CanadianChris

Yeah, about the only silver lining of an early playoff exit this season would have been that Muckler almost certainly would have been fired.

Ding ding. Pressure got to him.

The Sens finished below Buffalo because they got off to a horrendous start and dug themselves a hole so deep they couldn't catch up. For the first couple of months, they would record blowout wins followed by close losses, which explains the goal differential. Right now, this team is playing New Jersey Devils hockey as well as the Devils ever did at the height of their powers. They clog up the middle, they block shots, and they force mistakes. But they also have one ridiculously talented line that can be counted on to get them leads they can protect. The other three lines don't have as many points because they're mainly concentrating on playing good shutdown hockey, and they can do that thanks to the Cash line always giving them a lead to sit on.

Horribly depressing stat that I just looked up: Toronto is now 26th in the majors with a 5.21 starters' ERA, with a former Cy Young winner on the staff.

And the Blue Jays are getting hammered again, this time sending Tomo Ohka off to the slaughter. When did the Jays pitching staff turn into the worst in the majors? It's like every starter besides Halladay is playing down to their 10th PECOTA percentile.

Tallinder? Best defenceman on the ice? Maybe at practice.

Tomas Vokoun?

Emery had a better regular season than Miller. They're approximately equal in the playoffs so far, but Emery has a better defence in front of him. This series will probably be decided by special teams, where Ottawa holds a clear advantage.

Be thankful. With the conversion, it's about $4.35 US a gallon up here.

Maybe they should move to Buffalo.

I'm taking offers for one of my plethora of outfielders.

CONKLIN is the backup? Geez, they should just start running Miller right now.

That really is an ironic insult coming from a fan of a team coached by Lindy Ruff.

I didn't know he was so nice and friendly. Too bad he sucks at hockey. Yes, I hear that's often how players get to the National Hockey League.

EASTERN CONFERENCE (1) Buffalo Sabres (d. NYI 4-1) vs. (6) New York Rangers (d. Atl 4-0) (2) New Jersey Devils (d. TB 4-2) vs. (4) Ottawa Senators (d. Pit 4-1) WESTERN CONFERENCE (1) Detroit Red Wings (d. Cgy 4-2) vs. (5) San Jose Sharks (d. Nsh 4-1) (2) Anaheim Ducks (d. Min 4-1) vs. (3) Vancouver Canucks (d. Dal 4-3) Discuss.

Wings and Flyers, for sure. I don't know how many more. He still needs one more to catch up to Barron.

Just because one line gets all the publicity -- and they should, they're the best line in the league -- doesn't mean this is a one-line team. And, as mentioned already, Ottawa D >>>>> Buffalo D. Wings-Ducks should be an interesting series, if extremely low-scoring.

Nice sentiment, but I don't see how he could possibly follow through on that.

I wonder how many people in attendance actually knew who Hawerchuk was.

I kind of hope it's Detroit. That way, the 2007 playoffs would be a complete Revenge Tour for Ottawa -- Pittsburgh (Gary Roberts), New Jersey ('03), Buffalo ('97, '99 and '06), and Detroit (Hasek quitting on the team last year).

I'd cry more if they showed game 6, but yeah.

He was only driving drunk and speeding and caused the crash. I'm sorry Vahicular Manslaughter. NO.

Game 3, here I come. I'm ready to have my eardrums blown out.

It's over. Meh. Probably the worst-planned race ever. It was a monumental task to make me not care about a TAR All-Star edition, but they managed to do it.

And that's why they're going home in 6. Or 5, just for symmetry.