Day two of the chase for Lord Stanley's Cup was not nearly as intense as day one.  As a matter of fact, there were no surprises at all last night, except maybe that the Devils gave up three goals to the Lightning.

• Buffalo showed how good they were last night.  Forget for a moment that Alan Dershowitz was in the net for the Isles, Buffalo clearly dominated the blueline play in this game to the point where even if Isles goalie Rick DiPietro comes back (which is the rumor) I don't think they can over come this.  On several occasions, it looked like the Islander defensmen had their feet encased in cement. 

• The Rangers had a little tougher time taking out the Thrashers, but skill and experience were clearly in play in this game.  It's a damned shame Michael Nylander didn't play this well when he was with the Blackhawks.

• Detroit made it look easy as they coasted over Calgary (who many thought was the sexy pick for a first round upset).  The Wings have so many weapons and so many ways to exploit a weaker team.
  

Tonight, Nashville and San Jose crank it up in the Hockeytonk.  Memo to Ron Wilson:  There is no crying in hockey.  I've seen the replay several times, as a matter of fact I played it in super slo on Tivo and there is absolutely no proof that Scott Hartnell was trying to knee Jonathan Cheechoo.  Okay, the elbow attempt to the chops is an issue, but the knee on knee is not.  Cheechoo was injured trying to avoid getting hit by Hartnell.  And Ron, last time I looked, hockey is a contact sport.

In the other two games tonight, Vancouver and Dallas, fresh off their four overtime game, try to skate tonight at General Motors Place.  That game is available on Versus.  In the other game of the evening, Anaheim meets Minnesota in what ought to be a lot less closer in than the 2-1 score in game one indicated.

Finally, you know that for years, TV networks have always gravitated toward the lowest common denominator on national broadcasts.  That's why ESPN is your home for the Mets, Yankees, Braves and Red Sox and why you will probably never see the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday Night Football. 

NBC has caused an international incident, claiming the Penguins-Sens game for Saturday afternoon.  North of the boarder, Saturday night is "Hockey Night in Canada" and, since the Sens and Sidney Crosby are products of that country, the CBC is outraged that NBC has decided on a 3pm start for the game.  More importantly, the CBC pays their fair share of rights fees, so their outrage is justified.  In the states, a hockey game draws about a 1.1 share (although it has been rivaling the NBA numbers on Sunday) where in Canada, the country shuts down.  It would be like the NFL starting the AFC playoffs at midnight to accommodate people in Japan.

Lightning Round

• Unfortunately, the weather in Cleveland is better so the Indians return to Jacobs Field to meet the White Sox and not stay in Milwaukee to play at Miller Park (which, from a selfish standpoint would be my preference.)  Tonight, Javier "Give Me Five" Vasquez toes the rubber for the Sox who are coming off their first series victory in Oakland since Red Faber was employed on the South Side.
• Reds manager Jerry Narron has benched Edwin Encarnacion for not hustling.  Kudos to Narron for not only doing it, but admitting he's doing it. Donald Fehr is reportedly reviewing the decision.
  
• Ever get that feeling of deja vous?
• Here's a fairly good rundown of "All My Coaches: College Basketball Edition"
• Guitarist and diva Lindsey Buckingham still thinks it's 1978 and Fleetwood Mac has five hit singles in the top ten.  At least he's acting like it.
• You can not sing it in your house; you can not sing it to your spouse; you can not post it on your site; you can not do this, it's not right; If you do, we'll let dogs loose; Now C&D, Love, Doctor Suess.
• I am participating in the 2007 Sports Bloggers Mock Draft, the brainchild of the blog site Awful Announcing.  I will be representing the Tennessee Titans and picking 15th.  The results will be displayed early next week.