Game Sevens abound
All die-hard hockey folks, including the players in the other series, are keeping an eye on the classic matchup between Washington and Pittsburgh, which will conclude tonight in Game Seven. But that's not the only series coming down to winner-take-all -- thankfully.
The Boston Bruins and Anaheim Ducks stayed their executions Monday night. The Bruins beat the Carolina Hurricanes, 4-2, giving themselves a chance to rally from a 3-1 series deficit for the first time in history. Boston Globe columnist Dan Shaughnessy expects the final in Beantown to bring back echoes of the old Boston Garden.
"From the time we fell behind, three games to one, our goal was to create Game Seven," said Boston coach Claude Julien. "We're there now. We need to decide what we're going to do with it."
Raleigh News and Observer columnist Luke DeCock, the former beat writer, wonders why the Hurricanes weren't ready to advance to the Eastern Conference finals.
"The Hurricanes have given away the initiative and again are the underdogs," he wrote.
Meanwhile, the goings-on in the Honda Center ensured a trip back to Motor City. The Ducks earned a 2-1 victory and will try for the series upset Thursday.
"What a great thrill to be playing a great hockey club like that in Game Seven in the Stanley Cup playoffs," Ducks captain Scott Niedermayer said in the Orange County Register. "I'm looking forward to it."
Part of the story for the Red Wings is Pavel Datsyuk -- a finalist for the Hart, Lady Byng and Selke -- has more fights (one) than goals (zero). Detroit Free Press columnist Mitch Albom says Game Seven needs to be The Datsyuk Show.
"He needs to step up in Game Seven now the way stars step up in big games, the way Ryan Getzlaf somehow shook off whatever was bugging him the last two games to lead the way Tuesday for Anaheim, the way [Jonas] Hiller shook off being yanked in Game Four and soundly beaten in Game Five to stop all but one shot in Game Six when facing elimination," Albom wrote.
---John Vogl
