I caught most of yesterday's games. Phoenix-Detroit on NBC, Buffalo-Philly on the internet, and the rest on Versus. While I did not see the entirety of the game due to other work I was doing, I did see bits and pieces when I looked up and caught what was going on.... and here's my analysis.
#6 Phoenix Coyotes vs #3 Detroit Red Wings (3-4)
The Coyotes actually looked like they wanted to win in the third period, but this is after they were down 4-0 and scored three straight goals on the power play. This game had five power play goals, the first two by Detroit and all of Phoenix's goals. Both teams need to stop parading to the box if they want to win this series as Detroit was really lucky Phoenix did not tie the game late in the third after a long sustained attack in the Red Wing zone. Game 3 should be interesting, but Ilya will have to control his rebounds better if the Coyotes are to win in Phoenix.
#7 Buffalo Sabres vs #2 Philadelphia Flyers
In all honesty, Miller actually played well after the first, but he was getting screened and the Flyers crashed the net and made life miserable for him, not to mention the Flyers also finally scored on the power play. Thomas Vanek scored two early goals on the power play for the Sabres, but the defense couldn't help Miller prevent five goals from getting in the net, as they were deflected, redirected, or whatever around Miller. Sergei Bobrovsky was pulled 12:30 into the game, but it really wasn't his fault, when your opponent scores on the power play twice and on a breakaway, there's really only so much you can do. After Bobrovsky was pulled however, the Philadelphia D actually decided to man up and play. Buffalo still has home ice advantage after splitting the series 1-1 as they go back to Buffalo.
#6 Montreal Canadiens vs #3 Boston Bruins
Zdeno Chara was unable to play and as a result, Johnny Boychuk got lit up on defense. Boychuk played a lot of minutes and played carelessly along with several other defensemen on the Bruins. I can say that the goals scored by the Habs were off rebounds where the defensemen did not cover the Habs coming in. The Bruins seriously need to tighten up their D if they want to win at all. Brian Gionta didn't score, but the Habs found other ways off poor play from the Bruins. I'm hoping they can fix it come Game 3 because they are going to get wrecked in the Bell Center if they don't.
#7 Los Angeles Kings vs #2 San Jose Sharks
The Kings came out to play. Drew Doughty had 2 goals and 2 assists to power the Kings as they simply wanted it more than San Jose. San Jose played this game very poorly and not very determined from what I saw. It also doesn't help when you commit more penalties than your opponent in the first period and they get both their goals off the power play. It also doesn't help when you don't play defense and let a dude like Kyle Clifford just sit in front of the net and flip in rebounds. Unacceptable play by the Sharks. They'll need to be better in Game 3 at the Staples Center.
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