7:30 ET, Pittsburgh at Philadelphia, Game 4 (NBC Sports Network)
This could be the season for Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and the Pittsburgh Penguins. Surprising to a lot of people -- even to the honest Flyers fans, I'm sure -- the Pens are on the verge of being swept right out of the playoffs.
In all honesty it's not hard to see why. That becomes a pretty distinct possibility when you hemorrhage seven goals a game in the first three games. When the defense is playing so poorly as a unit and goalie Marc-Andre Fleury is in a massive funk, you have a bad combination for Pittsburgh.
Making matters worse is that they have to play Game 4 without three players, who were all suspended after that ugly Game 3. The most impactful of those suspensions is the one to James Neal, an All-Star this and a big offensive weapon for the Penguins.
And lest we forget all of the fireworks last game. I'll keep my fingers crossed that Game 4 stays mostly about the hockey. But the Philadelphia Daily News probably didn't help us reach that end with this newspaper cover for Wednesday.
At this point it's hard not to see the Flyers just finishing the Penguins tonight. Then again, this is probably when Pittsburgh plays its best game of the series.
10 ET, Vancouver at Los Angeles, Game 4 (NBC Sports Network)
The Vancouver Canucks are on the verge of doing something that has never been done before. This one isn't a good thing.
If the Kings are able to bust out the brooms and finish off the Canucks tonight in Tinseltown it will be the first ever that a Presidents' Trophy-winning team was swept in the opening round. I don't think many of those teams had to face a foe quite the level of the Kings, who have begun playing their best at the right time, but the point stands.
As of now the Canucks haven't announced who will be starting in goal for Game 4 but honestly that's at the bottom of their list of worries. Goaltending hasn't been a problem at all, whether it be Roberto Luongo or Cory Schneider, they've been just fine in that department.
The bigger unanswered question is whether Daniel Sedin will play in Game 4. He has been out since two weeks remained in the regular season after sustaining a concussion, but he's a game-time decision. If he's 100 percent and ready to go that would mean a lot more than who starts in goal because the Canucks need to start scoring. That's what Daniel does, of the twins he's the goal-scorer, Henrik the play-maker.
Silly as it sounds, the heat is turning up on Alain Vigneault in Vancouver. A first-round sweep to an eight seed isn't going to chill the mood.
7:30 ET, Rangers at Ottawa, Game 4 (CNBC)
So we all saw Brian Boyle being the biggest player in this series, right? Of course we did, of course.
Three games so far in the series and three goals for Boyle. His last one was the only one scored in Game 3 to give the Rangers a 2-1 series lead on a game Ottawa team, one you might say they are a little fortunate to hold.
Yes, the Rangers came out of Game 3 with the win but it's fair to say they didn't play their best game. Ottawa dominated the shots on goal, leaving the Rangers in a familiar spot from the past few seasons, praying their modest goal collection could hold up with Henrik Lundqvist in net. It did.
The Senators need to take Game 4 tonight, if they don't you probably can start thinking about penciling in the Rangers to the next round. Not to say a 3-1 lead is insurmountable, but having to win three in a row including two on the road is a daunting task.
Something to watch for: Matt Carkner can return tonight for the Senators after his one-game suspension. New York has more than its fair share of bruisers you might ask him to dance.
Daily miscellany
- Best of Tuesday
- Here's the strongest take I've seen on Raffi Torres that wasn't from the Blackhawks. (Sportsnet)
- Tim Thomas is taking advantage of between-game time in Washington D.C. Sounds about right. (Puck Daddy)
- Not what you want to hear but it sounds likes Daniel Alfredsson has had a setback with his concussion issue. (New York Daily News)
- Jaroslav Halak isn't going to suit up for Game 4, but good news for the Blues is that he's skating. (St. Louis Post-Dispatch)
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