At 7:00, we have Thrashers-Rangers (TSN)

and Sens-Pens (I get this one on Versus, it's also on RDS and CBC).

At 8:00, Nucks-Stars (CBC, RDS)

At 9:00, Ducks-Wild (TSN)

At 10:00, Red Wings-Flames (Versus, CBC)

Let's start tonight with the Semin saga- in case you hadn't heard, he got thrown off the Russian National Team the other day. Here's the real skinny, thanks to Mike Vogel's blog:

I’ll admit that when I heard Caps winger Alexander Semin had been booted off the Russian roster for the upcoming World Championship games in Moscow, I figured it was a formality, a hand slap, and that he would eventually gain reinstatement.

That’s not going to be the case.

According to Sergei Nemchinov, two-time Stanley Cup winner and one of the Russian coaches for the Worlds, this is the course of events that led to Semin’s dismissal. Nemchinov said he called Semin on Sunday to remind him that he had to report to camp by 4 p.m. on Monday. Semin replied that he wouldn’t be able to make it on time because his plane wouldn’t arrive in Moscow until 7:30 pm on Monday.

Nemchinov said that Semin knew beforehand when he needed to report; the information was given to him last month while Semin was still in Washington with the Capitals. Nemchinov told Semin to get a ticket for an earlier flight so he could make it to camp before the mandated 4 p.m. reporting time. Semin called Nemchinov at 8:20 p.m. on Monday to tell him he was on his way. But by that time the decision had already been made to cut Semin from the roster.

Nemchinov was asked whether Semin could be forgiven, and he replied that the decision was firm and Semin would not be playing in this year’s Worlds. He was also asked whether the punishment fitted the crime, and Nemchinov claimed that it did, because all the players knew when they had to report to camp. Nemchinov also admitted that losing Semin hurts the Russian team because he is such a good player.

And there you have it. The story is official and public, and I thank my Russian friend for the transcription. It’s a shame Semin won’t be able to perform in one of the biggest international tournaments in his home country. In his defense, it’s somewhat odd that the Russians would be required to report so far ahead of all the other teams, but the team has its reasons for doing so.

Just hours before word filtered through about Semin being cut, Chris Clark was in the Capitals’ offices. Clark, who will represent Team USA won’t be leaving for Europe until this weekend. He will join his American teammates in Sweden for an exhibition game against Team Sweden at the Glove Arena in Stockholm on Apr. 25.

Most of the Team USA roster was announced on Monday; there are a few slots remaining for players whose NHL teams will be eliminated in the first round of the ongoing Stanley Cup playoffs. Teams are permitted to carry 20 skaters and three goaltenders at the start of the tournament, and they are allowed to add two more players after the first three games have been played. Team USA’s preliminary roster includes 19 players: three goaltenders, five defensemen and 11 fowards. Clark and defenseman Brian Pothier are the Caps’ representatives on the Team USA roster.

between you and me
if I was an NHLer I would turn down a chance to play in the World's.
If this tourney really meant anything they would not hold during the NHL PLayoffs !


sens and pens
thrash/rangers
I have the choice of both .
Pens could be out in 5 if they do not kick it up tonight .
cbc out my way will switch to the Van/Dal game once it starts.
Too bad(the nucks/stars series has been boring..............even most "experts" out my way agree with that ) .

Kentucky Headhunters
playing

Cold Molsons being consumed

Chicken is the meal of choice

32 tics into it and Nylander scores
1-0 Rangers

Not many more tics into this one, the Sens get a PP and score

1-0 Senators

Sunny and warm here

some nicely dressed gals have been walking by
hard to keep my eyes on the TV .

Tkachuk has done diddly here
living up to his playoff reputation .

Sens going on another PP, and this game could be over very quickly. The fans are showing more heart than the team right now....

Saw the talking heads this morning pointing out guys who haven't shown up yet- Kariya, Forsberg, Tkachuk, several others.

I am disappointed with teh MSG faithfull .
quiet !


NYR have had only 2 sogs

Kariya has done dick
Forsberg has at least made an effort


Nylander gets another
2-0 NYR

TSN is picking up the MSG feed of the game
not used to this.

May be the first time I have heard the Rangers broadcasters do a game .

Pens killed, and now get a PP of their own.

Versus showed a montage of Colby Armstrong hits a few minutes ago- all clean, all devastating.

Malik scores
3-0

The Thrash have mailed this one in
Sad !

my response to the Armstrong hits...
Keep Your Head Up !

Sens killed.

Sorry to hear that- I'd like to see the Thrash (or any team, really) get a game or 2 out of their first shot at the playoffs. Show them it can be done, but they have to work hard for it.

the Coburn trade ain't looking that good right now .

Rangers are now going on the pp

Who did they get for Coburn (from the Flyers)? He's a guy I was hoping would be around when the Caps drafted that season, but he was long gone.

Rangers' game-

Malik 1-1-2

Nylander 2-1-3

Jagr 0-3-3

.... Thrash better lay some bodies on that line.

1-0 Senators, end 1st.

Pretty good game.

just noticed that there are two Hossa's in this game .

but only one is making an effort .

The thrash played better shorthanded
Dupluis had a breakaway and was hooked(no call....there should have been )
then the rangers took a pen
4 on 4 hockey

Zhitnik(sp?) was the guy they got for Coburn


This may sound odd but if the Thrash get the next one
We may have a hockey game.
1st ends 3-0

NYR were not as dominate after they got the 3rd goal .

2nd starts, and the Pens get a PP within :30.

Killed. No SOGs.

Not good for the Pens.

2nd in NY has also just started

game on mute

Yes's "roundabout" on the radio as I type.
I like this song now but hated it for years .
I guess I have matured .

Thrash come close to scoring.
Atl has actually been the better team since Malik scored.
If they get the next one
I think they can come back .

NYR seems to be in the "protecting the lead" mode
not good

Another PP for the Pens- they get a few SOGs on this one, but don't get it past Emery.

Killed again, and still 1-0 Senators with 13:30 left 2nd.

should mention that i saw the Under 18 tourey game between Can and Russia today.
Cherepanov did NOTHING !
Can won 5-2

Watchout for a guy named Stamkos in 08(draft)
He was the best player on the ice .

4-0 NYR
Callaghan(sp?) scores
this game/series is done !

Young Mr. Staal works hard in front of the net, and gets one in.....

the crowd just EXPLODES!!!!!

1-1

MAF makes a save, and now the scrums start- a little push, a little shove back.... but no blows. The rest of this game should be real hockey.

Staal is my Fav pen player

Crosby will get the points but Staal will lead them to the Cup in the near future .
Gretzky/Messier part 2

just showed a closeup of mommy and daddy hossa in the crowd .
I am willing to bet a six pack that mommy hossa ain't a natural blonde !

4 on 4 hockey

But can she cook?

Pens have kept the pressure on nicely, and get a late PP coming up after this timeout.

cbc has dumped Crosby for the Nucks/Stars game.

Me thinks the Nucks will be in for a shock next rd when they meet the Ducks .

Too bad- the Pens swarmed at the end, but 1-1 end 2nd. Lots of glares and pushing after the whistle.

The 3rd period should be gold, here.

As good as they are, the Senators only had 4 SOGs in the 2nd (14 for the game so far).... the Pens have had the last 5 PPs.

dallas gets a long Betty
I'll be surprised if they even get a shot on net .

my commentary towards the Stars.

minute killed
11 tics left in the Betty
no real chances

Betty killed

How a team can get a Betty for almost 2 mins and not even get a real scoring chance is a mystery to me .

Nucks get a pp
neither of these teams belong in the playoffs
most lacklustre series I have seen in years

0-0 after one in Dallas

Turco did make a great save in the last few seconds .

I missed a goal in NY
5-0 after 2

Thrash did not show up tonight

After lots of end-to-end action and 9:12, the Senators break the tie.

2-1 Ottawa with 10:48 left in regulation.

Desperation time for the Pens.....

Kovalchuk just went up a few notches
Avery hit him and then Kovalchuk sought him out and dropped 'em
Good to see

old man shanahan gets credit
goal/puck goes in off Hnidy
6-0

Under 1:00 for the Pens.....

Icing Sens with :44.7 left in regulation, and the Sens take the timeout to give the D a breather and get the defense set.

Pens with the EN, and the puck goes off the ice behind Emery with :26.9 left.

Icing Sens with :14.8 left, still an EN for the Pens......

2-1 Senators, final. 3-1 lead in games, and headed home.

dal/Van 0-0 midway in the 2nd

tsn has dumped the NYR game and now Minny/Ana is on .

Wild have shown some love for their fans
BOOGAARD is dressed.



I knew the pens were not playoff worthy
loosey goosey d doesn't win in the playoffs .

Vs bonus time is also the Ducks-Wild.

Nylander gets the hatty, Jagr gets a 4th assist, and the Rangers lead by a touchdown.

7-0 final for the Rangers.

Enjoy- no late game for me tonight, I've got an early day tomorrow.

See you for the next games!

1-0 Ana in the 2nd

2-1 Van in the 3rd
missed all the goals

the Van/Dal series just doesn't have a playoff vibe .