Looking back at Sunday's playoffs games...

So I saw the first game in almost it's entirety (was cooking lunch and couldn't leave the stove unattended). I saw some of the Preds/Ducks matchup while at work, and I completely missed the Canucks/Blackhawks game because of work... I will say though, looking up on the computer monitor and seeing Mike Fisher and Ryan Getzlaf go at it reminded me of the Getzlaf-Thornton fight of a few years back. Not quite as intense, but the message was the same, top Center on each team going at it to send a message that they're not afraid to get at it.

#1 Washington Capitals vs #8 New York Rangers (2-3)
The Rangers played harder this game than the Caps. You can read my analysis on the Caps here. But looking at the Rangers side of things, they outworked the Caps and made them commit dumb penalties. Even though the Rangers scored on a fluky goals (Can't say the first and third goal weren't pure dumb luck), the first from almost a zero angle along the boards and the third from a shot the deflected high up in the air where Neuvirth couldn't see it, much less anyone else until it started coming back down, the Rangers did outwork the Caps and deserved to win. Look for more of the same from the Rangers and perhaps the Caps will also work their tails off to win Game 4.

#4 Anaheim Ducks vs #5 Nashville Predators (4-3)
The Ducks were being shut down until Getzlaf got in a fight with Fisher. It was 2-0 Predators and the Ducks only had 6 shots on goal at that point as shown in the graphic before the fight. Teemu Selanne ended up turning it around for the Ducks with 2 goals 30 seconds apart in the last two minutes of the second to carry momentum into the third. However, Legwand would score early and while the Ducks would tie it, it would be Mike Fisher to win it. You can compare the Getzlaf-Fisher fight from today with the one from four years ago.

Today...


and from four years ago...


(Note to self: make the blog wider to embed bigger videos....)

#1 Vancouver Canucks vs #8 Chicago Blackhawks (3-2)
Purely based on the numbers, you could say the Canucks played just as bad as the Caps did today, they marched themselves into the penalty box often and gave up both their goals on the special teams. The difference however, is that they persevered throughout all the hardships in this game. These Canucks had no business winning this game, but they performed well enough to earn it. Most of their goals were scored in transition against the Blackhawks, which is something they'll have to improve on should they want to keep this series going. The Canucks played tight down the stretch and now have pushed these Blackhawks to the limit!