Barrie

I don't know man, I doubt Ozzie's body can handle another 22 game playoff run. Plus we'll tighten up on D once the playoffs start, and Howard needs to get more playoff experience. Play the kid!

Wow! Really?

I'm not superstitious, so does that help?

All that help, and they still haven't made the playoffs since 2004 or won the Cup since 1967.

Also, what I don't get is, both hits by the Leafs that resulted in an injury, neither of them were called. That one on Rafalski could have been some kind of penalty.

How did that goal even count? Lupul hit Howard in the crease and then sat on him. That's allowed?... We get goals called back by only hitting a goalie in the pads with the stick.

I highly doubt anything will happen in Boston. If the Canadiens wants to do something they'll wait until they're back in Montreal. I don't say that to say the Canadiens are gutless, just makes more sense to do something with the crowd on your side. Why stir up the Boston fans when you don't have to? By the way, 3-0 Bruins.

Looking forward to watching the game, but not looking forward to listening to Pierre McGuire.

This is the problem I find when 16 teams make the playoffs, teams like ours with big leads, really have no huge motivation to play the last couple months of the season. All the league's attention right now is on the bottom two playoff spots, seeing which .500 teams make the playoffs, only to most likely get beat out in the first round anyway. Right now we're just killing time for the playoffs.

I got in here late, I was at the game last night, great atmosphere! I counted today, that was my 14th trip to the Joe and that was BY FAR the loudest and best crowd I've ever been a part of at any sporting event I've been to! To bad the shootout ruins such great games. It's almost a shame either team has to lose. I never had a problem with ties. Just a comment on the "Crosby Sucks" chant, loved it! I was in section 217A, and after the Wings cut the lead to 4-3, the section to the right of mine started a "Pittsburgh Sucks" chant, and it changed to "Crosby Sucks". I don't know if people thought it was classless, but in reality, who are we hurting? We're just having fun. Anyway, over all great game and night. When Modano scored to tie it, not only did I stand up to cheer, I also jumped as high as a I could and I'm sure I was one of 20,066 who did! I have a 3 hour drive to Detroit for games, so the game was well worth not getting to bed until 2:30am and being tired at work all day today. So glad I was at the game and didn't have to hear Pierre on TV.

Here's an article on what the NHL is doing in regards to concussions. crickets chirping Sorry, couldn't resist.

I'll be in section 217A, I'll see what I can do... Edit: Maybe I should make a t-shirt that's says, "Crosby's hurt so Bettman Sucks?" My friend and I have aisle seats too! I would help out with a "Matt Cooke sucks" chant. Maybe 2nd period we can do that, and switch to Bettman for the 3rd? If that's the case, I'll fit Cooke on there with Bettman. I'll go to Wal-Mart this weekend and grab a cheap white t-shirt that I can write on. I'm planning on being there for warmups.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJvY2WjIbLM Looks like Bettman's 5 point plan is working! Edit: Both deliberate hits to the head, and both guys should have got 10 games and "strike 1" of a "3 strikes you're out don't deliberately hit people in the head" plan.

I heard today on the FAN590 in Toronto there's 72 reported concussions so far this year in the NHL, that's about 10% of the league. Also the host said on average, every 10 years everyone playing in the league will have a concussion. Wow!

I think the Leafs take it with Kessel and Phaneuf. Yea there's nothing wrong with Franzen's contract.

Good stuff, have fun! I'm 3 hours from Dee, so I'm driving there and back in the same day. Gonna call my friend tomorrow to set up details, but I'd like to leave about 2:00pm and get back at 2:00am. It'll be a long day of work on Tuesday, but so worth it! I have decided not to wear my Crosby Sucks t-shirt on Monday. As much as I find Cindy annoying, and wanted to wear it at The Joe, I'm rooting for that dude to make it back... Edit: Then I'll wear my Crosby Sucks t-shirt I was thinking a Bettman Sucks chant may be a great replacement. I bought those tickets to say someone sucks!

I'm a snob, I'm at least waiting until the Conference Finals to get tickets

Sounds like a plan!

Hey Dats, rest up on the weekend and be in there against Pittsburgh! I'll be at that game

Owners back Gary Bettman with 5-year contract extension Wow, I guess this was done in November, but wasn't reported until today. I've had enough of this guy. I think when the Red Wings start their decline (whenever that is), I'm focusing more attention on Baseball.

Why is this even a debate by the media and NHL? Heatley knowingly elbowed a guy in the head (and I don't care if it's Ott), yes he should get a suspension! Start with 10 or more games for this stuff, and set up a "3 strikes you're out" plan. But typical NHL will just give him a game or two and it'll happen again, in a different city by a different player, in the next couple of days. Call me crazy, but this stuff HAS to stop! I don't want to see anyone get a concussion, and I especially don't want to see our Red Wings players get concussion. We're lucky Stuart ONLY got a broken jaw. Also imagine if Crosby or Hall was Datsyuk or Zetterberg instead? Bettman has zero chance at a TV deal if he allows head hunting to continue, and his 5 point plan is a complete joke! All he needs is one point, "Don't hit people in the head!!".

There should be no hits to the head at all. How come the NFL can ban head shots and the NHL can't? Also I think fighting is a 1970's thing. There's no need for it. Again, why can you fight in hockey and not in the other sports? Just like other sports, if you fight, you're out of the game. The issue here is concussions, head hits and fighting causes concussions. Both should be eliminated. If the NHL doesn't address concussions seriously, like I said, they're going to face huge lawsuits. Look at this public outcry from the Chara hit, it's just the beginning of what could happen.

So there's still no plan to try and eliminate head shots all together? Also the League is still ok with fighting and goons after what Probert's brain showed us? Why am I not surprised? The NHL needs to take head shots and concussions seriously because after this public outcry from Chara/Pacioretty incident, I think they're only one more big hit and concussion away from a huge lawsuit on their hands. The NHL will have a difficult time defending themselves in court too because they really aren't addressing head shots. Bettman and the Owners continue to run the league into the ground!

There's so much negativity right now with concussions and teams going bankrupt, and they re-up this guys for 5 more years!? Other than the Red Wings, add to that the Tigers getting better, I really don't have a reason to watch hockey games.

The more negative press the NHL gets the better. I hope this story continues, and more companies like Air Canada say they'll pull marketing $$ if the game doesn't get cleaned up. The NHL needs a major overall, so bring on more stories like this!