Oops, I got the two conferences mixed up. Boston is not actually locked in to play Pittsburgh at all (unlike San Jose playing the winner of tonight’s game). I didn’t mean to imply that the Habs would lose. I wouldn’t put money on that at all.

I stand corrected. Not for the first time, either. Hell, I’m only right 52% of the time, which is my goal anyway. The Bruins have announced that Marc Savard is now cleared to play and he will be in the lineup for Game 1 against Pittsburgh. This will help slumping wingers like Milan Lucic (who already shows signs of breaking out) and Marco Sturm. Either directly (as linemates) or indirectly (because Savard takes linemates from Krejci and/or Bergeron, leaving spots open with those guys).

Tell me what you think of my three new t-shirt designs (hover over the first three to enlarge the graphic).

Tyler Kennedy and Jordan Leopold both skated yesterday. I doubt either of them will play in Game 1, but we should see both at some point this round. The Pens play Montreal if the Habs win and Boston if they don’t.

Halak was amazing – 53 saves on 54 shots. Washington had 22 shots in the third period. Montreal had 22 shots in the GAME. I think, as far as my pools are concerned, I would like to see the Habs eliminate the Caps because that would make it so much easier for the Pens to get to the Final, thus helping three of my pools. But, from a fantasy hockey standpoint, we need a team that cares more about offense and less about defense than any other team in the NHL to win the Cup. NHL teams tend to emulate the style of Cup winners, so Washington winning one would encourage more run-and-gun. Just my .02

Brooks Laich has just two points and is a minus-3 in the six games. Tomas Fleischmann has just one point and is minus-1. Flash was actually cut down to 12 minutes of ice time as BB relied heavily on the top line.

Alexander Semin also has just one point and minus-2.

What can be said about P.K. Subban? He only played 10 minutes, but he still managed an assist. In fact, he has played three NHL games now and has a point in each of them. You can only hold this guy in the minors for so long. He’ll be a full-time NHLer by midseason next year, mark it.

Benoit Pouliot was cut to 5:10 of ice time. No confidence now. He’s back to risky dark horse status for next season.

Marc-Andre Bergeron played some right wing for the Habs last night. He played 5:31.

Buffalo got eliminated but I think they deserved a better fate. Still, preseason you figured Boston was miles ahead of Buffalo in terms of who the better team was. Nate Gerbe scored, giving him two points in two playoff games to go with his five points in 10 regular season games. Both he and Tyler Ennis look like they are NHL ready. I often mused – in the ramblings as well as in the Prospects Report, that the Sabres would be unable to have Gerbe, Ennis, Tim Kennedy AND Derek Roy all on their roster. But they have been managing it. I guess they figure that Tyler Myers and Paul Gaustad provide enough size and sandpaper.

Milan Lucic was finally rewarded for his solid playoff play with a pair of assists. That could be the crack in the dam that he needs.

Marc Savard did not play and now that the Bruins are in the next round he can probably spend the next week getting into game shape. I can see him missing Game 1 and joining the team for Game 2 if they lose the first one or Game 3 if they win the first one.

This just in from the Dept. of Huh? – Miroslav Satan has five points. One more and he ties what he had last year in 17 playoff games.

Interesting that Johnny Boychuk had more ice time than Zdeno Chara. Of course, he had to kill off Chara’s penalty, but still…

Patric Hornqvist returned to the lineup and assisted on Nashville’s only PP goal of the series. The Preds were 1 for 26.

With the win, Chicago plays Vancouver in the second round, no matter what the outcome is in the DET/PHO game.

Simon Gagne is targeting a return for Game 3 of the second round.