SCOREBOARD
Tuesday, April 17
Anaheim at Minnesota (9 p.m. EDT). The Ducks look to be the first team to advance to the Conference semifinals with a four-game sweep of the Wild.
STARS
Sunday
-Daniel Alfredsson, Senators, scored twice as Ottawa defeated Pittsburgh 4-2.
-Chris Pronger, Ducks, set up both his team’s goals as Anaheim edged Minnesota 2-1.
OVERTIME
Vancouver took a 2-1 lead in its first-round Western Conference series against Dallas, winning 2-1 in overtime Sunday night. Both of the Canucks’ victories have come in overtime. This was the seventh straight overtime playoff loss for the Stars, who’ve been bounced in the first round each of the last two seasons. Dallas is in a 1-10 overtime rut since 2001, the year after it last made the Stanley Cup finals. Dallas goalie Marty Turco is now 1-9 in postseason OT games.
TOO CLOSE FOR COMFORT
One goal has been the difference in all seven games between Anaheim and Minnesota this season, including a 2-1 win for the Ducks in Game 3 of their first round playoff matchup Sunday night. Anaheim, which split 2-2 with Minnesota during the regular season, used a smothering defense and special teams to take a 3-0 lead over the Wild in this Western Conference pairing.
HARD HIT
Ottawa forward Patrick Eaves was taken off the ice on a stretcher after being leveled by Pittsburgh’s Colby Armstrong midway through the second period of the Senators’ 4-2 playoff victory against the Penguins on Sunday. Eaves appeared to be knocked unconscious on the play, but was seen talking and moving his hands while he was leaving the ice. His status for Game 4 on Tuesday was not certain, but a concussion would likely keep him out.
SPEAKING
“We’re just being dumb out there. You’ve got to work smart, especially against a team like this that has so many skills and so much talent. – Calgary’s Alex Tanguay after Detroit beat the Flames 3-1 on Sunday to take a 2-0 lead in their first-round series.