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Easter (elimination) Sunday? Three teams fight to remain in playoffs today

Ryan Kesler, Marian Hossa

Chicago Blackhawks’ Marian Hossa, right, of Slovakia, checks Vancouver Canucks’ Ryan Kesler off the puck during the second period of Game 5 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoffs first-round series in Vancouver, British Columbia, on Thursday, April 21, 2011. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Darryl Dyck)

AP

The first round is starting to wind down, with the Washington Capitals and Detroit Red Wings already parked in the second. The NHL isn’t taking a breather on this holiday weekend, which means that Sunday provides us with a tantalizing possibility: three teams could move on or three series could go to a decisive Game 7.

To get you ready, we have three previews. As always, all start times are Eastern Standard Time (ET).

Philadelphia @ Buffalo - 3 p.m. (NBC); Sabres lead series 3-2

Even less than an hour from game time, it’s not totally clear if Chris Pronger or Derek Roy will be able to play for their respective teams. It’s been an absolutely fascinating series so far, with every game basically being decided by one goal (not counting empty-netters).

Ryan Miller is strong in elimination games, so the Flyers better get their power play together if they hope to lock this series up at 3-3. All the excuses in the world won’t erase the disappointment of following up an Atlantic Division-winning series with a first round upset, especially since Philly handed that same fate to the New Jersey Devils in 2010.

Anaheim @ Nashville - 6 p.m.; Predators lead series 3-2

Even after Bobby Ryan scored the best goal of the playoffs (so far or will it stand up overall?), the Predators managed to win Game 5 in overtime. This places the Predators on the precipice of personal history: if they win tonight, Nashville will advance to the second round for the first time in franchise history.

Of course, that might end up being easier said than done. The Ducks seem to only get better when their backs are pressed closer to the wall, with their big-time players often coming up huge in crucial spots. It’s unlikely that this milestone will come easily for the Preds.

Vancouver @ Chicago - 7:30 p.m. (Versus); Canucks lead series 3-2

Of all the Game 6 matches today - and in the first round, really - this one is the least probable. The Blackhawks looked downright dead when they were down 3-0, yet they’ve dominated the last two games and will get Brent Seabrook back tonight.

Even though this isn’t a must-win game for the Canucks, it’s an enormous one for Roberto Luongo’s legacy. The team is sticking with him even though Chicago booted him from the Vancouver net in two straight games. Can the team’s $10 million goalie prove why he has been considered one of the world’s best for years or will he justify every joke made about his supposedly fragile psyche? The Canucks have a chance to wipe the slate clean with a Game 6 win or go into a ludicrously high-pressure Game 7. It should be fascinating to see which way this turns. Who would have thought?