Well, there is Eric Staal, who quickly became a superstar this season. The Canes also have some old guys that might have something left in the tank - Weight & Recchi. Plus, they have Cory Stillmun, though I don't know how bad he is injured. Ray Whitney is pretty decent, as well.

I don't know a whole lot about their defense. They have Cam Ward in net right now, and he's playing pretty well.

The Canes are a good team, but I have a good feeling about this Sabres team. They just seem to find a way to win. They'll need to be a little more physical than they were against Ottawa, but after beating the Sens, I like the Sabres chances against anyone. Sabres in 6.

Canes are stacked upfront. The blueline is a question that'll come into play vs Buffalo. It was the Devils question mark too so the Canes have gotten this far without it being a major issue. That & a GM who hadn't been a head coach in 20 years & that was back in the NCAA to me is what cost the Devils. Because that was one of the better forward units the Devils have put on the ice. Patrik Elias is an UFA this Summer 16 points & a +5 in 9 playoff games = beaucoup bucks. Good luck Lou.

Buffalo has got a ton of key guys up for new contracts so I picked them to make it to the Eastern Conf Finals. I just expected an upset to withold them from playing the Sens this early (or at all) but I'm not shocked they beat them, it's the Sens & this is the playoffs. Buffalo's forwards gave Alfie issues holding the point all series so why in OT of an elimination game is he out there on the point? I think that falls more into Bryan Murray's fault than Alfie's. Just like Babcock refusing to juggle the lines in Detroit or throw Yzerman out there at the end when he had been his teams best player all game, both coaches were too blinded by what worked in the regular season to make the changes to save thier teams in the postseason. Say what you want about Jacques Martin's defensive system when he was in Ottawa, but he rolled 4 lines & defered responsibilty to his depth players. Other than Pittsburgh when they still had Palffy, Mario & Recchi no one leaned on their top 6 fowards more than Ottawa & I think it cost them. Look at Buffalo & Anaheim, they both roll their whole rosters & that's who I'm guessing we'll see in the Finals. And it's not like the Sens don't have the depth.

I don't think Alfie's the one who's gone. Chara & Redden both had mediocre series & are both UFA's. I expect both of them to get great offers on the open market. Havlat is an UFA in '07 but is a RFA this Summer with arbitration rights so if Ottawa can come to an agreement with 1 or both of those blueliners Havlat might be trade bait to save salary.

Thank God for Edmonton & San Jose for giving us a real series. Not this 4 or 5 game crap. Imagine if the refs had called that interferance penalty on Cheechoo for stealing Stoll's stick in game 2, this would've been a 5 game series. Too bad it wasn't San Jose fans wouldn't have had a chance to show thier lack of class & boo the Canadian national anthem. I hate that we have to wait till Wednesday for game 6.

The thing I never understand about hockey games is how a team can be up 3-1 in a series and then lose a game 5-1, followed by winning the series the next night. Is it different starting line-ups? The switching of goalies? Laziness on the part of the team with the upper-hand. I just never have understood how that happens.

Regardless of who gets through between San Jose and Edmonchuck, there's nothing but great skating teams left. These semi-finals should be some of the best playoff hockey in years.


Yeh - and I think the Edmonton response is gonna be equally ugly. I hope they take the high road, but I suspect we're gonna see an anthem boo-war from here on in.

I think it's a mental thing. In the case of the Canes/Devils, the Devils were running on adrenaline, which carries them in the first period, if the goalie has any kind of an off night/period and the team down 3-0 gets an early lead, then the team up probably mentally shuts it down since they have 3 more chances to close them out. Guaranteed, if Ward keeps the 'Canes in the game in the first period, it's a very different result in game 4.

I live in Ottawa, but I'm not a Sens fan. You should hear the annual gnashing of teeth here. This year it seems even worse, because in years past Martin and Bonk and Lalime would get all the blame, but with these guys all gone (particularly Jacques Martin) there's a lot of "gut the team" talk. The word here is that Chara is gone and Redden will be back because The Sabres exposed Chara as big and slow and not built for the "new" NHL. There is a lot of "trade Alfie" sentiment here or at least strip him of the C. Personally I think you keep Alfie and try to get some veteran, cup/winning experience around him. I still think that they have never addressed their real problem...weakness up the middle. Spezza is a soft player, who will never be willing to pay the price to lead a team to cup as a number-1 centre, and having Heatley on his wing sure don't help. Fisher is a great 2-way player, but not a #2 centre. They really haven't addressed the C-ice position since trading Yashin. They should have gotten Nieuwendyk last year, this year they should probably make a play for Brad Richards (UFA & Conn Smythe winner), though I'm hoping that the Habs can get him to come and play with fellow maritimer Michael Ryder, the same way they should have tried to get Teemu Selanne to come and play with Koivu.



I guess San Jose is getting a taste of the playoff-Joe Thornton, that made Boston's management think he was expendable. He's been out-played by the much smaller, much guttsier Saku Koivu in playoffs past and now he's getting bested by guys like Sean Horcoff and Mike Peca.

Edmonton fans did a good job...cheering loudly all the way through the American anthem. Still kinda disrespectful, but with a sense of humour.

Looking forward to an excellent game tonight

Edmonton was looking pretty good killing that 5 on 3.

YESSSSSS!

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Ex Lion Tamer- Is there any truth to the rumour that Chara broke a bone in his hand in a fight vs Eric "Healthy Scratch" Cairns in March? Seems to me that would explain a lot, where as Phillips & Redden just straight dissapeared. You're right about Center that organisation seems determined to be stacked at RW & okay at everyother forward spot.

That is the word, but no one has confirmed it and Chara didn't want to comment.

Muckler's news conference was of no comfort to fans calling for changes. Basically rather than getting character guys with experience, he wants to build that character/experience from within. Believe it or not he left the door open for a return next year of Hasek.

Well you don't want Muckler to panic & do a Sundin for Wendel Clark type deal and end up dumping Havlat for Marty Lapointe. If FLA loses Jokinen to unrestricted free agency then Muckler has to shop Havlat to them in a package for Loungo. Of course it would only make sense if they could tie up Havlat to a multi (like Hossa) & Loungo would come down from his demands. But I think when offered to chance to leave FLA for Ottawa Loungo would come down a bit. I just think leaning on Hasek again is risky. Too much baggage & too many birthdays.

But it does seem to me they lack that Brind'Amour, Ryan Smyth, Chris Drury type to pick it up this time of year.

Jokinen already signed with Florida, just before the trade deadline. They definitely need a player like the one's you mentioned to help their forwards and Havlat seems to be their best trade-bait. Peca would have been a good fit, plus he played his junior hockey here. I heard someone mention Marc Savard, who is also from this area, and he might be a good fit too.

Bite your tongue about Luongo, The Habs (I hope) have their eye on him. If he doesn't sign long term, I'm thinking Aebischer, Bouillon and a conditional pick....

I haven't been watching the playoffs much lately, but I'm sitting here watching the start of the Hurricanes/Sabres series and was wondering who that guy with the red afro is from Carolina.
Any hardcore NHL fans know? I missed his number and can't recognize him from the roster pictures now they have their playoff beards.

anybody see rolo's pass last night topeca? incredible.

and nowbuffalo upone.

Mike Commodore is the ginger with the afro. I found it out watching the game.

Oilers baby!

I can't believe they're getting away with going into a 3rd period shell & the Ducks aren't making them pay. 2 goals in 2 games. The Oilers are shutting the Ducks down better than Calgary. Or maybe the kids are having trouble turning it back on after 8 days off. Penner is the only kid who's looked better in this series than before. Lupul is only visible heading to the penalty box after scoring 6 goals vs the Av's. Carlye has shortened the bench but he left Friesen out in the cold with 2 short & decent sized shift in the 3rd. Not that I'm a Friesen fan, but he has scored more goals than anyone on the roster in the postseason other than Selanne & Lupul, he has scored in this series & he is a vet with his name on the Cup.

Sabres looked awesome Saturday. Tonite should be interesting. I want the 'Canes but at this point I think it's the Sabres Cup to lose.

In other news Crawford & the Kings made it official. Richards & Tampa agreed to a 5 year deal.

Buffalo is leading 4-2 in the 2nd. As it is now, I'd probably take Buffalo over Edmonton in the Cup Finals, but it will be an interesting series if the Sabres end up winning this one.

awesome game tonite. Buffalo looked unfreakinstoppable there in the second. Carolina made it interesting.

I guess I missed all the excitement last nite. saw the 1st, listened to the third on the radio & then came out from some amazing Cuban food to hear I missed an 8 goal 3rd. At least the Oilers pulled it out. Ducks are blowing it big time. Edmonton clearly isn't 100% with this flu bug

Gigure sucks. If the Ducks have any hope of winning this game they better put Bryzaoliuywfvdx;.owugvd;uocdgb back in

BRIERE IN OT!!!!!!! GAME 7 BABY!!!!!!

LETS GO BUFF-A-LO! clap clap clapclapclap

That was one hell of a game

Game 7. This is the game of games right here tonite. Winner hosts game 1 Monday & has to be favored over Edmonton. Loser .... golf.

this sounds like red's roommate. he is a maniac. and if he forgets to take his crazy pills, forget it - the guy will be bouncing off the walls.

If the Sabres don't win the Cup, I might be looking for a new place to live since my roommate will probably explode.

He bought $3500 worth of tickets to these play-off games for his parents who reside in Buffalo. That's some loyalty right there.

Now McKee is questionable for the game tonight. Just too many losses on defence for Buffalo to overcome...Too bad!