1. Zach Randolph is really good. The 29 year old power forward finished with a career playoff high of 34 points and added 10 rebounds in leading the Grizzlies to another upset win over the Thunder in Oklahoma City today. Randolph grabbed 4 of the Grizz's 17 offensive rebounds, hit a wide array of shots from inside and out, and gave the Thunder fits on both ends of the floor. Plus any time you outscore Kevin Durant, who finished with 33 points, you've had a pretty good day. If Randolph plays like this the whole series, he's going to make prediction that the Thunder would win the series look pretty stupid.
2. The Grizzlies are tenacious on defense. Oklahoma City turned the ball over 18 times resulting in 23 points for the Grizzlies. More than anything this was the difference in the game. Having defensive stars Tony Allen and Shane Battier on the roster certainly doesn't hurt, but the whole team has bought in. Nothing came easy for the Thunder all night, and they shouldn't expect things to get any easier. Russell Westbrook will have to do better than his 7 turnovers for the Thunder to bounce back in this series.
3. The Heat are not intimidated by the Celtics any more. Everything the Celtics threw out the Heat, the Heat had an answer for. Any time the Celtics made a run, the Heat locked down and extended the lead back out. Paul Pierce lost his cool and got himself ejected, Dwyane Wade finally overcame his struggles against the C's and finished with 38 points, and James Jones channeled his inner Steve Kerr and drilled 5 3-pointers and finished with 25 points. Miami never looked like they were worried and they have to be confident heading into Game 2.
4. Rajon Rondo will be the key to this series. Rondo was in foul trouble early and never got into a rhythm. He finished with 8 points 7 rebounds and 7 assists, but was just 3 of 10 from the floor, seemed tentative to take open shots and turned the ball over 5 times. He wasn't outplayed by Bibby and Chalmers persay as they combined for just 5 points, but it was certainly a subpar effort from Rondo. Delonte West is Rondo's backup and he's not capable of doing what Rondo can so Rondo has to stay on the floor for the Celtics to win this series.
5. Ray Allen is an unbelievable shooter. Dogged by Dwyane Wade all night, Allen still finished 9 of 13 from the floor and hit 5 of 8 3-pointers. In 5 playoff games, Allen has now hit 21 of 34 3-pointers in his 5 postseason games, whopping 61.8%. Not bad for a 35 year old.
Sunday, May 1, 2011
NHL Conference Semis
Canucks - Predators
Game 3 - Vancouver 3 Nashville 2 - Vancouver leads series 2-1.
Goals:
VAN- Ryan Kesler 2 (2), Christopher Higgins (3)
NAS- David Legwand (3), Joel Ward (4)
Notes:
Pekka Rinne saved 44 saves in a losing effort. Vancouver outshot Nashville 47-30... Ryan Kesler scored a career high 41 goals during the regular season this year. Prior to his breakout performance in Game 3, he had just 3 playoff goals in 32 games. Kesler also assisted on Higgins' goal... Daniel Sedin, the NHL's regular season leading scorer, had an assist on Kesler's first goal giving him his first point of the series. Sedin had 5 goals and a pair of assists in their opening series against Chicago.
Game 4 - Vancouver 4 Nashville 2 - Vancouver leads series 3-1.
Goals:
VAN- Christian Ehrhoff (2), Alexander Edler (2), Ryan Kesler (3), Henrik Sedin (1)
NAS- Joel Ward (5), Cody Franson (1)
Notes:
Henrik Sedin had 19 goals during the regular season but was scoreless his first 10 postseason games... Joel Ward had just 10 goals in 80 games during the regular season, but already has 5 playoff goals in just 10 games... Ryan Kesler has 3 goals and 3 assists and Christian Ehrhoff has a goal and 4 assists over the last two games... Game 5 is Saturday night in Vancouver.
Bruins - Flyers
Game 3 - Boston 5 Philadelphia 1 - Boston leads series 3-0.
Goals:
BOS- Zdeno Chara 2 (2), David Krejci (5), Daniel Paille (1), Nathan Horton (5)
PHI- Andrej Meszaros (2)
Notes: Tim Thomas made 37 saves in the win... Zdeno Chara had just 1 assist in his first 8 playoff games this season before picking up a pair of goals and an assist in Game 3... The Bruins first two goals were in the game's opening 63 seconds... Krejci has 4 goals and 4 assists in the 3 games against the Flyers after picking up just 1 point in 7 games against the Canadiens.
Lightning - Capitals
Game 3- Tampa Bay 4 Washington 3 - Tampa Bay leads series 3-0.
Goals:
TAM- Sean Bergenheim (5), Vincent Lecavalier (5), Steven Stamkos (4), Ryan Malone (2)
WAS- Mike Knuble (2), John Carlson (1), Alex Ovechkin (5)
Notes:
Washington led 3-2 after 2 periods but Tampa Bay scored twice in 24 seconds in the 3rd to take the lead... Alex Ovechkin had a goal and an assist in a losing effort... Ryan Malone who had the gamewinner is playing in his first postseason since 2008 with the Penguins... The win was Tampa Bay's 6th straight.
Game 4 - Tampa Bay 5 Washington 3 - Tampa Bay wins series 4-0.
Goals:
TAM- Ryan Malone (3), Sean Bergenheim 2 (7), Marc-Andre Bergeron (1), Martin St. Louis (6)
WAS - Marco Sturm (1), John Erskine (1), John Carlson (2)
Notes:
Sean Bergenheim has 7 goals in 11 playoff games after only scoring 14 goals in 80 regular season games... The Lightning have not allowed more than 3 goals in a game this postseason and have now won 7 straight games... The Capitals have won just one series over the past two seasons as the East's number one seed... Alex Ovechkin had an assist and finished the postseason with 5 goals and 5 assists in 9 games.
Red Wings - Sharks
Game 3 - San Jose 4 Detroit 3, OT - San Jose leads series 3-0.
Goals:
SAN- Devin Setoguchi 3 (4), Dan Boyle (1)
DET- Nicklas Lidstrom (2), Patrick Eaves (3), Pavel Datsyuk (3)
Notes:
Setoguchi's hat trick was the first of his postseason career. He tallied his first regular season hat trick on February 19th against the Avalanche... The Sharks have won all 3 games in this series by one goal. This was their second overtime win of the series... Henrik Zetterberg had 2 assists for the Red Wings... The Sharks are 5-0 in overtime games this postseason... Game 4 is tomorrow night in Detroit.
Game 3 - Vancouver 3 Nashville 2 - Vancouver leads series 2-1.
Goals:
VAN- Ryan Kesler 2 (2), Christopher Higgins (3)
NAS- David Legwand (3), Joel Ward (4)
Notes:
Pekka Rinne saved 44 saves in a losing effort. Vancouver outshot Nashville 47-30... Ryan Kesler scored a career high 41 goals during the regular season this year. Prior to his breakout performance in Game 3, he had just 3 playoff goals in 32 games. Kesler also assisted on Higgins' goal... Daniel Sedin, the NHL's regular season leading scorer, had an assist on Kesler's first goal giving him his first point of the series. Sedin had 5 goals and a pair of assists in their opening series against Chicago.
Game 4 - Vancouver 4 Nashville 2 - Vancouver leads series 3-1.
Goals:
VAN- Christian Ehrhoff (2), Alexander Edler (2), Ryan Kesler (3), Henrik Sedin (1)
NAS- Joel Ward (5), Cody Franson (1)
Notes:
Henrik Sedin had 19 goals during the regular season but was scoreless his first 10 postseason games... Joel Ward had just 10 goals in 80 games during the regular season, but already has 5 playoff goals in just 10 games... Ryan Kesler has 3 goals and 3 assists and Christian Ehrhoff has a goal and 4 assists over the last two games... Game 5 is Saturday night in Vancouver.
Bruins - Flyers
Game 3 - Boston 5 Philadelphia 1 - Boston leads series 3-0.
Goals:
BOS- Zdeno Chara 2 (2), David Krejci (5), Daniel Paille (1), Nathan Horton (5)
PHI- Andrej Meszaros (2)
Notes: Tim Thomas made 37 saves in the win... Zdeno Chara had just 1 assist in his first 8 playoff games this season before picking up a pair of goals and an assist in Game 3... The Bruins first two goals were in the game's opening 63 seconds... Krejci has 4 goals and 4 assists in the 3 games against the Flyers after picking up just 1 point in 7 games against the Canadiens.
Lightning - Capitals
Game 3- Tampa Bay 4 Washington 3 - Tampa Bay leads series 3-0.
Goals:
TAM- Sean Bergenheim (5), Vincent Lecavalier (5), Steven Stamkos (4), Ryan Malone (2)
WAS- Mike Knuble (2), John Carlson (1), Alex Ovechkin (5)
Notes:
Washington led 3-2 after 2 periods but Tampa Bay scored twice in 24 seconds in the 3rd to take the lead... Alex Ovechkin had a goal and an assist in a losing effort... Ryan Malone who had the gamewinner is playing in his first postseason since 2008 with the Penguins... The win was Tampa Bay's 6th straight.
Game 4 - Tampa Bay 5 Washington 3 - Tampa Bay wins series 4-0.
Goals:
TAM- Ryan Malone (3), Sean Bergenheim 2 (7), Marc-Andre Bergeron (1), Martin St. Louis (6)
WAS - Marco Sturm (1), John Erskine (1), John Carlson (2)
Notes:
Sean Bergenheim has 7 goals in 11 playoff games after only scoring 14 goals in 80 regular season games... The Lightning have not allowed more than 3 goals in a game this postseason and have now won 7 straight games... The Capitals have won just one series over the past two seasons as the East's number one seed... Alex Ovechkin had an assist and finished the postseason with 5 goals and 5 assists in 9 games.
Red Wings - Sharks
Game 3 - San Jose 4 Detroit 3, OT - San Jose leads series 3-0.
Goals:
SAN- Devin Setoguchi 3 (4), Dan Boyle (1)
DET- Nicklas Lidstrom (2), Patrick Eaves (3), Pavel Datsyuk (3)
Notes:
Setoguchi's hat trick was the first of his postseason career. He tallied his first regular season hat trick on February 19th against the Avalanche... The Sharks have won all 3 games in this series by one goal. This was their second overtime win of the series... Henrik Zetterberg had 2 assists for the Red Wings... The Sharks are 5-0 in overtime games this postseason... Game 4 is tomorrow night in Detroit.
Saturday, April 30, 2011
NFL Draft Results
NOTABLE PICKS
ROUND 1
1. CAROLINA PANTHERS - Cam Newton, QB, Auburn - ESPN Scouts Grade 93 - Newton threw for 2854 yards and 30 touchdowns and ran for 1473 yards and 20 touchdowns on his way to a Heisman Trophy and a National Championship. Newton also caught a pair of passes for 42 yards and a score. Carolina takes a big risk here as Newton has all kinds of upside, but is far from a can't miss prospect. He will likely play early with only Jimmy Claussen, Tony Pike and Matt Moore ahead of him on the depth chart right now.
4. CINCINNATI BENGALS - A.J. Green, WR, Georgia - ESPN Scouts Grade 97 - The 6'4" Green caught 57 passes for 848 yards and 9 touchdowns for the Bulldogs last year. Cincinnati continues to add to its next generation of wideouts as Green becomes a nice addition to a group that already has Jordan Shipley (52 receptions, 600 yards as a rookie last yera). It remains to be seen what will happen with Carson Palmer, but the Bengals also drafted Andy Dalton out of TCU as their QB of the future, a pairing which should work out nicely for both youngsters.
5. ARIZONA CARDINALS - Patrick Peterson, DB, LSU - ESPN Scouts Grade 97 - Peterson is FAST. 6 feet fall with a 4.31 40, Peterson can make plays on the defensive side of the ball (4 interceptions) and in the return game (29.1 yards on kickoffs, 16.1 yards on punts). While the Cardinals had other needs here, it's hard to pass up on a player of Peterson's ability.
6. ATLANTA FALCONS - Julio Jones, WR, Alabama - ESPN Scouts Grade 95 - Atlanta's offense gets a whole lot better with this pick. Jones has a great opportunity to be the perfect complement to go along with Roddy White, and with Tony Gonzalez, Michael Turner and Matt Ryan all on the roster, these guys should put up a lot of points. Jones had 78 catches for 1133 yards and 7 touchdowns this past season for Alabama.
8. TENNESSEE TITANS - Jake Locker, QB, Washington - ESPN Scouts Grade 90 - The Titans continue to move into the post Vince Young/Jeff Fisher era drafting what they hope is their franchise quarterback of the future. Locker threw for 2265 yards in his senior year with 17 touchdowns and just 9 interceptions. Over his 4 year career with the Huskies he rushed for 1939 yards and 29 touchdowns. One of the quickest QBs are the combine, Locker posted a 4.5 40. It remains to be seen if the Titans will use him right away or if they'll keep Kerry Collins around for another year, or if they'll go a new direction entirely.
10. JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS - Blaine Gabbert, QB, Missouri - ESPN Scouts Grade 96 - David Garrard is still the starter, but few believed that Trent Edwards was going to be the QB of the future so this is a nice pickup for the Jags. Gabbert will be able to be brought along slowly a la Aaron Rodgers rather than be thrown into the fire right away. Last season with Missouri Gabbert threw for 3186 yards and 16 touchdowns with just 9 interceptions.
12. MINNESOTA VIKINGS - Christian Ponder, QB, Florida State - ESPN Scouts Grade 85 - An interesting pick here for Minnesota, but the fact remains that they needed a quarterback. Ponder threw for 2044 yards and 20 touchdowns as a senior for the Seminoles last year.
13. DETROIT LIONS - Nick Fairley, DT, Auburn - ESPN Scouts Grade 94 - The Lions defensive line now boasts Ndamakong Suh (10 sacks as a rookie last year) and Fairley as well as veterans Corey Williams, Kyle Vanden Bosch and Cliff Avril. Quarterbacks in the NFC North cannot be excited about this. Fairley had 60 tackles, 11 sacks and a pair of forced fumbles for National Champion Auburn last year.
28. NEW ORLEANS SAINTS - Mark Ingram, RB, Alabama - ESPN Scouts Grade 92 - The Saints get the former Heisman winner to hopefully add some stability to their backfield. Last year they went to the playoffs with Julius Jones handling the bulk of the rushing load as they had 5 running backs on the injured reserve. Ingram didn't quite match his 2009 results (1658 rush yards 17 touchdowns) in 2010 (903 rush yards 13 touchdowns), but he still managed to average five and a half yards a carry. Ingram is also an accomplished receiver catching 53 passes over the past two seasons.
31. PITTSBURGH STEELERS - Cameron Heyward, DE, Ohio State - ESPN Scouts Grade 88 - Son of former Saints running back Craig "Ironhead" Heyward, Cameron was a one man wrecking crew in the Sugar Bowl against Arkansas this January giving Ryan Mallett fits all night. Heyward adds youth to an aging defensive unit in Pittsburgh as the Steelers get ready to make another run at the AFC Title.
ROUND 2
3. CINCINNATI BENGALS - Andy Dalton, QB, TCU - ESPN Scouts Grade 86 - Dalton led TCU to an undefeated season and a Rose Bowl title as a senior. He threw for 2857 yards and 27 touchdowns last year and now has the opportunity to become the franchise quarterback for the Bengals. As mentioned earlier, having a receiver like A.J. Green to help him develop is only going to make his situation better.
6. ARIZONA CARDINALS - Ryan Williams, RB, Virginia Tech - ESPN Scouts Grade 88 - Williams was slowed by injuries in 2010 but showed what he can do in 2009 when he ran for 1655 yards and 21 touchdowns. With Beanie Wells unable to stay healthy, and Tim Hightower not capable of being an effective feature back, Williams has an opportunity to be the go-to guy in Arizona.
19. TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS - Da'Quan Bowers, DE, Clemson - ESPN Scouts Grade 91 - Bowers made 74 tackles and had 15 1/2 sacks for the Tigers in 2010. The Bucs took another defensive end in the first round (Adrian Clayborn out of Iowa) and a pair of defensive tackles early in last year's draft (Gerald McCoy and Briane Price) so the Bucs have created a nice little group. Bowers is a huge talent, but their are questions surrounding his health as he underwent knee surgery following the 2010 season.
32. GREEN BAY PACKERS - Randall Cobb, WR, Kentucky - ESPN Scouts Grade 84 - The versatile Cobb had 84 receptions for 1017 yards for Kentucky last year. Cobb also was effective running the ball (55 carries for 424 yards) and on punt and kickoff returns. Green Bay had a need to fill on special teams and Cobb should fit right into that void.
ROUND 3
9. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS - Stevan Ridley, RB, LSU - ESPN Scouts Grade 59 - Ridley ran for 1147 yards and scored 15 touchdowns for Les Miles' Tigers last year. Ridley is a strong, durable back who can run between the tackles giving the Patriots something they've been missing.
10. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS - Ryan Mallett, QB, Arkansas - ESPN Scouts Grade 82 - Mallett steps into a great situation in New England where he has an opportunity to learn from Tom Brady and be brought along slowly. Any character concerns should be taken care of in this veteran locker room as the Patriots could afford to gamble with a third round pick on the guy who arguably had the best arm in the draft. Mallett threw for 3869 yards and 32 touchdowns for the Razorbacks last year.
15. WASHINGTON REDSKINS - Leonard Hankerson, WR, Miami (FL) - ESPN Scouts Grade 79 - Hankerson caught 72 passes for 1156 yards and 13 touchdowns for the U last year. Hankerson can expect to play immediately for a unit whose only real weapon last year was Santana Moss.
ROUND 4
8. WASHINGTON REDSKINS - Roy Helu, RB, Nebraska - ESPN Scouts Grade 56 - Helu ran for 1245 yards and 11 touchdowns for the Huskers last year. 5'11 1/2" and 219 pounds for a 4.40 40, Helu has a good combination of size and speed. Expectations are that Helu will fit nicely into Mike Shanahan's scheme behind Ryan Torain.
19. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES - Casey Matthews, ILB, Oregon - ESPN Scouts Grade 64 - If pedigree counts for anything, then Matthews is golden. Matthews can also get it done on the field though with 79 tackles, 3 sacks and 3 fumble recoveries for the Oregon Ducks. He might not be as good as brother Clay, but he has the same motor and should make an impact this year.
ROUND 5
4. KANSAS CITY CHIEFS - Ricky Stanzi, QB, Iowa - ESPN Scouts Grade 75 - Stanzi threw for 3004 yards and 25 touchdowns with just 6 interceptions for Iowa last year starting all 13 games for the Hawkeyes. Matt Cassel is the starter, so there's no pressure on Stanzi to start any time soon, but he will be able to compete with Brodie Croyle for the backup spot.
14. ATLANTA FALCONS - Jacquizz Rodgers, RB, Oregon State - ESPN Scouts Grade 71 - Jacquizz ran for 1184 yards and 14 touchdowns for the Beavers last year and also had 44 receptions out of the backfield. In 2009 he was even better with 1440 yards on the ground, 21 rushing touchdowns and 78 receptions. Only 5'6" he is certainly undersized so he has his work cut out for him.
20. TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS - Ahmad Black, S, Florida - ESPN Scouts Grade 70 - Black had 108 tackles and 5 interceptions last year for the Gators including a pair in the Outback Bowl against Penn State one of which he returned 80 yards for a touchdown to ice the game.
ROUND 6
15. BALTIMORE RAVENS - Tyrod Taylor, QB, Virginia Tech - ESPN Scouts Grade 60 - An outstanding athlete, Taylor threw for 2743 yards and 24 scores a year ago for the Hokies. In his 4 year career at Tech, he also ran for over 2000 yards and 23 touchdowns. The big question surrounding Taylor is whether or not he can play the position at the next level. With Flacco the starter in Baltimore, we are unlikely to find out anytime soon.
ROUND 7
5. NEW YORK JETS - Greg McElroy, QB, Alabama - ESPN Scouts Grade 49 - McElroy threw for 2987 yards and 20 touchdowns for the Tide in 2010 completing over 70% of his passes.
51. HOUSTON TEXANS - Cheta Ozougwu, DE, Rice - ESPN Scouts Grade 34 - Mr. Irrelevant 2011, Ozougwu had 54 tackles and 3 sacks for the Owls in 2010.
ROUND 1
1. CAROLINA PANTHERS - Cam Newton, QB, Auburn - ESPN Scouts Grade 93 - Newton threw for 2854 yards and 30 touchdowns and ran for 1473 yards and 20 touchdowns on his way to a Heisman Trophy and a National Championship. Newton also caught a pair of passes for 42 yards and a score. Carolina takes a big risk here as Newton has all kinds of upside, but is far from a can't miss prospect. He will likely play early with only Jimmy Claussen, Tony Pike and Matt Moore ahead of him on the depth chart right now.
4. CINCINNATI BENGALS - A.J. Green, WR, Georgia - ESPN Scouts Grade 97 - The 6'4" Green caught 57 passes for 848 yards and 9 touchdowns for the Bulldogs last year. Cincinnati continues to add to its next generation of wideouts as Green becomes a nice addition to a group that already has Jordan Shipley (52 receptions, 600 yards as a rookie last yera). It remains to be seen what will happen with Carson Palmer, but the Bengals also drafted Andy Dalton out of TCU as their QB of the future, a pairing which should work out nicely for both youngsters.
5. ARIZONA CARDINALS - Patrick Peterson, DB, LSU - ESPN Scouts Grade 97 - Peterson is FAST. 6 feet fall with a 4.31 40, Peterson can make plays on the defensive side of the ball (4 interceptions) and in the return game (29.1 yards on kickoffs, 16.1 yards on punts). While the Cardinals had other needs here, it's hard to pass up on a player of Peterson's ability.
6. ATLANTA FALCONS - Julio Jones, WR, Alabama - ESPN Scouts Grade 95 - Atlanta's offense gets a whole lot better with this pick. Jones has a great opportunity to be the perfect complement to go along with Roddy White, and with Tony Gonzalez, Michael Turner and Matt Ryan all on the roster, these guys should put up a lot of points. Jones had 78 catches for 1133 yards and 7 touchdowns this past season for Alabama.
8. TENNESSEE TITANS - Jake Locker, QB, Washington - ESPN Scouts Grade 90 - The Titans continue to move into the post Vince Young/Jeff Fisher era drafting what they hope is their franchise quarterback of the future. Locker threw for 2265 yards in his senior year with 17 touchdowns and just 9 interceptions. Over his 4 year career with the Huskies he rushed for 1939 yards and 29 touchdowns. One of the quickest QBs are the combine, Locker posted a 4.5 40. It remains to be seen if the Titans will use him right away or if they'll keep Kerry Collins around for another year, or if they'll go a new direction entirely.
10. JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS - Blaine Gabbert, QB, Missouri - ESPN Scouts Grade 96 - David Garrard is still the starter, but few believed that Trent Edwards was going to be the QB of the future so this is a nice pickup for the Jags. Gabbert will be able to be brought along slowly a la Aaron Rodgers rather than be thrown into the fire right away. Last season with Missouri Gabbert threw for 3186 yards and 16 touchdowns with just 9 interceptions.
12. MINNESOTA VIKINGS - Christian Ponder, QB, Florida State - ESPN Scouts Grade 85 - An interesting pick here for Minnesota, but the fact remains that they needed a quarterback. Ponder threw for 2044 yards and 20 touchdowns as a senior for the Seminoles last year.
13. DETROIT LIONS - Nick Fairley, DT, Auburn - ESPN Scouts Grade 94 - The Lions defensive line now boasts Ndamakong Suh (10 sacks as a rookie last year) and Fairley as well as veterans Corey Williams, Kyle Vanden Bosch and Cliff Avril. Quarterbacks in the NFC North cannot be excited about this. Fairley had 60 tackles, 11 sacks and a pair of forced fumbles for National Champion Auburn last year.
28. NEW ORLEANS SAINTS - Mark Ingram, RB, Alabama - ESPN Scouts Grade 92 - The Saints get the former Heisman winner to hopefully add some stability to their backfield. Last year they went to the playoffs with Julius Jones handling the bulk of the rushing load as they had 5 running backs on the injured reserve. Ingram didn't quite match his 2009 results (1658 rush yards 17 touchdowns) in 2010 (903 rush yards 13 touchdowns), but he still managed to average five and a half yards a carry. Ingram is also an accomplished receiver catching 53 passes over the past two seasons.
31. PITTSBURGH STEELERS - Cameron Heyward, DE, Ohio State - ESPN Scouts Grade 88 - Son of former Saints running back Craig "Ironhead" Heyward, Cameron was a one man wrecking crew in the Sugar Bowl against Arkansas this January giving Ryan Mallett fits all night. Heyward adds youth to an aging defensive unit in Pittsburgh as the Steelers get ready to make another run at the AFC Title.
ROUND 2
3. CINCINNATI BENGALS - Andy Dalton, QB, TCU - ESPN Scouts Grade 86 - Dalton led TCU to an undefeated season and a Rose Bowl title as a senior. He threw for 2857 yards and 27 touchdowns last year and now has the opportunity to become the franchise quarterback for the Bengals. As mentioned earlier, having a receiver like A.J. Green to help him develop is only going to make his situation better.
6. ARIZONA CARDINALS - Ryan Williams, RB, Virginia Tech - ESPN Scouts Grade 88 - Williams was slowed by injuries in 2010 but showed what he can do in 2009 when he ran for 1655 yards and 21 touchdowns. With Beanie Wells unable to stay healthy, and Tim Hightower not capable of being an effective feature back, Williams has an opportunity to be the go-to guy in Arizona.
19. TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS - Da'Quan Bowers, DE, Clemson - ESPN Scouts Grade 91 - Bowers made 74 tackles and had 15 1/2 sacks for the Tigers in 2010. The Bucs took another defensive end in the first round (Adrian Clayborn out of Iowa) and a pair of defensive tackles early in last year's draft (Gerald McCoy and Briane Price) so the Bucs have created a nice little group. Bowers is a huge talent, but their are questions surrounding his health as he underwent knee surgery following the 2010 season.
32. GREEN BAY PACKERS - Randall Cobb, WR, Kentucky - ESPN Scouts Grade 84 - The versatile Cobb had 84 receptions for 1017 yards for Kentucky last year. Cobb also was effective running the ball (55 carries for 424 yards) and on punt and kickoff returns. Green Bay had a need to fill on special teams and Cobb should fit right into that void.
ROUND 3
9. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS - Stevan Ridley, RB, LSU - ESPN Scouts Grade 59 - Ridley ran for 1147 yards and scored 15 touchdowns for Les Miles' Tigers last year. Ridley is a strong, durable back who can run between the tackles giving the Patriots something they've been missing.
10. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS - Ryan Mallett, QB, Arkansas - ESPN Scouts Grade 82 - Mallett steps into a great situation in New England where he has an opportunity to learn from Tom Brady and be brought along slowly. Any character concerns should be taken care of in this veteran locker room as the Patriots could afford to gamble with a third round pick on the guy who arguably had the best arm in the draft. Mallett threw for 3869 yards and 32 touchdowns for the Razorbacks last year.
15. WASHINGTON REDSKINS - Leonard Hankerson, WR, Miami (FL) - ESPN Scouts Grade 79 - Hankerson caught 72 passes for 1156 yards and 13 touchdowns for the U last year. Hankerson can expect to play immediately for a unit whose only real weapon last year was Santana Moss.
ROUND 4
8. WASHINGTON REDSKINS - Roy Helu, RB, Nebraska - ESPN Scouts Grade 56 - Helu ran for 1245 yards and 11 touchdowns for the Huskers last year. 5'11 1/2" and 219 pounds for a 4.40 40, Helu has a good combination of size and speed. Expectations are that Helu will fit nicely into Mike Shanahan's scheme behind Ryan Torain.
19. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES - Casey Matthews, ILB, Oregon - ESPN Scouts Grade 64 - If pedigree counts for anything, then Matthews is golden. Matthews can also get it done on the field though with 79 tackles, 3 sacks and 3 fumble recoveries for the Oregon Ducks. He might not be as good as brother Clay, but he has the same motor and should make an impact this year.
ROUND 5
4. KANSAS CITY CHIEFS - Ricky Stanzi, QB, Iowa - ESPN Scouts Grade 75 - Stanzi threw for 3004 yards and 25 touchdowns with just 6 interceptions for Iowa last year starting all 13 games for the Hawkeyes. Matt Cassel is the starter, so there's no pressure on Stanzi to start any time soon, but he will be able to compete with Brodie Croyle for the backup spot.
14. ATLANTA FALCONS - Jacquizz Rodgers, RB, Oregon State - ESPN Scouts Grade 71 - Jacquizz ran for 1184 yards and 14 touchdowns for the Beavers last year and also had 44 receptions out of the backfield. In 2009 he was even better with 1440 yards on the ground, 21 rushing touchdowns and 78 receptions. Only 5'6" he is certainly undersized so he has his work cut out for him.
20. TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS - Ahmad Black, S, Florida - ESPN Scouts Grade 70 - Black had 108 tackles and 5 interceptions last year for the Gators including a pair in the Outback Bowl against Penn State one of which he returned 80 yards for a touchdown to ice the game.
ROUND 6
15. BALTIMORE RAVENS - Tyrod Taylor, QB, Virginia Tech - ESPN Scouts Grade 60 - An outstanding athlete, Taylor threw for 2743 yards and 24 scores a year ago for the Hokies. In his 4 year career at Tech, he also ran for over 2000 yards and 23 touchdowns. The big question surrounding Taylor is whether or not he can play the position at the next level. With Flacco the starter in Baltimore, we are unlikely to find out anytime soon.
ROUND 7
5. NEW YORK JETS - Greg McElroy, QB, Alabama - ESPN Scouts Grade 49 - McElroy threw for 2987 yards and 20 touchdowns for the Tide in 2010 completing over 70% of his passes.
51. HOUSTON TEXANS - Cheta Ozougwu, DE, Rice - ESPN Scouts Grade 34 - Mr. Irrelevant 2011, Ozougwu had 54 tackles and 3 sacks for the Owls in 2010.
NBA Conference Semifinal Predictions
With Memphis's stunning series win over the Spurs last night, the 4 conference semifinal matchups are now set. Let's take a look at how they each break down:
(8) Memphis Grizzlies vs (4) Oklahoma City Thunder
Memphis won the regular season series between these two teams 3 games to 1 with both teams scoring over 100 points in all four matchups. You can't put too much stock into those results though as three of those games before the NBA trade deadline. Since then the Thunder got bigger picking up Nazr Mohammed and Kendrick Perkins while the Grizzlies brought back Shane Battier. Battier and Mohammed both played in their March matchup (won by Memphis), but Perkins was out with an injury. The Thunder made quick work of the Nuggets in Round 1 defeating them in 5 games with the bulk of the damage done by all-stars Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. The two combined for 56.2 points per game in the series while Serge Ibaka averaged a double double with 10.2 points and 11.0 rebounds a game. Memphis meanwhile dispatched the top seeded Spurs in 6 games for the first playoff series win in their franchise's history. Zach Randolph (21.5 ppg, 9.2 rpg), Marc Gasol (14.2 ppg, 12.3 rpg) and Mike Conley Jr (14.3 ppg, 6.2 apg) starred for Memphis in the opening round. While both teams certainly have their stars, one of the big strengths for both sides is depth. Oklahoma City comes at you with size off the bench in Nick Collison and Nazr Mohammed, but also scoring in James Harden and quickness in Eric Maynor. Memphis counters with depth of their own off the bench with a scorer in O.J Mayo, the versatile Darrell Arthur and a lock-down defender in Shane Battier.
So how's this whole thing going to play out? Replacing Nenad Krstic with Perkins and Mohammed tremendously upgrades OKC's toughness and interior defense, something they were lacking early in the season. Memphis is big inside with Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph, and Randolph put up big numbers in their regular season matchups against the Thunder (26.5 ppg, 13.0 rpg). The Grizzlies will not have Rudy Gay as he continues his recovery from shoulder surgery, but Memphis has shown they are more than capable of winning games without him. For me, the series comes down to Kevin Durant. The Thunder have him, the Grizzlies don't. Durant's numbers against Memphis this year have been solid (30.5 ppg, 8.3 rpg) and the league's leading scorer has been equally productive in the postseason (32.4 ppg). If he puts up close to that in this series, and Russell Westbrook outplays Mike Conley Jr., which he should, the Thunder should win. Memphis got huge performances from Tony Allen in all three of their wins against the Thunder this year: 19 points, 27 points, 20 points. But Allen averaged just 8.8 points per game on the season. I don't see Tony Allen making an impact as an offensive player in this series, and I see the Thunder's depth in their front court and their ability to make the outside shot being the difference. The Grizzlies cinderella run ends here, Thunder in Six.
(3) Boston Celtics vs (2) Miami Heat
Perhaps the most anticipated matchup of the postseason. The Celtics won the East in 2008 and 2010 led by veterans Paul Pierce, Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett. Despite trading away Kendrick Perkins, the Celtics still came out and produced the only sweep of the first round taking all four games from the Knicks. Miami made waves this offseason by bringing in Chris Bosh and LeBron James to team up with Dwyane Wade in what was supposed to be a recipe for instant championships. Miami did what they needed to do in the first round taking out the 76ers in 5 games setting up their first real test of the playoffs. Boston won the first three regular season meetings between these two teams creating doubt in a lot of people's minds if they even belonged in the same category as the defending Eastern Conference. But Miami gained a huge boost of confidence with their 100-77 route of the Celtics 3 weeks ago. Will that be enough to carry them through the series? Personally, I don't think so.
Boston has the advantage of having been through all of this before. They know how to handle expectations, how to step up in big games, and they've won a title with the core of this group. Yes Kendrick Perkins is gone, but the C's still have their big 3, Rondo and Glen Davis from the 2008 squad that knocked off the Lakers. Miami is going to be feeling all kinds of pressure. The consequences of Miami not winning are a lot greater than if Boston doesn't win. LeBron's "legacy" is at stake so to speak. And so is Chris Bosh's to a point. Dwyane Wade has already won a title for Miami so he's off the hook, but if things don't go well for Miami out of the gates, it will be interesting to see how they respond. Adding to Miami's challenge is the fact that they will likely be without Mike Miller and will continue to be without Udonis Haslem putting a lot more pressure on their bench. The fate of the series may rest in the hands of James Jones, Mario Chalmers and Joel Anthony. That's a scary thought for Miami fans. That aside, for me this series comes down to two matchups. Chris Bosh versus Kevin Garnett, and Rajon Rondo versus the tandem of Mike Bibby and Mario Chalmers. Bosh's toughness has been questioned all year. We'll find out if it was warranted when he plays against one of the league's toughest players in Garnett. And then as Rondo goes, so does Boston. Rondo had a monster opening series posting a 10 point 9 rebound 9 assist game, a 30 point game, a triple double (with 20 assists) and a double double (21 and 12) in that order. Bibby and Chalmers will not be able to keep up with Rondo if he's playing at that level, and will decide the series, Boston in 6, clinching at home.
(8) Memphis Grizzlies vs (4) Oklahoma City Thunder
Memphis won the regular season series between these two teams 3 games to 1 with both teams scoring over 100 points in all four matchups. You can't put too much stock into those results though as three of those games before the NBA trade deadline. Since then the Thunder got bigger picking up Nazr Mohammed and Kendrick Perkins while the Grizzlies brought back Shane Battier. Battier and Mohammed both played in their March matchup (won by Memphis), but Perkins was out with an injury. The Thunder made quick work of the Nuggets in Round 1 defeating them in 5 games with the bulk of the damage done by all-stars Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. The two combined for 56.2 points per game in the series while Serge Ibaka averaged a double double with 10.2 points and 11.0 rebounds a game. Memphis meanwhile dispatched the top seeded Spurs in 6 games for the first playoff series win in their franchise's history. Zach Randolph (21.5 ppg, 9.2 rpg), Marc Gasol (14.2 ppg, 12.3 rpg) and Mike Conley Jr (14.3 ppg, 6.2 apg) starred for Memphis in the opening round. While both teams certainly have their stars, one of the big strengths for both sides is depth. Oklahoma City comes at you with size off the bench in Nick Collison and Nazr Mohammed, but also scoring in James Harden and quickness in Eric Maynor. Memphis counters with depth of their own off the bench with a scorer in O.J Mayo, the versatile Darrell Arthur and a lock-down defender in Shane Battier.
So how's this whole thing going to play out? Replacing Nenad Krstic with Perkins and Mohammed tremendously upgrades OKC's toughness and interior defense, something they were lacking early in the season. Memphis is big inside with Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph, and Randolph put up big numbers in their regular season matchups against the Thunder (26.5 ppg, 13.0 rpg). The Grizzlies will not have Rudy Gay as he continues his recovery from shoulder surgery, but Memphis has shown they are more than capable of winning games without him. For me, the series comes down to Kevin Durant. The Thunder have him, the Grizzlies don't. Durant's numbers against Memphis this year have been solid (30.5 ppg, 8.3 rpg) and the league's leading scorer has been equally productive in the postseason (32.4 ppg). If he puts up close to that in this series, and Russell Westbrook outplays Mike Conley Jr., which he should, the Thunder should win. Memphis got huge performances from Tony Allen in all three of their wins against the Thunder this year: 19 points, 27 points, 20 points. But Allen averaged just 8.8 points per game on the season. I don't see Tony Allen making an impact as an offensive player in this series, and I see the Thunder's depth in their front court and their ability to make the outside shot being the difference. The Grizzlies cinderella run ends here, Thunder in Six.
Photo Courtesy: zimbio.com
(3) Boston Celtics vs (2) Miami Heat
Perhaps the most anticipated matchup of the postseason. The Celtics won the East in 2008 and 2010 led by veterans Paul Pierce, Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett. Despite trading away Kendrick Perkins, the Celtics still came out and produced the only sweep of the first round taking all four games from the Knicks. Miami made waves this offseason by bringing in Chris Bosh and LeBron James to team up with Dwyane Wade in what was supposed to be a recipe for instant championships. Miami did what they needed to do in the first round taking out the 76ers in 5 games setting up their first real test of the playoffs. Boston won the first three regular season meetings between these two teams creating doubt in a lot of people's minds if they even belonged in the same category as the defending Eastern Conference. But Miami gained a huge boost of confidence with their 100-77 route of the Celtics 3 weeks ago. Will that be enough to carry them through the series? Personally, I don't think so.
Boston has the advantage of having been through all of this before. They know how to handle expectations, how to step up in big games, and they've won a title with the core of this group. Yes Kendrick Perkins is gone, but the C's still have their big 3, Rondo and Glen Davis from the 2008 squad that knocked off the Lakers. Miami is going to be feeling all kinds of pressure. The consequences of Miami not winning are a lot greater than if Boston doesn't win. LeBron's "legacy" is at stake so to speak. And so is Chris Bosh's to a point. Dwyane Wade has already won a title for Miami so he's off the hook, but if things don't go well for Miami out of the gates, it will be interesting to see how they respond. Adding to Miami's challenge is the fact that they will likely be without Mike Miller and will continue to be without Udonis Haslem putting a lot more pressure on their bench. The fate of the series may rest in the hands of James Jones, Mario Chalmers and Joel Anthony. That's a scary thought for Miami fans. That aside, for me this series comes down to two matchups. Chris Bosh versus Kevin Garnett, and Rajon Rondo versus the tandem of Mike Bibby and Mario Chalmers. Bosh's toughness has been questioned all year. We'll find out if it was warranted when he plays against one of the league's toughest players in Garnett. And then as Rondo goes, so does Boston. Rondo had a monster opening series posting a 10 point 9 rebound 9 assist game, a 30 point game, a triple double (with 20 assists) and a double double (21 and 12) in that order. Bibby and Chalmers will not be able to keep up with Rondo if he's playing at that level, and will decide the series, Boston in 6, clinching at home.
Photo Courtesy: zimbio.com
(5) Atlanta Hawks vs (1) Chicago Bulls
The Atlanta Hawks survived one tough task knocking out Dwight Howard in the Orlando Magic in the first round, but things don't get any easier for them as now they take on Derrick Rose and the top seeded Chicago Bulls. Atlanta won the first match between the two teams during the regular season, but Chicago blew them out 94-76 and 114-81 in the other two games. At the center of Chicago's success is Rose. The MVP candidate has taken his game to another level in the postseason averaging 27.6 points against the Pacers in Round 1. His outside shot was not on in the opening series (0/9 in Game 1, 1 for 9 in Game 4 - 8 for 37 overall - 21.6%), but he's still find a way to impact the game. He single handedly brought the Bulls back in Game 1, he hit the game winning shot in Game 3, he had 10 assists in Game 4 and he led all scorers with 25 points in the closeout victory in Game 5. Not to mention he's hitting 86.7% of his free throws in the postseason.
Can Atlanta win this series? They've shown they can beat the Bulls, but it took a career high 31 points from Al Horford and Derrick Rose hitting just 5 of 12 shots and turning the ball over 6 times to do it. Even with that, the Hawks had to erase an early 14-0 deficit. The Bulls are the better team and the odds are stacked against the Hawks even further due to Kirk Hinrich's hamstring injury suffered in Game 6 against the Magic. Without him, now Atlanta has a gap at the point guard position. Who will slow down Rose? Atlanta did not score more than 83 points in any game against the Bulls this season, and with the Bulls known for their defense, this series figures to offer more of the same. Jamal Crawford and Joe Johnson will get theirs, and Josh Smith and Al Horford will have their moments, but ultimately Atlanta is not in the same category as Chicago. I can see them winning one at home, but that's really it. Bulls in 5.
Photo Courtesy: zimbio.com
(3) Dallas Mavericks vs (2) Los Angeles Lakers
Kobe Bryant and the Lakers meet Dirk Nowitzki and the Mavericks. For me this is one of the tougher matchups to predict in this round just because Dallas is so hard to predict. The Lakers took two out of three from the Mavs during the regular season, including a 110-82 win a month ago. The Lakers and Mavericks both had difficult round one matchups with Chris Paul and the Hornets giving the Lakers a lot more trouble than expected, and Dallas having to fight through a six game slugfest with the Blazers.
Kobe Bryant (22.5 ppg in the opening round) and Dirk Nowitzki (27.3 ppg) are both playing at an extremely high level so far in the postseason. And while those two players are likely going to be the ones with the ball in their hands with the game on the line, it's going to be the other matchups in this series that decide who advances to the conference finals. Andrew Bynum is averaging over 15 points and 10 rebounds a game in the postseason making up for Pau Gasol's early playoff struggles (41.8%). Tyson Chandler had 14 points and 20 rebounds in Game 5 against Portland, but was otherwise not a HUGE factor. If Bynum has his way with Chandler down low, this is a huge edge for the Lakers. If Chandler and Brendan Haywood can lock him down and keep him and Gasol off the offensive glass, big edge for Dallas. Point Guard play will also be important. Each team features an established veteran presence at the point with Derek Fisher leading the Lakers and Jason Kidd the Mavs. Kidd's scoring and shooting are way up in the postseason, but his assists are down (just 6.5 a game). Kidd's ability to facilitate the offense will be key. His ability to knock down shots is also a big plus. And everyone saw last year in the finals what Fisher can bring to the table so you know how important he is to the Lakers. Then there's bench play. Dallas has Jason Terry, J.J. Barea, Peja Stojakovic and Haywood, and now there's talk that they may even get Caron Butler back. The Lakers have the 6th man of the year in Odom, Shannon Brown, Matt Barnes and Steve Blake. Obviously both sides depend on contributions from the bench. Will Butler be enough to swing the advantage to Dallas or will Odom's length and versatility keep the Lakers on top? As much as I hate to say it, I see the Lakers taking this one. Bynum appears to have elevated his level of play and I can't see Gasol continuing to struggle the way he did in Round 1. The more those two contribute, the more pressure it takes off Bryant to do it all which makes him that much more dangerous. I see the Mavericks definitely making L.A. work for it, but ultimately they'll come up just short. Lakers in 7.
Kobe Bryant and the Lakers meet Dirk Nowitzki and the Mavericks. For me this is one of the tougher matchups to predict in this round just because Dallas is so hard to predict. The Lakers took two out of three from the Mavs during the regular season, including a 110-82 win a month ago. The Lakers and Mavericks both had difficult round one matchups with Chris Paul and the Hornets giving the Lakers a lot more trouble than expected, and Dallas having to fight through a six game slugfest with the Blazers.
Kobe Bryant (22.5 ppg in the opening round) and Dirk Nowitzki (27.3 ppg) are both playing at an extremely high level so far in the postseason. And while those two players are likely going to be the ones with the ball in their hands with the game on the line, it's going to be the other matchups in this series that decide who advances to the conference finals. Andrew Bynum is averaging over 15 points and 10 rebounds a game in the postseason making up for Pau Gasol's early playoff struggles (41.8%). Tyson Chandler had 14 points and 20 rebounds in Game 5 against Portland, but was otherwise not a HUGE factor. If Bynum has his way with Chandler down low, this is a huge edge for the Lakers. If Chandler and Brendan Haywood can lock him down and keep him and Gasol off the offensive glass, big edge for Dallas. Point Guard play will also be important. Each team features an established veteran presence at the point with Derek Fisher leading the Lakers and Jason Kidd the Mavs. Kidd's scoring and shooting are way up in the postseason, but his assists are down (just 6.5 a game). Kidd's ability to facilitate the offense will be key. His ability to knock down shots is also a big plus. And everyone saw last year in the finals what Fisher can bring to the table so you know how important he is to the Lakers. Then there's bench play. Dallas has Jason Terry, J.J. Barea, Peja Stojakovic and Haywood, and now there's talk that they may even get Caron Butler back. The Lakers have the 6th man of the year in Odom, Shannon Brown, Matt Barnes and Steve Blake. Obviously both sides depend on contributions from the bench. Will Butler be enough to swing the advantage to Dallas or will Odom's length and versatility keep the Lakers on top? As much as I hate to say it, I see the Lakers taking this one. Bynum appears to have elevated his level of play and I can't see Gasol continuing to struggle the way he did in Round 1. The more those two contribute, the more pressure it takes off Bryant to do it all which makes him that much more dangerous. I see the Mavericks definitely making L.A. work for it, but ultimately they'll come up just short. Lakers in 7.
Photo Courtesy: zimbio.com
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Champions League Semifinals - Leg 1 Results
Manchester United 2 Schalke 04 0
Manchester United scored a pair of goals just two minutes apart in the second half and put together a dominant performance in defeating the surprising Schalke 04 in the first leg of their Champions League match. Wayne Rooney sprung the ageless Ryan Giggs for the first goal and was set up by Javier Hernandez for the second as United now carries a two goal lead back to Old Trafford. If United can hold on they will reach the finals for the 3rd time in 4 years. They won the tournament back in 2008 when they defeated Chelsea on penalties, but fell 2-0 to Barcelona in 2009. United will play at Arsenal on Sunday before they return home for the second leg on Wednesday.
Barcelona 2 Real Madrid 0
Real Madrid may have won the Copa del Rey last week, but they couldn't duplicate their success in an ugly 2-0 loss to Barcelona. Lionel Messi scored a pair of goals in the second half after Pepe was sent off in the 61st minute for a tackle on Dani Alves as Barcelona now heads back home, like Manchester United, with a 2 goal lead. In addition to Pepe getting sent off, Real Madrid's coach Jose Mourinho and Barcelona's backup goalie Jose Pinto were also ejected from the bench. Messi now has 52 goals in all competitions this season as his Barcelona squad appears well on their way to a 7th Champions League Final. Barcelona won the competition in 2009 against Manchester United and in 2006 against Arsenal.
Manchester United scored a pair of goals just two minutes apart in the second half and put together a dominant performance in defeating the surprising Schalke 04 in the first leg of their Champions League match. Wayne Rooney sprung the ageless Ryan Giggs for the first goal and was set up by Javier Hernandez for the second as United now carries a two goal lead back to Old Trafford. If United can hold on they will reach the finals for the 3rd time in 4 years. They won the tournament back in 2008 when they defeated Chelsea on penalties, but fell 2-0 to Barcelona in 2009. United will play at Arsenal on Sunday before they return home for the second leg on Wednesday.
Photo Courtesy: zimbio.com
Barcelona 2 Real Madrid 0
Real Madrid may have won the Copa del Rey last week, but they couldn't duplicate their success in an ugly 2-0 loss to Barcelona. Lionel Messi scored a pair of goals in the second half after Pepe was sent off in the 61st minute for a tackle on Dani Alves as Barcelona now heads back home, like Manchester United, with a 2 goal lead. In addition to Pepe getting sent off, Real Madrid's coach Jose Mourinho and Barcelona's backup goalie Jose Pinto were also ejected from the bench. Messi now has 52 goals in all competitions this season as his Barcelona squad appears well on their way to a 7th Champions League Final. Barcelona won the competition in 2009 against Manchester United and in 2006 against Arsenal.
Photo Courtesy: zimbio.com
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
NHL Conference Semifinal Matchups
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Capitals - Lightning
Game 1 - Friday 4/29 @ Washington
Washington won regular season series 4-2
Washington Leading Playoff Scorer - Alex Ovechkin 3 goals 3 assists
Tampa Bay Leading Playoff Scorer - Martin St. Louis 4 goals 4 assists
Washington Goalkeeping - Michal Neuvirth 4-1 1.38 94.6%
Tampa Bay Goalkeeping - Dwayne Roloson 4-3 1.77 94.9%
Flyers - Bruins
Game 1 - Saturday 4/30 @ Philadelphia
Boston won regular season series 3-1
Philadelphia Leading Playoff Scorer - Claude Giroux 1 goal 8 assists
Boston Leading Playoff Scorer - Patrice Bergeron 2 goals 5 assists
Philadelphia Goalkeeping - Brian Boucher 4-1 2.10 93.4%
Boston Goalkeeping - Tim Thomas 4-3 2.24 92.6%
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Sharks - Red Wings
Game 1 - Saturday 4/29 @ San Jose
San Jose won regular season series 3-1
Detroit Leading Playoff Scorer - Pavel Datsyuk 2 goals 4 assists
San Jose Leading Playoff Scorer - Ryane Clowe 4 goals 3 assists
Detroit Goalkeeping - Jimmy Howard 4-0 2.50 91.5%
San Jose Goalkeeping - Antti Niemi 3-2 3.99 86.3%
Canucks - Predators
Game 1 - Thursday 4/28 @ Vancouver
Regular Season Series tied 2-2
Vancouver Leading Playoff Scorer - Daniel Sedin 5 goals 2 assists
Nashville Leading Playoff Scorer - Mike Fisher 3 goals 3 assists
Vancouver Goalkeeping - Roberto Luongo 4-3 2.97 90.3%
Nashville Goalkeeping - Pekka Rinne 4-2 3.29 87.6%
Capitals - Lightning
Game 1 - Friday 4/29 @ Washington
Washington won regular season series 4-2
Washington Leading Playoff Scorer - Alex Ovechkin 3 goals 3 assists
Tampa Bay Leading Playoff Scorer - Martin St. Louis 4 goals 4 assists
Washington Goalkeeping - Michal Neuvirth 4-1 1.38 94.6%
Tampa Bay Goalkeeping - Dwayne Roloson 4-3 1.77 94.9%
Flyers - Bruins
Game 1 - Saturday 4/30 @ Philadelphia
Boston won regular season series 3-1
Philadelphia Leading Playoff Scorer - Claude Giroux 1 goal 8 assists
Boston Leading Playoff Scorer - Patrice Bergeron 2 goals 5 assists
Philadelphia Goalkeeping - Brian Boucher 4-1 2.10 93.4%
Boston Goalkeeping - Tim Thomas 4-3 2.24 92.6%
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Sharks - Red Wings
Game 1 - Saturday 4/29 @ San Jose
San Jose won regular season series 3-1
Detroit Leading Playoff Scorer - Pavel Datsyuk 2 goals 4 assists
San Jose Leading Playoff Scorer - Ryane Clowe 4 goals 3 assists
Detroit Goalkeeping - Jimmy Howard 4-0 2.50 91.5%
San Jose Goalkeeping - Antti Niemi 3-2 3.99 86.3%
Canucks - Predators
Game 1 - Thursday 4/28 @ Vancouver
Regular Season Series tied 2-2
Vancouver Leading Playoff Scorer - Daniel Sedin 5 goals 2 assists
Nashville Leading Playoff Scorer - Mike Fisher 3 goals 3 assists
Vancouver Goalkeeping - Roberto Luongo 4-3 2.97 90.3%
Nashville Goalkeeping - Pekka Rinne 4-2 3.29 87.6%
NHL Playoff Update - And then there were 8
Boston 4 Montreal 3, OT - Boston wins series 4-3.
Goals:
BOS- Johnny Boychuk (1), Mark Recchi (1), Chris Kelly (3), Nathan Horton (3)
MON- Yannick Weber (2), Tomas Plekanec (2), P.K. Subban (2)
Notes:
Montreal has not won a Stanley Cup since 1993. They are currently in the midst of their longest drought in franchise history between titles... Nathan Horton had never played in the playoffs before joining the Bruins this season. He spent his first six seasons with the Florida Panthers. Horton became the 5th player in NHL history to score OT goals in the same series. Horton also scored the game winner in Game 5... P.K. Subban tied the game up with under 2 minutes to go in the third period to send it into overtime... Johnny Boychuk scored just 3 goals in 69 games during the regular season.
Tampa Bay 1 Pittsburgh 0 - Tampa Bay wins series 4-3.
Goals:
TAM- Sean Bergenheim (3)
PIT- none
Notes:
Pittsburgh scored just 4 goals over the final 3 games and did not score more than 3 goals in any game in the series... 41 year old Dwayne Roloson made 36 saves to earn his second career postseason shutout and first since 2006. Roloson has 28 career regular season shutouts in 525 starts... Sean Bergenheim is playing in his first postseason after spending the last 5 years with the Islanders. Bergenheim had 3 goals and an assist in the series... Tampa Bay has never lost a Game 7.
Goals:
BOS- Johnny Boychuk (1), Mark Recchi (1), Chris Kelly (3), Nathan Horton (3)
MON- Yannick Weber (2), Tomas Plekanec (2), P.K. Subban (2)
Notes:
Montreal has not won a Stanley Cup since 1993. They are currently in the midst of their longest drought in franchise history between titles... Nathan Horton had never played in the playoffs before joining the Bruins this season. He spent his first six seasons with the Florida Panthers. Horton became the 5th player in NHL history to score OT goals in the same series. Horton also scored the game winner in Game 5... P.K. Subban tied the game up with under 2 minutes to go in the third period to send it into overtime... Johnny Boychuk scored just 3 goals in 69 games during the regular season.
Tampa Bay 1 Pittsburgh 0 - Tampa Bay wins series 4-3.
Goals:
TAM- Sean Bergenheim (3)
PIT- none
Notes:
Pittsburgh scored just 4 goals over the final 3 games and did not score more than 3 goals in any game in the series... 41 year old Dwayne Roloson made 36 saves to earn his second career postseason shutout and first since 2006. Roloson has 28 career regular season shutouts in 525 starts... Sean Bergenheim is playing in his first postseason after spending the last 5 years with the Islanders. Bergenheim had 3 goals and an assist in the series... Tampa Bay has never lost a Game 7.
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