Clemmensen Starting

Doc on NBC just reported that Scott Clemmensen will probably get the start! Leaf Nation is already starting to cry.

Devils to Face Lightning in Round 1

Well the playoff match up is set, with their shootout loss to Atlanta Tampa clinched the 7th seed and will play the Devils in round 1. The series will probably begin on Thursday. The season series between the two was a lackluster one that lacked intensity. The first game Tampa won in a shootout, the second was a Devils shutout, third was a Tampa blowout, and the final was Tampa beating the Lowell Devils. Tampa won the season series 2-1-1 but each team only had 1 quality win over each other. Tampa has struggled recently and have probably the worst goaltending going into the playoffs. If the Devils can actually hit the net (which is a struggle sometimes) they should win it easily. Unless of course Madden and Pandolfo get hurt and then Lacavier and St. Louis can run wild. That said Devils in 5 maybe 6.

As for other happenings last night Toronto beat Montreal in a sloppy game. That means Toronto needs the Devils to beat the Islanders today. There has been a lot of talk of will Brodeur play. I would like to see him play because if he doesn't it would be a week between starts which is to much for him. That said if the game should go to the shootout Cam Janssen should take a shot. It would be funny if he got the game winner and put Toronto in the playoffs. However he would probably miss which means that Toronto would probably be knocked out which is a plus.

What a Day for Hockey!

Well this is it the final 2 days of the regular season and what is the biggest day of the the season. Most of the playoff spots will be decided today or make it clear for what has to happen tomorrow. The action starts at 1:00 and Battle of New York blog will be live blogging throughout the day so check them out. I will be in and out giving my thoughts. Here are the relevant games to the last Eastern Conference playoff spot and games that affect the Devils.

1:00pm EDT- New York Islanders @ Philadelphia Flyers (Sopcast channels 10599& 17007)- Islanders need win and some help to stay alive.
4:00pm Vancouver Canucks @ San Jose Sharks (CBC/Sopcast 17007& 22078)- Sharks win ensures that Brodeur will hold onto the single season win record.
7:00pm Tampa Bay Lightning @ Atlanta Thrashers (Yahoo.com)- Lightning lose they will play the Devils in the first round. They win they would need a Rangers loss to avoid New Jersey.
7:00pm Michigan State Spartans vs Boston College Eagles (ESPN)- Non-NHL related but this is the NCAA Ice Hockey Championship.
7:30pm New York Rangers @ Pittsburgh Penguins (Sopcast 16917)- Rangers win they get the 6th seed and the Devils face the Lightning.
7:00pm Montreal Canadiens vs Toronto Maple Leafs (CBC/Sopcast 15678& 22078)- This is the big one Habs vs Leafs for the last playoff spot on Hockey Night in Canada. Toronto must win this game in regulation to stay alive and hope the Isles lose on of their last 2 games. Habs win they are in but if the Leafs win in Overtime they will be eliminated and the Isles could sneak by Montreal with a win this afternoon and a win tomorrow in New Jersey.

There you have it 6 great games to keep an eye on today.
NHL Internet Schedule
NHL.com Scoreboard
NHL on Yahoo

4-6-07 NHL Scoreboard/ Looking to Tomorrow

Talk about laying an egg! In a game the Lightning needed if they wanted to win the Southeast against the Florida Panthers, who are heading to the golf courses next week, they lost 7 to 2. That's right 7-2! It wasn't even that close, 1 minute into the third the Panthers scored to give them a 7-0 lead. Tampa scored two 3rd period goals to make it "close". Meanwhile Atlanta beat Carolina 4-1 clinching the Southeast and the third seed. Back to Tampa however they have to be the worst team going into playoffs. Their goaltending is terrible. I have no clue what Jay Feaster was doing giving Brad Richards a max contracted as a restricted FA when it was clear they needed a top goalie. Now they are going into the playoffs with 2 backup goalies and no starters. I know I said earlier that I thought the Thrashers defense would doom them and they would be one and done but I take that back. The lightning will be the one a done team on the off chance the two meet in round 1. The Lightning will probably get the 7th seed and play the Devils (although it is possible they could get the 6th) so let's hope the Devils penchant for making backup goalies look like Vezina winners doesn't show up in the playoffs.

Moving on to tomorrow. Saturday is probably the biggest day in the NHL as all or most of the playoff spots and seeds will be determined. The headline game is Montreal at Toronto where the winner takes all (sort of)on Hockey Night in Canada. Toronto better be aware of the playoff scenarios going in because if the game is tied late in the third they will need to pull their goalie. If the game goes to overtime Montreal will go to the playoffs. If Toronto wins in regulation they would need Islanders to lose Saturday against Philly or Sunday against the Devils. The Islanders need to win both and have Toronto win Saturday night (in regulation or OT) to get in. Personally nothing would be funnier than the Leafs forgetting they would need to pull the goalie and end up not getting in because the game went to Overtime.