Round 1: 93 Nordiques vs. 82 Islanders - Game 1

2 - 93 Nordiques
3 - 82 Islanders

If not for Billy Smith's shoulder, there's no telling how this game would have ended up. In the game's opening minute, Owen Nolan took a slapshot from high in the slot that Dennis Potvin deflected toward Smith. The puck flipped in the air and then off Potvin's chest and Smith was barely able to get his shoulder on the puck, saving a goal. That one averted goal could have spelled disaster for the Islanders.

Instead, the Isles rode two goals by Bob Bourne and an powerplay tally by Butch Goring to take the opening game of this series. The Nordiques played well in their first Round of 16 game. They'll get no help from the Islanders, but they held their own with a shorthanded goal from Scott Young and a third period goal from Joe Sakic. The fact that this game was so close could mean we're in for a long series.

Round 1: 80 USA vs. 63 Maple Leafs - Game 1

2 - 80 USA
5 - 63 Maple Leafs

Dick Duff scored with 42 seconds left in the first period to stake the Leafs to a 1-0 lead. In the second period, Tim Horton added another goal before the Americans found their scoring touch. The rest of the second period went back and forth, with Neal Broten scoring the American's first goal, followed by an answer-back by Red Kelly. But then Eric Strobel streaked up the ice on a breakaway to bring the US within one goal once again. But Toronto controlled the game and didn't let Strobel's goal affect them. Moments later, George Armstrong found the back of the net. In the third, Armstrong scored his second goal of the night and this game was over.

Round 1: 87 Oilers vs. 75 Sabres - Game 1

0 - 87 Oilers
6 - 75 Sabres

The Oilers got no help in their first round matchup against the might 75 Sabres. The Sabres, who entered the contest having scored 10 goals in their previous two games (the last six unanswered), looked to continue their dominance. And that's just what they did. The Sabres' Rick Martin scored first after an errant Edmonton pass found his stick. That's all that Buffalo would need as the Oilers' offense looked anemic. Martin went on to score a natural hattrick in the first and held the Oilers to just 17 shots the whole game. Larry Mickey tapped in his second goal in as many games.

The Round of 16 is Set!

Group Play has come to a close, which means that two of the three major stages of this year's tournament are now finished. It's a little sad to leave Group Play, but now we're into the heart of The Tournament.

The 75 Sabres wrapped up a tremendously successful Group Play, winning all three games and outscoring their opponents by 14 goals. Needless to say, the Sabres take home the Precedence Trophy for the first time. The Precedence Trophy is the last award that the Sabres needed to round out their illustrious resume Below are the final standings for Group Play:

1st in Group
Group	Team	GF	GD	Pts	Rank
D	75 Sabres	18	14	6	1
F	63 Maple Leafs	17	9	6	2
B	82 Islanders	15	9	6	3
A	97 Red Wings	20	8	6	4
E	77 Canadiens	14	5	6	5
C	72 Bruins	14	8	4	6
G	52 Red Wings	14	4	4	7
H	06 France	14	3	4	8

2nd in Group
Group	Team	GF	GD	Pts	Rank
B	93 Jets	14	4	4	9
E	88 Capitals	14	4	4	10
F	80 USA	19	2	4	11
A	02 Red Wings	15	1	4	12
C	71 Blackhawks	8	-1	4	14
H	93 Nordiques	12	-1	4	13
D	72 Rangers	13	-2	4	15
G	87 Oilers	11	4	3	16

Eliminated
Group	Team	GF	GD	Pts
E	90 Oilers	11	0	3
H	94 Canucks	11	4	2
C	81 North Stars	17	0	2
A	91 North Stars	13	-1	2
D	90 Bruins	10	-3	2
G	82 Kings	13	-5	2
B	99 Stars	14	-6	2
H	96 Panthers	7	-6	2
C	07 Senators	8	-7	2
G	56 Canadiens	6	-3	1
F	93 Blackhawks	13	-4	1
F	99 Sabres	8	-7	1
B	93 Kings	12	-7	0
A	98 Capitals	7	-8	0
D	91 Penguins	9	-9	0
E	68 Canadiens	4	-9	0

There are some interesting matchups in Round 1. The #1 seeded Sabres get little help in the first round as they're matched up against the 87 Oilers, a dominant team when they want to be, but one that only won one game in Group Play this year. The 02 Red Wings, last year's champs, have a difficult Round 1 test in the 77 Canadiens, a team that clearly has the talent, but perennially fails to make it past the second round. On the other side of the bracket, the 63 Maple Leafs square off against their Group F foes, 80 USA. Lastly, two teams from 1972 meet as the 72 Rangers are matched up against the 72 Bruins. Here's how it breaks down:

Left Side of the Bracket
1 - 75 Sabres
16 - 87 Oilers

8 - 06 France
9 - 93 Jets

5 - 77 Canadiens
12 - 02 Red Wings

4 - 97 Red Wings
13 - 71 Blackhawks

Right Side of the Bracket

3 - 82 Islanders
14 - 93 Nordiques

6 - 63 Maple Leafs
11 - 80 USA

7 - 52 Red Wings
10 - 88 Capitals

2 - 72 Bruins
15 - 72 Rangers

Group Play: 87 Oilers vs. 82 Kings

8 - 87 Oilers
3 - 82 Kings

The Oilers and Kings met to decide the group's final standings, but the LA misplaced the magic that put them within striking distance of its first-ever Round of 16 invitation. Edmonton led 4-2 after the 1st period, and the Kings never got closer. Glenn Anderson (goal, 3 assists, PPG) and Mark Messier (2 goals) pushed the Oilers to a 6-3 lead after 40 minutes, and Grant Fuhr managed to limit the vaunted Triple Crown line to one Charlie Simmer goal. Edmonton charges back into the brackets after a year in the wilderness – and LA wonders once again how it can push its way into the Round of 16.

Group Play: 99 Sabres vs. 80 USA

2 - 99 Sabres
7 - 80 USA

The final game in Group F pitted the 99 Sabres and the 80 US Olympic squad. A win for either team meant second place and a spot in the Round of 16, and both teams were coming off of disappointing games: USA's thrashing at the hands of the Maple Leafs and Buffalo's tie with the 92 Blackhawks.

Despite an even first period, this one was all America. Buffalo's Miro Satan and Stu Barnes each put the Sabres up by one, but each time the US responded – and then took over the game from the second period on. The Americans scored five unanswered goals to advance for the third consecutive year. Seven different players scored for the US, including Steve Christoff (goal, 3 assists), Mike Eruzione (goal, 2 assists) and Ken Morrow (goal and assist in the critical 1st period).

The Americans now wade into the Round of 16 while the Sabres mull over their winless Group performance and think about next year.

Group Play: 91 Penguins vs. 72 Rangers

3 - 91 Penguins
6 - 72 Rangers

Both the Penguins and Rangers had a shot at advancing, but Pittsburgh's chance was a bit of a long shot. No matter – New York made short work of the Penguins, who were never really in this match after falling behind 5-1 after two periods. New York's Jean Ratelle led the way with the Blueshirts' first two goals and added an assist on the fourth one. Ted Irvine also scored twice and added a helper. By the time Jaromir Jagr (2 goals, assist) started scoring in the third period, this game was over. The Rangers return to the Round of 16 for the second straight year. Pittsburgh, meanwhile, must lick its substantial wounds and figure out how to crack the brackets.

Group Play: 94 Canucks vs. 71 Blackhawks

0 - 94 Canucks
1 - 71 Blackhawks


In the duel to decide second place, Chicago netminder Tony Esposito gave notice that he’s prepared to carry this team as far as it can go. Esposito stopped 24 Vancouver shots as the Blackhawks rode Pit Martin’s 2nd period goal to a 1-0 victory. Jim Pappin, who has had an outstanding Group performance, set Martin up for the deciding tally. Vancouver mounted wave after wave of furious assaults, and Canuck netminder Kirk McLean was terrific in turning aside 33 of Chicago’s 34 shots, but the night belonged to the Blackhawks. Chicago advances for a second straight year while Vancouver has to prepare for the Challenge Round yet again.

Group Play: 93 Nordiques vs. 72 Bruins

1 - 93 Nordiques
0 - 72 Bruins

And oh, the upset! Quebec, winless in Group Play for two straight years, clinched second place with an unlikely 1-0 blanking of Phil Esposito and Bobby Orr’s Bruins. Ron Hextall stopped all 19 Boston shots, and Joe Sakic continued his inspired play with the game’s lone goal. The surprising Nordiques, who have shown far more fight than in any previous Tourney, now roll into the Round of 16 at the expense of the 81 North Stars, who themselves made an unexpected but spirited appearance in last year’s brackets. Boston will take a top seeding, but the Bruins, contenders for the Precedence Trophy, will have to shake off the disappointment of this loss.

Group Play: 91 North Stars vs. 97 Red Wings

4 - 91 North Stars
5 - 97 Red Wings

The final match between Minnesota and Detroit was as furious as it could be. The game gave fans three lead changes, two hat tricks and any number of breathless moments as both teams battled for first overall in Group A. North Star Brian Bellows and Red Wing Sergei Fedorov each scored twice in the 1st period and once more in the 3rd, and each of their goals was thrillingly critical.

In the 1st, Bellows put Minnesota up 1-0 off the opening faceoff; Fedorov’s first tally made it 2-1 for Detroit. Bellows’ second marker then tied the game before Fedorov restored the Red Wing lead. In the 3rd, Bellows built off Mike Craig’s shorthanded, 2nd-period equalizer by completing the hat trick to give Minnesota a 4-3 lead.

With time winding down, however, Detroit captain Steve Yzerman tied the game – and Fedorov finished his own hat trick to give the 97 Wings the victory in the game and the crown in Group A. That meant heartbreak for Minnesota, who now cedes 2nd place to the 02 Red Wings.

Group Play: 88 Capitals vs. 90 Oilers

3 - 88 Capitals
3 - 90 Oilers

The final with top billing was the 88 Caps versus the 90 Oilers -- a winner-take-all event whose winner would gear up for the Round of 16 as Group E's second seed. The outcome couldn’t have been closer – literally. After a scoreless first period, the second period saw most of the game’s action, with Edmonton’s Jari Kurri answering Dale Hunter’s opening tally, then Washington’s Mike Gartner beating Bill Ranford on a shorthanded penalty shot. Oiler captain Mark Messier tied the game before Hunter (2 goals) scored again to put the Caps up by one as the period ended.

Edmonton’s Glenn Anderson (goal, assist) scored the only goal in the third frame, and that was enough to send the game to overtime, where Kurri sent a rebound -- and Edmonton's Tournament hopes -- sailing high over the Caps’ open net. The 3-3 final gave the Capitals second place thanks to goal differential (the second tiebreaker after head-to-head play), and Washington will re-enter the Round of 16 for the first time since 2005’s automatic bid.

Group Play: 52 Red Wings vs 56 Canadiens

4 - 52 Red Wings
2 - 56 Canadiens

The tie against the 87 Oilers made things tough for the 56 Canadiens, who have been missing a spark since eliminating 06 France in a gritty 1st-round series last year. Even with a Habs win against the 52 Wings, Edmonton or LA could finish ahead of them; Montreal would need an Oiler win over LA plus an edge in goal differential.

Needless to say, all these parameters represent a fairly long shot for Montreal, and the 52 Wings didn’t make things any easier. Montreal’s Rocket Richard scored first, but Marty Pavelich answered for Detroit. In the 2nd, Gordie Howe took a pass from Sid Abel and bulled his way to the net to slip the puck past Jacques Plante. Detroit’s Red Kelly scored later to pad the lead, but Canadien Dickie Moore beat Terry Sawchuk on the powerplay after the goalie failed to pass the puck out of the zone. Seconds later, however, Johnny Wilson blasted a slapshot past Plante to build a 4-2 lead, and that was all Detroit would need. The 52 Red Wings take the group with an undefeated record. Montreal, 5-0-1 in the Group Stage until this year, tumbles into the Challenge Round without a 2008 group win to its name.

Group Play: 07 Senators vs 81 North Stars

4 - 07 Senators
3 - 81 North Stars
Overtime

A Minnesota win would lock in 2nd place and effectively end Quebec’s bid for advancement. The Senators, meanwhile, had the faintest of outside shots at the group’s second slot as long as a maze of tiebreakers fell into place.

All either team had to do was win their head-to-head match, and both squads showed the appropriate intensity and desperation. Ottawa brought a 3-2 lead into the 3rd thanks to goals from Wayne Redden, Peter Schaefer and Antoine Vermette. The final frame’s lone goal, however, belonged to North Star Al MacAdam, who followed teammates Tim Young and Steve Payne on the scoresheet. In overtime, Ottawa captain Daniel Alfredsson took a pass from Jason Spezza (2 assists) and sent a rocket of a one-timer past Minnesota goalie Don Beaupre – and the 07 Senators kept hope alive while Group C’s final standings didn’t get any clearer.

All now depends on the final match between the Bruins and Nordiques. A Quebec win creates a tiebreaker carousel for second place, and advancement will depend on goal differential for the North Stars and Nordiques.

Group Play: 63 Maple Leafs vs. 92 Blackhawks

5 - 63 Maple Leafs
2 - 92 Blackhawks

Toronto continued its mission with a convincing 5-2 win over Chicago that left the Blackhawks winless after qualifying for the Round of 16 last year. Frank Mahovlich (goal, assist) led the Leafs with help from Bob Nevin, Dave Keon, Ed Litzenberger and Red Kelly, who each scored for Toronto in an even offensive effort. Brent Sutter (2 goals, PPG) ended a fantastic individual campaign for Chicago, but his Blackhawks limped out of the Tournament earlier than they’d hoped.

Group Play: 99 Stars vs. 93 Jets

4 - 99 Stars
6 - 93 Jets

The group's last game would determine second place. The tilt between the 93 Jets and 99 Stars kept fans on the edges of their seats as Winnipeg -- Precedence Trophy winners a year ago -- fought back from two one-goal deficits in the first, went up by two goals in the second, and let Dallas tie it in the third before finally putting away the Stars for good.

Alexei Zhamnov’s two goals (one a lucky bounce off a diving Stars defender to Zhamnov alone in slot facing an open net - What are the odds....?) along with his three assists led the Jets. Zhamnov's tallies in the 1st period helped erase Dallas leads created by Jamie Langenbrunner and Jere Lehtinen (goal, assist), and his second goal chased Dallas netminder Ed Belfour from the game, at least for a while. In the second, he turned set-up man on goals from Teemu Selanne (2 goals, 2 assists) and Igor Ulanov, whose deflected pass amazingly and unimaginably happened to dribble through Roman Turek, the Stars backup, and proved Belfour’s ticket back into the Dallas net.

After the Stars tied things in the 3rd on goals from Richard Matvichuk and captain Mike Modano, Winnipeg’s Stu Barnes raced down the ice and netted a shorthanded tally to take the wind from Dallas’ sails and reclaim the lead. Selanne sealed the game with a late powerplay goal on a feed from Zhamnov, whose Group game for the ages vaulted the Jets into the Round of 16 for a second straight year.

Group Play: 68 Canadiens vs. 77 Canadiens

1 - 68 Canadiens
2 - 77 Canadiens

Group E's first final was all about pride and a little fraternal bloodletting. The 77 Canadiens had an outside shot at the Precedence Trophy, and the 68 Habs, the group’s 2 seed, had not yet won a game. More to the point, here was a chance for both dynastic Montreal squads to prove which was better – and what a bitter battle it was. Bobby Rousseau of the 68 squad opened the scoring with a powerplay goal in the first, but Rejean Houle answered quickly for the 77 squad. Things then stood at 1 apiece for nearly 50 minutes as both teams made attack after attack on Ken Dryden in one net and Gump Worsely in the other. In the end, despite finishing with 31 saves to Dryden’s 21, Worsely blinked first. With 38 seconds left, Pete Mahovlich whipped a one-timer through the Gump’s five-hole – and the later Montreal dynasty claimed the game as well as an undefeated Group Play record.

Group Play: 90 Bruins vs. 75 Sabres

0 - 90 Bruins
4 - 75 Sabres

In the first Group E Final, the Bruins did themselves no favors. Instead, the 75 Sabres finished undefeated and made a convincing bid for the Precedence Trophy with a 4-0 shutout of the 90 Bruins. After a scoreless 1st, Gilbert Perreault scored two goals in the second and that was all the offense Buffalo needed. Roger "Old Man Bromley" Crozier’s 23 saves, along with additional tallies from 4th-liner Larry Mickey and Danny Gare, ensured that this Sabres squad enters the Round of 16 on a terrific tear. Boston now needs Pittsburgh to beat New York by no more than two goals to have a shot at the Round of 16.

96 Panthers Group Stage Review

Finish: 1-2-0, 4th in Group H

Bright Spot: Florida won an amazingly tough Challenge Series and put in some strong performances in Group Play, including vengeance of a sort against France.

Big Question: Does this second straight exit from Group Play mean that Florida’s Cinderella magic in 2006 was all smoke and mirrors?

06 France Group Stage Review

Finish: 2-1-0, 1st in Group H

Bright Spot: The French have never won their group, so this year’s crown is a new honor that had been missing from their resume.

Big Question: The ultimate underdog – albeit one with a title – France could have trouble with any given team. Will the stars align for Cristobal Huet and his mates, or do they face another early exit from the Round of 16?

68 Canadiens Group Stage Review

Finish: 0-3-0, 4th in Group E

Bright Spot: It isn't much, but the Canadiens looked like their stingy old selves against the 77 Habs, albeit in a 2-1 loss.

Big Question: Is this year’s performance the anomaly – or was it last year’s Group-winning effort?

77 Canadiens Group Stage Review

Finish: 3-0-0, 1st in Group E

Bright Spot: After years of treading water, the Canadiens’ first-ever 3-0 Group performance represents improvement for a team that needs clear signs of progress.

Big Question: The Habs have reached the 2nd round each year before flagging – is this the year they break through?

93 Kings Group Stage Review

Finish: 0-3-0, 4th in Group B

Bright Spot: Solid if inconsistent offense from the 1st and 2nd lines kept the Kings in every game.

Big Question: LA has never advanced to the Round of 16. Will the Kings’ inconsistencies and questionable goaltending doom them to be perennial cannon fodder?

82 Islanders Group Stage Review

Finish: 3-0-0, 1st in Group B

Bright Spot: The Islanders went undefeated for the first time in Group Play, and they’re firing on all cylinders.

Big Question: There’s only one question when it comes to New York, which has reached the Finals twice – Is this the year?

Group Play: 93 Kings vs. 82 Islanders

2 - 93 Kings
5 - 82 Islanders

The 82 Islanders went undefeated in the 80s Invitational and they entered Group Play looking to maintain their dominant form. Against a sometimes-potent 93 Kings team, the Isles played cautiously until Stefan Persson's wrister from the blue line found its way to the back of the net. Not long after, Mike Bossy fed a pass to Clark Gillies in the slot to give the Isles a 2-0 lead. But the Kings weren't ready to lay down that easily. Luc Robitaille, who's been having a decent tournament up to this point, scored on a one-time to cut the lead in half before the end of the first period. The Kings built on thier momentum in the second period when Wayne Gretzky scored past Billy Smith's outstretched glove to tie the game. But Bryan Trottier had the answer. Trottier won the ensuing faceoff and passed the puck to Tomas Jonsson who gave it to Gillies on the wing. Gillies rushed up the ice and slid a pass through the LA defense to Trottier in the slot for an easy goal. Trottier wasn't done though. On the very next faceoff, Gillies made an identical pass to Trottier who scored his second goal in less than 30 seconds. In the third period, the Isles buckled down on defense and prevented the Kings from getting many quality chances. Midway through the period, Gillies and Trottier hooked up again and the hats started raining down from the stands. For the first time, the Islanders are undefeated in Group Play. With a plus-9 goal differential, they'll need a little help from the 90 Bruins against the 75 Sabres in order to take the Precedence Trophy. But for now, the Isles are content to move on to the Round of 16 for the fourth straight year.

Group Play: 68 Canadiens vs. 77 Canadiens

1 - 68 Canadiens
2 - 77 Canadiens

The 68 Canadiens' Bobby Rousseau opened the scoring for Toe Blake, following an upsetting and humiliating forfeiture against the 88 Capitals. But within seconds, the 77 Habs' Rejean Houle tied the game on a gutsy drive and second chance shot through Gump Worsely's legs. For the next 50 minutes, these two teams, locked in history forever, matched each other's defensive performances. Yvon Cournoyer twice broke free for the 77 Canadiens, but both times he hit the post. It wasn't until the game's final minutes when Pete Mahovlich attacked the crease and managed to slide the puck across the line with 38 seconds left. The 68 Canadiens, who lost in the first round last year, failed to win any of its group games. Although Group E was a difficult division, the loss to the 88 Caps demoralized the 68 Habs. They were in this game until the end, but it's anybody's guess whether they would have managed to score another goal in this tournament. As for their 77 counterparts, who are undefeated in this year's tournament, they'll have a shot at the Precedence Trophy.

Precedence Trophy Outlook

We're down to it: the 2008 Group Stage final games, the last two matches in each group to determine who advances and who goes home. The week ahead will see a flurry of desperate games as teams jockey for 1st and 2nd place.

I'm going to take a look at the teams who have a shot at the Precedence Trophy, the award given to the top overall team in Group Play. We named it in homage to the NHL's President's Trophy, given to the top regular season team. Like that award, the Precedence Trophy has little significance and even fewer ramifications for Round of 16 success. Still, it's a nice nod to a team's ability to handle squads that hail from different decades, that employ different playing styles, and that field stars and superstars who can singlehandedly ruin anyone's night.

At present, each group except Group H has a team sitting at 2-0 looking for that elusive 6-point Group Stage performance. Among any teams that do go 3-0, goal differential will determine who takes the Precedence Trophy. Five teams have the commanding +/- to get the job done:

1. 75 Sabres: +10
2. 72 Bruins: +9
3. 97 Red Wings: +7
4. 82 Islanders: +6
5. 63 Maple Leafs: +6

Which of these teams face the toughest final game? All of their opponents are proud enough to win, but some have a real shot at advancing, and these are the teams to watch out for. To wit:

1. The Sabres face the 90 Bruins, who also need the 72 Rangers to lose to advance.
2. Boston takes on the 93 Nordiques, who can advance with some help.
3. Detroit plays the 91 North Stars, who need outside help to advance.
4. The Isles host the 93 Kings, who are playing for pride.
5. Toronto faces the 92 Blackhawks, a talented team that nonetheless needs help to advance.

Among these teams, the 91 North Stars have Round of 16 experience, so they'll give the Wings a real challenge. Likewise Chicago with the Maple Leafs. Both teams need help to advance, but their hopes start with victory, so they'll fight for wins against teams that have already clinched. The high-flying Sabres are in a similar spot, and the spunky Bruins are giving teams plenty of trouble this year.

The Islanders could run it up on the listless Kings, and it's hard to imagine the Bruins having all that much trouble with Quebec, who just managed to win its first group game ever.

My prediction: The 72 Bruins, with a +9 goal differential and an easier opponent, enter the Round of 16 as the top overall seed. Of course, anything could happen -- and other undefeated squads (77 Canadiens and 52 Red Wings) further down in the pecking order could take the whole thing. Only the week ahead will tell!

Postmortem: 96 Florida Panthers

The 96 Panthers face another long summer with nary a taste of the Round of 16 to tide them over. Since their magical run to the 2006 Finals, the Cats have gone 1-2 in the critical Group Stage for two years running.

This year's exit really hurts because Florida reached Group H by fending off the vaunted 1980 Soviet Olympic squad in an intense 3-game Challenge series. In the course of that matchup, Florida surrendered game one in OT before winning two straight 1-goal games – the dramatic 3rd match going to overtime – with stalwarts like Scott Mellanby and Stu Barnes fueling the Panther victory.

In Group Play, however, their trademark grit and determination seemed to waver. A 9-2 opening loss to Vancouver was a stinging rebuke not only because Florida eliminated the 94 Canucks in 6 games in a 2006 series, but also because the Panthers seemed to dig themselves a hole they couldn't escape. One hardscrabble 2-1 loss to the 71 Blackhawks later, and that was it. Florida was done for the year after besting the Soviet team, a more talented unit on paper than either Chicago or Vancouver.

The only silver lining in Florida's Group campaign was its final-game win over 06 France, the very team that vanquished the Panthers in 7 games in the 2006 Final. Florida now stands at 4-4 against the team that crushed its dreams of glory -- but those first 7 games mean a heck of a lot more than the 8th.

In any event, the Panthers once again retire from the field with a 1-2 Group performance and growing concern that they're doing just a little too much to prove their 2006 Cinderella status. Only wins, starting in 2009, can change that.

Group Play: 96 Panthers vs. France

4 - 96 Panthers
2 - 06 France

The Panthers had nothing to play for, except one thing - revenge! The Panthers, whose two losses in Group H statistically knocked them out of the running for the Round of 16, still remember Game 7 of the Best Team of All Time of 2006 Finals. In that game, they stood three periods away from eternal glory against a team who, by all accounts shouldn't have been there any more than Florida. Their opponent that day was this same French team. France went on to win the title and the Panthers have languished ever since. But today, the Panthers exacted a small measure of revenge led by none other than Scott Mellanby, who scored twice in the first period to negate a Guillaume Bissi goal. Florida never gave up the lead and scored twice more in the second on a Stu Barnes powerplay goal and a rush up the ice by Jody Hull. France's Jean Francois Bunnerd scored in the third to give Le Coc some life, but clearly not enough as the Panthers' defense - absent in their group game against the 94 Canucks, held back the sometime potent French offense. France is sure to advance on to the Round of 16, but they have some question marks against the more skilled goaltenders that they'll face. The Panthers have played eight games against this French team and have won half of them. France's four wins in this series gave them a championship. And though this win was no championship for the gritty Panthers, it gave them some solace that they may be able to put any past demons away for good.

Group Play: 87 Oilers vs. 56 Canadiens

1 - 87 Oilers
1 - 56 Canadiens

This was the game the 56 Canadiens had to have. The same was true for the 87 Oilers. And though neither left the ice losers, neither also left as winners. Now, both teams will have something of an uphill climb to advance to the next stage of the tournament. Wayne Gretzky opened the scoring late in the first off a one-time feed from Esa Tikkanen. In the second, Henri Richard scored early to knot the game. As the two teams played on into the third, both felt the pressure to win. But the Overtime period was nothing more than a formality. After skating for nearly 40 minutes where neither team could effectively penetrate the other's defense, both knew that they would end in a tie. And so, these two mighty teams will have one remaining game each to knock the other out of contention for the Round of 16. Their final games will be on everybody's watch list, as the games continue in a few days.

Group Play: 91 North Stars vs. 98 Capitals

4 - 91 North Stars
3 - 98 Capitals

Mike Modano came to play. When it was all said and done, Modano not only opened the game with a goal, not only scored the game winner, but her also scored all the goals for the North Stars. Minnesota and Washington traded goals throughout the first two periods, but the North Stars entered the third with a 3-2 lead. It was Modano who raced down the slot and took a Dave Gagner pass to score the game winner, but at the time, the goal merely gave the North Stars a 4-2 lead. The Capitals naturally came back on an Esa Tikkanen goal to make things interesting. But the North Stars played tight defense in the game's waning minutes and got some brilliant saves from Jon Casey. Modano earned the first star in this contest, and now he and the other Stars have a shot at advancing to the Round of 16.

Group Play: 88 Capitals vs. 68 Canadiens

7 - 88 Capitals
1 - 68 Canadiens

This one was supposed to be in the bag for the Habs. After a scoreless first period, the two teams came out onto the ice and Dale Hunter quickly scored for Washington. But Bobby Rousseau answered back quickly for the beleaguered Canadiens. But that was all she wrote for the Habs. Washington, seemingly with no effeort whatsoever, systematically dismantled the Canadiens and goalie Lorne "Gump" Worsley. Shot after shot, the Capitals continued to score until 8:30 into the third period, Canadiens coach Toe Blake was so disgusted with his team's performance that he forfeited the rest of the game. The Canadiens will leave this tournament embarassed and humiliated, while the Caps will likely move on to the Round of 16. It's no telling whether the Caps can continue scoring without really trying as the did in this contest. But it doesn't matter right now. They're sitting pretty with an unlikely win in what should have been a difficult Group E. Only the 90 Oilers stand in their way now.

Group Play: 91 Penguins vs. 90 Bruins

4 - 91 Penguins
6 - 90 Bruins

Those pesky Bruins just won't go away. Ray Borque opened the scoring with a scorcher from high in the slot through a bevy of humanity in front of the net. That was pretty much it for the Penguins. Though they put together what looked like a solid effort on paper, pulling to within one goal twice, the Borque goal sucked all the life out of the Pittsburgh team. Tom Barasso was embarassing in net, unable to stop even the weakest of wristers while the Pens scratched and clawed for even the smallest of chances. In the end, Pittsburgh continues to disappoint in this tournament format and the Bruins continue to surprise, even with their slow-footed defensemen.

Group Play: 96 Panthers vs. 71 Blackhawks

1 - 96 Panthers
2 - 71 Blackhawks

The defense that eluded much of this year's tournamentg finally returned in this matchup of two historic teams. One team's history is somewhat virtual whil the other's is steeped in reality. On this day, it was the Blackhawks who skated away victorious. Jim Pappin continued his torrid scoring when he put the Blackhawks on the board in the first period. Bobby Hull then scored a power play goal in the second period to give the 'Hawks a more comfortable lead. But the Panthers never like to keep things comfortable for too long and they scored when Johan Garpenlov potted one before the end of the period. Tony Esposito would have no more of it, though, and in the third, he shut down the Panthers for the rest of the game as spectacularly as John Vanbiesbrouck did to Chicago on the other end of the ice. The loss certainly spells the end of the Panthers' exciting run in this year's tournament. They'll face France in a somewhat meaningless game. But for the Blackhawks, the win opens a door to the Round of 16 that they one feared could be closed.

Group Play: 93 Kings vs. 99 Stars

7 - 93 Kings
8 - 99 Stars

Dallas opened up a 5-0 lead before the Kings decided to play some hockey. Jere Lehtinen, Shawn Chambers and Darryl each scored and Joe Nieuwendyk scored twice before Tony Granato buried one in the second to put LA on the board. But then Nieuwendyk scored for his hattrick and re-established the five-goal lead. Wayne Gretzky then scored to lead LA on the comeback trail which left the Kings down 6-4 at the end of the second period. In the third, Dallas scored twice more (one from Bret Hull, one from Jamie Langenbrunner) on consecutive faceoffs to make it 8-4. But the Kings weren't done just yet. Luc Robitaille decided to show up just then to cut the lead to three. Tomas Sandstrom then scored with plenty of time remaining for the Kings to come back. But the Stars played defense well going down the stretch and by the time Marty McSorely scored on a slapshot from the right wing, there were only 15 seconds left. The Stars are making noise in Group B and hoping to punch that ticket to the big dance.

Group Play: 99 Sabres vs. 92 Blackhawks

3 - 99 Sabres
3 - 92 Blackhawks

The tournament has its first tie. After the Blackhawks built a 2-0 lead on goals from Brent Sutter and Stephane Matteau, Buffalo scored a goal in the first from Brian Holzinger. In the second, the Sabres continued to score, netting goals from Joe Juneau and Geoff Sanderson before Rob Brown tied the game up going into the third period. But from then on, the goals stopped. Dominik Hasek played the perfect counterpart to the Blackhawks' Ed Belfour, whom he backed up in Chicago in 1993. The overtime was no different with both teams trading chances but no one potting the game winner. Though both teams gain a point in the standings, it's means that both both have an uphill battle ahead to advance to the next round.

Group Play: 93 Nordiques vs. 07 Senators

3 - 93 Nordiques
2 - 07 Senators

The goalies did their part to keep both of these teams in the game, but it was the Senators who eventually fell. Antoine Vermette scored a quick goal in the first but Joe Sakic scored answered just as quickly with one of his own. In the second period, Daniel Alfredsson netted a goal from Andrei Meszaros, both of whome were still on the ice after an unsuccessful power play. Even with a one-goal lead entering the third, and Ray Emery playing well, Senators coach Bryan Murray contemplated replacing his goalie with Martin Gerber. He decided to stay with Emery, which may have been a mistake. In the opening minutes of the third period, Mats Sundin scored to tie the game. And with only a few minutes remaining in the period, Martin Rucinski scored the heartbreaker. The 07 Senators, who lit up the ice in the Challenge Round, have failed to win in their first Group Play experience. The Nordiques on the other hand, have a legitimate shot at the Round of 16. Only the 72 Rangers stand in their way.

Group Play: 82 Kings vs. 52 Red Wings

6 - 82 Kings
7 - 52 Red Wings

Epic - if ever a hockey game could define a term such as that, this game was it. The 82 Kings entered the contest knowing that the 52 Red Wings had every reason to dominate them. But two quick goals by Marcel Dionne and Larry Murphy quieted the Red Wings fans until Tony Leswick sent a pass from the right corner that angled off an LA defender's skate. But LA looked determined to overcome the unbelievable luck that Detroit just found. Dave Taylor and Jim Fox restored order before the end of the first with two more scorching goals against Terry Sawchuck. In the second, Detroit turned things around starting with a goal from Marty Pavelich to cut the lead to two goals. But LA came right back on a goal from Darly Evans to make it 5-2. But that's when Sid Abel woke up. Abel scored a power play goal off a pass from Gordie Howe and the two connected minutes later to cut the lead to 5-4. In the third, Ted Lindsay tied the game with a slapshot from the left faceoff dot. But Jim Fox and the Kings were determined not to let the game slip away. Fox raced up the ice and scored a one-time pass Bernie Nicholls to give LA the lead with just more than 10 minutes to play. It looked as though LA would hold on to win this game, but with three minutes left, Abel completed his hattrick and tied the game, sending it to ovetrtime. Were it not for Leswick's goal in the first, LA would have stolen this game. But for whatever reason, these two teams were destined to play extra time. But LA had little ability to control the puck in overtime. After a minute and a half of skating back and forth, Abel took a faceoff near center ice and skated down the ice, flipping a cheap shot over Mario Lessard's shoulder for the win. LA, disheartened by the outcome, showed moxie against the powerful 52 Red Wings team. But no doubt, the Leswick goal off an LA skate will haunt this team in its fight to make it to the Round of 16.

Group Play: 94 Cauncks vs. 06 France

2 - 94 Canucks
4 - 06 France

The French continue to win, despite the odds being stacked against them. In this game, Le Coc faced off against a Canucks team that just scored nine goals against the 96 Panthers. But the Vancouver offense was nearly non-existent and France scored just enough to keep control of this game. Laurent Mianoir scored in the first period to pace the French, but Trevor Linden scored a power play goal on a third effort shot to tie it up. But before the end of the period, the Canucks gave up what proved to be a heartbreaking goal to Baptiste Emer. Emer and Richard Eomunittu traded passes at the blue line while the Canuck defense got into position. With no options to pass, Emer sent a lazy wrist shot toward Kirk McLean. Luckily for Emer, McLean was even lazier than the shot, allowing it to score over his shoulder. Martin Gelinas tied the game early in the third period, but the Canucks had little ability to get pucks to the net and they needed to work 10 times harder than the French for every shot. After Gelinas' goal, Mianoir skated up the ice and scored a crap goal off The Move that ended up being the game winner. In all likelihood, France will end up advancing while the Canucks will have some work to do against the 71 Blackhawks to have a shot at returning to their 2006 glory.

Group Play: 98 Capitals vs. 97 Red Wings

2 - 98 Capitals
8 - 97 Red Wings

The Capitals showed some life in this game when Nicklas Lidstrom accidentally knocked in an Adam Oates slapshot. But that was before Sergei Fedorov even touched the puck. Fedorov continued his torrid scoring against the Caps in what was essentially a rematch of the 1998 Stanley Cup Finals. Fedorov scored two goals in the second period and four in the game to put this game on ice. The Capitals looked worse than flat in their inability to penetrate the Red Wings defense. The win earns the Red Wings an almost guaranteed place in the Round of 16. For the Caps, it'll be "See you next year" unless they can put together a win against the 02 Red Wings, a team that is arguably better than the 97 team that just dismantled them.

Group Play: 97 Red Wings vs. 02 Red Wings

7 - 97 Red Wings
6 - 02 Red Wings
Overtime

The crowds lined up early to watch the clash between these two powerhouse teams from Group A. And the teams did not disappoint anyone. This was the story of two games. The first on dominated by the 97 Wings, followed by one equally dominated by their 02 counterparts. The 02 team's Steve Yzerman scored to start the game. But then the 97 team came back with four straight goals, two from Brendan Shanahan, one from their own Yzerman and one from Doug Brown. But that's when the game shifted and the 02 team grabbed the momentum. Another goal from the 02 Yzerman started a four goal rally to give the 02 team the lead once again going into the third period. The 02 team's Sergei Fedorov, Shanahan and Igor Larionov each scored with Larionov's putting the team ahead once again. In the third period, the 97 Wings put together their comeback, with an early goal from their own Sergei Fedorov. But the 02 team's Larionov scored again to put his team up by one. The tension built in the building to see which of these Red Wings brethren would emerge from this epic contest. And, when the 97 team's Yzerman scored again off a one-time feed from Shanahan, no one was surprised. The two teams took this game to overtime where they traded chances for 4:50 seconds. This game had every right to end in a tie when you look at how even they had been up to that point. But it was at that moment when something had to break. With 10 seconds remaining, Slava Koslov passed to Martin Lapointe on the left wing. Dominik Hasek misplayed the puck, assuming Koslov would have shot it and he lay sprawling in the crease. Lapointe scored top shelf to put the 97 Wings into the lead in Group A with 9.3 seconds remaining. Hasek could only hang his head. It wasn't long ago when he put together back-to-back shutouts to give the 02 Red Wings their first championship in this tournament. Now, he has has to deal with the disgrace of being 9.3 seconds away from what should have been the just outcome between these two titans.

Group Play: 63 Maple Leafs vs. 80 USA

7 - 63 Maple Leafs
3 - 80 USA

The 63 Maple Leafs were on the outside looking in last year. This year, they entered Group F looking to assert their dominance. On the other end of the ice stood the pesky Americans who have proven their tournament pedigree time and again. But with the Rules Committee ruling just prior to the game that goalies should be able to showcase more of their skills, the 63 Maple Leafs didn't need to hear another word. Leonard "Red" Kelly scored early and often in the first period. In fact, he tallied four goals, sandwiching a Bob Nevin shorty in between and helped the Leafs to a 5-0 lead going into the intermission. The Americans rallied and scored two goals from Mark Pavelich and Steve Christoff to get back in the game. But Nevin struck again, scoring on a one-time feed from Kelly to put the nail in the coffin. Another goal from Dave Christian of the US team helped to offset a Dave Keon goal, but the Americans never really had a chance in this one. The 63 Leafs don't figure to be excluded from this year's Round of 16 after this match. The Americans have a little more work to do, but they're still in excellent position to advance.

Group Play: 81 North Stars vs. 72 Bruins

3 - 81 North Stars
5 - 72 Bruins

These two teams played an even game for almost 50 minutes. Al MacAdam opened the scoring in the first on a beautiful feed from Bobby Smith. But before the period ended, the Bruins scored one of their own by Wayne Cashman. Steve Payne gave the North Stars the lead again on a power play goal in the second period, but again, the Bruins came back when Phil Esposito scored on a one-timer from the slot. In the third, the Bruins took their first lead when Johnny Bucyk scored early in the frame. This time, it was the North Stars turn to answer back, which they did when Tim Young scored a power play goal of his own to tie the game. But Minnesota's heart broke when Bobby Orr skated to the goal line on the right side of the net and flipped a seemingly harmless shot through four North Star defenders and Don Beaupre to score the game winner. Bucyk added a penalty shot goal to seal the deal and the North Stars skated away with the loss, but felt good about the way they played. With a strong final game in Group Play, the North Stars will have a shot at yet another spot in the Round of 16. The win puts the Bruins squarely in control of Group C. With one game remaining, Boston is preparing for a seven game series.

Group Play: 72 Rangers vs. 75 Sabres

2 - 72 Rangers
8 - 75 Sabres

Buffalo's high-powered offense, led by Gilbert Perreault, Rene Robert and Richard Martin, dominated the 72 Rangers for the entire game. The Rangers' only bright spot was a 3-on-5 goal by Dale Rolfe. Otherwise, Perreault's two goals and two assists were more than enough to sink the Blue Shirts in this contest. In truth, the game was probably over before it started and with the win, the Sabres are all but assured of continuing on to the Round of 16.

History: We Are Scientists

For years now, people ask us why we play this tournament. It's clear that both Eric and I have allegiances to some teams. I to the 82 Islanders, for instance, and Eric to 06 France (if by default). But we explain to anyone who will listen that, really, this tournament isn't about any particular team. It's about determining who the best team of all time is for this year. Sure, there will be heroes and moments we'll talk about for years to come. Many of them will be documented in this blog. But in the end, Eric and I consider ourselves nothing more than scientists, experimenting with a program to pit two teams together that would otherwise have no chance to share the same ice (except, of course, for all the teams from 1993). Only through scientific rigor and by repeating this experiment years after year, can we truly determine who the best team of all time really is. We've had three different champions so far and we're well on our way to determining a fourth. Will there be a repeat champion this year? Or will a new team emerge to share the glory with the like or the 75 Sabres, the 02 Red Wings or France? But when faced with the question of why we do this, we inevitably respond, "We are scientists." No more, no less.

Group Play: 93 Jets vs. 82 Islanders

2 - 93 Jets
3 - 82 Islanders

The Islanders play a solid game against the 93 Jets, but it wasn't the dominant performance you'd expect to see from this team. The 93 Jets, who have never lost in Group Play, had their first taste of defeat, but stayed in this one the whole time thanks to some solid defense and great goal tending. Clark Gillies scored the game's first and only goal of the first period. In the second, Mike Bossy added another goal to his tournament resume and the Islanders entered the third period with a 2-0 lead. The Jets finally found their scoring touch when Thomas Steen sent a one-timer careening to the upper corner, glove side against Billy Smith. But Duane Sutter had the answer to give the Isles their two-goal lead back. Before the third period ended, Alexie Zhamnov added a power play goal, but the Jets just didn't have enough time to get back into this one. The Islanders, who have won two games so far in Group B, have a +6 goal differential, which should be enough to get them through to the Round of 16. But anything can happen in Group Play and the Isles still have one test remaining against a more-than-capable 93 Kings squad.

Group Play: 90 Oilers vs. 77 Canadiens

4 - 90 Oilers
6 - 77 Canadiens

The 77 Canadiens continued their strong play in Group E. The 90 Oilers, fresh off their stolen win against the 68 Canadiens, looked to try their luck against another Habs team stocked full of Hall of Famers. The Oilers weren't so lucky this time, though the score stayed close for much of the contest. Joe Murphy scored another big goal for the Oilers to give Edmonton a 1-0 lead at the end of the first period. In the second period, the Canadiens were done playing around and looked to leaders Jacques Lemaire and Rejean Houle to light the lamp. Each did so and Houle scored twice in the period. But so did Jari Kurri and the Habs led by just one going into the third. In the final frame, Guy Lafleur padded the Canadiens' lead before Mark Messier scored twice to tie the game. But Lemaire put the Habs on his back and scored the game winner just a few minutes later. Yvan Cournoyer would add an insurance goal and the 77 Canadiens look like their headed for the Round of 16. The 90 Oilers still have some work to do.

Group Play: 96 Panthers vs. 94 Canucks

2 - 96 Panthers
9 - 94 Canucks

Pathetic. The 96 Panthers showed nothing close to the resolve and discipline that helped them beat the 80 USSR team in the Challenge Round. The 94 Canucks, on the other hand, came out ready to deliver some revenge to the team that knocked them out of contention in the 06 Tournament. The Canucks controlled this game all the way. They scored three early and easy goals from Pavel Bure, Martin Gelinas and Cliff Ronning. Gelinas' goal came when John Vanbiesbrouck leaped to gather a loose puck only to watch Gelinas get to it just before the goalie could, leaving a wide open net for the Canuck winger to shoot on. Brian Skrudland shored a shorthanded goal with a few minutes remaining in the first period to give the Panthers some life. But it was too little too late. The Canucks would go on to score another six goals and the Panthers only one. If the Panthers can stop resting on their laurels long enough to beat the 71 Blackhawks and 06 France, they'll have a longshot at making the Round of 16. But they'll have to overcome a -7 goal differential. The Canucks will take advantage of that 7 goal differential to position themselves at the top of Group H ... for now.

Group Play: 87 Oilers vs. 52 Red Wings

2 - 87 Oilers
3 - 52 Red Wings
Overtime

In the most exciting group, the 52 Red Wings and 87 Oilers played a 1-1 game for most of the first 50 minutes. Gordie Howe scored on a prayer of a shot that slipped by an Oilers' defender and through the tiniest of holes that Grant Fuhr left along the post. Later in the first, though, Wayne Gretzky tied the game at one from a Paul Coffey one-time pass. Neither team scored in the second period and neither scored for most of the third period until Alex Delvecchio broke the tie with approximately seven minutes remaining. But the Oilers weren't about to give up. Kent Nilson picked up a Mark Messier pass behind the goal with two minutes to go, skated into the slot an shot a wrister over Terry Sawchuck's glove. The two teams headed to overtime and it looked as though this one may end in a tie. But that's when fate - and Paul Coffey's back - stepped in. Ted Lindsey took a shot from the left faceoff dot that ricocheted off Coffey's back, flipped up in the air and past a bewildered Fuhr to end the game. "There's nothing you can do about that," Coffey said afterward. "You'd think a break like that would come our way once in a while, but it always seems to be the other team that gets 'em."

Group Play: 90 Oilers vs. 68 Canadiens

4 - 90 Oilers
2 - 68 Canadiens

The Oilers stole this game. There's not much else to say to describe this one. The Habs built a two goal lead in the first, but then gave up four unanswered goals. Joe Murphy scored the eventual game winner. But Habs fans are disgusted at the outcome of this one.

Group Play: 93 Kings vs. 93 Jets

3 - 93 Kings
6 - 93 Jets

After a short break in the action, the games stared up again with the 93 Kings and the 93 Jets playing. The Jets, Precedence Trophy winners from last year, faced a challenge against a Wayne Gretzky led Kings team. Teemu Selanne launched a shot from the right wing to score an incredible goal to open the first period. A goal on Winnipeg's first shot is incredible, but the only thing more incredible would be a goal on Winnipeg's second shot. That's exactly what happened when Phil Housley scored to give the Jets a 2-0 lead. But Tony Granato was determined to keep his team in the game. He scored on a breakaway to cut the lead to 2-1. But Kris King scored against his namesakes to give the Jets a 3-1 lead headed into the second period. The Winnipeg scoring continued in the second when Alexei Zhamnov scored to build a three goal lead. But Gretzky and Granato scored in the period to cut the lead to just one goal before the end of the frame. In the third, the Kings had nothing to offer. They were flat and gave up two goals to Teemu Selanne and Thomas Steen. The Jets remain undefeated in Group Play.

Group Play: 93 Nordiques vs. 81 North Stars

8 - 93 Nordiques
11 - 81 North Stars

If you thought the game between the 93 Blackhawks and 80 USA was crazy, you ain't seen nothin' yet. The Nordiques had built a 5-1 lead in the first period against Gilles Meloche, who mysteriously started for the North Stars instead of Don Beaupre. But the North Stars must have woken up mid way through the first. Tim Young, Jack Carlson and Al MacAdam brought the North Stars all the way back to within one goal before Quebec's Scott Young scored to give the Nordiques a two goal lead again. But MacAdam willed his team back to within one with another goal prior to the end of the period. In the second, the scoring continued for both sides. Tim Young tied the game for Minnesots early in the period, but the North Stars had little time to celebrate as Martin Rucinsky scored to Quebec the lead again. But that was the last lead the Nordiques would hold. Goals by Steve Payne, Kent-Erik Andersson and one shorthanded from Bobby Smith gave the North Stars a 9-7 lead. Tim Young notched a hattrick and Bobby Smith scored again in the third period to put this game away. A meaningless goal from Owen Nolan in the last minute of the game was nothing more than a last ditched effort to improve Quebec's all-important goal differential. The North Stars experimented with Meloche in goal this game, and game away victorious. But there's no doubt that Beaupre will be back between the pipes in their next game.

Group Play: 92 Blackhawks vs. 80 USA

8 - 92 Blackhawks
9 - 80 USA

The Blackhawks had built a 5-2 lead early in the first period against the Americans, but the game had only just begun. By the time the first period had ended, these two teams had scored 10 goals combined and both were in the same place when they started the game - tied. In the second period, Jeremy Roenick and Brent Sutter's fourth tally for the game gave the Blackhawks a two goal lead, but Neal Broten scored his third of the game to cut the lead to 7-6. After the officials cleaned the hats up off the ice, Stephane Matteau sent a rocket past Jim Craig to give the Hawks a two goal lead again. But it was the last time the Hawks would score. Mike Eruzione scored on a one-time from Mark Pavelich to end the second period. It was all USA in the third. Mark Johnson and Eric Strobel pushed the Americans ahead of the Blackhawks. USA showed that resolve that has propelled them to the second round in each of the last two years. But they had a scare against the Blackhawks, and with the 63 Maple Leafs looming, Herb Brooks knows his team has a big challenge ahead.

Group Play: 90 Bruins vs. 72 Rangers

4 - 90 Bruins
5 - 72 Rangers

Ted Irvine and Pete Stemkowski built a 2-0 lead for the 72 Rangers going into the second period. But Bobby Carpenter opened the second period with a goal to cut the lead in half. And when Boston went on a power play mid-way through the period, it looked like the might tie the game. But Stemkowski had other ideas, scoring a shorthanded goal from low in the slot. Still on the power play, Dave Poulin had the answer, scoring on Boston's next shot to cut the lead to one goal again. The Rangers came out strong in the third period and built a 5-2 lead on goals from Bobby Rousseau and Rod Gilbert. But Boston kept fighting back. First, a second goal from Poulin cut the lead to two goals. The Bruins had plenty of time to score again and they did when Cam Neely scored off a pretty pass from Carpenter. But Ed Giacomin and the Rangers held Boston back for the last five minutes of the game to get the win.

Group Play: 91 North Stars vs. 02 Red Wings

5 - 91 North Stars
6 - 02 Red Wings

In a game with no clock, these two teams might have gone back and forth the whole time. But this game was 60 minutes long, and the Red Wings escaped, to a degree, with a 6-5 victory. Brett Hull and Kris Draper opened the scoring in the first inning, but Neal Broten would get one back before the period ended. Broten's goal ended a 137 minute shutout streak for Dominik Hasek and the Red Wings that dates back to the last two games of the finals in last year's tournament (excluding the invitational) Dave Gagner tied the game in the second, but then the Red Wings took over again with two goals from Darren McCarty and Sergei Fedorov. But Gagner added another goal before the period ended. In the third, Brian Bellows tied the game again with a slap shot from the slot. But Fedorov was on a mission. Off an Igor Larionov pass, Fedorov fought off a Minnesota defender to score his second of the game. But Neal Broten would deflate the Wings again, scoring his second goal to tie the game. Overtime looked certain, and when The Red Wings were called for an ill-advised penalty with just more than one minute left, the North Stars smelled an opportunity. But Fedorov broke the hearts of Minnesotans everywhere when, with 8.6 second left in the game, he streaked through the North Star defense and scored a shorthanded goal to dispel any hope. The Red Wings have looked a little rusty since their championship last year. We'll find out soon enough whether any championship hangover will prevent the Wings from becoming the first team to repeat.