With all due respect to Al Gore, it's damned cold outside for April.   It was 39 degrees in Jackson, Mississippi  on Saturday, so it was even a cold day in Hell.  I spent the day watching some critical hockey games as the NHL regular season winds down.

The first game, Vancouver vs. San Jose had the Northwest Division title on the line and was won by Vancouver in overtime.  Great game.  I only watched this game with one eye as I had the TV split screen with the more pressing White Sox-Twins game on the other side.

The second game, Montreal vs. Toronto had all kinds of playoff implications.  A Canadians win secured the final slot in the Eastern Conference playoff lineup.  A Maple Leafs win,  coupled with an Islanders loss to New Jersey Sunday afternoon would put the Leafs in.  Toronto took a 3-1 lead.  In the second period, Montreal dominated, scoring four straight goals.  It looked like Toronto was done.  But the Leafs rallied for three goals and won it 6-5.  Add to the excitement of the game itself the rivalry between the two teams (Yankees and Red Sox of hockey) and it was really memorable.

We turned our attention back to the Western conference and Colorado vs. Nashville.  A Colorado win over Nashville, coupled with a Calgary loss against Edmonton would set up a final game show down between the surging Avs and the flickering Flames.  But the Nashville Predators had other ideas, and three unanswered goals by the Preds in the third period caved in Colorado 4-2.  Sadly, for Avs fans, the Flames lost to Edmonton last night.

I can't wait for the Stanley Cup playoffs to kick off on Wednesday.

Lightning Round

• Nice win by the White Sox yesterday.  Hopefully, the aliens will not bring back the real Javy Vasquez anytime soon. Rookie John Danks gets the short straw and makes his major league debut against Johan Santana this afternoon.  Don't blink, kid.
• Don't look now, but Van Chancellor is planning a comeback.  On a big stage.
• I think when A-Rod was circling the bases yesterday after his game winning grand slam, they should have played "How do you like me now?" by Toby Keith over the PA system.
• It's the only day of the year I subject myself to at least trying to watch golf.  Eldrick is always great on Sunday.
• Soccer fans are getting touchy about people ripping their sport.  Not liking soccer doesn't make you an idiot, it makes you an American.
  
• Looks like Katie Couric is turning into Joan Embery.
• Congress may phase out regular incandescent bulbs and replace them with the energy efficient bulbs.  If this country wanted to save thousands of kilowatts of electricity each year, we would simply draft a law that says people under 18 are not allowed to turn on lights or appliances.  The money saved alone from the TVs and lights not left on by the seventeen year-old that lives here would cause an oil surplus.
• Here's a great excuse for running a red light: I didn't want to break my expensive viola.  The judge in the case is not a music lover.  Of course, having committed the violation in Tennessee, perhaps the defendant should have used the word "fiddle.
  
• A Northwest Airlines pilot was grounded after excessive cursing, first at the tower and then at passengers. Roger F%^&ing Tower.  F*%#ing fight 191 requests f*#%ing permission to f%^&ing take off.  Hurry the f%^& up.