[XPidgex Jefferson]

And the Devlis have had recent post-season success? That one was a total toss-up, but I totally understand you wanting to pick Chicago in that matchup.

[Jesus Sanchez]

And the Devlis have had recent post-season success? That one was a total toss-up, but I totally understand you wanting to pick Chicago in that matchup.

Far more recent than the Panthers, plus having well seasoned playoff veterans like Brodeur, Parise, Sykora, Elias, and Zubrus, some of whom have been there for ages, helps. I'm heavily biased toward experience.

No doubt I personally would like the Panthers to win, I've hated the Devils since 1995 (except when they beat the Avalanche), but the only predictions I made based off team preference is the Wings' winning their series.

[Hannah Barnard]

Am I the only one who respected Florida?

Kinda, I guess. I came pretty close though:

Five games isn't going to be enough to decide the winner of this series. I'm going to say Panthers in 7, just for the heck of it. I hope they can get it done. This is more like rooting for an underdog than anything else, though. My real guess would be NJ in 6-7.

Also, what's the traditional post-season success really have to do with anything? Even the most experienced team can get old, or the younger guys are more and more talented all the time (as they really seem to be) and can beat the oldies team (umm, Preds-Wings). Even the hockey mind won't save everything if you already really lack physically.

I generally don't believe in this "normally they succeed so why not this year?" thing... although I admit I use it myself sometimes.

I'm in a so much hurry right now that I might as well watch the Philly game tonight. You know. Too much to do so might as well give up temporarily and just sit down and enjoy.

What will be the pairs for the second round, by the way? Which winning teams face which in the second round is something I never really quite grasped.

[lucile]

Follows the same idea as the first round: highest seed vs. lowest seed, second highest vs. second lowest, third highest vs. third lowest, etc...
Using the current results of the first round, the second round would look like this, if it were to start tonight:
East
Rangers vs. Flyers
Bruins vs. Panthers
West
Blues vs. Kings
Coyotes vs. Predators

In other news! Raffi Torres gone. Indefinitely.

[meghan lock]

It's time to break out the brooms and get these classless Pens off the ice.

and goal Giroux!!!!

[Cameron Wood]

As anyone else in the East, I'm not scared of either Pit or Philly. Bryz has decayed, and their goaltending doesn't scare me, and Pitt looks soft in comparison with the Bruins and Rangers.

[Ricky Rayner]

I'm completely aghast of how much the refs have decided to take over this game from the very start.

Through two periods it seems there's only been a few minutes of even strength at some point later in the first, but since then power play after power play after power play.

.. of the 10 goals scored so far 7 of them are on the power play. This game seems to be bogged down even strength as the players just breathe wrong and they're called for a penalty. Not exciting hockey if you ask me.

[FLYBOYLEAK]

I'm not even watching that game on my main tv anymore. It's actually become a joke how bad both teams are. Much rather watch the solid game that is Ottawa and New York.

[Margarita Diaz]

Same I stopped watching in the 2nd period, surprised this is going to another OT. Rangers should have had this game.

[Ross Zombie]

New York vs. Ottawa - Series tied lead 2-2
Boston vs. Washington - Boston leads 2-1
Florida vs. New Jersey - Florida leads 2-1
Pittsburgh vs. Philadelphia - Philadelphia leads 3-1

Vancouver vs. Los Angeles - Los Angeles leads 3-0
St. Louis vs. San Jose - St. Louis leads 2-1
Phoenix vs. Chicago - Pheonix Leads 2-1
Nashville vs. Detroit - Nashville leads 3-1

[Beth Belcher]

Hopefully the Kings can come back! Sweep anyone?

[Jessica Nash]

I sure hope so.

[Richard]

So I'm trying to not be bitter but it seems to me that alone, each Sedin is a single mediocre, soft player. But when morphed, they form some sort of high quality player (who takes cheap shots at kneeling, bleeding Dustin Browns btw) the likes of which the world has never seen?

Anywho, just 1 game. They have to play 3 more without any mistakes.

[Conor Byrne]

So I'm trying to not be bitter but it seems to me that alone, each Sedin is a single mediocre, soft player. But when morphed, they form some sort of high quality player (who takes cheap shots at kneeling, bleeding Dustin Browns btw) the likes of which the world has never seen?

Anywho, just 1 game. They have to play 3 more without any mistakes.

I dunno, when Daniel was injured (two years ago?) Henrik just kept on scoring. They're definitely much better together, though.

[Stefanny Cardona]

I dunno, when Daniel was injured (two years ago?) Henrik just kept on scoring. They're definitely much better together, though.

Well Henrik was actually effectuive tonight, and also fancied himself somewhat of a tough guy

[John Moore]

Well Henrik was actually effectuive tonight, and also fancied himself somewhat of a tough guy

So nothing was resolved tonight. Which actually makes the rest of this first round terribly interesting. Can LA close in Vancouver? Philly in Pitt? And how legit is Ottawa?

Edit: I confused the Sedins. Damnit Canucks...

[Charles Mckinna]

Well, the Sedins have also had their pointless streaks when they play together. Gotta admit that in the long-run they're really good together.

Pit-Phi 10-3? DD Does that series make any last bit of sense at all?

I'm kinda worried now though because everything I read about Philly yesterday had to do with them going to win the game 4 or fearing a possible Pens streak. Now that the Pens won, will the Flyers actually let them streak?

I'd also recall Leighton. Just in case. :I He's been in the finals.

[Steve Bates]

So nowthat I've calmed down, that game was embaressing. How you come out and be so lifeless and carfree in a elimantion game at home agianst your rival which just and so on and so forth is beyond me. A bit of bad luck and the refs calling every little thing is no excuse for playing like that. What should of been an easy win considering they Pens where without Neal, Martian, Asham and Adams turned into the worst game of hockey I've ever seen. Once they Penguins got going the Flyers just let it happen and I feel bad for both Bryz andBob even though niether of them were steller. I had a feeling the pens would win once Malkin scored that first goal, seeing how bad the D was on that play but they let up 10 goals? Lavy better rip them all a new [censored] becuse the Pens got the big win they needed to get back into this series. Even if it was a close game I would of still thought there was no way they could come back but after a win like that I honestly don't know.

Calling up Leighton would be a big mistake.Bryz was bad but out of the 5 goals he let in one was horrible luck and almost on all the others he had no help from the rest of the team. If they had any intention of bringing up a goalie then they would of done so months ago so they could get adjusted to the NHL. Leighton hasn't been in the League for over a year and to stick him into the mix now agianst one of the most high-powered offenses would be suicide. Add to that the Flyers have been extremely hit or miss on D. The best solution is to keep sticking Bryz back out there and show you have confidence in him, thats what they did going into that March streak of his and it's what they should do now. Ithink when Lavy pulled Bryz last night it was more of a message to the team than to him but unfortunaley they continuted to leave thier goalie high and dry on every play.

[James Hate]

And the Penguins live to fight another day...

I'm all for the refs trying to maintain control so the game doesn't get out of hand, but that was ridiculous. It got to the point where many players weren't even trying to check an opposing players for fear of getting sent to the box. Brooks Orpik had a Philly player in his sights, the player had the puck, and Brooks could have crushed him into the boards, but instead of hitting the Flyer, he touched him like it was a game of tag. Sad.

[Olga Xx]

The league is being an overreacting parent with the issues of the Flyers/Pens brawl and the hit on Hossa. Media that doesn't care about hockey will get involved, make people think hockey is really in dire need of "protection" and that the type of enforcement seen in the Flyers/Pens Game 4 is necessary. It's not, and even worse, it's the most boring 10-3 game of touch icing I've ever seen. If they even looked at an opposing player wrong.. penalty box. Can't the NHL manage it's image without reacting with such embellishment? Way to ruin an extremely intense series, douchebags, the refs were playing the game more than the players.

And now there's talk as if Torres is going to be handed a Bertuzzi like suspension.. this is ridiculous. Hate to agree with Brian Burke but he sounded off on how the media and their ire upon injuries has been negatively affecting the quality of NHL games, and this is true. You don't think Sidney Crosby understands and accepts the potential of a concussion when he elbows guys, punches them in the back of the head, gets into punching matches with the gloves on, and even fights? They understand, and they accept the game of hockey with what the media portrays as excessive violence. The media has some non-realistic, pie-in-the-sky version of what the NHL is, with no enforcers, people automatically "respecting" others with no repercussions for their disrespect (), and of course no extremely intense series' where dirty plays or fights are going to happen. The media ought to create their own [censored] league and see how many people care to watch it.

[Eve(G)]

So nowthat I've calmed down, that game was embaressing. How you come out and be so lifeless and carfree in a elimantion game at home agianst your rival which just and so on and so forth is beyond me. A bit of bad luck and the refs calling every little thing is no excuse for playing like that. What should of been an easy win considering they Pens where without Neal, Martian, Asham and Adams turned into the worst game of hockey I've ever seen.

Cool! This series truly is epic beyond words: it's featured both, the worst game ever and at least game of the year!

Once they Penguins got going the Flyers just let it happen and I feel bad for both Bryz andBob even though niether of them were steller. I had a feeling the pens would win once Malkin scored that first goal, seeing how bad the D was on that play but they let up 10 goals? Lavy better rip them all a new [censored] becuse the Pens got the big win they needed to get back into this series. Even if it was a close game I would of still thought there was no way they could come back but after a win like that I honestly don't know.

Yup. Now suddenly the mental advantage seems to be on Pittsburgh's side. What a way to screw things up. D: And everywhere in the media Philly said they need to be ready for especially this game. (But, yeah, don't everyone always say that?) Yes, Lavy should yell his lungs off to the team. But how does he do that since he seems so angry and scary even when he's normal (according to that Rangers, Flyers 24/7 series)?

Calling up Leighton would be a big mistake.Bryz was bad but out of the 5 goals he let in one was horrible luck and almost on all the others he had no help from the rest of the team. If they had any intention of bringing up a goalie then they would of done so months ago so they could get adjusted to the NHL. Leighton hasn't been in the League for over a year and to stick him into the mix now agianst one of the most high-powered offenses would be suicide.

Good points, but I don't know. He played pretty well in AHL (at least he has a .92X percent [EDIT: Ah, it was only .918!1]), and he has some experience in playing in late playoffs (and didn't I just say a few posts ago that this experience factor shouldn't count that much... lulz. It counts whenever I feel it counting! ). Face it: Both Flyer goalies have been bad and seem like nervous wrecks in tight spots. Leighton, on the other hand, is untested, and has been for long, for both good and bad. What good, you ask? He might have the will to fight for a permanent roster spot and play like mad for some period of time! This season I think about every recalled AHL goalie has played well in the NHL anyway, presumably because they know it could be their only chance to get in the top and they are more psyched than any "guaranteed roster spot goalie" could ever be. And Leighton's done it before. I see no harm in recalling him. Not necessarily play him, but recall him. On the other hand Bryz and Bob could feel threatened with this move: their confidence could go even lower and they could play even worse. (But seriously, how much worse can you even play?) On the other hand, recalling an AHL goalie could wake them up and go, "wait, we've really been that bad, we might have to go to the farm team for real! Let's do something about it!" So, as said, I only see good things in at least recalling Leighton. And while those two others play as bad as they do, why not even try him in goal? It couldn't get much worse anyway.

Granted, I didn't see the game so I don't know exactly how bad Bryz & Bob were. Highlights looked partly pretty awful though. Only Bryz's puckhandling and moving seemed off-place, and DEFINITELY not NHL starting goalie level. It couldn't possibly hurt the team much to try Leighton out while it's still possible. Who knows, it might even work. Bryz and Bob haven't worked in the long run, so let's give the third guy a chance he surely is eager to get.

Add to that the Flyers have been extremely hit or miss on D. The best solution is to keep sticking Bryz back out there and show you have confidence in him, thats what they did going into that March streak of his and it's what they should do now. Ithink when Lavy pulled Bryz last night it was more of a message to the team than to him but unfortunaley they continuted to leave thier goalie high and dry on every play.

That streak was in March, clearly it's not here and now. And that's what matters, right? Why show the number one guy that the team has confidence in him when there should be no confidence whatsoever (at this time, anyway)?

But yeah, the D might be even more responsible. This drive/feeling they have right now for scoring goals is going over the top, it seems. Defending has not been good in any game because of this, but only the numbers tell that they truly lost it last night. Nevertheless, if there were someone like Rinne in the net, the numbers wouldn't be nearly as ugly. Bryz's let easy ones in the whole season, except for that short streak in March... I wouldn't like it -- having very bad defense and game-saving goalie -- but it's better than very bad defense and (very) bad goalie!

Did you read that Grossmann's injured? The D might not be getting any better. Would love to see Bourdon play, though. But it should've been Kubina who gets injured!

So I didn't watch the game after all even though I said I would. I think it's better this way...

[Laura Ellaby]

New York vs. Ottawa - Series tied lead 2-2
Boston vs. Washington - Series tied 2-2
Florida vs. New Jersey - Series tied 2-2
Pittsburgh vs. Philadelphia - Philadelphia leads 3-1

Vancouver vs. Los Angeles - Los Angeles leads 3-1
St. Louis vs. San Jose - St. Louis leads 2-1
Phoenix vs. Chicago - Pheonix Leads 3-1
Nashville vs. Detroit - Nashville leads 3-1

And the Coyotes and Chicago are going to overtime! EDIT: PHEONIX WINS!

[Mr. Ray]

We're taking this series back.

This win was just the momentum we needed. Both the Canucks and Penguins could easily come back and win the series.

Also, The Penguins/Flyers is the best best series I've seen in a long time. Watching both teams fall apart, haha it's great.

[Daniel Lozano]

Ref stole a goal from the Hawks in a tight game...

[Tiffany Carter]

We're taking this series back.

This win was just the momentum we needed. Both the Canucks and Penguins could easily come back and win the series.

Also, The Penguins/Flyers is the best best series I've seen in a long time. Watching both teams fall apart, haha it's great.

Wouldn't be kinda cool if the Pens and Canucks met in the finals and went the distance (Game 7 OT)? There's other match-ups I'd prefer, but that would be an interesting one.