Playoff Slap Shots

Putting the puck on the 'Net:

• Did you know Gordie Howe, Mark Messier and Mario Lemieux never scored a playoff goal in overtime?
• In the words of Jim Hughson: "Great save Luongo!"
• Roberto Luongo was the difference in game six, a great sign for Vancouver fans. The Kings outplayed the Canucks 5 on 5 for the first time in the series, but Luongo was there when needed. He's rounding into form.
• It's great to see guys like Steve Bernier, Mikael Samuelsson, Pavol Dimetra, Alex Edler and Kyle Wellwood take their games to a higher level. Successful playoff teams need that. More important to team success though is the fact that your best players have to be your best players. Luongo and the Sedins came through for Vancouver.
• Kudos to the Kings. I could easily be convinced that Drew Doughty is the best defenseman in the NHL, and he's only 20 years old. Wayne Simmonds is a heck of a player, too.
• Jacques Lemaire has announced his retirement this morning. I'm sure more will break on this story as the day goes on. New Jersey was easily the disappointment of the first round. I didn't get to watch that series closely enough, but how Philly, with all their injuries and a number three goaltender, could beat the Devils team many thought was good enough to win the Cup this year is beyond me.
• There's just something about being the number 2 seed in the playoffs. Historically there is a greater than 40% chance that the #2 seed will be upset by the #7 seed in the first round. I was wanting to lean towards Nashville upsetting Chicago on the west side, but I never saw Philly upsetting NJ.
• Speaking of Chicago, did you know that in game 5 Patrick Kane became the first player in the history of the NHL playoffs to score a short-handed goal to tie the score in the last minute of the third period? Me neither!