It’s amazing. The Los Angeles Kings have all of a sudden become Alberta’s team in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Almost hated by Edmonton Oiler fans 20 years ago because they acquired their superstar Wayne Gretzky, the Kings are having a strong following at the present time in Alberta by Oilers and Flames fans that just don’t want to see the Vancouver Canucks go far.
Sunday night at Rogers Arena, the President’s Trophy winning Canucks will try to prevent elimination as they will take on a Los Angeles Kings team up 3-1 in the Western Conference Quarterfinals. Game five can be seen Sunday night at 6pm on CBC.
Here are the other events I’ll be watching:
Saturday & Sunday–NHL Eastern Conference Quarterfinal Game 5 & 6–Washington Capitals vs. Boston Bruins–NBC–1pm–With the series tied 2-2, the Capitals and Bruins will now play an abbreviated best-of-three to determine who goes on to the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals. Playing back-to-back games is difficult in the regular season, and I can’t imagine what it is like come playoff time where the mental intensity can be emotionally draining. Brian Rolston, who was acquired at the trade deadline from the New York Islanders, leads the Bruins in playoff scoring along with three points in four games.
Saturday–NHL Eastern Conference Quarterfinal Game 5–New Jersey Devils @ Florida Panthers–TSN2–4:30pm–Like the Boston/Washington series, this series is also tied at 2. In game four, Devils goaltender Martin Brodeur made 26 saves for the shutout to tie the series. Travis Zajac leads the Devils in scoring with four points. It will be interesting to see who the Panthers choose to be their goaltender this evening. Scott Clemmensen got the start in game four after Jose Theodore was pulled for Clemmensen in game three.
Saturday–NHL Eastern Conference Quarterfinal Game 5–Ottawa Senators @ New York Rangers–CBC–5pm–Kyle Turris just might be playing the best hockey of his career. Never able to fit in Phoenix, Turris, who was drafted in the first round and third overall by the Coyotes in 2007, scored the overtime winner for the Senators in game five on Wednesday night in a 3-2 Ottawa win to tie the series at 2. Turris also is tied with Nick Foligno for the Ottawa scoring lead in the playoffs with three. The Senators will not have captain Daniel Alfredsson in the lineup. Alfredsson was elbowed in the head by Rangers enforcer Carl Hagelin in game two.
Saturday–NHL Western Conference Quarterfinal Game 5–San Jose Sharks @ St. Louis Blues–TSN–5:30pm–The St. Louis Blues can advance to the second round with a victory over the San Jose Sharks this evening. Leading 3-1 in the series, the Blues have received tremendous production in the playoffs so far from Andy McDonald, who missed 51 games with a concussion and another six games with a shoulder ailment. McDonald leads the Blues with seven points, and is playing at a very high level offensively.
Saturday–NHL Western Conference Quarterfinal Game 5–Chicago Blackhawks @ Phoenix Coyotes–TSN–8pm–The Coyotes may be up 3-1 in the series, but they could easily be down. Every game in the series to date has gone into overtime. Mikkel Boedker was the overtime hero in games three and four. On Tuesday night in Phoenix’s 3-2 win, he became the first Dane to score an OT winner in the postseason.
Sunday–NHL Eastern Conference Quarterfinal Game 6–Pittsburgh Penguins @ Philadelphia Flyers–TSN–10am–Hockey fans will have to get up early to watch the best series of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Last night the Pittsburgh Penguins forced game six with a 3-2 home victory, but still trail 3-2 in the series. Marc-Andre Fleury, who was awful in the first five games in the series, was spectacular in the third period on Friday evening. He made 14 saves, many of the remarkable variety to keep the Penguins alive.
Sunday–MLB–San Francisco Giants @ New York Mets–WPIX–11am–What is wrong with the Giants’ ace Tim Lincecum? That is the answer I’ll try to find out. So far this season, the two-time Cy Young Award winner, is 0-2 in three starts with a 10.54 earned run average. Yikes!
Tags: andy mcdonald, boston bruins, brian rolston, florida panthers, jose theodore, kyle turris, los angeles kings, marc-andre fleury, martin brodeur, mikkel boedker, new jersey devils, new york mets, new york rangers, nick foligno, Ottawa Senators, Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins, saint louis blues, san francisco giants, San Jose Sharks, scott clemmensen, travis zajac, Vancouver Canucks, washington capitals, Wayne Gretzky
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