Stanley Cup Update: April 15, 2011

For those who aren't able to follow all the goings-on in the Cup race, I will try to get up some recaps every few days so that you'll at least be in the know.  Here's where things stand in the different series. Game recaps after the jump.

Eastern Conference

Washington Capitals (#1) v. NY Rangers (#8): The Caps lead the series 1-0. Game 1 went scoreless for two full periods until Matt Gilroy of the Rangers netted one early in the third. The Caps tied it up when Alex Ovechkin came to the rescue and sent the game into OT. With only a minute and a half left in the first OT, Alex Semin took a pass from Jason Arnott for the GWG.

Pittsburgh Penguins (#4) v. Tamba Bay Lightning (#5) : Marc -Andre Fleury put in a stellar performance to give Pitssburgh a shut-out win and the series lead 1-0. Like the WSH-NYR game, the scoring didn't start until early in the third. Alex Kovalev, Arron Asham, and Chris Kunitz all scored for the Penguins, making it 3-0 at the final buzzer.

Boston Bruins (#3): v. Montreal Canadiens (#6): Montreal leads this series 1-0 on the grace of Carey Price. He posted a 31-shot shut out performance while his teammate Brian Gionta hit the twine twice to secure a 2-0 win for the Habs. For a game that was supposed to be a blood-bath from all the stuff that went down in the regular season, this really turned out to be a snooze-fest.

Philadelphia Flyers (#2) v. Buffalo Sabres (#7): This was a hard-hitting, chippy, playoff-hockey type of game. It was also the story of unlikely heroes. Philly's goalie, Sergei Bobrovsky, made his Cup playoff debut and stopped 24 of the 25 shots thrown at him. Alas, the one that went in was by Patrick Kaleta, who missed 16 of the final 17 regular season games. Sabres are up 1-0 on the series with that 1-0 win.

Western Conference

Detroit Red Wings (#3) v. Phoenix Coyotes (#6): For most of the first, it looked like Phoenix was going to give the Wings a run for their money. They drew first blood only two minutes into the game. Detroit came out in the second on fire, though, scoring three goals, and then they added a fourth at 3:16 of the third. Phoenix came back with one of their own but it was too little too late. 4-2 Detroit on the game, 1-0 Detroit on the series.

Vancouver Canucks (#1) v. Chicago Blackhawks (#8): The Canucks dominated the first with Chris Higgins and Jannik Hansen both finding the back of the net. Roberto Luongo turned away all 32 shots the Hawks put on goal to preserve a 2-0 win for Vancouver. Don't start thinking Chicago's done, though: this is the third straight year Vancouver has taken game one against the Blackhawks...and the Hawks won both previous series. Right now, Vancouver leads 1-0.

Anaheim Ducks (#4) v. Nashville Predators (#5):  This was a dirty, dirty game. The first two periods had a not-so-unusual total of 5 penalties. The third, however, busted out with 8 for Anaheim and 5 for Nashville. Lots of roughing, hooking, slashing...and game misconducts to George Parros, Jarkko Ruutu and Sheldon Brookbank, all of the Ducks.  Nashville is 1-0 on the series.

San Jose Sharks (#2) v. Los Angeles Kings (#7): This one looked done before it even began. Just 28 seconds in, Dany Heatley backhanded one past a stunned Jonathan Quick. The Kings looked shaky for the rest of the first, but they came back in the second to tie it up. The teams traded goals again and went into OT where Joe Pavelski wristed in the winner, ending the night 3-2 San Jose. The Sharks take the series lead 1-0. This game may have more press, though, as Jarret Stoll of the Kings sent the Sharks' Ian White hard into the boards with what may be deemed a blindside hit to the head. White left the game and did not return. Officials are looking into the incident. UPDATE: Stoll did, in fact, get a one-game suspension for the hit.