Day 6 Round 2 NHL Playoffs 2009

The #8 seed in the Western Conference upsetting the top two teams in the conference in back to back series? It is happening right before our eyes...

Detroit Red Wings vs Anaheim Ducks: Anaheim wins 2-1 (Anaheim leads series 2-1)

The Ducks had the NHL's best record when taking a lead into the third period, and going into game 3, they were 3-0 in the playoffs, including a victory in game 2 against the Red Wings in Detroit. Thus, Anaheim had to be feeling good taking the series's only multiple goal lead, up 2-0, going into the third. But they probably felt even better when they heard the referee's whistle with the puck dancing on the goal line, with Jonas Hiller completely oblivious as to where it was. But despite Marian Hossa's best efforts, the whistle came before his stick pushed the puck over the goal line, and the Ducks held on to win 2-1 at home to take a 2-1 series lead. The Ducks are just 2 wins away with a potential 4 games left to pull off back to back 8th seed upsets against the #1 and #2 seeds in the Conference. But heading forward, the Ducks have another thing to worry about besides numbers: James Wisniewski was taken off the ice in a stretcher after taking an elbow in the face from Tomas Holmstrom, seconds after blocking a shot with his ribs.

Although Wisniewski is as key of a member on the defensive depth chart as Todd Marchant is with the forwards, the Ducks still hold arguably the best starting 4 defensemen combination in the playoffs. With that said, it will be unfathomable to Detroit fans if their team goes down 1-3, so look for game 4 to be one of the hardest fought matches in the playoffs this year.

*Edit*
Whoops, missed a game.

Vancouver Canucks vs Chicago Blackhawks: Vancouver wins 3-1 (Vancouver leads series 2-1)

After Luongo got shelled for 6 goals in a game 2 home loss, he returned strong, stopping 23 of 24 shots to slow down the Blackhawks offense and give Vancouver back the series advantage. The Sedin twins are re-writing their playoff history and have begun performing at the high scoring levels that was expected of them for the past 3 years. And if anyone wants to brush off this loss for Chicago as no big deal, it was their first home loss in the playoffs this season, and despite winning in Vancouver in game 2, the game 3 loss at home negates all advantages that they received from winning game 2, and now the Canucks are once again in control of the series mathematically.