If he wasn't injured he would have been at least a finalist. If he keeps playing this well and gets to 40-50 games, he might still be a finalist.
However, it will probably be Crosby, Ovechkin, and Phaneuf
I think Tallinder is quickly and quietly becoming that top 4 D-man we were previously missing.
I don't see a need to displace any of the current 6 (now that Kalinin is back) unless it is for one of the top 20 D-men in the league.
Another note:
This felt like those great playoff series against the Flyers, except we won this game.
These two teams could very well meet many more times this season.
Grier was injured Friday night and played hurt the rest of the game. He was still injured Saturday and obviously couldn't play through it. He wasn't benched.
Fitzpatrick is trash (PUT JILLSON OR JANIK IN) and Peters blows, but Grier is an important grinder that will be a huge asset in the playoffs.