That was about as cool as it gets. Ryan Getzlaf punching Hossa along the boards. Scott Niedermayer elbowing Datsyuk and then the two squaring off and Corey Perry getting a few rights in on Brian Rafalski. That is the definition of Playoff Hockey!

The exciting conclusion sets the stage for a do-or-die Game Seven to be played back at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit tomorrow night. Man oh man. How I am looking forward to that along with the other Game 7′s with the first delicious one on the entree list featuring Sidney Crosby and the Pens visiting Alex Ovechkin and the Caps later tonight. Gary Thorne once said there’s no better theater than a deciding Game 7. How right he is. Both teams laying it all on the line. One goes home for the summer while the other battles on.

For as tough as the conclusion of the opening round was in these parts, that’s how much fun the Conference Semis have been, providing some of the best playoff hockey in years. Add three more series going the distance following our two Hudson clubs falling in Round One. That’s already five Game 7′s! How awesome is that?!?!?!?!?!

Let’s not forget how exciting the conclusion of the Blackhawks and Canucks was with Game Six as unpredictable as it gets. That tells ya how great this round has been. Every match-up has gone at least six and Boston has finally shown the heart we thought it had forcing a seventh game back in their place against Carolina.

Whatever happens, the other three teams who move on to the Conference Finals will have really earned it. As the hated Terrell Owens would say:

“Getcha your popcorn ready!”

Serena Williams rolls to her fourth Australian Open. (Dave Saffran/NYSD)

If there was such a thing as perfect, Serena Williams was pretty close in conquering Russian Dinara Safina 6-0, 6-3 to claim her fourth Australian Open before a capacity Rod Laver Arena Saturday night.

Whatever it is about odd years, the 27 year-old American reclaimed the world’s No.1 ranking by putting on a stunning display of championship tennis that’s made her a great grand slam champion. She’s now won the Australian Open title in 2003, 2005, 2007 and 2009 also doubling the trophy case by teaming with older sister Venus Williams to win women’s doubles as well in 2001, 2003 and sweeping past Ai Sugiyama and Daniela Hantuchova 6-3, 6-3 the previous day.

The four Australian singles titles allowed her to join the likes of Margaret Court, Evonne Goolagong Cawley, Steffi GrafMonica Seles for most wins in Melbourne during the Open Era. Not only did she join this exclusive group but also with her 10th major became the fourth woman in the Open Era to reach double digits trailing the great Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert (18 each) along with Graf, who holds the record with 22. and

“I idolized Steffi Graf growing up and Martina Navratilova was my role model, so when I think of those names I can’t even think of myself there. But people are starting to think about me that way, and that’s just uber-cool,” a respectful Williams expressed of being mentioned in the same breath.

“I was a little nervous actually going into the match against Dinara, then I told myself that I had nothing to lose even though everyone was putting the pressure on me. I didn’t want to lose that focus. Dinara’s a warrior, and she never gives up.”

Having been in a zone helping carry big sis to the double crown leaving her to heap praise, an extremely focused Serena was able to carry it over into the singles final versus the talented No.3 seed Safina. The younger sister of Marat Safin had gotten to this point by outlasting tournament story Jelena Dokic in three sets and then straight setting countrywoman Vera Zvonareva.

One area the physically gifted 22 year-old who was a runner-up at Roland Garros last year and took a silver medal in Beijing she was struggling in was her serve with an awkward delivery causing numerous double faults even in previous wins making life difficult just to make it to this point.

Unfortunately, that proved to be her undoing against a razor sharp Williams who was firing on all cylinders from the outset breaking all three times in a dominant first set that lasted only 22 minutes. Early on, Safina double faulted three times leading to a first break. When she was getting serves in, they were getting pummeled by the game’s best returner who greeted a few rudely smacking return winners from both sides.

Just how dominant was she in the opening set? Safina only won eight total points with a very accurate Serena accumulating 12 of 23 winners with little her overwhelmed opponent could do.

When an errant Safina forehand hit the net, the set was mercifully over with it reminding many of how Williams dismantled Maria Sharapova 6-1. 6-2 in the same match two years prior limiting her to just three games.

The resilient Russian didn’t give up attacking and breaking Serena in the opening game of the second set producing some of her best tennis including a backhand winner and return backhand crosscourt off a short second serve to the crowd’s delight.

The growing question was could she make it a match by holding? Unfortunately, it wasn’t to be as Williams continued her all out assault to break back. She then backed it up with a love hold booming her first serve. Not stunningly, she was nearly perfect taking 20 of 21 points (95 percent) on first serve for the match.

Safina couldn’t recover getting broken a fifth consecutive time before Williams had another easy hold to go up 4-1- two games from winning her 10th slam and reaching No.1 again for the third time.

Even when she competed striking the ball hard to win some points, you never got the sense Safina could comeback. By the time she held for 2-4, it was too little too late against a player who as she noted during the postmatch interview on court was, “Too good.”

To her credit, she forced Williams to serve it out. Serena calmly did just that setting up triple championship point before claiming her fourth Aussie crown when a Safina backhand drop shot went just wide allowing the great champion to bend down and smile clenching her fists.

It was a muted celebration exhibiting class after how she outclassed a quality opponent who should be back competing for other slams perhaps even winning one this year. It just wasn’t to be on this day.

“I absolutely, clearly, love playing here,” a very happy Williams said appropriately adding:

“You guys root for me so much. I don’t get that everywhere. So thank you so much.”

Who could disagree?

Rafa Nadal looks to hold on to his No. 1 ranking.

It will once again be the best rivalry in sports renewed when Roger Federer takes on Rafael Nadal in a battle between the now No.2 13-time slam winner versus the No.1 ranked five-time slam champion.

Plenty will be on the line with the 27 year-old Federer aiming to match American Pete Sampras by winning his 14th grand slam. Nadal, who spoiled the party dethroning Roger at Wimbledon in a memorable five-set epic will again be standing in the way trying to win his first ever slam on a hard court.

Can the 22 year-old Spaniard who’s made life miserable for Federer add to an impressive 12-6 career record including 4-2 at slams by beating him on a neutral surface?

The bigger question is what will Rafa have left in the tank after outlasting fellow Spaniard Fernando Verdasco in the longest ever men’s match at Melbourne Park winning it 6-7 (4), 6-4, 7-6 (2), 6-7 (1), 6-4 with it lasting five hours and 14 minutes?

The amazing aspect is the 14th seeded Verdasco who had the best slam result of his career ousting No.4 Andy Murray in five and last year’s runner-up No.5 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in four somehow lost despite a ridiculous 95 winners while Nadal countered with 52.

Unfortunately, he double faulted on match point concluding the dramatic semifinal.

Nadal committed just 25 unforced errors while Verdasco made 76 in a match people are still talking about for the quality of play with neither Spaniard giving an inch during lengthy rallies.

So, can Nadal bounce back from a shorter recovery with a well rested Federer having more than a day extra to prepare after taking down Andy Roddick in straights needing just over two hours?

The pressure will squarely be on Federer when they take the court with  legend Rod Laver in his arena looking on.

The big match is set for 3:30 AM Sunday morning on the East coast or 12:30 AM Pacific. That’s 7:30 PM Australian time. So, get out the caffeine and tune into ESPN2. If you can’t stay up, they’ll replay both women’s and men’s finals at 3 ET Sunday afternoon.

Roger Federer continued his one-sided rivalry with Andy Roddick. (Dave Saffran/NYSD)

Roger’s still got it. Not that the 13-time slam winner ever lost it.

Pitted against America’s best Andy Roddick renewing a one-sided rivalry though last year in Miami proved different for only the second time in 17 meetings, Roger Federer rose to the occasion again ousting the No.7 seed in straight sets 6-2, 7-5, 7-5 advancing to his fourth Australian Open Final- one huge win away from matching American great Pete Sampras for the most grand slams won by a male tennis player.

It was the 27 year-old Swiss former No.1 who ceased early control breaking Roddick in the third game producing the kind of tennis fans have grown accustomed to passing the game’s biggest server with ease to the tune of 51 winners.

Even after Roddick saved a couple and looked in position to fight off a third straight, a hustling Federer slid across in time ripping a forehand winner down the line. It was that kind of night with the No.2 seed even having success with challenges winning consecutive points on his serve while already up two breaks.

Normally, the man known as The Maestro doesn’t like the challenge system preferring to leave it up to the linesmen and chair umpire for overrules. But on a night he could do little wrong, Federer was even perfect on challenges getting more than half a dozen right to Roddick’s chagrin.

When he wasn’t having challenge success, he was deliberately daring Roddick to come in by using short low spinning backhand replies so he could set him up for the kill. In a brilliant opening set, Federer’s forehand was on producing 11 winners while his opponent struggled early.

However, this wasn’t like Juan Martin Del Potro as Roddick ratcheted up the serve nailing five of eight aces in a much more competitive second set. He even dug out of triple break point during the first game serving large and coming up with the right stuff to keep the pressure on Federer.

The problem was Federer was having even an easier time holding winning 83 percent (52 of 63) on his first serve along with a respectable 58 percent (19 of 33) on second serve for the match. While Roddick struggled during service games facing 13 break chances, the efficient Federer only gave him three cracks and each time they were only one in a game which wasn’t enough given the three-time Australian Open winner’s penchant for serving aces to climb out of trouble.

Still, a more aggressive Roddick continued to press on attacking the net though without great success (21 of 42). The second set remained tight with the 26 year-old Austin, Texas resident holding for 4-3. With a couple of big returns setting up winners in the next game, he was two points from breaking and getting a chance to serve it out and level the match.

But a resilient Federer dug out of trouble without facing a break point eventually reversing the pressure and then breaking Roddick at love in the 11th game to lead 6-5. He served it out for a commanding two set lead.

Unlike the one sided match they had two years ago in the same semifinal, Roddick didn’t go away playing even better in the third set holding more easily and hitting even bigger during rallies with some success to the capacity Rod Laver Arena crowd’s delight. His best moment came midway through the set when during a great rally, he surprised Federer with a topspin backhand drop shot winner out of his reach smiling even remarking that he got him with the kind of shot Roger can pull off.

Still, Roddick couldn’t capitalize with Federer going down the tee for aces even doubling up in that department by a 16-8 margin.

It continued to be a test of wills with each player protecting their serve as if it were a game of chess. Roddick had a slight opening up 5-4 and two points away from the set but Federer saved his best serving for those moments winning challenges and taking the next three points to hold for five all.

Sensing the kill, he turned on the switch nailing a backhand and forehand pass in succession taking the first couple of points on Roddick’s serve to groans from the crowd. He’d eventually setup two break points but a game Andy wouldn’t crack just yet coming through with a couple of winners including a putaway.

However, Federer finally converted on another chance ripping a backhand pass which Roddick could only get a stab at the net helplessly watching it sail long giving Roger his fourth break of the match.

After Roddick took the first point, Federer won the next three setting up two match points. During an extended rally, he finished it in style slugging a forehand winner up the line to clinch victory with a pump of the fist before being congratulated by a classy Roddick at the net.

With legendary Rod Laver in the building, Federer moved one step closer to tying Sampras’ 14 slams. Could his next opponent be No.1 ranked Rafael Nadal which would elevate their rivalry even further setting up the first ever battle for a major on a hard court?

We’ll just have to wait and see. Nadal will take on fellow Spaniard Fernando Verdasco later tonight with the improving No.14 seed playing the best tennis of his career ousting last year’s runner-up Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in four sets the day before 7-6 (2), 3-6, 6-3, 6-2.

Roger Federer has a scare but des advance.

For two sets, Roger Federer couldn’t do anything with Tomas Berdych. It was the younger 23 year-old Czech who seemed to finally have all the right answers getting within a set of snapping a seven-match losing streak to the 13-time slam winner.

The last time he prevailed was when he was a teenager during a 2004 Olympics upset preventing Federer from even medaling in Athens.

Unfortunately, nerves got the best of Berdych dropping the third set before Federer steadied in time coming back from two sets for just the fourth time in his illustrious career pulling out a 4-6, 6-7 (4), 6-4, 6-4, 6-2 Round of 16 win advancing to the Australian Open quarterfinals.

“You’ve got to hang in there, there’s no other solution,” a relieved Federer said later. “Tried to weather the storm. He was hitting the ball so heavy and so hard. He pushed me to the limit.”

It was the aggressive nature of the dangerous No.20 seed which put the three-time Australian Open champ in such a huge hole. Berdych has always had the ability to be a top five player but never the consistency. However, on this day he was in top form outslugging Federer from the baseline ripping rockets from both sides of the racket for winners.

Berdych broke Federer right away and got a key insurance break needed to help put away the opening set. The second saw the 27 year-old Swiss break early but before he could sustain it, his focused opponent broke back keeping it on serve.

Part of Roger’s problems were due to his bread and butter forehand going off which made it even more difficult to deal with an accurate Berdych. Though he saved two break points before holding in the 11th game, the set eventually went to a tiebreaker.

Entering it, Federer had won four of the previous five versus the same foe but this time, it was Berdych who had all the answers getting a minibreak lead before sealing it with a cross-court forehand winner pumping his fist.

Trailing by two sets, Federer twice broke Berdych but once again relinquished them in uncharacteristic fashion. But with a real opportunity to pull off the biggest win of his career, the younger Czech tightened up handing the seventh game over with three bad volley miscues including an overhead he bounced into the net to give a relieved Federer another chance. This time, he made good holding twice more including three aces in the 10th game to get back in the match.

Berdych began to become rattled following a crucial Deuce point in which he thought his forehand caught part of the line. However, his challenge couldn’t be overturned due to a rare technicality with the system which wasn’t working. It looked like it missed but an upset Berdych debated the call with the chair umpire before netting a volley to give Federer an early break in the fourth set.

One huge difference compared to the first couple of sets was Federer’s accuracy. He began getting Berdych in longer rallies due to outstanding defense with the strategy paying dividends with his opponent cooperating. Berdych committed 32 of 42 unforced errors in the last three sets while Roger made just 15 of 40 the rest of the way.

Beginning to wear down, Berdych called the trainer to tend to a left hamstring during a changeover near the end of the set. When he returned, he went back to his go for broke plan slugging the ball as hard as possible for winners. It nearly paid off but a resilient Federer fought off two break points dialing up his serve before drawing a long reply to square the match letting out a loud scream along with a double pump of the fists.

With his opponent broken, Federer loosened up saving his best tennis for the final set breaking Berdych twice to go up 4-0 before holding twice more. The end didn’t come easy as he blew three match points even double faulting to give his opponent one last look at a break chance.

However, in typical fashion he got a service winner and then followed up with two aces including one out wide on his fourth match point to finally clinch victory letting out a loud scream to cheers from the Rod Laver Arena capacity crowd.

“I enjoy those kind of fights. It doesn’t happen all the time. It’s always special,” Federer expressed after rallying from two sets down for the first time since 2005 against Rafael Nadal in Miami.

“I hope it’s a good omen. I feel like I could play a couple more sets, so that’s a good sign.“

The match took three hours and 28 minutes to complete but Federer looked like he would’ve gone even longer keeping a streak of quarterfinal appearances in slams alive extending it a record 20. His last defeat this early came at the hands of former French Open champion Gustavo Kuerten in Roland Garros back in 2004 of Round Three.

Federer will get another stiff challenge when he draws talented 20 year-old Argentine Juan Martin Del Potro. The No.8 seed cameback from a set defeating promising Czech Marin Cilic 5-7, 6-4, 6-4, 6-2.

While it was anything but routine for the Federer Express, American Andy Roddick continued to roll along straight setting Spaniard Tommy Robredo 7-5, 6-1, 6-3. The seventh seed who’s only dropped one set in making the Final Eight had 13 aces to none also playing solid baseline tennis converting five of seven break chances punctuating victory with a nice forehand service volley winner before raising his arms in salute.

Roddick has had a pretty easy draw aside from a solid second round challenge from wildcard Xavier Malisse. However, business should pick up for the charasmatic 27 year-old former 2003 U.S. Open champ where he’ll await the winner between defending champ Novak Djokovic and former Aussie runner-up Marcos Baghdatis who’s been in fine form since trailing Robin Soderling a set and two breaks in Round Two.

If the unseeded Cypriot brings his ‘A’ game, he could challenge Djokovic. If not, a juicy quarter between the 21 year-old Serb and Roddick would be on tap with possibly Federer waiting in the semis.

Jankovic Upset: The biggest upset of Day Six took place on the women’s side with No.1 ranked Jelena Jankovic bowing out in disappointing fashion falling to No.16 Frenchwoman Marion Bartoli 6-1, 6-4.

With the Serb’s game not there, it was her 24 year-old opponent who took early control jumping out to a 5-0 lead using her power game to pull off the upset. She doubled Jankovic in winners (34-17) while finishing off 10 of 12 points at net.

In particular, Bartoli punished Jankovic’s second serve winning a ridiculous 71 percent (17 of 24 points) on her way to five breaks.

“I was really confident because I played really well [in] my last match against (Lucie) Safarova,” the pleased former 2007 Wimbledon finalist noted to the AP. “I knew I could beat Jelena on a good day, it was just a matter of executing it … play the right shot at the right time and doesn’t make too much mistake[s].

“I was not overwhelmed by the situation, and I just went for my shot[s] and everything went in today. It was just a great match.”

Meanwhile, it was a setback for Jankovic who still has yet to breakthrough at a major and entered off her best result making her fist final losing to American Serena Williams in a very competitive straight set effort at the U.S. Open.

“I just started slow. I … was completely not moving my feet. I was late on many shots. I was really not there, for some reason,” Jankovic lamented.

“I don’t know why. When I tried to focus and get into the match, things just didn’t work out for me.”

She paid plenty of credit to her game opponent:

“I thought, you know, just my opponent was … on fire today, and she was hitting everything and really went for her shots. Most of those were going in.”

Instead of continuing the pursuit for her first major, that will wait until Paris. Bartoli will next meet No.7 Russian Vera Zvonareva, who ousted countrywoman Nadia Petrova (10) in two close sets 7-5, 6-4 to setup a quarterfinal match.

Meantime, No.3 Russian Dinara Safina was almost an upset victim herself but found a way to comeback from two breaks and match points down in the third defeating No.15 Frenchwoman Alize Cornet 6-2, 2-6, 7-5.

The recently turned 19 year-old Cornet who already had set a new career best in slams making the Round of 16 just couldn’t put away Safina, who twice had amazing comeback wins last year in Paris including one versus Maria Sharapova.

Might it have helped? By her reaction, you couldn’t tell:

“I am so lucky that I’m in the quarterfinals, she was one point away,” the younger sister of Marat Safin pointed out in overcoming eight double faults and 52 unforced errors. “My heart is still pumping so hard.”

No matter how she got there, she’ll await the winner between feel good story Jelena Dokic and talented Russian Alisa Kleybanova with the latter leading 5-4 in the first set.