If Pittsburgh's Marc-Andre Fleury and Carolina's Cam Ward can repeat their Game 1 performances, when the two youngsters matched each other save-for-save in the Penguins 3-2 win, this series likely won't be decided until a seventh game.
Ward, 25, and Fleury, 24, have already helped lead teams to the Stanley Cup Final, while Ward not only won the whole thing as a rookie in 2005-06, he also took home the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP.
So, are these two guys considered elite, franchise goaltenders?
Roy may be the ideal candidate in the mind of Pierre Lacroix but there's one problem. They already have a coach. As in current coach Tony Granato who is still in charge of the team at the moment.
Going into tonight's game against the Carolina Hurricanes, the Boston Bruins hadn't played in eight days. There was the distinct possibility that they would come out rusty. On the other hand, the Hurricanes were coming off an emotional win in New Jersey on Tuesday night and might be a bit drained.
As it turned out, both teams came out pretty hard and competed but the Hurricanes seemed to be a step behind tonight. Turnovers and poor play in their own zone led to a 4-1 defeat at the hands of the Bruins, despite a somewhat evenly played game. Well, as evenly played as a game decided by three goals can be.
Bruins 4, Hurricanes 1: Recap | Box Score | Friday's Scores Boston leads series, 1-0 | Next Game: Sunday @ BOS, 7:30 PM ET
As we continue to digest the incredible events of Tuesday night's Carolina-New Jersey game in Raleigh, it's obvious that at least one Devil is still quite bitter about what went down.
Goalie Martin Brodeur impressed nobody when he slammed his stick around as he skated off the ice after the last-second Hurricanes goal was reviewed and allowed to stand. After the game, his anger hadn't settled down very much, and he made sure everyone knew why he was upset.
The NHL playoffs have been a bit dull so far. There have been some dominating performances by great teams, and some of the underdogs clearly don't belong on the same ice. The best series, by far, has been New Jersey against Carolina. They did it again Tuesday night. The Hurricanes took a 3-0 lead, threatened to run away with the game, and promptly kicked the lead away. The Devils were the stronger team for much of the third, but could not take the lead. Just when we were looking at a third straight overtime game, the Hurricanes pulled a mighty large - and somewhat controversial - rabbit out of their hat.
They might not be getting love on Versus or NBC, relegating live television coverage of their series to those who get NHL Center Ice or live in their respective areas.
However, there hasn't been a more competitive series than the one between Carolina and New Jersey. The teams were tied 1-1 heading into Game Three Sunday night, which became the second straight in the series to require overtime. After losing home-ice advantage with a 2-1 defeat Friday, the Devils took it back with a 3-2 overtime win Sunday in Raleigh.
After a rather lifeless performance Wednesday in Game One, the Carolina Hurricanes were on a mission Friday night. They were out to prove themselves a worthy opponent for Eastern Conference third seed New Jersey, and to even the series on the road.
They got it done. After the teams traded some great scoring chances but only one goal apiece in regulation, the Hurricanes took charge in a short overtime. The extra frame was ended by Carolina defenseman Tim Gleason, whose blast beat Martin Brodeur for a 2-1 Carolina win.
Exactly 1,230 regular season games have been played. We're down to the best eight teams in each conference. The Stanley Cup Playoffs begin Wednesday night with four series lid-lifters.
In the Eastern Conference, the Boston Bruins rallied from a bit of a swoon around the All-Star Break to easily win the top seed. Even if you subscribe to the idea of Boston being favored because of their strong overall record, there are no sure things in these here playoffs. Who will threaten to knock the Bruins off their pedestal?
Newsmakers in the NHL is a weekday morning attempt to clear yesterday's rebounds and look to the day ahead.
Rangers 3, Devils 0: Rangers forward Sean Avery is excellent at his job. His job, of course, is to cause as much chaos as humanly possible, and be a disruptive thorn in the side of any player lining up across from him on a given night. His particular brand of hell was on display in the Rangers' 3-0 win over New Jersey on Monday night. Video evidence after the jump.
Caveat emptor. I'm sure Dallas Stars owner Tom Hicks was aware of the phrase prior to his signing of Sean Avery this past summer, and if he wasn't, he most certainly is now.
Avery, the NHL's super-pest, never seemed to fit in the Stars locker room after signing a four-year, $15.5 million deal, clashing with veterans and failing to produce much of anything on the ice in his brief, 23-game tenure in Dallas. Then came December 2, 2008, when the Stars visited Dion Phaneuf and the Calgary Flames.
If Pittsburgh's Marc-Andre Fleury and Carolina's Cam Ward can repeat their Game 1 performances, when the two youngsters matched each other save-for-save in the Penguins 3-2 win, this series likely won't be decided until a seventh game. 
According to the 
Going into tonight's game against the Carolina Hurricanes, the Boston Bruins hadn't played in eight days. There was the distinct possibility that they would come out rusty. On the other hand, the Hurricanes were coming off an emotional win in New Jersey on Tuesday night and might be a bit drained. 
As we continue to digest the incredible events of Tuesday night's 
They might not be getting love on Versus or NBC, relegating live television coverage of their series to those who get NHL Center Ice or live in their respective areas.
After a 
Newsmakers in the NHL is a weekday morning attempt to clear yesterday's rebounds and look to the day ahead.
Caveat emptor. I'm sure Dallas Stars owner 
