Hype for April 21, 2010

The Canadiens will be counting on Carey Price to pull them even in their best-of-seven Eastern Conference quarter- final series against the Washington Capitals tonight at the Bell Centre.

While Canadiens head coach Jacques Martin said he would wait until this morning to name his starting goaltender, all the signs point to Price over Jaroslav Halak.

The most telling signs came after yesterday's practice when the goalies addressed the media. Price seemed upbeat and relaxed, while Halak almost seemed resigned to playing a backup role.

"This is not up to me; it's out of my reach," Halak said when asked about the starting assignment. "If I don't play, I'll understand. If Carey plays, the whole team will be behind him and that includes me." Halak was the difference in Game 1 of the series last Thursday as he backstopped the Canadiens to a surprising 3-2 overtime win in Washington. But he was part of a general meltdown in Game 2, which ended with a 6-5 overtime loss and was yanked after giving up three goals to start the second period in Game 3 at the Bell Centre Monday night.

The Nashville Predators have their first 2-1 lead ever in an opening-round series. It's only fitting the first player they ever drafted played a key role.

David Legwand was the No. 2 overall pick in 1998 when the franchise was getting started. Best known as a two-way player, he scored the go-ahead goal and had two assists as the Predators beat the Chicago Blackhawks 4-1 on Tuesday night and made some history.

The Predators have never won more than two games in any of their first four playoff appearances.

Game 4 is here Thursday night, but Nashville forward Steve Sullivan said they aren't worried about stats and history.

The irony was not lost on Ryan Kesler.

On the same day the Vancouver Canucks centre was named a worthy nominee for the Selke Trophy as the NHL's best defensive forward during the regular season, he had the hood up on a wonky playoff penalty kill that was misfiring and leaking so badly that a major overhaul is needed.

However, fine tuning won't cure allowing seven power-play goals on a dozen opportunities through three playoff games against the Los Angeles Kings. Fine tuning won't turn indecision into smart decisions or passive play into shot-blocking bravado.

After watching Martin Brodeur rob Simon Gagne early in the second period with one of the best saves in Brodeur's illustrious career - one that will surely be replayed on highlight films around the country today - Flyers forward Jeff Carter gulped, took a deep breath and hopped over the boards.

Carter witnessed the type of Brodeur save that has swallowed opponents and entire playoff series in the past.

"I've never seen a save like that before," Carter gushed. "It was something to see."

Carter, who had not scored since before he fractured a foot bone on March 21, was not daunted.

Must win?

Couldn’t win.

Talk about fleeting glory.

Just three days ago, the city was celebrating its first home playoff game in two years.

Last night, after a bizarre 7-4 loss by the Senators in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinal, the NHL playoffs might have made its Ottawa farewell for the spring of 2010.

The Senators, now trailing the Penguins three games to one, will need to win Game 5 in Pittsburgh to bring the series back to the Nation’s Capital.

Sidney Crosby took his already stellar game to another level, and as a result the Ottawa Senators are on the verge of a post-season exit.

Crosby scored twice and set up two more goals Tuesday, leading the Pittsburgh Penguins to a 7-4 victory over Ottawa and a 3-1 lead in the Eastern Conference opening-round series.

“You look at him, he’s got fire in his eyes,” said Penguins centre Maxime Talbot.

In the playoffs, as the Sharks have learned all too well, you take your breaks when you find them. Tuesday night, their biggest break occurred in overtime when Swedish defenseman Douglas Murray decided to completely disengage his brain.

"A lot of times when you get to that point of the game, you don't think," Murray said. "You just go."

Murray is not known for going. He is known for hitting humans as hard as possible while letting others do the puck carrying. But as the overtime clock passed 10 minutes, Murray found himself with open ice ahead and a rubber disc at his feet. So he flipped off his cerebrum and motored across the blue line.

Three of the four games have gone to overtime, and the one that didn't was decided in the final minute of regulation. Just think, there are still a possible 24 games left to go in the playoffs, Avalanche fans.

Tuesday night saw the Avs and San Jose Sharks again put in for OT in Game 4 of the Western Conference quarterfinals. The Sharks won this time, 2-1 on Joe Pavelski's wrist shot from between the faceoff circles past a valiant Craig Anderson at 10:24 of the extra session.

Game 5 moves back to the HP Pavilion on Thursday night, with the series tied 2-2.

NHL history is full of goaltenders who have excelled during the regular season but failed to deliver in the playoffs.

Jimmy Howard's performance Tuesday night will go a long way toward making sure he doesn't join that dubious group.

Howard turned in his most clutch performance in the most important game of the season for the Detroit Red Wings. He stopped 29 shots for his first career postseason shutout in a 3-0 victory against the Phoenix Coyotes in Game 4 of the Western Conference quarterfinals at Joe Louis Arena.

For several strides in the neutral zone, Mike Grier and Dennis Wideman were skating shoulder to shoulder, until the Buffalo forward realized he had to go.

“He was skating right beside me,’’ said Wideman. “I didn’t think anything was going to happen. All of a sudden, Grier just put on the jets and went after Munch, which opened me up. If Munch doesn’t make that drive, I’m just out there for no reason.’’

Wideman was speaking of Bruins teammate Matt Hunwick, who drove to the net, sucked in Grier, and opened up his defensive partner for a one-timer that evened the score at 1-1 in the first period of a 2-1 win Monday that gave the Bruins a 2-1 lead over Buffalo in their best-of-seven first-round playoff series.