Jiri Hudler is coming back to play for the Detroit Red Wings. Red Wings general manager Ken Holland confirmed Friday night that Hudler has been granted his release from Dynamo Moscow. “Jiri’s agent (Petr Svoboda) called last month and asked if we would be interested in him if he could get released, and I said we would be,” Holland said in a telephone interview from San Jose, Calif.,… Read Original Post Here
Defensemen Kris Letang and Alex Goligoski each had a goal and an assist and the Pittsburgh Penguins shredded Montreal’s penalty-killing unit that Washington never solved in the opening round, beating the Canadiens 6-3 Friday night in the first game of the Eastern Conference semifinals. Sidney Crosby set up two goals, and Jordan Staal and Sergei Gonchar also scored as the Penguins’ improved… Read Original Post Here
Henrik Sedin is an inch taller and one pound heavier than his twin brother, Daniel. It’s a difference that will be barely noticeable when they take the ice for the Vancouver Canucks in the Western Conference semifinals. What the Chicago Blackhawks see are two potent scorers and passers, the catalysts of a high-scoring top line they must control in this playoff rematch from a year ago. Read Original Post Here
If you ask some of the players, one of the biggest first-round upsets in recent NHL history came about because the Washington Capitals tried to play regular season hockey in the playoffs. That opens the door to questions about leadership. If you ask the coach or the general manager, they’ll say the Capitals played quite well and collapsed mainly because the other goaltender got hot. Read Original Post Here
Capitals defenseman Tom Poti says doctors are “100 percent confident” he’ll make a full recovery after getting hit in the eye by the puck during a playoff game. Poti said Friday he broke four bones in his face, and he lost sight in his right eye for more than 24 hours after he was struck during Tuesday’s Game 6 against Montreal. Read Original Post Here
The last time the Philadelphia Flyers met the Boston Bruins in the playoffs, it was a matchup between two physical teams — the Broad Street Bullies vs. the Big Bad Bruins. Now, 32 years later, both sides expect another hard-hitting series when their Eastern Conference semifinal starts Saturday. The team that does a better job of checking hard but staying out of the penalty box could have an edge. Read Original Post Here
Pittsburgh Penguins forward Tyler Kennedy will miss at least Game 1 of the second-round playoff series against Montreal because of a right leg injury. Kennedy was hurt while being hit by Ottawa defenseman Andy Sutton during the opening round of the Eastern Conference playoffs. Coach Dan Bylsma said Kennedy would not play in Friday night’s game. Read Original Post Here
Joe Pavelski entered the postseason for the San Jose Sharks with the nickname “Little Joe,” which made sense considering he played on the same team as Jumbo Joe Thornton. With seven goals in seven playoff games, the Sharks’ 5-foot-11 forward is now being called the “Big Pavelski.” “If you followed the team and watched his play, he’s been pretty inspirational and… Read Original Post Here
Washington Capitals coach Bruce Boudreau has received the support of the team’s management, two days after a stunning elimination in the first round of the NHL playoffs. General manager George McPhee said Boudreau “is a really good coach” who will be with the Capitals “for a very long time.” The Capitals had the league’s best record in the regular season, but they blew… Read Original Post Here
Goodbye, Alex Ovechkin. Hello, Sidney Crosby. In the NHL playoffs, celebrations sometimes don’t last much longer than a rookie forward’s shift on the ice. The Montreal Canadiens realized that minutes after upsetting Washington 2-1 in Game 7 of their first-round series Wednesday night, when they learned they’d be playing the Penguins less than 48 hours later. Read Original Post Here
