The matchups:

Eastern Conference

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

Western Conference

1. San Jose vs. 8. Anaheim
2. Detroit vs. 7. Columbus
3. Vancouver vs. 6. St. Louis
4. Chicago vs. 5. Calgary

Might be the first time since I've been here that the Preds haven't been in the playoffs. (Edit: they had just missed the postseason when I joined in April '03...)

I'm not even sure who I'm going to pull for this year...

Yeah, I was sorry to not see all 5 Central teams in the playoffs. I hope Barry is considered for the Jack Adams. Nashville is certainly not one of the most talented teams of the NHL but they played hard every game (usually a sign of quality coaching) and came just shy of a playoff spot. Though I think Claude Julian will win it (and deservedly so).

My predictions for the first round are here. Tonight's game certainly hasn't given me any reason to believe the Flyers will advance past the first round.

These are the picks I made prior to the start of the playoffs... kinda regretting one of them now

Bruins over Habs
Capitals over Rangers
Hurricanes over Devils
Penguins over Flyers

Sharks over Ducks
Wings over Jackets
Canucks over Blues
Hawks over Flames

Let's Go Red Wings!

It's got to be one of these two. Certainly isn't Penguins over Flyers.

First OT of this postseason to begin shortly: Calgary-Chicago. Just said on Versus: Martin Havlat is the only player on either team to ever score a playoff OT goal -- OMG! Havlat scores 12 seconds in while I'm writing this!

Speaking of which: Versus is doing coverage on the cheap again. After the Columbus-Detroit game, they picked up TSN's feed of the Flames-Blackhawks in progress, and now are going to Comcast Sportsnet Bay Area's feed for Sharks-Ducks.

Thanks to Marty Havlat's late goal in the 3rd period, and one 12 seconds into OT, the Hawks pull out game 1 vs Calgary...

Flyers played much better tonight...and still lost, 3-2 in OT on a 5-on-3 goal. Looks like I'll be shaving off that playoff beard pretty soon.

The Rangers are up 2-0 on the Capitals, winning both games in DC. Wow. The league could really use Alex Ovechkin in an extended playoff run and they may not get it.

Meanwhile, this is very odd -- the NHL Network (at least in the US) has picked up the live Red Wings' broadcast of Detroit-Columbus game 2. I thought Versus had the rights to all the playoff games except the afternoon games NBC shows. Granted, the game in Detroit started at 6 ET while the Boston-Montreal game starts at 8 ET.

The playoffs continue to be a nightmare for San Jose -- they lost the first two at home to Anaheim. Since 1994 an 8th seed has beaten a 1 seed seven times. The Sharks are in danger of being the eighth.

The Flyers rebounded at home yesterday. A fabulous play by Claude Giroux set up Simon Gagne for a key shorthanded goal. Gagne says Giroux reminds him of Peter Forsberg. I like the sound of that, especially if Giroux stays healthy. They still trail the Penguins 2-1, though, and yesterday's game wasn't perfect. They squandered a 2-0 lead by giving up goals at 19:48 of the first period and 0:13 of the second period. That's unacceptable.

I thought you might be happy over that Flyers win last night. Though as you mentioned, not as happy as you would have liked to have been.

I have zero sympathy for the Sharks. If I recall correctly they knocked out the first place Blues in the first round back in 2001. But there are still 6 games, but winning 4 of 6 against Anaheim with 4 of those 6 games in Anaheim ain't gonna be easy.

The Stanley Cup champs are up 3 games to 0 against Columbus. Hopefully we'll finish them off next game!

Columbus is totally overmatched. The hope is that they won't regress the way Atlanta did after the Thrashers' first and only playoff appearance.

You can also stick a fork in the Flyers. They're just about done after being stoned by Marc-Andre Fleury.

Lots of complaints around the league about the officiating and the league's punishment or non-punishment for dirty hits. Just more proof the NHL is the worst of the four major leagues (if you still consider them to be "major," that is).

What a finish in Carolina. The Devils, down 3-0, tie the game in the third period but Carolina scores with 0.2 seconds left to win the game and tie the series.

There are always officiating complaints by losing teams/fans. That's why I love the officiating this year. I'm a Canuck fan. Ask me how I feel after the next round ...

It's practically a tradition for Flyers fans to complain about the officiating, and about a league vendetta against them, and on and on. It's actually pretty stupid. However, I think the officiating overall -- for every team -- is getting worse. It's much less consistent, not just from game to game. Something that's called a penalty one minute is ignored the next. And the almost-constant rule adjustments don't help.

I didn't even realize that the Canucks-Blues were in Game 4 last night. That series was kind of off my radar. The Blues were close in every game but swept away. I feel about them the way I feel about Columbus -- don't regress next year.

Boston is going for a sweep of Montreal tonight. The Canadiens' centennial year is about to come to an embarrassing end, and considering how their fans have taken to booing the US National Anthem again, I can't say I'm unhappy about that.

Yeah, the anthem booing is ridiculous. I was glad that the media didn't make a big deal of the Blues fans booing the Canadian anthem in game 3 - it's always an small group of idiots and it detracts from the game.

Can't say I was sad to see Montreal swept tonight. It's all Leafs and Habs up here, so it makes me happy when the Hockey Night in Canada people have to learn about the Western teams. However, I'm definitely not happy about Calgary evening up their series with Chicago. I hate the Flames, and I'm sick of playing them. I want to play Chicago. Those games are so much fun, and I'm glad that franchise has recovered from years of mismanagement.

Anyway, heres to Philly and Anaheim winning tomorrow night. Please, god.

The Flyers stay alive with a 3-0 win at Pittsburgh. They kept it scoreless when the Pens surged in the first period with a 15-5 shot advantage. When I was watching most closely, during the third period after the Flyers went up 2-0, it seemed like Pittsburgh wasn't playing very intensely. I think they mentally decided to save it for Saturday.

Columbus put up more of a fight tonight, coming back twice from two-goal deficits to tie the game, but took a too many men on the ice penalty late and gave up a power play goal with 47 seconds left. Detroit sweeps the series.

Can't wait for Anaheim-San Jose game 4 a little later.

<---Oil fan.

Go 'Hawks!

So I got home from softball practice and a flag football game and put on the TV just in time to see the Flyers celebrate the goal that gave them a 3-0 lead. Wow! Looks like they've forced a game 7! Uh, no. The Penguins had it tied by the end of the second period and went on to win, taking the series in 6 (as I predicted). It's inexcusable to have a 3-goal lead and lose. Completely inexcusable.

About Detroit's series sweep over Columbus -- Detroit is the first defending Cup champion in the last 7 years to win a playoff series the following season. They've all either gone out in round 1 or not even made the playoffs.

Wish I could watch Calgary-Chicago game 5 tonight. That series is wild, especially game 4, when the Flames scored 3 goals in about 8 minutes to take a 4-1 lead, only to see the Blackhawks score 3 in 7 minutes to tie it. Versus is showing game 5 of Anaheim-San Jose instead. The Sharks, down 3-1, are on the verge of choking, again. They've tried coaching changes, they've tried acquiring big-name talent, they've tried adding experienced playoff veterans...nothing's worked! What else can they do?

The Caps are still alive, now trailing the Rangers 3-2; the Devils lead the Hurricanes 3-2. Game 6 for both series tomorrow.

The Sharks barely stay alive, winning in OT last night after blowing a 2-0 lead in the third period. They still trail Anaheim 3-2. Chicago ripped Calgary 5-1 to take a 3-2 lead.

And Washington today forced a 7th game back in DC by beating the Rangers. The Caps did the same last year but lost game 7 to the Flyers at home. I'm leaning towards the Caps doing it this time, but only slightly.

The Rangers have written a letter to the Commissioner demanding that the Capitals be "punished" and that there be better security for Game 7.

From washingtonpost.com:

So that's why Tortellini squirted water into the stands from a water bottle, and then threw it over the glass? I have to laugh because there was a quote about his team (and I think Avery in particluar) needing to be disciplined. He may want to take his own advice.

It's interesting that they actually mentioned that Caps fans were making homophobic remarks. Somehow I bet they're not nearly as concerned when it's their own fans making such remarks. (This isn't to say security does or does not need to be tightened.)

As of 11 pm ET when I write this it's late in the 2nd period. Chicago has 3 goals on 9 shots. Calgary has 0 on 29 shots. Yikes.

Well, now Dan Girardi and Marc Staal can go off on their vacations. Separate ones, of course.

The Caps held the Rangers to just one shot in the third period.

What a shocking ending in New Jersey -- Carolina scores goals at 18:40 (by Jussi Jokinen) and 19:28 (Eric Staal) of the third period to eliminate the Devils.

Matchups for the next round are now set:

Eastern Conference

(1) Boston vs. (6) Carolina
(2) Washington vs. (4) Pittsburgh

Western Conference

(2) Detroit vs. (8) Anaheim
(3) Vancouver vs. (4) Chicago

Ready for Round 2?

The home team won the opening game in each series. The Caps edged the Penguins 3-2 today. The goal that Pittsburgh scored to tie the game at 2 should have been stopped by Simeon Varlamov, but he came back later to make an outrageous save on Sidney Crosby.

I don't think the Blackhawks should underestimate the Canucks, nor should anyone else.

Edited to add... and don't you know right after I posted that Chicago scored a bunch of goals and won the game!

The Blackhawks are the team that shouldn't be underestimated. They came back from a 3-0 third-period gap in game 1, and now a 2-0 gap in game 2, and got the split to take home-ice away from Vancouver.

So far the visiting teams have all tied their series, including Anaheim's triple-OT win at Detroit. Can the Penguins continue this trend at Washington tonight? It's the only game on the schedule.

Alex Ovechkin's hat trick gave the Caps a 4-2 lead and allowed them to hold off Pittsburgh 4-3 (despite Sidney Crosby getting a hat trick of his own). It also led to a bunch of hats being thrown onto the ice, as is traditional in hockey, and also led to Reason No. 2,890 Why Sidney Crosby Is A Whiny Little Bitch:



Two more Washington wins and we won't have to hear the whining any more!

Overall I agree, but this doesn't look like a team capable of winning the Cup or even make it to the Finals. If I recall correctly 4 of their 5 wins have been come from behind. While that is impressive in that they aren't folding even when down three goals late in a game, it also tells me that they aren't as capable at dominating a game, which every team that wants to make it to the finals will have to do. I don't know many succesfull playoff teams that routinely step into the second and third periods down two or three goals, like Chicago has been doing. On the other hand, it can be said that no team can rely on a solid lead to win them games against them.



Unfortunately I must agree.

Thank god my boys showed who they really are tonight and shut down the Blackhawks. It's tough to beat Luongo when he's on, and man, was he on.

Monday night's Washington - Pittsburgh game was simply AWESOME! Talk about two stars living up to the hype for once. What brilliant performances by Alex and Sid. I can't wait for tonight's game, although I'll be watching it on tape delay. I could pass for a Caps fan as I'm all decked out in red - but in fact I'm recording the game and am all in red because I'll be among the sell-out crowd of 20,000 rocking BMO Field tonight cheering on TFC in their Canadian CONCACAF soccer qualifier against Vancouver tonight. So once I get home I'll watch the Caps - Pens game on tape delay.

I caught most of the Hawks - Canucks game last night - the perfect road game i.e. boring - as the Canucks complete shut down the speedy Hawks. And then late last night the Wings were robbed on a quick whistle with a minute to go. That game should have gone into overtime instead of being a 2-1 Ducks win.

And not really a hockey playoffs note - but hockey'ish - I'm off to Maple Leaf Gardens on Friday night for the first time in years. Believe it or not the event at the old Maple Leaf Gardens is the International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association Conference's consumer gay travel show - the first public event to be held at the old hockey shrine in years! Kind of neat I think!

The Red Wings got ripped off by one of the worst calls I've ever seen. Not only do the refs suck but so does anyone who had the power to reverse that decision.

The ref lost sight of the puck and blew the whistle, which is what they're supposed to do in those situations. Not so much a bad call but an unfortunate break for the Red Wings. If he was in the position he was supposed to be in and couldn't see the puck, I don't know what else can be done.

Fully agree with you. Some days you get the bear and some days the bear gets you.

Overtime wins by Pittsburgh and Carolina last night. Nothing better than OT in the Cup playoffs. After the Washington-Pittsburgh game ended, Versus picked up TSN's feed of the Boston-Carolina OT. It's too bad both games were played at essentially the same time (7pm, 7:30 pm ET) but with all teams in the Eastern time zone it's unavoidable, apparently. The West works out better because there's one West Coast team in each series, and as it worked out, only one got home-ice so when Vancouver is home against Chicago, Anaheim is on the road against Detroit, so we can see both games.

Gotta love overtime. This probably sounds un-Canadian but I don't want the Canucks to beat the Hawks. I know it makes sense for them to play the boring trap-like game that they have played the last two games in Chicago - but I hate it! Thank goodness the Hawks lucked out and after what amounted to almost 57 minutes of completely boring to watch hockey - the Hawks managed to score in the last three minutes and then win in overtime.

The type of game the Canucks are playing is just so boring - I do not want it to succeed otherwise more teams will immitate it next year and we will get nothing but boring hockey - like Devils practiced for years. I'll cheer for any team that sticks with high flying entertaining hockey.

NIce road win for the Hawks tonite! And they actually scored first!!
Would be great to clinch the series in Chicago!!

The Pens-Caps series has been excellent. Between that one and the Canucks-Blackhawks, there's a lot of fine playoff hockey going on. And the Red Wings-Ducks isn't bad either. Thanks to the Bruins waking up tonight and beating the Hurricanes, all four series are going to at least six games...just as someone who wrote a preview expected. And if the teams currently leading end up winning, that same person will go 4 for 4 in his predictions. Not bad, eh?

An amazing night of playoff hockey! Washington and Pittsburgh go to overtime again, and the Caps win (breaking both their 6-game OT losing streak and the Pens' 7-game OT win streak) to force a 7th game. And the Blackhawks outslug the Canucks 7-5 with a 4-goal third period to win their series and move on to face Detroit or Anaheim for the Western Conference title.

Here come the Hawks, the MIGHTY Blaaaaackhawks! Woo-freakin'-hoo! First time since 1995!

Could we end up with an "Original 6" matchup?! TOO COOL!

Anaheim has a little something to say about that, having forced a 7th game with their win tonight. Also, Boston forced a 7th game against Carolina, which is really surprising since the Hurricanes were up 3-1 in the series.

I guess having a seventh amazing game was too much to ask for. The Penguins controlled the first period and scored two goals 8 seconds apart, then blew it open with 2 in the first two minutes of the second period. The Caps just came up really small, and Varlamov finally wilted in goal.

Oh Yeah! Finally got rid of those damn Ducks! Those refs were making my blood pressure rise! GO WINGS!!!