Battle Of Hudson

I agree with Derek. Calgary’s going to give Detroit a lot of trouble if they hang on. They have the Sharks tonight, so we shall say. Colorado has…Vancouver? Again? Jeez. Luongo chases Parent as well tonight.

The Devils are Philthy to take on the Flyers. Marty looks to be the first to break Parent’s record in the city where he was such a legend. Should be fun.

Now to the important games. Isles-Leafs at the Mausoleum on FSN2. Rangers-Habs at the Garden on MSG. Simple as this. If the Habs get a point, the Isles are done. If the Isles win and the Habs fail to get a point, they have life. If both the Habs and Leafs win, the Rangers and Lightning are in trouble.

Enjoy your Hockey.

Steve, I honestly have no idea because I didn’t watch the whole game. But when I flipped it on, he was out there at the end trying to get the tying goal. Of course, how could one argue with that in a 6-on-3 situation. He’s one of the Thrashers’ best finishers.

If he did get benched, he must’ve really ticked off Hartley.

Regarding that comment about how we never talk when my team wins, go figure. There’s really no logical explanation for what I do. But lately, I’ve been keeping busy.

Ducks had a great first period against San Jose before. They really looked tip top. It’s now 2-1. So I guess the Sharks finally woke up. It is somewhat big as I believe they’re still within striking distance of Anaheim for the Pacific.

I’m going to make another guarantee Steve. And this one is a playoff one. Barring a crazy collapse and the Avs running the table, I’m going on record as saying that whoever Calgary plays in the first round out West will be eliminated. It’s now on file!

What do you think of Hartley’s decision to bench Kovalchuk? I think, with them clinched already, probably right move, right time. But it’ll make you nutty to think of what could’ve been.

NBC and VERSUS Playoff Plans

NBC will air games on 10 Dates during the playoffs this season, up from 7 last year. They will air up to 8 Conference QuarterFinal games, 4 Conference Semi-Final Games, and 2 Conference Final Games. Times will vary. NBC will air (On TV, not the web) a 30-minute Pre-Game show prior to their first playoff games on Saturday, April 14. Bill Clement will host, and Brett Hull, Ray Ferraro and Pierre McGuire will analyze. The show will air at 2:30 PM ET. At 3:00 PM ET, NBC will air two First Round Game 2’s, likely featuring New Jersey and Anaheim as the home teams.

Here’s NBC’s Complete Playoff Setup:
4/14 2:30 PM NBC NHL Playoff Special
4/14 3:00 PM Conference Quarterfinals Game 2
4/15 1:00 PM Conference Quarterfinals Game 3
4/21 3:00 PM Conference Quarterfinals Game 6
4/22 1:00 PM Conference Quarterfinals Game 6
4/28 3:00 PM Conference Semifinals Game 2
4/29 2:00 PM Conference Semifinals Game 2
5/5 2:00 PM Conference Semifinals Game 5 (NOTE: If game runs past 4:30 ET, coverage will switch to VERSUS due to Kentucky Derby)
5/6 2:00 PM Conference Semifinals Game 6
5/19 2:00 PM Eastern Conference Finals Game 4
5/20 3:00 PM Western Conference Finals Game 5

Mike Emrick, Eddie Olczyk and Pierre McGuire will call most games. When necesary, Dave Strader and Chris Cuthbert will provide play-by-play with analysts Brian Hayward, Joe Micheletti, Peter McNab, Darren Pang, Cammi Granato and Brett Hull.

Now, as for VERSUS

They will air DH’s Every night that it is possible to do so. Plus Games 1-3 and 5-7 of the East Final, and Games 1-4 and 6-7 of the West Final. Games 1-2 of the Cup Finals will also air on VERSUS. Mike Emrick and Eddie Olczyk will be their top team. VERSUS will use numerous announcers and analysts, and have current players as guest analysts in the studio.

They will air a 30-Minute Pre-Game as well on April 11th before their Opening Night Doubleheader, and also on April 26th, when the 2nd round begins. They will once again use CBC feeds for games in Western Canada up until the Conference Finals.

The schedule will be out late Sunday, early Monday. Enjoy.
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Derek, again man, we should wrap about what were gonna do for the playoffs. Derek and I don’t speak for like, large gaps at a time, and then we talk non-stop when we do. Funny, it’s usually when the Rangers are winning that he doesn’t talk ;-).

Also, as for the Isles girl, it was probably water bottle squeezing gone arye.

I watched the end of that Steve. The Thrashers definitely should’ve tied it. But they also did a poor job getting shots. When you have that many players out there, sometimes you tend to look for that perfect play. We saw a similar thing happen to the Rangers last night late in OT.

You have to get shots through and make the goalie beat you. In both cases, each team failed and it cost them. For the Rangers, a chance to clinch that playoff spot without any real pressure. For Atlanta, any points which could’ve helped them get that much closer to a division title and a three seed as well as home ice.

The Thrashers did get a bad call on that high stick with seven and change to play. It was a weak call if I ever saw one and wiped out a goal. Still though, they got it back on a nice shorthanded finish by Andy Sutton. Plus they had every chance to tie in the final two-plus minutes.

As for that story Steve, honestly who cares. I couldn’t believe what I read before from my co-host. Talk about carrying on. Sometimes, this rivalry thing goes a bit too far.

From Newsday,

Hostile behavior is expected whenever the Islanders and Rangers clash in one of the NHL’s fiercest rivalries, but now Islanders’ Ice Girls are involved.

According to the two women, the Rangers should be penalized for slashing, spitting and verbal abuse during television timeouts in the first period of Tuesday night’s game at Nassau Coliseum, won by the Islanders, 3-2, in a shootout.

More when you click the link.
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I’m thinkin’ the Mets’ll be ok this year.

They held on for sure. Now Atlanta has 2 games left, with only a 1-point lead on TB.

After a 3rd Period on the bench, Kovalchuk is out there, 45 secs left, 6-on-3 Thrashers. Go to Comcast.net or Yahoo.com

If you can, get to Yahoo.com or COmcast.net now and watch Caps-Thrash. 3rd Period 3-2 Caps, Hartley has benched Kovy.

Appreciate the info Steve on the Isles’ playoff scenario. You never know. I thought they showed a lot of heart last night. They wouldn’t die. It’s a credit to Ted Nolan. Rob, I thought your post from yesterday on the potential offseason for the Fishsticks was right on. My one question in regards to Dubi is why he’s never really been given a shot to be the backup. He’s never really been dreadful when I’ve watched him. And Doneham might be a nice guy but he’s got nothing left. He proved that in that must win for Atlanta last year where he let in goal after goal. Though I do believe Mike’s advice to the 28 year-old before the shootout was a big reason he stopped all three Ranger shooters.

As a Ranger fan, I’ll admit that our team didn’t deserve last night’s game and even the point was fortunate considering how on their heels they were at the end.

I’m very nervous about tomorrow’s game against the Canadiens. They really need to bring everything into this one and come out with the ‘W’ to ensure a second straight postseason. Don’t chance it because if they do, that final game at Mellon Arena could be a problem. The Pens might not be playing for anything but they’re a royal pain in the ass and a tough match-up.

My feeling is if the Rangers come to play tomorrow, everything will take care of itself. I really believe in this team and think if they get in, they can play with anyone. Right now, it’s all about getting in first. Like the classic Nike commercials say, “Just Do It!”

Tonight, Atlanta takes on the Caps. If they win, they’ll be that much closer to a first ever division title. They already locked up the franchise’s first ever playoff spot. I believe the Thrashers will be a difficult out in the playoffs due to what they possess up front. KT has added a lot to that team and fit in. Hossa is terrific and Kovalchuk finally gets a chance to shine. Probably the most underrated player on that roster is Slava Kozlov. With the Wings, he was a big playoff performer who notched big goals. And we all know what Holik brings as well as Mellanby. I like Kari Lehtonen in net. The question is the blueline. Look for Bob Hartley to match physical D Andy Sutton against someone’s top line. He’s their most physical defenseman and plays tough. Do they have enough offense from the backline? Well, I’ll repeat one thing which Rob already did. The Isles look stupid for getting only Freddy Myer back for Alexei Zhitnik. Especially when you see how well Zhitnik has fared in Hotlanta and what the Flyers got back in Braydon Coburn, who btw has looked really good thus far.

Everyone assumes that Atlanta would be an easier out than the Sabres or Devils. I’m not so sure. They definitely play a more physical style than either of the other top two and have more size. That kind of style combined with the grit and skill they possess could wear down opponents. We’ll certainly see.

Right now, they do lead the Caps 1-0 in the first. A win would put them three up on Tampa for the Southeast. Tampa takes on Florida Friday and faces Atlanta Saturday in a game which could decide it.