2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs, Day 28

Two exciting series-clinchers as the second round nears the end.  Not a lot of scoring, but that's just fine!

First, NY Rangers vs. Pittsburgh.

Despite being outshot 36-20, there is one reason that the Rangers won:

Henrik Lundqvist stopped 35 of those 36 shots.  His numbers in Game 7 are incredible.  It's also the second one he's won this postseason as the Rangers advanced past the Flyers in 7.

The loss sends the Penguins into an uncertain offseason.  Though they have great players and are frequently successful in the regular season (they won their division and had over 100 points, no laughing matter by any stretch), they haven't been as successful in the playoffs.  A lot of that may fall on Fleury, but there are plenty of blameworthy targets.

Of course, sports being what it is in 2014, the coach is the likely target.  And if I were a Penguins fan, I'd probably feel the same way.  All I really know about Dan Bylsma is that he coached the US Olympic Hockey Team, and they flopped against Canada and failed to show up in the Bronze Medal game.

Suffice it to say that it's not Bylsma's best year.

But now the Rangers get to face a team coming off their own Game 7 experience.  We'll know which one later today.

NY Rangers win the series 4-3.  They advance to the next round.

Last, Chicago vs. Minnesota.

The better team moves on, though not by a whole hell of a lot.

I picked the Blackhawks to win in five because I wasn't sold on Bryzgalov after he struggled against Colorado and was pulled for Darcy Kuemper.  Well, with Kuemper injured and subsequently absent for this series, Bryzgalov did a bang-up job, if you ignore those first two games in Chicago.

Other than that, it was a close series and Game 6 required OT to reach a conclusion.

Of course, since it went into OT, Patrick Kane found a way to put one in the net.  This doesn't surprise me by any means.

Bryzgalov and Corey Crawford had a hell of a goalie standoff going on.  Bryz stopped 25 while Crawford stopped 34.

All in all, a hell of a series.  Erik Haula had another goal for the Wild; I don't know how I failed to mention him previously, but he's been a heck of a player in this round.  So this should not be the last we hear of Minnesota; they have a talented team and with more consistency in net they should be better.

Chicago wins the series 4-2.  They advance to the next round.

Later today, Game 7 in Boston and Game 6 in Los Angeles.  With a win, Anaheim moves on to face Chicago in the conference finals.

2014 NBA Playoffs, Day 24

Day 24 in the NBA Playoffs, where the #1 seed in the west and the #2 seed in the east were ready and waiting to take control and/or win their respective series.

First, Miami vs. Brooklyn.

LeBron had 49, yet it was still a close game.  It took Chris Bosh nailing a corner three, along with some free throws from Ray Allen, to really put this one away.

It was one of the more dramatic games I've seen in the playoffs so far.  It was close throughout in the fourth quarter, which can't be said for most of the games.  Both teams were making shots and playing hard.

But Brooklyn is the one that went through an extended field goal drought and that's what doomed them.  Well, that and Ray Allen getting to the free throw line.

Now Miami has firm control of the series and should finish it up shortly.

Miami leads 3-1.  Game 5 is Wednesday.

Last, San Antonio vs. Portland.

Despite keeping it even until halftime, the Spurs got overrun in the third quarter and that was that.

They had a chance to sweep the series but were not even close to being on top of their game.  Portland took advantage, and now there'll be a Game 5 when really, this series should have been over.

San Antonio leads 3-1.  Game 5 is Wednesday.

Later today, Game 5 in Indiana and Oklahoma City.  With a win, Indiana moves on to the next round.

2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs, Day 27

Day 27, let's get right to it.

First, Boston vs. Montreal.

Okay, so the Bruins are up 3-2 and have a chance to close out the series on the road which would surely piss off a few Habs fans (not to mention fans of other teams who hate on the Bruins).

So what happens?  The Bruins choke, big time.

Not only does Tuukka Rask give up three goals, looking once again like a guy who can't figure out a team with little offense, but they also get shut out by Carey Price.

Ugh.

The one good thing about this is that Game 7 will be in Boston.  And right now, that's about the only good thing that Bruins fans can point to.  Because they didn't do much good on the ice.

I have a hard time believing that the same team who shut out the Canadiens and then allowed them a measly two goals the next game could come out and have such a lackluster effort.

Every time a team has a chance to close out, they should come with their best effort.  Boston failed to do so on a monumental level and got destroyed.

I hope they play a lot better in Game 7, otherwise they won't be moving on.

The series is tied 3-3.  Game 7 is Wednesday.

Last, Los Angeles vs. Anaheim.

John Gibson followed his shutout with 39 saves against the Kings last night.

Giving up three goals after giving up none a couple nights before is not so great.  Luckily, the offense came alive, and it wasn't all on Perry and Getzlaf.

Marian Gaborik starred for the Kings with two more goals.  He's really been on a tear in the playoffs and has been invaluable since being acquired from Columbus.

Devante Smith-Pelly earned the first star with two goals of his own.  He's taking over the spot that I figured Matt Beleskey would occupy, before he got hurt.

Anaheim leads 3-2.  Game 6 is Wednesday.

Later today, Game 7 in Pittsburgh and Game 6 in Minnesota.  With a win, Chicago can move on to the next round.