Luc Bourdon died today in a motorcycle accident near Shipagan, N.B.

This is sad news. Ourthoughts are with his family, friends, and the Vancouver Canucks organization.

Eve Bourdon, Luc’s sister confirmed his death, but declined further comment. His agent, Kent Hughes, was unaware he rode motorcycles. Also, according to the report Luc just purchased his motorcycle two days ago.

In the spirit of the NHL playoff finals, here’s a video of some incredible shootout goals. Enjoy!

This video shows one of the greatest saves I’ve ever seen. Behold the wonder that is Evgeni Nabokov.

The Lady Byng Memorial Trophy is given annually to the National Hockey League “player adjudged to have exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability” It has been awarded 81 times to 50 different players since its inception in 1925.

This years nominees are Pavel Datsyuk of the Detroit Red Wings, Buffalo Sabres right wing Jason Pominville and Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Martin St. Louis. If he wins, Datsyuk would become the first player in seventy years to win the Lady Byng Trophy in three consecutive seasons. The last player to do so was New York Rangers forward Frank Boucher - a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame - from 1933 through 1935.

The James Norris Memorial Trophy is given annually to the National Hockey League’s best “defense player who demonstrates throughout the season the greatest all-round ability in the position”. The Norris Trophy has been given 52 times to 21 different players since its beginnings in 1954.
Up for the honor this year are the Calgary Flames’ Dion Phaneuf, Nicklas Lidstrom of the Detroit red Wings and Zdeno Chara of the Boston Bruins. Nicklas Lidstrom has won the Norris Trophy five of the last six seasons, a tie with the former Bruin Ray Bourque. This is his ninth nomination.

The Calder Memorial Trophy is an annual award given “to the player selected as the most proficient in his first year of competition in the National Hockey League.” The prestigious award has been given 70 times since its beginnings in 1937.

This year’s nominees are Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews of the Chicago Blackhawks, and Nicklas Backstrom of the Washington Capitols. Kane was taken first overall by the Chicago Blackhawks at last summer’s NHL draft and led all freshmen with 21 goals and 72 points in 82 games this season. Toews, who played with Kane on Chicago’s top line for most of the season, collected 54 points, despite having a shorter season (64 games) due to a knee injury. Backstrom finished second to Kane in scoring (69 points) and helped lead the Capitals into the playoffs.

Series I Philadelphia Flyers at Montreal Canadiens

Thursday, April 24, 2008 7:00 PM Philadelphia at Montreal
Saturday, April 26, 2008 7:00 PM Philadelphia at Montreal
Monday, April 28, 2008 7:00 PM Montreal at Philadelphia
Wednesday, April 30, 2008 7:00 PM Montreal at Philadelphia
*Saturday, May 3, 2008 7:00 PM Philadelphia at Montreal
*Sunday, May 4, 2008 7:00 PM Montreal at Philadelphia
*Tuesday, May 6, 2008 7:00 PM Philadelphia at Montreal

Series J New York Rangers at Pittsburgh Penguins

Friday, April 25, 2008 7:00 PM NY Rangers at Pittsburgh
Sunday, April 27, 2008 2:00 PM NY Rangers at Pittsburgh
Tuesday, April 29, 2008 7:00 PM Pittsburgh at NY Rangers
Thursday, May 1, 2008 7:00 PM Pittsburgh at NY Rangers
*Sunday, May 4, 2008 2:00 PM NY Rangers at Pittsburgh
*Monday, May 5, 2008 7:00 PM Pittsburgh at NY Rangers
*Wednesday, May 7, 2008 TBD NY Rangers at Pittsburgh

Series K Colorado Avalanche at Detroit Red Wings

Thursday, April 24, 2008 7:30 PM Colorado at Detroit
Saturday, April 26, 2008 3:00 PM Colorado at Detroit
Tuesday, April 29, 2008 10:00 PM Detroit at Colorado
Thursday, May 1, 2008 10:00 PM Detroit at Colorado
*Saturday, May 3, 2008 1:00 PM Colorado at Detroit
*Monday, May 5, 2008 10:00 PM Detroit at Colorado
*Wednesday, May 7, 2008 TBD Colorado at Detroit

Series L Dallas Stars at San Jose Sharks

Friday, April 25, 2008 10:00 PM Dallas at San Jose
Sunday, April 27, 2008 9:00 PM Dallas at San Jose
Tuesday, April 29, 2008 7:30 PM San Jose at Dallas
Wednesday, April 30, 2008 9:00 PM San Jose at Dallas
*Friday, May 2, 2008 10:00 PM Dallas at San Jose
*Sunday, May 4, 2008 9:00 PM San Jose at Dallas
*Tuesday May 6, 2008 10:00 PM Dallas at San Jose

The Flyers/Capitals game took a dark turn when the Flyers left wing Patrick Thoresen, took a shot in the groin and had to be helped off the ice, taken to hospital for tests there is the possibility that one of his testicles will have to be removed, such was the force of the shot that he blocked with six minutes to go in the game.

Boston Bruins 5 Montreal Canadiens 4
Forcing a game 7, the Bruins fought hard and came out strong in a tense game on Saturday. Montreal has been struggling after initially holding a 3-1 series lead.

Colorado Avalanche 2 Minnesota Wild 1
The Avalanche stood thier ground against another attack from the Wild for a series-clinching 2-1 win Saturday night.

Washington Capitals 3 Philadelphia Flyers 2
The Capitals jumped to an early lead, and the Flyers just waited too long to respond Saturday in Washington’s 3-2 must-win Game 5 victory in the first-round playoff series.

Detroit Red Wings 3 Nashville Predators 0
At Nashville, Tenn., Nicklas Lidstrom and Jiri Hudler each scored, and the Red Wings closed out their opening series by beating the Predators in Game 6.

Dallas Stars 4 Anaheim Ducks 1
At Dallas, Stephane Robidas scored the tying goal on the power play early in the third period then set up Stu Barnes for the go-ahead goal 52 seconds later, sending the Stars past Anaheim to end their first-round series in six games.

Flames 2 San Jose Sharks 0
Miikka Kiprusoff made 21 saves and the Calgary Flames beat the Sharks 2-0 Sunday, forcing Game 7 in the first-round playoff series.