OTHL -- San Jose dominated the sixth game against Nashville and moves on to the second round. The Predators can look back at a solid season, and can now start to build on the success for next season. Detroit made there series against Los Angeles a seven game series as they won on away ice today. Tomorrow the east will be decided with two all deciding games between Montreal - Philadelphi and Tampa - Florida.
SAN JOSE (1) at. NASHVILLE (8) - 4-0 - SAN JOSE WIN SERIES 4-2
San Jose dominated game six against Nashville. The Predators had some hopes that a home game would tip the balance and that they would be able to force a game seven. Insted San Jose showed why they are the top seeded team in the conference, by winning 4-0. San Jose outshoot Nashville 31 - 18 and had it not been for Tomas Vokoun, the scoreline could have been even more loopsided.
Scott Walker (2), Sergei Samsonov (4) and Richard Park (1) scored within in the first eight minutes of the game. To put a somber mode on the home fans. The packed Gaylord Entertainment Arena was dead silent after the first period, after having been an inferno when the players skated in and was presented. But the visitors put the lid on the home fans with the three goals. And after that, Nashville were unable to mount to anything. The second were dead even in terms of scoring as neither team scored. And the third period looked like it was going to pass without goal. But with 59 seconds left, Maxim Afinogenov (2) made it 4-0 and the fans left the building.
San Jose will now have to wait for the outcome in the Detroit - Los Angeles series, before they can see who they will face in the scond round.
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Chris Gratton (San Jose), assited on three of the four San Jose goals.
DETROIT (3) at. LOS ANGELES (6) - 4-1 - SERIES TIED 3-3
Los Angeles got the start they wanted when Petr Sykora (7) scored nine minutes into the first period. Sykora is having a great playoff so far, with 7 goals and 8 points. However the Los Angeles lead did only last 21 seconds, as Daymond Langkow´s (2) hard work infront of Dominik Hasek was rewarded with a goal. And three minutes later Pierre Dagenais (2) scored to make it 2-1 to the visitors. In the second period the Red Wings outshoot there hosts 12-4, and they also scored the lone goal in the period. Daymond Langkow (3), who played his best game in the post-season so far, scored his second for the night. A goal that held the scoreline at 3-1 until the 13:35 mark in the third period when veteran Brett Hull (3) made it 4-1.
The series will now be decided in the Joe Luis Arena, with the Red Wings having the momentum thanks to today´s win. And with the home fans behind them.
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Daymond Langkow (Detroit), scored twice and had one assist as the Red Wings forced a game seven.
TODAY´S GAMES
San Jose at. Nashville 4-0 - San Jose win series 4-2
Detroit at. Los Angeles 4-1 - Series tied 3-3
TOMORROW´S GAMES
Montreal (8) at. Philadelphia (1) - Series tied 3-3
Tampa Bay (6) at. Florida (3) - Series tied 3-3