Thursday, April 19, 2007

Stanley Cup Playoffs, Night 8

Get out the brooms! What the Ducks couldn't do against the Wild last night, the Rangers did to the Thrashers. Up 3-0 on Atlanta, New York completed their first series sweep in 13 long years — at home, no less. There was lots more action around the NHL including three 2-1 series. Who took a 3-1 lead and who tied things up? Find out below.

Rangers 4, Thrashers 2
Rangers win series 4-0
The Thrashers are done! Keith Tkachuk gave Atlanta their first lead (ever!) and then Michal Rozsival answered 79 seconds later. Greg de Vries gave the Thrash the lead again only to have it erased by Brendan Shanahan. Matt Cullen scored the game-winner and Jaromir Jagr scored an empty-netter in the final two minutes to secure the series victory and make the Rangers the first team to going to the second round of the playoffs. Game 3: Rangers 7, Thrashers 0 / Game 2: Rangers 2, Thrashers 1 / Game 1: Rangers 4, Thrashers 3

Devils 4, Lightning 3, 1OT
Series tied 2-2
Scott Gomez killed my dreams of a 3-1 Lightning series lead. Down 3-1 in the game at one point, the Lightning came back to tie it 3-3 on a Vinny Lecavalier goal. He needs one more to tie Zach Parise, who led New Jersey with 31 goals this season and now leads the league in the playoffs with six. His second tonight came on the power play. Eric Perrin and Martin St. Louis had Tampa Bay's other goals. I donned the black tonight but it didn't help. I listened to Dave Mishkin and Phil Esposito call the game on the radio online. By the way, the Lightning have scored exactly three goals in every game of this series. Game 3: Lightning 3, Devils 2 / Game 2: Lightning 3, Devils 2 / Game 3: Devils 5, Lightning 3

Sabres 4, Islanders 2
Sabres lead series 3-1
Boy, is Rick DiPietro kicking himself. I know he'd like to have a couple of those goals back. The Isles took the first lead of the game on a Jason Blake goal but that was the last time they'd have the lead. Chris Drury scored a pair for Buffalo, including the game-winner. So it's panic time for New York. If the Islanders can't win when the series shifts back to Buffalo, their season is over. Versus. HD. Game 3: Sabres 3, Islanders 2 / Game 2: Islanders 3, Sabres 2 / Game 1: Sabres 4, Islanders 1

Sharks 3, Predators 2
Sharks lead series 3-1
Milan Michalek gave San Jose the lead three minutes into this game and they never lost it. A minute into period two, rookie Joe Pavelski made it a two goal lead but Jason Arnott quickly put the Preds back within one. Michalek got his second of the night to put the Sharks up by two again with what ended up as the game-winning goal. Nashville was desperate in the final minutes, pulling Tomas Vokoun for a 6-on-4 advantage during a power play. It paid off with one goal by Scott Hartnell but that was as close as the Predators would get in this game. They head back home now and will try to avoid elimination. Dave Strader and John Vanbiesbrouck had the call on Versus in hi-def. Game 3: Sharks 3, Predators 1 / Game 2: Predators 5, Sharks 2 / Game 1: Sharks 5, Predators 4, 2OT

Photos: ESPN.com, CBS Sportsline.com

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