This article, and all of Dobber's articles, can also be found on TheHockeyNews.com, ESPN.com and MSN.ca. Originally posted April 09.

Some last-minute notes to keep in mind as you sit down for your playoff hockey pool draft…
 

Though Vancouver rearguard Kevin Bieksa was seen wearing a walking cast after the game on Saturday, the team said it was for precautionary measures. X-rays later backed that statement up. He’s fine and he’s the best option for the Canucks on the blue line…

Both Todd Bertuzzi (see April 12 ramblings for change in Bertuzzi's status) and Henrik Zetterberg will be in the lineup for Detroit to start the playoffs. Bertuzzi should be healthy throughout the playoffs and would be a middle-round steal if you like Detroit to get to the second round. Zetterberg has issues with his back and his wrist. Roll him back about 20 per cent in terms of your expectations and draft him accordingly…

Speaking of Detroit, when Bertuzzi and Zetterberg are in the lineup, the likes of Dan Cleary and Mikael Samuelsson will get you zilch for points. Those two will only put up numbers if both Bertuzzi and Zetterberg are hurt. Stay away…

Jonathan Cheechoo (see April 12 ramblings for change in Cheechoo's status) had 29 points in his first 38 games for San Jose and 40 points in his final 38 games. Treat him like an 85-point player, not the 69 points that he ended up with…

Do not make a mistake in forgetting about Tim Connolly. He played 13 minutes per game in his two games on the weekend after missing the entire season with concussion and leg problems. He had plenty of power-play time and warrants a serious look at the draft. It would not surprise me if Connolly posted close to a point per game…

One defenseman from each second-round team will have at last eight points. Two defensemen from each third-round team will have at least a dozen points. There is really no sense in looking at rearguards beyond a team’s top two. If you load up on a team, load up on forwards and no more than two blueliners…

Buffalo’s Tomas Vanek had a horrible postseason last year. He was also a minus-11 in the season. Seeing as he led the NHL with a plus-47 this campaign, there is no reason at all to believe that he will make last year’s performance a distant memory. Expect great things…

Miikka Kiprusoff has been getting shelled lately, giving up nearly four goals per game and going 0-3-0 in his last three contests. I’ll be playing on that by choosing Detroit in the first round and expecting a lot of goals, although I do not like the Wings to go any further than that…