Neech

Don't worry, no curse. I'm sacrificing a goat tonight, and if I can track down a virgin then we're all but guaranteed Komisarek and Koivu in the lineup for the first playoff game.

This was a poor effort, and I hope none of these guys are hurt seriously. But I agree with the poster who said that this will help refocus the team, knowing that we can't win after playing nonchalantly for 50 minutes. The purpose of the next three games is to get into playoff mode. Begin was pretty bad tonight, as was Kovy. Grabs didn't show anything special either.

Nope.

You sure are going out on a limb there.

I just hope Ottawa doesn't drop far enough to face us in the first round. I'd much rather Boston or Philly.

Haha, the guy in the yellow cap is saying "Shit.", and the guy in the white jersey to his left is bursting into tears.

Trying to make a sentence out of that? How bout Begin Smokes, Grabs Pair of ####. It's a headline. I don't expect all that much for this game from either team. Hopefully we just avoid injuries (knock on wood). My predicton: 5-3 win. Goals by S. Kost, Grabs, Plex, Markov, A. Kost

Eh, I wouldn't describe Kovalev's play last year as 'fine'. He deserved most of the criticism sent his way; he was much worse last year than Koivu was this year. This year, he deserves almost all of the praise sent his way.

? Yeah that's pretty much how it happened. About the Koivu situation, I find it doubtful that he would be able to play the rest of the game after an injury that will put him on the sideline for over a month. Hopefully this is just someone talking out of their ass, and the lack of news on RDS is encouraging. It's probably the type of injury that he can play through, especially with 10 days to rest before the playoffs start.

Well if you saw the first 55 minutes you probably wouldn't rank it so high. The way we won was great, but the rest of the game had very little going for it. A snoozer, mostly. Haha, the two guys are the funniest part.

Good move to let Halak play, hopefully it'll be the last time we see him this season (if all goes well). Bad news about Koivu, at least he has a week to get better.

Hockey's slowly coming out of obscurity, and a great generation of young talent is helping that. It's a long way from being a 'big 4' sport in the States, and it likely won't return there. But teams have developed their loyal followings. Like San Jose, for instance, in a non-hockey market has some traction (from being good for a while). Same with Anaheim. The future looks bright for Chicago, and hopefully that market will start to care a bit more. Same with LA, that team might start to get a bit more attention. I hope there won't be expansion, we don't need more teams thinning out the talent in the league. I like having 30 teams for the playoff format - making the playoffs is a challenge - but this is more than enough considering the spectator demand and the amount of top-tier hockey talent. If anything they should relocate a few franchises to places like Winnipeg, Hamliton or Quebec.

Yeah, I think Halak will start tomorrow, no need to rush Price back in, he'll have three more games after that to get in playoff mode.

Well, no one was very good. Our top line had a few good shifts... not much else to say. We looked really foolish on each of the Sabres goals. I knew Plex would score, he owns the Sabres. And did he bodyslam Derek Roy after the tying goal? Good news: Price was great, the only reliable guy out there. Can't blame him for any of the goals. Our foot was not on the pedal for this game, but somehow we stole a win. Hopefully we get focused over the next four games.

Haha, it was Chicoutimi Cucumber I was thinking of. I guess I associate you two with each other, that caused the mix up.

Yeah, I don't see Therrien winning it. They were picked to be at or near the top of the conference before the season, and as BTH said, their better record without Crosby says more about Malkin than Therrien. The award is generally given to a coach whose team has far exceded expectations, or had a dominant season, neither of which have the Penguins done.

An embarrassment? No. And we're right in the group with all the other teams that have bright futures, in fact our case looks the brightest because of our goaltending. Winning 1st in the conference is just symbolic.

It means the same thing in both official languages! I don't think Buffalo will have much in the gas tank. They won an OT game last night, and I watched some of it, and it was poorly played on both sides. On the other hand, I doubt we'll come out with the biggest effort either, My prediction: 4-2 win. Goals by Grabovski, Higgins, S. Kostitsyn, Plekanec.

I think winning the division would be enough, that's what it took for Vigneault. If the Habs fall out of the division lead (knock on wood) then Julien is probably the most deserving candidate (if the Bruins make the playoffs).

Yeah, Carbo already said that Brisebois and Dandenault will get some playing time.

Yeah it's six games against division rivals next season instead of eight. Those games will be played against the West, so we at least get to see every team once.

At this point he is, with the Habs at the top of the division.

Buffalo scores with 90 seconds left to send the game to overtime, and steals a point from the Senators in the shootout. Now we've got a game in hand and a four point lead in the division.

:hlogo:

He could adapt his style in the future. He'll get stronger as he matures. I do think it's better for him to have the skating ability to keep up with the rest of the team, however, even if it means losing a few pounds that could come in handy around the net. Him and Sergei Kostitsyn together would look good for another decade. :hlogo: