This will probably be one of the last playoff posts, as I am debating how motivated I will be to continue to follow hockey after San Jose is eliminated.
Detroit Red Wings vs Columbus Blue Jackets: Detroit wins 6-5 (Detroit wins series 4-0)
And our third sweep of a surprisingly quick first round. The Blue Jackets played with a lot of heart and almost took the game to overtime. Then a very controversial too many men on the ice call gave Detroit a power play in the final minute of the third period, and it was all the Wings needed, as Franzen netted the power play goal to give the Wings a 6-5 victory and the 4-0 sweep. You have to think that if the Blue Jackets figured out their game plan that they executed in game 4 about 3 games earlier, this series could be tied or at least would go back to Detroit for a game 5. But the Ohio fans showed their appreciation for the franchise's first playoff run, and the defending champs are having a very easy time so far; bad news for the rest of the Western Conference.
New Jersey Devils vs Carolina Hurricanes: New Jersey wins 1-0 (New Jersey leads series 3-2)
The key to the game was Martin Brodeur, and how he would react after he was visibly upset by the referees. Looks like he learned his lesson from last year, and he posted his first shutout of the series, stopping an onslaught of 44 shots in a game that had 86 total shots registered on the shot clock. It was a great goaltended game, considering how wide open the ice was for both teams offensively, yet the end result only yielded 1 goal to the Devils. I can't help but get the feeling that the Hurricanes came out with everything they had, and this loss could be extremely deflating as game 6 heads back to Carolina. Despite how tight this series has been, New Jersey in 6 is suddenly very possible.
Pittsburgh Penguins vs Philadelphia Flyers: Philadelphia wins 3-0 (Pittsburgh leads series 3-2)
Martin Biron made 28 saves to shutout the high-flying Penguins and force a game 6 back in Philadelphia. But the biggest statistic is: Sidney Crosby at a -2 and 4 PIMs. Yes, Pittsburgh was outplayed after the first period on all aspects of the game, but that sort of performance from their captain is not what the Penguins needed in what they hoped would be a 5 game series. Now, they have to travel to hostile territory to try and prevent a game 7. If the Flyers manage to tie it up 3-3, suddenly all the pressure is on the backs of the defending Eastern Conference champions. And talk about secondary scoring: Jeff Carter and Mike Richards combined for just 1 assist in the game 5 win, and Mike Knuble, who scored the third goal, led the team with 7 shots on goal.
San Jose Sharks vs Anaheim Ducks: Anaheim wins 4-0 (Anaheim leads series 3-1)
Suddenly the firing of Ron Wilson, San Jose's winningest coach, is looking like a very bad idea. The Sharks and their fans don't care about the regular season success. Coming into the season, they were going to be judged on their postseason success, and the Sharks simply gave no effort in game 4 of what was as close to a must-win as any other game in this series. Ron Wilson was criticized for his defense-first philosophy and the lack of offense he was able to get out of his superstars Marleau and Thornton, so GM Doug Wilson took him out of the equation and got the puck-possession, fire the puck and ask questions later coach Todd McLellon to revitalize the team into the highest point total team in the regular season. But through all the success, one important aspect of the game was overshadowed: since the dismissal of Ron Wilson, defensive turnovers have sky-rocketed and Evgeni Nabokov's numbers have jumped since he was a Vezina trophy finalist last year. But give the Ducks credit: their fourth line and two rookies in Bobby Ryan and Jonas Hiller have outplayed San Jose's top two lines night in and night out throughout the series, and a team that looked to be rebuilding during the trade deadline suddenly is looking forward to the conference sesmi-finals, taking the elimination game to San Jose where Jonas Hiller has had most of his success against the Sharks this year.
After this humiliating 0-4 loss to the Ducks, what is interesting more now than the playoffs is what will Doug Wilson do with the team with an extra two weeks of summer than he and his franchise are normally accustomed to. Retirement questions are looming for Rob Blake and Jeremy Roenick, who are taking up some cap space for guys like Kyle McLaren and Jody Shelley. And unless Wilson wants to hire more old guys, you'd have to assume that Marc-Edouard Vlasic will be given a raise after his great defensive performance this year. Oh right, there's still playoff hockey. Obviously the series to watch will be Carolina/New Jersey and Philadelphia/Pittsburgh, as it has been since day 1 of the playoffs.
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