<p>Yes, I agree about the East. Bruins fans don’t watch any other teams, with the possible exception of Montreal. They think the B’s are the baddest, toughest outfit who can intimidate any team. They don’t realize the Western teams are actually larger on the whole and the game, particularly in the playoffs, is more brutal. </p>
<p>But the B’s have a lot of skill now. Their weakness is, I think, mostly on defense; they have younger players back there and also guys like Krug, who is offensively skilled but small. In the playoffs, you draw smaller defensemen into the corners and beat the heck out of them. The forwards need to maintain discipline. But the B’s have 3 solid lines and many fewer injuries than nearly all the other teams. That last point may be the biggest.</p>
<p>The B’s may have amassed a glittering record against the midgets of the East, but against the Kings, Sharks, Hawks, Ducks, Avs and Blues they are an unimpressive 6-6. </p>
<p>I’m going to root for the Ducks because the Caps blew it when they canned Boudreau three years ago and the Caps have floundered about ever since. I guess I’m not getting playoff tickets for Mother’s Day this year, either. :(</p>
<p>S2 would disown me if I cheered for Boston, He went to a Caps vs. Bruins playoff game a couple years ago in Boston Garden. Wore his Caps jersey. Good thing he’s 6’4", former football player, a generally collegial guy and was too young to drink at the game. He got a lot of ribbing.</p>
<p>Bruins/WIngs: Detroit for the upset
Pens/Jackets: Pens. Will make it to Stanley Cup Final and be squashed by Western team.
Ning/Canadiens: Tampa. Who cares.
Rangers/Flyers: Rangers. Eh.</p>
<p>Ducks/Stars: Stars
Avs/Wild: Avs. Avs are overrated but are still better than Wild. Plus, the Wild are dull.
Blues/Hawks: Hawks; Blues are too injured
Sharks/Kings: Sharks defeat the evil ones from the southland</p>
<p>All in 6.</p>
<p>My son and I have been arguing over who to root for in the Anaheim/Dallas matchup, given that as Sharks fans we are contractually obligated to hate both the Stars and any team from Southern California. His trenchant argument, “Tim Thomas is a Star,” made me realize I must (ugh) root for the Ducks temporarily. </p>
<p>I hope the Avalanche do well since it’s been awhile since they’ve made the playoffs. 4 straight years of high draft picks have really helped build the team. Similar to Penquins situation a few years ago.
Colorado youth and adult hockey programs grew rapidly when the Av’s won the cup the first year they were in Colorado (1996) then again in 2001. Plus another Stanley Cup would help us forget the last Super Bowl!</p>
<p>That reminds me, bevhills. You have previously said that your daughter works for the Kings organization, and I wanted to say that I commiserate. Children don’t always do what we want them to, even though we raise them right, and just because your daughter has gone astray temporarily doesn’t mean you’re a bad parent. There’s a good chance that she will come to her senses at some point and take a more respectable job-- like piracy on the high seas or spam emailing.</p>
<p>Fang: Yes one of my daughters does work for the Kings. It is Mr. Ellebud who went off the track. Except for childhood show business HE went off the track. They rest of the family…we all bask in the glory of show business or sports business. Sad but true… </p>
<p>And we eat our kale salads with quinoa we will be cheering on the Kings. Harumph!</p>
<p>mmm…Varlamov (the Caps goalie who got away) would be a good reason to cheer for the Avs…
Am I bitter about the Caps not making the playoffs (not that they deserved to this year) – nah!</p>
<p>Two pretty exciting games so far tonight. Penguins come back from a 3-1 deficit to win 4-3. Montreal and Tampa Bay in OT in a high scoring game with the Habs outshooting then 43-21 so far. Price has not been at his finest. </p>