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The Blues executed their game plan in the first period to beat the Flames 5-2 on Friday night for their second straight win on a three-game road trip, writes Scott Burnside.

David Clarkson's deflected goal 2:31 into the third period snapped a tie and lifted the New Jersey Devils to a 3-2 victory over the New York Rangers that evened the Eastern Conference finals at one game apiece on Wednesday night.

Martin Brodeur stopped 24 shots for his 100th postseason win, and the Devils spoiled the Panthers' long-awaited return to the playoffs in a 3-2 win.

Rookie defenseman David Savard scored his first career goal and added an assist to lift the Blue Jackets past the Minnesota Wild 3-1 on Tuesday night and give Columbus' Todd Richards a win in his first game as coach against his former team.

Evgeni Malkin doesn't necessarily go out on the ice with a game plan. The way he's playing, he doesn't exactly need one.

I'm off to Detroit in the morning to catch up with the Wings-Sharks series, and judging from what I watched on TV on Sunday, Detroit is going to need to tweak its game plan to avoid another short series against San Jose. Some observations: •...

Stopping Alex Ovechkin is never easy, but some defensive pairings in the Eastern Conference do a better job than others. See how the best shutdown pairings in the East stack up, and why the "success" of Marc Staal and Dan Girardi may be an illusion.

Story | Conversation | April 22, 2011

Former NHL scout and GM Craig Button provides a blueprint for how to defeat the Detroit Red Wings.

Story | Conversation | April 08, 2011

Former NHL scout and GM Craig Button provides a blueprint for how to defeat the San Jose Sharks.

Story | Conversation | April 08, 2011

Former NHL scout and GM Craig Button provides a blueprint for how to defeat the Vancouver Canucks.

Story | Conversation | April 08, 2011

Former NHL scout and GM Craig Button provides a blueprint for how to defeat the Philadelphia Flyers.

Story | Conversation | April 08, 2011

Former NHL scout and GM Craig Button provides a blueprint for how to defeat the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Story | Conversation | April 08, 2011

Former NHL scout and GM Craig Button provides a blueprint for how to defeat the Boston Bruins.

Story | Conversation | April 08, 2011

Former NHL scout and GM Craig Button provides a blueprint for how to defeat the Washington Capitals.

Story | Conversation | April 08, 2011

Corey Crawford made 23 saves for his fourth shutout of the season, and Brent Seabrook and Patrick Kane had a goal and assist each to lead the Chicago Blackhawks to a 4-0 win over the Florida Panthers on Wednesday night.

Mikhail Grabovski and Phil Kessel scored in a 2:33 span early in the third period and rookie James Reimer made a jaw-dropping save on Tomas Vanek in the Toronto Maple Leafs' 4-3 comeback victory over the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday night