Taro T

Personally don't expect Ullmark gone, but stranger things have happened. And, in 1990, the heart of the Bills D Fred Smerlas was left exposed to Plan B free agency; the leader of the OL Joe Devlin was too. That loss of leadership sent the Bills to the next 4 Superbowls. Heck, the Presidents Trophy winning Swamp Cats sent Huberduberdeau, Weegar, and their coach packing and now are playing in the Stanley Cup Final for only the 2nd time in their history.

Not sure just how much of a Cinderella they are. Granted, it was with a different coach and with Huberduberdeux and Weegar rather than with Tkachuk, but this team was the top regular season team 1 year ago. They might be the poster child for the (official*) reason the league lets 1/2 of the teams into the dance; it gives teams that either have injuries or issues gelling an opportunity to still compete for Lord Stanley's chalice even though they didn't bring their A game all year long. And if Dallas can win this next game, we'll get to see if exhaustion is more of an issue than rust in that next round. Expecting exhaustion would be a bigger issue, but maybe not. Either way it should be a good series. * We all know that's a bunch of hooey and the real reason is playoff TV (and other) revenue is where the BIG money is at.

Depends. If Lyon does have to play and he plays like he did when Bobrovsky was out with his illness they might not miss a beat. If instead Lyon plays like Lyon, then yes, they'd be in trouble. Lyon's play is the biggest reason that team snuck into the last seed.

Why should salaries be raised to compensate for the extra games? Well, because they're playing that much extra, duh. Don't see that as a reason because the player salaries are only nominal and not actual and they set the rate of how much one player will receive relative to others. So, if the 2 extra games across the board raises revenues by 1/41st, then the players will get that bump in their actual take home pay. If it results in a 2.5% increase in HRR, they'd get that extra bump; and if it only goes up 2% or not at all, then they'd get just the 2% bump or none at all respectively.

Maybe we'll finally be able to figure out which one's Frick and which one's Frack?

The Mammoth match up very well against the Bandits. But, the Bandits were without Byrne and also had at least 2 goals called back on crazily close calls of having the toe in the crease. And even with Colorado playing a very good game, they could only take 2 very short lived 1 goal leads. The only 2 times the Bandits have trailed in the entire playoffs. They've been playing great since the game in Albany to end the regular season. Wouldn't have money against the Bandits Monday afternoon, especially if Byrne is back.

And the Bandits win game 1. 13-12.

Ward will be out of the net when play resumes. Vinc the save. Bandits ball with 13.4 left. Time out taken.

Final 2 mintues. Bandits still have the 13-12 lead. 1 minute left. Bandits still have the 13-12 lead. And they still have the ball. 36.3 left. Colorado ball with the full 30 seconds on the shot clock.

Mammoth score the PP. McLaughlin with the goal. 13-12.

5:54 left in the game. And the goal is no good. But somehow the Mammoth also get a PP out of it on an unsportsmanlike call on Fraser.

Cloutier with the bull rush. Will the goal count? 14 - 11 for now. But there is a coaches challenge.

Dhane Smith cross checked. Bandits going back to the PP.

McLaughlin to Lee and it's a 1 goal game. 13-12, Challenge that Tavares. His toe was in the crease. Still 13-11.

Wardle catches the D sleeping. 13-11.

Nanticoke draws a penalty and the Bandits go back on the PP. Fraser gets the missed shot to go right to his stick and the Bandits are 4 for 4 on the PP. 13-10.

Fraser took a penalty to end the 3rd and Williams made them pay to start the 4th. 12-10.

Dhane to Buchanan to MacKay to Nanticoke for a PP goal. His 3rd of the game makes it 12-9.

Bandits about to go up on the PP with 8:50 left in the 3rd.

Durn it. 11-9. McLaughlin with his 3rd.

MacKay to McCulley to Dhane. 10-8. Cloutier to Natitcoke. 11-8.

Nanticoke makes it 8-8 28 seconds into the 3rd. They did in the 2nd. But not so far this Q. 9-8 Fraser.

Bandits couldn't score yet on the man up but will have 0:38 left on it to start the 2nd half. Colorado 8 - Bandits 7 through 30.

Looked like the Bandits were going to break out, but Kinear on the rug steals it back to Lee and the bad guys are up by 1 again with 2:26 left in the 2nd. Bandits going to the man up after Fraser was nearly tackled.

McCulley with 5:16 left in the 2nd. Tied at 7. Was off a real nice feed from Nanticoke.