The commencement of the first round of the 2008 Stanley Cup Playoffs did not disappoint! There was exciting play from coast-to-coast and some of us were JUMPING for joy, despite having racing hearts and nervous moments throughout the games that meant the most to us. Isn't that what NHL Stanley Cup Playoff action is all about?

I don't need to remind anyone that this is only the beginning of grinding games and a series won is four wins out of seven games.

Petr Sykora and the Pens reign victorious in a 4-0 win over the Ottawa Senators

Without a doubt, Pittsburgh's Marc-Andre Fluery had an incredible game as he smothered all 26 shots he faced tonight, despite the Senators having seven power-play opportunities to just four for Pittsburgh. Tonight, the Penguins came up BIG in the 4-0 win over the Senators. Senators' goalie Martin Gerber had a rough go of it in the beginning of the game, but settled down as the game progressed.

Unfortunately, Ottawa is a depleted team due to injuries and played without their captain Daniel Alfredsson, Chris Kelly and Mike Fisher and then lost Anton Volchenkov when he was cut after being struck in the helmet by a Evgeni Malkin slap shot midway through the second period.

I look forward to Lady Penguins' comments as she was at the game cheering wildly for her boys!

In New Jersey, the NY Rangers got the best of Martin Brodeur's Devils and beat them handily 4-1 as former Devil, Scott Gomez was an impact player contributing three assists, while goals were scored by Brendan Shanahan, Ryan Callahan, Sean Avery, and Nigel Dawes.

NY Rangers' Ryan Callahan puts the puck under NJ Devils goalie Martin Brodeur

In the Midwest, the Colorado Avalanche and the Minnesota Wild game went into overtime in an intensely contested battled with the AVS emerging with a 3-2 win as Captain Joe Sakic netted the game winner, but also captured an NHL record as he added to his all-time record of playoff overtime game-winning goals. This OT winner was his eighth career playoff OT goal, further illustrating his moniker of "Mr. Clutch."

Wild goalie Niklas Backstrom and AVS goalie Jose Theodore both had strong games and made stunning saves. As this series continues, players for both teams expect it to be played tight, and every game and every shift is going to be a fight.

Joe Sakic celebrates his OT game winning goal over the Minnesota Wild

Finally, in San Jose, the Calgary Flames stepped onto the ice on fire and seemed to control the game, but the Sharks surged to pull within one goal. The final score found Calgary winning 3-2 over the Sharks. The crowd at the Shark Tank had to be a bit disappointed with tonight's play as their talented team came out flat. Many sports pundits have predicted that the Sharks will be the eventual winner of the Cup. Tonight's loss was the first suffered by Shark netminder, Evgeni Nabokov who hadn't lost a home game in regulation since February 14th. I expect this to be a hard-hitting, tough series.

Flames' center Stephane Yelle is hugged by teammates David Moss and Craig Conroy after his first period goal

I hope you hockey-loving Sugars enjoyed tonight's action! I can say that I am exhausted, but happy to finally be heading to bed! Good-night pucklovers