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NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The NHL’s top team now finds itself in a first-round fight.Dan Hamhuis and Shea Weber scored in 32-second span in the first period, and the Nashville Predators evened their Western Conference playoff series against the No.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Just a few days ago, the Detroit Red Wings were less than four minutes away grabbing a 3-0 lead in their Western Conference playoff series with the Nashville Predators.

TORONTO – Forward Jiri Tlusty scored late in the third period to lift the Toronto Marlies over the San Antonio Rampage 4-3 in the opening game of their first-round AHL playoff series Wednesday.

NEW YORK – Marc Staal pushed the New York Rangers within a win of the second round, and he did it with a good old slapshot.No tricks or funky screens were needed to beat Martin Brodeur and the New Jersey Devils on this night.

NEW YORK – Marc Staal scored his second straight game-winner. This time he did it into the right net.The rookie defenceman pushed the New York Rangers within a win of the second round with a good old slap shot.

OTTAWA – The Ottawa Senators have been put out of their misery.Unable to shake a mid-season funk that ultimately destroyed their season, the Senators met their expected end Wednesday night, pushed out of the way with relative ease by the rising force that is the Pittsburgh Penguins.

ST. PAUL, Minn. – The series is even, with Colorado and Minnesota each owning two victories, though the statistics suggest otherwise.The Wild have held a lead for a mere 4 1/2 minutes of cumulative time, and the Avalanche have outscored them 9-0 in the first and second periods of the first four games.

DALLAS – The pain was agonizing for Corey Perry.Not the physical aspect of recovering from a freak quad injury. Instead, it was not being able to help his Anaheim Ducks teammates when they dropped into an early hole in their first-round Western Conference playoff series against Dallas.

PHILADELPHIA – Alex Ovechkin’s answers about his playoff slump were brief. Sure sounds a lot like Washington’s stay in the post-season if the possible MVP can’t quickly rediscover his potent scoring touch.

CALGARY – Calgary Flames defenceman Robyn Regehr criticized some of his own teammates Wednesday in the wake of a demoralizing 3-2 loss to the San Jose Sharks.

MONTREAL – Guy Carbonneau says very little surprises him about the play of rookie goaltender Carey Price.The Montreal Canadiens coach watched Price lead the Hamilton Bulldogs to an AHL championship last spring, and now is at his best again in the post-season, only this time in the NHL.

MONTREAL – When Carey Price got to the Bell Centre on Wednesday, teammate Guillaume Latendresse was waiting with the scissors.Price, fresh off a 27-save effort for his first career playoff shutout on Tuesday in Boston, became the latest youngster on the Montreal Canadiens to get a short version of the Mohawk cut for the NHL playoffs.

RALEIGH, N.C. – The Carolina Hurricanes and forward Sergei Samsonov have agreed to terms on a three-year contract.The deal will pay Samsonov US$2.

RALEIGH, N.C. – Sergei Samsonov joined the Carolina Hurricanes and immediately produced like he hadn’t in years. No wonder he wasn’t about to leave after only part of a season in their forward-friendly system.

VANCOUVER – Dave Nonis says he wouldn’t have done anything different as the general manager of the Vancouver Canucks and the NHL team is close to succeeding in its goal of winning a Stanley Cup.

DENVER – No fluke finish to this one. No overtime, either.Jose Theodore stopped 24 of 25 shots and the Colorado Avalanche used a three-goal first-period to rout the Minnesota Wild 5-1 on Tuesday night, tying their first-round playoff series at two games each.

DENVER – No fluke finish to this one. No overtime, either.Jose Theodore stopped 24 of 25 shots and the Colorado Avalanche used a three-goal first-period to rout the Minnesota Wild 5-1 on Tuesday night, tying their first-round playoff series at two games each.

CALGARY – Joe Thornton’s first goal of this year’s NHL playoffs was a big one.Thornton scored the winner with just 9.4 seconds left in regulation in the San Jose Sharks’ 3-2 win over the Calgary Flames on Tuesday.

CALGARY – Joe Thornton’s first goal of this year’s NHL playoffs was a big one.Thornton scored the winner with just 9.4 seconds left in regulation in the San Jose Sharks’ 3-2 win over the Calgary Flames on Tuesday.

CALGARY – Joe Thornton’s first goal of this year’s NHL playoffs was a big one.Thornton scored the winner with just 9.4 seconds left in regulation in the San Jose Sharks’ 3-2 win over the Calgary Flames on Tuesday to deadlock their Western Conference quarter-final at 2-2.