BlueMonk

Nobody here cared much for Helene Elliot last Spring, when she wrote some inflammatory comments about the Wings on the eve of the playoff series between the Wings and Ducks. Writers like her are a dime a dozen. They write to get a reaction. Not particularly worth reading, IMO. Occasionally, they'll write something you agree with. But their columns are less about stating their opinions than just inventing something to generate controversy.

Kronner had to hit him with his forearm. It's simple physics.

Kiprusoff is amazing. The guy just buckles down and becomes a wall at the most critical times. He's getting almost no support at all tonight, but he's kept his team in it with heroic goaltending. I said from the beginning that Dallas creates bizarre problems for Anaheim. I don't think they can sustain this for the length of the series, at least without Zubov, but they're going to make it very hard on Anaheim if nothing else. I don't really understand why the Stars match up so well with the Ducks. The Stars aren't the same kind of bruising team, but the more physical the Ducks get, the more it seems to play into Dallas' hands.

Well, tonight's game was a sellout. In case anyone is still wondering.

Tonight's game was a sellout. And the crowd was all fired up. Good times.

Wings were good but could be a lot better. And I think they will be. Winning game one is a huge relief. Franzen had a fantastic game. So did the Euro Twins, both of them. And Draper! He looked 10 years younger out there tonight. Hasek was good, too. GO WINGS!!!!

Predators 14, Red Wings 1 Despite winning a blowout on the road in a tough building, Predators winger Martin Erat sat dejected in the dressing room and wasn't in the mood for postgame discussion. Asked why he was so down, he replied, "My name is Erat. What kind of a f**king name is Erat? I hate my parents." Predators captain Jason Arnott looked distressed as he searched for his missing lucky towel, something he's kept in his locker since he won a Stanley Cup with the Devils. The lucky charm was located by teammate David Legwand, prompting a a relieved Arnott to ask where he found it. Legwand responded, "It was buried under a pile of dirty sweaters, next to Tootoo's class and Trotz's neck."

You really didn't pick up on the sarcasm in his post?

Playoff hockey rules.

John Kelly is screwing this up for me. I got the Flames-Sharks on TV and Wild-Avs on Center Ice Online, watching the television and trying to get cues when to glance at the computer when it sounds like something's about to happen. But Kelly isn't like normal play-by-play guys whose voices rise when there's a good scoring chance. He goes nuts all the time, whether anything's happening or not, so I got nothing to go by.

I want to see Lappy get his. Hopefully this turns into a rout and the play gets chippy so that can happen.

That's more like it!

Fridge! What's more surprising, that Fridge scored a PP goal, or that Fridge was ON the PP?

I never get tired of watching Colorado players take physical abuse.

I'm all for chants. The Joe doesn't have enough of them, and I agree, it's because it's a pricier ticket and an older crowd. If you sell cheap seats, you can get a rowdy bunch. The Pistons did this in 2004 when they won the title. The Palace was as loud as an arena gets then. It's not quite the same now, because the wine and cheese crowd has crept in and taken over. I try to make noise when I'm there and do my part. Don't want it to sound like it did in Minnesota tonight.

I think they'll get it together. They're too well coached and too disciplined to struggle for long.

If I'm a Sharks fan, I'm wondering if the hottest team in the league can possibly sustain that kind of success for another twenty some playoff games. They're bound to cool off at some point, and April/May/June are not ideal months for that to happen.

The crowd is quiet tonight. You can choose not to like that, but it doesn't change the fact that there's no life in the building.

Don't call me a dbag. It's been like that all game.

Anyone who wants to proclaim Minnesota the "new Hockeytown, USA" should get to know the crickets at Xcel Energy Center. I know they're there, because I CAN HEAR THEM.

He's a gamer, isn't he?

He sure did. These guys were the worst duo ever. And they're back together again. Brutal.

I'm watching Colorado-Minnesota and something is different. I'm picking up the Altitude feed and it takes me a while, but I finally figure out what it is: John Kelly is doing the play-by-play. Yes, that's right, Kelly of Kelly and McNab fame. He's the Blues guy now, right? Well, not today. Nor for the playoffs, apparently. Mike Haynes, their usual PBP guy, is out having major surgery. Kelly and McNab. Shoot me now.

I can't say enough about him. He's had a terrific season and he's one of the most exciting players in the league. The guy plays so hard at both ends. For someone so talented, he works his ass off. And for pure "wow factor," I can't think of anyone who has more than him.

Any article that cites a goaltender's save percentage for one period of play cannot be taken seriously.