Wednesday Night Game Previews

Washington Capitals v Tampa Bay Lightning

Tampa Bay go into this game with a healthy 3-0 series lead after last nights 4-3 win. They could finish the series off tonight and be the first team through to a conference final. They are now on a 6 game winning streak so would you bet against them? I certainly wouldn't.
They will be on home ice and will have 20,000 fans behind them again but will have to start better than they did in last nights game. Washington certainly had the better of periods 1 & 2 yesterday and could have been further ahead than 3-2. The thing is the Lightning kept it close and then just came out and played one seriously good, solid period of hockey and took the game. That's all it needed in game 3 but Washington will be looking to up there game again so they might not get away with just playing 1 period tonight. I can't see it being a problem for this team to score goals though against Washington and that should see them through.
Both teams have to deal with playing back to back, so this shouldn't advantage or disadvantage either. Washington just have to bring an A game to the table and score 4 or 5, which they haven't been able to do in the playoffs so far. The good news for them is that Ovechkin has raised his game and played well last night. Now others around him need to do the same.
It looks like both Gagne and Kubina will still be missing from the Lightning's line up. Mike Green took a knock last night and missed most of the 3rd period, it is doubtful if he will be fit for the Caps.

Philadelphia Flyers v Boston Bruins

Boston head back to Beantown with a handsome 2-0 series lead after shocking the Flyers twice in their own barn. Now Philadelphia have to come back and do the same to the Bruins.
The Flyers had 54 shots on net in game 2 and surely if they put the same pressure on goal they are due to get a game back. But then again, tell that to Tim Thomas. The Boston netminder was amazing last time out and has been most of the season. A hot netminder certainly helps a team when on a playoff run and Thomas is certainly helping the Bruins at the minute. If only the Flyers could get that sort of performance out of Boucher or Bobrovsky. No idea which one of these 2 will be in from the start tonight but without going into too much about the Flyers well documented netminder issues, whoever it is will need a big game.
Star performers in this series so far for the Bruins have been Krejci who has bagged 3+2 so far and Marchand who has also got 3 goals. Boston will want these two on the scoreboard again tonight to give them the chance of that 3-0 lead.
Van Riemsdyk was superb for the Flyers on Monday and was unlucky to end on the losing side. He got both the Philadelphia goals and was unfortunate on a few occasions not to get his hat-trick. Richards had 10 shots in game 2 but couldn't infiltrate the superb Thomas. If Boston do take a 3-0 series lead tonight will last seasons collapse from the same scoreline against the same team then play a part in the match up? Well, we've got to get to that 3-0 scoreline before we go there.

San Jose Sharks v Detroit Redwings

San Jose have won 10 of the last 12 meetings with Detroit that includes the 4-1 series win at this stage last year. It also has them 2-0 up so far this time around. Detroit need a win and they need it tonight.
Both teams have been pretty even so far but the Sharks have just had that edge in both games to get the win. I think both teams can play better than what they have, especially the Redwings and they will be looking for a better performance on home ice tonight. Babcock might be tempted to change the lines around and split up Zetterberg and Datsyuk from the start tonight to see if they can ignite their forwards. On home ice and desperately needing a win they can hopefully pull themselves back into the series.
The Sharks will also be looking for way to get their forwards going whilst still having the edge over their opponents. Both games so far have been tight and low scoring, maybe not what you'd expect from the Sharks but they have done it well. Niemi has played well without having to be superb so if the Redwings do test him further tonight then San Jose will be hoping he is up to the test.
I haven't liked to call any of the games so far in this series and i wouldn't like to call it again. If San Jose do go 3-0 up i really can't see a way back in for Detroit. If it goes to 2-1 then it really is GAME ON. Hopefully, just hopefully the outcome will be the latter of these 2 and we have a prolonged and interesting series.
We will see.