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Watch: Stanley Cup Countdown

Written By Unknown on Senin, 29 April 2013 | 21.22

The Stanley Cup playoffs are here, and Hockey Night in Canada has everything you need to get ready for the start of the NHL's post-season.

Tune in to CBC Television on Monday night at 8 p.m. local time (8:30 p.m. NT) for Hockey Night in Canada's Stanley Cup Countdown show.

Host Ron MacLean and the Hockey Night in Canada team break down every series with in-depth previews and analysis, and bring you the latest on the Canucks, Maple Leafs, Canadiens and Senators as the Canadian-based teams gear up for their first-round matchups.

The show also features live performances by Down With Webster, a live studio audience, and much more.

Hockey Night in Canada's Stanley Cup Countdown will also be streamed on CBCSports.ca at 7 p.m. ET.


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Senators beat Bruins, will meet Habs in playoffs

recap

The Associated Press

Posted: Apr 28, 2013 8:56 PM ET

Last Updated: Apr 29, 2013 2:22 AM ET

 

Ottawa Senators forward Daniel Alfredsson said he's always wanted to face the Montreal Canadiens in the playoffs.

Or was he just trying to avoid the top-seeded Pittsburgh Penguins?

"We talked about mostly finishing better than last year," Alfredsson said after the Senators beat Boston 4-2 in the NHL's rescheduled regular-season finale on Sunday night to earn the No. 7 seed in the Eastern Conference.

"We were eighth last year, so to win here the last game and finish seventh it feels really good. We improved on last year, and that's what we wanted."

Jean-Gabriel Pageau scored the tiebreaking goal with 3:34 to play, and Kyle Turris added an empty-netter to help Ottawa win the game that was originally scheduled for April 15, the day of the Boston Marathon bombings.

It was the only NHL game on Sunday, with the rest of the league wrapping up the regular season by Saturday.

Avoid Penguins

The victory pushed the Senators past the New York Islanders and into seventh in the East, helping them avoid the Penguins in the first round.

Ottawa opens the series in Montreal on Thursday.

"I think it will be a great series," Alfredsson said. "The Bell Centre is one of the most exciting buildings to play in. It's a great hockey town as well. ... I think it's going to be an unbelievable atmosphere in both arenas, and I'm looking forward to a hard-fought series."

The Islanders will face Pittsburgh in the first round. The Bruins could have won the Northeast Division and earned a No. 2 seed with a win, but they finished fourth in the East and will play Toronto in the first round starting Wednesday in Boston.

"We wanted to win tonight to clinch the division," Bruins defenceman Johnny Boychuk said. "Now it doesn't matter. We have to move forward for the playoffs."

Original Six matchup

Boston has not faced the Maple Leafs in the post-season since the first round of the 1974 playoffs. It is the only matchup of Original Six teams in the first round.

"You want to get the No. 2 spot, but at the end it doesn't matter," said defenceman Dennis Seidenberg, who scored just 14 seconds into the third period to tie it 2-all.

"We still have home ice advantage in the first round, and the first round is always the toughest one to get out of. Everything else doesn't matter now."

Robin Lehner stopped 34 shots for the Senators, who had not beaten Boston in their previous 14 tries.

Tuukka Rask made 18 saves for Boston, which had won two straight division titles. He was pulled with about a minute left, but the Bruins couldn't muster any pressure before Turris' empty-netter with 37 seconds to play.

Pageau also assisted on Erik Condra's goal that made it 1-0 with 3 minutes left in the first period. Jared Cowen scored midway through the second to give Ottawa a 2-0 lead.

But the Bruins scored twice in 18 seconds of clock time — on Rich Peverley's goal with 3.4 seconds left in the second period and again on Seidenberg's goal 14 seconds into the third.

It was still tied when Pageau swept a rebound past Rask to give the Senators a 3-2 lead. The Bruins couldn't manage any pressure with Rask pulled for the final minute, and Ottawa clinched on Turris' empty-netter.


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Monday Musings: Stanley Cup playoffs edition

This week's Monday takes a look at the 2013 Stanley Cup playoffs. Would you believe that the Los Angeles Kings finished with the same 7-3-2 record this year that they did last season when they won the Stanley Cup?

As always, goaltending will play a key role in which team prevails over the next two months of the Stanley Cup playoffs.

From last year's outstanding Conn Smythe Trophy-winning performance from Los Angeles Kings netminder Jonathan Quick to Tim Thomas of the Boston Bruins to Antti Niemi of the Chicago Blackhawks, they exhibited that a champion netminder needs more than sound technique. They all were very athletic and demonstrated a remarkable determination to keep the puck out of their net.

"Absolutely, 100 per cent correct. You have nailed it," said Hockey Night in Canada analyst Kelly Hrudey, who was outstanding in goal in the Kings run to the Stanley Cup final 20 years ago.

"They all have technique. They all have their own individual style. But what I like about the guys you mentioned is that they all battle. They never give up on a puck. More than anything, at some particular point, and every goalie has his point, when they abandon their style and simply just try to stop the puck.

"Who cares what it looks like or who cares what their goalie coach at age 12 told them to do. It's all about just stopping it. Guys like [Dominik] Hasek were known for that. Everyone has his breaking point, where they know style is not going to get me a save and it's time to dive for a puck to make a save. Quick was a good example of that last year. Niemi also is like that."

King-sized omen

Last year, the Kings squeaked into the playoffs with a strong 7-3-2 finish in their final 12 games. Guess what the Kings record was in their final 12 games this year? Yep, 7-3-2.

For the most part, the Kings and the other three conference finalists of a year ago each enjoyed decent conclusions to their regular seasons. The Stanley Cup finalist New Jersey Devils went 8-3-1 in their final 12 games followed by the Phoenix Coyotes at 8-2-2, the Kings and the New York Rangers at 7-5-0.

Here are the final-quarter records of the 16 playoff-bound teams:

Presidential hopefuls

The Chicago Blackhawks clearly were the most dominant team this season, easily winning the Presidents' Trophy. But that doesn't necessarily guarantee playoff success.

In fact, only seven of the last 25 Presidents' Trophy winners have gone on to win the Stanley Cup. Three of the last four -- San Jose Sharks, Washington Capitals, Vancouver Canucks -- each have been bounced in the first round.

Here was the position of the past seven Stanley Cup winners in the overall regular-season standings:

In and out

There are five teams that made the playoffs this year that were sitting on the sidelines for the 2012 post-season. The newcomers are Anaheim, Montreal, Minnesota, Toronto and the Islanders. Out are the Florida Panthers, Nashville Predators, New Jersey, Philadelphia Flyers and Phoenix.

Coaching changes

Joe Sacco became the third coaching casualty of the season, when the Colorado Avalanche fired him on Sunday. There were only two mid-season coaching changes in the hectic 48-game, lockout-shortened season.

The Buffalo Sabres improved under interim head coach Ron Rolston, while the Tampa Bay Lighting continued to struggle after their coaching change.

Buffalo Sabres

Tampa Bay Lightning

The Lightning played two games under assistant coaches between Boucher's firing and Cooper's first game.

By the numbers

3 -- Players 40 years or older will suit up in the 2013 Stanley Cup playoffs: Teemu Selanne (42), Anaheim; Jaromir Jagr (41), Boston; and Daniel Alfredsson (40), Ottawa.

3 -- Teenagers will suit up in the 2013 Stanley Cup playoffs: Dougie Hamilton (19), Boston; Jonas Brodin (19), Minnesota; and Alex Galchenyuk (19), Montreal.

4 -- Canadian teams in the playoffs, the most since Montreal, Edmonton, Calgary and Ottawa made it in 2006.

1996 -- The last time each of the Original Six teams advanced to the post-season in the same year. 

19 -- League-leading one-goal victories for the Chicago Blackhawks, five more than the next teams in line (Anaheim, St. Louis, San Jose, Columbus). 

22 -- Playoff appearances in a row for Detroit. It's the longest active streak among teams in the NHL, MLB, NFL and NBA.

9 -- Consecutive playoff appearances for San Jose, the next longest streak in the NHL.

7 -- Straight seasons that Edmonton has missed the playoffs since its 2006 run to the Stanley Cup final for the longest playoff drought in the NHL now that Toronto ended its nine-year absence from the post-season.

141 -- NHLers who played in all 48 games this season.

99 -- NHLers played in all 82 games last season.

764 -- Regular-season games for Blues defenceman Jay Bouwmeester before he makes his playoff debut this week.

799 -- Regular-season games was the longest wait. Olli Jokinen, who entered the NHL in 1997-98, finally played in his first NHL playoff game in 2009. He hasn't been back to the post-season since.

Follow Tim Wharnsby on Twitter @WharnsbyCBC

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Three Canadian teams highlight Hockey Night's playoff coverage

Three Canadian teams in the Eastern Conference will be featured in Round 1 of the NHL's Stanley Cup playoffs on Hockey Night in Canada.

The Toronto Maple Leafs begin their first playoff series in nine years on the road Wednesday night at 7 p.m. ET against the Boston Bruins in a best-of-seven series that brings together two of the league's famed Original Six clubs for the first time in 39 years. The Leafs finished with the fifth seed in the Easteren Conference, while Boston fell to fourth following a 4-2 loss to the Ottawa Senators in the regular-season finale Sunday night.

Boston had dominated Toronto over the past two seasons, winning eight straight games until the Leafs came up with a 3-2 victory on March 23 at the Air Canada Centre.

Prior to that, the last Toronto win over the Bruins had been March 31, 2011 in a shootout.

Game 2 is set for Saturday night at 7 p.m. ET, with Games 3 and 4 on Monday and the following Wednesday in Toronto.

"Toronto has one of the biggest fan bases of any professional sports team," said Trevor Pilling, head of programming for CBC Sports and Hockey Night in Canada. "So of course it's a big deal and a great opportunity for the fans of the Toronto Maple Leafs to experience for the first time in nine years what it's going to be like to see the Leafs again in the playoffs."

The Toronto-Boston series will also be available in Punjabi.

All evening playoff contests will be preceded by the Scotiabank Hockey Tonight pre-game show 30 minutes prior to game time.

Habs, Sens set for battle

One of the hottest regional rivalries in the league simmers to the surface again as the second-seeded Montreal Canadiens host No. 7 Ottawa on Thursday night at 7 p.m. ET in the opener of their seven-game set.

Those two clubs played four times in this shortened season, each coming out with two wins, a regulation time loss and a shootout loss.

They'll be right back at it on Friday to complete the back-to-back at the Bell Centre, before moving up the Ottawa River to the nation's capital for Sunday and Tuesday, all at 7 p.m. ET.

"Anything can happen," said Pilling. "When you look at what happened last year with the L.A. Kings finishing eighth in the Western Conference and then going on to win the Stanley Cup. It's the beauty of hockey and that provides great excitement for the audience."

For Western Conference fans, Hockey Night in Canada gets underway Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET, with the St. Louis Blues and the Los Angeles Kings (Alberta-West), plus the top-seeded Chicago Blackhawks and the Minnesota Wild, also at 8 p.m. ET (Saskatchewan-East). Hockey Night will carry those series to their conclusion.

To set up the post-season, Hockey Night in Canada is presenting Stanley Cup Countdown on Monday night at 8 p.m. local time (8:30 p.m. in NL).

Ron MacLean hosts a panel of Elliotte Friedman, Glenn Healy, P.J. Stock, Kevin Weekes and Andi Petrillo in front of a live audience at Studio 42 in Toronto. They'll break down each of the first-round matchups.

Included will be a live studio performance by Down With Webster.

On Tuesday night, Scotiabank Hockey Tonight pre-game show will have a look-in at a special live performance by City and Colour (Dallas Green, formerly of Alexisonfire) presented by SiriusXM. The whole performance will be available on CBCSports.ca.

"As the only network in Canada where fans can see the Stanley Cup hoisted by the winning team, we strive to bring viewers new and innovative ways to connect to the game and to CBC's Hockey Night in Canada, and this playoff season is no exception with our tremendous multi-platform offerings," said Julie Bristow, executive director, studio and unscripted programming for the CBC.

Stanley Cup playoffs on CBC

Series Matchup Date Time
Toronto at Boston Wed., May 1 7 p.m. ET
Toronto at Boston Sat., May 4 7 p.m. ET
Boston at Toronto Mon., May 6 7 p.m. ET
Boston at Toronto Wed., May 8 7 p.m. ET
*Toronto at Boston Fri., May 10 7 p.m. ET
*Boston at Toronto Sun., May 12 TBD
*Toronto at Boston Mon., May 13 TBD
*If necessary
Series Matchup Date Time
Ottawa at Montreal Thu., May 2 7 p.m. ET
Ottawa at Montreal Fri., May 3 7 p.m. ET
Montreal at Ottawa Sun., May 5 7 p.m. ET
Montreal at Ottawa Tue., May 7 7 p.m. ET
*Ottawa at Montreal Thu., May 9 7 p.m. ET
*Montreal at Ottawa Sat., May 11 TBD
*Ottawa at Montreal Sun., May 12 TBD
*If necessary
Series Matchup Date Time
Minnesota at Chicago Tue., April 30 8 p.m. ET
Minnesota at Chicago Fri., May 3 9:30 p.m. ET
Chicago at Minnesota Sun., May 5 3 p.m. ET
Chicago at Minnesota Tue., May 7 9:30 p.m. ET
*Minnesota at Chicago Thu., May 9 TBD
*Chicago at Minnesota Sat., May 11 TBD
*Minnesota at Chicago Sun., May 12 TBD
*If necessary
Series Matchup Date Time
Los Angeles at St. Louis Tue., April 30 8 p.m. ET
Los Angeles at St. Louis Thu., May 2 9:30 p.m. ET
St. Louis at Los Angeles Sat., May 4 10 p.m. ET
St. Louis at Los Angeles Mon., May 6 10 p.m. ET
*Los Angeles at St. Louis Wed., May 8 TBD
*St. Louis at Los Angeles Fri., May 10 TBD
*Los Angeles at St. Louis Mon., May 13 TBD
*If necessary

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NHL playoff matchups & schedules

The matchups for the Stanley Cup playoffs are all set. Find out which teams are ready to clash in the post-season.

The matchups for the Stanley Cup playoffs are all set, with the NHL's post-season to begin on Tuesday with three games.

Here's who will meet in the first round of the playoffs, along with a full schedule for each series.

Click here for CBC's Stanley Cup playoffs broadcast schedule.

Eastern Conference

Wharnsby: Eastern Conference playoff preview

Pittsburgh Penguins  Vs.  New York Islanders

No. 1: Pittsburgh Penguins (36-12-0, 72 points)
No. 8: New York Islanders (24-17-7, 55 pts.)

Season series: Penguins: 4-1-0. Islanders: 1-4-0.

Schedule:
Wed. May 1 at Pittsburgh (7:30 p.m. ET)
Fri. May 3 at Pittsburgh (7 p.m. ET)
Sun. May 5 at New York (noon ET)
Tues. May 7 at New York (7 p.m. ET)
*Thurs. May 9 at Pittsburgh (7 p.m. ET)
*Sat. May 11 at New York (TBD)
*Sun. May 12 at Pittsburgh (TBD)

Montreal CanadiensVs. Ottawa Senators

No. 2: Montreal Canadiens (29-14-5, 63 pts.)
No. 7:
 Ottawa Senators (25-17-6, 56 pts.)

Season series: Canadiens: 2-1-1. Senators: 2-1-1.

Schedule:
Thurs. May 2 at Montreal (CBC, 7 p.m. ET)
Fri. May 3 at Montreal (CBC, 7 p.m. ET)
Sun. May 5 at Ottawa (CBC, 7 p.m. ET)
Tues. May 7 at Ottawa (CBC, 7 p.m. ET)
*Thurs. May 9 at Montreal (CBC, 7 p.m. ET)
*Sat. May 11 at Ottawa (CBC, TBD)
*Sun. May 12 at Montreal (CBC, TBD)

Washington CapitalsVs. New York Rangers

No. 3: Washington Capitals (27-18-3, 57 pts.)
No. 6:
 New York Rangers (26-18-4, 56 pts.)


Season series: Capitals: 1-2-0. Rangers: 2-0-1.

Schedule:
Thurs. May 2 at Washington (7:30 p.m. ET)
Sat. May 4 at Washington (12:30 p.m. ET)
Mon. May 6 at New York (7:30 p.m. ET)
Wed. May 8 at New York (7:30 p.m. ET)
*Fri. May 10 at Washington (7:30 p.m. ET)
*Sun. May 12 at New York (TBD)
*Mon. May 13 at Washington (TBD)

   Boston BruinsVs. Toronto Maple Leafs

No. 4: Boston Bruins (28-14-6, 62 pts.)
No. 5: Toronto Maple Leafs (26-17-5, 57 pts.)

Season series: Bruins: 3-1-0. Maple Leafs: 1-1-2.

Schedule:
Wed. May 1 at Boston (CBC, 7 p.m. ET)
Sat. May 4 at Boston (CBC, 7 p.m. ET)
Mon. May 6 at Toronto (CBC, 7 p.m. ET)
Wed. May 8 at Toronto (CBC, 7 p.m. ET)
*Fri. May 10 at Boston (CBC, 7 p.m. ET)
*Sun. May 12 at Toronto (CBC, TBD)
*Mon. May 13 at Boston (CBC, TBD)


No. 1:
Chicago Blackhawks (36-7-5, 77 pts.)
No. 8: Minnesota Wild (26-19-3, 55 pts.)


Season series: Blackhawks: 2-0-1. Wild: 1-2-0.

Schedule:

Tues. April 30 at Chicago (CBC, 8 p.m. ET)
Fri. May 3 at Chicago (CBC, 9: 30 p.m. ET)
Sun. May 5 at Minnesota (CBC, 3 p.m. ET)
Tues. May 7 at Minnesota (CBC, 9:30 p.m. ET)
*Thurs. May 9 at Chicago (CBC, TBD)
*Sat. May 11 at Minnesota (CBC, TBD)
*Sun. May 12 at Chicago (CBC, TBD)Anaheim Ducks  Vs.  Detroit Red Wings

No. 2: Anaheim Ducks (30-12-6, 66 pts.)
No. 7: Detroit Red Wings (24-16-8, 56 pts.)

Season series:
Ducks: 1-2-0. Red Wings: 2-1-0.

Schedule:


Tues. April 30 at Anaheim (10:30 p.m. ET)
Thurs. May 2 at Anaheim (10 p.m. ET)
Sat. May 4 at Detroit (7:30 p.m. ET)
Mon. May 6 at Detroit (8 p.m. ET)
*Wed. May 8 at Anaheim (10 p.m. ET)
*Fri. May 10 at Detroit (TBD)
*Sun. May 12 at Anaheim (TBD)
Vancouver Canucks Vs.

No. 3: Vancouver Canucks (26-15-7, 59 pts.)
No. 6: San Jose Sharks (25-16-7, 57 pts.)

Season series:
Canucks: 0-3-0. Sharks: 3-0-0.

Schedule:
Wed. May 1 at Vancouver (10:30 p.m. ET)
Fri. May 3 at Vancouver (10 p.m. ET)
Sun. May 5 at San Jose (10 p.m. ET)
Tues. May 7 at San Jose (10 p.m. ET)
*Thurs. May 9 at Vancouver (10 p.m. ET)
*Sat. May 11 at San Jose (TBD)
*Mon. May 13 at Vancouver (TBD)

 St. Louis Blues Vs.   Los Angeles Kings
 

No. 4: St. Louis Blues (29-17-2, 60 pts.)
No. 5: Los Angeles Kings (27-16-5, 59 pts.)

Season series: Kings 3-0-0. Blues 0-3-0.

Schedule:
Tues. April 30 at St. Louis (CBC, 8 p.m. ET)
Thurs. May 2 at St. Louis (CBC, 9:30 p.m. ET)
Sat. May 4 at Los Angeles (CBC, 10 p.m. ET)
Mon. May 6 at Los Angeles (CBC, 10 p.m. ET)
*Wed. May 8 at St. Louis (CBC, TBD)
*Fri. May 10 at Los Angeles (CBC, TBD)
*Mon. May 13 at St. Louis (CBC, TBD)

*if necessary

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Wharnsby: Leafs enter playoffs on a downer

Written By Unknown on Minggu, 28 April 2013 | 21.22

If you're the glass half-empty type, the Maple Leafs provided their fans with another example - in a 4-1 loss to the rival Montreal Canadiens in the regular-season finale on Saturday night - not to get their hopes up in a first-round series against either against the Montreal Canadiens or Boston Bruins.

TORONTO -- If you're the glass half-full type, the Toronto Maple Leafs are in the playoffs once and for all. That's a welcome development after nine years of torment for their long-suffering fanatics.

But if you're the glass half-empty type, the Maple Leafs provided their fans with another example - in a 4-1 loss to the rival Montreal Canadiens in the regular-season finale on Saturday night - not to get their hopes up in a first-round series against either the Canadiens or Boston Bruins.

But before we discuss the Maple Leafs' poor play in the last two weeks, here is how Toronto's first-round opponent will be determined: If the Bruins beat the Senators at home on Sunday evening either in regulation, overtime or a shootout, the Maple Leafs will clash with the Canadiens in the playoffs for the first time since 1979.

If the Bruins only manage to snatch a single point, Toronto will play Boston for the first time since 1974. A series against the Bruins is less desirable for the Maple Leafs because of their lack of success against Boston in the past few years. But Toronto did end an eight-game losing streak against the Bruins back more than a month ago.

"It's a new season now. You just have to forget about it. You look at the 48 games and what we accomplished," said Maple Leafs goalie James Reimer, who was lifted in the third period after he yielded a fourth goal on the 23rdshot he faced.

"[Montreal and Boston] are two solid teams and we'll have our work cut out."

Especially, if the Maple Leafs continue to skate - or rather slip and slide - down the path they chose to travel late in the season.

Leafs break Bruins' hold

It all started back on March 23 with that 3-2 win at home against Boston. The Maple Leafs were outplayed and outshot 33-13, but they scored timely goals and received solid goaltending from Reimer to pull out the much-needed moral victory.

It was a trend that would occur too many times down the stretch. Yes, the Maple Leafs closed with a 10-5-2 run, but in those final 17 games they were outshot 15 times.

There also were a couple occasions in which the Maple Leafs were abysmal for long stretches in games like on Saturday evening, when all they could muster in second period was one shot on goal despite three power-play chances.

"I was mystified tonight," Toronto coach Randy Carlyle said. "We had a real solid first period going for ourselves and we were playing the type of hockey that we feel or believe we have to play to have success.

"Momentum turned and we then lacked the competitive edge that we needed to win pucks on the wall. We started to turn the puck over and it went downhill from there. Once we got a couple power plays we only had one shot on net.

"That is not our type of hockey that is for sure. That is one of the things we need to figure out before it happens for whatever reason we went brain dead and our execution level went down."

Reimer's off night

Against Montreal, Reimer suffered through an off night and there were no timely goals. The Maple Leafs failed to keep up with Montreal's speedy lineup.

It will be interesting to see what will transpire if the Maple Leafs and Canadiens meet up next week, especially after the way this game started and played out.

Of course, there were the words from Maple Leafs sniper Joffrey Lupul that his team was bigger and stronger than the Canadiens. So what does Montreal head coach Michel Therrien do? He starts a rugged group of Ryan White, Travis Moen and Brandon Prust for the opening face-off.

Carlyle countered with his fighters, Colton Orr and Frazer McLaren, along with diligent centre Jay McClement. But nothing happens.

It was like the final chapter for the Maple Leafs' season. Nothing much happened for Toronto to like. But hey, they're in the playoffs.

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Nail Yakupov scores hat trick as Oilers crush Canucks

recap

The Canadian Press

Posted: Apr 28, 2013 12:06 AM ET

Last Updated: Apr 28, 2013 2:18 AM ET

 

Before closing the curtain on another disappointing season, the Edmonton Oilers at least offered up some hope for next year.

Nail Yakupov scored his first career hat trick as the Oilers closed out their season with a 7-2 win over the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday.

The Russian rookie scored all three of his goals in an explosive third period for Edmonton, which scored five goals in a span of 3:35.

"It felt amazing to have a three-goal game," Yakupov said. "We finished strong and I think everybody feels good about that. We didn't make the playoffs, but I think we can go into the summer feeling good about the last couple of games and our season next year."

Fellow rookie Justin Schultz had a goal and three assists, Jordan Eberle two goals and Jerred Smithson another marker for the Oilers (19-22-7), who won their last two games of the season but only three of their last 12.

Oilers head coach Ralph Krueger hopes that the win over Vancouver and a 6-1 victory over Minnesota on Friday are positive signs for the future.

"It was a character finish for us," he said. "We're not pleased with our final placing and wanted to desperately still be playing hockey after today, but it didn't happen. We had to answer a question with 10 minutes to go today and that was 'how do we want to send our fans into a summer?' I was really pleased that they had that explosion and let's remember those cheering fans and create that a lot more than we did this year."

"We threw our sticks into the crowd and they didn't throw them back, so I guess that's a good sign," added Oilers captain Shawn Horcoff.

The Oilers have missed the playoffs for seven straight seasons since losing in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup finals to Carolina in 2006.

Derek Roy and Tom Sestito responded for the Canucks (26-15-7), who rested several of their key players in advance of the playoffs. No. 3 Vancouver will meet the No. 6 San Jose Sharks in the first round of the playoffs.

"It was not the ideal way to finish the season, but we'll have to put this one behind us and get ready for the first game of the playoffs," said Canucks assistant captain Kevin Bieksa, who returned to the lineup after missing the last five games.

"There is never an excuse for seven goals against. We were playing well for 50 minutes and felt good about our game and made a couple of mistakes and it snowballed.

"You're not going to win too many playoff games unless you put forth a 60-minute effort, so we have to be better."

Tic-tac-toe passing

The first goal of the game came three minutes remaining in the first when the Canucks struck on the power play. Vancouver exhibited some great tic-tac-toe passing before Jannik Hansen found Roy at the side of the net for an easy tap-in past Edmonton starter Devan Dubnyk.

Vancouver had nine first period shots to Edmonton's seven on Canucks goalie Roberto Luongo.

Another late goal highlighted what was otherwise an uneventful second period as the Oilers tied it up with 1:20 remaining. Eberle was able to tip a Schultz shot through Luongo's legs for his 15th of the season.

Edmonton took a 2-1 lead two minutes into the third period on a two-man advantage. Luongo stopped a point blast from Schultz, but Yakupov was there to lift in the rebound.

The Canucks knotted the game back up two minutes later as Dubnyk allowed a bad rebound on a soft shot by Kevin Bieksa and Sestito banged it in to make it 2-2.

The Canucks had a good chance to regain the lead midway through the third as Keith Ballard had a breakaway coming out of the penalty box, but Dubnyk stopped him and a subsequent point blank shot from Maxim Lapierre.

Edmonton's goal barrage started at 13:17 as Taylor Hall made a no-look backhand pass from behind the net that went right to the stick of Schultz in the blue paint for the goal.

Just 59 seconds later Yakupov got his second of the night as Luongo coughed the puck up to Magnus Paajarvi behind the net and he sent it in front for Yakupov to put into the empty cage.

Eberle made 5-2 only 21 seconds later as he walked around defender Frank Corrado and lifted his second of the game up high on Luongo.

Yakupov completed the hat trick a little over a minute later when picked up a rebound in front and lifted a backhand shot into the net for his 17th of the season. That gave the 19-year-old the lead in goal-scoring this season among rookies.

Edmonton added another one at 16:42 as Smithson beat Luongo with a hard shot from the slot.


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Top #hockeynight tweets from Saturday

Our Hockey Night in Canada regular season games wrapped up Saturday, but the excitement was high as hockey fans could feel the Stanley Cup playoffs right around the corner. Here are some highlights from the Twitter conversation.

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If the NHL playoffs started today...

With one game left in the NHL's regular season, all four Western Conference playoff matchups are set, but just one in the East is locked in (Capitals vs. Rangers). Find out which teams are on course to meet in the post-season.

With one game left in the NHL's regular season, all four Western Conference playoff matchups are set, but just one in the East is locked in (Capitals vs. Rangers) pending the result of Sunday night's Ottawa-Boston game.

Find out which teams are on course to meet in the post-season.

Eastern Conference

Pittsburgh Penguins  Vs.  Ottawa Senators

No. 1: Pittsburgh Penguins (36-12-0, 72 points 0 games remaining)
No. 8: Ottawa Senators (24-17-6, 54 pts., 1 GR)

Season series: Penguins: 3-0-0. Senators: 0-2-1.

Montreal CanadiensVs. New York Islanders

No. 2: Montreal Canadiens (29-13-5, 63 pts. 0 GR)
No. 7:
 New York Islanders (24-17-7, 55 pts., 0 GR)

Season series: Canadiens: 1-1-1. Islanders: 2-1-0.

Washington CapitalsVs. New York Rangers

No. 3: Washington Capitals (27-18-3, 57 pts., 0 GR)
No. 6:
 New York Rangers (26-18-4, 54 points, 0 GR)

Season series: Capitals: 1-2-0. Rangers: 2-0-1.

   Boston BruinsVs. Toronto Maple Leafs

No. 4: Boston Bruins (28-13-6, 62 pts., 1 GR)
No. 5: Toronto Maple Leafs (26-17-5, 57 pts., 0 GR)

Season series: Bruins: 3-1-0. Maple Leafs: 1-1-2.


No. 1:
Chicago Blackhawks (36-7-5, 77 pts., 0 GR)
No. 8: Minnesota Wild (26-19-3, 55 pts., 0 GR)


Season series: Blackhawks: 2-0-1. Wild: 1-2-0.Anaheim Ducks  Vs.  Detroit Red Wings

No. 2: Anaheim Ducks (30-12-6, 66 pts., 0 GR)
No. 7: Detroit Red Wings (24-16-8, 56 pts., 0 GR)

Season series:
Ducks: 1-2-0. Red Wings: 2-1-0.Vancouver Canucks Vs.

No. 3: Vancouver Canucks (26-15-7, 59 pts., 0 GR)
No. 6: San Jose Sharks (25-16-7, 57 pts., 0 GR)

Season series:
Canucks: 0-3-0. Sharks: 3-0-0.

 St. Louis Blues Vs.   Los Angeles Kings
 

No. 4: St. Louis Blues (29-17-2, 60 pts., 0 GR)
No. 5: Los Angeles Kings (27-16-5, 59 pts., 0 GR)

Season series: Kings 3-0-0. Blues 0-3-0.

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If the NHL playoffs started today...

Written By Unknown on Sabtu, 27 April 2013 | 21.22

If the NHL's post-season battle for the Stanley Cup began today, which teams would make it? Which would be on the outside looking in? And who would meet in the first round?

If the NHL's post-season fight for the Stanley Cup began today, which teams would make it? Which would be on the outside looking in? And who would face off in the first round?

Eastern Conference

Pittsburgh Penguins  Vs.  New York Rangers

No. 1: Pittsburgh Penguins (35-12-0, 70 points, 1 game remaining)
No. 8: New York Rangers (25-18-4, 54 points, 1 game remaining)

Season series: Penguins: 4-1-0. Rangers: 1-3-1.

Boston BruinsVs. Ottawa Senators

No. 2: Boston Bruins (28-13-5, 61 pts., 2 GR)
No. 7:
 Ottawa Senators (24-16-6, 54 pts., 2 GR)

Season series: Bruins: 4-0-0. Senators: 0-2-2.

Washington CapitalsVs. New York Islanders

No. 3: Washington Capitals (26-18-3, 55 pts., 1 GR)
No. 6:
 New York Islanders (24-17-7, 55 pts., 0 GR)

Season series: Capitals: 1-2-0. Islanders: 2-0-1.

   Montreal CanadiensVs. Toronto Maple Leafs

No. 4: Montreal Canadiens (28-14-5, 61 pts., 1 GR)
No. 5: Toronto Maple Leafs (26-16-5, 57 pts., 1 GR)

Season series: Canadiens: 1-3-0. Maple Leafs: 3-1-0.


No. 1:
Chicago Blackhawks (36-6-5, 77 pts., 1 GR)
No. 8: Minnesota Wild (25-19-3, 53 pts., 1GR)


Season series: Blackhawks: 2-0-1. Wild: 1-2-0.Anaheim Ducks  Vs.  Detroit Red Wings

No. 2: Anaheim Ducks (30-11-6, 66 pts., 1 GR)
No. 7: Detroit Red Wings (23-16-8, 54 pts., 1 GR)

Season series:
Ducks: 1-2-0. Red Wings: 2-1-0.Vancouver Canucks Vs.

No. 3: Vancouver Canucks (26-14-7, 59 pts., 1 GR)
No. 6: San Jose Sharks (25-15-7, 57 pts., 1 GR)

Season series:
Canucks: 0-3-0. Sharks: 3-0-0.

 St. Louis Blues Vs.   Los Angeles Kings
 

No. 4: St. Louis Blues (28-17-2, 58 pts., 1 GR)
No. 5: Los Angeles Kings (26-16-5, 57 pts., 1 GR)

Season series: Kings 3-0-0. Blues 0-3-0.

Still in contention:

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Major League Baseball Power Rankings

1. ATLANTA BRAVES [up from 3]
Record: 15-6
Last 10: 5-5

Not only are the Braves pitching better than anyone else -- half a run a game better than NL teams -- they're getting incredible production from Justin Upton. The younger Upton was the first Atlanta player to have eight home runs in the season's first 13 games. Then he soared into double digits in Denver with his 10th and 11th blasts, the latter right after big bro B.J., who has smacked three but is still batting just .150.

2. TEXAS RANGERS [up from 4]
Record: 15-7
Last 10: 7-3

Despite some bad news in the pitching department, the Rangers continue to roam among baseball's elite. Matt Harrison is out after back surgery and Joakim Soria's return to the bullpen was delayed, but closer Joe Nathan, 38, has been steady as ever, successfully converting his first seven save opportunities.

3. SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS [up from 5]
Record: 13-9
Last 10: 5-5

Seven is the charm for the re-born Barry Zito of the Giants. In three of his first four starts he threw seven innings without allowing a run, all at home. On the road he bombed, getting knocked out in the third inning. Pablo Sandoval is quickly rounding into form -- something he does well, leading the Giants' offence.

4. BOSTON RED SOX [up from 9]
Record: 15-7
Last 10: 7-3

Hip, hip hooray for the Red Sox' Mike Napoli. Boston restructured his contract from three years to one when they found a degenerative hip condition, but the sturdy first baseman knocked in 26 runs in his first 21 games. He's shooting for the club record for April of 31, set by Manny Ramirez.

5. COLORADO ROCKIES [up from 22]
Record: 14-8
Last 10: 6-4

With Troy Tulowitzki and Carlos Gonzalez combining for 10 homers and 29 RBI in the first 20 games, there's no doubt the Rockies can rake. Their pitchers have also been pretty decent, led by Jhoulys Chacin, off to a 3-0 record and 1.46 earned run average.

6. BALTIMORE ORIOLES [up from 13]
Record: 13-9
Last 10: 7-3

After 17 consecutive extra-innings wins going back to last season, the Orioles and closer Jim Johnson finally proved mortal when they lost at Camden Yards to the Blue Jays. Johnson, who had 51 saves last year, was eight-for-eight in 2013 before surrendering his first run of the year in the loss.

7. CINCINNATI REDS [down from 6]
Record: 13-10
Last 10: 7-3

In a very tight National League Central division, the Reds are rolling along nicely without their ace Johnny Cueto, who strained a lat muscle. Joey Votto's getting his homer stroke in order with homers in back-to-back games after last season's power shortage due to injury.

8. OAKLAND ATHLETICS [down from 7]
Record: 13-10
Last 10: 4-6

Those swinging A's have been piling up the runs to the tune of a league-leading 124 through their first 22 games. They've been particularly potent against the AL West with an 11-2 record in their division. Jed Lowrie, who wrested the starting shortstop job in spring training, had nine multi-hit games in the early going.

9. WASHINGTON NATIONALS [down from 1]
Record: 11-11
Last 10: 4-6

It's been a rough stretch for the Nationals, who dropped series against the Mets and the Cardinals. Bryce Harper's been the lone bright spot for the offence, leading the regulars in average, homers and RBI. Starters Dan Haren and Gio Gonzalez have ugly ERAs through the first month of the season.

10. ST. LOUIS CARDINALS [up from 14]
Record: 13-8
Last 10: 6-4

It took until his 34th inning before the Cardinals' Adam Wainwright gave up his first walk. By that time he had 37 strikeouts and a 4-1 record with a 1.93 ERA. With rookie Shelby Miller (3-1, 2.16 ERA) inserted into the rotation, the Cards had the third-best pitching in the league.

11. KANSAS CITY ROYALS [up from 18]
Record: 11-8
Last 10: 5-5

It's been a Royal display of executing their game plan after Kansas City finally upgraded their starting pitching, allowing their talented hitters and fielders a chance to win. James Shields, Wade Davis and Ervin Santana moved to the top of the rotation and it's made the Royals look like contenders.

12. MILWAUKEE BREWERS [up from 25]
Record: 11-9
Last 10: 9-1

That was a Major League record for the Brewers, who became the first team to start 2-8 and then win nine consecutive games. It's been all or nothing for Ryan Braun, who endured a 7-for-36 stretch that included 17 strikeouts. The good news was that five of the seven hits were home runs.

13. NEW YORK YANKEES [up from 16]
Record: 12-9
Last 10: 6-4

Until running into some stiff pitching in Tampa Bay, the Bronx Bombers, even without all their injured stars, were leading the league in home runs (they're still second). While it was a surprise that Derek Jeter turned up with another cracked bone in his ankle, it was no surprise that Mariano Rivera was perfect in his first seven save chances.

14. DETROIT TIGERS [down from 2]
Record: 10-10
Last 10: 5-5

Even though they had the second-best batting average in the American League, the Tigers have been toothless when hitting with runners in scoring position. Detroit dipped down to their Toledo farm team to call up flame-thrower Bruce Rondon but also brought back dancing Papa Grande, Jose Valverde, as their closer.

15. PITTSBURGH PIRATES [up from 24]
Record: 13-9
Last 10: 7-3

Want a recipe for late-inning success? Send a tweet to @GrillCheese49. That would be Jason Grilli, who melted opposition bats with nine saves in nine tries, allowing just three hits. The 36-year-old Grilli had five lifetime saves entering this season.

16. ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS [up from 17]
Record: 13-9
Last 10: 5-5

Cody Ross may be a D-Back, but he didn't forget how to torment the Yankees after playing last season for the Red Sox. Ross, coming off a calf injury, cranked out seven hits in a three-game series at Yankee Stadium. 23-year-old lefty starter Patrick Corbin was off to a 2-0, 1.71 ERA ledger.

17. NEW YORK METS [up from 23]
Record: 10-10
Last 10: 4-6

The Buck stops at Citi Field. Catcher John Buck is recapturing his form of 2010, when he smashed 20 homers with 66 RBIs for the Blue Jays. A seven-homer, 22-RBI surge in April is making up for the .227 and .191 averages he fashioned the last two seasons. He was briefly a Jay again in the off-season, passing through Toronto from Miami on his way to the Mets.

18. TAMPA BAY RAYS [down from 10]
Record: 10-12
Last 10: 6-4

Live penguins and garden gnomes! What will the Rays' Joe Maddon think of next? He gave Yunel Escobar advice to use a longer bat and the struggling shortstop, hitting .119 at the time, homered in back-to-back games. Lefty Matt Moore has been scintillating, with a 4-0 record, allowing 10 hits in 26 innings.

19. MINNESOTA TWINS [up from 26]
Record: 9-9
Last 10: 5-5

4-14 against the White Sox last season, the Twins shocked the Pale Hose with a sweep in the Windy City. Meanwhile Minnesota, along with Colorado, is contending for the worst home-field conditions to numb the nerve endings of the opposition. Joe Mauer enjoyed a recent surge of 20 hits in 10 games.

20. PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES [up from 21]
Record: 9-14
Last 10: 3-7

The once pitching-rich Phillies were right down to their Pettibone for starting pitching. 22-year-old Jonathan Pettibone replaced the injured John Lannan. Cole Hamels started 0-3, and Roy Halladay, after two wins, left his latest start with a 3-1 lead after six one-hit innings, but the bullpen coughed up the lead and the victory.

21. TORONTO BLUE JAYS [down from 11]
Record: 9-14
Last 10: 3-7

With shaky pitching, brutal defence and the heart of the order walking the Mendoza line (.200) it's no wonder the Blue Jays can't win a series. Edwin Encarnacion (42 homers last year) finally started getting untracked in Baltimore and New York, going deep in back-to-back-to-back starts, while Joey Bats matched EE's example in a win with his fifth dinger.

22. CLEVELAND INDIANS [down from 19]
Record: 8-11
Last 10: 4-6

Indians shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera was a point lower than Yunel Escobar with a .118 average before he managed a four-game hit streak, including the game-winning two RBIs against Chicago. Cabrera, who totaled 41 homers the last two seasons, has been bothered by a sore wrist due to a fall on the dugout steps.

23. LOS ANGELES DODGERS [down from 8]
Record : 10-11
Last 10 : 3-7

Zack Greinke didn't dodge, so he's out with a broken collarbone, compliments of Carlos Quentin. Now the Dodgers have lost Chad Billingsley to Tommy John surgery. Former Jay (and John Gibbons sparring partner) Ted Lily rejoined the L.A. rotation with seven strikeouts and only one run allowed in his first start.

24. LOS ANGELES ANGELS [down from 15]
Record: 8-13
Last 10: 5-5

The "other" L.A. team is on a similar scary ride at Disneyland. That would be the injury parade. Evasive action by Jered Weaver knocked him out of the line-up with that non-throwing shoulder injury, and Albert Pujols, painfully hobbled, is only slightly better than last year's start-of-the-season no-show. Only Houston has a worse team ERA.

25. SEATTLE MARINERS [down from 20]
Record: 9-15
Last 10: 3-7

Is 100 wins at the age of 27 a gift fit for a king? "King" Felix Hernandez reached that mark as his career record became 100-78 with his win over the Astros. Another reason for celebration in Seattle would be the pitching of Hisashi Iwaguma, 2-1 with a 1.99 ERA and a batting average against of .164.

26. CHICAGO WHITE SOX [down from 12]
Record: 9-12
Last 10: 5-5

Not pulling a Tiger Williams here to say that the White Sox are Dunn like dinner, but the Chicago behemoth, Adam Dunn, has reverted back to 2011 form. He was batting half a Mendoza line (that would be .100 for the mathematically challenged) with eight hits and four homers. Not like last year's 41-homer campaign.

27. SAN DIEGO PADRES [unchanged]
Record: 6-15
Last 10: 4-6

Following the second-worst start in team history, the Padres finally got Chase Headley and Carlos Quentin into the line-up together for the first time on Tuesday. Headley, with 31 homers and 115 RBI last year, was coming off knee surgery. Quentin sat eight games for bulldozing the Dodgers' Greinke. Quentin homered in his second game back.

28. CHICAGO CUBS [no change]
Record: 7-14
Last 10: 3-7

The Cubs' first road win since April 4 interrupted their latest skid, a five-game losing streak. The combination of walks, errors and hit batters has been a favourite pattern in their run of inefficiency. On a positive note, Anthony Rizzo is leading the attack with six homers and 14 RBI, despite a sub .200 average.

29. HOUSTON ASTROS [up from 30]
Record: 7-15
Last 10: 3-7

Having reached 200 whiffs the quickest in MLB, the Astros lost centre-fielder Justin Maxwell to a fractured hand. Jose Altuve has lived up to expectations with 30 hits in a 20-game span. Houston has discovered an American League patsy in Seattle, whom they've beaten four times already. That's more than half their wins.

30. MIAMI MARLINS [down from 29]
Record: 5-17
Last 10: 3-7

Apologies to Justin Ruggiano, but when he's the face of your offence, you might be struggling. Seven players had more home runs than the entire Marlins' team, led by Ruggiano's three round-trippers. And they don't score playing small ball either. They're at the bottom in average, runs and these MLB rankings.


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