Officially Eliminated

[marrella]

Well, we're officially out of the playoff race. With our loss to Philly last night and the Isles win, we're out of contention. Oddly, we have played really well over the past three weeks ... sans our captain Ronnie Francis who went to Toronto and our "sniper" Jeff O'Neill who had shoulder surgery. Our kids have FINALLY stepped up to the plate ... Bling, that includes your boy Vrbata who is finally playing the way we thought he could.

Over the past three weeks we have beaten the Leafs, the Bolts and the Sens (whom we haven't beaten since something like 1997). We were staying right up with the Flyers last night for two full periods. THey scored, then we scored ... they scored, then we scored. They scored and it was our turn ... except a cleared puck (on OUR power play) hit the boards near our net and bounced back right in front of Weekes. Unfortuntely, he never even saw it. We were all screaming at him to clear the puck which was about 3 feet in front of him with a Flyer and a Cane barreling down on him ... and he never saw it. Philly got there first and snapped it in. What a killer goal and a cardinal sin for a goalie to commit ... to take your eyes off the puck!

Hopefully this won't deter the team's efforts to move ahead of Atlanta and Florida in the standings. And maybe we can be spoilers for the Isles, whom we see times before the end of the season. Come on Sabres ... you can do it!

Go Baby Canes!

[DanCan]

I also noticed that the Baby Pens have performed pretty strong in the past three weeks At Broadway, however, things remain the same.

[bling]

Yes Marella, I have been watching the "Canes every chance I get, on Center Ice. Radim Vrbata has been playing much better hockey as of late. A lot the young guys have been looking more inspired.

I think all the departing Czech players that Pierre Lacroix has rid himself of have put a Czech curse on my Avalanche team, ( not that I don't secretly giggle in my girly beer over it )

Poor Milan Hedjuk can not score because he is missing his Czech buddies.

First Radim Vrbata, then Vaclac Nederost and most recently Martin Skoula. Okay, so I am a little bitter, Martin was one of my absolute favorite players. Though I am glad to report he is doing quite well in Anaheim.

[marrella]

Yes, DanCan, the Baby Pens are looking pretty good and I'm glad since I hate to see that franchise deteriorate. The Baby Caps aren't faring as well ... more rebuilding needed there. The NYR ... what can be said!?! Certainly more restructuring will take place once there actually is a CBA in place.

Bling, I fear for the Avs. I don't think this is your year. But I don't think it's Detroit's either!

Unlike you who didn't want to lose your Czech players, I've been yelling at ours all year to start playing like Czechs and start scoring. Lo and behold ... they finally are. Now, if we can just fix our woeful power play (the worst in the NHL), we'll be on to something.

P.S. I'm thrilled we beat the Isles last night. I really want the Sabres in the playoffs and not the Islanders.

[stjohnsleafsfan]

Believe me I know how you feel marella about not making the playoffs. We were two wins away from it here. Going to be a long summer here in St. John's for me.