Evening the Scores

Vol. I, No. 40

Five playoff games are being played on an April Sunday.  Five, count 'em, five networks are sharing the broadcasting rights. OK, one of them, the Canadian Broadcasting Network, can't be seen down here in the US, but aside from that, there is a fair amount of channel hopping to be done for fans who want to follow all the playoff series.

NBC's Game of the Week started things off at 3 pm with Phoenix taking on last year's Stanley Cup finalists from Motor City.  The Coyotes, in Joe Louis Arena, outplayed the Red Wings and emerged with a 4-2 victory and a series lead, 2-1.  On paper, the Coyotes had a better regular season. But on the ice, how can you hold down Detroit?  The Wings went 8-1-1 in their last regular season games.

MSG (in the NJ area) had the Devils-Flyers game, starting at 6 pm. The Flyers pressed hard, outshooting the Devils and controlling large amounts of ice time.   The Devils were limited to one shot in the last half of the third period. Only Marty Brodeur kept the Devils in the game. The score was tied 2-2 after the third period, with the game going into OT.   Flyers finally won in OT (at the end of a power play).  They deserved it.  

Versus, which is carrying the NHL Stanley Cup playoffs, broadcast the Pittsburgh Penguins - Ottawa Senators game three.  CBC is carrying the game too (after all, Ottawa is the nation's capital). The Pens seem took control, with a 4-1 lead in the third period.  Sid the Kid scored the third goal at 19:15 of the 2nd frame.  It was a bad way for Ottawa to leave the ice for the third intermission.  Ottawa fought back, with a score at 13 minutes in the third period.  But it wasn't enough to erase the deficit, and the Pens emerged with a 4-2 victory and a 2-1 series lead.

At 8:30pm, the Blackhawks took to the ice in Nashville, trying to even the series against the Western Conference #7th place team.  If the Predators can win on home ice, Chicago will be in a deep hole, facing another Nashville road game on Tuesday. Chicago has been predicted to go all the way to the final.  First, they have to get past lowly Nashville. The game is on Versus and TSN.

The last game of the evening comes from Denver, where the San Jose Sharks want to establish momentum after a last minute (actually only 31 seconds left to play) victory on Friday night.  The Avalanche, #8 in the West, have played the top seed tough.  The game will be on Versus and CBC.

So, Phoenix, Philly and Pittsburgh have 2-1 series leads.  Is there something about being in a city which starts with P?

Hockey Rules.