A heartbreaking loss for the Habs heated up the Canadiens-Senators series, the revolving door kept spinning in Minnesota's crease and the Canucks were swept at the hands of the Sharks. This and more in our top Stanley Cup stories from Tuesday:
1. NHL fans saw their first handshake line of the playoffs when the Sharks swept the Canucks in San Jose. Vancouver didn't make it easy in Game 4, though, as they continuously rallied before Sharks centre Joe Pavelski forced OT. But a late boarding call on Canucks winger Daniel Sedin led to Patrick Marleau's winner at 13:18 into extra time. The Sharks, who completed their first playoff sweep in franchise history, move on to the Western Conference semifinal.
2. The Montreal Canadiens looked like they had Game 4 locked up, with a 2-0 lead late in the third. Until this happened. Mika Zibanejad's disputed goal cracked open the gates and the Ottawa Senators burst through them for a 3-2 comeback victory in overtime. Kyle Turris played hero again for the Senators and scored the winner, while Habs fans continued to criticize some costly calls. Montreal also lost starting goalie Carey Price and Elliotte Friedman of Hockey Night in Canada tweeted after the game that Price was questionable for Thursday's Game 5 in Montreal (CBC, CBCSports.ca, 7 p.m. ET).
3. Try this for a tongue-twister: Backstrom backs up his backup's backup. It was a weird sight during the Minnesota Wild's 3-0 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks in Game 4. Josh Harding was filling in for injured starter Niklas Backstrom when he was hurt after colliding with Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews. Third-string goalie Darcy Kuemper, featured in the Hockey Night Close Up, took over the crease in the second period and Backstrom got dressed to join his teammates on the bench. Who will start in goal for Minnesota as they try to avoid elimination in Game 5? Find out on Thursday night (CBC, CBCSports.ca, 9:30 p.m. ET).
4. After Marc-Andre Fleury let in this goal against the Islanders in Game 4, hockey buffs pulled out their book of puzzling stats on the Penguins. Pittsburgh has let in 44 goals in the last 10 games. Fleury was accountable for 26 of those goals in six appearances against the Flyers in last year's playoffs. Fleury has never had a start taken away in the post-season, but that might change in Game 5 Thursday (7 p.m. ET). The Penguins fell to the Islanders 6-4, allowing New York to even the series 2-2.
5. Toronto claims the Boston Bruins are cheating. The B's have owned 58 per cent of the faceoffs so far in this series, and Maple Leafs coach Randy Carlyle says that's a bit off. "Specifically, when you're at home you think that you would be afforded some of the staples of the opposition having to be first down and stop," Carlyle said. "In our view, there were some things that were going on that we didn't agree with." The Leafs also didn't like the way this fan was treated in Boston, but he'll be cheering on his team in Game 4 on Wednesday night (CBC, CBCSports.ca, 7 p.m. ET).
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