No. 1 Star: Ryan Miller, Buffalo Sabres

Miller was the difference in the Sabres' 1-0 victory at the Philadelphia Flyers in Game 1. The Sabres keeper made 35 saves, including 16 in the second period. It was his second career postseason shutout, and his third shutout in his last six starts. Patrick Kaleta scored the game-winning goal at 5:56 of the third after a shot by Marc-Andre Gragnani bounced off of Sergei Bobrovsky.

No. 2 Star: Joe Pavelski, San Jose Sharks

The Big Pavelski scored his third career overtime goal at 14:44 of the extra session, giving the Sharks a 3-2 victory over the Los Angeles Kings in Game 1. Kyle Wellwood set him up with a nice pass, and Ryane Clowe (3 assists) was a presence down low.

No. 3 Star: Carey Price, Montreal Canadiens

Price was a different goalie for Montreal during the regular season, and that rebirth has continued in the playoffs. In back of a solid defense, Price made 31 saves, snapped an 8-game postseason losing streak and led the Habs to a 2-0 victory at the Boston Bruins in Game 1. It was especially impressive considering he had given up 13 goals in his last two games in Boston.

Honorable mention: Brian Gionta scored both of Montreal's goals, and both were assisted by Scott Gomez. … Justin Williams was fantastic in his first game back from injury for the Kings, setting up Dustin Brown's power play goal and scoring the game-tying goal in the second. … Antti Niemi made 33 saves, while Jonathan Quick made 42. … Boston won the faceoff battle with Montreal, 59 percent to 41. … Kyle Clifford and Ben Eager fought after a brutal hit by Jarret Stoll on Ian White. But the real joys here were the reactions from the benches:

Did you know? The Bruins and Habs are facing each other for an NHL record 33rd time in the playoffs. (AP)

Dishonorable mention: The Flyers were 0-for-5 on the power play, failing to convert a 5-on-3. … The Bruins were 0-for-3 on the power play. … Tomas Kaberle and Dennis Seidenberg were both a minus-2. … Stoll's hit on White deserved a penalty; it could garner a suspension.

Conn Smythe Watch: 1. Mike Fisher, Nashville Predators; 2. Ryan Miller, Buffalo Sabres 3. Alexander Semin, Washington Capitals; 4. Marc-Andre Fleury, Pittsburgh Penguins; 5. Roberto Luongo, Vancouver Canucks; 6. Johan Franzen, Detroit Red Wings; 7. Brian Gionta, Montreal Canadiens; 8. Joe Pavelski, San Jose Sharks; 9. Pekka Rinne, Nashville Predators; 10. Carey Price, Montreal Canadiens

The query in the headline above has been posed to us several times since the Stanley Cup Playoffs began, although we're not sure how we've been positioned as experts on (a) beards and/or (b) women, based on our history with both subjects. (Unless, of course, tales of our impeccable toilet seat etiquette have finally reached foreign shores.)

The hockey playoff beard, as grand a tradition as you'll find, leaves a large percentage of the NHL's fan base feeling left out. Turns out a few of our readers were wondering the same thing we were:

What is the female equivalent of the hockey playoff beard?

One of the most popular answers is also the most unnoticeable (and unprintable) ones. DC 101's Elliot in the Morning program in Washington, D.C., has been publicizing a "Rock The Bush" campaign (PG-13 content warning) started by two female Washington Capitals fans. Which is exactly what it sounds like, and has nothing to do with either the 41st or 43rd President of the United States of America.

How astute, to embrace hirsute ... although we're not sure if this bit of rally-grooming would have been all that effective in the 1970s.

Beyond the ladies "keepin' it real," are there other annual traditions for female puckheads that rival the playoff beard? We asked some our favorite women in the hockey blogosphere for their suggestions.

And here … we … go.

First up is Sarah Sprague, Pittsburgh Penguins fan and foodie blogger:

As much as I'd like to be flip and say "Not waxing my legs for the entire playoff run," the truth of the matter is there really isn't a true female equivalent to the playoff scruff.

Serious lady puckheads follow the same other rituals as their male counterparts during the playoffs; same shirts worn for game time, lucky socks, and in my case; the same lucky order of "heart attack fries" from a local dive bar that propelled the Pens through the playoffs from 2008-2009.

(I tried to give the alfredo-and-bacon covered fried potatoes up for my health for the '10 run and look what happened. The Canadiens and their poutine potatoes beat Pittsburgh.)

But that's okay. The beard is meant to be a constant reminder of the playoffs from the moment you wake up until you lay your scratchy face back onto the pillow at night.

Female fans need no such physical manifestation. They already feel the weight of the Cup in their hearts.

Juniors blogger and Twitter maven Wrap Around Curl, based in Vancouver, Wash.:

As a Leafs fan when asked about playoffs my initial reaction is much like Lucille Bluth, "I don't understand the question and I won't respond to it."

But I have logged my fair share of going deep in the playoffs with the WHL.

This is a magical time of year. I have such a magnetic attraction to the Ron Swanson Mustaches, the full-on lumberjack beards, yes even the neck scruff. I just want to rub my face against the glorious statement of hockey endurance and manliness. But what is a dame to do when the menfolk get more rugged?

In theory I could knit a beard and wear that around (if knitting was in my skill set) but given my locale and the general weirdness, it would just be questioned. The only somewhat radical thing I could think of would be just letting my hair go wild and unkempt. Untamed bangs! Roots uncolored!

But as a busy college broad, that it just common occurrence.

For the playoffs, what can the ladies do? Keep it fly and always wear team colors. Get your nails done and whip your hair back and forth because you're flawless. As lovely as the shaggy men are, most of them don't have the fortune of looking as good as Jon Hamm and can sometimes look a bit ick-nasty. The ladies need to pick up the slack.

In essence, playoffs are like Miss America. It is all one big beauty contest, I mean, scholarship program. This is your chance to shine and show why your team is the best. Slather some Vaseline on your teeth because smilers wear a crown and losers wear a frown. Be witty, show your statistical prowess and knock those haters into to place. Sure it is easy for the playoff fervor to devolve into primal cavemen interaction, but you'll charm them all into paying your tab.

Playoffs are a trying time and requires a religious kind of dedication. Pouring over goalie stats is akin to reading a divine companion. There are rituals and habits that are imperative to adhere to. Holy cloths to be preserved and must not be ruined by the satanic Tide on a win streak. Make pilgrimages to the belly of the beast to show your devotion. Valiantly defend your faith and shun the smack-talking demons as they try to lure you to the dark side. It is a time that tests confidence and only the few are delivered the glory.

So turn that swag on and look gorgeous doing it.

"Dave Schultz" of I Mean, We Got Guys:

If Carolina had made the playoffs, I was going to buy some Swarovski crystals and do some vajazzling (PG-13 warning).

In hindsight, I'm glad, because I'm thinking that hot gluing crystals to my ladybits isn't such a great idea. I do, however, still wish they'd made the playoffs.

Other than that, I just don't get a haircut or color during playoffs.  I know of some ladies who have opted not to shave legs and/or armpits, but I can't go along with that.

Finally, the great Loser Domi of Barry Melrose Rocks:

As a Leafs fan, I feel contractually obligated to jokingly ask you what a "playoffs" is.

Now that we have that out of the way, I can fully contemplate what I could do for playoffs. Personally, I feel that the playoff beards thing is a bit silly, but I'm not going to knock other puckheads for doing it, and I am willing to play along.

I suppose I could wear team gear (except team thongs because I'm not sure why thong underwear exists in the first place.) It's starting to unfreeze a little where I am, so T-shirts and such could be nice. Also, hockey jerseys are comfy and awesome.

However, the team gear is not without drawbacks. Jerseys and such can be rather pricey. Also, team gear may not be appropriate for all occupations.  For example, my job requires me to be dressed "professionally", and since I'm working with formal wear, I need to be dressed like I know what I'm talking about.

Unfortunately, Leafs gear does not fit into these requirements. In this case, I suppose I could wear team colors, which is a bit more subtle and probably works better for me.

But for braver women, here are some suggestions just for giggles:

-dye your hair team colors

-not shave anything, which would be the most logical equivalent.

-forgo showering

-if you're a Blackhawks fan, or if you just dislike the Canucks, set your ring tone to "Chelsea Dagger"

-spend the whole playoffs slizzered like Patrick Kane on a Cup parade (note: This is what I plan to do when the Leafs finally do win)

OK, ladies, there you go. But the "no showering" thing is just cruel, even if our beards are unwieldy. But if you really want our suggestion, then look no further than the Biggest George Parros Fan in the World:

UPDATE: Another one from Monica McAlister of The Hockey Writers:

Growing up in the Metro Detroit area during the era of Yzerman, and the closest thing to a dynasty this side of modern hockey, the question of what the female fan does for playoffs has often come up. The usual answers to the hot bedded issue usually end up not being suited for those under 18 or 13, depending on terminology used.

So the easy answer is the same as the men -- don't shave.

There in lies the problem that comes with the fact that the areas women shave are either not seen or not socially acceptable to not shave (and still often not socially acceptable to show). Let's face it: The weather is getting nice in most places and dress/shorts/skirts are starting to reappear and long leg hair isn't going to fly (though it might flow in the wind if your team makes the Stanley Cup Finals).

So what does a woman do? Everything else their male counterpart does. Not wash a lucky shirt or jersey until their team starts their post season. Eat the same meal before each game if their team wins after eating it

They may even just dress up their kids favorite stuffed penguin toy in an out grown Capitals jersey - just because this year history says the Capitals are going to the Finals; but they'll lose. Thanks Winter Classic curse!

Whatever you do to cheer on your team (or mock other teams) it's all in good fun and sportsmanship.

Now go throw an Octopus on the ice and let the best team win.

Ladies: If you have your own suggestions, we'll take'em at puckdaddyblog@yahoo.com. Thanks for reading.

The NHL Awards aren't until June, but Pavel Datsyuk of the Detroit Red Wings has already won a significant one in hockey. It was announced today that Pavel Datsyuk is the winner of this year's Kharlamov Trophy — awarded by Sovetsky Sport to the best Russian NHL player, as chosen by his peers.

It was the closest vote in quite some time. Fedor Tyutin of the Columbus Blue Jackets was the last one to cast his vote to ensure that Datsyuk would unseat Alex Ovechkin, who won his fifth Kharlamov Trophy in a row last year.

"The level of play Pavel shows is consistently unbelievably high," Tyutin said. "When you watch what he does on the ice you get a feeling that there is nothing that Pavel can't do."

Alexei Kovalev, who also voted for Datsyuk, said that "he is the most important player for Detroit. When Datsyuk comes back from injuries, the team looks very different."

"Datsyuk is very consistent. You always know that he will never play below his own level. Consistency is the sign of class," added Nikolai Khabibulin.

"I simply like the way he plays," Alexander Semin of the Washington Capitals said, to explain his decision to pick Datsyuk. (Ed. Note: Yes, he actually voted for Datsyuk. Wow.)

Pavel Datsyuk himself was very surprised when our colleague Pavel Lysenkov reached him for comment -- that story is here.

"Of course I am very surprised!" Datsyuk said. "It's prestigious to be selected by your peers. I am very, very surprised. But at the same time I am very happy that I was chosen to pick up this honor. A huge 'thanks' for giving their votes for me."

When told he should personally thank Fedor Tyutin, Datsyuk said: "That just means that I owe him a dinner now."

Datsyuk also spoke briefly about his regular season. "It was a good year. Our team had a very even regular season. We started off really well. And as for me personally, I felt like I was on a roller coaster ride. I had a decent start to the season, and then there was the first injury. I come back, start playing well, and then there was the second injury. But it was a good life experience. It will be interesting to look back at it in the future."

Q. Was there a game this season you remember the most?

DATSYUK: "It just so happened that I missed a lot of time this year. But the very last game of the regular season against the Chicago Blackhawks is the one I really enjoyed. Usually final games of the regular season are all playoff-like, because so many teams still battle for the spot in the top 8, for the seeding. And our game against Chicago was just that — very playoff-like."

There was some talk that the Red Wings weren't really motivated in that game, because you could have picked whether you wanted to play Nashville or Phoenix in the first round.

"Picking opponents was not what we were concerned about. Every game at the end of the regular season gets your team in the mood for the playoffs. You start testing various combinations, try to develop playoff-like chemistry. That's why that game against Chicago in their own building was a good character test for us ahead of the playoffs."

And not only did you score, you had 7 shots on goal. It's just not like you.

"We were getting close to the playoffs and this is the kind of stats I would like to continue to produce in these playoffs. I just hope my accuracy improves. But to score goals, I need to shoot more. I also need to step up more and take more responsibility in the playoffs."

***

Datsyuk also touched on the first round series against the Winnipeg Phoenix Coyotes, especially mentioning Ilya Bryzgalov, who came in fourth in this year's Kharlamov Trophy voting (Bryzgalov actually voted for himself)

"Phoenix is very good, balanced team. They are very oriented and know what to do. But you cannot talk about the Coyotes without talking about Ilya [Bryzgalov]. It's not for nothing people say that a goalie is half the team. He may be more. He is so durable, he plays great, very consistent. He is definitely one of our biggest problems, but at the same time, he is one of the main aces.

"I already started growing my playoff beard. I thought I'd start early this year. Let's see how big it gets. Time will tell."

Datsyuk also provided his explanation of his coach Mike Babcock's words when Babcock told The Detroit News: "As soon a Pavel gets on the ice, the whole team suddenly has more space and has the puck way more."

"I think he meant that I am really small," Datsyuk explained.  "So when I, a small slim person, am on the ice, there is more room for bigger guys. Maybe he said that to cheer me up that I look skinny!"

The Kharlamov Trophy ceremony will be held in July in Moscow.

"Great!" Datsyuk said. "Being in Moscow means I will be able to go to a few theater plays."

Were it not for his minus-1 and his single shot on goal, Steven Stamkos's Stanley Cup Playoff debut in Game 1 against the Pittsburgh Penguins would have nearly been invisible statistically. Which is not something you expect from a player who posted 45 goals and 46 assists in the regular season, and who was 14th in the league in shots on goal.

This was Stamkos in Game 1:

In total, he took four shots at Marc-Andre Fleury, with one getting through.

The Penguins had him in lockdown, with Kris Letang and Brooks Orpik getting the majority of the work against the Stamkos line; and, of course, with Orpik introducing the Lightning star to the playoffs with a monstrous check (watch it here).

Stamkos spoke with the St. Pete Times about that hit:

"I've been hit like that before," he said. "You have to take hits to make a play, and we actually got the puck and got a shot off. But I knew it was coming. I've played against him for three years now. He's one of the hardest-hitting guys in the league. It's a clean hit, and it was a good way to start the game for them, I guess."

And not so much for Stamkos, who was a non-factor in Game 1 … which obviously needs to change in Friday night's Game 2 if the Lightning want to come out of Pittsburgh with a split. From the Times:

"Your compete level has to rise," Stamkos said, "and that's something that for me, personally, is going to be a lot stronger in Game 2. I can tell you that for sure, go to the front of the net and fight for space. There's so little time, with everyone knowing the magnitude of the game, you have to compete even harder."

It's an education for a young player, and one of the reasons why the Lightning were hard to figure out heading into this series. For all the battle-tested savvy of Vinny Lecavalier and Marty "Double Root Canal OMG" St. Louis, Stamkos and others on the roster are playoff newbies.

Some players jump right in, as Sidney Crosby did with three goals in his first three playoff games in 2007. Others have to learn, as Stamkos did in Game 1, what it takes. His performance Friday night will be fascinating to watch, and a barometer for the series.

Speaking of Sid: The Bolts blog Don't Trade Vinny has a cynical (and humorous) take on Crosby watching Game 1 with a headset on. Coach Crosby ... is there anything he can't do?

It's a Friday edition of Puck Daddy Radio, and we're chatting about the following and much more:

• Super Special Listener Contest: This week, we're playing your pro wrestling-style promos that cut down the team that your team is facing in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Cut us a promo, cap it at 90 seconds, and send it to us at puckdaddyradio@thescore.com. (You can upload to YouTube and then just send URL if that's easier.) Gong Show Hockey prize packs for the best ones!

• Special Guest Star: EJ Hradek of ESPN joins us to talk playoff hockey and the NHL on TV.

The octopus controversy in Detroit, as covered by Deadspin.

• Reviewing all of last night's Stanley Cup Playoff games.

• Question of the day: Who is in the most "must-win" situation tonight?

• Puck Previews.

Email your thoughts to puckdaddyradio@thescore.com.

Puck Daddy Radio is on Monday through Friday, from 1-2 p.m. ET/10-11 a.m. PT on The Score Radio Sirius Channel 98. Featuring Wyshynski and Rob Pizzo, it's your show: Calls, tweets, special guests and a ton of hockey goodness every day.

The call in number is 1-888-942-7326 (1-888-9-HARDCORE). We'll also be reading emails to puckdaddyradio@thescore.com and tweets that you send to @wyshynski and @robpizzo.

We're all about interaction here; call in, email, tweet ... we'll discuss whatever you'd like. Listen here:

More than any other sport, hockey is prone to having a few top-seeded teams get upset in the playoffs. True to form, a couple first-round games went the way of the underdogs Thursday night, a major first step in their quests to take down their respective Goliaths.

Teams that move past "superior" foes always seem to end up looking fairly similar, and that makes sense -- to pull off a successful upset, there's a certain recipe that needs to be followed.

The top dogs are inevitably going to have the puck more, and as the "lesser" team, you have to be OK with that. Simply having the puck equates to actual goals the same way dribbling a basketball equates to actually dunking it -- it takes a few more steps to make that happen.

So let them dribble all they want. You just need to make sure you keep them out of the danger zones with solid team defense.

Coaches enjoy yelling "keep them on the paint," (the yellow on the bottom of the boards). There's the expectation that a professional hockey goalie should be competent enough to stop any and all shots that come from out there (you listening, Vesa Toskala?), so as long as your group plays responsibly in their own end, you won't force your tender to either be Patrick Roy or end up with Dan Ellis' save percentage from Game 1.

Plus, when the puck is kept to the outside, you can flip the switch on step two of the upset plan — block shots.

When the Montreal Canadiens made it all the way to the Eastern Conference finals as an eight-seed last year (and started their trend of making me look like an idiot with my playoff predictions), they proved just how valuable of a skill this is.

Well, here we are again: It's playoff time, and they went right back to putting their bodies on the line. A couple of players had the dubious honor of being the end point for 105 mph Zdeno Chara bombs, and showed no fear in doing it. That takes cojones - even I duck when he winds up, and I'm watching the game from a completely different state.

For the ones that do get through, you need the most obvious component of the upset to come through: Your goalie has to play exceptionally well. It helps to have a name in net like Ryan Miller or Carey Price, for whom their average play damn-near lives up to that requirement.

If you combine the above three factors, it equals rage in the hearts of shooters — they can pull the trigger a hundred times a night, but when they're taken from outside of the danger zones, half of them are getting through and the rest are easily handled, you want to put your fist through a wall.

Or the goalie's face. Whichever's closest.

The less-talented group has to slow the game down, and that's the responsibility of the coach, who needs to be at the top of his game, too. It's not so much that he has to make his guys play the trap, he just has to have his guys on the same smothery page. The Buffalo Sabres aren't about to try to match the Philadelphia Flyers in a run-and-gun battle, so for them, it comes down to patience -- everybody play their position, wait for chances, and strike when the iron's hot.

Because you've placed an emphasis on patience, not falling behind early is crucial. As soon as you're forced to open up your style of play to catch-up, your goose is cooked. Everything you do is about staying in your shell and waiting. You're essentially trying to win a heavyweight fight using jabs, and it's not impossible. You just have to let your opponent punch himself out.

It all adds up to one advantage in particular -- if the play is largely in the underdogs' zone, that means the other goalie is getting cold. It's comparable to giving a friend a bunch of gimmes in golf before making him putt the ones for money at the end of the round. That goalie hasn't felt the puck much and he's not likely to be as mentally into the game, so you have the chance to take advantage of the cold goalie a couple times a night.

And suddenly, boom. Down goes Frazier.

I'm still not sold that Buffalo or Montreal will be able to take down either Philly/Boston Goliaths, but in Game 1, they both followed the upset manual to a tee. They've stolen home ice at the very least, and planted the seed of upset doubt.

The more that seed grows, the harder it will be for the Flyers and Bruins to kill it.

Here are your Puck Headlines: a glorious collection of news and views collected from the greatest blogosphere in sports and the few, the proud, the mainstream hockey media.

• OK … now it's art. According to Nashvillest, "a local prankster has decked out Musica in the finest XXXXXL Preds threads" prior to Game 2 between the Nashville Predators and the Anaheim Ducks. Ah, the glorious defacing of public art for the purposes of supporting your team. Witness the Eliot in the Morning "Red The Fed…eral Property" promotion in D.C. [Nashvillest]

• Perhaps the Anaheim Ducks should rethink the theme for their game programs. You know, considering their offensive output in Game 1. [Ducks Blog]

• New York Rangers coach John Tortorella on the return of Sean Avery to the lineup for Game 2: "I think at times when Sean is consistent with his play he can add some forecheck. I'll tell you right now Sean's going in tonight." [ESPN]

• Via James Duthie of TSN, the latest battle in the Tortorella/Larry Brooks wars. [@tsnJamesDuthie]

• Speaking of journalism, Tyler Dellow's take on the PHWA and the NHL Awards voting process is a must-read. As we've said before: Their standards and reasons for not allowing more bloggers into the association simply don't sync with where the medium is at in 2011. [mc79hockey]

• Expect more of coach Sidney Crosby for the Pittsburgh Penguins on Friday night. [Post-Gazette]

• Henrik Zetterberg has been ruled out of Game 2 for the Detroit Red Wings against the Phoenix Coyotes. [Red Wings]

• We'll have more on this in a bit, but please do check out Deadspin's story on a Detroit Red Wings fan getting a police citation for throwing an octopus on the ice during Game 1. Is there a city crackdown in effect? [Deadspin]

• This is probably a "Dark Knight Rises" spoiler, but honestly who cares? Christopher Nolan might be filming in Pittsburgh because they want to blow up the Igloo in the movie. Which obviously means the villain for "Batman 3" is Iceburgh and Jean-Claude Van Damme will be Robin. [Batman-News, via Brian Buckley]

• Handing out the grades to the 2010-11 Ottawa Senators. Spoiler: Everyone got an A-plus. [Cory Clouston Fashion Review]

• We simply can't get enough of photos in which Tanner Glass of the Vancouver Canucks is fighting bears. [Vancouver Sun]

• Why can't we live in the here-and-now about the Canucks and the Chicago Blackhawks? [Red Light District]

• The scariest players on the Blackhawks. How is the answer not John Scott, John Scott and John Scott? [Kurtenblog]

• Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, Philadelphia and New York all have the chance to do the mystical "double title" thing in the NBA and NHL. [Slap Shots]

• The top unrestricted free agents in the NHL next summer. Brooks Laich gonna get paid? [USA Today]

• You do not mess with Joe Haggerty when he's about to go on the air. Especially if you're wearing a Montreal Canadiens jersey after a Boston Bruins loss. [Ted Williams' Head]

• Looking like Ray Emery for the Ducks in Game 2, his first playoff start since 2007. [Globe & Mail]

• More Bloge Salming/Houses of the Hockey goodness, this time starring Toronto Maple Leafs assistant GM Dave Nonis. [HOTH]

• The junior hockey schedule isn't doing teams any favors in the postseason. [Buzzing the Net]

• The ratings story, via the NHL: "In the U.S., VERSUS set a network record by averaging 534,328 viewers with their opening night triple-header, the best opening night in its six years of Stanley Cup Playoffs coverage and a 12 percent increase over last year. In Canada, CBC earned a 29 percent increase over last year by averaging 1.58 million viewers for its two opening night playoff broadcasts, highlighted by its coverage of Chicago-Vancouver, up a whopping 207 percent over the comparable game last year (Colorado-San Jose). TSN's telecast of New York-Washington delivered 664,000 viewers; good for a 38 percent gain compared to last year's opening playoff broadcast featuring two U.S. based teams (Philadelphia-New Jersey, 481,000 viewers)."

• Well, here's a crazy idea for the Boston Bruins: Actually getting some traffic in front of Carey Price. [NHL.com]

• For all of your Alpo Suhonen needs. [Toronto Star]

• To all: Y! Sports NHL page had a glitch Friday in which the Blackhawks were listed as being down 2-0 to Vancouver. Reason behind it: The service that sends us box scores sent us Game 1's result instead of Game 2's preview, so the whole thing got fracked up. But thanks to the hundreds of you that noticed ;)

• Finally, these lovely ladies present a San Jose Sharks' playoff anthem: "Black and Teal," which is sung to, you guessed it, "My Heart Will Go On" by Celine … oh, wait, "Black and Yellow"? Got it. Our mistake. Take it away, girls in their bedroom with a webcam; every time they shoot, they get it in, according to the lyrics (stick tap to Kit Perkins; PG-13 Language).

The throwing of an octopus on the ice during Detroit Red Wings games dates back to 1952, when it was symbolic of the eight wins it took to capture the Stanley Cup. As the playoffs have grown in the NHL, so has the tradition: Red Wings fans in Detroit, and in cities where their team visits, have smuggled slimy cephalopods into games and tossed them onto the playing surface for decades.

But as Detroit prepared for Game 2 of its Western Conference quarterfinal series against the Phoenix Coyotes on Friday, fans were buzzing about this tradition's future -- and the city police and the NHL having primary roles in its potential demise.

The hysteria began on Thursday night when Deadspin published an account from "Tommy B.", a Red Wings fan who claimed arena personnel encouraged his octopus toss in Game 1, but who was ejected and fined $500 when he tossed his octopus on the ice — after, he said, five others had already been thrown.

Ejections have happened before; but where did this fine come from? (Also see this ABC News report featuring "Tommy B," who is Tom Blaish of Canton.)

Matt Saler, who blogs on the Red Wings at On the Wings, spoke with an Officer Bullock at the Detroit Police Department's Central Events desk and was told that the city police are enforcing the policy at the behest of the NHL:

Officer Bullock informed me that the enforcement of Municipal Code 38-5-4 is at the request of the NHL. Evidently, police supervisors were informed Wednesday night, either before or during the game, by League representatives that they don't want anything thrown on the ice. An officer has to witness the throw and nab the thrower on the spot, but it's something they can and will enforce. Apparently, distance from players is not an issue: any octopus on the ice is grounds for ejection and a fine. I asked if it applied to hats thrown down for a hat trick and Officer Bullock pointed out it'd be much harder to enforce on hundreds/thousands of hats versus a few octopi.

The interesting part is that the Wings are not the ones asking for it. According to Officer Bullock, they're fine with the tradition, and even like it. And I gather the police aren't big fans of enforcing it either. It's up to the officer's discretion, so it's possible fans may still get away with it at times. But with NHL officials pushing for it, it's less safe to throw than it ever has been. Previously, it may have been a bit of an empty threat. Now it has teeth.

The NHL in recent years has sought to crack down on the octopus tradition. In 2008, the league threatened the Red Wings with a $10,000 fine if arena worker Al Sobotka twirled the eight-legged creature over his head to rally the crowd before a game. Why? Because opposing teams had complained about the "gunk," as Gary Bettman called it, that flew off the octopi.

The NHL, then, views this latest controversy as nothing new. NHL VP of media relations Frank Brown sees this controversy as a "rite of spring," and something that comes up in the first-round of the playoffs every April. He said the NHL has not wavered from its stance that the tradition is against league policy for fan behavior.

"I don't believe it's anything new, but I'm waiting to hear back from our security. It's a safety issue. You throw stuff on the ice, people get their skates caught in it, they fall down and hurt themselves. It's wrong. That's a problem," said Brown, in a phone interview Friday afternoon.

"We have tremendous respect for the custom. We get that part. But not to the point of indulging improper behavior from spectators," he said.

After our conversation, Brown sent over the following statement:

"NHL security did not direct that this person be arrested, or ejected. We do have a prohibition against throwing things to the ice surface since this may cause a delay in game or injury to players or others working on the ice surface."

According to the NHL, the City of Detroit Legal Department has prosecuted fans for throwing an octopus on the ice surface, with the determining factor in whether it violated a local misdemeanor ordinance (section 39.1.1 and 39.1.2) being whether the object could have caused injury to the participants or damage to the playing surface.

The Red Wings issued the following statement Friday, via MLive:

"The throwing of objects onto the ice surface is prohibited by the National Hockey League and persons caught doing so may be subject to prosecution for violating local and state laws.''

Also, the league pointed out that Michigan State Law -- specifically MCL 750.167, Disorderly Person (misdemeanor) section 167. (e) — states that a "disorderly person" is anyone intoxicated in a public place that is "endangering the safety of another person, or of property." According to the league, Michigan State Police "have prosecuted a Detroit Red Wings fan" that threw an octopus while violating that statute.

Why mention that? Well, the beginning of the Deadspin piece says, "keep in mind that he had a couple cocktails to accompany his creature tossing." So take that as you will.

It's clear the NHL has not backed off its campaign to end this tradition in Detroit, and according to Detroit police that opposition has been reaffirmed this postseason.

It's a campaign with which we do not agree.

As Brown said, it's a rite of spring; and just like in years past, we're left waiting to see any substantial proof that octopus "gunk" in Detroit has significantly damaged the playing surface or led to a player being injured. Because we've seen more evidence that it's a tradition worth continuing than reasons for it to end.

And if you're a Wings fan who sees a fellow Detroit backer get pinched for an octo-toss, we agree with Puck Daddy Radio co-host Rob Pizzo: Start an octopus toss legal defense fund.

Trending Topics is a new column that looks at the week in hockey according to Twitter. If you're only going to comment to say how stupid Twitter is, why not just go have a good cry for the slow, sad death of your dear internet instead?

Watching Game 1 of that Washington Capitals vs. New York Rangers series, I started to get nervous.

A lot of people had written off the Caps' chances in this series given how they played against the Rangers in the regular season (poorly) and their performances in recent postseasons (inexplicably awful). If they hadn't signed the Caps' death certificate straight away, they'd at least put them on life support prior to the series starting.

This was odd, given that they won the East despite an ugly eight-game losing streak that all the world got to giggle through on HBO. They went 30-11-7 after that, and surged from a tie for sixth all the way back up to first. Meanwhile, the Rangers bumbled along and had to sit around watching a Carolina Hurricanes game (the horror!) to figure out if they made the playoffs.

And somehow people were giving the Rangers a chance?

Oh, but you see, the Rangers were one of the best shot-blocking teams in the league this year (fourth) and that's exactly how the Canadiens beat the Caps in the first round last year. That and Jaroslav Halak standing on his head for seven straight games, of which a world-class netminder like Henrik Lundqvist is more than capable as well.

But the reason the Caps' opening playoff game had me nervous was that none of those expectations were met. Yeah, the Rangers blocked a lot of shots. Twenty-eight in fact. That's not an unreasonable amount.

But the Capitals blocked more. Thirty-two to be exact. Karl Alzner and Jeff Schults alone combined for 14. Only one Ranger had more than three. Washington also threw more hits than the Rangers (35-31) and, I would argue, were more successful in puck battles and in maintaining possession.

So as it turned out, that whole Bruce Boudreau commitment to defense and hard work, rather than floating around and scoring 12 goals a game, wasn't a load of crap. And everyone bought in.

Nowhere is this more typified than in the Alex Ovechkin goal.

(Coming Up: Why the Coyotes fans should want their team to leave; why posting NHL Awards ballots is a good thing; and your pearls of BizNasty.)

Did you, in your entire life, ever think you'd see Ovechkin scoring goals stationed at the side of the net with a defenseman jumping on top of him?

Certainly, it has to be one of the least-occupied areas of his career shot chart, and, in terms of the amount of determination it takes, the extra 35 feet or so from his usual sniper's nest -- at the top of the circles to the spot immediately to Lundqvist's right -- may as well be a mile.

Take also, the example of Alex Semin's game-winner. I'm not going to buy into the nonsense that his prolonged inability to score on Halak on 44 shots over last year's crushing seven-game defeat was in any way indicative of a HE'S NOT CLUTCH-type trend.

But he also looked rather unlike even the Alex Semin of the regular season. His half-loaded game-winning one-timer in OT was just about as perfect as that shot could possibly have been. And that he was in the right place to crush it into the back of the net after that lazy, terrible clear attempt by Marc Staal shows his killer instinct is anything but unrefined.

But what should scare people the most is that they still feel like the same ol' Caps. Look at those gleeful celebrations not only on the Semin goal, but the Ovechkin tally as well. They still play with that airy looseness and confidence that made the firewagon Washington teams of two and three seasons ago so fun to watch, but now that demeanor belies the rigidity up and down the roster that's been instilled by Boudreau.

And so now, one reason I'm nervous is that my prediction of Capitals in six isn't looking so strong. It's probably closer to five, and it wouldn't be in any way surprising if they swept.

The way they've started out, that could be true of whoever they get in the next round too.

If I were a Coyotes fan, I would now want them to leave

The NHL suspended Jarret Stoll of the Los Angeles Kings for Game 2 of their Western Conference quarterfinal series against the San Jose Sharks for this hit on Ian White in final minute of the first period in Thursday's Game 1:

There was no penalty called, although there should have been. Five-minute major and a gamer seemed about right. But a suspension? That's iffy. We imagine White getting knocked out of the game played a factor, and the Sharks saying today that they're gloomy on him playing in Game 2. So it's an eye-for-an-eye here.

According to Rich Hammond of LA Kings Insider, Trevor Lewis will move up to play with Justin Williams and Ryan Smyth, who along with Stoll made up the Kings' best line in Game 1. John Zeiler was called up from the AHL, and either Zeiler or Oscar Moller will be the fourth-line center.

(UPDATE: From Helene Elliott: "Kings now say they are NOT recalling Zeiler for Saturday bcause he couldn't clear re-entry waivers and arrive in San Jose in time.")

Meanwhile, please recall (and watch it here) this hit by Jason Demers on Ryan Smyth during Game 1. It appears the hit will go unpunished, which shouldn't sit well with Kings Coach Terry Murray. Via Working the Corners, his assessment of the Demers hit:

"But I want to say this: If Jarret Stoll gets suspended for that hit, then Demers's is five times as severe a hit on Ryan Smyth than Jarret Stoll's hit on Ian White.

"He (Demers) meets every criteria that you can read about from league memorandums," Murray continued. "Every coach, every player, every management, every owner knows about it. If you travel distance, you launch yourself two to three feet off the ice and throw an elbow at a person's head, that is a suspension, a big-time suspension."

He's completely right, of course. But this is the NHL we're talking about, and Ryan Smyth finished Game 1, so ... Wheel of Justice then.

UPDATE: Here's Stoll on the suspension:

WASHINGTON, DC — For the first time in the New York Rangers' first-round series against the Washington Capitals, Marian Gaborik was a presence in Game 2. Four shots, two shots blocked, aggressive moves to the net -- a threat.

It was the kind of effort the offensively challenged Rangers need if they're going to rally from this 2-0 hole the Capitals have dropped them into, save for one caveat: They need Gaborik to finish those chances and put goals on the board -- and he knows it.

"It's not enough. You can't win with one goal [in two games]. We have to do everything we can to get goals. Try to get the ugly goal. Go into traffic, be in his face. Shoot the puck as much as we can," said Gaborik after the 2-0 loss, a 22-save shutout for rookie goalie Michal Neuvirth.

Gaborik hasn't scored a goal since March 20, after tallying 22 in 62 games during the regular season. Is his shot as effective as he'd like it to be?

"If it was, [the puck] would be in the net, obviously," he said. "In that crucial time, I just have to bear down. Not squeezing the stick too hard. Just have to relax a little bit. I guess close my eyes or something. I have to keep shooting."

The Rangers played the Capitals tight in the first period, outshooting them 13-7. But the game turned in the first 4 minutes of the next frame.

The Capitals broke through 2:11 into the second on a terrific tic-tac-toe passing play. While falling to the ice, Brooks Laich one-handed a pass to Marcus Johansson in the left circle, who fed Jason Chimera on the slot for a one-timer. Bing bang boom, 1-0.

It was 2-0 on another play that got Lundqvist moving laterally, which the Capitals said after Game 1 was essential on Alex Semin's game winner. At 4:08 and with Ryan McDonough in the box, Mike Green's point shot was saved to Jason Arnott, who cashed in for his first of the playoffs.

"Torts calls them 'surges,'" said forward Brian Boyle, a bright spot in the third period for the Rangers on a line with Brandon Prust and Sean Avery. "There's a momentum swing. You try to talk yourself out of it, stay positive on the bench, but it's tough sometimes."

After getting the lead, the Capitals' philosophic shift from a run-and-gun team to a more defensively responsible one took over. They blocked 21 shots in the game, kept the pressure away from Neuvirth's crease and didn't allow the Rangers much time cycling in the zone.

Gaborik is the most prominent scorer on the Rangers' roster to struggle in this series, but he's not the only one. In particular, their power play has crippled them: The Capitals took penalties at the end of the first and second periods, only to have the Rangers barely threaten them on the man advantage.

New York's now 1-for-31 on the power play in its last 11 games. It didn't get them a goal they needed in Game 2. In fact, it may have handed momentum to their opponents.

"We talk about it a lot," explained Boyle. "You just can't get nervous, and have [to have] confidence in each other. Just keep getting shots and getting bodies there."

Boyle stared into space, contemplating his words for a moment.

"That's the same thing I said after Game 1."

No. 1 Star: Daniel Sedin, Vancouver Canucks

The Hart Trophy candidate played like an MVP in the Canucks' 4-3 Game 2 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks. Sedin scored on the power play 30 seconds into the second period and then had a critical insurance goal (which would end up the game-winner) in the third on a stellar individual effort. Sedin also had the primary assist on Jannik Hansen's first-period goal, his second in two games. The Canucks lead the series, 2-0.

No. 2 Star: Ryan Getzlaf, Anaheim Ducks

The Ducks' stars came to play against the Nashville Predators in Game 2, with Getzlaf leading the way in the 5-3 win. He picked up assists on goals by Corey Perry and Bobby Ryan, to whom he made a perfect pass for a break in to the crease. In the second period, Getzlaf scored what turned out to be the game-winner right after power-play time expired. The series is tied 1-1.

No. 3 Star: Eric Brewer, Tampa Bay Lightning

The Bolts defenseman set the tone for their defiant 5-1 Game 2 victory at the Pittsburgh Penguins with a goal just 2:02 into the game on an odd-man rush. He would later add two power-play assists as the Lightning offense came to life. Marty St. Louis had a goal and an assist, while Vinny Lecavalier had a goal and Simon Gagne had three assists. The series is now tied 1-1.

Honorable mention: The Washington Capitals received goals from Jason Chimera and Jason Arnott in the first 4:08 of the second period, and that was all the offense they needed in a 2-0 Game 2 victory over the New York Rangers. The Caps blocked 21 shots and Michal Neuvirth stopped all 22 that he faced to earn his first playoff shutout. The Caps lead the Rangers, two games to none. … Ben Smith had two goals for the Blackhawks. Chris Campoli was a plus-3. … Shea Weber, Joel Ward and Patric Hornqvist had the Predators goals. … Ray Emery made 31 saves for the Ducks. … Craig Adams had the Pens goal.

Did you know? Mattias Ohlund's empty net goal was his first in a Lightning uniform, having played 139 regular season games and two playoff games without a tally.

Dishonorable mention: Jonathan Toews, Patrick Sharp and Marian Hossa were all held scoreless for the second straight game. …  The Penguins are 0-for-13 on the power play in the series. … The Rangers are 1-for-31 on the power play in their last 11 games. … Jordan Staal was a minus-3. … Weber lost a goal on a goalie interference call on David Legwand. … Finally, it's really not cool to shower an assistant coach with ice, Caps fans (via Colin):

Conn Smythe Watch: 1. Ryan Miller, Buffalo Sabres; 2. Michal Neuvirth, Washington Capitals; 3. Daniel Sedin, Vancouver Canucks; 4. Johan Franzen, Detroit Red Wings; 5. Brian Gionta, Montreal Canadiens; 6. Joe Pavelski, San Jose Sharks; 7. Alexander Semin, Washington Capitals; 8. Shea Weber, Nashville Predators; 9. Carey Price, Montreal Canadiens; 10. Marty St. Louis, Tampa Bay Lightning.

In the third period of Friday night's victory over the Nashville Predators, Bobby Ryan of the Anaheim Ducks wanted to free the puck from defenseman Jonathon Blum deep in the Predators zone.

His tactic of choice? A stomp on top of Blum's skate. Which did, in fact, free the puck.

The question now becomes, "At what cost?" Darren Dreger of TSN reports that the NHL is looking at the play with regard to supplemental discipline, as no penalty was called on the play. Ryan had two goals in the Ducks' 5-3 victory to even the series at 1-1.

From reader Chris in Hermosa Beach, who spotted the stomp:

"Unbelievable- that should clearly be a suspension for at least one game, as I remember a couple years back the league coming down hard on a player for stomping on someone."

That player was former Duck Chris Pronger, whose stomp on Ryan Kesler in 2008 earned him an eight-game suspension:

Obviously, two very different plays, especially since Pronger stomped the leg with Kesler on the ice while Ryan stepped on the top of the skate during a battle for the puck.

Does Ryan deserve anything from the NHL for this? We don't really see an intent to injure. But the League has shown a rather low tolerance for dangerous plays involving skates or sticks in the past.

Zdeno Chara skated 25 minutes and 6 seconds in the Boston Bruins' Game 1 loss to the Montreal Canadiens, but like most of his teammates didn't perform to the best of his abilities.

In fact, his roughing penalty on Tomas Plekanec with under three minutes in the game, and his team down two goals, was uncharacteristic for the B's captain.

One possibly reason: The Boston Herald broke the news today that Chara was hospitalized on Friday night with dehydration, and is being evaluated by the Bruins' physicians ahead of tonight's Game 2.

From the Herald:

Chara answered questions after the game and practiced yesterday. But according to one source, he was feeling poorly in the afternoon and went into the hospital to receive fluids.

That same source expected him to play tonight. "If he got hit by a bus he'd be playing," said the source.

The Bruins confirmed the news this morning. Hard to imagine Chara won't play, but easy to wonder if Chara is really going to be Chara out there in a critical Game 2 on home ice.

Meanwhile, one mystery remains: Do they have gowns for 9-foot-tall hockey players at the hospital, or did they have to stitch a couple together?

Jersey Fouls is our ongoing exploration of the rules and etiquette for proper hockey jersey creation and exhibition. If you spot what you think may be a foul in your arena, email a photo to us at puckdaddyblog@yahoo.com for inclusion in future installments.

The Hockey Gods have been cruel to Vancouver Canucks fans since, oh, 1970. Losing seasons. Playoffs disappointments.  Untimely injuries. Mark Messier-in-name-only.

We all know they've smiled upon the 'Nucks in this Presidents' Trophy-winning season ... so you're really going to tempt the Gods' wicked nature with a "CUP BOUND 11" jersey, Vancouver fan?

We're sure this jersey inspired a healthy number of drunken "woo-hoo" high-fives and "yer dang right it is!" proclamations from the Vancouver faithful after Games 1 and 2 against the Chicago Blackhawks.

We're also sure that if the Canucks are eliminated from the postseason at home, half the city will be chasing this fan with lighter fluid and Zippos.

Having a jersey that commemorates a Cup championship ("STANLEY 10" on a Blackhawks jersey, for example) is a debatable Foul. Premature commemoration isn't just a Foul … it's an affront to the Hockey Gods. Pray they're not in a smiting mood, Vancouver.

Stick-tap to Jeff Groot for the Foul.

This isn't the goal of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, through four days of the tournament. This isn't the pass of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

This is simply the play of the playoffs thus far, as Pavel Datsyuk of the Detroit Red Wings chips the puck to himself, fires a shot between his legs and sets up a Darren Helm goal with his wizardry at 19:01 of the first period.

The bouncing puck was tough to handle, but it was still Datsyuk's play against Keith Yandle of the Phoenix Coyotes at center ice that made this thing happen. The shot was obscene. Give Ilya Bryzgalov credit for making the stop, but there was little he could do on Helm's follow-up to make it 3-0 Detroit after the first period.

This was Datsyuk's second incident of Coyotes Defenseman Abuse in Game 2, as he faked Adrian Aucoin out of his skates on a power-play goal earlier in the period.

As Doc Emrick said after the first 20 minutes of Red Wings domination: "With all due respect: Detroit 3, the Washington General Nothing."

As the Anaheim Ducks head to Nashville for Games 3 and 4 of their series with the Predators, Bobby Ryan won't be in their lineup after the NHL announced this evening that he's has been suspended two games for this "kicking incident" on Jonathon Blum:

Here's NHL discipline czar Colin Campbell's statement on the incident:

"The actions by Ryan were both reckless and dangerous," said NHL Senior Executive Vice President of Hockey Operations Colin Campbell. "While it was fortunate there was no injury to Blum on the play, the act of using your skate in this manner is unacceptable."

Ryan's intent may have been to try and knock the puck loose from Blum tying it up along the boards, but the NHL is obviously very serious about the manner in which players use their skates.

As we've said before, one playoff game is equal to two regular season games when it comes to suspensions in the Stanley Cup playoffs, and with the series tied 1-1, Ryan's absence makes the NHL's statement here even more serious.

Is two games about what you figured the punishment would be?

UPDATE: Via Eric Stephens of the Orange County Register, here's Ryan talking about the suspension:

No. 1 Star: Drew Doughty, Los Angeles Kings

Doughty tied a Kings franchise record for points from a defensemen set by Paul Coffey with a two goal, two assist night as the Kings evened their series 1-1 with the San Jose Sharks thanks to a 4-0 victory. Kyle Clifford and Jack Johnson each scored and added an assist, while Jonathan Quick made 34 saves for his first career playoff shutout. The Kings

No. 2 Star: Pavel Datsyuk, Detroit Red Wings

As the Red Wings increased their series lead over the Phoenix Coyotes to 2-0 with a 4-3 win, Datsyuk continued his brilliance scoring a goal and assisting on three others. The between-the-legs shot that setup Darren Helm's goal had Datsyuk saying afterwards, "I go one-on-one, sometimes I like to use it sometimes between the legs. Maybe next time, I try more easy way to score."

No. 3 Star: Carey Price, Montreal Canadiens

Price once again frustrated the Boston Bruins as his 34 saves helped the Habs take a 2-0 series lead with a 3-1 win. Despite four power plays and outshooting Montreal 11-3 in the third period, the Bruins couldn't solve Price after giving up an early 2-0 lead thanks to goals from Mike Cammalleri and Mathieu Darche in a 2:20 span to open the game. Boston came close to cutting the lead to one early in the second, but Price denied Milan Lucic:

Honorable mention: Shane Doan scored twice and assisted on the Coyotes' other goal in the loss ... Johan Franzen left the game in the first period after crashing into the boards after a hit from Doan, but returned because well, he's a hockey player:

Despite a fan being fined $500 for tossing an octopus onto the Joe Louis Arena ice during Game 1, there was one thrown before the teams lined up for the opening faceoff ... After a wild first period that saw six goals and and 30 penalty minutes, Ville Leino and Danny Briere each scored for the Philadelphia Flyers to snap a 3-3 tie and would hold on for a 5-3 win over the Buffalo Sabres to even their series at one. Brian Boucher stopped 20 of 21 shots he faced in relief of Sergei Bobrovsky. Claude Giroux opened the scoring four minutes into the game with this smooth snipe:

Scott Hartnell and Paul Gaustad engaged in this energetic tilt:

Did you know? The Bruins have trailed 0-2 in a series 26 times and have not come back in any of them.

Dishonorable mention: The Bruins were without Zdeno Chara who missed the game after spending Friday night in a hospital with dehydration ... Ilya Bryzgalov has now allowed 32 goals in his last 9 playoff appearances against the Red Wings ... With Derek Morris already out of the lineup, the Coyotes lost Ed Jovanovski to an upper-body injury ... Looks like the Flyers will be without Chris Pronger for Game 3 ... Dustin Penner has now gone 14 games without a point ... The Sharks took three penalties in the first period with the Kings cashing in on two of them to grab the early 2-0 lead.

Conn Smythe Watch: 1. Michael Neuvirth, Washington Capitals; 2. Carey Price, Montreal Canadiens; 3. Pavel Datsyuk, Detroit Red Wings; 4. Roberto Luongo, Vancouver Canucks; 5. Daniel Sedin, Vancouver Canucks; 6. Shea Weber, Nashville Predators; 7. Drew Doughty, Los Angeles Kings; 8. Ryan Getzlaf, Anaheim Ducks; 9. Mike Fisher, Nashville Predators  10. Shane Doan, Phoenix Coyotes.

If you read the Puck Daddy staff prognostications for the 2011 Stanley Cup Playoffs, you'll recall that the voters were high on the Boston Bruins. Really high. As in, only one of us picked the Montreal Canadiens in their first-round battle against the B's, and six of us picked the Bruins to win the Eastern Conference championship.

Yeah, about that.

The Bruins are down 2-0 to the Habs after two losses on home ice. As has been often quoted in the last 24 hours: "Boston has never, in 26 tries, won a playoff series after losing the first two games."

How did this happen? Here are five reasons why the Bruins are being embarrassed by the Canadiens.

1. After rebound season, Tim Thomas has a rebound problem

You hesitate to say that Thomas, prohibitive favorite for the Vezina, has been the main problem for the Bruins, but he's certainly not been the solution. The 36-year-old keeper has watched Carey Price win two games in Boston, playing the kind of stellar and confident hockey that the B's needed from Thomas. They haven't gotten it.

From Joe Haggerty of Comcast SportsNet New England, after Game 2:

It was as big a must-win as a postseason game can be in a non-elimination scenario with Montreal's Bell Centre looming in the immediate future, and Thomas once again came up woefully short when his team needed greatness in the playoffs.

Claude Julien was trying not to throw his star-studded goaltender under the bus with Tuukka Rask chomping at the bit to jump into the fray, but it was clear the B's coach wasn't happy with Thomas' results. Instead Julien opted not to talk about his goaltender's performance when asked about an evaluation -- not exactly a ringing endorsement for Thomas as he scrambled through the opening minutes of the game and then couldn't pull off the big save at the big moment.

He's surrendered too many rebounds, and too often those rebounds arrive in the slot or for a Montreal Canadiens chance around the goal. Some of that you put on the Boston blueline for not keeping Thomas out of trouble; but a lot of it falls on Thomas.

2. No Chara, no winning

Zdeno Chara came out for warm-ups but was pulled from Game 2 due to whatever ailment caused the dehydration that sent him to the hospital on Friday night. He didn't seem himself in Game 1, and couldn't play in Game 2, and the Bruins simply can't overcome that absence.

Shane Hnidy, his replacement, played 4:13. That's less than Shawn Thornton played in Game 1. The defensemen that picked up Chara's minutes couldn't replicate his results: Johnny Boychuk was a minus-2, and Dennis Seidenberg was another minus-2, going minus-4 for the series.

The Bruins were playing with fire when it came to defensive depth, and it burned them in Game 2.

Chara's return for Game 3 is, at this point, mandatory if the Bruins are going to turn this series around. Not only for what he gives them on the ice but for changing the conversation off the ice when he comes back to Bell Centre for the first time as a post-Pacioretty lightning rod.

3. The Canadiens, Playoff Edition

For all the Bruins' problems, let's not forget about the other side of the ice.

Because the Habs are doing it again.

Montreal is second in the playoffs in blocked shots with 46, seven behind the Capitals, who obviously learned a thing or two last season. It's fourth in takeaways at 16; Boston has eight.

They're outhustling a higher seed; they're getting outstanding goaltending from Carey Price, who is getting into the Bruins' heads in a Halakian manner; and above all else, they're forcing the issue early in games. Which brings us to …

4. Down early, down often

Like any team confident in its defensive system, the Canadiens want you playing into their hands from the opening puck drop. So getting the first goal, and getting it early, is a hallmark of their postseason runs last year and, so far, this playoff.

The Bruins know this: Brian Gionta scored 2:44 into Game 1. Michael Cammalleri scored 43 seconds into Game 2.

Go back to last season: Gionta scored 1 minute into Game 2 on the road against the Washington Capitals, which ended up being an overtime loss. Cammalleri, 1:30 into Game 5, a victory at Washington. P.K. Subban, 4:30 into Game 1 against Pittsburgh. Tom Pyatt, 2:34 into Game 4 in Montreal. Cammalleri, 1:13 into Game 6 vs. Pittsburgh. Gionta, 32 seconds into that series' Game 7.

This speaks to the aggression the Montreal forwards have from the start of the game, and the fact that many of their opponents — for whatever reasons — simply don't match that intensity. The Bruins are the latest in that lot.

Boston had a .190 winning percentage when trailing after the first period in the regular season, winning four times in 21 situations. We're seeing the same thing playing out now.

5. Finally, Nathan Horton is very excited, not very good

Late in Game 2, Horton was removed from the Bruins' top line in favor of Rich Peverley, and the move was ironic: Here is Horton, playing very much like an overexcited energy liner, getting replaced by a depth forward.

From Matt Kalman at The Bruins Blog:

For the second straight game, Horton was hitting and battling against Montreal. But he wasn't effective around the net, he took a dumb roughing penalty behind the Montreal net when his linemate David Krejci was about to have a scoring chance, and then he smashed his stick over the wall near the bench. Part of the stick actually deflected back out onto the ice. So much for the adage "never let them see you sweat."

If Horton thinks the answer to everything is to get angry, the Bruins are going to need to cut off his Red Bull supply or do something to calm him down. Their No. 1 right winger didn't manage a shot on goal and spent the third period on a line with Chris Kelly and Michael Ryder instead of Krejci and Milan Lucic.

It's Horton's first bit of Stanley Cup Playoff experience after his exile in South Beach ended last summer. Against a Montreal team that isn't giving up any defensive ground, they need him to make a difference, and he hasn't.

Then again, how many Bruins could you easily say that about after two games?

As you all probably know, Salavat Yulaev captured the Kontinental Hockey League's championship with a 3-2 win over Atlant Mytishchi, winning the postseason tournament four games to one. With the victory came the Gagarin Cup, the KHL's version of the Stanley Cup.

As you can see, both prizes have their virtues. Which one is cooler? Glad you asked.

The Gagarin Cup is cooler because …

• It was named after an astronaut, while the Stanley Cup was named after a Freemason.
• It has little hockey pucks around the top that list the names of its winners, just like your beer league trophy.
• It weights 40 pounds while the Stanley Cup weighs only 34.5 pounds; though, in fairness, much of that extra 5.5 pounds can be attributed to KGB listening devices.
• It looks like something your elf would have quested to find in a Dungeons and Dragons RPG.
• There are KHL logos on all sides, including the bottom of the trophy, which means there is slightly less advertising on the Gagarin Cup than on most European uniforms.
• They've taken the Stanley Cup idea of putting champions' names on rings at the base of the trophy, the hope being that in 60 years the Gagarin Cup will be roughly 25 feet tall.
• Gary Bettman does not hand out the Gagarin Cup.

The Stanley Cup is cooler because …

• The Gagarin Cup will inevitably appear in a parade with giant missiles on display. The Stanley Cup also appears in parades with giant missiles on display.
• The Stanley Cup had been in Mario's swimming pool. The Gagarin Cup has been in Aleksey Morozov's foot bath.
• The NHL's Cup Raise video looks like this. The KHL's lasts roughly 0.8 seconds.
• The Stanley Cup has partied with more strippers than if Charlie Sheen had been the bassist for Mötley Crüe.
• The Stanley Cup is not made of the melted down silver and bronze medals captured by shamed Russian national teams in international tournament losses.
• The Stanley Cup is annually hockey's greatest prize; a Holy Grail steeped in history, handled by immortals and only captured through sacrifice and valor in the wars of attrition that are the Stanley Cup Playoffs. And Alexander Svitov just won the Gagarin Cup.

Verdict: The Gagarin Cup. Wait, we're not at a renaissance festival? The Stanley Cup.