News: Canucks general manager Mike Gillis said Brendan Gaunce will "be given every opportunity" to make the team's roster next season, the Vancouver Province reports.
Analysis: One of Gillis' focuses this offseason is to make his team younger, which puts Brendan Gaunce, Frank Corrado, Nicklas Jensen, Jordan Schroeder and others on the Canucks' radar for the 2013-14 campaign. Gaunce, 19, showed promise at the junior level this season, totaling 82 points in 77 regular and postseason games with Belleville of the OHL. He could be the answer to the Canucks' constant problems at finding a third-line center. Put Gaunce on your radar as a late-round flier if he does nab a roster spot.
News: Brenden Morrow (arm) returned to the ice for Friday's gameday skate, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Dave Molinari reports.
Analysis: Brenden Morrow missed Wednesday's Game 4 against the Senators due to an apparent shoulder/arm injury, but his presence at gameday skate is a good sign. Check back closer to faceoff to confirm his status for Friday's Game 5.
News: Antti Niemi gave up a pair of goals on 28 shots in a losing effort Thursday against the Kings.
Analysis: With the Kings now up 3-2 in the series, Antti Niemi will be tasked with stepping up his play even further in Game 6 when the series returns to San Jose. Overall, he's played well through the first five games, giving up just 10 goals in that span.
News: Jonathan Quick stopped all 24 shots in faced in a 3-0 win over the Sharks on Thursday.
Analysis: Jonathan Quick may have started off slowly this postseason but he' clearly back on track and flashing the form he showed in the 2012 playoffs that netted him the Conn Smythe.
News: Corey Crawford gave up just one goal on 26 shots in the Hawks' 2-0 Game 4 loss to Detroit on Thursday.
Analysis: Considering that he limited the Wings to one goal prior to the empty-netter in the final minute of the third period, Corey Crawford likely erased any talk of a change in goal for the Hawks when the series goes back to Chicago for Game 5 on Saturday.
News: Jakub Kindl scored his first career playoff goal, which stood as the eventual game-winner in Thursday's victory over Chicago.
Analysis: For a player who struggled at times to stay in the regular blue-line rotation last season, Jakub Kindl's emergence over the course of the year has been a huge boost to the Wings as they had to adjust to life without Nicklas Lidstrom heading up their blue-line corps this season. Although his offensive contributions are not elite, Kindl's expanded role put him on pace for a 26-point season if projected over a typical 82-game slate.
News: Jimmy Howard stopped all 28 shots he faced Thursday against Chicago in a winning effort.
Analysis: Corey Crawford played well at the other end, but the Wings were able to find the back of the net in the second period for the eventual game-winning tally before Daniel Cleary found an empty net in the final minute of the third period. Although the Wings have a 3-1 lead in the series, Jimmy Howard needs to stay sharp with the return to Chicago for Game 5 on Saturday.
News: Chris Kreider potted the game-winning goal in Thursday's Game 4 OT win over Boston.
Analysis: With a chance to skate on Rick Nash's line thanks to a series of lineup adjustments, Chris Kreider was on the receiving end of a pass from Nash in the extra frame and managed to beat Tuukka Rask on the blocker side to extend the Rangers' season for at least another game as the series will return to Boston for Game 5.
News: Henrik Lundqvist stopped 37 of the 40 shots he faced in the Rangers' OT win over Boston on Thursday night.
Analysis: The offensive support in front of him was much better Thursday as the Rangers managed to pot four goals against Tuukka Rask after tallying just five in the previous three contests combined. Henrik Lundqvist will need to play very well as the Rangers look to avoid elimination in Game 5 and erase a 3-1 series deficit.
News: Tuukka Rask gave up four goals on 32 shots in Thursday's OT loss to the Rangers.
Analysis: The Rangers played well in a must-win situation in Game 4, but the series is now headed back to Boston and Tuukka Rask will be counted on to bounce back to his form from the previous three games where he allowed just five goals on 96 shots.
