Huge Night Tonight in the NHL with Two Game Sevens and An Elimination Game

There will be more important NHL contests tonight than can be properly consumed by an avid hockey fan with two game seven showdowns and a game six elimination game. Buffalo will be at Philadelphia in the early game seven (Versus, 6:30 p.m. CDT) while Chicago will travel to Vancouver for the nightcap (Versus, 9 p.m.).

It the other game, Boston will be at the Bell Center in Montreal with a chance to seal their opening series with a win in game six. If the Habs take it, they will have to hustle to Boston for game seven which would be tomorrow night at 6 p.m. CDT.

Make the jump to get the full rundown of tonight's action as well as a ton of relevant statistics courtesy of NHL Media Services...

THREE ELIMINATION GAMES SET FOR TUESDAY, INCLUDING PAIR OF GAME 7s
Winner-Take-All For Phi-Buf, Van-Chi Series; Boston, Montreal Face Off in Game 6

NEW YORK (April 25, 2011) -- Two epic Stanley Cup Playoff series will be decided in a Game 7 double-header on Tuesday night when the Philadelphia Flyers host the Buffalo Sabres (7:30 p.m. ET, VERSUS, TSN) and the Vancouver Canucks host the Chicago Blackhawks (10 p.m., ET, CBC, RDS, VERSUS).

Tuesday's other game features the Montreal Canadiens facing the Boston Bruins in Game 6 of their exciting, see-saw Eastern Conference Quarter-Final at Bell Centre in Montreal (7 p.m., ET, CBC, RDS). The Bruins have won three straight after the Canadiens skated into Boston and swept the opening two games.

Boston at Montreal, 7 p.m., ET (CBC, RDS)

For the first time since these Original Six clubs began their Stanley Cup Playoff rivalry in 1929, the road team won each of the first four games of the series. Boston prevailed at home in Game 5 on a Nathan Horton goal at 9:03 of the second overtime period, marking the second-longest Bruins-Canadiens playoff game in the past 40 years.

Buffalo at Philadelphia, 7:30 p.m., ET (VERSUS, TSN)

The Flyers and Sabres enter Game 7 having contested overtime thrillers in their two previous contests. In Game 5 at Philadelphia, the Flyers overcame a 3-0 deficit to force overtime before Buffalo's Tyler Ennis scored at 5:31 of overtime. In Game 6 at Buffalo, the Flyers staged another multi-goal comeback after trailing 3-1, this time winning 5-4 in overtime on a Ville Leino goal at 4:43.

The clubs have been tied or separated by one goal 87.5% of the playing time (324:03 of 370:14), the highest among first-round series in 2011.

Chicago at Vancouver, 10 p.m., ET (CBC, RDS, VERSUS)

The Blackhawks will attempt to complete the monumental comeback that has been achieved just three times in NHL history -- to win a best-of-seven series after losing the first three games. The Toronto Maple Leafs overcame an 0-3 deficit to defeat the Detroit Red Wings in the 1942 Stanley Cup Final, followed 33 years later by the New York Islanders against the Pittsburgh Penguins in a 1975 quarter-final series and, after a gap of 35 more years, by the Philadelphia Flyers against the Boston Bruins in the Eastern Conference Semifinals last season.

Such a comeback is an extreme rarity in the NHL -- the three successful clubs represent just 1.8% of the 164 clubs that have attempted it -- as well as in the other major professional sports leagues. Just one club in the history of Major League Baseball has done it, the Boston Red Sox in 2004 against the New York Yankees, and no club in the National Basketball Association has accomplished the feat.


Career Game 7 Player and Goaltender Statistics: Philadelphia vs. Buffalo

Philadelphia    GP    W-L    G    A    Pts.

Blair Betts    1    1-0    0    0    0
Nick Boynton    1    0-1    0    0    0
Daniel Briere    3    2-1    1    2    3
Dan Carcillo    1    1-0    0    0    0
Matt Carle    2    2-0    0    0    0
Jeff Carter    1    1-0    0    0    0
Braydon Coburn    2    2-0    0    0    0
Claude Giroux    1    1-0    0    1    1
Scott Hartnell    2    2-0    1    1    2
Ville Leino    1    1-0    0    2    2
Andreas Nodl    1    1-0    0    0    0
Sean O'Donnell    4    2-2    0    0    0
Darroll Powe    1    1-0    0    0    0
Chris Pronger    7    2-5    0    2    2
Mike Richards    2    2-0    0    2    2
Kimmo Timonen    2    2-0    0    2    2
James van Riemsdyk    1    1-0    1    0    1
Nikolay Zherdev    1    0-1    0    0    0

Philadelphia Goaltenders

    GP    Mins    W-L    GAA    SO    Sv%

Brian Boucher    1    59    0-1    2.04    0    .889
Michael Leighton    1    60    1-0    3.00    0    .880

Brian Boucher

Date    Score    Dec.    Shots
5/26/00    N.J. 2 at PHI 1    Loss    18

Michael Leighton

Date    Score    Dec.    Shots
5/14/10    PHI 4 at BOS 3    Win    25


Philadelphia Head Coach

Peter Laviolette (3-1)

Date    Score    Dec.
5/14/10    PHI 4 at BOS 3    Win
6/19/06    EDM 1 at CAR 3    Win
6/1/06    BUF 2 at CAR 4    Win
4/30/02    NYI 2 at TOR 4    Loss


Buffalo    GP    W-L    G    A    Pts.

Paul Gaustad    1    0-1    0    0    0
Mike Grier    4    3-1    0    2    2
Jochen Hecht    2    0-2    1    1    2
Jordan Leopold    4    1-3    0    2    2
Steve Montador    3    1-2    0    0    0
Shaone Morrisonn    4    1-3    0    0    0
Rob Niedermayer    4    2-2    0    0    0
Jason Pominville    1    0-1    0    0    0
Derek Roy    1    0-1    0    0    0

Buffalo Goaltenders

    GP    Mins    W-L    GAA    SO    Sv%

Patrick Lalime    3    139    0-3    3.89    0    .862
Ryan Miller    1    59    0-1    4.04    0    .857

Patrick Lalime

Date    Score    Dec.    Shots
4/20/04    TOR 4 at OTT 1    Loss    11
5/23/03    NJ 3 at OTT 2    Loss    27
5/14/02    OTT 0 at TOR 3    Loss    27

Ryan Miller

Date    Score    Dec.    Shots
6/1/06    BUF 2 at CAR 4    Loss    28

Buffalo Head Coach

Lindy Ruff (0-2)

Date    Score    Dec.
6/1/06    BUF 2 at CAR 4    Loss
5/10/01    PIT 3 at BUF 2 (OT)    Loss


Career Game 7 Player and Goaltender Statistics: Vancouver vs. Chicago

Vancouver    GP    W-L    G    A    Pts.

Kevin Bieksa    1    1-0    0    0    0
Alex Burrows    1    1-0    0    0    0
Christian Ehrhoff    1    1-0    0    2    2
Jannik Hansen    1    1-0    0    0    0
Chris Higgins    1    1-0    0    0    0
Maxim Lapierre    3    3-0    0    1    1
Sami Salo    4    2-2    0    1    1
Mikael Samuelsson    2    1-1    1    0    1
Daniel Sedin    4    2-2    0    2    2
Henrik Sedin    4    2-2    2    2    4
Raffi Torres    1    0-1    0    1    1

Vancouver Goaltenders

    GP    Mins    W-L    GAA    SO    Sv%

Roberto Luongo    1    60    1-0    1.00    0    .950

Date    Score    Dec.    Shots
4/23/07    DAL 1 at VAN 4    Win    20

Vancouver Head Coach

Alain Vigneault (1-0)

Date    Score    Dec.
4/23/07    DAL 1 at VAN 4    Win
Chicago    GP    W-L    G    A    Pts.

Brian Campbell    2    1-1    0    2    2
Jassen Cullimore    3    3-0    0    1    1
Marian Hossa    5    1-4    0    3    3
Fernando Pisani    1    0-1    1    0    1

Chicago Goaltenders

    GP    Mins    W-L    GAA    SO    Sv%

Marty Turco    1    60    0-1    2.02    0    .933

Date    Score    Dec.    Shots
4/23/07    DAL 1 at VAN 4    Loss    30

Chicago Head Coach

Joel Quenneville (1-2)

Date    Score    Dec.
4/22/03    STL 1 at VAN 4    Loss
4/25/00    SJ 3 at STL 1    Loss
5/4/99    STL 1 at PHX 0 (OT)    Win

FRANCHISE RESULTS IN GAME 7

Philadelphia Flyers (8-6)

5/14/11, Eastern Conference SF vs. Boston (PHI 4 at BOS 3)
4/22/08, Eastern Conference QF vs. Washington (PHI 3 at WSH 2, OT)
5/22/04, Eastern Conference Final vs. Tampa Bay (PHI 1 at T.B. 2)
4/22/03, Eastern Conference QF vs. Toronto (TOR 1 at PHI 6)
5/26/00, Eastern Conference Final vs. New Jersey (N.J. 2 at PHI 1)
4/29/89, Patrick Division Final vs. Pittsburgh (PHI 4 at PIT 1)
4/16/88, Patrick Division SF vs. Washington (PHI 4 at WSH 5, OT)
5/31/87, Stanley Cup Final vs. Edmonton (PHI 1 at EDM 3)
5/2/87, Patrick Division Final vs. NY Islanders (NYI 1 at PHI 5)
4/26/81, Quarter-final vs. Calgary (CGY 4 at PHI 1)
4/25/76, Quarter-final vs. Toronto (TOR 3 at PHI 7)
5/13/75, Semifinal vs. NY Islanders (NYI 1 at PHI 4)
5/5/74, Semifinal vs. NY Rangers (NYR 3 at PHI 4)
4/18/68, Quarter-final vs. St. Louis (STL 3 at PHI 1)

Buffalo Sabres in Game 7 (1-5)

6/1/06, Eastern Conference Final vs. Carolina (BUF 2 at CAR 4)
5/10/01, Eastern Conference SF vs. Pittsburgh (PIT 3 at BUF 2, OT)
4/29/97, Eastern Conference QF vs. Ottawa (OTT 2 at BUF 3, OT)
4/29/94, Eastern Conference QF vs. New Jersey (BUF 1 at N.J. 2)
5/1/92, Adams Division SF vs. Boston (BUF 2 at BOS 3)
4/24/83, Adams Division Final vs. Boston (BUF 2 at BOS 3, OT)

Vancouver Canucks in Game 7 (5-4)

4/24/07, Western Conference QF vs. Dallas (DAL 1 at VAN 4)
4/19/04, Western Conference QF vs. Calgary (CGY 3 at VAN 2, OT)
5/8/03, Western Conference SF vs. Minnesota (MIN 4 at VAN 2)
4/22/03, Western Conference QF vs. St. Louis (STL 1 at VAN 4)
5/19/95, Western Conference QF vs. St. Louis (VAN 5 at STL 3)
6/14/94, Stanley Cup Final vs. NY Rangers (VAN 2 at NYR 3)
4/30/94, Western Conference QF vs. Calgary (VAN 4 at CGY 3, 2OT)
4/30/92, Smythe Division SF vs. Winnipeg (WPG 0 at VAN 5)
4/15/89, Smythe Division SF vs. Calgary (VAN 3 at CGY 4, OT)

Chicago Blackhawks in Game 7 (5-4)

5/19/95, Western Conference QF vs. Toronto (TOR 2 at CHI 5)
4/30/90, Norris Division SF vs. St. Louis (STL 2 at CHI 8)
4/16/90, Norris Division SF vs. Minnesota (MIN 2 at CHI 5)
5/2/71, Semifinal vs. NY Rangers (NYR 2 at CHI 4)
5/18/71, Stanley Cup Final vs. Montreal (MTL 3 at CHI 2)
5/1/65, Stanley Cup Final vs. Montreal (CHI 0 at MTL 4)
4/15/65, Semifinal vs. Detroit (CHI 4 at DET 2)
4/9/64, Semifinal vs. Detroit (DET 4 at CHI 2)
4/7/53, Semifinal vs. Montreal (CHI 1 at MTL 4)


OVERTIME IN GAME 7

Date    Winning Club    Goal Scorer    Result    Series    Time

May 14, 2009    Carolina    Scott Walker    Car 3 at Bos 2    Eastern Conf. SF    18:46
April 22, 2008    Philadelphia    Joffrey Lupul    Phi 3 at Wsh 2    Eastern Conf. QF    6:06
April 19, 2004    Calgary    Martin Gelinas    Cgy 3 at Van 2    Western Conf. QF    1:25
April 22, 2003    Minnesota    Andrew Brunette    Min 3 at Col 2    Western Conf. QF    3:25
May 10, 2001    Pittsburgh    Darius Kasparaitis    Pit 3 at Buf 2    Eastern Conf. SF    13:01
May 4, 1999    St. Louis    Pierre Turgeon    St.L 1 at Phx 0    Western Conf. QF    17:59
April 29, 1997    Buffalo    Derek Plante    Ott 2 at Buf 3    Eastern Conf. QF    5:24
April 29, 1997    Edmonton    Todd Marchant    Edm 4 at Dal 3    Western Conf. QF    12:26
May 16, 1996    Detroit    Steve Yzerman    St.L 0 at Det 1    Western Conf. SF    21:15
May 19, 1995    San Jose    Ray Whitney    S.J. 5 at Cgy 4    Western Conf. QF    21:54
May 27, 1994    NY Rangers    Stephane Matteau    N.J. 1 at NYR 2    Eastern Conf. F    24:24
Apr. 30, 1994    Vancouver    Pavel Bure    Van 4 at Cgy 3    Western Conf. QF    22:20
May 14, 1993    NY Islanders    David Volek    NYI 4 at Pit 3    Patrick Div. F    5:16
May 1, 1993    Toronto    Nikolai Borschevsky    Tor 4 at Det 3    Norris Div. SF    2:35
May 1, 1992    Montreal    Russ Courtnall    Hfd 2 at Mtl 3    Adams Div. SF    25:26
April 16, 1991    Edmonton    Esa Tikkanen    Edm 5 at Cgy 4    Smythe Div. SF    6:58
April 15, 1989    Calgary    Joel Otto    Van 3 at Cgy 4    Smythe Div. SF    19:21
April 16, 1988    Washington    Dale Hunter    Phi 4 at Wsh 5    Patrick Div. SF    5:57
April 18, 1987    NY Islanders    Pat LaFontaine    NYI 3 at Wsh 2    Patrick Div. SF    68:47
April 29, 1986    Montreal    Claude Lemieux    Hfd 1 at Mtl 2    Adams Div. F    5:55
May 2, 1985    Quebec    Peter Stastny    Que 3 at Mtl 2    Adams Div. F    2:22
April 22, 1984    Minnesota    Steve Payne    StL 3 at Min 4    Norris Div. F    6:00
April 24, 1983    Boston    Brad Park    Buf 2 at Bos 3    Adams Div. F    1:52
May 10, 1979    Montreal    Yvon Lambert    Bos 4 at Mtl 5    Semifinal    9:33
April 29, 1978    Toronto    Lanny McDonald    Tor 2 at NYI 1    Quarterfinal    4:13
April 16, 1972    St. Louis    Kevin O'Shea    StL 2 at Min 1    Quarterfinal    10:07
May 3, 1968    St. Louis    Gerry Melnyk    Min 1 at StL 2    Semifinal    22:50
April 16, 1954    Detroit    Tony Leswick    Mtl 1 at Det 2    Final **    4:29
April 23, 1950    Detroit    Pete Babando    NYR 3 at Det 4    Final **    28:31
April 9, 1950    Detroit    Leo Reise    Tor 0 at Det 1    Semifinal    8:39
April 2, 1939    Boston    Mel Hill    NYR 1 at Bos 2    Semifinal    48:00

** Stanley Cup-winning goal

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