Stanley Cup Playoffs, Night 7

Well, we're a week into this sucker and I'm settling in quite nicely. It was a busy night. The busiest one yet — with five games! The only team set up for the series win was Anaheim but the Wild have too much heart to be swept. I may as well say it. It was a wild night! All over!

Rangers 7, Thrashers 0
Rangers lead series 3-0
Pardon me, but what a fucking blowout! This is supposed to be the playoffs. How on earth did the Thrashers manage to win the Southeast Division?! The way they played tonight was hideous. Worse than the Flames in Game 2 of their series. Anyway, the Rangers are now poised to complete a sweep at home. Michael Nylander was undoubtedly the star of this game, being the first Ranger to score a playoff hat trick since Wayne Gretzky in 1997. I should also note that rookie Ryan Callahan scored his first and second career playoff goals in the second period. Atlanta has yet to take the lead at any point in this series and things don't seem to be getting much better. Game 2: Rangers 2, Thrashers 1 / Game 1: Rangers 4, Thrashers 3

Senators 2, Penguins 1
Senators lead series 3-1
Ottawa took the early lead on a crazy-bounce score by Jason Spezza. Then Jordan Staal scored his third goal of the series in the second period. Aside from Anton Volchenkov's game-winning goal for the Senators, there wasn't much action in this game. But a noteworthy fact is that the Sens kept Sidney Crosby completely off the scoresheet for the first time in the series and now go back to Ottawa with a chance at closing out the series. Versus had the game in HD for me and many others to watch. Game 3: Senators 3, Penguins 2 / Game 2: Penguins 4, Senators 3 / Game 1: Senators 6, Penguins 3

Canucks 2, Stars 1
Canucks lead series 3-1
Well in the last two games these teams have fallen back into their old ways. Ending games with a score of 2-1. Mattias Ohlund gave Vancouver the lead almost halfway through the third period. Darryl Sydor followed up to tie the game but Trevor Linden's goal came exactly two minutes later and ultimately became the game-winner. The Canucks can wrap things up back in Vancouver. Game 3: Canucks 2, Stars 1, 1OT / Game 2: Stars 2, Canucks 0 / Game 3: Canucks 5, Stars 4, 4OT

Wild 4, Ducks 1
Ducks lead series 3-1
It looks like the Wild didn't want their season to end quite yet. With the man advantage, Chris Pronger gave Anaheim a 1-0 lead six minutes into the second period but Pierre-Marc Bouchard answered with two minutes left in the period to tie it up. It was Marian Gaborik who gave the Wild the 2-1 lead on the power play three minutes into the third. Then at the midway point of that final period, Minnesota proved to everyone they still deserved to be in the postseason by scoring twice the span of 77 seconds. Brian Rolston and Mark Parrish notched the insurance goals. That must have been an exciting game to watch, especially if you live in Minnesota. Game 3: Ducks 2, Wild 1 / Game 2: Ducks 3, Wild 2 / Game 1: Ducks 2, Wild 1

Flames 3, Red Wings 2
Red Wings lead series 2-1
The Saddledome crowd seemed to have reinvigorated their hometown club. The Flames' Matthew Lombardi scored the first goal of the game for the Calgary in the middle of the second period. It was followed two minutes later by a Kris Draper tally to tie it. Then Draper scored again 39 seconds into the third to give Detroit the lead. But it wouldn't last long as Mark Giordano scored his first career playoff goal. In the end, it was a Jarome Iginla snapshot that spelled victory for the Flames as they managed to hold off the Red Wings until the end. Versus carried the CBC telecast. Game 2: Red Wings 3, Flames 1 / Game 1: Red Wings 4, Flames 1

And finally, you can file this under the category of things you don't see everyday. With 10 seconds to go in the second period of the Detroit/Calgary game, a Red Wing player (can't remember who) slapped the puck down the ice only to have it hit a pane of glass behind the goal net just right. The glass shattered in place and the officials opted to go to an early intermission and allow the pane to be replaced during the break. The final 10 seconds of the period were played after the intermission, followed by the third period. Odd.

Photos: ESPN.com, CBS Sportsline.com