- Admin
- #1
No. 1 Star: Ryan Miller, Buffalo Sabres
Two wins for the Sabres and Miller in their series with the Philadelphia Flyers and two 1-0 shutouts. Miller helped Buffalo tie the series at two with a 32-save performance as the Sabres were able to hold on to their slim lead after Jason Pominville's goal 9:38 into the game. The two shutouts for Miller made him the third Sabres goalie franchise history with a pair in a series -- the last being Dominik Hasek in 1994. Miller's best save of the night came late robbing Danny Briere on the doorstep:
No. 2 Star: Corey Perry, Anaheim Ducks
Perry's shorthanded goal 1:17 into the third period broke a 3-3 tie and was the first of three in a 6:46 span that propelled the Ducks to a 6-3 victory over the Nashville Predators to tie their series 2-2. Perry wasn't done there as three minutes later he added his second assist of the night on Ryan Getzlaf's goal.
No. 3 Star: Danny Cleary, Detroit Red Wings
Two goals 1:53 apart late in the third period broke a 3-3 deadlock and powered the Red Wings to a 6-3 series-clinching sweep over the Phoenix Coyotes. Cleary posted a three-point night with his no-angle bank shot with 5:19 remaining in regulation ending up the game winner:
Honorable mention: James Neal snapped a 23- game goal-scoring skid by firing home the winner in the second overtime as the Pittsburgh Penguins beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 3-2 to take a 3-1 series lead ...*Tyler Kennedy's goal to open the scoring in Tampa ended Pittsburgh's 0-for-15 power play skid ... Dwayne Roloson made 50 saves in the loss ... The Washington Capitals fought back from a 3-0 deficit and took the New York Rangers to a second overtime before Jason Chimera's goal ended things. The Capitals now hold a 3-1 lead in the series. Marcus Johansson scored twice in the second period to help tie the game and Michael Neuvirth made 26 saves in the third period and overtime ... Rangers fans sure didn't let Capitals coach Bruce Boudreau forget about comments he made about Madison Square Garden earlier in the week ... Teemu Selanne now leads all players with five playoff goals.
Did you know? New York scored two goals seven seconds apart, one second shy of the franchise record set by Rod Gilbert in 1968.
Dishonorable mention: Ilya Bryzgalov had a miserable series against the Red Wings allowing 17 goals in the four games ...*Mike Richards was given a five-minute major for this elbow. Will the NHL give him more? ... Chimera's overtime winner was the result of a major miscommunication between Henrik Lundqvist and Marian Gaborik:
Conn Smythe Watch: 1. Daniel Sedin, Vancouver Canucks; 2. Corey Perry, Anaheim Ducks; 3. Pavel Datsyuk, Detroit Red Wings; 4. Michal Neuvirth, Washington Capitals; 5. Roberto Luongo, Vancouver Canucks; 6. Carey Price, Montreal Canadiens; 7. Teemu Selanne, Anaheim Ducks; 8. Ryane Clowe, San Jose Sharks; 9. Marc-Andre Fleury, Pittsburgh Penguins; 10. Mike Fisher, Nashville Predators