques

#2 Drummondville Voltigeurs VS. #7 Rimouski Oceanic

#3 Quebec City Ramparts VS. #6 Victoriaville Tigers

#4 Rouyn-Nornda Huskies VS. #5 Moncton Wildcats


U.S.A. Junior Scores

United States Hockey League

No Games on Thursday Night.


Here's a look at the Final Weekend of the USHL Regular Season.

4/2

Cedar Rapids Roughriders VS. Youngstown Phantoms 6:15 PM

Waterloo Blackhawks VS. Sioux City Musketeers 7:00 PM

Indiana Ice VS. Green Bay Gamblers 7:05 PM

USNTDP VS. Omaha Lancers 7:05 PM

Lincoln Stars VS. Sioux Falls Stampede 7:05 PM

Des Moines Buccaneers VS. Tri-City Storm 7:05 PM

Fargo Force VS. Chicago Steel 7:30 PM


4/3

Cedar Rapids Roughriders VS. Youngstown Phantoms 6:15 PM

Lincoln Stars VS. Sioux City Musketeers 7:00 PM

Fargo Force VS. Green Bay Gamblers 7:05 PM

Des Moines Buccaneers VS. Omaha Lancers 7:05 PM

Sioux Falls Stampede VS. Tri-City Storm 7:05 PM

USNTDP VS. Waterloo Blackhawks 7:05 PM

Indiana Ice VS. Chicago Steel 7:30 PM


Games in Italics will determine the 4th and Final Playoff Spot in the West Division between the Tri-City Storm & the Sioux City Musketeers.

4. Tri-City Storm 27-25-6 60 PTS

5. Sioux City Musketeers 25-24-9 59 PTS


North American Hockey League Playoffs


The Playoffs begin tonight. Here's a look at the 1st Round Matchups.

Central Division

#1 Bismarck Bobcats VS. #4 Albert Lea Thunder

#2 Owatonna Express VS. #3 Alexandria Blizzard


North Division

#1 Marquette Rangers VS. #4 Motor City Metal Jackets

#2 Traverse City North Stars VS. #3 Janesville Jets


South Division

#1 Topeka Roadrunners VS. #4 Springfield Jr. Blues

#2 St. Louis Bandits VS. #3 Texas Tornado


West Division

#1 Wenatchee Wild VS. #4 Kenai River Brown Bears

#2 Alaska Avalanche VS. #3 Fairbanks Ice Dogs