TUESDAY SCHEDULE
Florida Panthers at New Jersey Devils, 7:30 p.m. (RDS, TSN)
WEDNESDAY SCHEDULE
Washington Capitals at Boston Bruins, TBD (CBC), 7:30 p.m.
All times Eastern
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Zach Parise and Martin Brodeur. The star forward and goaltender could be playing their last game in a New Jersey Devils uniform Tuesday night. Both will be free agents after this season, which would end for the Devils Tuesday if they lose to the Florida Panthers in Game 6 of their Eastern Conference quarter-final. Parise has refused to discuss his future until after the playoffs. The 39-year-old Brodeur, a three-time Stanley Cup winner with New Jersey, has been philosophical. "The future will take care of itself regardless of the decision I'll make or the one the organization will make," the goalie said. "I have been fortunate to play a lot of years and did a lot of great things and eventually something will come at the end. But I don't know when."
BY THE NUMBERS
1.89
Goals-against average of the St. Louis Blues during the regular season, an NHL best.
2.09
GAA of the Los Angeles Kings during the regular season, second best in the league.
8
Total number of goals the Blues and Kings each allowed in their respective first-round playoff series. It's safe to predict a low-scoring series when the Blues and Kings meet in the second round.
HE SAID IT
We have tons of money and if we can use our cap space to get high-end free agents, we have a shot to get right back on top. If we're fortunate in free agency, we won't have to look at going in another direction.
Mike Babcock
The Detroit Red Wings coach has a prescription for a quick turnaround next season. The club's 2012 season ended with a first-round defeat to the Nashville Predators.
ON OUR WEBSITE
Globe hockey columnist Eric Duhatschek and hockey reporter James Mirtle join host Darren Yourk to discuss the end of the road for the Pittsburgh Penguins and Vancouver Canucks, the surprise run of the Ottawa Senators and Raffi Torres's 25-game suspension.
Who had the most epic playoff beard in NHL history? Nominate your favourite hirsute hero on our website this week. Next week, the voting begins.
globesports.com