Phil Kessel

In Boston, they are undoubtedly watching the NHL standings with increased anxiety on two fronts. Not only are the Bruins desperately hanging on to the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, but the Maple Leafs' recently improved play is threatening to take the Beantowners, who own Toronto's top pick, out of the draft lottery. Boston's dreams of welcoming Tyler Seguin or Taylor Hall into the fold may be slipping away.  

Given the severity of the hit on Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Brent Seabrook I completely understand why he is pissed off at Anaheim Ducks defenseman (and his friend) James Wisnewski. That said, it is a long know fact that once the puck drops there are no friends on the ice, always has and always will be that way. I suspect once Seabrook has time to reflect on this that he will realize that Wisnewski was merely doing his job, albeit in a dangerous and gutless fashion.  

It is one of the mysteries of the late-season NHL, where some teams are preparing for a deep playoff run and others are looking much further ahead. One night, the New Jersey Devils look unbeatable in an easy 5-2 win over the Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins. The next night, against the worst team in the Eastern Conference, the Devils were all out to salvage a point from the Maple Leafs.  

After their much-anticipated retaliation against Matt Cooke, the Boston Bruins showed little passion in their game against the Pittsburgh Penguins Thursday night, this even though the Bruins are fighting for a playoff berth. Cooke, whose blindside hit sidelined Boston's Marc Savard indefinitely with a Grade 2 concussion in Pittsburgh on March 7, took the ice for the first time 1:53 into the game as fans booed loudly. Just five seconds later, he and Shawn Thornton brushed against each other in the faceof  

Lee Stempniak , LW/RW, Phoenix Coyotes—Stempniak has been absolutely dynamite since his arrival in the desert. He's scored at a goal-per-game clip since the trade. It isn't fair to expect Stempniak to keep up this otherworldly production, but he is still available on many waiver wires and could be a short-term fix to your scoring woes.  

Riding their longest winning streak in four seasons, the Montreal Canadiens are trying not to focus on the teams they're chasing in the Eastern Conference race. A matchup with the red-hot Toronto Maple Leafs could give them enough to worry about. The Canadiens try to extend their winning streak to seven Saturday night, when they face a Maple Leafs club going for five straight home wins for the first time in three seasons.

They play hard, they play well   -Zach Parise

 

Pension Plan Puppets — ... out a SO win with a sick Phil Kessel deke that had me convinced he'd run out of ice right before he scored. Good times. Links after the jump.  

The Boston Bruins wasted no time avenging their fallen teammate, but once that was done they seemed to have little energy left for a playoff race they are in danger of losing. Marc-Andre Fleury made 17 saves for Pittsburgh's first shutout of the season and the Penguins won 3-0 as the Bruins got little spark from their retaliation against Matt Cooke less than two minutes into the game Thursday night. Shawn Thornton squared off with Cooke five seconds after the Penguin came on for his first shift.

We expected it to be intense and emotional but we were prepared to play hockey   -Sidney Crosby

 

Marc-Andre Fleury made 17 saves for Pittsburgh's first shutout of the season in the Penguins' 3-0 victory over the Boston Bruins on Thursday night. After their much-anticipated retaliation against Matt Cooke, the Bruins showed little passion despite fighting for a playoff berth. They are eighth in the Eastern Conference, three points ahead of the New York Rangers and Atlanta for the final spot.