1) We've seen some courageous displays in these playoffs, as we do every season, but Gregory Campbell sure got his due when he blocked an Evgeni Malkin screamer that broke his Fibula, managing to complete his shift before stumbling down the tunnel. Campbell won't be back in these playoffs. I'm sure he'd give up all the praise to be playing for the Cup, as the Boston Bruins most assuredly will have the pleasure of doing.
2) We didn't make that much noise about Niklas Hjarlmalsson taking a Slava Voynov bullet to the inside of his knee in game three of Chicago's series with Los Angeles. He finished his shift and only skipped one. He never left the bench.
I can't possibly imagine what his knee looks like right now, but what a beast!
3) Patrice Bergeron. Wearing the black and gold might be a sin around these parts, but this guy's impossible to dislike. He's the epitome of "complete hockey player". He's humble, and he's an exceptional leader.
4) Seen a few people refer to Bryan Bickell of the Blackhawks as this year's Fernando Pisani. Guaranteed, Bickell's going to make bank this summer. And I'm not sure the Blackhawks can afford to keep him, but they must be thinking they can't afford to lose him.
And he reminds me of someone other than Pisani. He reminds of R.J. Umberger. This guy can wheel, he can score, and we know that he can hit. Hab fans are dying to get their hands on him on July 5th, and it might be possible.
I wouldn't even begin to speculate on what he'd cost. Prust got a four-year, 10-million dollar deal. That was up from 800,000$/season.
Bickell turned 27 in March, and he has been making the league minimum.
5) Jonathan Quick allowed one bad goal in last night's game, and cost the Kings their first loss on home ice since March. That one bad goal didn't take him off his game though. The way he refocused for the rest of it was exceptional.
It's such a thin line between winning and losing for the Kings. To think they haven't had to score more than three goals in all but two of their post-season wins is quite unbelievable. Tells you quite poignantly who the most valuable player on their team is.
6) Slava Voynov--6 goals, 6 assists, +10 in 17 games. Regular season--6 goals, 19 assists, +5 in 48 games.
At 23, he's making 787,000$. Might be the best value player-- not named Bryan Bickell--currently in the playoffs. He's been enormous for the Kings.
7) The Kings have to win one game on the road to push this thing to a seventh game. I'm giving them game six at home.
8) If Pittsburgh switches to baby blue, they win the next four games. If only it were as simple as an apparel adjustment.
There's nothing too compelling about this 3-0 situation, other than the idea that Sidney Crosby might have a career-defining game to flip this series on its side.
The Penguins don't just need to win tonight, they need to chase Tuukka Rask from the net a mere 10 minutes into the first period. They need to annihilate the Bruins.
Not betting on it. Not even a nickel.
9) In Rask's first appearances in the NHL--four games in 2007-08--he had a .886 SA%. The following year he got a shutout in his only appearance.
Rask hasn't had his save percentage dip below .918 in any of his four seasons after that. He's also never played more than 45 games in a season.
Right now, coming into game 52 of his year, he's only gotten better. He was a .929 in the regular season, and a .940 in the post-season.
Elite.
All that talk about Kessel for Seguin and the picks, and who they turned into. Toronto trading Rask for Raycroft (and it's not like they didn't know what Rask would turn into, he was highly touted)...well...
10) If the Penguins lose tonight, I believe Dan Bylsma will lose his job. He may not be able to save it either way. The Bruins are going to be moving onto the Stanley Cup Finals, whether it's tonight or in a few days.
Montreal Canadiens Blogger • 
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