Twitter: @Nichols_NHLPool/ Email: chris.nichols@sportsnet.rogers.com
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DETROIT RED WINGS 4 @ CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS 3
Goaltending match-up:Jimmy Howard (33/36, .917 SV%) vs. Corey Crawford (27/31, .871 SV%)
Combos: Johan Franzen - Pavel Datsyuk - Tomas Holmstrom/ Danny Cleary - Justin Abdelkader - Todd Bertuzzi/ Jiri Hudler - Valtteri Filppula - Drew Miller/ Kris Draper - Mike Modano - Darren Helm/ Nicklas Lidstrom - Brad Stuart/ Jonathan Ericsson - Brian Rafalski/ Jakub Kindl - Ruslan Salei
Scratches: Eaves, Zetterberg, Kronwall
Top PP times: N/A
Trending: Danny Cleary (1G, 1A +2, 1 SOG) had one point in seven games headed in here, while Todd Bertuzzi (2A, +2, 2 SOG) has points in four of six now. Pavel Datsyuk (1G, 7 SOG) wraps up with 59 points in 56 GP and Valtteri Filppula (1A, +1, no SOG) fell one short of the 40-point mark. He had nothing in four coming in here. Tomas Holmstrom (1G, -1, 2 PIM, 3 SOG) ended up with goals in three of four with a steady stream of points. Jiri Hudler (1A, no SOG) had nothing in the last four games headed into this one.
Combos: Patrick Sharp - Jonathan Toews - Marian Hossa/ Ben Smith - Michael Frolik - Patrick Kane/ Viktor Stalberg - Ryan Johnson - Tomas Kopecky/ Bryan Bickell - Jake Dowell - Fernando Pisani/ Duncan Keith - Brent Seabrook/ Niklas Hjalmarsson - Brian Campell/ Nick Leddy - Chris Campoli
Scratches: Hendry, Kruger, Brouwer, Scott, Bolland
Top PP times: Sharp (4:01), Kane (3:59), Seabrook (3:41), Hossa (3:09), Toews (2:53)
Trending: Michael Frolik (1G, +1, 2:16 PP, 3 SOG) has points in B2B games on each end of a six-game pointless skid sandwich. Remember how hot Marian Hossa (1A, +1, 6 SOG) was at the beginning of the season? He finished with 57 points in 65 GP, which is maybe just slightly lower than we'd expect for him in a typical year. Still a fantasy star though, clearly. Patrick Kane (1A, +1, 1 SOG) maintained his point-per-game pace, but couldn't repeat a 30-goal season. Duncan Keith (1G, -1, 2:32 PP, 4 SOG) finished up with 45 points and Brent Seabrook (1G, +1, 2 SOG) with 48. Patrick Sharp (1A, +1, 4 SOG) notched an assist in each of his three games back.
BOSTON BRUINS 2 @ NEW JERSEY DEVILS 3
Goaltending match-up: Tuukka Rask (29/32, .906 SV%) vs. Johan Hedberg (24/26, .923 SV%)
Combos: Milan Lucic - David Krejci - Nathan Horton/ Brad Marchand - Patrice Bergeron - Tyler Seguin/ Chris Kelly - Rich Peverley - Michael Ryder/ Daniel Paille - Gregory Campbell - Shawn Thornton/ Dennis Seidenberg - Johnny Boychuk/ Tomas Kaberle - Adam McQuaid/ Andrew Ference - Shane Hnidy
Scratches: Recchi, Chara
Top PP times: Marchand (2:48), Peverley (2:48), Ryder (2:48), Seidenberg (2:26), Bergeron (2:20)
Trending: Rich Peverley (1G, +1, 1 SOG) has goals in B2B affairs and points in each of his past three. Dennis Seidenberg (1A, -1, 1 SOG) potted one with only a few seconds left, giving him points in each of his last three starts.
Combos: Ilya Kovalchuk - Travis Zajac - Nick Palmieri/ Brian Rolston - Patrik Elias - Mattias Tedenby/ Vladimir Zharkov - Jacob Josefson - David Clarskon/ Rod Pelley - Adam Henrique - Adam Mair/ Anssi Salmela - Henrik Tallinder/ Alex Urbom - Mark Fayne/ Mark Fraser - Andy Greene
Scratches: White, Zubrus, Parise, Steckel, Volchenkov, Leach
Top PP times: Kovalchuk (2:00), Rolston (1:26), Tedenby (1:15), Clarkson (1:15), Elias (1:15)
Trending: Patrik Elias (1G, 2 SOG) had eight points in six games before today, while Brian Rolston (1A, 1 SOG) had 1-3-4 in 5 GP coming in. Jacob Josefson (1A, 0:45 PP, 1 SOG) hit double digits in his 28th game.
EDMONTON OILERS 3 @ COLORADO AVALANCHE 4 (OT)
Goaltending match-up: Nikolai Khabibulin (21/25, .840 SV%) vs. Peter Budaj
Combos: Teemu Hartikainen - Chris Vande Velde - Jordan Eberle/ Magnus Paajarvi - Andrew Cogliano - Linus Omark/ Liam Reddox - Ryan O'Marra - Ryan Jones/ Steve MacIntyre - Jason Strudwick - Jean-Francois Jacques/ Taylor Chorney - Kurtis Foster/ Jeff Petry - Jim Vandermeer/ Ladislav Smid - Tom Gilbert
Scratches: Hall, Horcoff, Fraser, Chorney, Brule, Hemsky, Gagner
Top PP times: Foster (1:10), Paajarvi (1:00), Eberle (0:48), Cogliano (0:48), 3 with 0:25
Trending: Teemu Hartikainen (1G, -1, 0:25 PP, 2 SOG) ends his season with points in three of five in April and he's sent a message that he may well win a job with this team in training camp. Kurtis Foster (1G, 1A, -1, 2 PIM, 3 SOG) has multi-pointers in three of seven and he should be a good rebound candidate next season. Linus Omark (2A, 0:25 PP, 3 SOG) has points in four of six. Magnus Paajarvi (1A, 3 SOG) has a point in five of six now.
Combos: Ryan Stoa - Matt Duchene - Milan Hejduk/ David Jones - Ryan O'Reilly - Daniel Winnik/ Kevin Porter - Jay McClement - Brandon Yip/ Cody McLeod - Philippe Dupuis - Brandon Yip/ Ryan O'Byrne - Ryan Wilson/ David Koci - Jonas Holos/ Adam Foote - Shawn Bell
Scratches: Liles, Johnson, Stastny, Gaunce, Hunwick
Top PP times: Porter (5:38), Duchene (5:08), Jones (4:50), Hejduk (5:08), O'Reilly (3:45)
Trending: This was Adam Foote's final game. #warrior David Jones (1G, 2A, +1, 2 SOG) had nothing in four April outings before today. Matt Duchene (2A, 2 PIM, 3 SOG) finished up the season on a good note, while Milan Hejduk (1G, 1A, 4 SOG) ended a stretch where he only had one point in five outings.
PITTSBURGH PENGUINS 5 @ ATLANTA THRASHERS 2
Goaltending match-up: Brent Johnson (37/39, .949 SV%) vs. Chris Mason (15/19, .789 SV%)
Combos: Eric Tangradi - Mark Letestu - Alex Kovalev/ Mike Rupp - Mike Comrie - Tyler Kennedy/ Pascal Dupuis - Max Talbot - Chris Conner/ Arron Asham - Craig Adams - Eric Godard/ Brooks Orpik - Kris Letang/ Zbynek Michalek - Ben Lovejoy/ Matt Niskanen - Deryk Engelland
Scratches: Martin, Staal, Kunitz, Jeffrey, Neal, Cooke
Top PP times: Letang (4:13), Michalek (3:56), Kovalev (3:15), Comrie (2:58), Rupp (2:56)
Trending: Tyler Kennedy (1G, 2:37 PP, 2 SOG) had tallied 13 points in 17 GP before today. Pascal Dupuis (1G, 1A, +2, 2 SOG) already had three goals in three games coming in here. Eric Tangradi (1A, +1, 2 PIM, 2:37 PP, 1 SOG) was back in the line-up today and I really can't wait to see if both he and Nick Johnson can work their way into a healthy PIT line-up next season. Ben Lovejoy (3A, +2, 0:41 PP, no SOG) has been chipping in points with regularity on D over the past few weeks and Mark Letestu (1G, +1, 2:16 PP, 1 SOG) has goals in B2B games.
Combos: Andrew Ladd - Bryan Little - Blake Wheeler/ Evander Kane - Nik Antropov - Anthony Stewart/ Eric Boulton - Chris Thorburn/ Ben Maxwell - Alexander Burmistrov - Tim Stapleton/ Andrey Zubarev - Zach Bogosian/ Ron Hainsey - Dustin Byfuglien/ Johnny Oduya - Mark Stuart
Scratches: Schremp, Dvorak, Boulton, Enstrom, Cormier
Top PP times: Bogosian (6:08), Byfuglien (4:48), Ladd (4:16), Little (3:51), Wheeler (3:40)
Trending: Andrew Ladd (1G, -2, 5 SOG) entered action today needing a two-goal game to hit 30 for the season. Bryan Little (1A, -1, 4 SOG) had 11 points in 18 GP before this one got underway. Nik Antropov (2A, -1, 3:31 PP, 1 SOG) has points in six of eight, but what a difference a season can make. Last year he was basically the L1 centre and had 67 points. This year he was all over, but mainly lower in the line-up with a bottom six slot and was almost useless for poolies.
DALLAS STARS 3 @ MINNESOTA WILD 5
Goaltending match-up: Kari Lehtonen (18/22, .818 SV%) vs. Jose Theodore (26/29, .897 SV%)
Combos: Loui Eriksson - Brad Richards - Jamie Benn/ Brenden Morrow - Mike Ribeiro - Steve Ott/ Toby Petersen - Tom Wandell - Jamie Langenbrunner/ Brandon Segal - Jason Williams - Adam Burish/ Mark Fistric - Alex Goligoski/ Jeff Woywitka - Trevor Daley/ Karlis Skrastins - Stephane Robidas
Scratches: Grossman, Barch, Sutherby, Lukowich, Vincour
Top PP times: Richards (6:22), Ribeiro (5:55), Goligoski (5:40), Eriksson (5:26), Morrow (5:26)
Trending: Brad Richards (1G, 1A, -1, 7 SOG) had 6-13-19 in 16 GP vs. MIN coming in and he has points in all six games this month. Loui Eriksson (3A, -2, 3 SOG) needed and delivered a two-pointer or better to tie and pass last year's mark of 71 points. Alex Goligoski (1G, 1A, -3, 1 SOG) had 4-9-13 in 22 GP with DAL coming in, while Jamie Benn (1A, -2, 1:47 PP, no SOG) had 21 points in 19 GP coming in here. Brenden Morrow (1G, -1, 2 SOG) finished up with goals in five straight games and with every point so important for his team, what more could be asked of him?
Combos: Andrew Brunette - Mikko Koivu - Pierre-Marc Bouchard/ Cal Clutterbuck - Matt Cullen - Antti Miettinen/ Chuck Kobasew - Kyle Brodziak - Colton Gillies/ Eric Nystrom - Carson McMillan - Brad Staubitz/ Greg Zanon - Brent Burns/ Clayton Stoner - Jared Spurgeon/ Maxim Noreau - Drew Bagnall
Scratches: Zidlicky, Scandella, Madden, Havlat, Barker, Latendresse, Schultz
Top PP times: Spurgeon (2:07), Miettinen (2:04), Koivu (2:04), PMB (2:04), Noreau (2:03)
Trending: Brad Staubitz (1G, +1, no PP, 1 SOG) is a PIM option for poolies, but he's been potting goals semi-regularly of late. Phenomenal season for Brent Burns (1A, +3, 1:31 PP, 1 SOG), who needed two points here to match his combined total of the past two seasons - 47 points. Andrew Brunette (2A, 1:38 PP, 1 SOG) has points in B2B games after only having one in five. Mikko Koivu (2A, 4 SOG) was coming off a 3A effort against the Oilers Friday night. Antti Miettinen (1G, +1, 2 SOG) had nothing in four April games coming in. Pierre-Marc Bouchard (1G, 4 SOG) followed up his three-point game against the Oil with the ENG that clinched the death of Dallas's playoff chances.
