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Might as well get another one going.
I watched the Leafs and Jackets tonight. We got the W, but I'm not rubbing it in.
Big win for Leafs over a very good team, we are fighting to get in the playoffs. Killing off a five-minute major penalty at 3-2 was huge.
Thoughts on CBJ, a team I don't see very often:

1. They are big and physical. Boone Jenner has some jam, in other words he's gritty.
2. Jackets are tough to play against because of their willingness to bang and crash.
3. I didn't know you had Sam Gagne, he has some offensive skill. That Anderson guy is good, too. And when Columbus traded for Seth Jones, I thought that was a great trade to make. You don't often get to trade for a guy who's a stud D. Johnson was good too, don't know his first name.

Playoffs getting close!

Playoff picture and status: lists probabilities.

Two weeks out, still Washington capitals, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Columbus Blue Jackets are neck and neck and neck, within 1-3 points for the top overall spot in the Metro.

Whomever are 2-3 will have to play each other in round 1.
I know Columbus has 1 game with Pittsburgh, and 1 game with Washington remaining on the schedule.

A couple of playoff matchups I'd love to see...

Pittsburgh/Columbus - that's been a good rivalry the last few years. Both are skilled teams that would make for great playoff hockey

Boston/Montreal - obviously a classic rivalry, but these two always seem to play great playoff series' whenever they are matched up. They've had a ton of playoff series', and something like 9 or 10 game 7's. Plus the whole Claude Julien thing.

Blackhawks/Wild - This is the best team Minnesota has ever had, and the Hawks have owned them for years, I think this would be a really really intense series.

Penguins/Blackhawks cup final - Would just be cool to see that much skill on the ice. I could see this a lot like the Cavs-Warriors last year where teams traded blows to each other and then had one memorable finale.

I'm a Leafs fan sperg, and I'll be happy if we make it to the playoffs no matter who we end up playing.
But I would love to see a Toronto-Montreal series. That's a rivalry that goes back a hundred years and in Canada, there are fans of both teams spread out from one coast to the other. Epic TV ratings up here.

Other things:
Oilers clinched & are in the playoffs for the first time since 2006.
Chicago is the class of the West, Pittsburgh is banged up and struggling. I can see the Caps going to the Cup final, and I also think Columbus might be one of those teams that have a great regular season, but playoff inexperience bites them in the arse.
Detroit missed the playoffs for the first time in 25 years. That perhaps explains why jfanent has been quiet in hockey threads haha.

Lol. Had to end sometime. My only regret is not being able to catch a game this year....ticket prices have been outrageous for the last seaon at the Joe. Not sure who to pull for, it would be nice to see Ovechkin hoist the cup, or the Leafs, or the Jackets. Anybody but Pittsburgh.

I think it's kind of fitting that it ends just after Mike Illitch passes away. They're a great organization, one of the best run in proffesional sport. I think they'll get back on their feet.

I really want the Leafs to find a way to get in. Even a first round exit would be beneficial to the group of young guys on this team. Just to get a taste of playoff hockey, because it sure ain't like the regular season. Would really set up that team for a great 2017-2018. They really look like they are finally coming around as an organization.

The Blackhawks look primed for a deep run. They are going to be a heavy favorite to come out of the west, but the playoffs have a funny way of playing out. No guarantees. Every team in the west is TOUGH.

With 4 games left, it's almost 100% probable the Jackets And Penguins will meet in round 1, With Washington winning the division and the Rangers getting the better wild card spot.

Which would have been the case, at any point, going back just over 5 weeks now, I think.

You're right, throw... personally I'll be hoping the jackets win because I don't like Pittsburgh. I've seen them win enough.

Jackets/Pens would make a great playoff series. I would certainly hope for the Pens to win. But if the Pens are eliminated, I will cheer for the Jackets.

I think two teams are the superior team, or toughest matchup, (take your pick) to(for) the Jackets, the Rangers, and the Penguins, I'd hate to see the Jackets face either one of them in the first round; because winning the franchise's first playoff series would be a milestone.
And being on the upswing of that milestone would do them better in a chance to overcome either of those teams.

Early exit. There's a miniscule chance a team that has not won a playoff series is going to take out a team that, well what have the Penguins done lately, I wouldn't know I avoid their games.

Leafs rallied in the third period, made the playoffs. They'll play either Washington or Ottawa.

The playoffs are set, and it's time to make a run for the Stanley Cup, so let's get it going.
I'll do the Western Conference match ups in the next 48 hours, after I break down more film and look at the tape.

EAST:

CAPS vs. LEAFS

I won't give up on the Leafs until it's over, but I see Washington winning in five, maybe six.
Go Leafs Go!

CANADIENS vs. RANGERS

It would not shock me if the Rangers won this. They are a wildcard team that is better than that. Lundquist.

SENATORS vs. BRUINS
Boston in seven games

PENGUINS vs. BLUE JACKETS
Columbus not playing well going into the playoffs, bad sign against the defending champions.
Penguins in 6.

Pens not doing too well either, having lost the last 2 games. It's going to be an exciting series, Pens vs Blue Jackets! Bring it on GO PENS!

Getting my picks in late...

Montreal over the Rangers in 7. Habs get revenge for 3 years ago.

Bruins over Senators in 6. This is a series that could probably be coin flipped. Love the way the Bruins have looked since the coach change

Capitals over Toronto in 6. The Caps are really good, but are fragile. Toronto is young and hungry. I really do think they will push Washington a bit in this series, but Capitals will move on.

Columbus over Pittsburgh in 7. Another coin flip series. I love whoever gets out of this series to really go far. Should be really intense. This realistically shouldn't be a first round matchup, but becuase of this stupid format, it is. Can't wait. I'm looking forward to this matchup the most.

Chicago over Nashville in 6. I've seen this movie a thousand times before.

Minnesota over St. Louis in 6. Home ice is huge in this series, and I don't say that often for the NHL.

Anaheim over Calgary in 6. Too much size and experience for Calgary.

San Jose over Edmonton in 6. Probably the second series I'm looking forward to. Rexall is going to be absolutely nuts tonight. Don't miss this series if you can afford to stay up a little late.

Montreal over Boston (probably 7 games, LOL)
Columbus over Washington

Chicago over Minnesota (probably in 5, LOL)
Anaheim over San Jose

Columbus over Montreal
Chicago over Anaheim

Chicago over Columbus

Conn-Smythe: Patrick Kane

No Matt Murray tonight in goal for Pittsburgh. Fleury to start.

I am so mixed on the Pens v Jackets series

I am a Pens fan but also A Monster fan, so a lot of CBJs most important players were on that Calder Cup winning Monsters team last year. Bjorkstrand was one of my favorite players on that team.

I still say Pens in 6

that's a bit unexpected though Murray hasn't been doing so well as of late.It's good to have 2 wonderful choices like this

Murray was injured in pre game

just noticed that - ouch!

CBJ threw everything they had at The Pens and outplayed them in the first period, then in the blink of an eye found themselves down 2 goals to 0.

Thats is so disheartening for a young team

now down 3-0

Pens win game 1 3-1

Damn, forgot about this today!
Oilers win in 6, Chicago in five, Flames in 6 and Blues in 7.

The Jackets didn't go 16-0 trying to be the bully on the block. They used skill and smart play. They forgot that in their last 40 games.

They're showing that they're the youngest team in the tourny. Pens have a huge experience edge here.

6 games probably...

Go Jackets! Pittsburgh sucks. I love having a second rivalry with a team in pee-yellow and bloody-stool-black.

All that said, the CBJ have some work to do. Gotta stop that power-play. Mind those seams!

My wife got me the NHL gameday subscription. I watched quite a few games this season, and I'm going to watch as many playoff games as I can (blackout rules are killing me, though).

I don't know why, but I just can't stand the Rangers. I was rooting hard for Montreal, and I didn't know why. I guess I still have some leftover animosity from the Tortorella/Avery years.

Go Hawks!

Leafs goalie Terry Sawchuck.



(before masks)

Go Pens!!

The Jackets are spending to much time chasing those hits and not controlling the puck or stopping the puck. The Pens move the puck way too well for what the Jackets are trying to do

Pens up 2-1 in the second period. Hope they can hold on to win and go up 2-0.

that was a pretty soft goal by Fleury, he took a horrible angle, but they came right back on got the lead back.

The kid has been outstanding tonight, on both ends

How are we not starting the 3rd period on the PP?

The dude dropped his gloves and was throwing punches and doesnt even get two for roughing?? The Jackets are getting frustrated.

That's Red Wings goalie, mister! He played most and the best of his 20 years in Detroit. He did do a short stint in Toronto.

Big win in double OT for the Leafs tonight. Tied the series, bringing it back to what will be a rocking ACC on Monday. Capitals look slow.

Pens win tonight in OT. Now up 3-0 in the series. They were down 3-1 and ended up winning 5-4!

A Tortorella-coached team resorting to questionable hits and inability to maintain discipline!? I'm shocked! Shocked, I say!

Gotta give a lot of credit to Lavy and his guys for completely shutting down the Blackhawks. 2 Goals in 3 games to a team that played well all year, and came into this playoff feeling pretty good about themselves.

My wife can't stand them, but I wish them the best should they finish this series off.

There aren't too many NHL teams I don't like. I hated those Vancouver teams with the wonder twins and Bieksa and those guys. I'm not big on the Ducks, but I respect the hell out of them, because they're incredibly good, and really skilled. I almost always root for the American goalies, and they have a really good one with John Gibson.

not a great start for the Pens tonight. I guess they want to win this series in Pittsburgh, not Columbus. Fortunately they have a 3-0 lead

I kind of expected this, Jackets are desperate. I am ok with the Jackets winning one for the fans

now 3-2 in favor of the Blue Jackets. Maybe the Pens can pull this off

Caps pulled even with the leafs, they dominated tonight. I'm okay with 2-2 in the series, woulda taken that a week ago against Washington.