UPDATE – 650 in my playoff pool as of 5:30 ET – if you and 300 of your friends can quickly jump in and pick your guys, I’d like to get above 1000. Thank you! ENTER HERE

Buy the Interactive Playoff Draft List here. It’s updated as of TODAY (just a few minor notes)

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Update – the Jets have extended coach Paul Maurice for four years, which strikes me as long given his last two jobs never reached three.

Steve Mason was not at practice again and so it’s pretty clear he won’t be starting Game 1 for the Flyers

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How did you do in your playoff draft? If you haven’t found a pool to join, may as well jump in mine! The link is here – thanks to our good friends at Office Pools for setting this up on short notice. Took me about five minutes to fill in the boxes, as I’ve pretty much been eating and sleeping dark horse picks and player projections for the last few days. But I will say this – Office Pools makes it awfully easy to get started and they don’t ask for 500 things to sign up – just your name and email. That simple.

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Some St. Louis injury notes –

Vladimir Tarasenko had his cast removed and is expected back sometime in the first round. I would expect by Game 3 or 4 and I’m a certified* medical doctor.

*by “certified” I mean “not certified at all”

I think TJ Oshie will be back for Game 1 and probably Alex Pietrangelo. But David Backes I think may miss the first game and Patrik Berglund may miss three or four.

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The Flyers signed 2012 third-round pick Shayne Gostisbehere to an ELC. I was asked about him via email the other day so I’ll answer here. I don’t answer reader emails asking for advice because it gets too overwhelming, but I do read them and if it’s just about thoughts on a player I’ll address it here. I answer tons of questions in the forum – especially lately – so that’s the best place to get me.

Gostisbehere put up great points for Union College this  year (34 in 42), but he was on a rather high-scoring team. The talent is there, but physically he’s not ready for the NHL and won’t be for several  years. You can read up on him here.

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The Flyers signed Andrew MacDonald to a, ahem, six-year $30 million deal. All smart businesses should invest $30 million into an employee that has worked for them for six weeks. I cracked this little joke on Twitter about it:

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Marc-Andre Fleury blowing it in the playoffs…is that a foregone conclusion? If Miller, Crawford, Niemi, Rask, Quick were gone would you draft him?

The Penguins have made it official – Tomas Vokoun is the No.3 guy. He won’t be at practices so that Zatkoff and Fleury can get in the work they need.

Not official – Evgeni Malkin returning for Game 1. But it sure looks like he will, it’s just that nobody is saying it’s a done deal.

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The Buffalo Sabres finished last overall so they get the first overall draft pick this summer. NOT. They lost again, this time it was the draft lottery they lost. Florida won it, which is a good thing – they need some great,  young prospects.

Remember the Vanek deal? Well, the Islanders are still trying to decide whether to give Buffalo their first rounder in 2015, or give them fifth overall right now. The conundrum is – what if the Isles suck again and it’s the McDavid year? My money is on them not sucking (if Tavares stays healthy) and they should give up the 2015 pick and draft fifth right now.

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Despite four goals in the last five games, with Toews and Kane back in the lineup it’s looking like Jeremy Morin will be the odd man out. Line combos in practice:

Toews with Versteeg and Saad. Handzus with Hossa and Sharp. Kane with Bickell and Shaw. So as expected, Bickell is reunited with Kane for the playoffs.

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Mikael Granlund is ready to return for Game 1. Here are the line combos:

Zach Parise–Mikko Koivu–Charlie Coyle

Matt Moulson–Mikael Granlund–Jason Pominville

Matt Cooke–Kyle Brodziak–Nino Niederreiter

Stephane Veilleux-Erik Haula-Cody McCormick

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Jonas Hiller‘s play in recent weeks have pushed him to the bench. Frederik Andersen will (probably) start Game 1. I had a hunch this would happen during the series – but had no idea that the Ducks would kick things off that way. I haven’t trusted Hiller all season. Traded him in December in the one league I owned him in. And I just had a feeling that he would get the hook early. Hiller’s reaction:

“I’ve definitely not been the happiest guy to be around lately. You can ask my wife.”

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Anders Lindback will start Game 1 for the Lightning. Ben Bishop did not practice Tuesday. However, Val Filppula and Ondrej Palat did practice and will play. TB’s practice lines:

Johnson with Palat and Stamkos. Filppula with Killorn and Callahan. Paquette with Brown and Kucherov. Thompson with Purcell and Panik. Poor Teddy!

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Raw Charge takes a look at Steven Stamkos – before and after the injury here. Of note – usage and defense are relatively the same, but the offense is not.

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Brenden Dillon is not in practice for Dallas and is doubtful for Game 1 with a LBI.

Dallas’ line combos in practice:

Jamie Benn–Tyler Seguin–Valeri Nichushkin

Antoine Roussel–Cody Eakin–Ryan Garbutt

Erik Cole–Vernon Fiddler–Colton Sceviour

Ray Whitney–Shawn Horcoff–Alex Chiasson

I’m liking Nichushkin there.

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The Kings recalled rookie Linden Vey, though I’m doubting we see him. Still, he’ll be the first guy they turn to when injury strikes. Get some background on Vey here.

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And while you’re at DobberProspects, check out defenseman Jake McCabe. Team USA put him on their World Championship roster. He’ll get a long look in training camp in the fall and with a young rebuilding team he has a pretty good shot at making the Sabres. But it would be best if he did a tour of duty in the AHL first.

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It is believed that Steve Mason suffered whiplash Saturday and  a decision on his status for Thursday’s game will be made later today.

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Also of note – Derick Brassard injured his back and left practice yesterday.

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Don’t call John Tortorella “Mike” –

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Top 10 Hits of the season: