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A lot of crucial games today to keep an eye on... Rangers vs Flyers @ 3:00 - We need the Flyers to get at least a point in this game to guarantee the pick from the Mrazek trade moves from a 4th to a 3rd. Lightning vs Hurricanes @ 7:00 - Lightning need to win this game to guarantee top spot in the East and a first round matchup vs the Devils, Flyers, or Panthers. Senators vs Bruins @ 7:00 - Bruins need to win this game to have a chance at top spot in the East. They would also have to gain another point on Tampa (either Lighning loss or Bruins win vs Panthers tomorrow). Canadiens vs Maple Leafs @ 7:00 - We need the Habs to get at least one point in this game to (temporarily) jump us in the standings. Sabres vs Panthers @ 7:00 - Panthers need to win this game to have a shot at making the playoffs. They would also need the Flyers to lose their afternoon game today in regulation and win their game tomorrow vs the Bruins. Devils vs Capitals @ 7:00 / Blue Jackets vs Predators @ 8:00 - These two games will determine which team plays the Caps or Pens in the first round. If the Jackets win, they're guaranteed to play 2nd seed Pens rather than top seed Caps. Probably not a good thing... Blues vs Avalanche @ 9:00 - This is probably the biggest game tonight. Whoever wins gets in (Avs must win in regulation). Ducks vs Coyotes @ 9:00 / Stars vs Kings @ 10:30 / Wild vs Sharks @ 10:30 - These three games determine who plays who first round. All three California teams can end up anywhere from 2nd seed, 3rd seed to wild card. Islanders vs Red Wings @ 7:00 - Wings need to lose in regulation, Habs to gain a point and Yotes to gain two to move down to 29th overall (3rd best lottery odds)...

Good news...

One point gained by the Flyers or one point lost by the Panthers and the 4th becomes a 3rd. Florida play the Sabres at home tomorrow, and the Bruins in Boston on Sunday. I really hope the Flyers beat the Rangers tomorrow though, so we don't have to worry about the last game on Sunday (assuming Florida beat Buffalo)...

3rd pick is near. It's 4:0 for the Flyers at the end of the 2nd.

Of course, but I also do remember that for the last few years it's been us talking about who will that opponent be in the first round that bounces us. Not to say that there isn't always a chance once you get in, but right now -- I'm focusing on our chances for a top pick and for other teams to make our conditional picks even better.

I'm not worried about this draft at all. Obviously, I would love to get Dahlin or even Svechnikov, but even if we pick 3-7, we are still getting a really good player. I would be thrilled with any of Boqvist, Hughes, Zadina, Tkachuk, Bouchard. And I don't see Holland going off board if any of those guys are available. Even better is the possibility that we could still snag a Veleno, Kupari, or Wilde with the second first rounder. No reason to trade up this year at all. I mean, I just wouldn't be that upset if we don't get Dahlin. We're still getting at least one, and probably 2 solid prospects. I'm stoked.

They pay tomorrow afternoon, hosting the Rangers. All they need is a point to clinch a postseason berth and turn that 4th into a 3rd. Brain Elliott's starting, but Mrazek's already won the number of games he needed to win for the 4th->3rd upgrade.

Winning this game will be the biggest insult to a terrible season

I'd completely forgotten that Draper won the Selke. (2003-04.) Isles look totally flat. Think they know Tavares is leaving? Pretty cool that Tavares gets to play his last game as an Isle against his new team -- and in their shiny new arena.

I wish I was wrong, I dont want to be right about this. A 2nd and a 3rd sounded great. I really thought after his start we had a chance at that.

THE ABSOLUTE MADMEN

Heard about this earlier tonight. Sad tragedy. It really puts forth a great argument for the use of seatbelts in buses. There are reasons why the MTO believes they aren’t needed or even somewhat dangerous to have in them, but I don’t buy it. Seems ridiculous in this day and age of strict transportation laws. If a bus gets hit hard enough by a semi that it flips, who knows where those people will end up or what will happen to them, like last nights injuries and deaths. At least strapped in their seats, there’s a greater chance of staying conscious and uninjured or at the very least, surviving.

Yep.

Hug and hold your children as tight as you can! I'm hundreds of miles away from mine right now, but I just got off the phone with them. Life can be extinguished in a second.

Somehow I always knew this is who you really were.

Not to mention the two high 2nds. Its going to be a good 4 picks!

I love Boqvist and would be absolutely thrilled if we got him. Every high-end Swedish D prospect gets compared to Erik Karlsson, but, to me, Boqvist is maybe the first case where the comparison is genuinely appropriate. Like, straight-up: he has all the tools and natural ability that a defenseman needs to become the next Karlsson. And it should be noted that he's only a month away from being eligible for next year's draft, so he's one of the youngest players in this draft class -- point being: he's an extremely promising prospect. He's going to need to get much stronger. And, like Karlsson, his defensive game leaves something to be desired. But you don't want a Karlsson for his defensive game, you want him for his offense. My only concern there is that he's probably more likely to become something like a second-pairing PP specialist than he is a bona fide cornerstone defenseman. Arguably a higher ceiling than Bouchard, but also arguably a lower floor. But if we're looking for someone who could, potentially, become a Karlsson/Doughty/Klingberg-caliber defenseman, Boqvist would be my pick.

There is really no reason to overpay for Howard just because they can. Sure we don't need the cap space right this second, but we will at some point. The team should be shedding cap over the next two to three years. A goalie in the interim can be had for cheaper than what we pay Howard right now.

https://twitter.com/GlobalJesus/status/982429711253958656?s=20 Horrible news coming out of the SJHL, sounds like there is fatalities but no numbers yet.

14 of these beautiful souls were taken from us. Please remember what is important in life and live it to its fullest! God Bless and RIP!