Three huge comebacks by three different teams yielding three very different results.
Pittsburgh Penguins vs Philadelphia Flyers: Pittsburgh wins 5-3 (Pittsburgh wins series 4-2)
The Penguins were down 0-3 early in the second period, and you got the sense Philadelphia fans were already preparing their cars for the cross-state trip to Pittsburgh for the decisive game 7. Then Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin decided it was time to play hockey. Crosby scored the game tying goal at the end of the second and added an empty netter, and Malkin registerd two assists, including on the first goal for the Penguins that completely turned the momentum. Huge game changing point: Daniel Carcillo absolutely destroyed Max Talbot in a fight after the Flyers had a 3 goal lead. The crowd went wild and so did the Flyers bench. Yet it was the Penguins who came out with 5 unanswered goals. The Flyers were eliminated, but give them a lot of class: they hung in there to the bitter end and played one hell of a series after being absolutely humiliated in game 1.
Chicago Blackhawks vs Calgary Flames: Chicago wins 5-1 (Chicago leads series 3-2)
Is anyone else reminded of Calgary last year in the first round against San Jose? Chicago went up 2-0 with home ice and the Flames were reeling. Then Iginla woke up at home and the Flames tied the series 2-2 and seized the momentum. But once again on the road, they were absolutely dominated by the Blackhawks, and now are in a 3-2 deficit after their worst loss of the series and their starting goaltender pulled after allowing 4 goals on 18 shots. Iginla and Jokinen were held pointless, and Calgary were never in the game. Don't expect Calgary to lay down and die in game 6, as the home team has won every game in this series. But if that is the case, Chicago is almost a sure lock to come out the victors and move on to round 2.
San Jose Sharks vs Anaheim Ducks: San Jose wins 3-2 (Anaheim leads series 3-2)
The Sharks live to fight another day. For the first time in the series, San Jose had a 2 goal lead. Yet, like their game 3 victory, they gave the lead up to the Ducks, and it took another thrilling last minute effort to win the game. Two questions must be answered out of game 5: should the Sharks be worried with their inability to hold on to a lead? And will the Sharks come out with the same desperation and intensity as they did with game 5 when the series is sent back to Anaheim? Recall after coming back from a 0-2 series deficit and winning game 3; game 4 was their worst loss of the series that put them in the 1-3 hole, as they were shutout in Anaheim 0-4. A key match-up heading forward: Todd McLellon made it a point to keep Christian Ehrhoff and Douglas Murray out every shift Ryan Getzlaf's line was out, and Ehrhoff logged just 10 seconds less ice time than Getzlaf and the defensive pair led all San Jose skaters in ice time, logging more minutes than Boyle, Blake, Thornton, and Marleau. Dan Boyle, the focus of the Ducks, was held without a point, but Thornton had 3 and Marleau and Setoguchi had a goal and an assist each. Hiller was absolutely phenomenal, making 45 saves. Let's just say Anaheim probably isn't sweating the loss too much.
Only 20 out of about 230 teams (don't know the exact statistic) have come out of a 3-1 deficit. One team has already been eliminated: the Philadelphia Flyers after sending the series to 3-2. Washington sent their series to a game 6 yesterday and we'll see if they will defy the odds to force a game 7. San Jose's tall task will occur Monday night. What is up with the Calgary Flames? They absolutely dominated Chicago after they took some smack talk, and came out with absolutely no effort in game 5, despite tying up the series with two home wins and seemingly seizing all the momentum from the young Hawks.
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