The Multi OT Games are starting to come fast and furiously over the last couple of nights in the NHL as the Ottawa Senators pulled off a shock of the Penguins where Matt Crakner came up the unlikely hero for the Sens as he scored his first goal of the playoffs after scoring just 2 in the entire regular season.
This win keeps the Senators alive as Pittsburgh still leads 3-2, but it gets the series back to Ottawa where the Sens will hope to force a Game 7. After a game that stretches of fast pace and carefully planed play for different parts of the Triple OT Game, the Penguins had goals by Chris Kunitz and Sidney Crosby to keep the Pens in the game as the Sens were playing their best game of the series.
We also saw our first team through to the Conference Semifinals as the Flyers knocked out the Atlantic Division Champion New Jersey Devils. Brian Boucher has been playing out of his mind with a .940 GAA and a 1.59 SV%, in the different games, this was his first shutout of the plkayoffs and has given up more then 2 goals just once in the 1st Round Upset of New Jersey.
If the Washington Capitals can knock out the Montreal Canadians tonight, it will be the #1 Washington Capitals VS. #7 Philadelphia Flyers in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
The Western Conference saw a huge night as all 4 series are tied at 2-2 and Thursday Night provided a huge night to find out how the momentum was going to shift. the San Jose Sharks finally looked like them selves with a 5-0 win over Colorado where two goals by Couture lead the way to San Jose as the Sharks now go up 3-2. Chicago got the series with Nashville back to even with a 3-0 shutout last night as Game 5 will now return to Chicago.
With the AHL & CHL both off last night. We head to the Juniors where the Windsor Spitfires avoided elimination again with a 3-0 shutout of the Kitchener Rangers to close the series gap to 3-2. And the Spitfires are looking to pull off a huge comeback and continue their hopes of playing the Barrie Colts for the OHL Championship and a shot of defending the Memorial Cup Championship.
Out West, the Tri-City Americans got their Western Conference Final tied at 2-2 with a 5-2 win where Kruise Reddick had a goal and 3 assists to lead the Americans past the Giants in Vancouver. The Series now shifts to Tri-City for Game 5 tonight.
It's a big night in the Central Hockey League as the CHL Ray Miron Presidents Cup Championship gets underway tonight as the Allen Americans VS. Rapid City Rush will do battle as both teams are looking to win their first League Championship in South Dakota Tonight. With the Eastern Conference Semifinals Matchups now set, the spotlight is in the West as Chicago, Texas, Rochester & Hamilton can all clinch their 1st Round Series tonight.
Professional ScoresNational Hockey LeaguePhiladelphia Flyers 3 New Jersey Devils 0 (1-0, 2-0, 0-0)www.nhl.com/ice/gamecenter.htm?id=2009030125Philadelphia Wins Series 4-1, The Flyers have advanced to the Eastern Conference Semifinals.Ottawa Senators 4 Pittsburgh Penguins 3 (3OT) (2-1, 0-1, 1-1, 0-0, 0-0, 1-0)www.nhl.com/ice/gamecenter.htm?id=2009030145Ottawa Leads Series 3-2Chicago Blackhawks 3 Nashville Predators 0 (1-0, 2-0, 0-0)www.nhl.com/ice/gamecenter.htm?id=2009030164Series Tied 2-2Colorado Avalanche 0 San Jose Sharks 5 (0-0, 0-3, 0-2)www.nhl.com/ice/gamecenter.htm?id=2009030155San Jose Leads Series 3-2AHL Calder Cup PlayoffsNo Games on Thursday NightHere's a look at the Playoff Update. the Atlantic & East Division Finals are set while the West & North Division Matchups are all in Action tonight.Atlantic Division Final#1A Worcester Sharks VS. #3A Manchester MonarchsThe Atlantic Division Final Begins on Sunday.East Division Final#1E Hershey Bears VS. #2E Albany River RatsThe East Division Final Begins on SaturdayNorth Division Semifinals#1N Hamilton Bulldogs VS. #4N Manitoba MooseHamilton Leads Series 3-1#2N Rochester Americans VS. #3N Abbotsford HeatRochester Leads Series 3-1West Division Semifinals#1W Chicago Wolves VS. #4W Milwaukee AdmiralsChicago Leads Series 3-2#2W Texas Stars VS. #3W Rockford IcehogsTexas Leads Series 3-0CHL Presidents Cup ChampionshipThe Ray Miron Presidents Cup Championship Begins tonight between the Allen Americans VS. Rapid City Rush in South Dakota.Major Junior Memorial Cup PlayoffsWestern Hockey LeagueTri-City Americans 5 Vancouver Giants 2 (1-1, 2-1, 2-0)http://whl.ca/stats/game-summary.php?game_id=1007027Series Tied 2-2Tri-City VS. Vancouver Game Story: http://whl.ca/thursday-s-whl-playoff-round-up-p142321Ontario Hockey LeagueKitchener Rangers 0 Windsor Spitfires 3 (0-1, 0-1, 0-1)www.ontariohockeyleague.com/stats/game-summary.php?game_id=16743Kitchener Leads Series 3-2Kitchener VS. Windsor Game Story: www.ontariohockeyleague.com/spitfires-shutout-rangers-to-keep-series-alive-p142320Quebec Major Junior Hockey LeagueNo Games on Thursday Night. Here's a look at where the Semifinals Stand. Both Series are in action tonight.St. John Seadogs VS. Victoriaville Tigers: St. John Leads Series 2-1Drummondville Voltigeurs VS. Moncton Wildcats: Moncton Leads Series 3-1U.S.A. Junior PlayoffsUSHL Clark Cup PlayoffsOmaha Lancers 6 Fargo Force 2 (2-1, 3-0, 1-1)http://ushl.stats.pointstreak.com/boxscore.html?gameid=1261598Southwest WatchC.J. Ludwig: He's Suspended for the rest of this Series.
Ryan Daugherty: He Had one of his best games of this year's playoffs as he scored to make it a 4-1 game in the 2nd period. And also had an assist on the Matt White Goal that made it 5-1 just a couple of minutes later. He also had a +1 for this game and committed what was a pretty dumb Delay of Game Penalty and was involved in every aspect of the Game.
Chase Grant: He had an assist on the Matt Leitner goal that made it 5-2 Omaha early in the 3rd period. Unfortunately he had a -3 in the Game with 2 SOG and a minor penalty as well.
Johnnie Searfoss: Searfoss had no points or penalties in the Game with a -2. He also didn't get off a SOG & and no penalties as well.
Series Tied 2-2Omaha VS. Fargo Game Story: www.ushl.com/news/story.cfm?id=3214NAHL Robertson Cup PlayoffsNo Games on Thursday Night. All 4 Matchups are in action tonight.Central DivisionBismarck Bobcats VS. Alexandria Blizzard: Bismarck Leads Series 2-0North DivisionTraverse City North Stars VS. Motor City Metal Jackets: Traverse City Leads Series 2-0South DivisionTopeka Roadrunners VS. St. Louis Bandits: Series Tied 1-1West DivisionWenatchee Wild VS. Fairbanks Ice Dogs: Wenatchee Leads 2-0
