[Cobra Mgr]

What to unpack from the last 2 nights...........

Buffalo beat Tampa Monday, putting them into a tie for 1st in the Atlantic. Kings took care of Nashville in a shootout giving them a 1 pt edge for the final WC in the West..........

Last night, Tampa fell to the Senators & Montreal took care of Florida. That means we now have a 3 way tie for 1st in the Atlantic. Sabres, Lightning & Canadians all have 102 pts & 4 games left. I believe 1st tiebreaker is regulation wins, which Tampa & Buffalo each have 39. Not sure what they go to after that. Tampa has to go to Montreal Thursday. Buffalo has finished their season series w/the other 2.

Carolina & Colorado became the 1st teams to clinch their divisions last night. Hurricanes won a wild one vs the Bruins. Down 1-0, up 2-1, then down 3-2 to end the 1st, took a 5-3 lead in the 2nd, gave up the next 2 to go 5-5 into OT. Then won the opening faceoff in OT & never lost control of the puck. Jaccob Slavin scored his 1st goal of the year in the extra frame to clinch the Metro.They are 4 pts ahead of the Atlantic 3 for the home ice advantage in the East.

Avs handled St. Louis to win not just the Central, but home ice for the duration of the west. They lead the Canes by 6 pts for the best record in the NHL w/4 games left.

Other games involving playoff hopefulls........Columbus stopped their tailspin & continued Detroit's 4-3, Philly continue to phly, 5-1 over Jersey. Star one goal better than the Flames. Keeps them 2 pts in front of Minnesota who beat the Kraken. Vegas climbed into a tie for the Pacific lead after they Canucks & Edmonton fell to Utah in OT. Ducks couldn't keep pace w/the Knights & Oilers as they were shut out at home by the Preds. Nashville's win puts them back one point up on the Kings for the final ticket to the Cup playoffs.

While the playoff race is exciting, I am noticing a trend for this year's playoff. Most of the larger hockey market teams are getting early off seasons. There will be no teams from the NY metro area (unless the Isles get their act together & some help), not Toronto, no Hockeytown USA, no Chicago.