8:10 p.m. - I just decided. I want the Islanders to win this game. I mean, they still won't probably get into the playoffs, but I'm dying to see a Pittsburgh-Washington 1 vs. 8 playoff series. This would be possible if Boston kept up its current pace of allowing 12 goals per game or so, especially tomorrow against my Rangers. 12 should get us a win.
Keeping that in mind, here's my ideal playoff scenario in the East:
1. Pittsburgh vs. 8. Washington- Sidney and Evgeni against Alexander the Great. I know I'm not the only one quietly rooting for this, either. In fact, I bet every league executive wants to see both Sidney and Ovechkin in the playoffs, but against each other that would be something. Besides, it would be a nice reward for both Bruce Boudreau and George McPhee. I'm so pissed I'm going to miss tomorrow's game.
2. Montreal vs. 7. Philadelphia- With all the talk of these big, bad Flyers I don't think any of them have the fortitude to go into the corner with Mike Komisarek. And if they do, I doubt they'd live to tell about it.  By the way, where'd Komisarek go to college? Heh.
3. Carolina vs. 6. New York- I've heard people tell me the Rangers still have a shot to finish atop the Eastern conference. Okay, I admit it. Some, if not most, Rangers fans are delusional. But I want us to stay in sixth because the Hurricanes are clearly the worst of the nine or ten teams contending still. If this series went to five games before the Rangers clinched, it should be a moral victory for Carolina.
4. New Jersey vs. 5. Ottawa- This would be probably the most intriguing series of the four. I wonder if the Senators can pull out of this tailspin in time to win a playoff series. On the other hand, the Devils have been red hot and that second round exit courtesy of Ottawa last year cannot sit right with Martin Brodeur and the Devs.

8:17 p.m. - They just showed the second of two Riley Cote vs. Andre Roy fights from last night again. That was hysterical. If you missed it, please, YouTube it immediately. Apparently, he was sent back to Tampa by the team and will miss the next two games. The scoreboard staff played the replay of Cote’s two-punch knockout repeatedly, infuriating Roy. He had to be restrained by linesmen and eventually Tampa Bay coach John Tortorella after attempting to go after Cote a third time. I can just imagine the conversation between the fiery coach and the enforcer:Tortorella: That’s it! We’re sticking you on the next plane back to Tampa. You got your bell rung, then you embarrassed the rest of this team.
Roy: Wait, so you’re suspending me for getting knocked out?
Tortorella: Yes… (pauses and giggles to himself) I mean no. You embarrassed us later when you tried to go back after him. What were you thinking? Those refs probably saved you another beating, anyway.

8:23 p.m. - Witt blocks a heavy shot from the point, Rose mentions his ailing knee again.

8:24 p.m. - Flyers score. DiPietro goes behind the net to play the puck, but it hits his leg and goes right to Scottie Upshall. He passes to Jeff Carter who puts it in the empty net. That is my favorite kind of goal scored on DP. I always wonder if the Isles would be any good if he made a conscious effort to stay in the crease.

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