Chase for the Cup: 2011 Stanley Cup Playoffs Roundup

With one half of the Stanley Cup Finals already decided, the East still had to determine it’s representative. Would the Bruins be heading West or would the Lightning force a deciding Game Seven?

The Night that Was:

With their season on the line, the Tampa Bay Lightning went back to Dwayne Roloson between the pipes for Game Six as the Bruins looked to move on to the Stanley Cup Final against Vancouver. Things started off well for Tampa as well, as just 36 seconds in Teddy Purcell scored off of a faceoff in the Bruins’ zone to put the Lightning up 1-0 but Boston responded with two of their own. Milan Lucic’s third of the playoffs tied the game and then late in the period David Krejci sent the Bruins to the second with a 2-1 lead. The roles would switch one things transitioned into the third period however. Eight minutes in to the second Martin St. Louis potted his ninth of the playoffs on the power play, and Purcell added his second of the game on another power play a few minutes later.

The power play acumen of the Lightning would continue into the third as Steven Stamkos would get in on the act with his sixth of the playoffs just 34 seconds in to the frame, but Krejci wouldn’t let his team fall behind. Krejci’s second of the game and ninth of the playoffs came on the power play to put his team within one, but then St. Louis struck again. Streaking in on a two-on-one, St. Louis finished it off and that would be big because just three minutes later it would be a one-goal game thanks to Krejci’s hat-trick goal. The Lightning would hold on to that one goal lead however and win 5-4 to force a Game Seven. Despite the high score, neither goal was challenged all that much as Roloson made 16 saves and Tim Thomas stopped just 21 of 26 shots. With their big nights, Krejci and St. Louis moved into a tie for the playoff lead in goal-scoring with 10 each.

The Injury Bug:

-Sean Bergenheim’s lower body injury kept him out of Game Six. No word if he’ll be back in for Game Seven yet.

What’s on Tonight?

Nothing tonight. Game Seven between Boston and Tampa Bay goes at 8:00pm Friday night in Boston.

News and Rumours Around the League:

-Kyle Okposo and the New York Islanders will be together for five more years. The forward came to an agreement with the team paying him $14-million over the course of the contract.

-Speaking of signings, the Buffalo Sabres came to an agreement on an entry-level contract with Marcus Foligno. Foligno played for Canada in the World Juniors and was Captain of the Sudbury Wolves (OHL) last year.

-Word on Twitter last night was that Don Hay will be named the Head Coach of Canada’s World Junior team next year. Hay is the current Head Coach of the Vancouver Giants (WHL). An announcement is expected today.

Your Top Playoff Performer of the Night:

You can’t overlook David Krejci’s three-goal, +2, 10/18 on faceoffs performance, but Martin St. Louis’ night was just as big with his team on the brink of elimination. St. Louis had six shots on goal, converting on two of them with his second ending up as the winner and two power play points.

You can follow Bryan on Twitter at BryanThiel_88.