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NHL Playoff Observations -- Round Two Begins

Just a few things that caught my eye ...

  • How long can Mike Smith keep this up? Six of the 'Yotes seven games have gone to OT. And on Friday night, they were outshot 25-7 after the second period. When does exhaustion set in?
  • Chris Keider -- no wonder the Rangers didn't want to give him up to get Rick Nash.
  • Rostislav Klesla, where have you been all my life? Oh, I forgot -- injured. But six points (two goals, four assists) in seven games is pretty darn impressive.
  • Don't be put off by Ryan Suter's lack of postseason production -- his job is to shut down the opposition, not to take risks. And he's doing a damn fine job of it.
  • Alexander Ovechkin finally comes close to leading the league in something -- hits. Not exactly what any of us hoped for. Maybe that's why the Rangers' fans chanted, "Ovi sucks!" at the eight-minute mark of each period. Gotta love the creativity.
  • Jason Chimera can flat-out fly. Funny how he was Brooks' Laich's target and not Ovie.
  • Can the Blues move forward without Alex Pietrangelo? Another ugly hit. Let's hope he isn't out long.
  • No wonder the Kings traded Jack Johnson -- Slava Voynov is twice the player JJ will ever be. And he can actually make a proper read in his own zone. Go figure.
  • Who's more valuable right now? Marian Gaborik -- one goal and three assists? Or Dustin Penner (cough) -- two and two?
  • Ray Whitney -- Stanley Cup winner, former Oilers' stick boy and now, deacon of desert hockey. His resume might be complete.