On this nice Spring day, there now are 15 teams remaining in the Cup chase. With the Devils bowing out in a wimper a third straight year on home ice to the dreaded Flyers, it really boggles. More on this later.

Tonight, it’s the Sabres’ turn to stave off elimination against the equally loathed Bruins. To quote Mel Gibson’s William Wallace in Braveheart, “Will you fight?” Hopefully coming off a heartbreaking double overtime loss to Miro Satan, they will show a lot more than New Jersey did. Buffalo isn’t the only team facing elimination with Montreal about to fizzle out against Ovechkin’s Caps, who have stormed back to take three straight. Since that three-goal Game 2 comeback, they’ve answered the bell. San Jose also answered it the past two games with a Game 4 win in OT thanks to Joe Pavelski and a 5-0 Game 5 statement yesterday.

Lindy Ruff’s crew will again be minus top threat Thomas Vanek, who’s nursing a high ankle sprain. Got a text from Bri that Nathan Gerbe is in tonight. It’s up to Derek Roy, Jason Pominville and Tim Connolly to step up. All have had disappointing series. You know Ryan Miller will be ready. Will his teammates have his back?