Marleau, Sharks Eliminated

The San Jose Sharks became the second team to be eliminated from the NHL playoffs Friday night.

Jamie Langenbrunner and David Perron had goals less than a minute apart to put the St. Louis Blues ahead in the third en-route to a 3-1 win over the Sharks to take that series in five games. Aneroid's Patrick Marleau and the Sharks are done, while the Blues win their first playoff series in a decade, and join the Nashville Predators in the second round.

Maple Creek's Zack Smith and the Ottawa Senators have the top team in the east facing elimination. Jason Spezza had both goals and Craig Anderson stopped 41 shots as the Senators blanked the New York Rangers 2-0 to take a 3-2 lead in their series.

The defending Stanley Cup Champs are also on the ropes. Washington edged Boston 4-3 to take a 3-2 series lead back to the US capital, with game six set for today (1:00pm, CBC).

Chicago stayed alive as they edged Phoenix 2-1 in overtime to cut the Coyotes' series lead to 3-2. Jonathon Toews had the winner in the fifth-consecutive overtime game of that series. In other action, Florida blanked New Jersey 3-0 to take a 3-2 lead in their series with the Devils.

Another early start to playoff action today, with Shaunavon's Brayden Coburn and the Philadelphia Flyers hosting Pittsburgh with another shot at finishing off the Penguins after jumping to a 3-0 lead in the series (10:00am, TSN). Later tonight, the Vancouver Canucks look to stave off elimination again when they battle the Los Angeles Kings for game five at Rogers Arena (6:00pm, CBC).

In the WHL playoffs, Ty Rattie got the winner eight minutes into overtime as the Portland Winterhawks edged Tri-City 5-4 to take a 2-0 lead in the Western Conference Final. Meanwhile, the Eastern Conference Final resumes today in Edmonton, where the Oil Kings host the Moose Jaw Warriors after winning the opener 6-1 on Friday.