NHL Playoff Update (4/11)

Dallas Red Wings 3  Nashville Predators 1
Henrik Zetterberg proved this season and is continuing to in the playoffs while he is one of the best young stars in the game.  Aggressive play and 2 goals helped lift Detroit over Nashville in the series opener.   Both of Zetterberg’s goals came in the third period, one of which was an empty netter.   Dominik Hasek stopped 19 of 20 shots.

“I think it was a lucky bounce,” said Zetterberg, who added an empty-net goal with 19 seconds left. “I think it hit the ref and went straight to my stick. “That’s the kind of bounces you need in the playoffs. We had them with us tonight.”

Series:  1-0, Detroit
Montreal Canadians 4  Boston Bruins 1
The Habs struck early, just 34 seconds in the game with a pretty goal by Sergei Kostitsyn.  Less than two minutes later, Sergei’s brother, Andrei Kostitsyn, put the Habs up 2-0 to give Montreal an immediate lead and boost they would not relinquish.  It was the first time in NHL history that two brohters scored int he same playoff game on the same team. Montreal would go onto to score one each in the second and third periods to down Boston.  Rookie G Carey Price won his first NHL playoff game stopping 18 of 19 shots.

“We couldn’t have asked for a better start than the one we got, two quick goals,” Montreal left wing Chris Higgins said. “The fans were already into it but they got way more into it after that.”

Series:  1-0, Montreal
San Jose Sharks 2  Calgary Flames 0
Joe Pavelski and Torrey Mitchell scored for San Jose to lift the Sharks over the Flames.  San Jose racked up 43 shots on goal on Calgary.  Evgeni Nabokov notched the shutout for the Sharks.

“We knew we couldn’t lose going to Calgary,” Nabokov said. “They were playing great hockey, and we just kept coming at them. It’s a win, that’s the most important thing. A shutout is icing on the cake. There’s a lot of work ahead of us, a lot of fights ahead of us.”

Series:  Tied 1-1
Dallas Stars 4  Anaheim Might Ducks 0
Marty Turco was splendid in goal, shutting out the Mighty Ducks in the much anticipated match up between Dallas and Anaheim.   Steve Ott and Loui Erikkson both scored for Dallas in the first period tio give the Stars a 2-0 jump.  Jere Lehtinen and Brenden Morrow added second period goals and Mike Ribiero added 2 assists.

“For me, getting the shutout means little,” Turco said after stopping 23 shots in the playoff opener. “It’s always been about how I play and how I am moving and my patience.

Series:  1-0, Dallas