What you missed last night because you watched the other game

The Canadiens beat the Pens 5-2, move onto the ECF

Can someone remind the Canadiens that they are the 16th seed and shouldn't be chopping down trees like this? Halak is awesome but the Habs' success isn't all him. Gionta and Cammalleri are playing inspired hockey and that ragtag group of defensemen got it done vs Crosby and Co.

Montreal was up 2-0 by the end of the first and I thought Twitter was going to explode. When Montreal went up 4-0 you could practically hear restaurants on Ste. Catherine street boarding up windows. How does Travis Moen skate past Serge Gonchar for that shorty? What is this world coming to? Credit to the Pens for getting back to 4-2 after Fleury was yanked but they never had their car in this one. Someone pointed out that Montreal won the first and final games at the Igloo. Last one out hit the lights.

Long summer for Crosby & Malkin who wont get passes for falling down in the 2nd round. Can anyone explain what happened to Fleury? It can't be all about Scuderi and Gill. Nothing is ever about Hal Gill.

Philly beats Boston 2-1, forces Game 7

Let me tell you something about the Flyers: they get it. When facing elimination and with a backup's backup in net they blocked everything put toward the net, outskated and outworked the Bruins and dictated the pace. The Bruins needed to step on some throats but instead gave up pucks, played uninspired hockey and only showed a sense of urgency in the 3rd period.

Mike Richards is no longer trying to kill guys at the expense of goals. He's picking his spots and the team is rallying around him. The first goal was all about his line having bigger balls than the Bruins. Briere's goal was another second effort type goal where he just had too much man button for the Boston D. I can't really fault Tuukka on the shot.

Lucic brought the Bruins to within 1 with 1:00 left in the game. Leighton struggled with the puck at times and Wideman's knuckle curve gave him rebound trouble.

I've gotten multiple calls and texts from friends checking up on me. My favorite was my buddy telling me that if I haven't jumped out the window yet he has a place for me to sleep in Beantown on Friday. Thank you. I'm good, everyone.

You can't think of it as the Flyers streaking toward Game 7 or Boston stumbling to the first tee. This is a new series now. Tortorella says that momentum doesn't carry over in playoff games. I believe it. The slate is wiped clean in Game 7 and nothing else matters. Scored a sick goal in Game 1? So what. Had 45 saves in Game 3? Whatever. Game 7 is the playoff's playoff. Game 1 heroics don't get you pussy if you bow in Game 7.

It comes down to Friday night. The bully has now backed you into a corner. There is no getting around him. Your 2 options are to lie down or power through. Either way someone is hitting the floor. Don't let it be you.

- Nemmy

A tale of 2 foreign (as in non-NA) goalies

Evgeni Nabakov sucked or Franzen just muled it up. I don't think this is a turning point in the series yet. If the Wings win tomorrow, thats the turning point - on the road, still about to be eliminated. Then just 1 game away from forcing a 7th.

The Canadiens are resilient and probably just a lot smarter than everyone assumes. In 2 rounds they have bottled up the best scorer in the league and the best player. Don't know how. Hal Gill must have kept a notebook when he was with the Pens. Also, that crowd in Montreal is just awesome.

Heres the goal of the night. I love wrap arounds:

What you missed last night because you were a Caps fan who couldn't stand to watch

Canadiens beat the Caps in game 7, 2-1: It was all Jaroslav Halak and his merry men of shot-blocking defenders. Hall Gil's long stick (not a euphemism) was in the in way all night. Ovechkin never had space, Mike Green was cottage cheese, and Marc-Andre Bergeron scored in 4 minutes of ice time.:

Second round starts up tonight. Here are my picks:

Wings over Sharks in 7
Hawks over Canucks in 6

Pens over Canadiens in 6
Bruins over Flyers in 7

What you missed last night while you were shoveling

Canadiens beat the Capitals in OT, 6-5: The streak is over. Sick comeback by the Caps to force overtime, but sicker pass from Sergie Kostitsyn. I don't want to hear any talk, that the Caps still have a 15 game point-getting streak or whatever. It was a damn impressive winning streak, but its over. Also, how'd they disallow that Ovy goal... because Hal Gill is a pineapple with no balance?

Ducks beat the Oilers, 3-2: I think the Oilers would play better on the road if their jerseys didn't look like nightgowns. Also, I'm so glad Bobby Ryan is American. His snap shot, far side high was a deadly snipe.

Penguins beat the Islanders, 3-1: Matt Martin got into his first NHL fight with Tyler Kennedy. Does it still count?

Avalanche beat the Thrashers in OT, 4-3: Kyle Cumiskey's game winner in OT, was the most men's league goal I've ever seen in the NHL. After taking the puck on the wing after the opening face-off, he skated into the zone, turned to face the boards and then snuck in splitting 2 Thrasher d-man. It was pathetic - from an Atlanta perspective.

BJs shut-out the Sharks, 3-0: Steve Mason played freshman-like.

Flyers beat the Devils in OT, 3-2: I just hope Parise gets healthy before the Olympics.

Predators beat the Rangers, 2-1: Michael Del Zotto got 2 for hooking and then 2 for talking. The Preds scored on the power play because of a terrible clear that hit another Ranger to keep the puck in the zone. Tortorella screamed at Del Zotto and benched him. What a fucking hypocrite Tortorella is. If the Rangers miss the play-offs he's got to get fired, right?

Coyotes beat the Wild, 3-2: Backstrom made better saves, but lost.

What you missed last night while you were getting clearance to write "what you missed last night"

Blackhawks beat the Canucks, 7-5 (CHI wins series 4-2): Even if you missed the first 2 periods of this game (like I did), you still caught a hell of a game. Tied 3-3 going in to the third, there were lead changes, great saves, and young stars showing off. My favorite goal was Kane's third. And Edzo actually said something that added value to the replay. Kane subtly faked a wrist shot to open up the D-man and then stick handle and the sweet back hand and you know the rest - bar and in. Khabibulin played great, and not just great for a goalie who gave up 5 goals. Seriously. some of his saves were game-saving. I hope Chicago plays Detroit in the conference finals, just for some good old fashioned hate. However, I hope that Ducks/Wings series goes to 7 first.

Capitals beat the Penguins in OT, 5-4 (series tied 3-3): I was texting Nemmy updates of this game while he was at the new Shea, and it got out of control. Just like the third period of above, this game had the lead changes, great saves, young studs, etc. There is no way I could talk about all the goodness that this game was before my Percocet wears off. Is there anyone who watched this series and was a Crosby-hater beforehand and still has no respect for Sid? I can't believe that there would be. Kozlov's first goal was on of those snipes, where it takes a me a while to figure out how the puck physically got from the ice to the back of the net, so high so quickly - it boggles my mind. Hal Gill, really? I don't really care who wins game 7, but I'd rather that team face the Bruins then the Hurricanes.