There was some doubt on whether or not Jarome Iginla would make his Pittsburgh debut today vs the New York Islanders after the former Calgary Flames captain had to deal with immigration issues, but all those problems have been resolved, and he will play today afterall.
I love this picture
Fast Facts:
- In a stark contrast to the other game going on tonight, both goalies have been stellar in this series even though Rinne has the much better numbers to back that up. Howard has been very good, just hasn’t had much help at the other end of the rink.
Howard this series: 1-3; 2.78 GAA; .879 SV%
Rinne this series: 3-1; 2.01 GAA; .942 SV%
- No new injuries for either side. Hal Gill is a game time decision but probably won’t play.
Projected Lineups:
Predators
Sergei Kostitsyn – Mike Fisher – Martin Erat
Andrei Kostitsyn – David Legwand – Alexander Radulov
Gabriel Bourque – Nick Spaling – Patric Hornqvist
Craig Smith – Paul Gaustad – Brandon Yip
Ryan Suter – Shea Weber
Roman Josi — Kevin Klein
Francis Bouillon – Jack Hillen
Detroit
Valtteri Filppula – Henrik Zetterberg – Jiri Hudler
Johan Franzen – Pavel Datsyuk – Danny Cleary
Gustav Nyquist – Justin Abdelkader – Todd Bertuzzi
Drew Miller – Cory Emmerton – Tomas Holmstrom
Nicklas Lidstrom – Ian White
Niklas Kronwall – Brad Stuart
Kyle Quincey – Jonathan Ericsson
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Steve Sullivan is awesome.
- Both goalies have been interesting this series. Who knows what to expect that this point. If you give up less than five you’ve got a chance to win. Let’s go with that.
Bryzgalov this series: 3-1; 4.98 GAA; .844 SV%
Fleury this series: 1-3; 5.43 GAA; .817 SV%
Vomit. Everywhere.
- M.A Bourdon and Nicklas Grossman(n) are both day-to-day for the Flyers while JVR returns to the lineup for the first time since March 1, much to the chagrin of my fantasy teams and myself who had huge expectations for him this year. Paul Martin figures to be out once again for the Penguins.
Projected Lineups:
Penguins
Chris Kunitz – Evgeni Malkin – James Neal
Steve Sullivan – Sidney Crosby – Pascal Dupuis
Matt Cooke – Jordan Staal – Tyler Kennedy
Arron Asham – Joe Vitale – Craig Adams
Kris Letang – Matt Niskanen
Zbynek Michalek – Brooks Orpik
Ben Lovejoy – Deryk Engelland
Flyers
Scott Hartnell – Claude Giroux – Jaromir Jagr
Brayden Schenn – Danny Briere – Wayne Simmonds
Jakub Voracek – Matt Read – Eric Wellwood
Maxime Talbot – Sean Couturier – James van Riemsdyk
Kimmo Timonen – Matt Carle
Brayden Coburn – Erik Gustaffson
Pavel Kubina – Andreas Lilja
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LARGE SMILES
Fast Facts:
- The Blues have continued to get stellar goaltending from their two studs this postseason as after Jaroslav Halak went down with an injury, Brian Elliott has come in and showed us all why he was the all-star. Across the rink Antti Niemi has been solid for the Sharks but just hasn’t been getting the support. This has been one of many goaltending heavy tilts in this first round.
Elliott this series: 1-0; 1.82 GAA; .935 SV%
Niemi this series: 1-2; 2.66 GAA; .911 SV%
- The only notable injury to this point has been that of Halak who is still day-to-day for the Blues. Jake Allen has been called up on an emergency basis to back up Elliott.
Projected Lineups:
ST. LOUIS
David Perron/David Backes/T.J. Oshie
Alex Steen/Patrik Berglund/Andy McDonald
Vladimir Sobotka/Jason Arnott/Chris Stewart
Jamie Langenbrunner/Scott Nichol/B.J. Crombeen
Barret Jackman/Kevin Shattenkirk
Carlo Colaiacovo/Alex Pietrangelo
Kris Russell/Roman Polak
SAN JOSE
Joe Pavelski/Joe Thornton/Ryane Clowe
Logan Couture/Patrick Marleau/Martin Havlat
Daniel Winnik/Michal Handzus/Torrey Mitchell
Brad Winchester/Andrew Desjardins/Tommy Wingels
Marc-Edouard Vlasic/Dan Boyle
Douglas Murray/Brent Burns
Colin White/Justin Braun
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No, Joel, it's game four.
- Mike Smith put together another great game for the Coyotes and has been the reason why they’re up a game. The team has played great in front of him but there’s no way they win a game to this point without the way he has played.
- Corey Crawford has played good hockey for the majority of this series but was exposed on the Boedker game winner. I’ll be interested to see how he rebounds from the weak goal.
Mike Smith this series: 2-1-0; 2.25 GAA; .939 SV%
Corey Crawford this series: 1-2-0; 2.57 GAA; .911 SV%
- Marian Hossa is obviously the big name out of the lineup tonight after the hit from Raffi Torres. Martin Hanzal and Lauri Korpikoski are both out for the Coyotes tonight. Steve Montador stays out for the Blackhawks. Torres and Andrew Shaw are both out due to suspension.
Projected Lineups:
BLACKHAWKS
Viktor Stalberg-Jonathan Toews-Brandon Saad
Patrick Sharp-Marcus Kruger-Patrick Kane
Bryan Bickell-Dave Bolland-Michael Frolik
Brandon Bollig-Brendan Morrison-Andrew Brunette
Duncan Keith-Brent Seabrook
Johnny Oduya-Nick Leddy
Niklas Hjalmarsson-Sean O’Donnell
COYOTES
Ray Whitney-Antoine Vermette -Radim Vrbata
Marc-Antoine Pouliot-Daymond Langkow-Shane Doan
Taylor Pyatt-Boyd Gordon-Mikkel Boedker
Paul Bissonnette-Gilbert Brule-Kyle Chipchura
Keith Yandle-Derek Morris
Oliver Ekman-Larsson-Adrian Aucoin
Rostislav Klesla-Michael Rozsival
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Odd.
Fast Facts:
- Both starting goaltenders had a rough ride in game three and both rode the pine to wrap up the game. I don’t think anyone ever expects playoff games to be decided by Scott Clemmensen and Johan Hedberg. Not in this league at least.
- On that note, both Clemmensen and Hedberg were great in their appearances and stopped the bleeding for their teams when they needed it.
Jose Theodore in this series: 1-1-0; 3.84 GAA; .884 SV%
Martin Brodeur in this series: 1-1-0; 3.40 GAA; .869 SV%
- No new injuries on either side. Skille and Bradley out for the Panthers. Tallinder and Josefson out for the Devils.
Projected Lineups:
NEW JERSEY
Parise-Zajac-Kovalchuk
Sykora-Elias-Zubrus
Ponikarovsky-Henrique-Clarkson
Carter-Gionta-Bernier
Greene-Fayne
Salvador-Zidlicky
Vochenkov-Harrold
FLORIDA
Fleischmann-Weiss-Versteeg
Bergenheim-Goc-Samuelsson
Upshall-Mathias-Smithson
Sturm-Madden-Kopecky
Garrison Ellerby-Campbell
Kulikov-Weaver
Jovanaovki-Gudbranson
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CHAOS
In one of the most evenly contested series to this point in time, we look to the United Center for one of the Blackhawks or Coyotes to take a visible edge.
Fast Facts:
- Mike Smith, whether he was faking it or not, has been one of the stories of this postseason and season at-large. He has been stellar between the pipes and has, in many ways, overshadowed the work of his predecessor Ilya Bryzgalov. Expect more of the same tonight.
- Corey Crawford continues to erase any doubt that he is a capable number one goaltender in the playoffs. He has put together his second consecutive solid playoff campaign and has gone toe-to-toe with a tough competitor in Smith.
Mike Smith this series: 1-1-0; 2.57 GAA; .937 SV%
Corey Crawford this series: 1-1-0; 2.63 GAA; .910 SV%
- Martin Hanzal and Lauri Korpikoski are both questionable for the Coyotes tonight. If you haven’t watched a lot of Coyotes hockey this year your Coles Notes on these injuries read: This is a big deal, two impact guys for this team. No new injuries for Chicago. Steve Montador stays out and Andrew Shaw has been suspended for the next three games.
Projected Lineups:
Coyotes
Ray Whitney – Martin Hanzal – Radim Vrbata
Mikkel Boedker – Antoine Vermette – Shane Doan
Taylor Pyatt – Boyd Gordon – Lauri Korpikoski
Raffi Torres – Daymond Langkow – Kyle Chipchura
Keith Yandle – Derek Morris
Adrian Aucoin – Oliver Ekman-Larsson
Rostislav Klesla – Michal Roszival
Blackhawks
Andrew Brunette – Patrick Kane – Marian Hossa
Patrick Sharp – Jonathan Toews – Viktor Stalberg
Bryan Bickell – Dave Bolland – Andrew Shaw
Marcus Kruger – Jamal Mayers – Brandon Bollig
Duncan Keith – Brent Seabrook
Nick Leddy – Johnny Oduya
Sami Lepisto – Niklas Hjalmarsson
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Jo Innes, Ryan Lambert, Daniel Wagner, Cam Charron, Ellen Etchingham, Jake Goldsbie, Darren Kritzer
