Your NHL Playoffs Open Thread

There are five games tonight, but only one series might end with a sweep. That would be Detroit playing in Phoenix, but they don't start until 10:30 p.m. eastern. So, check into whether the Washington Capitals and Pittsburgh Penguins can take 3-1 leads over the New York Rangers and Tampa Bay Lightning, respectively. Both games start at 7 p.m.

The Flyers can do the same to the Buffalo Sabres, albeit a half-hour later. Actually, Nashville can, too. But they're hosting Anaheim, so they're the lone home team with take-two-game-lead potential.

I'm sure I'm not alone in hoping Detroit loses, just to see whether Red Wings fans would actually throw dead puppies and kittens onto the ice and/or at Jennifer O'Connor, staff writer, PETA Foundation Norfolk, Va when they clinch at home.

Blackhawks provided Red Wings a long-distance warning [Free Press]

Penguins' top-ranked penalty kill looks ordinary [Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]

Capitals' plan in NHL playoffs: Avoid a seven-game series at all costs [Washington Post]

Pronger is out for Game 4 [Sporting News]

Hard-hitting Predator watches back, refs [Tennessean]