Avalanche Off to Impressive Start Following Sub-Par 2012 Season

By - Sandra Nevins

It's no secret that I have great disdain for all Colorado sports teams, but I would be remiss not acknowledging the impressive turnaround of the Colorado Avalanche this season.

Photo by: Patrick Smith

The Avs finished 2012 with the second-worst record in the NHL, but are off to their best start in team history this season. At 10-1, they currently share the distinction of having the most wins in hockey with the San Jose Sharks.

Two former players have made a huge impact on the organization. Joe Sakic now reigns as the Executive Vice President of Hockey Operations, making all the final decisions on matters regarding team personnel. On the bench, Hall of Fame goaltender Patrick Roy has been very impressive in his first stint as a head coach. Roy won his first 6 games, tying Mario Tremblay for the most consecutive wins to start a coaching career.

Channeling his inner Roy, netminder Semyon Varlamov has been stellar in between the pipes, boasting a 1.76 goals against average; 8th-best in the NHL. His backup, Jean-Sebastien Giguere, is also playing well. Recently, he shutout the Pittsburgh Penguins, stopping all 34 shots he faced.

Center Matt Duchene is proving why he is worthy of his 5-year, $30 million contract. Through 11 games, he's lit the lamp 9 times. Also noteworthy is the play of 18-year-old rookie standout Nathan MacKinnon, who already has 6 assists on the season.

As a team, Colorado leads the league in penalty kill percentage. They have only allowed 3 power-play goals all year, and have yet to surrender a short-handed goal. The Avalanche have clearly been playing more disciplined hockey, committing fewer penalties than the opposition and taking full advantage of power-play opportunities.

Oates Critical of Hertl's Scintillating Goal

By - Keith Smith

On Tuesday, 19-year-old Tomas Hertl became the fourth-youngest player in NHL history to score four or more goals in a single game.

His final goal, was nothing short of spectacular.

The rookie was crossing in front of the net with the puck on a slight breakaway, when out of nowhere, he pulled it back through his legs and flicked a wicked, between-the-legs backhander into the upper corner of the goal.

Photo by: Marcio Jose Sanchez

Trust me, I'm not a good enough writer to do it justice. You can watch the video [here].

Not everyone was a fan of the play, however. Specifically, Adam Oates, head coach of the Washington Capitals.

The Hall of Famer took it upon himself to voice his disdain for the way Hertl scored his breathtaking goal. Not with some sort of excessive celebration (which didn't happen). Not with the young man running his mouth off about accomplishing such a feat (which also didn't happen). Just about the style of the shot.

"I'm upset," Oates told the Washington Post. "Don't disrespect the league. I'm sure it was a rookie mistake."

Oates also mentioned that Hertl opened himself up for retribution down the line, which is seemingly a blatant threat in a sport that believes in policing itself.

Uhh, what?!?

Don't get me wrong, I'm a firm believer in the unwritten rules of sports and not showing up the other team. I supported both instances in baseball recently when the Atlanta Braves confronted opposing players for talking smack while rounding the bases and watching home runs for too long. And if Tomas Hertl had done something similar, I might have felt the same way.

But this is apples and oranges.

It was obviously a move the kid had practiced on numerous occasions, and it clearly confused and confounded the goalie. It also put another point on the board for his team.

Last time I checked, wasn't that the goal in hockey?

Kessel Receives a Slap on the Wrist From the NHL

By - Brad Heerschop

It's only the preseason, but the National Hockey League is already showing what a joke of an organization they are, yet again.

On Tuesday, NHL Director of Player Safety Brendan Shanahan handed out a suspension to Leafs' forward Phil Kessel for his despicable behavior during Sunday's game against the Sabres.

Photo by: Getty Images

The details of said suspension? Three lousy games. Not three games that matter either, but three meaningless preseason tilts. It will only be a matter of days before the American is back on the ice.

In the event you have yet to see the footage of what all transpired, you can view the video [here].

It all started when Buffalo head coach Ron Rolston sent enforcer John Scott out for a face-off against Kessel's line, after a fight in which Corey Tropp was beaten convincingly by Jamie Devane. Scott told Kessel that he was going after him as he skated to the circle.

Kessel responded in the dirtiest way possible, by slashing him with his stick multiple times.

Granted, it was unnecessary to send out a 6'8, 270 pound goon to pick a fight with Toronto's pretty boy poster child, but slashing him repeatedly? Isn't that a tad bit overkill?

If Kessel had pulled the cheap move once, I might consider just chalking it up to self defense. But, he didn't. He took it too far, and anybody who watches the clip will agree.

What ensued was an all-out brawl between several players, including the always classic goaltender fight. Now, I'm not an advocate for fighting in hockey (quite the contrary actually), but the league handled the suspensions and fines in typical NHL fashion.

David Clarkson was handed a suspension of ten regular season games for leaving the bench area, the standard punishment for doing so. This suspension I can understand. The rules are in place for a reason, and under no circumstance should a player leave the bench to fight, especially in a preseason game of all things.

Predators Land a Steal in the 2013 NHL Draft

By - Brad Heerschop

Where I come from, anything over 70 degrees is considered balmy and people find it unbearable. We're just not used to the heat. So as I sit in my sauna of a home on a 100 degree day, I've been forced to think cool.

Naturally, my mind shifts to the ice.

Sunday's NHL Draft had plenty of surprises, one in particular that was astounding. In mock drafts done by so-called "experts" everywhere, the consensus was pretty standard as to who the top 4 picks would be.

The order? Not so much.

Still, Seth Jones was the No. 1 player in North America based on pre-draft rankings. I don't think I'm alone in my shock that the former Portland Winterhawk star fell into Nashville's lap as the fourth overall selection.

Photo by: Brian Heim

Is it just a coincidence that his father, former NBA player Popeye Jones, is good friends with one of the team scouts? Well of course it is. So how does a player with his talent fall to 4th in a draft class where he should have gone 1 or 2?

I have some theories.

Jones was born in Texas, but grew up in Denver, where his father played for the Nuggets. It seemed almost too fitting that he might go to his hometown team, the Colorado Avalanche, as the first overall pick.

The Avs could have fared well with either guy, but went the way of offense instead of defense, choosing center Nathan MacKinnon from the Halifax Mooseheads. It's hard to fault Joe Sakic and company for not selecting Jones, as it was clearly a draft of needs for the Avalanche.

Colorado was 26th in the NHL last season in total goals scored. It is no secret that offense is a huge part of the problem in Denver.

Once the Avalanche overlooked Jones, it appeared to be a matter of seconds until the Florida Panthers would pick the talented defenseman at second overall. One of the NHL's worst defensive clubs, Florida could have greatly benefited with a blue-liner of Jones' pedigree. The Panthers finished the 2012-13 season with the most goals against and the worst penalty kill percentage in the entire league.

NHL Eastern Conference Finals Preview

By - Brad Heerschop

And then there were five. What you might not know is that the five teams still alive in this year's Stanley Cup Playoffs also represent the last five Stanley Cup champions.

With the Western Finals matchup yet to be determined (Game 7 between the Red Wings and Blackhawks is later tonight), let's take a look into what has already been decided; an Eastern Conference Finals showdown pitting the Boston Bruins against the Pittsburgh Penguins, in a series that is sure to be extremely exciting as well as unpredictable.

Photo by: Getty Images

The Penguins were the Eastern Conference's best team this year, locking down the No. 1 seed and home ice advantage throughout their road to Lord Stanley. In this year's playoffs, the Pens have been tested, but have prevailed mightily.

Pittsburgh is 8-3 so far this postseason, beating the New York Islanders in 6 games and the Ottawa Senators in 5. The Penguins were absolutely dominant in the final 2 games of their series against Ottawa, outscoring the Senators 13-5. In fact, I don't remember ever seeing a team outplay another at this level the way Pittsburgh did Ottawa in games 4 and 5.

In 11 games the Penguins have outscored their opponents 47 to 28, an average of 4.27 to 2.54 per contest. Defensively they had left something to be desired earlier in these playoffs, but now seem to have figured it out both on defense and between the pipes.

Backup netminder Tomas Vokoun is doing what Marc-Andre Fleury couldn't; preventing the puck from getting behind him. His goals against average (GAA) is just 1.85 this postseason, good enough for 3rd overall.

While their defense has improved, the Penguins still butter their bread with their ability to score goals. They have been the NHL's highest scoring club in these playoffs, and many players have made significant offensive contributions.

To name a few, Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang and Sidney Crosby are 2nd, 3rd and 4th, respectively, in points this postseason. Letang's 13 assists are tops in that department. Crosby and winger Pascal Dupuis share the NHL's playoff goal scoring lead, with 7 each.

Second Round Predictions For the NHL Playoffs

By - Brad Heerschop

It's been a theme for me lately. Making predictions as though I have some idea what I'm talking about. They have been of the NBA variety of late, but this time, I will test the waters of a game I have been indoctrinated into my entire life.

Photo by: Getty Images

If you called the 2-seeds in both conferences going down in the opening round, I hope you bet on it. You now look like some sort of hockey savant.

The NHL is never easy to predict. Sometimes a couple bad bounces can propel a team that has been outplayed all night long into the winner's circle. Nevertheless, I will hazard some guesses.

- #1 Pittsburgh Penguins vs. #7 Ottawa Senators

The Penguins won a shootout of a series against an impressive New York Islanders squad in 6 games. While they didn't look sharp on their own end of the ice, the Stanley Cup favorites managed to light the lamp often enough to earn their place in the second round.

In a series between two teams separated by just over 100 miles, Ottawa looked extremely formidable against the Montreal Canadiens. It took Canada's capital city all of 5 games to eliminate the NHL's all-time most successful franchise. The Senators are Canada's only remaining hope at the first Cup north of the border in 20 years.

The Penguins showed in the opening round that they are not too good to lose to a team like Ottawa. Pittsburgh needs to play better defense and their goaltending needs to step up in a big way. If the move from Marc-Andre Fleury to Tomas Vokoun needs to be made, so be it. If the right decisions are made at the right times, the Pens will come out of this more or less unscathed.

Pittsburgh: 4, Ottawa: 1

NHL Playoffs: The Best Postseason in Sports

By - Brad Heerschop

The NHL postseason. A time for sports fans unlike any other.

There is something about the Stanley Cup Playoffs that is undeniably amazing. 82 games behind us (or 48 as it were), and only 16 teams remaining. Nearly two months of the best hockey you can watch, each and every year.

Where I come from, if you're not glued to your television for the next 8 weeks, many think something is wrong with you. I would have to agree, because to me, the NHL playoffs are the greatest postseason in all of sports.

Photo by: Harry How

This year's tourney has not disappointed, as Gary Bettman and company's valiant effort to ruin the greatest game on ice has once again come up short.

You will have to forgive me if my writing comes across as obtuse. I don't get a lot of sleep these days. If I sleep, I might miss out on something great. If I miss that overtime goal or that amazing save, what will I have to talk about around the water cooler the following morning?

Every series this postseason has its share of emotion and a great back story. When two teams square off for 4 to 7-consecutive games against one another in such a violent and physical sport, rivalries are bound to surface. Often times new rivalries are formed, while at others old ones are renewed.

The San Jose Sharks completed their first postseason sweep in franchise history on Tuesday night, downing the Vancouver Canucks 4-3 in overtime. The Canucks are the first team eliminated from this year's festivities.

Ottawa and Montreal have played a gritty series full of physical play and a plethora of drama. Bad blood and a genuine dislike for each other has fueled one of the better matchups so far. The Senators currently lead the Habs 3 games to 1.

I could cover every single series, but instead will focus my attention on the one series in particular that I can't get enough of. The surprising upstart 8th seeded New York Islanders are tied 2-2 with the team many consider to be the NHL's best, the Pittsburgh Penguins.

The Blackhawks Continue Their Red-Hot Play

By - Brad Heerschop

In this shortened NHL season, we are already about one third of the way through the regular season. Some teams look great while others look like the lockout was anything but a friend to them. The Chicago Blackhawks haven't missed a beat. Currently, they are poised to have a fantastic year.

Photo by: Bill Smith

The 2010-11 Stanley Cup winning Blackhawks are on a path to get back to the holy grail of hockey. Through 16 games they boast a stunning 13-0-3 record. Their 16-game streak leaves them tied with the 2006-2007 Anaheim Ducks for the longest point streak to start a season. Only 4 teams in the history of the NHL have started a season with at least one point in 14-straight games. The first 3 all went on to win the Stanley Cup.

The Blackhawks are a well-rounded team with several great players, none standing out far above the rest. Even with their star-studded roster including Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane, Patrick Sharp, Marian Hossa, Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook and Corey Crawford, they don't have any league-leaders in any major statistical category.

Kane leads all Blackhawks' scorers with 9 goals and 12 assists. His 21 points have him tied for 3rd in the NHL. The next highest points total in Chicago is Toews, and he has managed 15 points this season -- tied for 17th in the NHL. The reason these Blackhawks are so good isn't individual, but rather it's a team effort. Although nobody on the squad is in the top 5 for goals this season, the team as a whole is 3rd in goals scored.

The goaltending has been a big factor as well. Corey Crawford and Ray Emery have been stellar. Individually, neither leads the league in any major statistical category. Combined, however, is a different story. Currently the Blackhawks hold the best goals against average in the NHL at 1.87.

The Hawks also are 3rd in the NHL in penalty kill percentage and 1st in overall plus/minus. Only 3 players have a negative plus/minus rating, and that rating is only minus 1.

Brodeur Continues to Play at a High Level, Even in the Twilight of His Career

By - Brad Heerschop

As I sat back anticipating last night's lineup of hockey games, I began to consider the inevitable end of one Hall of Fame goaltender's career.

Canadian netminder Martin Brodeur boasts one of hockey's greatest resumes and isn't quite yet finished stamping his legacy. At 40-years-old, Brodeur still is playing phenomenal hockey, currently holding a .911 save percentage (SV%), a 2.29 goals against average (GAA) and a 6-2-1 record on the season.

Photo by: Getty Images

While Brodeur is still amongst the league's best, his career is coming to it's finale. A sure-fire first-ballot Hall of Fame inductee, his numbers and records throughout his career make him not only the class of his generation, but one of hockey's greatest goaltenders of all-time.

Brodeur's incredible feats make it easy to argue that he may, in fact, be the best to ever play. I won't even try to compare him to the great goaltenders of hockey lore. Instead, I will let the numbers speak for themselves. It is virtually impossible to compare players of two different generations as the game changes and evolves over time.

He has won 3 Stanley Cups, having been to the Cup Finals on 5 separate occasions. The latest of which came just last season. In his 21 NHL seasons, his New Jersey Devils have been to the playoffs 19 times.

Brodeur has also won 2 Olympic Gold Medals and 1 World Cup of Hockey Gold Medal to go along with many other feats at the international level of competition.

He has won 4 Vezina Trophies as the best goaltender in the NHL and 5 William M. Jennings Trophies for finishing the year with the best GAA in the league. Brodeur has also been invited to the All-Star game 10 times in his incredible career.

Since being selected 20th overall in the 1990 draft, Brodeur has been nothing short of amazing. His long list of records and accolades is as impressive a resume as any in the history of the sport. Notably, he holds the records for most regular season wins (662), most regular season shutouts (120), most postseason shutouts (24), most single season wins (48), most overtime wins (52), best postseason GAA (1.96) and most shootout victories (26), just to name a few.

The National Hockey League Has Lost the Casual Fan, Possibly Forever

By - Kris Fletcher

Gary Bettman. Donald Fehr. Steve Fehr. Bill Daly. Players. Owners. Federal mediators.

Wash, rinse, repeat.

It's Day 98 of the National Hockey League lockout, and I've had about enough of this fiasco, as I know many others have as well.

Photo by: Allison Joyce

For the record, I'm not a diehard hockey fan. Far from it. I'm a casual fan at best. I've always been more of a football, basketball, and baseball guy.

But as a sports fan in general, I can totally appreciate competition at its highest level. And last season, when the New Jersey Devils and Los Angeles Kings were fighting their way to the Stanley Cup Finals, I couldn't help but get into the excitement of it all. You could feel the intensity, and it was clear that the players were wearing their hearts on their sleeves during every second of every game.

It was impossible not to admire.

In fact, I enjoyed the playoffs so much, that for the first time in my life, I was actually looking forward to hockey returning this season.

Well hockey never came, and it still hasn't come, as billionaires continue to negotiate with millionaires.

And I can tell you this -- if and when NHL players do return to the ice, I won't be watching.

Nothing to watch on the tube but a hockey game? I think I'll read a book. Free tickets to watch my hometown Nashville Predators play? I think I'll pass and go catch a movie instead. Merchandise? Well I've never purchased a hockey jersey before, but now, I'd be hard-pressed to accept one even if I were wearing nothing but a pair of boxers in the middle of downtown Music City during a blizzard in January.

I'm just completely turned off by the greed, the unwillingness to cooperate, the lack of direction, and the apathy towards the fans who live and die with every drop of the puck. And let's not forget all the employees of these hockey organizations and the local businesses that are negatively affected by this dire situation.

It's disgraceful, it's unfair, and I'm finished.

Some Leagues Never Learn

By - Keith Smith

Gomer Pyle once said, "Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me."

That's sound advice. Something I've tried to live much of my adult life by.

What I can't seem to figure out, though, is why the NHL has such a hard time understanding that, sooner or later, the rest of its fan base will start adhering to this philosophy as well.

Photo by: Getty Images

The league has now embarked on its fourth work stoppage in the past 20 years. Now, I'm no mathematician, but even I can figure out that this is an average of once every 5 years.

The previous stoppage, which cancelled the entire '04-'05 season, was probably as costly as any has ever been in any sport.

At that time, hockey was experiencing perhaps its most widespread popularity in history. The NHL had a very lucrative television contract with ESPN and Fox, and while purists like myself hated it, that goofy blue-turn-red-when-the-shot-was-hard-enough streak that followed the puck on Fox gave even the most casual fan the ability to keep up with the game on TV (no small feat).

But after losing the entire season (the first, and currently the only major sport to ever do so), upon their return, the league was relegated to the Versus Channel, crowds were very slow to return, and all that hard work to build the sport's popularity was virtually erased.

Cut to 2012, and here we are again.

At the beginning of summer, the Los Angeles Kings finished off a spectacular season by winning the Stanley Cup for the first time in franchise history. The entire West Coast and a large portion of the United States were cheering for them, and the sport was beginning to get its U.S. fan base back.

Winnipeg Jets Center Rick Rypien Found Dead

By - Brian Harrington

Rick Rypien, a center for the Winnipeg Jets, was found dead in his home yesterday. An official with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police confirmed the death. He called it sudden, but not suspicious in any way.

Rypien, 27, signed a one-year, $700,000 deal with Winnipeg last month after spending parts of six seasons with the Vancouver Canucks. He had 9 goals, 7 assists and 226 penalty minutes in 119 career NHL games.

Photo by: Nick Procaylo

"We would like to express our sincere sympathies to the Rypien family as well as Rick's friends," the Jets said in a statement. "We also appreciate all of the support that has come pouring in from Rick's fans. Rick was a talented player with an extremely bright future. His hunger for the game made him a valued team member both on and off the ice. This loss has impacted us as more than just a hockey team."

Rypien, the cousin of former NFL quarterback Mark Rypien, was granted an indefinite leave of absence last season to deal with an undisclosed personal matter. The leave came several weeks after he returned from a six-game suspension for shoving a Minnesota Wild fan at Xcel Energy Center in October.

Corey Perry Named NHL's Most Valuable Player

By - Kris Fletcher

On Wednesday, Corey Perry of the Anaheim Ducks was awarded the Hart Memorial Trophy as the NHL's Most Valuable Player.

Perry led the league with 50 goals and scored a career-best 98 points. He also led the league with 21 third-period goals and 28 road goals, while tying for the league lead in game-winning goals with 11.

Photo by: Getty Images

His 50 goals were the most by a Ducks player since Teemu Selanne scored 52 during the 1997-98 season.

"Congratulations to Corey Perry on this tremendous accomplishment," Ducks General Manager Bob Murray said in a press release. "This is a historic day for the Perry family and the entire Anaheim Ducks organization. Corey deserves this terrific honor following a season that defines what the Hart Trophy is all about."

Boston Bruins Win Stanley Cup

By - Kris Fletcher

For the first time in thirty-nine years, Lord Stanley's Cup has returned to Boston.

Tim Thomas, who was named the Conn Smythe award winner as the MVP of the postseason, made 37 saves, while Patrice Bergeron and rookie Brad Marchand scored 2 goals apiece as the Bruins defeated the Vancouver Canucks in Game 7 by a final of 4-0.

Photo by: Getty Images

With the victory, Boston becomes the first team in NHL history to win three Game 7's in the same postseason.

For Vancouver, it was a bitter way to have their season end, as they let a golden opportunity to be champions slip away. They blew both a 2-0 and 3-2 series lead, and also managed to drop Game 7 in front of their home crowd.

Sale of Thrashers Complete, Moving to Winnipeg Next Season

By - Brian Harrington

The sale of the Atlanta Thrashers to True North Sports and Entertainment has been completed, making way for hockey to once again return to Winnipeg after the Jets were sold and moved to Phoenix in 1996. The deal is reportedly worth $170 million, and a $60 million relocation fee that would be split between the rest of the league.

Photo by: Getty Images

Atlanta now has the distinction of being the first team in the NHL's modern era to lose 2 franchises, both to Canada on top of that. The Flames moved to Calgary in 1980 after only 8 seasons, now the Thrashers move to Winnipeg after 12 seasons. Hey, that's progress. I think it's pretty safe to say Atlanta can forget about ever having a hockey team again.

The sale still has to have league approval, which requires a 3/4 majority vote. While moving the team only requires more than 50% majority. With NHL commissioner Gary Bettman highly backing this deal, I'm pretty sure they'll get the votes needed. Bettman was quoted as saying, "We get to be back in a place we wish we hadn't left in 1996. The best way for our fans here in Winnipeg to celebrate the opportunity, is to buy season tickets. To be candid, this isn’t going to work very well unless this building is sold out every night."

New York Rangers Player Found Dead

By - Kris Fletcher

Yesterday family members found New York Rangers forward Derek Boogaard dead inside his apartment in Minneapolis. He was only 28 years old.

Photo by: Getty Images

According to the New York Daily News, the Minneapolis medical examiner does not suspect foul play. An investigation is currently underway and autopsy results will not be known for a few weeks.

Boogaard played in 277 NHL games between the Rangers and Minnesota Wild. He last played on December 9th, and missed the rest of his first season in New York with a concussion he suffered after a fight with Ottawa's Matt Carkner.

Red Wings Force Game 7

By - Kris Fletcher

Apparently, reports on the demise of the Detroit Red Wings were greatly exaggerated.

Once upon a time, they were in a 3-0 series hole to the San Jose Sharks. Now, they're a game away from becoming just the fourth team in NHL history to win a series after trailing it 3-0.

Photo by: Getty Images

Trailing 1-0 early in third-period Tuesday night, Detroit rallied to win by a final score of 3-1, sending the series back to San Jose for a deciding Game 7 on Thursday.

Logan Couture broke a scoreless tie early in the third to give the Sharks a 1-0 lead. Henrik Zetterberg then tied it up a little more than halfway through the period. Less than two minutes after that, Valtteri Filppula gave the Red Wings the lead and they never relinquished it. Darren Helm added an empty-netter with a little over a minute remaining to seal the deal.

Predators Win a Thriller

By - Kris Fletcher

Last night at Chili's over a few beers, some skillet queso and hot wings, a buddy and I watched a great playoff hockey game between the Nashville Predators and Vancouver Canucks.

Now I'll admit, hockey isn't my favorite sport, but after what I saw last night it's quickly growing on me.

The Canucks had won Game 1 of the series 1-0, so it was fairly important for the Predators to earn a split heading back to Nashville for Game 3, rather than be down 0-2 to the top-seed in the conference.

With a little over a minute remaining in regulation, it looked like that might very well end up being the case. Vancouver led 1-0 and goaltender Roberto Luongo had been brilliant all night, same as he had been in the Game 1 win.

As Nashville pulled goaltender Pekka Rinne to gain a man-advantage, defenseman Ryan Suter attempted a centering pass from behind the Canucks goal, but the puck banked off Luongo's skate and into the net to tie the game. I don't suppose it was the most glamorous way to send a game into overtime, but hey, it worked.

Photo by: Andy Clark

The two overtimes featured some great hockey by both squads, but it was Pekka Rinne that stole the show for the Predators. On several occasions the Canucks had point-blank opportunities to end the game, but time after time Rinne made brilliant saves to turn them away.

The Predators Finally Deliver

By - Kris Fletcher

After twelve seasons of coming up short, Nashville finally broke through.

Photo by: Sanford Myers

On Sunday night in defeating the Anaheim Ducks by a final score of 4-2, the Predators won the series four games to two and advanced to the Western Conference Semifinals. It was Nashville's first playoff round victory in the history of the franchise.

The Predators had qualified for the postseason five previous times, only to be bounced in the opening round.

Road Rage: All NHL Visiting Teams Win

By - Kris Fletcher

So much for home-ice advantage.

On Monday, all the road teams managed to pick up wins in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. It was the first time since 2007 that four road teams won on the same day.

Tyler Kennedy put Pittsburgh ahead early in the third-period, and Marc-Andre Fleury stopped 25 shots, helping the Penguins hold off the Tampa Bay Lightning by a final of 3-2. Maxime Talbot and Arron Asham also scored for Pittsburgh, who now holds a 2-1 series lead.

Photo by: Allen James

Danny Briere and Nikolay Zherdev both scored second-period goals for the Flyers, and Brian Boucher stopped 35 shots as the new starting goalie, as Philadelphia defeated the Buffalo Sabres by a final of 4-2. The Flyers now lead the series 2-1.

David Krejci and Nathan Horton scored first-period goals, Rich Peverley added one in the second, and Tim Thomas stopped 34 shots to help lead Boston over the Montreal Canadiens by a final of 4-2. Montreal still holds a 2-1 series lead.