5/11 Stanley Cup Update and Tonight's Schedule

Just one game in action last night as the Chicago Blackhawks routed the Vancouver Canucks 5-1 with the help of a 3 goal 2nd period thanks to a trio of unlikely goal scorers with Troy Browuer scoring his first of the playoffs this season. Also Kris Versteeg and David Bolland who eached scored their 3rd goal of the playoffs to make it 3-0 Blackhawks just before the end of the 2nd period.

Vancouver who after winning Game 5 in Chicago were looking to win again and force a Game 7. But it was 2 goals in just 36 seconds that started the rout and it was the beginning of the end of the 2nd period. Vancouver was hoping to keep up the SOG after out-shooting the Blackhawks 13-12 in the first period. But the Canucks were shocked after the first 2 goals.

If it thought it couldn't get any worse, then another unlikely goal-scorer in Dave Bolland scored with less then 30 seconds left to make it 3-0 on the PK. Despite just a couple of penalty minutes in the game, the special teams couldn't be a factor in the game.

In the 3rd, the Canucks were looking to get back in the 3rd period when Shane O'Brien scored just 3 minutes into the 3rd period to make it 3-1 on a wrist shot from Alex Burrows to give Vancouver some hope. However, Patrick Kane put the Blackhawks up to 3 with a wrist shot to give the Blackhawks a 4-1 lead. Then just 25 seconds it was Dustin Byfuglien that scored his 4th of the playoffs to put the game at the 5-1 final score.

The Western Conference Finals are now set as the top 2 seeds between the San Jose Sharks and the Chicago Blackhawks with the series expected to start up probably sometime this weekend for the Western Conference Title.

The last 4 is all set in the American Hockey League and the Conference Final gets underway tonight between the Hershey Bears & Manchester Monarchs. Hershey has been off since April 29 when the Bears sweeped the Albany River Rats in 4 games straight that just 6 days. Manchester had to beat Worcester in a rough-and-tumble 6 game series. Will rust hurt the Bears hopes of a 2nd straight Calder Cup Title.

In the East tonight, both series are in action as the Canadians will look to pull off another major upset as Game 7 is tonight in Pittsburgh. In the Boston VS. Philadelphia Series, after the Bruins won Games 4 and 5 to force a Game 6 tonight in Philadelphia.

In the Juniors, we are just 2 days away from the start of the Memorial Cup as the OHL Champions Windsor Spitfires will take on the Memorial Cup Host Brandon Wheat Kings on Friday Night from the Westman Place in Brandon, Manitoba.

Then in Green Bay Wisconsin, it all comes down tonight as the Green Bay Gamblers have comeback to win Games 3 & 4 on the road in North Dakota to force tonight's game 5 where the winner skates the Clark Cup. One big thing in this game is that Fargo Force Captian Chase Grant is injured and is out of the lineup tonight.

Chicago Blackhawks 5 Vancouver Canucks 1 (0-0, 3-0, 2-1)
www.nhl.com/ice/gamecenter.htm?id=2009030246

Chicago VS. Vancouver Game Story: www.nhl.com/ice/recap.htm?id=2009030246


The Western Conference Finals is now set as the San Jose Sharks and Chicago Blackhawks will battle it out for the Western Conference Title and a spot in the Stanley Cup Finals. Expect the series to start later this week or this weekend.


Tonight's Schedule (All Start Times are CDT)

NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs

Game 7: Montreal Canadians VS. Pittsburgh Penguins 6:00 PM

Game 6: Boston Bruins VS. Philadelphia Flyers 7:00 PM


AHL Calder Cup Playoffs

Game 1: Manchester Monarchs VS. Hershey Bears 6:00 PM


USHL Clark Cup Playoffs

Game 5: Fargo Force VS. Green Bay Gamblers 7:05 PM


Memorial Cup Tournament

5/14: Windsor Spitfires VS. Brandon Wheat Kings 7:00 PM