59. Craig Anderson: G Ottawa Senators 6'2 180LBS 24GP 12W .941% 1.69GAA 3SO     Craig Anderson had an absolute ridiculous year and would have been the run away Vezina winner this year if he hadn't gotten hurt. He is the main reason the Sens got into the playoffs after losing their 3 top players for most of the year. This however is a very small sample size as Anderson has been around for awhile and has only shown to be a capable backup and that's it. But there is still no denying the great year he had this year and we will see if he can keep it up.

58. James Neal: RW Pittsburgh Penguins 6'2 208LBS 40GP 21G 15A 36P +5     Neal has really come on the last few years and become one of the better goal scorers in the league. He was always a solid scorer in Dallas but since coming to PIttsburgh , playing along side Malkin has helped him tremendously. He has a very accurate shot and can really pick his spots. He is one of the most dangerous weapons on the best power play unit in the league. He also uses his size to his advantage and can lay some good hits.

57. David Backes: C Saint Louis Blues 6'3 225LBS 48GP 6G 22A 28P +5    The Blues captain had an off year in the goal scoring category but he is normally a 25-30 goal scorer. Backes isn't on this list because of his offensive abilites. He brings so much more to the table than what is in the box score. He is a great leader on and off the ice and he is one of the hardest hitters in the league. He will do whatever it takes to give his team a spark whether it be a fight or a big goal. He also is a very good defender and one of the most underrated faceoff men in the league.

56. Taylor Hall: LW Edmonton Oilers 6'1 194LBS 45GP 16G 34A 50P +5    The first overall pick in 2010 is really blossoming into a superstar in this league. He averaged over a point per game this season and until the last few weeks of the season , the Oilers had a chance at the playoffs this year because of Hall. He is a superb skater and will go right past any defenseman in the league. He is a great playmaker and has really good hands and deking skills. He has a very good hard and accurate shot and can beat any goalie in the league upstairs. He is also getting great in his own zone too. Look for Mr. Hall to skyrocket up these rankings in the next few years.

55. Tyler Seguin: C Boston Bruins 6'1 182LBS 48GP 16G 16A 32P +23   Seguin is a great two way player as evident by his career +53 rating in only 3 seasons. He is one of the funnest puck handlers to watch as he makes great defenseman look silly. He is already one of the best passers in the game. He has a very accurate shot and can score from literally any angle on the ice. His defense is superb at back checking and stick checking. He is a great skater also and is very fast.

54. Jarome Iginla: RW Calgary Flames/ PIttsburgh Penguins 6'1 210LBS 44GP 14G 19A 33P -5    Iginla got traded at the deadline to the Penguins and made them the cup favorite. He has been one of the best goal scorers over the past 15 years if not the best. He was a captain for a reason in Calgary as he is a great leader and teammate. He has a very heavy shot and is almost unfair when he onetimes shots. He will lay a big hit or fight , whatever it takes to help his team. He got traded to finally get a shot at a Stanley Cup and so far in the playoffs he is showing he is very hungry for it.

53. Jonathan Quick: G Los Angeles Kings 6'1 214LBS 37GP 18W .902% 2.45GAA 1SO    Quick had a bit of an off year in the regular season but thus far in the playoffs he is playing like the Conn Smythe winner he was last year that led the Kings to their first cup. He is a great butterfly goalie and is impossible to beat 5 hole or anywhere down low. He is as consistent as any goalie in the league and is one of the best at controlling rebounds. If Quick keeps playing the way he is these playoffs we could be seeing a repeat for the Kings.

52. Brent Burns : D/RW San Jose Sharks 6'5 225LBS 30GP 9G 11A 20P +0    Burns moved up to winger near the halfway point of the season and it might've saved the Sharks season. As a defensemen Burns had one of the heaviest and most accurate shots. He was originally drafted as a forward and was moved to defenseman when he was with the Wild organization so he has always had the offensive skills. He is a huge hitter and unbelievably fast for his size. As a forward he brings a great front of the net presence and physical power forward. He also gives you everything he learned as a defenseman from blocking shots to stick lifting and he was a great defenseman in his own zone also.

51. Alex PIetrangelo: D Saint Louis Blues 6'3 205LBS 47GP 5G 19A 24P +0    Alex is one of the best young defenseman in the game. He has great offensive ability and is deadly on the power play. He is a great skater and puck mover out of his own zone. He is a great defenseman in his own zone also , whether it is blocking shots or engaging a player in the corner. As he gains more experience he will only climb higher on this list.

50. Patrick Sharp: LW Chicago Blackhawks 6'1 199LBS 28GP 6G 14A 20P +8   Sharp was injured this year , but he has come back and hasn't missed a beat in the playoffs. He has been a very consistent player his whole career with Philly and Chicago. He has a great accurate shot and will give you 30 goals every year. He is a good playmaker also and an underrated passer. He is great on the defensive side of the game also and is a very smart player.

49. Tukka Rask: G Boston Bruins 6'3 169LBS 36GP 19W .929% 2.00GAA 5SO    Rask had a really good year and the main reason the Bruins are one of the top teams in the East. He has shown to be a great goaltender in the small sample sizes we have seen over the last several years. He is great at his angles and rebound control. Rask could climb higher on this list if he shows he can put these numbers up for an entire season. Rask has made it easy on Bruins fans not having Tim Thomas this year.

48. Dustin Brown: RW Los Angeles Kings 6'0 204LBS 46GP 18G 11A 29P +8   If there is an exact clone of David Backes , it is Brown. They are so much alike it is ridiculous. Brown is a great leader and has great intangibles. He is a huge hitter despite his small size. He will fight for his teammates or to spark his team. Do not under estimate his offensive ability either though. He is a good goal scorer also and is great at getting to the dirty areas. He is solid in his defensive zone also.

47. Evander Kane: LW Winnipeg Jets 6'2 195LBS 48GP 17G 16A 33P -3    Kane has gotten better each year he has been in the league. He is a great power forward and is a physical player. He is a natural goal scorer and has a really heavy shot. Between him and Andrew Ladd , they almost got the Jets into the playoffs. He is a great skater and puck handler. If Kane wants to make it higher on this list he will have to improve on the defensive side of the game.

46. Phil Kessel: RW Toronto Maple Leafs 6'0 202LBS 48GP 20G 32A 52P -3    Kessel is one of the fastest players in the NHL and seems to always get behind defenses. He has really improved the last few years in Toronto. He is one of the better goal scorers in the game thanks to his quick release and accurate shot. He is a great playmaker and makes everyone around him better on the offense. The one thing that is keeping Kessel from being higher on this list is his defense. He sometimes looks disinterested unless he has the puck in the attacking zone.

45. Patrick Marleau : C San Jose Sharks 6'2 220LBS 48GP 17G 14A 31P -2    It is hard to find a more consistent player than Marleau. He will give you at least 30 goals and 30 assists EVERY season. He has always been one of the fastest skaters in the league despite his size. The league hasn't seen someone his size with his speed since the great Mario. He is a very smart player and is always in the right place. He has a great accurate shot as evident by his 404 career goals. Some people will say he never lived up to the hype as the high draft pick but it is hard to argue with his production.

44. Pekka Rinne: G Nashville Predators 6'5 205LBS 43GP 15W .910% 2.43GAA 5SO   Rinne had another good year and is proving he is one of the top goalies in the game. He is hard to beat upstairs because of his size and wingspan. He is great at his angles and rebound control. He missed having Ryan Suter a lil bit as he faced more shots than normal. The Preds did not have a good year this year but Rinne was a lone brightspot.

43. Marian Gaborik: RW New York Rangers / Columbus Blue Jackets 6'1 204LBS 47GP 12G 15A 27P -3    Gaborik really had a down year this year as he couldn't get anything going in New York. He was traded so hopefully a change of scenery will help a very talented goal scorer. He is a top 5 fastest skater in the league and that is what makes him so dangerous. He is one of the best goal scorers over the past decade and there is not much doubt he will be back to his normal 30-40 goals.

42. Logan Courture : C San Jose Sharks 6'1 200LBS 48GP 21G 16A 37P +7    Courture is showing he is one of the best all around centers in the game. He is good on faceoffs and in the defensive zone. He is a natural goal scorer and looks like he will score 30 goals every year. He is a great passer and puck handler also. He is a bright young star on an aging San Jose team that hopes they have a few cup runs left in them.

41. Rick Nash: LW New York Rangers 6'4 219LBS 44GP 21G 21A 42P +16     Rick Nash is the best power forward in the league and is the prototypical power forward. He is as consistent of a goal scorer as you will find in this league. The 5 time All star had a good debut campaign with the Rangers and improved his defense greatly due to the talent around him. He has not done good thus far in the playoffs and has been critiscized heavily for it. Something that needs to be taken into consideration is that when in Columbus he was rarely in the playoffs.

Team Scope:

Rangers: Despite being down in the series, the Rangers feel confident because they're home for Games 3 and 4.

"You have to believe in yourself, in your teammates that you can do it," goalie Henrik Lundqvist said. "We've been here before, but we're not looking too far ahead. We're looking at [Tuesday], we're looking at the first period [Tuesday], and get a good start at home, build some confidence there and we'll see where it takes us."

The key for the Rangers is to establish their forecheck early. They did that in Game 2, but couldn't sustain it in the third period after Marchand's goal.

Another key is to be better in front of Lundqvist. Rangers coach John Tortorella said his team was guilty of making uncharacteristic mistakes that led to goals for Boston.

"Some of the mistakes we made [Sunday], it was surprising, and a lot of it was off the rush, but I think that can be fixed because I think that's one of the strengths of our game," Tortorella said. "That's why I'm very encouraged. I think we're going to be OK here. Like I said, you don't want to be down 2-0, we know what hole we're in, but by no means is this a really bad thing. We need to win a game and try to get momentum on our side."

Bruins: While the play of their three rookie defensemen has been solid, if not spectacular, coach Claude Julien may have a tough decision on his hands either Tuesday or at least in Game 4 because Dennis Seidenberg and Wade Redden are working their way back from injuries.

Seidenberg is the key guy because Julien would likely insert him into the lineup, possibly for rookie Dougie Hamilton, as soon as he's healthy. Redden could still be a healthy scratch.

However, Seidenberg did not take any contract in practice Monday and sat out a 4-on-4 drill that had some risk of contact.

"He practiced with us. He's getting closer," Julien said Monday. "Whether that's the next game or not, we'll see how he feels [Tuesday]."

If Julien wants to, he could use the luxury of a 2-0 lead to wait for Seidenberg to be at least closer to 100 percent. The rookies, including Matt Bartkowski and Torey Krug, have gained his trust.

"The last thing you want to do is get those guys to play on their heels or play afraid to make a mistake," Julien said. "Confidence goes a long way in this game. When coaches are able to give players confidence, it shows because it makes a big difference -- instead of a guy making a mistake and looking at the bench every time, seeing if the coach is mad at him or will take away some ice time."

Notable injuries:
Bruins:
Marc Savard - Post-concussion syndrome (out for season)
Andrew Ference - Lower body
Wade Redden - Undisclosed
Dennis Seidenberg - Left leg/knee
Daniel Paille - Bruised left arm (probable for game)

Rangers:
Marc Staal - Eye
Darroll Powe - Upper body
Ryane Clowe - Upper body
Henrik Lundqvist - Shoulder (Almost definitely playing)
Michael Sauer - Concussion (out for season)

Team Leaders (Postseason):
Bruins:
David Krejci - 5 Goals
David Krejci - 11 Assists
David Krejci - 16 Points
Nathan Horton - +14
Zdeno Chara - 14 PIM
Nathan Horton - 2 GWG

Rangers:
Derek Stepan - 3 Goals
Derick Brassard - 8 Assists
Derick Brassard - 10 Points
Carl Hagelin - +5
Derek Dorsett - 15 PIM
Derek Stepan - 2 GWG

Quoted section from NHL.com

Tarasenko woke up the Blues fans at the start of the season with a few
quick goals. Then he slowed down and before long he was hurt. He got to
play in one playoff game against the Los Angeles Kings. What is in-store
for the big Russian next year? “I was very impressed with his season,”
GM Doug Armstrong said. “Now he has to go home and he has to come back
in and be a player that we can count on. He left with a mandate that,
‘Your name is on the board in an important spot now.’” Tarasenko played
in just one playoff game in the Blues’ first-round exit against Los
Angeles after producing eight goals and 19 points in 38 games during his
rookie season.

I think that Tarasenko is a huge part of any success that the Blues' hope to have, they have talked this guy up like he has Ovie type skill and even better work ethic. So, Tarasenko has to be one of the biggest pieces of the puzzle if the Blues hope to actually take the next step.

May 20, 2013

8:00 PM Eastern

Television:

I see no game preview available, so I'm waiving that section for now.

Rosters:

Home City: Portland, Oregon

League: Western Hockey League (WHL League Champions)

5th appearance in the Memorial Cup Final, last appearing in 1998
Memorial Cups Won: 2 (1983 & 1998)

Coach: Travis Green

Home City: London, Ontario

League: Ontario Hockey League (OHL League Champions)

3rd appearance in the Memorial Cup Final, last appearing in 2012

Memorial Cups Won: 1 (2005)

Coach: Dale Hunter

Game 3

May 20, 2013
Joe Louis Arena, Detroit, Michigan

Television:

Radio:

From NHL.com.

Big story: The Chicago Blackhawks had a chance to put itself in good position heading on the road for Game 3 and Game 4 this week, but lost the second game of this Western Conference Semifinals series against the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday by a 4-1 score. The Red Wings stole home-ice advantage and the Blackhawks now must win one of the next two contests to take it back. More importantly will be how Chicago responds Monday night, after Detroit dominated the puck and slowed down the Blackhawks' rush game at the same time. Chicago's 20 shots on goal in Game 2 was its least in a Stanley Cup Playoff game since April 27, 2009.

 

Team Scope:

 

Blackhawks: Viktor Stalberg is likely to get back in the Chicago lineup after being scratched the first two games because of a coaching decision. Stalberg is one of the fastest skaters in the NHL and fills out the Blackhawks' third line on the right wing, with Bryan Bickell on the left side and scrappy rookie Andrew Shaw in the middle. That line in particular gave Detroit some trouble this season, especially in the two games at Joe Louis Arena, and coach Joel Quenneville is hoping for a similar effect on Monday night. Chicago also needs to come up with a way to get its rush game going again, so it can keep constant pressure on goalie Jimmy Howard and create more scoring chances.

 

"I noticed the pace of their game was a lot higher," forward Patrick Sharp said of the Red Wings in Game 2. "Their compete level was higher and they clearly wanted that game more than we did. I mean, we wanted to win, but didn't play the way we felt … like we deserved to win. I think we can [play] a lot better than we did. To beat these guys, you've got to play hard from start to finish."

 

Red Wings: Detroit backed up what it preached after Game 1, when the Red Wings said tired legs from a grueling cross-country, seven-game conference quarterfinals series against the Anaheim Ducks was the biggest reason they were outskated by Chicago in a 4-1 loss in the series opener. Detroit looked like a different team in Game 2, outskating Chicago and paying better attention to the middle of the ice to help slow down the Blackhawks' attack. Howard had to make 19 saves, but many were timely and impressive.Damien Brunner, Brendan Smith, Johan Franzen andValtteri Filppula all scored in the win.

 

"At the start of the year, we weren't a good team," coach Mike Babcock said. "We all understood that, but we buckled down and we got better. It's been a fun year for us. If you would have asked me before the playoffs, I would've told you the same thing. It's been fun for us. Then suddenly you have a little success in the playoffs and it's more fun."

 

Who's hot: Blackhawks forward Patrick Kane scored his first goal of these playoffs in Game 2, which was his second in his past 20 postseason games. Sharp picked up an assist to extend his points streak to six games. … Red Wings forward Damien Brunner scored another goal after also scoring in the series opener.

 

Injury report: Blackhawks forward Michal Handzus and defenseman Johnny Oduya didn't practice Sunday for unspecified reasons but Quenneville said they are fine. … Red Wings forward Mikael Samuelsson (upper body) is day-to-day. Regular third-line center Darren Helm (back) and rookie defenseman Danny DeKeyser (hand) are out.

Expected In Goal:

Mike Johnson was starting his second season with the Lightning in September 2000 when Marty St. Louis came to training camp.

 

As Johnson recently recalled, it wasn't 10 days before that he and teammate Todd Warriner concluded St. Louis "is the best small guy we had been around."

 

Mind you, the 5-foot-7 St. Louis, cut loose the previous summer by the Flames, had yet to play a game for Tampa Bay. And Johnson and Warriner in 1998-99 played in Toronto with 5-9 Steve Sullivan, an eight-time 20-goal scorer and two-time 30-goal scorer.

Read more

Lightning captain Vinny Lecavalier was off to one of his best starts in a while (four goals, 11 points in his first seven games) when his left foot was hit by a slap shot from teammate Sami Salo in the final second of a Feb. 2 game with the Rangers.

 

Lecavalier played through the injury, which never really healed and limited his mobility. And when on March 12 he skated into Florida defenseman Erik Gudbranson, the bone that had been bruised by Salo's shot was fractured, knocking Lecavalier out of nine games.

Read on

AT 

Puck Drop: 7:00 PM (Local Time)

(Los Angeles leads best-of-7 series, 2-1)

 
Big story: Following an overtime thriller on Saturday and two full days off, the Los Angeles Kings and San Jose Sharksget back at it in Game 4 from HP Pavilion. The Sharks can knot up the series with a win, while the Kings will look to become the first road team to taste victory.
 
Team Scope:
 
Kings: Between its run to the Stanley Cup a year ago and having to rally from two games down in the first round this year against St. Louis, there aren't a lot of situations Los Angeles hasn't encountered and doesn't know how to handle. That's why it was surprising to see the Kings take some critical penalties in Game 3 and come a little unglued after the Sharks capitalized on them.
 
With less than a minute left in regulation of a 1-1 game, Robyn Regehr was called for hooking and Trevor Lewisreceived a goaltender interference penalty 37 seconds apart. That gave the Sharks a 5-on-3 heading into overtime, which the Kings killed off, but 11 seconds later they gave up the winning goal on the man advantage. Jonathan Quick, who made 38 saves, was given a game misconduct for chasing down an official to argue the calls.
 
"It's the position that we put ourselves into that is mind-boggling," forward Anze Kopitar said. "It's not the way we want to play and be in that situation. We came close to killing it off, but just like we've said it all along, you can't give them too many opportunities, because they will score and they did."
 
Sharks: Now the position for San Jose isn't quite as dire as if it had gone down 3-0 in the series, but if the Sharks can't come up with another win Tuesday they will be faced with having to take three in a row, two of which are scheduled for Staples Center.
 
Dan Boyle and Logan Couture got the power play clicking in Game 3, with Couture scoring the winner at 1:29 of overtime after it looked like he might be knocked from the game in the second period following a battle along the boards with Jeff Carter. Couture lost his balance and went awkwardly into the boards, came up favoring his left leg and departed the ice briefly. But he'd be back.
 
"It's playoffs. Everyone plays through injuries," Couture said. "The four years I've been here, I've seen guys play through a lot of injuries. The Stanley Cup is what you're playing for. Whatever it takes."
 
Who's hot: Quick has stopped 101 of 106 shots in this series for the Kings, a .953 save percentage. … Patrick Marleauleads the Sharks in scoring over the first three games with a goal and two assists.
 
Injury report: Los Angeles forward Kyle Clifford (undisclosed) skated Sunday wearing a non-contact jersey. ForwardJarret Stoll (upper body) has not begun skating as of yet. … San Jose forward Martin Havlat returned for Game 3 after missing all but the first period of Game 1 of a first-round sweep, but played only six shifts and sustained a lower-body injury that will keep him out of Game 4.
 
 
Game Day Preview Courtesy of NHL.com

The Detroit Red Wings needed a performance like the one they put on the ice Saturday at United Center.

After
talking about their tired legs following a series-opening loss to the
rival Chicago Blackhawks in Game 1 of the Western Conference Semifinals
on Wednesday, the Red Wings needed to come out skating fast, hitting
hard and putting on offensive pressure in waves.

That's exactly
what they did. The Red Wings evened the best-of-7 series 1-1 with a 4-1
win, seized home-ice advantage for the remaining five games, and gave
the Blackhawks their first loss on home ice in the 2013 Stanley Cup
Playoffs.

Now it's up to the Blackhawks to respond.

"They have the momentum right now, so we've got to get it back somehow," Chicago forward Patrick Kane
said. "That starts with maybe letting this one slip behind us and
getting ready for the next one. That's what we'll try to do and try to
have a good start to Game 3."

It didn't take long for Sabres forward Steve Ott to become a fan favorite in Buffalo. His physical and sometimes outrageous style provided fans with a dose of the edge and attitude they'd been missing over the past few seasons.

While the former Stars forward added toughness and leadership to a Sabres team that was short on both, a statistical analysis of his 2013 season suggests a change in usage could make him more effective in 2013-14.

The Sabres' biggest struggle this season was puck possession. They ranked 30th in the league in the most telling possession stat Fenwick Close – which is formed by comparing shots on goal + shots missed for vs. shots on goal + shots missed against. The formula is only applied in close game situations.

In the aftermath of the season many Jets fans and media alike have mentioned the progress of the Toronto Maple Leafs as something the Winnipeg Jets can strive towards. The premise is loose and lazy to begin with, but I believe the idea is that the Jets will take a similar step forward when they start graduating their young talent. Mark Scheifele can be Winnipeg’s Nazem Kadri. Jacob Trouba can be the Jets' Jake Gardiner and so on. Something silly like that anyways. It is a fun storyline I suppose, but it doesn’t really reflect the reality of the situation.

Yes, the Winnipeg Jets and Toronto Maple Leafs are both young teams. Yes, the Jets are set to start graduating some of their young talent. Yes, the Jets may be poised for a step forward, but that is where the similarities end. These two teams are built very differently and play very different games. The biggest flaw in this storyline is the fact that the Maple Leafs' "big steps" were largely built around two things that the team has zero control over.

Despite lacking a lot of depth and talent, the Carolina Hurricanes organization has top-end prospects in the pipeline, including the offensively talented defenseman Ryan Murphy, and a potential rising offensive star in Victor Rask. There are also several good depth defensemen who, in the near future, could solidify the Carolina blue line.

1. (1) Ryan Murphy, D, 8.0C
Drafted 1st round, 12th overall, 2011

Over the last eight months, Ryan Murphy played hockey for four different teams in two hemispheres at four levels of competition. Murphy captained the Kitchener Rangers in the OHL, and collected 49 points through 54 regular season games. He helped lead the Rangers to the Western Conference Semi-Finals, where they fell in five games to the eventual Western Conference champion London Knights. Murphy also played for Team Canada at the World Junior Championships in Ufa, Russia, but his trip there also ended in disappointment after Canada lost to the US in the semi-finals and failed to win a medal. In late February, Murphy got his first chance to play in the NHL, and saw four games of scoreless action before his emergency call up ended. After his OHL season, he joined the Charlotte Checkers in the AHL where he scored four points in eight games.

Murphy is a gifted offensive defenseman, with great vision and the passing ability to get the puck to open players. The former first-round pick lacks size and still needs extensive development of his defensive skills, but when the puck is on his stick, he makes things happen. Although he seems destined to be a powerplay specialist at the NHL level, if he can acquire the patience and determination to play a solid game in his own end, he could become a valuable top-four defenseman.

The Pittsburgh Penguins have signed defenseman Nick D’Agostino, to a two-year entry-level contract, it was announced today by executive vice president and general manager Ray Shero.

The deal begins with the 2013-14 season and runs through the 2014-15 campaign.

D’Agostino, 22, played collegiate hockey the past four seasons at Cornell University after originally being drafted by the Penguins in the seventh round (210th overall) of the 2008 NHL Draft.

The San Jose Sharks have been fined $100,000 for public comments by General Manager Doug Wilson pertaining to the suspension of Sharks forward Raffi Torres, the National Hockey League announced today.

The fine was issued for violation of League Rules that prohibit formal team statements to the media during the 48-hour period following a disciplinary decision. The Rule calls for an automatic fine of $25,000. The Sharks were fined an additional $75,000 under Article 6 of the League's Constitution due to the inappropriate nature of the comments.

Game 3

May 19, 2013
ScotiaBank Place, Kanata, Ontario

Television:

Radio:

From NHL.com.

Big story: Any hopes the Ottawa Senators have of getting back into this Eastern Conference Semifinal series will hinge on their performance in Game 3 against the Pittsburgh Penguins. After dropping the first two games of the series in Pittsburgh, Ottawa will need to take advantage of the series shifting to Scotiabank Place. The last time they dropped the first two games in a series to Pittsburgh, they were swept out of the first round of the 2008 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

 

Senators forward Jason Spezza practiced Saturday without a no-contact jersey and is expected to play. He was limited to five games this season with a back injury.

 

Team Scope:

 

Pittsburgh: It didn't take long for center Sidney Crosby to make his mark on Game 2 of the series. The Penguins captain walked past Senators defenseman Erik Karlsson and beat goalie Craig Anderson to open the scoring. Kyle Turris would reply for Ottawa 10 minutes later, but Crosby would score twice more, completing his hat trick on the power play 1:15 into the second period. The goal would end the night for Anderson, who was pulled and replaced by Robin Lehner.

 

Ottawa would continue to battle back throughout the game, but Brenden Morrow's second-period deflection would prove to be the game-winner in a 4-3 victory. Pittsburgh never trailed in the matchup and outshot the Senators 42-22. But the Penguins needed some big stops from goaltender Tomas Vokoun to secure the win.

 

"Right from the drop of the puck we came out and had some great chances, some good pressure," Penguins forward Jarome Iginla said. "I thought not just this game, but our first two games were good overall games."

 

Senators: The final score may have been close in Game 2, but the Penguins have created some serious problems for the Senators through two games. For one thing, Ottawa has not led at any point in the series. It's also failed to contain Pittsburgh's star players or a dominating Penguins power play which has scored three times in 10 opportunities.

 

Perhaps most worrisome for Ottawa is the play of Anderson. After appearing unbeatable in the opening round against the Montreal Canadiens, he has allowed seven goals on 51 shots in two games for a save percentage of .863. His early exit Friday marked the only time all season he's been removed for performance reasons. If they want to get back into the series, the Senators will need to improve in numerous areas, starting from their net on out.

 

They'll surely benefit from the return of Spezza. The all-star confirmed Saturday he would be back for Game 3.

 

"The obvious challenge is the speed of the game and hopping right into the playoffs isn't easy," Spezza said. "I've put in the work. It's been a long time coming and I hope the excitement can kind of help me get through to get things back as quick as possible."

 

Who's hot: Penguins defenseman Kris Letang has eight points in his past six games. Center Evgeni Malkin is tied for the playoff lead with 14 points. Crosby is right behind him with 12 points. … Ottawa's Jean-Gabriel Pageau has six points in his past five games. Turris has four goals in his past five games. Erik Condra has five points in his current three-game point streak.

 

Injury report: The Penguins are fielding a healthy lineup. … Senators forward Mike Hoffman (upper body) is out. Defensemen Eric Gryba and Patrick Wiercioch are questionable.

Expected In Goal:

May 19, 2013

7:00 PM Eastern

Television:

I see no game preview available, so I'm waiving that section for now.

Rosters:

Home City: Halifax, Nova Scotia

League: Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL League Champions)

2nd appearance in the Memorial Cup Final, last appearing in 2000

Memorial Cups Won: 0

Coach: Dominique Ducharme

Home City: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

League: Western Hockey League (Host City)
2nd appearance in the Memorial Cup Final, last appearing in 1989
Memorial Cups Won: 0

Coach: Lorne Molleken

Saddened by his team’s flat performance in Saturday’s 4-1 playoff
loss to the Red Wings, Patrick Kane claimed to be “super depressed” and
predicted he’d probably only take home three or four girls from the bar
later this evening.

“That was such a tough loss,” said Kane in post-game interview. “But
you know, I did score our only goal, so I feel like I should be rewarded
for that.”

Kane said he’d probably make the rounds in River North, or maybe head
up to Wrigleyville, hoping to score a few drunk female Mets fans.

“There’s something about New York girls that really gets to me,” said
Kane. “Plus, they probably don’t care about how bad we stunk up the
joint against Detroit this afternoon, so they might be even easier than
Chicago girls today.”

Despite winning the Stanley just three seasons ago, Blackhawks star
forward Patrick Kane seems to have forgotten much of the protocol
regarding the historic trophy as he has been asking team and league
officials, “So, does the Cup come pre-filled with champagne, or what?”

Coach Joel Quenneville set the notorious partyer aside after practice.

“We just won the Stanley Cup a few years ago. You know that,
right?” Quenneville asked. “You drank champagne from it but you had to
pour it in yourself. How do you not remember this?”

After a few beats, Kane smiled.

“Oh yeah, I remember,” he said, before contemplating additional types of alcohol he could drink from the 35-pound cup.

When league officials informed him he would not be allowed to make
“jungle juice” or “flaming Dr. Peppers” in the cup, Kane asked, “So do
we have to stick with champagne and beer? I mean, Four Loko is okay,
right?”

Kane was later seen walking into a Binny’s attempting to return a bottle of Everclear.

Viktor Stalberg's absence from the Chicago Blackhawks lineup "likely" ends after two games.

The Hawks need better pace in Game 3 against the Red Wings on Monday,
so they appear to be reinserting Stalberg, a player with superior speed
and lingering hunger from spending the first two games of the series as
an observer.

Hawks coach Joel Quenneville said Stalberg is "likely playing" at Joe
Louis Arena on Monday, which is Stanley Cup playoff coach-speak for a
return to active duty.