The Stanley Cup finals opener between the Blackhawks and Flyers was more like a track meet on ice. Tomas Kopecky had the go-ahead goal in the third period, and the Blackhawks beat the Flyers 6-5 on Saturday night, as reported by the Associated Press.

Mike Richards scored an empty-netter, Arron Asham and Jeff Carter scored goals 84 seconds apart in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals and the Flyers eliminated the Canadiens 4-2 on Monday night to advance to their first Stanley Cup finals since 1997, according to an Associated Press report.

The Czech Republic captured the world championship, ending Russia's 27-game tournament winning streak with a 2-1 win on Sunday, according to an ESPN.com report. Jakub Klepis gave the Czechs the lead just 20 seconds in, and captain Tomas Rolinek made it 2-0 with less than two minutes left in the second period. Tomas Vokoun of the Panthers made 35 saves for the Czechs, who have won the world championship title six times since the separation of Czechoslovakia.

Dustin Byfuglien scored his third go-ahead goal of the Western Conference finals, converting on a third-period power play Sunday as Chicago rallied to beat the San Jose Sharks 4-2, completing a four-game sweep that sends the Blackhawks to the finals for the first time since 1992, according to an Associated Press report.

The Flyers shutout the Canadiens for the third time in four games on Saturday afternoon, winning the 3-0 and taking a commanding 3-1 series lead in the Eastern Conference Finals. Claude Giroux starred for Philadelphia, who got back centers Jeff Carter and Ian Laperriere, with two goals in the victory. After a scoreless first period, the Flyers scored twice in the second and added an insurance goal in the third.

Dustin Byfuglien scored 12:24 into overtime and the Blackhawks beat the Sharks 3-2 on Friday night to take a commanding 3-0 lead in the Western Conference finals, according to an Associated Press report.

Michael Cammalleri scored in the first period to end Montreal?s two-game drought against Michael Leighton, leading the Canadiens to a 5-1 win over the Philadelphia Flyers in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference final on Thursday night, according to an Associated Press report.

Dustin Byfuglien and Jonathan Toews scored on deflections 90 seconds apart in the second period and the Blackhawks rolled to their record-tying seventh straight road win in the playoffs, 4-2 over the Sharks in Game 2 of the Western Conference finals Tuesday night, as reported by the Associated Press.

Michael Leighton stopped 30 shots and recorded his second straight shutout, and the Flyers beat the Canadiens 3-0 on Tuesday night to take a 2-0 lead in the Eastern Conference finals, as reported by ESPN.com.

James van Riemsdyk, Danny Briere and Simon Gagne scored in a span of 9:23 in the second period against playoff star Jaroslav Halak, and the Flyers routed the Canadiens 6-0 in the Eastern Conference finals opener on Sunday night, according to an Associated Press report.