Peter Puck

Was he playing injured in the last few games in Montreal?

Because it takes real courage and insight to forsee the outcome of all 4 rounds before the first round even starts.

I'm not saying that it was a cut and dried thing although I never had any doubts. But, Wamsley01 did guarantee that it was going to happen.

Goal - Huet will be back as number 1 but Halak will get a chance to take over the #1 spot. We could be looking at a 1a and 1b situation again next year. Price will spend the year in Hamilton. Aebisher will not be resigned. Hard to say where Danis will end up. I suspect he won't resign with us because we are so deep in goal. Where will Leighton end up? Defense - Gainey has said that resigning Markov and Souray are priorities. As we all know whether he can get Souray to return is a complete mystery. Given Markov's and Gainey's comments I think Markov will return. I think Gainey will try to deal Dandenault and Bouillon and bring in some new Dmen. I expect Streit and Gorges to be regulars next year, although Gorges may be our number 7. Obviously Komisarek will be back. I don't think Niinamaa will be back. Forward - I think Ryder-Koivu-Kovalev may be our number 1 line at the start of next season. Gainey may shop Kovalev around but there probably won't be any good offers. Samsonov will be bought out or traded for a 5th rounder. Higgins-Plex-Kostitsyn will be our #2 line (maybe #1 by season's end). Johnson won't be back. Bonk may be back but I think other teams will offer more than the Habs and he will go. We'll replace him by Milroy and/or Chipchura we can replace him. Grabovski will be our #3 centre. I'll say he plays between a Perezhogin and Latendresse. Our 4th line will be Begin-Lapierre-Milroy. Ryder-Koivu-Kovalev Higgins-Plex-Kostitsyn Latendresse-Grabovski-Perezhogin Begin-Lapierre-Milroy Komisarek - Markov new player - Souray/UFA new player/Dandenault - Streit Gorges Huet Halak

Even if SJ loses in the first round, this pick is likely to be around 20th. It is highly unlikely that more than 4 of the 6 conference winners will lose their first round. SJ finished 6th overall. Thus probably at least 2 of the 4 first round losers in the east will pick ahead of SJ's pick. Similarly probably at least 2 of the 4 west first round losers will pick earlier too. Thus we can expect SJ's pick to be something like 18th if we get very lucky. If SJ wins their first round we are looking at the 25th pick or worse. Incidentally, it seems probable that SJ's pick will be earlier than NJ's.

Huh? The guarantee was good all along. We just found that out for sure today.

East #1 BUF v. #8 NYI #2 NJ vs. #7 TB #3 ATL vs. #6 NYR #4 OTT vs. #5 PIT West #1 DET v. #8 CAL #2 ANA vs. #7 MIN #3 VAN vs. #6 DAL #4 NAS vs. #5 SJ 1st Rd.: East: BUF in 4 TB in 7 NYR in 6 PIT in 7 West: DET in 6 MIN in 7 DAL in 6 NAS in 6 2nd Rd.: East: #1 BUF vs. #7 TB BUF in 5 #5 PIT vs. #6 NYR PIT in 5 West: #1 DET v. #7 MIN DET in 6 #4 NSH v. #6 DAL NSH in 5 3rd Rd.: East: #1 BUF vs. #5 PIT BUF in 6 West: #1 DET vs. #4 NSH DET in #7 STANLEY CUP FINALS BUFFALO SABRES vs. DETROIT RED WINGS SABRES IN 5 Conn Smythe: Ryan Miller

I'm pretty sure the rule was put in because it often takes significantly longer for a goalie to skate out, speak to the refs and then go back to the net.

Based on the poll, I'm betting it was great wrister from the slot. B)

The OHL western division coaches have voted Sergei as the having the best shot in the division. Link

I haven't been able to do much for the last week other than analyse the standings and try to predict our chances. I can't really think about anything else. Tomorrow night is going to be horrible: Since it is Easter, I will have to watch the game with my inlaws and wife who are huge Leaf fans. If the Habs win, I won't be able to say anything at all or else my (hot) wife will probably withold sex until at least next season. On the other hand if the Leaf's win, (or even get ahead) I will have to endure a constant barrage of taunting. Furthermore, this will continue at least until the Leafs are eliminated. I would much prefer to watch the game alone but there is no way I can escape. Right now I just want it to be over. On the other hand it will be sweet if we go into their building and come away with the win (or even an OT loss). If that happens I'll have to make a special trip to buy a copy of the Sunday Toronto Sun and Toronto Star.

Great post. Even if we get eliminated tonight our future is bright.

Okay well I am not sure I can be accused of looking ahead. I am worried about what happens tongiht and the resulting consequences. I definitely don't think any team should intentionally lose. That doesn't mean I (as a fan) can't hope for a certain outcome. I just think Niinimaa has a promising future as a goalie and it would be remiss not to find out. As far as thinking ahead, here is another question: If we end up playing in Toronto for all the marbles Saturday, should we give them a 4-1 lead to start the 3rd in order to ensure a win?

Okay, this has been worrying me for 10 days now and it looks lke it may come to pass. So suppose we beat NYR tonight in regulation while the Leafs lose. They we clinch our spot and we are all happy. But are we really? Because then we pass the Rangers and move into 7th. If TB also wins then TB clinches 6th. Now we seem to all agree that we don't want to play NJ and so finishing 7th is not good (although better than 9th). Also of course we hope to see the Leafs finish 9th again. Thus on Saturday we will be hoping the Rangers pass us. But, and here's the rub, NYR can only pass us if we lose Saturday. Also the Leafs may need a win Saturday to get up to 9th. Thus if we clinch tonight, we may be better off losing Saturday. Thus we will be in the horrible position of possibly rooting for the Leafs over the Habs. [Note to mods: please don't ban me]. I don't think I can bring myself to root for the Habs to lose to the Leafs. So clinching tonight may lead to our worst nightmare. :?- :?- :?- Maybe if we do clinch tonight we will have to play Aebischer and Samsonov on Saturday. Or maybe we will put Niinimaa in goal and put Aebischer at centre to take all the key faceoffs.

We don't really need to worry about the Islanders. The only way they are a problem is if we get exactly 1 point in our final two games and they win all 3 of theirs including beating Toronto in regulation. If we get 2 points we eliminate the Islanders. If we don't get any more points the Leaf's eliminate us. IMO if we only get 1 point (or less) in the next two games we can't expect to qualify. The beauty of our position is that not only do we control our own destiny but we will still control it going into Saturday's game no matter what happens Thursday.

My favourite place is the Bell Centre. Seats near the glass are best. Always glad to be helpful. P.P.

If the other teams are going to use Jesus in net we will need to sign Miroslav Satan.

fixed

Here is the situation. If we win either of our final games NYI can't catch us. Even if we get 2 overtime losses they can't catch us. The Islanders are not a serious worry. If we get at least 1 more point than T.O. on Thursday then Toronto can't catch us. Thus we clinch a spot if we win Thursday and Toronto doesn't. On the other hand, no matter what happens Thursday we will have a chance to qualify for the playoffs on Saturday (if we aren't already in).

I love this view of the world. Unfortunately, I'm old enough to remember 1 bad year. On the other hand I've had 12 great years and 43 good years.

I'd really like to play Wild. We're undefeated against them and it would be fun to see Koivu vs Koivu. B)

If we win 2 of the next 3 we are in good shape. That will give us 92 points and the only way we miss the playoffs with 92 points is if all the following happen: 1) We lose to the Leafs (in regulation) next Saturday (after beating Boston and NYR). 2) The Leafs win all 3 of their remaining games. 3) Tampa wins one of their remaining games or else lose all 3 in OT/SO. 4) Rangers get at least 1 point in their final 3 games. (By the way the above is my nightmare scenario. Please, please don't let this happen.) I sure hope the Leafs get 3 points or less in their next 2 games. Then we only need 2 wins to qualify. We need to beat Boston Tuesday. If we get at least 1 win in the next 2 games we will have a chance to qualify next Saturday.

No. If they lose to the Isles and we beat them Thursday we have a good chance of catching them. Also I want the Islanders still in it and hungry when they play the Leafs on Thursday.

Avery is crushing the Leafs. 5-2!

4-2 Rangers!!! Raycroft pulled. Woo-hoo