They Start Wednesday

Excuse me, Jim Mora? Can we talk about Playoffs now?


As long as we can still talk about practice. That's important too. We can talk about the games...but we definitely should talk about practice. Not a game...we're talking about practice.


So the NHL regular season is finally in the books, and the playoff quest for Lord Stanley's Cup is about to kick off. This, I think, is a good time to talk about Playoffs, much to Jim Mora's chagrin. Here's where we stand:

Last year's Stanley Cup champions, the Chicago Blackhawks managed to somehow outrun the Playoff Bear to capture the 8th seed in the west. They did this by doing nothing. In the last game of their regular season, the Dallas Stars were playing the long-eliminated Minnesota Wild. If Dallas won, they would secure a playoff spot...if they lost, they were out, and Chicago was in. Well, Dallas laid an egg and allowed Chicago to back in. This cost us all a moment of history too. Since the Northwest division was so lousy this year, if Dallas had made the playoffs, it would have been the first time in NHL history that every team in the Pacific Division made the playoffs. However, that didn't happen, and we all lose out on a wonderful moment.

Of course, it's all moot since neither Chicago nor Dallas would have seen the second round after seeing the runaway train that is the Vancouver Canucks with rookie defenseman Chris Tanev. The Kings (Minus their leading scorer and at least 25% of their second-leading scorer who may valiantly try to return to the ice with a shoulder injury that hasn't fully returned to strength) take on San Jose in what's sure to be a quick trip to the golf course. Phoenix will try to lull Detroit to sleep, and I really hope Nashville upsets the Anaheim (Formerly Known as Mighty) Ducks, whose play-by-play announcer makes me want to throw crap at my TV.

In the East, the short-handed Rangers (-Callahan, but surprisingly + Drury) take on the Capitals, Philly plays the Sabres, Boston hosts Montreal (whose city has returned to Canada after their invasion of New Jersey a week ago), and the Penguins (No, still no Crosby) will face the Lightning.

So, you all have two more days to talk playoffs before the games start in earnest. Enjoy!