STANLEY CUP ROUNDUP: DAY 10

One series came to an end last night, one series was extended, one was tied, and another was brought one step away from ending.

PHILADELPHIA 3, NEW JERSEY 0 (Flyers win series 4-1)

Philly needed a last-day-of-the-season shootout win to make the playoffs, now they're the first team to advance. Brian Boucher carried the Flyers in this series, while Martin Brodeur was unable to do the same for the Devils. Claude Giroux scored twice in this game, and the Flyers scored twice on the power play. The Flyers' power play carried this series as much as Boucher did. They were 8 of 29 (27.6%) with the man advantage.

OTTAWA 4, PITTSBURGH 3 - 3OT (Penguins lead series 3-2)

It took 56 saves from backup goalie Pascal Leclaire for Ottawa to stave off elimination. It also took 107 minutes of hockey. Don't count out the Senators in this series. They go back to Ottawa for Game 6. Crosby and Malkin are some of the only Penguins playing at their best right now. Crosby had a goal and an assist, Malkin had a pair of helpers.

CHICAGO 3, NASHVILLE 0 (series tied 2-2)

Patrick Sharp scored twice, and Jonathan Toews scored once to propel Chicago in their Game 4 victory. Pekka Rinne finally fell back to earth. And now Chicago goalie Antti Niemi has the playoffs' best GAA (1.51) and SV% (.948). There are a lot of quality Finnish goalies out there.

SAN JOSE 5, COLORADO 0 (Sharks lead series 3-2)

Both teams finally remembered who they are. Colorado's Craig Anderson regressed to the mean and was pulled in the 3rd. Logan Coutere scored twice. Heatley had 2 assists. Marleau had a goal and an assist. Joe Thornton did next to nothing in his 18:26 on the ice. 1 shot, 1 hit, 1 takeaway, 2 giveaways. What an awful playoff performer he is. He's got 12 career playoff goals in 81 games. He's -3 in this series, and -15 in his postseason career.

Tonight's games:
7:00pm - Boston @ Buffalo - NESN (BOS leads 3-1)
7:00pm - Montreal @ Washington - Versus (WAS leads 3-1)
10:00pm - LA @ Vancouver (tied 2-2)
10:00pm - Detroit @ Phoenix - Versus (tied 2-2)

PATRIOTS DRAFTED A CORNERBACK... GET OVER IT

So much anger last night and today. People seemed stunned that the Patriots drafted CB Devin McCourty out of Rutgers. Folks are acting as though the Pats took a punter or a long-snapper with their pick.

Who were the Patriots' CBs last year? Jonathan Wilhite, Leigh Bodden, Terrence Wheatley, Shawn Springs, Darius Butler. This is not a list of past or future Pro Bowlers here. The Patriots' defense was shady and suspect at every position. The Pats couldn't go wrong drafting any defensive player in the 1st round.

I'm not in love with McCourty, nor am I projecting him to be the next Ty Law or Darrel Revis. But I will contend that drafting a CB is not a mistake here. The Patriots still have needs to address needs at other positions, notably linebacker. But they have 3 picks in the 2nd round to deal with those issues.

So get the fuck over it, fellow Patriots fans. The Pats drafted a guy who plays a position that has been an embarrassment for the Patriots ever since the departure of Asante Samuel.