So how about that first round? Crazy, right?

Saw some upsets—Vancouver getting beat/owned by LA, Phoenix beating Chicago and Nashville beating Detroit. I really don’t think you can call that last one an upset, because Detroit had it coming. They hadn’t been playing well the 6 weeks leading up to the playoffs and were having injury issues. It happens.

Philly beating Pittsburgh was intense, although as far as I was concerned, I wouldn’t mind watching them play for 6 weeks and decide the winner. Those games were insane both on and off of the ice!

But how did Michigan alums fair? Going into the first round the Wolverines had 6 players playing for the following teams:

• Boston
• Chicago
• New York Rangers
• Phoenix Coyotes
• Vancouver
• Washington

Boston (Marty Turco), Chicago (Brendan Morrison), and Vancouver (Andrew Ebbett) were eliminated leaving Michigan with 3 guys in the second round: Chris Summers (Phoenix), Mike Knuble (Washington), and Carl Hagelin (New York Rangers).

As fate would have it, the Hockey Gods have paired Hagelin and Knuble up against one another. So Michigan is guaranteed a player in the third round, but they are also guaranteed that someone will go home.

How about some stats?

• Marty Turco did not see game action for the Bruins.
• Chris Summers did not dress for Phoenix.
• Andrew Ebbett played in 1 game for the Canucks and recorded 1 shot.
• Brendan Morrison played in 3 games scoring 1 goal.
• Mike Knuble had a hand in the overtime goal that send Washington to the second round. He blocked the dump in by a Burins player and took it up ice. The rebound from his shot was put in by Joel Ward. He played in 5 games and had 1 goal and 1 assist.
• Carl Hagelin has played in 5 games so far for the Rangers. He was suspended for 3 games after elbowing the Senator’s captain and one of his childhood idols, Daniel Alfredsson, in the head.

Probably my favorite Michigan moment so far were the announcers during Saturday’s New York/Washington game talking about Hagelin.

Pierre McGuire jumped in saying, “Red Berenson would love to hear you say that. He’s a stickler for fundamentals.”

That he is, Pierre. That he is…

It’s that time of year again—the NHL Playoffs! Last year the University of Michigan hockey program had nine guys in the playoffs—well, 9 if you count Mike Comrie who was on the roster for Pittsburgh, but was injured.

This year there are only 6 Wolverines in the playoffs.

New this year is rookie sensation Carl Hagelin of the New York Rangers, Chris Summers of the Phoenix Coyotes, and Brendan Morrison of the Chicago Blackhawks.

Returning to the playoffs include Andrew Ebbett of the Vancouver Canucks, Marty Turco of the Boston Bruins, and Mike Knuble of the Washington Capitals.

Schedule:   Wednesday:

Vancouver Canucks vs. Los Angeles Kings

• Andrew Ebbett—most likely will be a healthy scratch

Thursday:

Chicago Blackhawks vs. Phoenix Coyotes

• Brendan Morrison (mostly been a healthy scratch) and Chris Summers

New York Rangers vs. Ottawa Senators

• Carl Hagelin

Washington Capitals vs. Boston Burins

• Mike Knuble and Marty Turco (Turco will be the backup goalie to Tim Thomas)