East

1 Rangers vs 8 Senators

2 Bruins vs Capitals

3 Panthers vs 6 Devils

4 Penguins vs 5 Flyers

West

1 Canucks vs 8 Kings

2 Blues vs 7 Sharks

3 Coyotes vs 6 Blackhawks

4 Predators vs 5 Red Wings

Should be some good series and see about 10 teams in it that could win the Cup this year.

Any system that gives the Florida Panthers the #3 seed and home ice is very broken.

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Team Cutler.

I know there are a lot of people that like playoff hockey better than regular hockey (like Ivan) - and I usually like the first game of every series the best. Usually the most physical, intense part of the series - especially the first 20 minutes. I encourage people to tune in tonight at 6:30 on NBCSports - the Penguins vs. Flyers is going to be a brutal war mixed in with some of the most talented players in the league.

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You either want divisions to mean something or not. Same thing in the NFL when Seattle got into the playoffs with a poor record two years ago.

I think all the pro playoff systems are broken because they diminish the regular season's importance by letting too many teams in.

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Hawaii (fuck) You

I love playoff hockey. Very excited for the Pens/Flyers. It is going to be a hell of a series.

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I never said they shouldn't be in the playoffs. I said they don't deserve home ice. Very different.

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Team Cutler.

What's the value of winning a division then? If you're just going to seed the hole conference according to records, then get rid of divisions.

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Hawaii (fuck) You

Making the playoffs is the value of winning your division. Seeding should be done based on record vs. conference imo.

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Team Cutler.

Fair enough, but that completely devalues divisions. I hate the whole set-up and don't really care. I love that you play 80 or so games and then let everyone in but the most inept of teams.

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Hawaii (fuck) You

I think that last game was a donnybrook in Pittsburgh...

2 games ago. Even that raging douchebag assistant coach Tony Granato wanted a piece of the action.

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While Comcast SportsNet has local coverage of Blackhawks/Coyotes starting tomorrow night in Glendale, AZ, NBC Universal's family of networks have the Stanley Cup Playoffs covered. That means NBC Sports Network has Flyers/Penguins at 6:30p & Kings/Canucks at 9:30p tonight, while CNBC has RedWings/Predators at 7p. BOOYAH!

Does anyone know, has there ever been a first round matchup that featured two teams with better records than Pitt vs Philly? I think not and if that's the case you could make the argument that, on paper, this is the best first round matchup in the history of the game.

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The other Pittsburgh assistant, Todd Reirdon, was my defensive partner my senior year in high school.




Come to think of it, I think high school was the last time I actually ventured into my defensive zone.

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This is great, I'm emotionally invested in at least one game every night until the Kings get swept by the Canucks and the Hawks sweep the Coyotes... it's going to be a great 7 days. If someone doesn't get killed during the Pittsburgh series, I'll be disappointed.

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team Mully & Hanley
team Meatpants

I freaking love whiteouts

edit: but only when everyone is participating, way to go Pittsburgh...

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team Mully & Hanley
team Meatpants

A little slow to get up. lolzers @ Bryzgalov

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team Mully & Hanley
team Meatpants

Hockey!

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This is awesome *clapclap - CLAPCLAPCLAP*

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not as feisty as I'd like it to be...

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team Mully & Hanley
team Meatpants

OT coming up in Pittsburgh.

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Philly just came from 3-0 down to win 4-3 in OT.

NHL playoffs are the best season in all of sports.

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fucking. a.

Good news: Detroit just lost

Bad news: Shea Weber is probably gonna miss game 2 due to suspension. The league frowns upon ramming a superstars head into the glass as time runs out.

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Good to see that the singing porn star in Vancouver has lost some weight.

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Has Vancouver always sang along with their anthem too? I don't seem to recall that. Also Mark Donelly watches Glee.

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I don't like the Red Wings, but Weber is a jackass for doing that to Zetterberg. Talk about tugging at Superman's cape, cheapshotting a Red Wing in the playoffs on Brendan Shanahan's watch.

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Yeah. The greasy haired guy sings the first verse, crowd takes over, slimy guy comes back toward the end.

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Fing Stoll, how did jumping just help you there?

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team Mully & Hanley
team Meatpants

Does his mom know that he leaves the basement to do this job? I know low hanging fruit but dammit Vancouver brings out the worst in me. Bieksa already giving cheap crosschecks and skating away...

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