NHL 2011 STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS - LIVE THREAD

NHL website ^ | 4/10/11 | various

[airborne]

The matchups have been determined, and the combatants will ratchet up their quest for the Stanley Cup, with the NHL's postseason beginning on Wednesday, April 13.

Here is the schedule for the 2011 Stanley Cup Playoffs Quarterfinals.

2011 EASTERN CONFERENCE QUARTERFINALS

#1 seed Washington Capitals vs. #8 seed New York Rangers

Wednesday, April 13 at Washington, 7:30 p.m.

Friday, April 15 at Washington, 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, April 17 at New York, 3:00 p.m.

Wednesday, April 20 at New York, 7:00 p.m.

*Saturday, April 23 at Washington, 3:00 p.m.

*Monday, April 25 at New York, TBD

*Wednesday, April 27 at Washington, TBD

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#2 seed Philadelphia Flyers vs. #7 Buffalo Sabres

Thursday, April 14 at Philadelphia, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, April 16 at Philadelphia, 5:00 p.m.

Monday, April 18 at Buffalo, 7:00 p.m.

Wednesday, April 20 at Buffalo, 7:30 p.m.

*Friday, April 22 at Philadelphia, 7:30 p.m.

*Sunday, April 24 at Buffalo, 3:00 p.m.

*Tuesday, April 26 at Philadelphia, TBD

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#3 seed Boston Bruins vs. #6 Montreal Canadians

Thursday, April 14 at Boston, 7:00 p.m.

Saturday, April 16 at Boston, 7:00 p.m.

Monday, April 18 at Montreal, 7:30 p.m.

Thursday, April 21 at Montreal, 7:00 p.m.

*Saturday, April 23 at Boston, 7:00 p.m.

*Tuesday, April 26 at Montreal, TBD

*Wednesday, April 27 at Boston, TBD

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#4seed Pittsburgh Penguins vs. #5 seed Tampa Bay Lightning

Wednesday, April 13 at Pittsburgh, 7:00 p.m.

Friday, April 15 at Pittsburgh, 7:00 p.m.

Monday, April 18 at Tampa Bay, 7:30 p.m.

Wednesday, April 20 at Tampa Bay, 7:30 p.m.

*Saturday, April 23 at Pittsburgh, TBD

*Monday, April 25 at Tampa Bay, TBD

*Wednesday, April 27 at Pittsburgh, TBD

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2011 WESTERN CONFERENCE QUARTERFINALS

#1 seed Vancouver Canucks vs. #8 seed Chicago Blackhawks

Wednesday, April 13 at Vancouver, 10:00 p.m.

Friday, April 15 at Vancouver, 10:00 p.m.

Sunday, April 17 at Chicago, 8:00 p.m.

Tuesday, April 19 at Chicago, 8:00 p.m.

*Thursday, April 21 at Vancouver, 10:00 p.m.

*Sunday, April 24 at Chicago, 8:00 p.m.

*Tuesday, April 26 at Vancouver, TBD

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#2 seed San Jose Sharks vs. #7 seed Los Angeles Kings

Thursday, April 14 at San Jose, 10:00 p.m.

Saturday, April 16 at San Jose, 10:00 p.m.

Tuesday, April 19 at Los Angeles, 10:30 p.m.

Thursday, April 21 at Los Angeles, 10:30 p.m.

*Saturday, April 23 at San Jose, 10:30 p.m.

*Monday, April 25 at Los Angeles, TBD

*Wednesday, April 27 at San Jose, TBD

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#3 seed Detroit Red Wings vs. #6 seed Pheonix Coyotes

Wednesday, April 13 at Detroit, 7:00 p.m.

Saturday, April 16 at Detroit, 1:00 p.m.

Monday, April 18 at Phoenix, 10:30 p.m.

Wednesday, April 20 at Phoenix, 10:30 p.m.

*Friday, April 22 at Detroit, 7:00 p.m.

*Sunday, April 24 at Phoenix, TBD

*Wednesday, April 27 at Detroit, TBD

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#4 seed Anaheim Ducks vs. #5 seed Nashville Predators

Wednesday, April 13 at Anaheim, 10:30 p.m.

Friday, April 15 at Anaheim, 10:30 p.m.

Sunday, April 17 at Nashville, TBD

Wednesday, April 20 at Nashville, TBD

*Friday, April 22 at Anaheim, 10:00 p.m.

*Sunday, April 24 at Nashville, TBD

*Tuesday, April 26 at Anaheim, TBD

- * denotes if necessary

- All Times are Eastern Standard Time

[Major Matt Mason]

Ha! The old dude in the background is getting into that goalie fight. Is that Stan Fishler?

[buccaneer81]

Not a very knowledgeable hockey person, are you?

If you're being sarcastic, let's see Idaho get an NHL franchise.

[buccaneer81]

I’m for the Sabres kickin Philly’s butt.

I would have agreed until last night. Sabres fans came to Columbus and were beyond obnoxious, not only in the arena, but at bars and restaurants in the Arena District.

[Major Matt Mason]

The Blue Jackets have some hope for the future in Ryan Johansen. Big kid that can score goals, and probably setup a few for Nash. And if you're picking in the top 10 this year, then you should land a good prospect as the top 10 in this draft is pretty strong.

[buccaneer81]

Until Mike Priest and Scott Howson are fired, there will be no progress. We’ve wasted Nash for nine years and burned Mason out ( just as we did Marc Denis.) Unless we get real help, Johansen and John Moore are walking into a buzzsaw.

[Betis70]

LET'S GO BRUINS!

[shove_it]

The Wings did their part to knock the Blackhawks out of the playoffs but they managed to sneak in anyhow due to the Stars loss - durnit.

Here's a link to the list of most SC winnning teams (psst, the Wings are #3 with 11 SC wins) ...

http://proicehockey.about.com/od/stanleycupbunker/a/stanley-cup-wins-team.htm

GO REDWINGS!!!

[Lakeshark]

Here's to a great series of hockey playoff games.......

[spyone]

Yes, what a tragedy. He was head and shoulders apart from everyone for the first 40 games. I agree, the pens won’t win the cup without him, however, I am impressed with how they’ve done missing some big guns. A gritty team.

[Newtoidaho]

We have the mighty ECHL in Idaho, where all but 3 teams make the playoffs.

[airborne]

Here is the updated and more informative NHL link for the Vancouver Canucks - Chicago Blackhawks series!

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=559102

Let's hope they aren’t a big disappointment in the post season again. Seems to be getting to be a bad habit with them....

[airborne]

Here’s a good breakdown on the Sharks - Kings series!

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=559097

Guess the losers will be hitting the waves instead of the links!

[airborne]

I have a soft spot for the Sabres this year. A good friend recently died, who was a big time Sabres fan. He was buried in his Buffalo jersey.

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=559028

Plus, I flat out despise the Flyers!

[airborne]

Nashville can win, but they are going to have to play much better on special teams if they hope to stop the Ducks. But they do have the defending Stanley Cup goalie!

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=559126

Here’s a good breakdown on the series.

[airborne]

Bruins - Habs is going to be a great series! Two of the “Original Six”! Thomas is playing like an MVP right now!

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=559111

Montreal can give Boston a good fight - if Carey Price shows up! I still remember seeing him shut down my Hershey Bears in the Calder Cup finals, when he was 19 years old!

[PGR88]

Its a good analysis. Despite the success of chicago and philadelphia last year with “no name” goalies, I am still old-school in my belief that you have got to have a good goalie to go all the way. Miller was not outstanding this year, but even at his worst, he is still solid night in and out.

Get traffic in front of Bobrovsky and shots on net and he will easily give up 4+ goals a night.

[Varda]

I'm hoping to see a lot of this from Stamkos, GO Pens!

[airborne]

Detroit is aging, but they still play the game the same hard way as always. You can never let your guard down on them, or they'll pop 2 or 3 in the net in a half a heartbeat.

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=559098

But the Coyotes can knock the Wings out if their goalie plays like he can. Bryzgalov is awesome, but he will need a lot of help from his defensemen to hold Detroit back.

[airborne]

LOL! I remember when that happened!

Too funny!

[airborne]

It's nice to see Pittsburgh players returning from injuries at the end of the season. Staal has played only half a year, so he's fresh.

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=559010

And the defense is ready for the shot blocking they'll have to do in the playoffs. It's just a question of when Sid returns.