Western Conference
San Jose Sharks 6, Los Angeles Kings 5 (OT) -- Wow. In case you haven't been paying attention, this series just became an instant classic. The severe underdog Kings were on cruise control, up 4-0 in the second period. Then the flurry began. Then the Sharks offense erupted. Patrick Marleau, Ryan Clowe (2), Logan Couture, and Joe Pavelski all scored in the second period, making the game tied at five goals apiece after two periods. A scoreless third sent the game into overtime, where the Sharks completed the epic comeback with a beautiful wrister from Devin Setoguchi. The Kings must be devastated. No one gave them a chance in this series, they have been the hardest working team on the ice, and have lost two games in overtime. Crushing.
If you only follow one series in this first round, make it Sharks-Kings. Trust me. It may turn out to be the best series of the entire playoffs.
San Jose leads the series, 2-1.
Chicago Blackhawks 7, Vancouver Canucks 2 -- The reigning champs finally got the upper hand in this series. After losing the first three games in the series in very close fashion, the Blackhawks erupted on Canucks goalie Roberto Luongo, hitting him for six goals -- including four in the second period to put the game completely out of hand. A penalty filled third period showed the bad blood between these two teams as the series moves back to Vancouver.
Vancouver leads the series, 3-1.
Games To Watch Wednesday Night
Washington Capitals at New York Rangers, 7:00 p.m. EDT on Versus -- The home team has won every game in this extremely tight series.
Pittsburgh Penguins at Tampa Bay Lightning, 7:00 p.m. EDT -- The gritty Penguins keep finding enough offense to hold off Tampa Bay. The pressure is on Steven Stamkos and Martin St. Louis to light the lamp for Tampa Bay and keep them in this series.
Philadelphia Flyers at Buffalo Sabres, 7:30 p.m. EDT -- The Flyers changed up their entire goaltending depth chart, using veteran Brian Boucher instead of regular season starter rookie Sergei Bobrovsky. It worked last game, but will Boucher continue to stonewall the young Sabres forwards?
Anaheim Ducks at Nashville Predators, 8:30 p.m. EDT -- Predators' forward Mike Fisher has turned into the best mid-season acquisition this season, as he has led Nashville to a lead in this series. Goalie Pekka Rinne has continued his stellar season in net, stopping the vaunted Ducks attack. With Bobby Ryan suspended for his second straight game, look for the Predators to grab the series by the throat in front of their home crowd.
Detroit Red Wings at Phoenix Coyotes, 10:30 p.m. EDT on Versus -- The evening nightcap may be the last hockey game ever played in Phoenix. The Red Wings have been merciless this series, and will try to close out Arizona hockey permanently.