The Official 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs Thread

[Suburban Rhythm]

2013 EASTERN CONFERENCE QUARTERFINALS
SERIES A	TIME (ET)	#1 vs. #8	Networks
Wednesday, May 1, 2013	7:30 p.m.	NY Islanders at Pittsburgh	NBCSN, TSN
Friday, May 3, 2013	7 p.m.	NY Islanders at Pittsburgh	NBCSN, TSN
Sunday, May 5, 2013	12 p.m.	Pittsburgh at NY Islanders	NBC, TSN
Tuesday, May 7, 2013	7 p.m.	Pittsburgh at NY Islanders	NBCSN, TSN
*Thursday, May 9, 2013	7 p.m.	NY Islanders at Pittsburgh	TSN
*Saturday, May 11, 2013	TBD	Pittsburgh at NY Islanders	TSN
*Sunday, May 12, 2013	TBD	NY Islanders at Pittsburgh	TSN
SERIES B	TIME (ET)	#2 vs. #7	Networks
Thursday, May 2, 2013	7 p.m.	Ottawa at Montreal	CNBC, CBC, RDS
Friday, May 3, 2013	7 p.m.	Ottawa at Montreal	CNBC, CBC, RDS
Sunday, May 5, 2013	7 p.m.	Montreal at Ottawa	NBCSN, CBC, RDS
Tuesday, May 7, 2013	7 p.m.	Montreal at Ottawa	CNBC, CBC, RDS
*Thursday, May 9, 2013	7 p.m.	Ottawa at Montreal	CBC, RDS
*Saturday, May 11, 2013	TBD	Montreal at Ottawa	CBC, RDS
*Sunday, May 12, 2013	TBD	Ottawa at Montreal	CBC, RDS
SERIES C	TIME (ET)	#3 vs. #6	Networks
Thursday, May 2, 2013	7:30 p.m.	NY Rangers at Washington	NBCSN, TSN
Saturday, May 4, 2013	12:30 p.m.	NY Rangers at Washington	NBC, TSN
Monday, May 6, 2013	7:30 p.m.	Washington at NY Rangers	NBCSN, TSN
Wednesday, May 8, 2013	7:30 p.m.	Washington at NY Rangers	NBCSN, TSN
*Friday, May 10, 2013	7:30 p.m.	NY Rangers at Washington	TSN
*Sunday, May 12, 2013	TBD	Washington at NY Rangers	TSN
*Monday, May 13, 2013	TBD	NY Rangers at Washington	TSN
SERIES D	TIME (ET)	#4 vs. #5	Networks
Wednesday, May 1, 2013	7 p.m.	Toronto at Boston	CNBC, CBC, RDS
Saturday, May 4, 2013	7 p.m.	Toronto at Boston	CNBC, CBC, RDS
Monday, May 6, 2013	7 p.m.	Boston at Toronto	NHLN-US, CBC, RDS
Wednesday, May 8, 2013	7 p.m.	BOSTON AT TORONTO	NHLN-US, CBC, RDS
*Friday, May 10, 2013	7 P.M.	TORONTO AT BOSTON	CBC, RDS
*Sunday, May 12, 2013	TBD	BOSTON AT TORONTO	CBC, RDS
*Monday, May 13, 2013	TBD	TORONTO AT BOSTON	CBC, RDS
2013 WESTERN CONFERENCE QUARTERFINALS
SERIES E	TIME (ET)	#1 vs. #8	Networks
Tuesday, April 30, 2013	8 p.m.	Minnesota at Chicago	NBCSN, CBC
Friday, May 3, 2013	9:30 p.m.	Minnesota at Chicago	NBCSN, CBC
Sunday, May 5, 2013	3 p.m.	Chicago at Minnesota	NBC, CBC
Tuesday, May 7, 2013	9:30 p.m.	Chicago at Minnesota	NBCSN, CBC
*Thursday, May 9, 2013	TBD	Minnesota at Chicago	CBC
*Saturday, May 11, 2013	TBD	Chicago at Minnesota	CBC
*Sunday, May 12, 2013	TBD	Minnesota at Chicago	CBC
SERIES F	TIME (ET)	#2 vs. #7	Networks
Tuesday, April 30, 2013	10:30 p.m.	Detroit at Anaheim	NBCSN, TSN
Thursday, May 2, 2013	10 p.m.	Detroit at Anaheim	NBCSN, TSN
Saturday, May 4, 2013	7:30 p.m.	Anaheim at Detroit	NBCSN, TSN
Monday, May 6, 2013	8 p.m.	Anaheim at Detroit	CNBC, TSN
*Wednesday, May 8, 2013	10 p.m.	Detroit at Anaheim	TSN
*Friday, May 10, 2013	TBD	Anaheim at Detroit	TSN
*Sunday, May 12, 2013	TBD	Detroit at Anaheim	TSN
SERIES G	TIME (ET)	#3 vs. #6	Networks
Wednesday, May 1, 2013	10:30 p.m.	San Jose at Vancouver	NBCSN, TSN
Friday, May 3, 2013	10 p.m.	San Jose at Vancouver	CNBC, TSN
Sunday, May 5, 2013	10 p.m.	Vancouver at San Jose	NBCSN, TSN
Tuesday, May 7, 2013	10 p.m.	Vancouver at San Jose	CNBC, TSN
*Thursday, May 9, 2013	10 p.m.	San Jose at Vancouver	TSN
*Saturday, May 11, 2013	TBD	Vancouver at San Jose	TSN
*Monday, May 13, 2013	TBD	San Jose at Vancouver	TSN
SERIES H	TIME (ET)	#4 vs. #5	Networks
Tuesday, April 30, 2013	8 p.m.	Los Angeles at St. Louis	CNBC, CBC
Thursday, May 2, 2013	9:30 p.m.	Los Angeles at St. Louis	CNBC, CBC
Saturday, May 4, 2013	10 p.m.	St. Louis at Los Angeles	NBCSN, CBC
Monday, May 6, 2013	10 p.m.	St. Louis at Los Angeles	NBCSN, CBC
*Wednesday, May 8, 2013	TBD	Los Angeles at St. Louis	CBC
*Friday, May 10, 2013	TBD	St. Louis at Los Angeles	CBC
*Monday, May 13, 2013	TBD	Los Angeles at St. Louis	CBC

[Chief Rum]

Looking forward to this tons as usual, although I hate that the Ducks ended up with the Wings.

[Honolulu_Blue]

Originally Posted by Chief Rum

Looking forward to this tons as usual, although I hate that the Ducks ended up with the Wings.

I am not thrilled the Wings are playing the Ducks either. I have seen enough of Anaheim in the playoffs and I so very much hate these 10/10:30 pm EST starts. (Yay, Eastern Conference!). That said, given the Wings needed to get a possible 7 out of 8 points in their last four games to even make the playoffs and if they hadn't gotten all 8 of 8 points their prize would have been a first round match up against the Blackhaws, I am very much looking forward to playing the Ducks!

The Wings finally seem to have found some line combinations that have been clicking. Their bottom six have played really well the last week or so and Datsyuk and Zetterberg have been great. Zetterberg had 10 points over those last four games. Howard has been fantastic and the defense solidified. I've really liked that Eaves-Emmerton-Tootoo and Nyquist-Andersson-Brunner bring. If Franzen can remain hot then the second line is a threat and if Zetterberg and Datsyuk can keep it up the first line will be great. Hopefully, it will continue to be very hard for Samuelsson and Bertuzzi to get back in the line-up.

It’s a totally different feeling going into the playoffs this year. Instead of an old team trying to hang on to glory and make one last run, they are a younger team just scrapping to get in.

While it’s not always (rarely?) the case that momentum carries over from the regular season to the playoffs, the Wings have been playing very well.

As for the playoffs…

I think Chicago and Pittsburgh are probably the favorites. I am not sure what the status of Sidney Crosby is. He still hasn’t come back from that broken jaw. If he does come back, Pittsburgh should be the favorite out East. The Bruins looked poised to be dangerous, but have faltered of late. The Rangers could be dangerous, but they have consistently failed in the playoffs. I kind of look at them like San Jose East. Until they actually do something in the playoffs, I just can’t get behind them. The surging Capitols should be fun. I am disappointed that the Bruins spoiled a Montreal/Toronto series, but Bruins/Toronto should be fun.

In the West it’s Chicago and then everyone else. It really hasn’t even been close.

[Logan]

I can't believe I have to wait until Thursday, especially after initially hearing possibly Tuesday but likely Wednesday for the NYR-WAS series to kick off. And I find it very weird that they set up all the Eastern series to have potential back to back Games 6 and 7. The one that is in the West seems to be the closest matchup geographically.

This is the 4th time in 5 seasons that the Rangers and Caps will match up in the playoffs. While Ovechkin is playing on another level, the Rangers defense (specifically Girardi) has handled him well recently. I hope we're in his head a bit. Carlson will probably hurt us but I think the key, as expected, is staying out of the box. Hopefully Marc Staal can be back soon.

[finketr]

I'm looking forward to all those 10/10.30 eastern start times.

Oh wait, that's 7/7.30 for me out here on the left coast.

[Suburban Rhythm]

Anyone interested in a playoff fantasy league again?

I'd be in...I'd even run it in Excel

Problem is, I am blocked from ESPN values (at work), that we've used in prior years, and won't have time most likely to get to tonight, and games start tomorrow

[The Jackal]

Sigh.

[Wolfpack]

I'm waiting for ML to show up and tell us all who should win. That way I don't have to stay up for those 10-10:30 games in the Western Conference.

[The Jackal]

I've been drinking so:

Pens over Isles in 5
Habs over Sens in 7
Rangers over Caps in 6
Bruins over Maple Leafs in 5

Pens over Rangers in 5
Bruins over Habs in 6

Bruins over Pens in 7

Hawks over Wild in 4
Ducks over Wings in 5
Canucks over Sharks in 5
Kings over Blues in 7

Kings over Hawks in 7
Ducks over Canucks in 6

Ducks over Kings in 7

Bruins over Ducks in 6

[The Jackal]

And let's go 1.5% chance (I'm a flyers fan) at seth jones!

[The Jackal]

Originally Posted by The Jackal

And let's go 1.5% chance (I'm a flyers fan) at seth jones!

damn you colorado!

[Young Drachma]

Gotta find a bandwagon hockey team for this playoffs, since the Devils are on vacation.

[Young Drachma]

Originally Posted by The Jackal

And let's go 1.5% chance (I'm a flyers fan) at seth jones!

Hadn't though about the Seth Jones sweepstakes. I'm suddenly far more interested in having missed the playoffs. Even though we won't end up with that high a pick obviously.

[Suburban Rhythm]

Originally Posted by Young Drachma

Gotta find a bandwagon hockey team for this playoffs, since the Devils are on vacation.

Pittsburgh welcomes you with open arms. We're full of bandwagoners anyway!

[Young Drachma]

Originally Posted by Suburban Rhythm

Pittsburgh welcomes you with open arms. We're full of bandwagoners anyway!

Part of me would be on the Pens bandwagon because I'm a huge Iggy fan...but I don't think I can root for the Pens. Would love to see Iggy hoist the Cup and would take solace in it if it happened.

But probably as I look at it now, I'd go Blues, Sharks and Maple Leafs. Maybe the Habs 4th.

NHL Draft Lottery 2013: Live Blog, Analysis and Instant Reaction

BY TYLER DONOHUE (FEATURED COLUMNIST) ON APRIL 29, 2013 9,027 reads 4
Use your ← → (arrow) keys to browse more storiesNext
Many consider 18-year-old defenseman Seth Jones a virtual lock at No. 1.
Bruce Bennett/Getty Images
The NHL draft lottery is underway! The event could ultimately shape the outlook for various organizations in years to come.

Each of the 14 lottery teams are eligible to acquire the No. 1 overall selection in the 2013 NHL amateur draft. Last season, the Edmonton Oilers vaulted the Columbus Blue Jackets on top of the draft board to claim the top pick.

A 2013 regular season defined by uncertainty and surprises immediately shifts into an equally unpredictable draft lottery. Stay tuned right here for the latest lottery developments, along with reaction and insight from hockey's top analysts.

Updates will load automatically - no need to refresh.
8:48 PM ET
Many anticipated this NHL draft lottery more than those in the past because of its new possibilities. All 14 teams had an opportunity to walk away with the top overall selection.

Instead of insanity, the lottery was a lot more status quo. Aside from the Avalanche (18.8 percent chance to land No. 1 pick) jumping Florida (25 percent), things stayed as originally pegged.

Here are the official results:

1. Colorado Avalanche

2. Florida Panthers

3. Tampa Bay Lightning

4. Nashville Predators

5. Carolina Hurricanes

6. Calgary Flames

7. Edmonton Oilers

8. Buffalo Sabres

9. New Jersey Devels

10. Dallas Stars

11. Philadelphia Flyers

12. Phoenix Coyotes

13. Winnipeg Jets

14. Columbus Blue Jackets

Also, not pleased the Avs got the 1st pick. That means I have to root against Jones when he ends up in Denver. At least he'd be close to watch if I'm still stuck out here.

[Suburban Rhythm]

Games beginning tonight, so...


These Islanders remind me a lot of the 2007 Penguins that, after a series of lean years, finally made the playoffs...and promptly got steamrolled by Ottawa, who went to the SCF. Penguins won 1 game in that series. I'll give the Islanders 2. Penguins in 6

I look at Ottawa's roster, and don't understand how they've won. But nobody expected Montreal to be here either. Both struggled towards the end of the year. Habs in 7

Capitals came out of nowhere the 2nd half of the season. Is that the real Washington team, or was the first 20 games of the season? Rangers underachieved, and Lundqvist is a difference maker in a short series. I think NYR is the worst matchup for Ovi. Rangers in 7

Bruins struggled at the end of the year. Toronto, maybe a little like the Isles, just happy to be here. Bruins depth eventually wears down Leafs. Bruins in 6

With only conference play this season, I didn't see a whole lot of the West

Chicago is just too deep for Minnesota. Can't see anything here unless Backstrom can win 4 1-0 games. Of course said LA had no shot last year too. Blackhawks in 5

Anaheim is Montreal West...don't think many people had them finishing this well. Detroit is an underdog in the first time...forever. Ducks in 6

The two teams who disappoint every year...someone has to make round 2. I think the window closed on SJ, while there is a small chance for the Nucks. Not to the level of the gong show Pens-Flyers was last year, but this seems the most likely to be the series where goofy shit happens. Canucks in 7

Expecting this to be the roughest first round matchup. Tons of big bodies, plus the Blues style suggests low scoring, grinding games. When in doubt, the defending champs get the nod until proven otherwise. Kings in 6

[RomaGoth]

Excited to see if the Wings can carry their momentum of the last week and a half into this series with Anaheim. If so, look out. If not, at least we kept the playoff streak alive. Should be a great series.

[MizzouRah]

Let's GO BLUES!!!

[SackAttack]

God damnit Colorado. 1996 wasn't enough? You've gotta steal our #1 pick, too?

[SackAttack]

Just for that I'm rooting for the Wings in these playoffs, Colorado.

[Honolulu_Blue]

Originally Posted by SackAttack

Just for that I'm rooting for the Wings in these playoffs, Colorado.

Tally ho!

[SackAttack]

hey look retroactive sig change

[Honolulu_Blue]

Originally Posted by SackAttack

hey look retroactive sig change

Paul Laus would be proud!

[Maple Leafs]

What... what is this place?

[SackAttack]

Originally Posted by Honolulu_Blue

Paul Laus would be proud!

There's a name I haven't heard in years.

Wonder what Brian Skrudland is up to these days.

[Danny]

A blues loss would be a killer for them here, I like the kings chances if they can pull this one out.

[The Jackal]

Are there seriously two OT games going on right now? Awesome. Stay on a little longer so I can tune in when I finish wrapping up work.

[Danny]

Damn, kings had the momentum and give up a short hander at the start of a 4 minute power play

[The Jackal]

Of course they both ended

[Coffee Warlord]

Boom! Hawks win!

[bhlloy]

Give up being the operative word, Bernier for game 2?

[The Jackal]

Originally Posted by bhlloy

Give up being the operative word, Bernier for game 2?

I was just about to say that's rash considering the scoreline, then i saw the game winner

[Danny]

Originally Posted by bhlloy

Give up being the operative word, Bernier for game 2?

Quick was stellar all game and is the guy.

[The Jackal]

Originally Posted by Danny

Quick was stellar all game and is the guy.

[insert philadelphia media driven goalie controversy story]

[somewhere bryzgalov scoffs]

[MizzouRah]

Oh baby! What a finish! GO BLUES!!!

[PurdueBrad]

Go 'Guins!!

[RomaGoth]

Wow. Islanders showing why they missed the playoffs every year since fire was discovered (or at least when Ken Morrow was a wee lad).

[The Jackal]

Originally Posted by PurdueBrad

Go 'Guins!!

Boo. Hissss. Boo. (hides from girlfriend)

[Suburban Rhythm]

Originally Posted by RomaGoth

Wow. Islanders showing why they missed the playoffs every year since fire was discovered (or at least when Ken Morrow was a wee lad).

Like I said above, they remind me of the 07 Penguins. Their best players are all very young, and Tavares is really good, but not ready for this.

That 07 team lost to Ottawa in 5.

[The Jackal]

Originally Posted by Suburban Rhythm

Like I said above, they remind me of the 07 Penguins. Their best players are all very young, and Tavares is really good, but not ready for this.

That 07 team lost to Ottawa in 5.

It's just one game though, the Isles have the speed to keep up with the Pens. Still, I picked the Pens in five and I doubt it goes beyond that.

[RomaGoth]

I love all the cheap shit from the Ducks with the game nearly out of reach. I still say Boudreau is the most overrated coach in the history of the NHL. (No offense Chief Rum)

Selanne, though, is fun to watch. The NHL will miss him when he finally retires.

[Danny]

So far blues winning the games that the kings did last year.

[RomaGoth]

Wow, a 4-1 lead has evaporated.

[RomaGoth]

Originally Posted by RomaGoth

Wow, a 4-1 lead has evaporated.

A complete fucking meltdown by the Wings in the 3rd. Blowing a 4-1 lead they deserve to lose this game. This is where they are really missing Lidstrom.

[fantom1979]

Watching the Wings game while doing other crap around the house thinking that the game was just about over. Oops.

[RomaGoth]

Wow. The Wings somehow managed to pull this one out on a goal from Nyquist in OT. They needed this one badly. Going back to Detroit with the series at 1-1.

[bhlloy]

Damn. That was one of the most fun games I have ever been to. I can't talk now, let alone tomorrow at work

[Honolulu_Blue]

Originally Posted by bhlloy

Damn. That was one of the most fun games I have ever been to. I can't talk now, let alone tomorrow at work

I'm glad you had fun and the Wings won! It's a win-win for us. Good to get the split in Anaheim, but not good to give up a 3 goal lead in the third. Worst part is that the Wings paid the Iron Price for this one. DeKeyser is out for the playoffs with a broken thumb. Not good.

[RomaGoth]

Originally Posted by Honolulu_Blue

I'm glad you had fun and the Wings won! It's a win-win for us. Good to get the split in Anaheim, but not good to give up a 3 goal lead in the third. Worst part is that the Wings paid the Iron Price for this one. DeKeyser is out for the playoffs with a broken thumb. Not good.

Might as well replace him with Ian White or Lashoff since Cola will get hurt 5 seconds after the opening faceoff in game 3.

[finketr]

that slashing penalty was bullshit without the corresponding spear on the redwings player.