Samuelsson Assists Twice In Game 5 Win Over Chicago

Bieksa's pair pace Canucks as Luongo keeps Hawks from clinching
Associated Press May 9, 2010

The Vancouver Canucks got back to a more disciplined style, made sure they had fun and relied on a formula that's familiar and successful.

They used their speed, checked well and got solid goaltending from Roberto Luongo. Their reward: at least one more game with the Chicago Blackhawks in the Western Conference semifinals.

Kevin Bieksa scored twice and Luongo made 29 saves Sunday night in a 4-1 victory that cut Chicago's series lead to 3-2.

"The two games in Vancouver obviously our emotions in some situations got the best of us," Canucks coach Alain Vigneault said. "We needed to be more disciplined and we were."

Vancouver gave up four power play goals in Game 4 on Friday night when its attempt to play more physical ended up in a penalty-filled 7-4 loss that put the Canucks one defeat away from elimination.

"I think that was a little uncharacteristic of us. We are a fairly disciplined team. For whatever reasons we were frustrated the last game and did things we don't usually do," Bieksa said.

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Canuck Offense Gets Edge Over Chicago Heading Into Series

Early look and prediction at Hawks-Canucks

Jesse Rogers ESPN Chicago April 28, 2010

Offense: Vancouver had the most potent attack in the Western Conference, but the Blackhawks weren’t far behind. Both teams have secondary scoring, but it didn’t surface as much for the Hawks in Round 1 as it will need to in Round 2. Players like Kris Versteeg and even Troy Brouwer might find the open ice against Vancouver a relief compared to Nashville’s stifling play, especially in games 1-4 of the opening round. There might not be a better top line in the conference than the Sedin twins along with Alex Burrows. And don’t forget about Pavol Demitra and Mikael Samuelsson. Samuelsson leads the NHL in goals in the postseason with seven. Edge: Canucks.

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Predators’ Rinne proves tough to solve

Predators’ Rinne proves tough to solve
He’s in position to fulfill one of the most time-worn postseason roles: the hot goalie that steals a series
Brian Hamilton Chicago Tribune April 19, 2010

From the gridlock in front of the net, the puck scooted to Marian Hossa on the right side of the crease. Nothing but chilled air separated the Blackhawks sniper from a score and some breathing room in Game 2 against the Predators on Sunday.

Then Pekka Rinne vaulted his 6-foot-5 body into that space, the series' other playoff-untested goalie from Finland lunging horizontally and consuming the lane in an instant. Rinne's body swallowed Hossa's shot. The Hawks winger dropped his shoulders, tilted his head back and looked skyward in exasperation.

A golden chance to build on a one-goal lead, bust open a must-win game and perhaps subvert the confidence of a playoff rookie? Finnished.

"There were some pretty remarkable saves there at the end of the regular season where I'm not quite sure how he kept it out," Predators center Jerred Smithson said. "But he did."

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Preds win battle of Finnish goaltenders

CHICAGO -- Patrick Sharp couldn't believe his luck when he grabbed a turnover at the Nashville blue line in the first period of Friday's playoff opener between the Predators and Chicago Blackhawks.



It was the end of a shift, but Sharp took the puck and bolted for the net. Waiting there was Nashville goaltender Pekka Rinne. It looked like Sharp had an opening -- but Rinne made the save of the night by poke-checking the puck harmlessly to the corner as Sharp went to shoot.


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Countrymen Rinne, Niemi reach first NHL playoffs

Rick Gano The Canadian Press April 14, 2010

Nashville's Pekka Rinne and Chicago's Antti Niemi share a homeland. On Friday night, the two Finnish goaltenders will have something else in common when they make their debuts in the Stanley Cup playoffs.

The six-foot-five Rinne went 32-16-5 this season and hopes to use his big frame to block the net for the seventh-seeded Predators.

Niemi, a 26-year-old rookie, took over late in the season as the Blackhawks' top goalie, starting the final nine games. He had a six-game winning streak before Chicago lost in overtime to Detroit in the season finale Sunday, knocking the Blackhawks into the second slot in the Western Conference.

With goaltending one of the biggest questions for the talented Blackhawks this season, Niemi supplanted Cristobal Huet as the starter and finished the season 26-7-4.

Niemi and Rinne each had seven shutouts.

"Both teams got young goalies and the comparisons are pretty accurate, very similar in a lot of ways," Chicago coach Joel Quenneville said.

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Pekka Rinne and Preds Pose Stern 1st-round Test For Blackhawks

Predators to pose stern 1st-round test
Adam L Jahns Chicago Sun Times April 12, 2010

The last time the Blackhawks played the Nashville Predators, there was snow on the ground and Christmas decorations on houses, trees and bushes.

It was Dec. 27, and the Hawks won 5-4. The Hawks have played 44 games since then. But the teams are about to get reacquainted....

Finn vs. Finn

A lot has been made about goalie Antti Niemi's lack of playoff experience. But Predators goalie Pekka Rinne, a Finn like Niemi, never has played in the postseason, either.

Rinne was 32-16-5 with a .911 save percentage and seven shutouts during the regular season. Niemi was 26-7-4 with a .912 save percentage and seven shutouts.

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