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Well I want to see CBJ do well but I am a Bruin fan so ...

This series will be old school. No space, no time and lots of contact. You make mental errors you lose. Bob MUST stay hot and the D more than awake.

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If the NHL wants me to watch, they could better schedule it around the NFL draft.

Dual screen, ipads, computer

I was working at home and helping my son with homework and we were watching 3 games at once

How about that. All Wild Cards advance. This game is about hard work, smart play and lots of heart. The landscape of the Eastern Conference is changing.

These were the first round results:

East
Columbus (98) beat Tampa (128)
Carolina (99) beat Washington (104)
Boston (107) beat Toronto (100)
NYI (103) beat Pittsburgh (100)

Tampa was a clear #1 and it's a huge stunner they lost, especially in a sweep, but the other division winner, Washington, wasn't that much better than Carolina. Sure, five points is better, but is that truly a huge deal? Boston should have been the #2 seed but the NHL screwed up the seeding rules, but they still won their match-up. And the Islanders were only a tad better than the Penguins. So, is it safe to say there was only one true upset in the East?

West
Colorado (90) beat Calgary (107)
Dallas (93) beat Nashville (100)
San Jose (101) beat Vegas (93)
St. Louis (99) beat Winnipeg (99)

The West had one clear upset with Colorado beating Calgary. The Dallas win is a little in the grey area, seven points is 3'ish wins. The other two were series finished without an upset. So, two big upsets and two "grey area" upsets.

I still think the NHL needs to review these results because we can't have division winners getting bounced in the first round so often. I know they want parity, but doesn't that make the regular season that much more meaningless? If you're best teams lose frequently, even in the first round, isn't that bad for the ratings in a way?

When I see that list, all I can think is, a team in the east with 90-93 points wasn't going to be near getting into the playoffs this year,

and I can remember a few years back when the Jackets did get in, that it was totally different, back then the west had teams needing real close to 100 and maybe 87 was enough in the eastern conf. just to get a playoff spot.

The only thing I see change in the Eastern from about the last two years is the Islanders, I think they're really good, and the Jackets happened to win one, and the Bruins, we know they are really good, , have a top Goalie
meaning the only real change is that Washington and Pittsburg are out early which is different from the last two years,

and Detroit didn't qualify again for a few years in a row after they had a multi year span of always qualifying.

Surprised of Carolina, always overlooked them.
Glad to see Vegas is out, but always will be until that ex-backup-Pittsburgh goalie retires.

Rooting for the Jackets, Islanders and Sharks. No Bruins, Blues or Penguins please.

If I could choose, I'd want a Jackets and Sharks Cup Final. Although, I don't think the league would like that.

Big Blues fan here for over 50 years. Would love to see them finally win the Cup as they have never done so. Unfortunately, they usually don't get past the 2nd round. The last time they did was 3 years ago and that was only the 3rd time in 30 years.

What an amazing game 7... GO CANES!!!!

Columbus is lucky they're not down by a few already (9 min in). Boston has to have 10 or 12 quality shots already.

Werenski needs to play until he hears the whistle. Game over when you pull up thinking your man is offside....

Blue Jackets, watching game 2

That was a really good penalty kill by the Jackets for 3 minutes,

This year may be the best PK unit they've had in team history and that's always been one of their strongsuits, but a couple of times in this and the last series it's been a thing of beauty.

5-hole!

That kick shot...wow.

We should've won game 1.

St. Louis has that look. They are doing everything right, and it just seems like they are going to be a brutal out for anyone. I am not a huge fan of the Blues, but they just look like the team to beat right now to me.

It's a wide open tournament but at this point right now if I had to place a wager on a cup winner I would take St. Louis.

Awesome game. Bob was outstanding in goal. Watched from hotel lobby in Mobile, AL.

Great win. Marchand should be suspended.

CBJ will submit that for review. Fine for sure you'd think. I dont want a suspension to become a rallying moment for Boston. Win game 4 for you take them totally off their game.

It would be great to see them win it all. Blues fans like myself have been waiting 52 years. It would rock the city; a great sports town!!

I gotta disagree there. Marchand is a tool, and that was a douche move, but that is not a suspendable offense. Even if they ref saw it as it happened, he's probably just going to tell him to knock it off.

There are people on the internet saying he should get 5 games, which is laughable. I get that there are a lot of new fans whenever a team gets further than they ever have, but this isn't baseball.

a 5 game suspension should involve intent to injure, not a guy with gloves jabbing a guy (with a helmet on) in the back of their head. It's just not that big of a deal.

Again, I am not saying it wasn't a dbag move, because it kinda was, but it's not something that he should be suspended for.

You should feel pretty good about your team's chances. Their path right now looks very doable, at a time in the year where you almost never say that. I'm not saying cakewalk, but with the way they are playing right now, their fans should be loving it.

I think the Dallas series is over. You just can't lose games like that, the way they did the other night. Just totally unacceptable for a playoff game. I am not a big believer in the Stars as it is. Outside of Benn and Seguin, the cupboard is pretty bare.

The Sharks and Avs are both good teams but I would have Stl as a pretty strong favorite.

And I think in the East, you have some tough teams, but physically St Louis has a pretty good advantage.

I also think they have great depth in goal.

Regardless of what happens, I can't wait for the Darren Rovells of the world to complain about whatever cities match up in the cup final. I don't need an original six or a big market team to enjoy the final. The way I see it, I just feel like whoever makes it, deserves to be there, and it's going to be a great battle regardless. The last snorefest of a final we had was the Kings/Rangers series in 2014 which was unbelievably lopsided, and those are the two biggest markets in the country, go figure. These are the same clowns who probably think the ALCS is a joke unless it's Yankees/Red Sox.

I think he’s a dirty agitator, which he doesn’t have to be because he’s quite good. Didn’t he have 100+ points this year? Anyway, it’d be great if they could suspend him one period because of past history of being a jerk. Come on, there’s a rule in the books specifically because of him (no licking the opposing players in the face).

You’re right, it’s not that big of deal and he’ll probably get hit a few extra times next game to even it out, but the optics of that look bad.

I’m enjoying the playoffs a lot the year, even with most of the fancy, big market teams out. As you said, it doesn’t matter, but it adds to the “heat” if it’s Rangers V Penguins. Columbus V Carolina doesn’t hold the cache, if you don’t “get playoff hockey”.

If the ref sees him, maybe he gives him a penalty, maybe not, but it would just be a 2 minute roughing. I don't understand those that are calling for 5 games, but hockey fans when it comes to their own teams are delusional and think the league is rigged against them.

Marchand started off as a grinder who kind of had to be that pest to see ice time. He has developed his game so well over the last 3-4 years. I love his game, but he's such a clown.

Love the playoffs this year, I don't really have a dog in the fight, although I was pulling so hard for Toronto. I just enjoy the games, whatever team is losing the game, I want to see tie it up to see crazy overtime games. Whichever team is down in the series, I want to see come back. I wish I could enjoy the NFL like this, LOL.

When the leafs got eliminated, I lost a lot of my enthusiasm for hockey. I used to watch everything but these days I don't care enough.

Anybody but Boston. I'm rooting for Columbus, and St.Louis in the west.

Backes supposedly back in the lineup for the B's. Double goonery. Stay focused, play hard and smart!

Meanwhile, in Raleigh, the Canes keep rolling along to a 3-0 lead..

I think the extended break really killed the mojo of the Islanders coming off their sweep...

Torts shortened the bench and gassed his other lines. Played too heavy and just tired ourselves out. No need to change what has been working since mid march.

Back to Boston for a best of three series.

Canes sweep Isles. CBJ/Canes Conference Finals would drive the league nuts! I however, think itd be fantastic!

Yup, that is what I'm sayin. Too many times the media looks at the name of the team instead of the people on it.

Carolina's home crowds are wild too, those people are having a blast right now

What a Third period ... I thought they would pull it out after a 3 goal in a 3 min span...

I turned it on when the third period started... wow.... great period.. sad blue jackets lost..

Lock in another game 7 for the NHL, Stars and Blues are going the distance.

Little bit of an ugly play near the end of the game, Blues up one, Bishop takes a puck high, looks like it may have caught his shoulder/neck area. He doesn't wear a lexan, so that area is exposed. He went down like a sack of potatoes, and the Blues basically just threw it in the net. It's the right call, but it just sucks.

I really think Boston and Columbus are going 7. Colorado could easily push it the distance too. Pretty exciting time to be a hockey fan

My Blues get to play another day!! Only thing; they play better on the road than at home.