Today's hero - Cans Jussi Jokinen

NHL.COM PHOTO

For the second time of 2009 Stanley Cup my "Today's Hero" award is going to Hurricanes Jussi Jokinen.

Jussi Jokinen, a healthy scratch at times this season and put on waivers twice by Tampa Bay before being acquired by Carolina general manager Jim Rutherford in early February, may have a hard time buying dinner around town anytime soon after scoring yet another clutch goal, this time 2:48 into overtime for a 3-2 victory over the Bruins on Wednesday night.
Jokinen’s second dramatic game-winner at home this playoff season gave the Canes a 2-1 series lead heading into Game 4 at home on Friday night. Jokinen also scored the winning goal against New Jersey in the fourth game of that series with 0.2 seconds left to send the RBC Center crowd into a wild frenzy, and added the game-tying goal against the Devils in the waning moments of Game 7.
“That guy is money for us right now,” Cam Ward said of Jokinen. “He’s a guy who steps up his game and takes advantage of the opportunity. He has been a huge contributor to our hockey team ever since he’s gotten here. We’re sure happy he’s on our side.”
Jokinen, stationed in front of the net, picked up the rebound on Samsonov's shot from the right side, spun off his defender and quickly put it in – his fifth goal in seven playoff games after only 7 in 71 regular season games.
Maurice said Jokinen is a "very, very smart hockey player." He said Jokinen takes tape home and studies it and quickly grasps new concepts from the coaching staff.
It doesn’t hurt either when his new home – he arrived the first week of February from Tampa Bay on waivers -- feels more like home.

MY PHOTOS FROM CAPS vs. PENS GAME : "MY HOCKEY PHOTO ALBUMS"

2008-09 Lester B. Pearson Award

TORONTO (May 6, 2009) – The National Hockey League Players’ Association (NHLPA) announced today that Pavel Datsyuk of the Detroit Red Wings, Evgeni Malkin of the Pittsburgh Penguins and Alexander Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals have been selected as finalists for the 2008-09 Lester B. Pearson Award. The Lester B. Pearson Award is presented annually to the “most outstanding player” in the NHL as voted by fellow members of the NHLPA.

For the first time in the history of the Lester B. Pearson Award, all three finalists hail from Russia. This year will mark just the third time that a Russian player will accept the honour, following Sergei Fedorov (1993-94) and Ovechkin (2007-08). Ovechkin is looking to win the Pearson Award for the second consecutive season, and is now a three-time finalist for the award (including 2005-06). Malkin is also a finalist for the Pearson Award for the second consecutive season. Datsyuk is a Pearson Award finalist for the first time in his NHL career.

Datsyuk had an outstanding all-around season for the defending Stanley Cup champion Detroit Red Wings, tying his personal best in points (97) and is a finalist for three other major individual honors in 2008-09: the Hart Memorial Trophy, the Frank J. Selke Trophy, and the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy. Malkin was instrumental in helping lead the Penguins back to the postseason, while topping all NHL scorers with 113 points this season, and will receive the Art Ross Trophy for this achievement. Ovechkin had another phenomenal season in Washington, finishing second in the league in points (110) and leading the NHL in goals (56) to capture the Maurice Richard Trophy.

Today's "hero" - Ref Brad Watson

After Scott Niedermayer misplayed the puck behind his net, Watson lost sight of the puck as it trickled along the goal line underneath Hiller and out to his right. Brad Watson blew the play dead right an instant before Detroit's Marian Hossa jammed the puck in the net for the apparent tying goal with 1:04 remaining.
The play is not reviewable by the League’s control room since it is deemed dead.
"First off, as any of us watch on a replay, it's easy to make the correct call," said E.J. McGuire, the series supervisor of officials. "In the case tonight, the official was down along the goal line. He was moving forward toward the net to try to get a look at where the puck was.
"When he couldn't see the puck, all referees' instructions are to blow the whistle and blow the play dead. A combination of the black puck and the black pants may have been a factor. But when he didn't see the puck, he blew the whistle."

Red Wings coach Mike Babcock didn't mince words when asked for his viewpoint.
"We should be playing (overtime) obviously, right now," Babcock said. "Two teams scored twice tonight, but it just didn't work out that way. There's no sense in complaining about the refereeing or anything like that."

Ovechkin vs. Crosby. Game 2

Crosby: "Ovechkin scored again!"
Ovechkin: "I don't like Pens smell!"

For more NIKALE PHOTOS from this game visit "Capitals Photos" and "My Hockey Album"

Ovechkin and Crosby each notched hat tricks Monday night, but the Capitals' superstar did one better than his counterpart from Pittsburgh by bringing the house down with what proved to be the game-winning goal late in the third period, sending his team to a 4-3 victory and a 2-0 lead in this best-of-7 Eastern Conference Quarterfinal round series.
"It's everything the media has made it out to be, a battle of the two best players in hockey, and tonight they both carried their teams," Capitals defenseman Mike Green said. "We were fortunate that Alex was at the top of his game."
"It's good for the fans to see great players play against each other and two great teams play against each other," Ovechkin said. "It's an interesting time and an interesting game. It's unbelievable when you play against great players and you win a game like this."
"I'm sure it's entertaining for people to watch," Crosby said of this classic duel.
"When you build that hype of superstars playing against each other and then the superstars play like superstars, it's a neat thing, fun to talk about," Capitals coach Bruce Boudreau said. "Not too many people can do what they did tonight."

Incredible Performance Of Both Superstars

Ovechkin is interviewed by TSN right after the game. NIKALE PHOTOS

Both Ovechkin and Crosby have got hat-tricks during this night game. Fantastic performance of both superstars is the brightest thing to be mentioned about 2009 playoffs right now.

More photos are coming tomorrow

Today's hero - Cans Cam Ward

NIKALE PHOTOS

Cam Ward finished with 36 saves in the 3-0 victory, his fourth career playoff shutout. He was spectacular on a desperate Boston power play late in the third, stretching for pad saves on Michael Ryder and Dennis Wideman.
Ward was on top of his game, finishing with 36 saves -- including 16 in the third period when Boston was exerting sustained pressure throughout. Ward's leg-pad save on Michael Ryder was the highlight of the third-period exhibition of the form that won him the 2006 Conn Smythe Trophy as Stanley Cup Playoffs MVP.
"It kind of came out of the pile and I didn't think he knew where the puck was, and I tried to throw it and I guess he did; he kicked his leg out and made a great save," said Ryder, who has a team-high five goals for Boston. "He definitely made a lot of big saves and kept the score 2-0 for the longest time there."

MORE NIKALE PHOTOS FROM THIS GAME

HOW IS IT "NO GOAL"?????????????

You know what, something is wrong with this "under review" system.

NIKALE PHOTOS

Marchant Scores In The Third Overtime

Happy Todd Marchant is interwed by TSN. NIKALE PHOTOS

Todd Marchant scored early in the third overtime to lead the Anaheim Ducks to a 4-3 victory over the host Detroit Red Wings on Sunday at the Joe Louis Arena.

The win ties the best-of-seven Western Conference semifinal 1-1 with Game 3 on Tuesday night in Anaheim.

Today's Hero Award goes to Todd Marchant