2007 NHL Playoffs Recap and Predictions - Apr 13th

I forgot to mention that Alexei Yashin would be invisible during the Islanders playoff series versus the Sabres. Why? Quite simply because I didn't notice he was even on their roster. After last night I wonder if he knows that he was supposed to show up?

Each day during the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs I will write a recap of each game from a fantasy perspective and make some predictions for the games to be played that day. I will also link to the official game recaps at NHL.com.

Tonights Games:

Nashville Predators defeat the San Jose Sharks, game begins at 8 PM EST - Preview
Forsberg takes control of this one
Vancouver Canucks defeat the Dallas Stars, game begins at 9:00 PM EST - Preview
Luongo again, the Sedin twins provide the offense
Minnesota Wild defeat the Anaheim Ducks, game begins at 10:30 PM EST - Preview
Backstrom stays solid and Marian Gaborik shows his face

Recaps Day 2:

New York Rangers 4 Atlanta Thrashers 3: As expected the Rangers get the upset. Keep an eye on this one as the Thrashers have enough forward talent to steal this. Kari Lehtonen was not sharp at all. Nylander exploded for 3 points between Jagr and Straka. I missed him in my previews and I shouldn't have. Sorry. If I thought that the Rangers would get out of Round 2 I would have put him on one of my rosters. Where were the big guns for the Thrashers last night? Hossa, Kozlov and Kovalchuk were all held pointless and looked overmatched at times by the Rangers D.

Detroit Red Wings 4 Calgary Flames 1: The Wings came out hard and took the physical game to the Flames. If that keeps up the Flames will be out in 5 games. Alex Tanguay showed up and ruined Hasek's shutout bid with 5:05 left in the game (BASTARD!). Lidstrom and Datsyuk each got a goal and an assist. Told you that Datsyuk would show up, that was his first point in 26 playoff games. Let's hope he keeps it up. Zetterberg skated well and had a few chances but didn't notch any points. Don't worry, he will.

New Jersey Devils 5 Tampa Bay Lightning 3: The outcome was expected, the nature of it was not. Brodeur looked ordinary and Holmqvist gave it all away in a high-scoring (when Brodeur is involved an 8 goal game is huge!) affair. The EGG line of New Jersey put up 6 points and were involved in 3 of the Devils 5 goals. Check out Zach Parise with two goals and the game winner.

Buffalo Sabres 4 New York Islanders 1: The Sabres dominated this game from the get go, although the Isles did show some promise over the last half of the game. Dubie truly did get smoked last night in Buffalo. Not to many 4th line centers make an impact in fantasy hockey, but Tim Connolly proved that he is the exception to that rule. My excuse for not pointing him out prior to the start of this series is that he missed 80 games due to the concussion he suffered in last years playoffs and I quite simply forgot how effective he was quarterbacking the Buffalo power play. Campbell scored two goals and the PP unit of Chris Drury, Dainus Zubrus, Daniel Briere, Brian Campbell and Tim Connolly look positively frightening.