NHL roundup: Flyers brimming with confidence after Game 5 win

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Sat Apr-25-09 01:58 AM
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NHL roundup: Flyers brimming with confidence after Game 5 win

The Flyers still trail the Penguins 3-2 in their Eastern Conference Quarterfinal series. But to listen to folks in the Philadelphia locker room, you would think they were in the driver's seat.

"It's pretty amazing," forward Danny Briere told NHL.com following Friday's media availability. "Even (Thursday), going and getting ready for the game -- it's weird, we're down 3-1 but it doesn't feel that way."

That's because of what the Flyers have been able to do since the middle of Game 2 of this series. Discounting the penalty-filled 4-1 loss in Game 1, the Flyers have had the better of the play. They've outscored the Penguins in the last four games 12-9, and except for three poorly timed penalties late in Game 2, they could be the ones ready to close out this series.

"After Game 1, where we didn't really play well at all, we made some changes and guys really grabbed it and went for it and that really made a difference," said goaltender Martin Biron.

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=419949

Penguins Confident Heading Into Game 6

Entering their first-round Stanley Cup showdown, the Penguins and Flyers were about as evenly matched as you could get. So it is no surprised to anyone that Philadelphia survived elimination with a 3-0 victory at Mellon Arena Thursday night and will force a Game 6.

�Going into the playoffs everybody knew that it was not going to be easy, especially playing against a team like the Flyers because they always play with heart and they never give up,� blueliner Sergei Gonchar said. �Obviously, it would have been nice to finish (the series Thursday) but that didn�t happen so (Saturday) we have to be focused and make sure we are ready because it�s going to be a tough game.�

�We know they are going to be energized,� Sidney Crosby said. �We have to play a solid road game. We�ve been in this situation, we�ve played there, a lot of us four or five times in the playoffs so we know what to expect.�

The 3-0 loss was not an indication of how close the game actually was. Pittsburgh dominated the play early, outshooting the Flyers 15-5 in the first period, but ran into a stellar performance by Philadelphia netminder Martin Biron.

http://penguins.nhl.com/team/app?articleid=419994&page=NewsPage&service=page

Sharks stunned to be facing elimination

ANAHEIM � After a 4-0 loss to the Anaheim Ducks in Game 4 of the Western Conference Quarterfinals Thursday night, the San Jose Sharks were at a loss for words.

In a disappointing effort, the top-seeded Sharks failed to generate any offense against the upstart Ducks for the second time in the series, which now has San Jose facing a 3-1 deficit heading back home for Game 5 Saturday (10 p.m. ET, VERSUS, CBC, RDS).

"We obviously lost a really important game," said goalie Evgeni Nabokov, who made 22 saves. "We have to find a way to score more goals. Every time they get the lead, they're a confident team. Somehow we have to avoid that."

Somehow, the Sharks must respond or see a season with franchise records for wins and points that fueled their Stanley Cup aspirations disappear in stunning fashion.

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=419929&navid=DL|NHL|Home

Caps force Game 6 with 4-0 win over Rangers

WASHINGTON -- The Washington Capitals hit the rewind button and played Friday night's game at the Verizon Center like it was the regular season.

Chalk up another win for the Southeast Division champs -- enough to give them at least two more days of life in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Facing elimination, the Capitals played their best game of the series against the New York Rangers for a 4-0 victory. They chased a player they've been calling "The Difference," goaltender Henrik Lundqvist, after just 40 minutes and 14 shots on goal -- and also got a second shutout from their 20-year-old rookie goalie, Simeon Varlamov.

Game 6, another elimination game for the Capitals, is Sunday afternoon back at Madison Square Garden. If the Caps win, Game 7 will be back at the Verizon Center on Tuesday night

http://www.nhl.com/ice/recap.htm?id=2008030125&navid=DL|NHL|Home

Blackhawks standing behind 'Bulin Wall'

CHICAGO � Nikolai Khabibulin has taken better trips West, to be sure.

In fact, the goaltender packed a career mark of 24-5-2 against the Flames (2.06 goals-against and .931 save percentage) in his bag to Calgary last weekend. As one of hockey's hottest goalies, stringing together a 10-1-1 record in his past dozen games leading up to and including last Saturday's 3-2 win in Game 2 of the Western Conference Quarterfinals, he had every right to feel impenetrable.

But on the heels of his 33rd career playoff win, Khabibulin was touched for nine goals in two games against Calgary's amped-up offense. Is his fa�ade as a Flames-douser fading?

"I don't pay attention to that," Khabibulin said on the eve of Saturday's pivotal Game 5 in Chicago (9 p.m. ET, TSN, RIS). "We win as a team and lose as a team. It's been that way all year, and it doesn't change in the playoffs. We're going to put a lot better effort out on the ice (Saturday)."

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=419969