[Campbell]

My heart warms as the Maple Leafs officially are eliminated from the playoffs

[Dark Mogul]

Losers since '67.

In other news...The Boston/Caps game, which is of course much bigger for the Caps will be determined in large part by Claude's choice of Thomas or Turco. He'll probably play Thomas because he's desperate for home-ice over Ottawa, but Thomas really needs the rest to be as good as he can for the playoffs. And Turco played well against the Ducks a few days ago. I'm very interested to see who starts on Thursday for the Bs.

[Jade Barnes-Mackey]

My heart warms as the Maple Leafs officially are eliminated from the playoffs

http://www.jimtay.com/Pics/golf_leafs_golf.jpg

[A Boy called Marilyn]

My heart warms as the Maple Leafs officially are eliminated from the playoffs

lol..

The Sharks sure have control over their own destiny, and certainly have a good shot at sinking the Kings for good playing them two more times.

Buffalo's schedule isn't all too favourable but neither is Washington's so given the right amount of svckage from Buffalo, Washington, with a stroke of luck, could still get in pretty easy, but that team is so different this season, I'm seriously doubting Ovechkin's ability to lead that team.

[Alex Vincent]

This speaks to the trend that a team must make their best goal-scorer the captain. Ovechkin. That dude can score goals, and damn, he can score goals. But does that mean he's a leader? Same with Crosby. He was made captain when he was 18 (right?). What the hell is that? The Captain is for the team's best leader, not the team's best goal scorer. I hate seeing young high-skill players with the C or the A. Ugh... (rant avoided).

Edit: Right. Crosby was made captain at 18.

[Tamara Primo]

This speaks to the trend that a team must make their best goal-scorer the captain. Ovechkin. That dude can score goals, and damn, he can score goals. But does that mean he's a leader? Same with Crosby. He was made captain when he was 18 (right?). What the hell is that? The Captain is for the team's best leader, not the team's best goal scorer. I hate seeing young high-skill players with the C or the A. Ugh... (rant avoided).

Edit: Right. Crosby was made captain at 18.

There were a few exceptions to the rule (Wayne Gretzky, Steve Yzerman, Mario Lemieux, Jonathan Toews, Jaroma Iginla, Trevor Linden, Daniel Alfredsson, Ray Bourque) but yeah I never really liked Crosby/ Ovechkin being handed the C.

[Eliza Potter]

If I recall correctly, Crosby was offered the captaincy a year early but declined. I don't like teams just handing the "C" over to someone because that player has talent. A captain should be a natural leader (through words and actions), have a great work ethic, and generally set a good example on and off the ice. With that being said, Crosby is a much better captain than Ovechkin.

[Bird]

And it wasn't even a close one.

And what about the Caps, falling convincingly out of a playoff spot! It's gonna be good watching these last two weeks, to see who squeezes into that last playoff spot in the East.

Also, you saw a pretty good one Spluger. Hope you had a good time, bud.

Hell of a time. The ceremony for Chara was pretty sweet, and they handed out a bunch of posters celebrating it. Watching Stamkos in person just put me in complete awe. He is the definition of the term "Sniper" when it comes to hockey.

[sunny lovett]

The thing that sets Stamkos apart from others is how he's adapted his game. Last year he was mostly getting goals from the top of that left circle with the one-timer on the powerplay. This year, he's scored something like 45 even-strength goals from all over the zone in all different manners.

That's what makes him the better "sniper" then Ovechkin who all these last few years has refused to change his game and D-men can easily cover him.

I'm thinking this game for the Kings against Calgary will be their "biggest" for realz.

[Lisa]

Laser. Rocket. Bomb. Whatever you call it, that kid (Stamkos) can shoot. Those two goals against the Bruins last night were AWESOME.

[Klaire]

Canucks vs Colorado.

Flames fans, if it helps any, we have beaten the Avs every match so far this season. 8th place is looking alot closer for you.

[GabiiE Liiziiouz]

Michael Ryder now has 34 goals. That's a nice output after consecutive 18 goal seasons.

[Lil Miss]

The thing that sets Stamkos apart from others is how he's adapted his game. Last year he was mostly getting goals from the top of that left circle with the one-timer on the powerplay. This year, he's scored something like 45 even-strength goals from all over the zone in all different manners.

Exactly. I tried to write about it earlier in the topic, but you put it better. Stamkos even had a goalless period when the opponents constantly didn't let him shoot from the circle. The day he began searching for other scoring spots, and shoot from elsewhere as well, the day he became the best scorer in the league again. He completely changed his style, and very fast at that. Last year an expert in a game studio talked about that topic (Stamkos only scoring from the point), and the next thing we knew he shot from elsewhere too and began scoring again. I'd like to think he listened to that expert! Can't remember which game this was or who the expert was.

Calgary sinks. They won't make it to the playoffs, and with a roster they have, I don't think they'd deserve it.

I think a team that "has to" play St. Louis in the playoffs could make a surprise. When it comes to the big games, St. Louis' offensive play will ultimately prove too weak. They have an awesome, awesome team right now to keep their own net empty, but they can't score too much to the other end, either. Same goes for Nashville if Rinne is playing like a demi-god. But I can't see these teams winning the cup right now. They both could use a healthy Rick Nash. Just imagine, a healthy Andy McDonald siding with Rick Nash and Backes/Perron/Steen/Oshie, and the three others forming the second line. If St. Louis grabbed Nash next summer, they'd be a scary team as hell! They have awesome goalies and blue line as they are.

So, my cup favorite isn't St. Louis or Nashville. Nashville could be if Rinne played well and they could actually score on more regular basis, but at the moment, it is not so. So who is it? I think the Rangers could be a good bet at the moment. Solid team all over the ice; no goaltending, D or scoring troubles. Nearly every other cup contender team is suffering from some key player injuries at least for now.

[scorpion972]

Bryz hurt his foot, this is rather awful timing.

[krystal sowten]

Bryz hurt his foot, this is rather awful timing.

One team's misfortune is another team's good luck - especially for the Flyer's opponent come playoff time. Just saying...

Seriously, though, it is sad. I thought Bryz was playing out of his mind.

[jadie kell]

One team's misfortune is another team's good luck - especially for the Flyer's opponent come playoff time. Just saying...

Seriously, though, it is sad. I thought Bryz was playing out of his mind.

He's only day-to-day; should be back before the playoffs. >: )

[Georgia Fullalove]

So far, (mid 3rd period) neither the Bruins nor the Capitals look particularly interested or energetic in tonight's game. McQuaid got ruined on a questionable hit...(certainly a charge, but it didn't look overly malicious). Ohhh, this is frustrating.

[Harry-James Payne]

Even the colour commentary guy for the Bruins (Andy Brickley I think) admitted McQuaid made a dumb play at the last second that helped him get injured. Should have been no penalty at all.

I think I saw Crosby lying face down on the ice for something flipping channels but I didn't care enough to follow up with why.

Edit: It was a puck to the head or something. The puck was given a match penalty and will have a disciplinary hearing with Brendan Shanahan on Friday.

[Reanan-Marie Olsen]

Crosby took a puck to the face.

The call in the McQuaid hit was the right call: it wasn't boarding, it wasn't a hit from behind...it was certainly charging.

[Justin]

Gah you beat me while I was updating the post.

No sooner do I change channels there's a game update on TSN about Crosby. Never fails with the media.

[TRIsha FEnnesse]

http://i.imgur.com/q8l3d.jpg


(Old, but still true/funny).

[Tiffany Carter]

I'm gonna find the MS Paint edit of, IIRC, the NHL main page, I made a parody of on an old hockey forum a few years back while spamming game day topics, of course, it's Crosby-rific.

[Crystal Birch]

Here you go:

http://img39.imageshack.us/img39/1472/3feffwf.jpg

[Lucie H]

Awesome.

Bs lose a in a shootout. That's one more point than we deserved from that game.

[Amiee Kent]

Let's get this started.

"Laffs"