NHL playoffs resume Saturday in Tampa

TAMPA, Fla., May 5 (UPI) -- The four surviving NHL playoff teams have a few days' rest before resuming the battle for the Stanley Cup.

The best-of-seven semifinal series begin this weekend in Tampa and San Jose.

The Philadelphia Flyers take on Tampa Bay Saturday in the Eastern Conference and the Calgary Flames are at San Jose Sunday in the Western Conference.

The Lightning and Sharks, both with home ice advantage, are in the conference finals for the first time ever.

Tampa Bay advanced to the semifinals by knocking out the Montreal Canadians, San Jose eliminated the Colorado Avalanche, Philadelphia beat Toronto and Calgary ousted the pre-tournament favorite Detroit Red Wings.

The Flyers have won the Stanley Cup twice, in 1975 and 1974. Calgary won in 1989.

The Sharks' Vincent Damphousse, who scored five goals against Colorado, said the playoff results so far show how evenly matched NHL playoff teams are.

"I think that says a lot about the parity in our league, how any team at any time who makes the playoffs can beat anybody," Damphousse said. "It happened last year with Anaheim and Minnesota. This year, it's us and Calgary."