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NHL Playoff Observations -- Thursday

Just a few things that caught my eye:

  • Did you know New York State has a unemployment benefits calculator on its Department of Labor website? Larry Brooks will likely be the first to pass that info along to John Tortorella in a week or so ...
  • This won't be popular, but Eric Gryba didn't interfere with Lars Eller. It was the wrong call. As Kerry Fraser said on TSN, it was actually a bad result to a good, open-ice body check. The head wasn't the principal point of contact; it was incidental. Eller was hung out to dry by a suicide pass. Raphael Diaz should know better. Godspeed, Lars Eller.
  • How soon before the siren call of conspiracy sounds on Twitter? Erik Gryba shouldn't be suspended. Remember the last time that happened? Yep -- Zdeno Chara on Max Pacioretty.
  • Eight minutes -- that's how long it took for the Rangers to test Braden Holtby. Then it took six more minutes for them to test him again. They didn't deserve a 1-0 lead.
  • CBC clocked P.K. Subban skating backwards at just over 20 km/hr when he Rob Blaked Chris Neal into the boards. Then he was clocked at over 25 km/hr the next time he took Neal on. Neal didn't skate up the boards once after that ...
  • 112 -- the combined age of the three point-getters on Anaheim's first goal. 64 -- the combined age of the three point-getters on Ottawa's second goal. Teemu Selanne could be the father to any one of Erik Karlsson, Mika Zibanejad or Jacob Silfverberg. Yikes.
  • How good could Patrik Berglund be if he actually figured out how to use his size? Sadly, I don't have faith he'll ever figure that out.
  • Jonathan Quick sure stayed closer to his twine tent tonight -- no more wandering to handle the puck. Or should I say mishandle ...
  • The Rangers need Marc Staal. It's a different game -- and series -- with him on the ice. 
  • Dustin Brown -- you love him if he's on your team and you hate him if he isn't.
  • Speaking of Brown, which American-born captain would you rather have lead your favorite squad? All four are in the postseason -- Dustin Brown, David Backes, Ryan Callahan and Brian Gionta. I lean to Brown, but could be swayed to consider Backes or Callahan.
  • Marc Methot -- the most underated defender in the NHL. Discuss. 
  • Back to John Tortorella -- how long before he takes another media gig? Does anyone else think it's odd he has such a hate-on for the media when he's coaching, but he's quick to become a member of it when he needs a paycheck?
  • Barret Jackman for the Conn Smythe. Last game, he blocked at least three shots late on the same shift. This game, he nets the winner. The former Calder winner can do it all LOL.