Angus here… The Selke nominations are out. Datsyuk (again), Zetterberg, and Madden are the finalists. The Detroit forwards are deserving, as both put up stellar numbers while shutting down the opposition. I'd give the award to Madden, who was a beast for the Devils (and managed to pot 20 goals).

Michael Leighton made 98 saves last night in the AHL playoffs. His team (the Albany River Rats) lost in the fifth overtime period to the Philadelphia Phantoms on a goal by Ryan Potulny.

Mike Keenan is sticking on as the Flames coach for next season. Goodbye Huselius, and possibly Tanguay as well.

No word on Peter Forsberg's status for Game Two yet. His groin acted up and the Avs felt it would be better to play it safe. 

Will this be the first year a Euro captain lifts the cup? Of the eight teams left, there are three European captains (Lidstrom, Koivu, and Jagr). 

St. Louis, Datsyuk, and Pominville are the Lady Byng Trophy nominees. Both Datsyk and St.Louis have won this award so I believe Pominville is a very deserving choice for this year. He was an unsung hero for the Sabres all year and they would have been no where near making the playoffs had he not had a career year.

Ryder and Latendresse were both scratches for Montreal again last night. OUCH!!

Downie played again while Cote sat while Jaroslav Modry missed his 3rd consecutive game attending his Father's funeral.

Forsberg missed last nights game with a groin injury and the Avs. lost. If he misses a few games this series it will be over very quickly. He brings an element  of grit and skill that they just don't have with him out of the lineup.

The Johan Franzen show continued with 2 more goals and an assist. Every game this guy plays I become more of a believer. 30 goals should be a lock nexy year as long as he is healthy.

L.A signed my namesake Bud Holloway(no relation that I know of) to an entry level deal.

Rich Peverly has joined Nashville's AHL affiliate for the playoff run. Watch this kid he keeps improving at every level. He was a former star at St.Lawrence University and has been quite impressive during his "cups of coffee" with the Preds this year. A roster spot is secured for next year unless he goes in the tank.

Interesting story from the game 5 series finale between Sault Ste. Marie and Kitchener on Wednesday night. Late in the 3rd period with the series already secured for Kitchener (they were leading 3-0), the Sault players started getting chippy and taking penalties. So rather than send out a tough guy to settle the score, Rangers coach Peter DeBoer pulls the goalie so Kitchener had a 6 on 3 advantage. They scored 2 more goals and won the game 5-0. Needless to say Greyhounds coach Craig Hartsburg was less than impressed with his counterpart as they ran up the score. Remember these 2 guided Canada to that 7-0-1 record at last year's Canada-Russia super-series.  

Team Canada has also announced Kunitz, Heatley, Getlaf, Burns, Garon, and Hamhuis will join St.Loius, Staal, Doan, Nash, and Jovo on the World Championship roster. Alternates are Mark Giordino and Sam Gagner while Turris, Cory Emmerton and Logan Pyatt were invited as training camp players only. Dion Phaneuf will not play.

It's pretty sad when Canada adds those players and the U.S adds Adam Burish and Mark Stuart.