Thursday's Playoff Action

AP Photo

(2) DETROIT 6 – (7) COLUMBUS 5

Red Wings win series, 4-0

The Blue Jackets’ first trip to the playoffs ended without a victory as the Red Wings completed their sweep in Columbus. The deciding goal was a power play tally from Johan Franzen with 46.6 seconds left in the game. Blue Jackets head coach Ken Hitchcock is still steaming over the too many men on the ice penalty that gave Detroit the man-advantage: “By the rulebook, it’s probably the right call. By the circumstances of the game, I didn’t like the call. Unless it’s obvious, let’s play,” Hitchcock said.

His team played its best game of the series offensively after scoring just twice over the first three contests. Columbus overcame 3-1 and 5-3 deficits with four second period markers, but Steve Mason could not keep Detroit out of his net.

Marian Hossa scored twice for the Red Wings, while Nicklas Lidstrom and Tomas Holmstrom added a goal and an assist. Oddly enough, Detroit has closed out its last eight playoff series on the road.

(8) ANAHEIM 4 – (1) SAN JOSE 1

Ducks lead the series, 3-1

Let the panic officially begin in San Jose. The President Trophy-winning Sharks are one game from elimination after being shutout for a second time in this series by playoff neophyte Jonas Hiller. He made 28 saves and Bobby Ryan scored goals four minutes apart in the second period to lead the Anaheim attack. Corey Perry and Drew Miller also scored for the Ducks, and Ryan Getzlaf had two assists.

The shutout extended Joe Thornton’s playoff goal drought to 10 games. San Jose is one loss away from being the eighth top-seed to lose in the opening round since 1994. Game 5 is back in northern California Saturday night.

(5) PHILADELPHIA 3 – (4) PITTSBURGH 0

Penguins lead series, 3-2

The battle for Pennsylvania is far from over as the Flyers and Penguins must now return to Philadelphia for Game 6 Saturday afternoon. Philly outplayed Pittsburgh in Game 4, but lost 2-1 because Marc-Andre Fleury made 45 saves. In Game 5 Thursday, Martin Biron was the better goaltender, making 28 saves for his second career postseason shutout, and Arron Asham, Claude Giroux and Mike Knuble beat Fleury. Asham and Giroux’s goals came directly off Penguin turnovers. Biron was particularly sharp in the opening period when the Pens outshot Philly, 15-5.

The victory snapped the Flyers’s five-game playoff losing streak at Mellon Arena. Pittsburgh has not blown a 3-games-to-1 lead in 34 years.

(3) DEVILS 1 – (6) HURRICANES 0

Devils lead series, 3-2

There was no last-second goal for the Hurricanes on this night in Newark. Martin Brodeur made 44 saves for his record-tying 23^rd postseason shutout – after suffering a four-inch cut on his right ankle in a first period collision with Carolina winger Chad LaRose.

David Clarkson provided the night’s only offense with a power play tally in the second period, his second goal of the series. Game 4’s hero, Jussi Jokinen, came closest to scoring for the Canes when his second period deflection hit a post then Brodeur’s backside before the Devil goalie covered it on the goal line.

Cam Ward made 42 saves to help produce the fourth consecutive one-goal affair in this series. New Jersey gets its first chance to eliminate Carolina Sunday at a time to be determined.

IN OTHER NEWS…

Detroit’s Nicklas Lidstrom, Boston’s Zdeno Chara and Washington’s Mike Green are the finalists for this year’s Norris Trophy. Lidstrom is after his fourth straight and seventh Norris overall. Chara headlined a Bruin blueline that allowed the fewest goals in the NHL. Green led all backliners in points with 31 goals and 42 assists. All trophy winners will be announced June 18^th in Las Vegas.

Calgary winger Andre Roy has been suspended for Saturday’s Game 5 for initiating a confrontation with Chicago’s Aaron Johnson before Game 4.

The Wild say defenseman Brent Burns underwent successful shoulder surgery Thursday morning. The joint will be immobilized for a month, but the team expects Burns at 100% for the start of next season.

The Commissioner’s office has issued a statement to say it has no interest in putting a second team in Toronto – through expansion or relocation. The League does acknowledge, though, that deputy commish Bill Daly met recently with Toronto business officials.

FRIDAY’S SCHEDULE

Game 5: Rangers @ Capitals 7:00pm ET, Versus

NYR leads series, 3-1