JVR is really having a coming out party, eh? If last year's Claude Giroux show is any indication, van Riemsdyk should have a big year next campaign. He has a five-game points streak now. Make that a five-game GOAL streak.

Brad Marchand has eight points in his last six games. He's also a plus-8, which goes nicely with his plus-25 from the regular season. At the age of 22 (23 next week) he is, statistically, a candidate for a sophomore slump. But you don't see any indication of that, do you? (I refer to a study I did last year that showed a clear trend towards a sophomore slumping if he is 21 years of age or older – just an indicator, not in stone)

Brian Boucher left with a hand injury last night, but returned for the third period. Bobrovsky's brief stint saw him stop six out of six.

Are the Capitals considering Varlamov? Or is this more head games?

For those casual fans of junior hockey and those in deeper leagues:

The WHL Final is down to Kootenay (featuring Cody Eakin, WAS; Brayden McNabb, BUF; Max Reinhart, CGY) vs. Portland (Nino Niederreiter, NYI; Ryan Johansen, CBJ; Brad Ross, TOR; Craig Cunningham, BOS)

The OHL Final is down to Mississauga (Maxim Kitsyn, LA; Devante Smith-Pelly, ANA; Casey Cizikas, NYI) vs. Owen Sound (Garrett Wilson, FLA – last week's player of the week; Joey Hishon, COL; Jesse Blacker, TOR; Scott Stajcer, NYR)

The QMJHL Final is down to Saint John (Jonathan Huberdeau, First Round this summer; Simon Despres, PIT; Jacob DeSerres, PHI; Stanislav Galiev, WAS) vs. the winner of Gatineau/Quebec (game tonight).

Gustav Wesslau, the Columbus goaltending prospect signed last year, has returned to Sweden where he will remain.

There's hints of Alex Burrows moving back to the Sedin line as the Canucks try to find their offense against the stifling Preds.

McQuaid – misses the check big time. And ouch. He left the game:

How hard was this shot? Think in terms of light beams (to quote NHL Slapshot):