Yup. And the Flyers look gooooood.

Yeah I think the Flyers will be a good team, maybe the one to beat in the East?

hands up: Who thought the Dallas Stars would have one of the best records in Hockey at this time of year (and just beat Washington at their place handily)?

Even the die-hard Stars fans are amazed with this.

Too bad that many of their games were on the same day as Rangers' Playoff or World Series games and attendance has been sad (like 2-3K).

Hopefully some of those looking for a sports replacement since NBA is on the shelf will look at NHL

I HATE MY CAR!!! Tonight of all nights to have issues. Vancouver is in town, and I'm not going to Staples Center to see the game in-person. I did not miss one home game last season btw.

So, I will need to go to some Kings away games to make up for tonight! Yeah man, I'm surprised by Dallas indeed, and I wonder how long they will be at the top.

Back to my car...I rather break down near my home, than far away in downtown LA. I hate misses game damn it!!! At least I can watch it on the TV and stuff.

The black cloud of the Hicks Management Group is finally starting to move away from the Stars.

In a few weeks the Stars will have a new owner, Tom Gaglardi, and from all reports, he is a huge hockey fan, has money, and wants to make the Stars into a regular contender. With Dallas at the salary floor (they had to pick up Eric Nystrom just to get to the floor after Steve Avery was cut by the Rangers due to the way the contract was structured) I don't really see any moves just to be making a move, but if they are still in playoff contention around the trade deadline, don't be surprised if the Stars are buyers, not sellers.

Also, coach Gulutzan is having a positive effect on the team. Reports say that he is building a "fun" place to play and the guys are energized. I want to know how that will work when there is a rough patch later in the season.

It is nice now. Stars fans remember that for a good stretch of the season last year the Stars were among the leaders in the West, but how far did they get in the playoffs? (opps)

Big game against Dallas tonight! Must win for the Kings

Sooo... How bout them 'Nucks?

Like last season, they won't win anything this year

another crazy NHL season.

A month ago the Stars were dead. Now they lead the Pacific Division. Going 8-1-1 over their last 10 can do that. That game last night vs the Sharks was great. I hope the Stars haven't peaked too soon, because they may be in 3rd place right now, they are just five points away from 9th place and missing the playoffs again.

Ducks are in town this weekend (I am going to try to get tickets...)

Yeah I know. What's up with Dallas!!! And the Sharks too. I hope the Sucks lose this weekend, but I don't want the Stars to cont getting points tho haha

I just hate seeing Anaheim winning games

I doubt that the Stars will remain as the 3 seed.

Yeah I agree with you man. Who do you think will win the Pacific Division this season? I think the Sharks are going to turn things around soon, and the Kings are going to be there too.

The Coyotes are losing left and right atm...so it will be interesting to see what happens next for Phx

If the Sharks keep losing like they have they will miss the playoffs.

I have no clue who will be in or not outside the big teams. Much like last year I don't think it will be settled until the last few games

Looking at the schedule, the Stars don't have a easy road to the end of the season. The have a road back to back at Minnesota and Winnipeg Tuesday and Wednesday then a four game home stand vs Chicago, Phoenix, Vancouver and Calgary. They then hit the road for four at Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver, and San Jose. April has vs San Jose, at Nashville then finish the season at home vs St. Louis. The only teams in that bunch that are not in the playoffs or very close are Edmonton and Minnesota

Man what a race this year for a playoffs spot and the Pacific Division too haha. Dallas keeps going, and the Kings, Sharks and Coyotes are RIGHT on their tails for the top spot of the division. It will be very interesting to see who wins the Pacific this season!

I do think the Kings have a very good chance, but wow there is no room for errors in the Western Conference is there?!?

the Stars have 9 games left, 18 total points remaining I have a feeling for them to win the division they're going to need to win at least 13 to 14 of those points

What a game last night against the Blues!!!! The Kings are now first in the Pacific and 3rd in the Western Conference! For how now long, who knows but I still think LA has a very good chance of winning the division. But it won't be easy at all. Almost every team other than Anaheim can take the lead at any given time haha

It's pretty hardcore in the standings right now.

Yeah, The Stars went from 3rd to 8th just by losing one game and the Kings winning one game

Crazy no man? haha

and a day later the Stars are back in 3rd and the Kings are 8th (and just a tiebreaker ahead of The Sharks and Avs)

Going to be a crazy two weeks

haha yeah it's going to be hella crazy indeed

Daniel Sedin has a concussion. Vigneault makes it official today. Interesting to see if he makes it back in time for the playoffs or not.

Damn, and I want Vancouver to win tonight...

And I DO NOT want the Casucks to win tonight

P.S. Oh, and I am starting a Fantasy Hockey League next season. You are welcome to join us. I have 8 people so far, and more the better. We are going to have a Golden Goalie trophy reward for 1st place.

Also, we will be using Yahoo Fantasy Sports most likely btw.

sure, I have never played fantasy hockey. hopefully I won't suck

I wouldn't mind playing fantasy hockey. You should definitely post here when you set it up.

Cool, if you join that makes 10 people in the league so far! Not bad and I will post later on once everything is setup.

Wow talk about a huge game tomorrow for the Kings!!! They could clinch a playoff spot as early as Thursday night. The Kings also can win the division as well haha. Damn the two games left with the Sharks are going to be crazy like no tomorrow!

fuckitty fuck fuck fuck.

Stars just folded. Lost both games to San Jose and the one to Vancouver. Season is over with two games left.

Well not true man. If Dallas wins their next two games, and LA loses their next two...you should make the playoffs haha. It's not over just yet man! But if the Kings win one of the two, they can clinch the division or a playoffs spot

It is the first part of the IF that is the problem. I don't think that Dallas will win both of their remaining games. The two games are @Nashville and vs St. Louis

Nashville is trying to get the #4 seed (currently 1 point behind Detroit) and St. Louis is trying to get the #1 seed (two points behind Vancouver). So I don't see either of them not going all out for the win. The problem is scoring. Dallas has only scored more than three goals in regulation + overtime twice since March 1 (16 games) and one of them was a 5-4 loss. (I am not counting the two 4-3 shootout wins as 4 goal games they only scored 3 goals in regulation and overtime)

and scene.

Four years in a row without making the playoffs... damn

Wow man and Dallas was soo close the last two seasons too. Did you see what that pos Clowe did at the Kings game last night?!?! F****** cheating pos!!!!

Clowe is my most hated player now....taking the title from Corey Fairy

The Kings had an odd-man break away, and Clowe played the puck from the San Jose bench (reached with his stick)...none of the refs saw it too. I have never seen anything like this before. The San Jose Sharks are cheaters and I have lost all respect for the team

I never liked Clowe to begin with, but that asshole took it to the next level. The Kings would have had a 5vs3 if the refs saw what happened. Man was I upset last night

Hopefully things are on the upswing for the Stars. They started this year in bankruptcy with no owner and had to sign a player (Sheldon Souray) before the season started to get above the salary floor.

Jamie Benn has continued to improve and will have a letter on his sweater next season. The Big Finn, Kari Lehtonen, has shown that he is a top level goalie. There is some young talent but it needs to show up.

The biggest problem is that this team needs more scorers. They haven't scored many goals this year and their Power Play has been anemic. Their Penalty Kill is good but they struggle on the other side.

There is some energy surrounding the team with the new owner, it would have helped a lot if they would have at least made the playoffs this year. I feel that with yet another folding in the final weeks that it will take the Dallas Fans a while to get energized about the team again next season.

Hopefully there will be a season next year.

Update on the Fantasy Hockey League. So far I have 10 people (including the two of you who replied), and I will only add about two more tops. I think 12 to 13 teams is a good number to have, and there is a huge interest in a fee of 30 to 40 bucks to have a prize jackpot at the end of the season next year.

Are you both ok with the small fee, krby71 and Zatronn1? It will make things more interesting and people get more into it too etc.

It will be about 400+ dollars for the winner or so. Winner takes all format, plus the trophy as well. Let me know what you all think about it.

maybe 20 bucks, but not more for my first time playing fantasy hockey

I see and I'll let you know what happens. Nothing is set in stone or ice just yet haha

Yeah, 20 bucks would be about my limit too, as I would be new at it as well.

The playoffs start tomorrow!!! Let's Go Kings

The Casucks WTF owned last night! Nothing makes me feel better than seeing Vancouver fans CRY baby lol I can't stand the way Vancouver plays, and their players. POS in my eyes. I hate the team period

Game 2 I think will be way different tho. If the Kings can win game 2 as well...then they have a good chance of taking the series I think

HAHAHAH F*** YOU VANCOUVER!!! Go play golf with all the other first round losers!!!

Boston will be playing golf tomorrow. Caps go to round 2...interesting stuff and the Western Conference starts round 2 on Friday

Round 2 starts tonight, and there should be some good series indeed.

1. Kings vs Blues
2. Coyotes vs Preds
3. Rangers vs Caps
4. Flyers vs Devils

My picks are round 2 are the follow below:

1. Kings will win the series in 6 games (maybe 7)
2. Preds win in 6 games
3. Rangers in 7 games -- I would not be surprised if the Caps win in 6 games tho lol
4. Flyers in 5 games

Blues (in 6)
Preds (in 5)
Rangers (in 7)
Flyers suck (in 6)

I make a brief return for this:

Flyers bitches. (Suck it Krby.) Suck it long, suck it hard.

The Flyers are looking real good right now, and I would not be surprised if they make the Final this year too.

I think they will make it too, only to lose. Philly sports teams can't win championship.

Haha poor Philly teams

The Flyers rookies don't yet know this. Sean Couturier is a fucking monster.

I don't think the Nashville series is over yet, but the Coyotes might just make it to round 3 it seems! That's going to be pretty sweet for their fans. The team should be there for at least one more season

Seems like your picks are going to be off! Now the Blues can still win the series in 6 games, but the Kings are up 2-0 right now. Do you really think the Blues will win 4 in a row?!? Yeah I don't think so

As for Nashville, they can not win the series in 5 games now!

yep, I fail the predictions game...

It's all good haha some great playoffs hockey this year, no? And some new blood in the round 2 as well. Good times and I can't wait to see who makes round 3 next!

I see this as a Kings/Flyers Stanley Cup, which will be a fucking great narrative after the Richards/Carter trade. Nothing is going to stop LA, I think that Conference is a wrap no matter who you put in front of them, and has been since the playoffs in my view. In the East, from Day 1, the only thing that really scares the shit out of me (and has since mid-season) are the Rangers. They are just insanely steady right now, and the goaltending is solid. Put that steady, and unwavering consistent play against the most explosive, but still inconsistent, offense in the league and you've got potential for fireworks. Especially with Philly's very unusual knack for ALWAYS coming back from behind when down big numbers, which NY isn't going likely to be able to do anyway. So it should make for good back and forth play, without the slop and nastiness we saw in Pittsburgh but with some speed and grit and nice amount of forechecking both teams are known for.

No matter how you slice it, I think you're going to end up with three really get sets of finals this year if it shakes out the way it's looking like it will. PHX-LA vs PHI-NYR would be incredible, assuming of course that Washington doesn't surprise us all and actually live up to their potential. Pfft, please. Might as well postulate that the cup would end up in Canada or somewhere in the desert before THAT would happen ;P

The Blues are done. LA has been outplaying them all three games, and now have a 3-0 lead in the series. I won't be surprised if the Kings finish the job on Sunday for the sweep! Payback because the Blues swept the Kings the last two times they have meant in the playoffs.

Yeah I would love to see a Kings and Flyers Stanley Cup Final as well! But round 3 is going to be tough tho. Phx has a few "King killers" in their line up haha and Smith has carried them more than a few times. It will be an awesome Western Conference Final that's for sure! Same thing in the East too, but I hope the Devils dont beat Philly tho.

I don't want that team in the Eastern Conference Final at all. Also, did I say that the Kings are 7-1 in the playoffs so far!!! Go Kings Go

As I said before, the Blues are done as of today! The Kings sweep them winning the series 4-0 heading to round 3!!! It's been a LONG 19 years since the last time LA was in the Western Conference Finals

Also, this will be the first time Staples Center hosts the Western Conference Finals as well! I have a really good feeling that LA will make the Stanley Cup Final this year!!! The Coyotes seem to be heading to the Conference Finals for the first time, and they will be a very tough team to beat. Let's see how round 3 ends up in the near future.

Oh, and I think the Flyers are done and I'm very surprised the Devils are playing so well too. I don't like the Devils at all, and I hope Philly makes a huge comeback and wins the series.

Yeah, I'm not a big fan of the officiating last night. FIVE STRAIGHT power plays for Jersey = none for Philly and that's really how the Flyers win games. That's no excuse however for the total collapse in Philly's forechecking however, so it is what it is, and obviously the goaltending and defensive injuries were just waiting to be exposed at some point. I just didn't expect it to be by this team. I'd have figured to be by the Rangers or LA. I see 'em winning Game 5, but getting bounced by 6 or 7. But you can't count 'em out, not this club, so you never know.

That said, it doesn't matter who advances, do you fucking believe the Kings? Holy shit. This gonna be a fun fucking SC series to watch no matter who goes that's for sure. For once I'm exciting to watch, and I'm a jaded Flyers fan, wtf right?

I hope the Flyers can make a big comeback! I would love to have a LA vs Philly Stanley Cup Final, but I would also love a Kings vs Rangers as well. Big two cities in the Cup Final would be awesome man!

Yeah LA have set new NHL and Kings records in the first two rounds of the playoffs. No one saw them being 8-1 after the first two rounds! I sure did not that's for sure haha

It's Kings vs Coyotes in Round 3 of the playoffs! I think LA will beat Phx in 6 games if the Kings don't win the first two games. If LA is up 2-0 heading back to the Staples Center, then it will take 5 games to beat Phx!

Also, good news for all 250 Coyotes fans out there...looks like the team will be staying in Glendale after all. There is a new owner in place, and should be wrapped up in a few weeks

it is amazing what PHX is doing on their zero budget.

Yeah true but Phx does not control their games very well tho. Last night it was all Nashville, but they could not put the puck into the back of the net! That's not going to work against LA tho. The Kings have better scoring, defense and a very hot goalie right now. I would be very surprised to see the Coyotes win round 3 big time man.

What's your forecase for the Western Conference Finals, Krby?