No. 1 Vancouver vs. No. 5 Nashville
(Canucks win series 4-2)

Game 1: Canucks 1, Predators 0

Game 2: Predators 2, Canucks 1 (2OT)

Game 3: Canucks 3, Predators 2 (OT)

Game 4: Canucks 4, Predators 2

Game 5: Predators 4, Canucks 3

Game 6: Canucks 2, Predators 1
Desperate to avoid a second consecutive grueling seven-game series, the Canucks jumped out to an early lead with first period goals from Daniel Sedin and Mason Raymond and put the clamps on Nashville’s sputtering offense the rest of the way to close out the series and advance to the Western Conference finals. Roberto Luongo made 23 saves for Vancouver and got some help on the Predators’ final flurry when a defender deflected a blast from the point as the final seconds ticked off the clock. After Nashville whiffed on four power-play opportunities in the first period, David Legwand scored 3:31 into the second on a goal that held up after video review to trim the deficit to 2-1, but the Canucks’ kept enough possession and avoided the mistakes that plagued them in Game 5 to seal the win in the third period. Vancouver is just 2-4 this postseason when given the chance to eliminate its opponent. The Canucks advanced to their first conference finals since 1994 where they await the winner of the San Jose-Detroit series.
Mason Raymond scores Vancouver’s first goal of the night past Pekka Rinne. (Frederick Breedon - GETTY IMAGES)

Quote of the night: “I said to him when I went by out there: ‘If you don’t play like that, we’re going to Game 7 and maybe we win the series.’ He was a force the whole series ... he played to a level that few people can reach. He just had one of those series ... the most incredible six games that we’ll probably see.” — Nashville Coach Barry Trotz on the play of Canucks center Ryan Kesler

- Read the full story from Vancouver’s series-clinching win

- Box score

- Ryan Kesler - who tallied a point on 11 of his team’s 14 goals in the series - was the difference yet again in Monday’s series-clinching victory, writes Vancouver Sun columnist Cam Cole

- Vancouver’s shutdown defensive pair of Kevin Bieksa and Dan Hamhuis locked down Nasvhille’s top offensive weapons (Vancouver Sun)

- The Predators can’t keep the best season in franchise history alive as they fall in Game 6 (The Tennessean)

- Nashville should take pride in its strong showing the playoffs, writes Tennessean columnist Joe Biddle

- Check out a photo gallery from Game 6 from the Vancouver Sun

- The Preds’ loss can’t cloud a season of firsts (The Tennessean)

No. 2 San Jose vs. No. 3 Detroit
(Sharks lead series 3-2)

Game 1: Sharks 2, Red Wings 1 (OT)

Game 2: Sharks 2, Red Wings 1

Game 3: Sharks 4, Red Wings 3

Game 4: Red Wings 4, Sharks 3

Game 5: Red Wings 4, Sharks 3

Game 6: Tonight at San Jose, 8 (Versus)

*Game 7: Thursday at San Jose, TBD (Versus)

- Red Wings coach Mike Babcock is planning on earning a trip back to San Jose for Game 7

- The Red Wings are hoping the Sharks are primed for their annual postseason collapse, writes Detroit Free-Press columnist Michael Rosenberg

- San Jose will be in trouble if they allow Detroit to win tonight and force a Game 7, writes San Jose Mercury News columnist Tim Kawakami

- The Sharks missed an opportunity to close out the Red Wings in Game 5, but they still have plenty of opportunities to clinch the series, writes San Jose Mercury News columnist Mark Purdy

- Detroit must rely on a familiar formula - toughness - to survive Game 6 and force a Game 7 in San Jose (Detroit Free-Press)

- Nicklas Lidstrom knows Detroit still faces an “uphill battle” (Detroit Free-Press)

- The Sharks are expecting more from the nearly invisible Patrick Marleau (San Jose Mercury News)

EASTERN CONFERENCE

No. 1 Washington vs. No. 5 Tampa Bay
(Lightning win series 4-0)

Game 1: Lightning 4, Capitals 2

Game 2: Lightning 3, Capitals 2 (OT)

Game 3: Lightning 4, Capitals 3

Game 4: Lightning 5, Capitals 3

- Hall of Famer Steve Yzerman seems to be making all the right moves as GM to turn Tampa Bay back into a Cup contender, writes Tracee Hamilton

- Snapshots from Tampa’s 2004 Stanley Cup run serve as a reminder of how special this season could become, writes Tampa Tribune columnist Martin Fennelly

- After another hellish postseason, the Caps’ stars still have some growing up to do, writes Mike Wise

- It’s time for Washington to move in a new direction, rather than continue to retrace its steps to playoff disappointment, writes Thomas Boswell

- In his latest On Hockey piece, Tarik El-Bashir explains why the Capitals must make significant roster changes this offseason if they hope to finally take the next step next year

- Simon Gagne - who was injured during the Capitals’ series - expects to play in the Eastern Conference finals (Tampa Tribune)

- Tampa’s penalty kill will be key again against Boston (Tampa Tribune)

No. 2 Philadelphia vs. No. 3 Boston
(Bruins win series 4-0)

Game 1: Bruins 7, Flyers 3

Game 2: Bruins 3, Flyers 2 (OT)

Game 3: Bruins 5, Flyers 1

Game 4: Bruins 5, Flyers 1

- The Bruins are at the top of the game as they advance to face the Lightning with a spot in the Stanley Cup Finals on the line

- A mild concussion will sideline Patrice Bergeron at the start of the Eastern Conference finals

- Boston won’t be taking the fifth-seeded Lightning lightly in the conference finals (Boston Globe)

- With Patrice Bergeron out, Tyler Seguin will get his first taste of playoff hockey (Boston Globe)

- Bandwagon Bruins fans hitch a ride as Boston continues its playoff run (Boston Globe)