All good things must end. Unfortunately for the Toronto Marlies their six-game winning streak against the Manitoba Moose ended in the playoffs with a 4-2 loss Friday night. The series is tied 1-1. Manitoba was up 3-0 until Jiri Tlusty lit the lamp halfway through the game. Darryl Boyce got the Marlies within one at 5:41 into the third frame. Anton Stralman marked his return to the lineup with an assist. Jason Jaffray, who notched a hat trick against the Marlies earlier this season, punished them with a pair of goals tonight. Game 3 is at Ricoh Coliseum on Sunday, 4PM start time. Tickets are still available.

It was a night of firsts in the NHL.

Captain Clutch came through for the Vancouver Canucks. Mats Sundin’s first goal in 15 games was the game winner in a 3-0 win over St. Louis. The big story was Roberto Luongo. He made several spectacular saves en route to his first NHL playoff shutout. Despite having 48 shutouts, none came in the post-season until tonight. There was roughhousing after the game ended. Brandon Crombeen jumped on Kevin Bieksa, prompting Rick Rypien, Shane Bernier, and Barret Jackman to get in on the action. Vancouver takes a 2-0 series lead into Sunday’s game in St. Louis.

The theme of career firsts continued in Pittsburgh. On a rare two-man advantage in overtime, Bill Guerin scored the first game-winning playoff goal of his 17-season career to clinch a 3-2 win for Pittsburgh. Guerin also scored Pittsburgh’s first goal of the game. Evgeni Malkin’s goal tied it at 2-2 late in the third. Penguins lead the series 2-0. Game 3 is in Philadelphia on Sunday at 3PM EDT.

Tim Gleason scored his first NHL playoff goal in style. He notched it in overtime, giving Carolina a 2-1 victory over the New Jersey Devils. Eric Staal had a powerplay goal. Zach Parise was the only Devil in the goal column, scoring on the powerplay with 25 seconds left in the first period. The series is split 1-1 heading into Carolina on Sunday, 7:30 EDT start time.

Here are the headlines of stories relating to the Leafs and the Marlies in the news this morning:

Marlies News

• Marlies and Moose Even Series 1-1 Toronto Marlies
• Moose Finally Beat Marlies In Manitoba Winnipeg Free Press
• Marlies TV Schedule Toronto Marlies

Eastern Conference Playoffs

• Hurricanes Bounce Back To Tie Series Toronto Star
• Guer-antuan Goal for Veteran MaxHockey

Western Conference Playoffs

• Captain Clutch Comes Through Toronto Star
• Friday’s scores NHL.com

The Leafs got scoring from an unexpected source in Saturday’s 5-2 whooping of the Ottawa Senators. Boyd Devereaux doubled his season goal total from three to six with his hat trick since 2000. Devereaux hasn’t had a multi-goal game since March 23, 2007 versus Buffalo when he scored twice. It was small consolation for Leafs fans mourning four seasons without a playoff appearance.

Eastern conference teams in the running for the Stanley Cup pair up as follows:

1) Boston vs. Montreal(8)
2) Washington vs. Rangers(7)
3) New Jersey vs. Carolina(6)
4) Philadelphia vs. Pittsburgh(5)

The playoff roulette wheel is still spinning out west. Viktor Tikhonov’s shoootout goal for a Coyotes 5-4 win over Anaheim, compounded with Minnesota doubling Columbus 6-3 assured today’s games still mean something in the standings.

If St. Louis wins today they will be tied with Columbus for 91 points but would get the higher seed because they won the head-to-head regular season series. If the Blues lose or tie, they fall to eighth and Anaheim snags seventh. The only western match up not affected by today’s games is Calgary and Chicago.

Playoff schedules will be announced later on today.

Those who don’t have Easter Monday off work are in luck as all four games today have afternoon starts. Chicago hosts Detroit at 2PM. St. Louis at Colorado, Boston at New York Islanders, and New York Rangers at Philadelphia are all 5PM starts.

When first questioned on Saturday about his coaching future, Minnesota Wild coach Jacques Lemaire was coy. He eventually said this is it for his eight-year long coaching stint in Minnesota. The move provides ample fodder for the Montreal rumour mills, as the Habs are looking for a new bench boss.

On the international scene, Canada’s Women take on arch-rival USA for the 12th time in the World Championship. Puck drop is at noon. If you miss the game, you can still show your support by greeting them when their flights land on Monday. Better yet, you can watch some of them when the CWHL starts up again in the fall. Check out www.cwhl.ca for more info.

The male side of international hockey didn’t take Easter Sunday off work, announcing the coaching staff for their upcoming World Championship. Buffalo Sabres bench boss Lindy Ruff will be the head coach. Nashville’s Barry Trotz and Dallas’ Dave Tippett are the assistants.

Here are the headlines of stories relating to the Leafs and the Marlies in the news this morning:

Leafs News

• Same Old, Same Old for Leafs Toronto Star
• Trickster Devereaux Toronto Star
• Comapring Leafs and Raptors Toronto Star
• Neil Might Be Good Fit for Leafs Toronto Sun
• Steve Buffery on the Leafs Toronto Sun
• Burke: Don’t Get Too Comfortable Leafs Toronto Sun
• Leafs End On a High Note Toronto Sun

Marlies News

• Marlies Lose in OT Toronto Marlies
• Marlies Make Regualar Season Last TSN

NHL and Hockey News

• Team Canada Announces Coaches Toronto Star
• No Shortage of Entertainment in Women’s Game Toronto Sun
• Detroit’s Mule in for Long Haul Toronto Sun
• Habs Have a Taste for Bear Toronto Star
• Canucks Await First Round Partner Vancouver Sun
• Senators’ Season Post-Mortem Ottawa Citizen
• Oilers Lose to Depleted Flames Edmonton Journal
• Flames Fired Up for Chicago Calgary Herald
• Canada Dominates at World u-18 Canwest
• Lemaire Done in Minnesota CP
• If the Stanley Cup playoffs started today NHL.com
• Saturday’s scores NHL.com

Despite both Ottawa and Toronto being out of the playoffs – the Leafs for a franchise record fourth season – many fans eagerly anticipate Saturday’s Battle of Ontario at the Air Canada Centre. No word yet on whether or not Curtis Joseph might start in what could be his final NHL game.

Friday night’s games decided how the west won playoff spots. The Minnesota Wild pulled out all the stops thumping Nashville 8-4 to keep them in contention only to be eliminated two hours later. That’s when the Ducks bought their ticket to the post-season dance on the strength of veteran sniper Teemu Selanne’s shootout goal for a 4-3 win over Dallas. St. Louis advanced after beating Colimbus 3-1. this is the first time in three years the Blues have made it past the regular season. Calgary lost ground on the Northwest division title, getting thwacked 5-1 by Edmonton.

The Marlies clawed their way into the final North division playoff spot Friday night. They clinched it thanks to Bates Battaglia’s overtime goal against the division leading Manitoba Moose. The Marlies are the only Toronto pro sports team to make the playoff cut, so if you need your fix head out to Ricoh April 19 and 21.

There is still quality playoff hockey in the GTA. The Brampton Battalion needed a 3-2 victory in game six to advance past the Mississauga St. Mike’s Majors. Brampton will take on the powerhouse Belleville Bulls for the OHL Eastern Conference final.

Canada’s Women defeated Team USA 2-1 at the World Championship in Finland. Jayna Hefford assisted on both goals to become only the third female player to reach the 200 assist milestone. The two teams face off against one another for the twelvth time in a gold medal tilt this Sunday.

Here are the headlines of stories relating to the Leafs and the Marlies in the news this morning:

Leafs News

• May to do TSN Playoff Analysis Toronto Sun
• Leafs Want Gilroy Toronto Sun
• Some Leafs Might Land on World Championship Teams Toronto Star
• Burke Building Momentum Not Just a Team Toronto Star
• Grabovski Admits Knowing Mangiola From Habs Mess Globe and Mail

Marlies News

• Marlies Clinch Playoff Spot Toronto Sun
• Marlies Meet Moose In Playoffs Toronto Star
• Marlies Host Kids Press Conference Saturday Toronto Marlies

NHL and Hockey News

• Canadian Women Defeat Team USA at Worlds Toronto Sun
• Battalion Win Battle of Peel Toronto Sun
• Short Staffed Flames Fizzle Globe and Mail
• Western Playoff Spots Locked Up Globe and Mail
• Malkin Closing In On Art Ross Trophy Globe and Mail
• Duhatschek on Hockey Globe and Mail
• Bruins a Legiimate Cup Contender Globe ana Mail
• Rimouski Eliminates Moncton in QMJHL Playoffs Globe and Mail
• If the Stanley Cup playoffs started today NHL.com
• Friday’s scores NHL.com