The RotoWire Blog has been retired.

These archives exist as a way for people to continue to view the content that had been posted on the blog over the years.

Articles will no longer be posted here, but you can view new fantasy articles from our writers on the main site.

NHL Playoff Observations -- Monday

Written by

Published on April 28, 2014

Just a few things that caught my eye:

Backchecking. I looked it up on Wikipedia and sent a text with the link to Little Joe Pavelski. Justin Williams should NEVER have scored on that play.

Did you put something in Trevor Daley's Wheaties on Sunday? That was probably the single best individual performance of the playoffs (so far). The guy is a stud ... but only when he decides to be.

Kings-Sharks: 533 hits by the 13:40 mark of the second period. Yes, 533. Bruises on bruises on bruises. These guys are seriously diminishing their chances to advance multiple rounds. Ouch. But I have to admit it's fun to watch.

Jonathan Toews. Sigh.

Shut up, Drew Doughty. SHUT UP. You've been whining all series. I know it helps you amp up your game, but refs are like elephants -- they have long memories.

What is to become of Antti Niemi? He has one more year at a very, VERY reasonable $3.8 mil on the cap. Maybe Pittsburgh could use him. Marc Andre Fleury came oh-so-close to folding like a cheap suit Monday night. Again.

Is it me or do Raffi Torres and Martin Havlat make the oddest of couples?

Zach Parise has had at least one point in every game this postseason. Who knew ... other than native Minnesotans? Well, everyone now after that four-point effort. It was Toews-ian.

Ryan Getzlaf is hurt and it isn't his jaw. I don't think he took a single face-off on Sunday. Dollars to donuts it's a shoulder separation. I hope I'm wrong. The Ducks will only go as far as he can carry them. And it's hard enough to put a team on two strong shoulders, let alone one.

Alex Stalock, Frederik Andersen, Darcy Kuemper. And to think the best young goalie was sent to the AHL. The Ducks may seriously regret sending John Gibson to the AHL.

Duncan Keith is a beast. So is Drew Doughty. Can Kris Letang ever get to that level?

It's hard to believe Jonathan Quick's GAA was 3.99 heading into Monday night. He was electric, particularly on the second-period five-on-three. He's dialled in.

Are the Rangers quietly gaining momentum even if Rick Nash isn't? I keep hearing NY pundits talking about how he, Derek Stepan and Martin St. Louis are finally figuring out how to play together. Seriously? You've had enough time for that already. I've always like Nash, but I'm not afraid to hashtag him. #overrated.