The first semi-final series started off with a bang, literally. A minute and thirty-nine seconds into the game, Pronger pasted Lindros from behind, sending him mouth first into the boards and eventually into the locker room. The Fremen had to start their series off with a 5 minute kill, but the KIRKs had to play the rest of the game down a center. Broduer and the Fremen's kill held strong, only letting up a McDavid goal in the entire 5 minute sequence. Throughout the rest of the game, the remaining LOD line looked a bit disjointed juggling different centers. The rest of the opening period was relatively uneventful, but slightly chippy. The second opened up some with Hawerchuk dishing out a pair of helpers- one to Goulet and another to a pinching Karlsson. Kaspar keep going out of his way to lay hits on Pronger and generally being a pest, which paid off towards the end of the period when he was able to draw Pronger into a roughing penalty. The first powerplay unit of the KIRKs only needed 13 seconds for Crosby to find paydirt from one knee, shortside to tie it up. Both teams traded chances into the third, with the Fremen throwing 4 men to attack and the KIRKs soaking it up and counterattacking. Shea Weber unleashed a bomb from the point that ended up taking a pair of deflections, one off of LeClair and the other off of Justin Williams to knot the game. The teams punched and counter-punched into overtime. In OT, the lack of a 4th center started to wear a bit and Crosby and McDavid crossed their signals on a line change, leading to a Too Many Men penalty. The Fremen got too fancy with their passing on the advantage and Zetterberg was able to get a stick in the lane and go the other way... only be to stoned with Marty, who recovered quickly and turned the puck the other way, trapping Zetterberg and Parise way behind the play, resulting in Messier feeding Goulet on the break for the winner.
Before Game Two, the KIRKs were hit with the news that Lindros would not be cleared to play, resulting in Doug Weight drawing into the lineup. The first was marked by Marchand and Kaspar taking turns trying to bounce Pronger around. No fireworks, no penalties. Barrasso and Broduer both kept their creases clean, smothering shots. Kurri thought he opened the scoring, but a coaches challenge called the goal back because of an offside on the entry by Kurri. In the second, Lucky Luc actually opened the scoring on a nifty little give and go with Alfredsson and using a screen from Messier. A couple minutes later, Crosby thought he had tied it up, but the goal was waived off on account of Marchand being called for interference when he set a pick on Toews that gave Sid the space he needed. A frustrated KIRKs didn't back down and regrouped and killed the resulting penalty. Near the end of the period the KIRKs makeshift LOD line (centered by Arnott) put pressure on the Fremen, sliding one home at the buzzer... only to be reviewed and called off because it didn't go in until after the horn. In the third period the KIRKs let their frustrations show, forcing passes and having mental errors. I blind cross ice pass by Weight was picked off and sprung the Toews line on a 3-on-2, capped off by Justin Williams jamming home a Muller rebound. Crosby's line helped claw back to within one by finally getting the KIRKs on the board with a Kurri goal (no review). However, with the goalie pulled, under a minute left, Messier sealed the game with an empty netter.
Game Three started with good news that Lindros was cleared to play, and he had 2 games of energy saved up. On the opening shift, Lindros made no doubt that he was going after Pronger. After two big hits on Pronger, Lindros and him decided to dance. Gloves dropped, fists flew, and Pronger fell, busted open above the eye. Lindros got his 5 for fighting in the box. Pronger got his 5 in the locker room trying to get stitched up. This gave the KIRKs their energy. Bondra turned home a McDavid pass and Doan crashed the net to jam home a loose puck from a Doughty shot, all before Lindros and Pronger got back on the ice. Once Lindros was released, he took over. The LOD line made the second period their period. Lindros potted a pair, LeClair and Renberg both picking up a pair of assists. Giordano was able to briefly break the dominance with a laser beam over Barrasso's shoulder, but the pressure was back on after that until the end. Renberg picked up a goal and, for good measure, Parise put the cherry on top.
Game Four saw the LOD line still running on excitement and making up for lost time. Lindros opened the scoring early, driving to the net and sliding one home between Marty's pads. Tim Kerr tried to imitate Lindros' goal, but was called for goalie interference. The power play saw Crosby, Kurri, and Leetch copy Barcelona's tiko-taka triangle game, finishing it off with a Leetch goal. The LOD got greedy in the second, throwing everything at the net, pucks and bodies, leading to a Robitialle breakaway. Luc buried a quick wrister under Barrasso's arm. Things settled down after that. Players were cautious, not wanting to be the straw that broke the game for their team. The Fremen pulled their goalie early, around the 2 minute mark. Chances were had, but were fruitless in the end. The series is tied at 2.
Game Five lacked the fireworks from the previous four games. Your typical playoff game emerged. Crosby feed off the home crowd and opened the scoring. Minutes later, Hawerchuk countered and quieted the crowd. LeClair and Muller took penalties, resulting in a 4-on-4. The KIRKs took advantage and Josi found the back of the net with some rare ice time. LeCavalier gets into the action with a goal early in the third to setup a thrilling ride to the end. Goalies stood tall and posts were hit on both sides. Neither team wanted to be pushed to the brink of elimination, but at the end Zetterberg broke through with around 2 minutes left, pushing the Fremen to the edge.
Game Six had the Fremen determined to push back and force a Game 7. A fired up Amonte fired home two goals in a minute and seven seconds, bringing the home crowd roaring to life. Williams piled on with a goal to stretch the lead to three before the end of the period. Lindros exerted his will on the series again, netting a goal on the power play and then later on with a wrap around with Broduer getting obstructed going post to post by Weber. Messier answered with a goal on the rush. Messier giveth and taketh away, however. He drew blood on Kurri with a high stick, putting that deadly KIRKs powerplay on the ice. Lindros completed his hat trick and McDavid knotted the game up. With the Fremen on the back foot, they tried to push back, but couldn't quite get the footing. Goulet turned the puck over at the blueline trying to make a move around Foote. Foote poked the puck away and knocked Goulet down, a backchecking Marchand grabbed the loose puck and fired a tape to tape pass to Crosby, who read the play and had two steps on Duchense already. Sid barreled down on Broduer, leg kick, shoulder drop, Marty bit, Sid turned the puck to his backhand and roofed the series winner.
Kinky KIRKs advance 4-2
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