YOUR FRIENDS' ACTIVITY

    Sean Leahy

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    • Getty ImagesNo. 1 Star: Andrew Shaw, Chicago Blackhawks

      Shaw got a little chat from Michal Handzus telling him that calming down would be beneficial for the Blackhawks. It worked and Shaw scored twice in Game 5 as Chicago downed the Detroit Red Wings 4-1, forcing a Game 6. His first goal snapped a 1-1 tie and came 3:31 after Danny Cleary evened things up:

      No. 2 Star: Gregory Campbell, Boston Bruins

      The Bruins' "Merlot Line" has stepped up for them all series and they in Game 5 they led the way during Boston's 3-1 win to eliminate the New York Rangers. Campbell scored twice, the go-ahead goal midway through the second period and then the empty-netter to seal things. Campbell, along with Shawn Thornton and Daniel Paille, combined for 10 points in the series.

      No. 3 Star: Jonathan Toews, Chicago Blackhawks

      Toews scored his first goal of the playoffs to give the Blackhawks a 3-1 lead. Just as important, he finished with zero penalty minutes and led all Chicago forwards in time on-ice with 20:33.

      Read More »from NHL Three Stars: Bruins oust Rangers; Blackhawks stay alive vs. Red Wings
    • Getty ImagesThe Detroit Red Wings couldn't escape. Two times. Two penalty kills. Twice they were unable to clear the puck out of their own zone, allowing the Chicago Blackhawks to capitalize and stay alive for at least one more game. Andrew Shaw and Jonathan Toews took advantage and scored power play goals in the second period as Chicago beat Detroit 4-1, staving off elimination and forcing a Game 6 Monday night.

      "We had to play desperate," said Shaw to NBC Sports Network's Pierre McGuire afterward.

      Red Wings forward Justin Abdelkader cancelled out a power play opportunity after retaliating on Dave Bolland early in the second period. Detroit was able keep Chicago off the board during that 4-on-4 time, but later in the period, he was back in the box after cross-checking Patrick Kane. The Blackhawks would make him pay with their third goal of the game, coming off the stick of captain Toews:

      The goal was Toews' first of the playoffs and a nice comeback from his Game 5 meltdown where he took three consecutive penalties in a 5:34 span. That was part of a bigger storyline of the Blackhawks' getting frustrated by not only the Red Wings, but by some of the calls on the ice.

      "You can't change a call when it happens," Shaw said. "You have to move forward. Our PK (4-for-4 in Game 5) has been unbelievable, they've been helping up out all series. [The coaching staff] let us know if we stay out of the box we'll get more offensive chances and we created the win here."

      Aside from getting the captain going, the Blackhawks were able to solve Jimmy Howard, who allowed only two goals in Detroit's three straight wins leading up to Game 5. Head coach Joel Quenneville also reunited Brent Seabrook with Duncan Keith and Niklas Hjalmarsson and Johnny Oduya on the blue line. Toews skated with Patricks Kane and Sharp. The moves paid off.

      It was a shakeup within the Blackhawks' roster that needed to happen. It woke them up for one game. What about for Game 6?

      Follow Sean Leahy on Twitter at @Sean_Leahy

      Read More »from Blackhawks’ power play keys 4-1 win over Red Wings, forcing Game 6
    • APThe door opened for Torey Krug thanks to injuries to the Boston Bruins' defense corps and it's going to be impossible for head coach Claude Julien to take him out of the lineup now. Krug scored his third power play goal of the series to open the scoring in for the Bruins and Gregory Campbell broke the tie 10 minutes later as Boston eliminated the New York Rangers Saturday night in five games with a 3-1 victory.

      Joining Krug on the unsung heroes list for the Bruins were Shawn Thornton, Gregory Campbell and Daniel Paille, better known as the "Merlot Line" for the jersey color they wear at practice. The trio that makeup the Bruins' fourth line contributed to what ended up as the winning goal 13:41 into the second period when Rangers defenseman Roman Hamrlik had two turnovers in a matter of moments, leading to Campbell pouncing on a look puck in front of Henrik Lundqvist:

      "We learned two years ago that depth comes into play," Campbell told NBC Sport Network's Brian Engblom afterward. "And the further you go into the playoffs, the better the teams are and the higher the level the teams, the more you have to rely on everybody."

      Campbell would add his second of the night with an empty net tally with 51 seconds to go in the game.

      Ten points from the fourth line. Four goals from a rookie defenseman. Contributions from everyone. That's why the Bruins are set to play the Pittsburgh Penguins in the Eastern Conference Final beginning sometime next week.

      Now, after the trade deadline when both teams made moves to improve their rosters, we have the Conference Final many expected.

      Follow Sean Leahy on Twitter at @Sean_Leahy

      Read More »from Bruins eliminate Rangers in five games thanks to Torey Krug, ‘Merlot Line’
    • Getty ImagesEntering Game 5 Friday night, the Pittsburgh Penguins are looking to do something they've yet to accomplish under head coach Dan Bylsma: close out a playoff series on home ice.

      "I'm aware," Bylsma told reporters Friday about that little blip on his NHL resume.

      Since Bylsma replaced Michel Therrien in Feb. 2009, the Penguins have had six chances to initiate a handshake line on the ice at Mellon Arena and CONSOL Energy Center, and six times they've failed. Up 3-1 in their series versus the Ottawa Senators, the Penguins are also a win away from advancing past the second round for the first time since that 2008-09 season; one that ended with the franchise's third Stanley Cup.

      "Our team knows exactly how important this opportunity is to get the fourth win and try to do that here as soon as possible and not look at this being three more games," said Bylsma after Friday's morning skate. "We have one game right in front of us and it's important to have that mentality and mindset for us tonight."

      But as Senators head coach Paul MacLean declared during his only post-Game 4 statement, his team is going to Pittsburgh and coming to play. And like the New York Rangers, Ottawa can only follow the cliche and take it one game at a time.

      Read More »from Penguins seek to close out Senators in Game 5, advance to Conference Final
    • Rangers stave off elimination, force Game 5 with OT win over Bruins

      Getty ImagesNEW YORK, N.Y. -- Henrik Lundqvist called it "the ugliest goal I've ever seen," but to the New York Rangers it was so, so beautiful. Boston Bruins goaltender Tuukka Rask's slip in the second period allowed Carl Hagelin to score the easiest goal of his career and turned Game 4 around.

      “It gave us some life," said Rangers head coach John Tortorella. "It’s funny how it works, huh?”

      From that moment on, the Rangers played inspired hockey and woke up a Madison Square Garden crowd who grew restless after the Bruins took a 2-0 lead 7:41 into the second period. The energized arena reached its peak 7:03 into overtime when Chris Kreider redirected a Rick Nash pass to give the Rangers a 4-3 win, staving off elimination yet again:

      The Rangers fought off elimination for a third time this postseason and will attempt to do so again on Saturday in Boston facing a 3-1 deficit.

      Read More »from Rangers stave off elimination, force Game 5 with OT win over Bruins
    • Boston Bruins netminder Tuukka Rask was humming along in the second period toward what was looking like his first shutout of the playoffs during Game 4 against the New York Rangers. But just 58 seconds after Torey Krug gave the Bruins a 2-0 lead, Rask tripped over himself after a Carl Hagelin shot was blocked by Johnny Boychuk's stick. The rest is for the blooper reel:

      Breaking sports news video. MLB, NFL, NBA, NHL highlights and more.

      That must have been some lonely feeling for Rask as he watched that puck glide by him in the crease and into the net.

      Afteward, Rask explained: "I just took a step to the side in what I think probably was a skate mark or something. My skate dug in, that's what it felt like. I lost my balance and the rest is history.

      "It happens to me twice a year in practice, maybe. [I've] got to me more focused, I think. Just a tough mistake, it looks pretty bad on TV, I guess."

      The final 11:21 of the second period went uneventful for Rask, despite the goal inspiring the Rangers' play a bit. With Rask being known as a guy with a bit of a temper, it was nice to see nothing was harmed in the aftermath of that blunder. Though, with the Rangers coming out on top 4-3 in overtime thanks to a Chris Kreider goal, we don't know what kind of damage was done in the locker room.

      Follow Sean Leahy on Twitter at @Sean_Leahy

      Read More »from Watch Tuukka Rask’s slip give Rangers’ Carl Hagelin easy goal (Video)
    • Here are your Puck Headlines: a glorious collection of news and views collected from the greatest blogosphere in sports and the few, the proud, the mainstream hockey media.

      Hurricanes

      • The Dallas Stars won't be the only ones revealing new jerseys on June 4. That same day the Carolina Hurricanes will unveil their new home and road looks. Their logo and colors will remain the same. [Hurricanes]

      • Meanwhile, the Texas Stars showed off their new jerseys on Thursday. Could these be a hint as to what the Dallas Stars' new look will be? In a word, no. [Stars Inside Edge]

      • As the Boston Bruins go for the sweep tonight, it appears as if they'll ice the same lineup from Game 3, meaning Dennis Seidenberg and Wade Redden will be spectators. Redden and Brad Richards in a press box together? Glen Sather must be proud. [CSNNE]

      • Remember Brian Boyle's giant family from 24/7? Well, residing from outside Boston, their custom-made t-shirts reveal who they're supporting in the series: “Bruins? Rangers? We’re rooting for Boyle.” [Boston Globe]

      • Jimmy Howard on how his nap went during Wednesday's full day off for the Detroit Red Wings: “It was great. I think I had a little dream, too, so it was a bonus.” [Free Press]

      • San Jose Sharks forward T.J. Galiardi on Jonathan Quick: "What kind of bugs me about him, I don't know if I should say it, but a little embellishment every now and then. You skate by and you don't even touch him or you barely even touch him and he's throwing his hands in the air. So that's one of those things." [Mercury News]

      • Vezina Trophy finalist and Columbus Blue Jackets netminder Sergei Bobrovsky is set to be a restricted free agent this summer. At the moment, there has been no progress in contract talks between both sides. What is he worth? And how soon until Paul Holmgren throws him an offer sheet to get him back? [Columbus Dispatch]

      Read More »from Hurricanes to unveil new uniforms; Quick’s ‘embellishment’; Gordon Bombay ’30 for 30′ (Puck Headlines)
    • NHL Three Stars: Neal, Iginla lead Penguins in Game 4 rout

      Getty ImagesNo. 1 Star: James Neal, Pittsburgh Penguins

      As part of their 7-3 win over the Ottawa Senators in Game 4, Neal scored twice, including a power play tally, and assisted on an another as the Penguins took a 3-1 series lead. The goal were Neal's first since Game 4 against the New York Islanders.

      No. 2 Star: Jarome Iginla, Pittsburgh Penguins

      Iginla netted a pair, including one of Pittsburgh's two power play goals. He's now put up points in eight of the Penguins' 10 playoff games.

      No. 3 Star: Kris Letang, Pittsburgh Penguins

      Letang had a couple of bad turnovers, but did finish with four assists. He now leads all defenseman in scoring with 13 points.

      Read More »from NHL Three Stars: Neal, Iginla lead Penguins in Game 4 rout
    • There was a lot for Ottawa Senators head coach Paul MacLean to be frustrated with after their Game 4 loss. The first period ended with the Senators ahead 2-1, but in the third the Pittsburgh Penguins offense erupted for four goals en route to a 7-3 win.

      [Related: Senators coach Paul MacLean takes light approach with young team]

      After the game, there would be no questions for MacLean from the media. He apparently didn't feel the need to add to the story that the gamesheet told:

      If only he had dropped the mic before he walked off...

      As Matt Kassian told our own Nick Cotsonika, MacLean knows just how to get through to his players, whether it's slipping in a joke during meetings to lighten the mood or, well, holding 13 second press conferences with the stern look of a drill sergeant.

      It's worked up to this point. Will it for Game 5?

      Follow Sean Leahy on Twitter at @Sean_Leahy

      Read More »from Paul MacLean’s 13-second press conference: ‘We’re going to Pittsburgh and we’re coming to play’ (Video)
    • Penguins rebound with 7-3 win, take 3-1 series lead over Senators

      Getty ImagesGame 4 began looking like it was going to be another one of those games for the Pittsburgh Penguins. You know those games by now, right? Sloppy play. Turnovers. Questions about their goaltending.

      It started off just 2:29 into the game when Milan Michalek's shorthanded goal had Scotiabank Place buzzing. Later, after Kyle Turris pounced on a puck during a scramble in front of Tomas Vokoun's crease to give Ottawa a 2-1 lead -- and the Senators killed both power plays they handed the Penguins -- things were looking promising after one period. Craig Anderson was playing like he did in Game 3, making 15 saves in the first period to deny a flying Pittsburgh offense.

      "We had to make sure we played the right way," said Kris Letang to NBC Sports Network's Brian Engblom about the Penguins' adjustments between periods. "We were a little on our heels ... We had to regroup."

      [Related: Senators' Daniel Alfredsson all but throws in the towel]

      Regroup they did, and in a matter of 40 seconds the game flipped on its head.

      Read More »from Penguins rebound with 7-3 win, take 3-1 series lead over Senators

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