4 Stars

#1 - Craig Anderson (G - COL) - Anderson was front and center for the biggest upset of the day, as he stopped 25 of 26 shots to help lock up a win in Game 1 against the Sharks.

#2 - Evgeni Malkin (F - PIT) - Malkin picked right up where he left off last playoffs, scoring two power play goals and adding an assist for the Pens. 

#3 - Ilya Bryzgalov (G - PHO) - Bryzgalov was hammered with shots by the Redwings, as expected.  Aside from allowing a weak goal against Holmstrom, he was solid the rest of the way, making 38 big saves for the win.

#4 - Chris Kelly (F - OTT) - Kelly and several other role playing forwards took it to the Pens to win game 1.  Kelly recorded a rare power play goal and added two assists for the Senators.

Injury Update:

• Tim Connolly is still questionable for tonight's game against Boston
• Kim Johnsson is doubtful for tomorrow's opener against Nashville
• Peter Mueller missed game one for the Avalanche.  His won't play in game 2 either, as he didn't make the trip.
• Denis Grebeshkov and Patric Hornqvist are both questionable for Nashville's game one tomorrow
• Nicklas Backstrom may miss tonight's game against Montreal with an illness

Fantasy Notes:

• Sidney Crosby was shut down most of the night, but still managed to finish with 3 assists
• Craig Adams scored in game 1 for the Pens after going all 82 games in the regular season without one
• Erik Karlsson scored the first playoff goal of his career
• Derek Morris had a goal and 2 assists, leading the Coyotes to a win in game 1
• Niklas Lidstrom is now tied for 2nd in most playoff games of all time with 236

4 Stars

#1 - Thomas Vanek (F - BUF) - Vanek didn't miss a beat on his first day back on the job.  He scored 4 goals in his return.  He's back in balance now that he has more goals than assists on the season, as always.

#2 - Daniel Sedin (F - VAN) - The Canucks didn't have much to play for, but the brothers showed up to prepare for the playoffs.  Daniel scored 3 goals and added an assist.

#3 - Henrik Sedin (F - VAN) - Henrik responded to Ovechkin's big night on Friday by striking back with four points to finish the season with 112 points.  He's three ahead of Ovechkin, who has one game remaining today.

#4 - Johan Hedberg (G - ATL) - Hedberg thwarted the Pens' plans for a division title, as he stopped all 33 shots for the shutout.

Injury Update:

• Alex Kovalev will miss the entire playoffs with a knee injury
• Patrick Hornqvist is still questionable the start of the playoffs for Nashville

Fantasy Notes:

•  Sidney Crosby was held off the scoreboard, to stay a goal behind Ovechkin and Stamkos (who got 1 last night).  Stamkos, Ovechkin and Crosby all play today to wrap up the race.
• Jonathan Quick has now gone 8 games without a win.  He has one last shot this afternoon to avoid starting the playoffs on a terribly streak.
• Ryan Miller recorded his career-best 41st win of the season, stopping 28 shots against the Sens
• Evgeni Nabokov and Martin Brodeur both won to stay tied for the lead league with 44.

4 Stars

#1 - Steve Mason (G - COB) -The Redwings pounded him with shots but couldn't get a thing past him until the shootout.  He finished the night with 45 saves.

#2 - Jimmy Howard (G - DET) - Howard was on the other end of the thrilling 0-0 game, only he got the win in the end.  The difference was he faced half as many shots.  It's getting tougher and tougher to deny Howard the Calder with his play down the stretch.  It was his 3rd shutout of the season.

#3 - Alex Ovechkin (F - WAS) - Ovechkin took over the lead in goal scoring and points with an impressive three point night.  He grabbed 2 goals to get to 50 and now leads Henrik Sedin by a point.

#4 - Niklas Backstrom (F - WAS) - Backstrom cracked 100 points on the season with a three point performance of his own.   He too fired in 2 goals and added an assist.  That gives him three straight games with 3 points.

Injury Update:

• Jeff Carter returned for the Flyers after missing just 8 games with a broken foot.
• Matt Duchesne is questionable for tomorrow against LA
• Tomas Vanek will finally return for the Sabres after missing 6 games with a groin injury

Fantasy Notes:

• Jose Theodore won yet again, giving him 30 on the season.
• Marian Gaborik has stayed healthy enough to match his career high of 42 goals with a tally last night.  He has already set a career high with 86 points.
• Most of the key players in the Ducks lineup sat out last night, including: Teemu Selanne, Scott Niedermeyer, Saku Koivu and Ryan Getzlaf.
• Colin Fraser notched his 2nd 2-goal performance in 3 games.
• Mike Richards scored twice giving him 31 goals on the year

4 Stars

#1 -Eric Staal (F - CAR) - Staal is a man on fire this week.  He followed up his 4 point performance on Tuesday with a 5 point performance last night.  He staved off Montreal's invitation to the playoffs for another night by posting 3 goals and 2 assists, including the game winner.  He was a +4 on the night.

#2 -Sidney Crosby (F - PIT) - Crosby appeared to have cracked the 50 goal marker last night, but he insisted Guerin deflected it, so he had to be satisfied with #49.  His 4 points put him within striking distance of the Art Ross with 2 games to play. He now has 500 points in his young career.

#3 -Tuukka Rask (G - BOS) - Rask stopped 31 of 32 shots to all but lock up a playoff spot for the Bruins.  Rask has also ensured his role as the starting goalie heading into the playoffs, should they qualify.

#4 - Jonas Hiller (G - ANA) - Even though he ultimately lost the game in a shootout, Hiller made an impressive return from injury by making a whopping 49 saves.  After losing Beauchemin and Pronger, and likely losing Niedermeyer this summer, the Ducks have gone from the best D in the league to one of the worst.  Bad news for Hiller going into next season.

Injury Update:

• Jaroslav Spacek returned after missing 3 games will illness
• The Sabres played again without Tomas Vanek.  Tim Connolly also missed action with a foot injury.
• Niklas Backstrom (G-MIN) left the game after getting hit in the throat by a slap shot.
• Martin Havlat and Marek Zidlicky are questionable for the Wild's contest with Dallas tomorrow
• Marian Hossa is questionable for tonight
• Milan Michalek returned last night after missing significant time for the Sens

Fantasy Notes:

• Chad LaRose came alive with 2 goals and 2 assists for his first ever 4-point performance.  Sign of good things to come for the Canes next season?
• Steven Stamkos scored 1 goal to stay one behind Crosby for the goal scoring title.  He now has 48.
• Bill Guerin scored twice and added an assist for the Pens.
• Evgeni Malkin returned from illness to score a goal
• After a miserable 6 game point draught, Bobby Ryan has returned to form in April.  His 2 goals last night give him 6 points in 4 games this month.
• Roberto Luongo and Sami Salo sat out for the Canucks, since the team is locked into 3rd place
• Henrik Sedin had one assist to extend his league-leading point total to 108.  He's 2 ahead of Ovechkin and 4 ahead of the red hot Crosby
• Bad news for the Kings as Jonathan Quick can't buy a win.  His loss last night marked his 7th straight start without a win.
• The Coyotes rested several key players, including Ilya Bryzgalov and Ed Jovanavski
• Evgeni Nabokov passed up Martin Brodeur for the lead in wins.  Nabokov is up to 43.

4 Stars

#1 - Henrik Lundqvist (G - NYR) -Now if he can just keep that up for two more games, the Rangers might just make the playoffs.  Lundqvist was brilliant in net for the 5-1 win over Toronto, as he stopped 26 shots and allowed just 1 to get past him.

#2 - Kris Versteeg (F - CHI) - Versteeg had four points on the board half way through the game last night, as he put up a goal and three assists.  He finished with a +3, so he wasn't responsible for the 3rd period collapse by the Hawks.

#3 - Eric Christensen (F - NYR) - Christensen did his part to keep playoff hopes alive, as he tallied twice for the Rangers on 5 shots.

#4 - Dustin Penner (F - EDM) - Penner is pushing his career high totals even higher.  He finished the night with a goal and 2 assists to give him 32 goals and 63 points on the year.

Injury Update:

• Marian Hossa left the game last night half way through the second period and did not return.
• Rick Nash missed another game with a sore neck
• Patrick Hornqvist left the game after being hit by a Shea Weber bomb.  Recurring theme with Weber's shot.
• Sam Gagner is done for the year with a hip injury
• Lubomir Visnovsky will not play again this season due to a hand injury

Fantasy Notes:

• Jimmy Howard is making a great case for the Calder Trophy, as he continues to pile up the wins late in the season.  He's now up to 35 on the year.
• Tomas Holmstrom appears to be in Redwings playoff form.  His 2 goals (both off deflections in front of the net) last night give him 11 points in his past 7 games.
• Keith Tkachuk, one of the best and classiest American players of all time, announced his retirement last night.  Tkachuk has always been a Landshark Hockey favorite.
• Antti Niemi won again, making it 5 in a row; however, he'd like to forget that third period.
• After clinching 8th place, the Avs basically rested everyone over the age of 20 against the Oilers, including: Adam Foote, Paul Stastny, Milan Hejduk, Scott Hannan, Craig Anderson, and TJ Galiardi. 
• Shane Doan scored for the first time in 23 games.
• Keith Yandle had 2 assists last night, giving him 4 points in the last two nights.
• Shea Weber scored 12 seconds into the game last night, but finished a -3 on the night.
• Wojtek Wolski had two points last night, giving him 16 in 16 games since coming to Colorado