X. Benedict

Congratulations!

What I consider high scoring areas is the slot between the circles and the area below towards the net. LA works hard to get pucks to the slot and the crease and just pounds it. Most of NY shots are from inside and outside the circles. Shot chart: http://scores.espn.go.com/nhl/gamecast?gameId=400560755

Person favorites are Bleakley, Kempe, and Scherbek. But I don't think Scherbek gotes to the second round.

The third and overtime though.... Just to be clear though, when they have the puck they get it to the scoring areas. We don't see that in Buffalo much.

Darcy was Maloney's assistant in the early 90s, so it is not that far fetched.

Very entertaining game. What I love about the pace is how much speed both clubs generate through middle ice. I love how the LA forwards plAy with possession. Before the series I was wondering if NY belonged out there. They do, but that might not help the outcome.

Really?

I'd be happy with that.

He's got his own website. So far he's traded shoelaces for shoes, shoes for pants, pants for a used bicycle, a used bicycle for a metal beer cooler, he's gonna own an NHL franchise by 2018.

Biding his time, waiting.

I think the end game is ending the insurgency in Afghanistan, and giving people currently allied with the Taliban a chance to participate in a post-war coalition government. Nothing is going to get much better there without stability.

That's hysterical.

All men are romantics at heart.

Crazy that Bylsma wasn't let go with Shero.

Scouting report: non-stop motor, good compete in the corners, good value pick in the 8th round.

Too funny. It just occurred to me Rutherford probably had the worst longest career in net himself. He just wasn't very good for years! The Carolina gm for life goes to Pitt. Actually he often did a decent job managing small market budgets.

Wow. Didn't expect that.

Well, he was on a line with Wiese. Limited time, and defensive zone starts. Blaming Vanek for not producing in that role - well, why not scratch Vanek and start Travis Moen. Therrien made the lines. I just think they were dumb.

Well he never became the league's "best-two way" player, if that's what you mean.

I'm not really sure. But it seemed to me that flipping Vanek with Gionta wasn't the answer from a coaching standpoint. Vanek hasn't played 3 or 4th line since 2007. That wasn't the reason he was brought in as a rental, to find his way through defensive zone starts. I just find Therrien's moves strange.

I just omit my middle H. XHB just looks awkward. Besides, the H is for Hollandaise.

Vanek gets 5 goals 3 assists for 8 pts 21 SOG in 11 games in the Boston and Tampa series. Respectable. Gets demoted to 4th line for the ECF with new line-mates. Looks lost. Vanek didn't set the world on fire. But what the hell was Therrien thinking? Weak coaching move. Put Vanek out in a checking, energy role at 11 minutes and then blame Vanek for his lack of production in that role? Vanek is taking it on the chin. But Therrien really didn't have the balls to scratch him. What's Therrien thinking here? Make the player play his way off the checking line in the ECF?

I didn't know that.

No organizational depth on the Island. Beyond Tavares, Neilson, and Okposo (who i'm pretty sure will come back down to earth this year) - they don't have much up front. Nobody on the left side. Even less on defense. They may be better next year, but the question is better than who? They don't match up well with anybody.

I don't see the islanders passing too many teams.