Eastern:
Washington Capitals 106
Pittsburgh Penguins 90
Buffalo Sabres NE 88
New Jersey Devils 88
Ottawa Senators 81
Philadelphia Flyers 79
Montréal Canadiens 79
Boston Bruins 76

Atlanta Thrashers 75
New York Rangers 71
Florida Panthers 69
Carolina Hurricanes 68
New York Islanders 68
Tampa Bay Lightning 68
Toronto Maple Leafs 64

Western:
Chicago Blackhawks 97
Phoenix Coyotes 97
Vancouver Canucks 92
San Jose Sharks 96
Los Angeles Kings 89
Nashville Predators 89
Colorado Avalanche 87
Detroit Red Wings 85

Calgary Flames 81
St Louis Blues 77
Anaheim Ducks 76
Minnesota Wild 76
Dallas Stars 76
Columbus Blue Jackets 70
Edmonton Oilers 53

Yeah definitely start Halak because Price folds under pressure to easily. Besides i think Halak is the better goalie anyways so it seems like the right choice.

I dunno if you caught it, but that game between your Habs and Sams Sabres was a really good game. Price played a good game, but Miller was better.

Posted by "Big Daddy D" Yeah definitely start Halak because Price folds under pressure to easily. Besides i think Halak is the better goalie anyways so it seems like the right choice. I dunno if you caught it, but that game between your Habs and Sams Sabres was a really good game. Price played a good game, but Miller was better.

if it comes down to it, though, the Sabres are never going to get by the Penguins or the Capitals.

Yea I caught that game. Habs were doing good right up until almost the end... fucking hell.. at least they kicked the Panthers' asses (4-1 I believe)last night though!

Ah those goddamn Bruins! 2-1 loss in OT, but good game though.

Habs really rolled over Buffalo tonight hehe. Ya see that Sam?
Sabres have clinched anyways and it's basically a fight for who they'll face in the playoffs at this point.

2nd shutout in a row and Montreals moving on up to 6th so assuming they can win one more they're basically in the playoffs. It's going to be interesting to see who makes the final 2 playoff spots with the Flyers, Bruins, Rangers and Thrashers all within 2 or 3 points of each other.

Oh and vicexsquad i just noticed your birthday passed not too long ago so happy belated birthday to you.

I watched the Habs vs Philly game with the 1-0 win, which was ok. Missed last night's game against Buffalo (I didnt get home from work until late) but I am proud that the Habs won 3-0. Even my favorite player managed one goal and one assist! 3 games left and I'm hoping they still end up in the playoffs.

Thanks for the belated birthday wishes...inching closer to 30..not fun

Hey i'm not too far behind you so i can understand how you feel lol.

Leafs lost. Again! Doesn't really shock me anymore really. Leafs are garbage. Go Habs! Even though they lost to the Islanders that 1 point pretty much guarantees them a playoff spot.

West was also sealed up tonight with Colorado winning in the shootout against Vancouver.

I still can't get over Phoenix and their 102 points. That's just crazy...

And a congrats to Mr. Brodeur on his 600th NHL win. He's still got a few years left to probably hit 700.

Posted by "Big Daddy D" Hey i'm not too far behind you so i can understand how you feel lol. Leafs lost. Again! Doesn't really shock me anymore really. Leafs are garbage. Go Habs! Even though they lost to the Islanders that 1 point pretty much guarantees them a playoff spot. West was also sealed up tonight with Colorado winning in the shootout against Vancouver. I still can't get over Phoenix and their 102 points. That's just crazy... And a congrats to Mr. Brodeur on his 600th NHL win. He's still got a few years left to probably hit 700.

Buffalo pulled out a win against the Rangers last night.
good thing, too.
is it me, or has Lindy Ruff aged noticeably this season?

Posted by Samurai Buffalo pulled out a win against the Rangers last night. good thing, too. is it me, or has Lindy Ruff aged noticeably this season?

Missed that game, but saw the highlights. I swear that Derek Roy scores a goal, or least grabs a point every game it seems. But yeah nice 5-2 win over the rangers. I'm wondering if they'll let Miller sit out any of the last couple games just to rest him up for the playoffs? Lalime is more than capable of handling the goaltender duties. And Ottawa isn't going to catch the Sabres in the Northwest division anyways.

Yeah the man definitely doesn't age gracefully, especially as of late. I think Ruff is just getting tired maybe? I mean he's coached the same team since the 1997 season - which puts him second overall as longest serving coach behind Trotz in Nashville. He certainly looks older than 50 that's for sure.

Posted by Samurai Buffalo pulled out a win against the Rangers last night. good thing, too. is it me, or has Lindy Ruff aged noticeably this season?

That win clinched their playoff ticket as well.

Down to Filthy, The Habs, the Rags, and Boston. They all seem to have a shot, but it really doesn't matter because to me they all look like 1st round losers in the playoffs

I tried googling some old comparison pics of Lindy through his career and couldn't find them. He used to have hair though and it wasn't so light in color as it is now. He also doesn't seem as angry as he used to be.

I'm quite optimistic with the sabres playoff chances. Meeting Washington for the Eastern Conference will be a hell of a series. Just as long as we don't have to play Ottawa at all, shit.


Edit: One other thing about Lindy. I remember before this current season started, there was a lot of pressure from the Sabres fans to fire Lindy. Hell, I might have even supported it too after not making the playoffs for two consecutive seasons. At the same time, the Buffalo Bills were going through yet another head coach search and Bills fans demanded that they wants to get a tried and proven big name NFL coach that doesn't suck. While the Bills debate was going on, some of the national media started pointing out that in the NHL, Lindy Ruff is the equivalent of a big name, tried and proven coach and that Sabres fans were crazy for wanting to get themselves in a Bills situation when they don't even really have a head coaching problem at all. It's hard to tell while being a Sabres fan, but across the NHL it appears Lindy gas the same respect as a Bill Cowher/Miek Shannahan/Marty Shottenheimer/etc. In the NHL, Lindy stands alone as 'the man'.

Posted by trent That win clinched their playoff ticket as well. Down to Filthy, The Habs, the Rags, and Boston. They all seem to have a shot, but it really doesn't matter because to me they all look like 1st round losers in the playoffs I tried googling some old comparison pics of Lindy through his career and couldn't find them. He used to have hair though and it wasn't so light in color as it is now. He also doesn't seem as angry as he used to be. I'm quite optimistic with the sabres playoff chances. Meeting Washington for the Eastern Conference will be a hell of a series. Just as long as we don't have to play Ottawa at all, shit. Edit: One other thing about Lindy. I remember before this current season started, there was a lot of pressure from the Sabres fans to fire Lindy. Hell, I might have even supported it too after not making the playoffs for two consecutive seasons. At the same time, the Buffalo Bills were going through yet another head coach search and Bills fans demanded that they wants to get a tried and proven big name NFL coach that doesn't suck. While the Bills debate was going on, some of the national media started pointing out that in the NHL, Lindy Ruff is the equivalent of a big name, tried and proven coach and that Sabres fans were crazy for wanting to get themselves in a Bills situation when they don't even really have a head coaching problem at all. It's hard to tell while being a Sabres fan, but across the NHL it appears Lindy gas the same respect as a Bill Cowher/Miek Shannahan/Marty Shottenheimer/etc. In the NHL, Lindy stands alone as 'the man'.

Washington is going to molest Buffalo... i don't see the Sabres winning a series against them. Even if they do make it past Washington, facing the Penguins? Never make it past Crosby and company.

As for Ruff, he's the guy that schools will be named after in Buffalo. (if there is a Buffalo left)

Assuming the playoffs began today, the bracket would look like this in the East. (no one cares about the west ;0) and 2nd round predictions.

1. Washington --| |---Washington--| 8. Boston-------| | | 4. Pittsburgh---| | |---Pitt/Ott----| 5. Ottawa-------| (too close to call) 3. BUFFALO------| |---Buffalo-----| 6. Montreal-----| | | 2. New Jersey---| | |---Jersey------| 7. Philly-------|

The good news is that we're on the easy side of the bracket, if you consider NJ easy. Wash, Pitt, and Ottawa will take each other out leaving us with only having to play one of them for the Eastern Finals if making it that far, and they're actually the only 3 teams in the east I'm afraid of right now, so only playing one of them isn't too bad.

I'm not sure if we could take Washington. Possibly pittsburgh. Don't get me started on Ottawa.

So the east is looking interesting now.

Montreal 7th with 87 points. (1 game left)
Philly 8th with 86 points. (1 game left)
N.Y Rangers 9th with 86 points. (1 game left)

So the Habs need to beat the Leafs tonight if they want to make the playoffs. Should be a helluva game.

Philly and the Rangers go tomorrow afternoon with the winner basically winning the last playoff spot. I gotta a feeling Philly takes it, but we'll have to wait and see.

And Ottawa took a hit last night with Kovalev out for the rest of the season. Without a player of his caliber on the team this is really going to affect their chances at advancing far into the playoffs.

Well vicexsquad is going to be happy cause her Habs are in the playoffs.

Now we'll have to see who wins that 8th seed tomorrow.

Looking more and more like it's the Caps to lose, I hope they do. Go Pens!

Posted by "Big Daddy D" Well vicexsquad is going to be happy cause her Habs are in the playoffs. Now we'll have to see who wins that 8th seed tomorrow.

Haha.. yeah yeah...they're only in because of the overtime. The game was pretty intense, I must say.

..and I hope to God that Philly wins tonight..I hate the Rangers!

Posted by vicexsquad ..and I hope to God that Philly wins tonight..I hate the Rangers!

Wow, what a game. I hope I'll be able to see it tonight. It's basically a playoff game.

Well that Rangers/Flyers game was a good one. Could of went either way really.

So you guys got any early predictions?

EAST 1. Washington --| |-----? 8. Montreal-----| 4. Pittsburgh---| |-----? 5. Ottawa-------| 3. Buffalo------| |-----? 6. Boston-------| 2. New Jersey---| |-----? 7. Philadelphia-| WEST 1. San Jose-----| |-----? 8. Colorado-----| 4. Phoenix------| |-----? 5. Detroit------| 3. Vancouver----| |-----? 6. Los Angeles--| 2. Chicago------| |-----? 7. Nashville----|

Posted by "Big Daddy D" Well that Rangers/Flyers game was a good one. Could of went either way really. So you guys got any early predictions?

Nice! I don't associate with the West, but here's how the East will fall:

Round 1:
Washington in 5
Pittsburgh in 5 or 6
Buffalo in 5
NJ in 6

There'll be no re-aligning seeds in the 2nd round where it will be:

Round 2:
Washington over Pittsburgh in 7
Buffalo over NJ in 6

Eastern Conference Championship:
Buffalo losing to Washington in 6


_{(my alternate pick is the same, but having Pitt win over Wash in the 2nd round but Buffalo beating Pitt for the East)}