are installing synthetic - plastic - ice. There's a whole company dedicated to producing the product. No one has measured the volume of synthetic ice shavings yet, nor knows what to do with them.

Now, back to our regularly scheduled programming ... Penguins-Flyers is always a war.

And Dan Vladar has been better in net than expected.

The Pens have the veteran trio of Crosby, Malkin and Letang looking for one last hurrah.

Should be interesting.

Hadn't heard about the artificial ice. Wonder how widespread it will become.

And the I-90 Boston vs Buffalo and how if Chicago wins round 2 of that would be an I-90 matchup.

I am biased as I was a big Flyer's fan and even with Madison Square Garden a 1/4 mile walk from my door now. I can only root for NYC teams in individual games not vs one from Philly.

My Rangers are in a bad way. Could be a while before they are in the playoffs again.

Them and the Stars. Both teams have great depth. But Carolina was lacking toughness. Until this year. They acquired Nic Deslauriers before the trade deadilne. He's going to be a big factor for them, I think. They won't get pushed around so easily now.

Beat the heathen Flyers! One more Cup for Sid, Geno, & Tanger!

Yes, it's nice to see the Sabres back in the post season. My husband the Buffalonian is excited!

I was just responding to bucolic_frolic above and hadn't seen your post yet.

Yes, the aging triumvirate get what will likely be their last shot at winning one more Cup. I am rooting for them. Crosby, in particular, is such a class act.

The quack attack is back in the playoffs for the first time in a few years. Joel Q had done a tremendous job.

Lots of promising young talent on that team. Between them and the Montreal Canadiens, very bright futures, so long as they can retain the rising stars longer-term.