Last week, I asked the question of whether Carolina Hurricanes could come back from being one down in their Eastern Conference final. Now, they're at 0-3 and it's looking more and more unlikely. They're still in with a chance, though, and tomorrow's fourth game against Pittsburgh Penguins will be huge. It's tough enough winning one match against the Penguins, four in a row will be, shall we say, difficult! Even if the Hurricanes haven't yet made a comeback, Penguins' Sidney Crosby certainly did in answer to my second question last week. In the latest match, the pairing of Crosby together with Evgeni Malkin was a dominant force. Malkin's two goals in the first period set the match on its way to a 6-2 drubbing of Carolina on their home ice. Penguins have now put 16 goals in the Hurricanes' net in their three matches so far. More to come tomorrow night?

An injury-hit Calgary Flames succeeded in increasing their advantage over Chicago Redhawks to 3-1 in matches even without two of their best players, Datsyuk and Lidström, in a 6-1 problem-free victory. The stunning win in Chicago last night in front of 22,663 spectators means Flames can now take the series on home ice on Wednesday.

Looks like the home ice advantage in a decisive seventh match won't be needed in these final series either. This year at least, the final positions after the regular season in the NHL are not that decisive. Round after round in the playoffs has seen the highest seeds disappear.

All the best