Ryan picked up a whopping five points last night and now only trails Marc by two.  We're talking some major scratch here.  You can cut the intensity with a knife. For the current standings, visit http://www.torontomike.com/2006hockeypool.html.

Edmonton was lucky to make the playoffs.  After squeaking in, nobody gave them a chance against the Red Wings.  Then, nobody gave them much of a chance against the Sharks.  Now they're just one win away from the cup final and the bandwagon is filling up fast.  Go Oilers Go!

In any draft, somebody has to go first.  In our pool, we each pull numbers out of a hat.  If you end up picking last, as I did, that's just the way it goes.  I like to think drafting first isn't that bit of an advantage, but crunching the numbers

Looking back on that fateful day we drafted our players, nobody wanted to touch the Oilers.  Steve was first to dive in, making his ninth pick of ten Ryan Smyth.  Three others followed with their final selection, but that was it.  Only four Oilers were drafted by four different poolies.

Ryan still trails Marc by nine points.  Marc has two Hurricanes while Ryan a couple of high scoring Sabres, a high scoring Oiler and a low scoring Hurricane.  This is gonna be close! For the current standings, visit http://www.torontomike.com/2006hockeypool.html.

At this point in the season, so much is about momentum.  Edmonton rolled right into round three and took game on from the Ducks who had quite a bit of time off.  I really like the Oil in this series.  Yes, I now call them the Oil.  Oilers is so

How many of you predicted last fall that the final four would consist of Buffalo, Carolina, Anaheim and Edmonton?  If you just raised your hand and shouted "me!", you're a damn liar.  Lies make baby Jesus cry, please make that the last lie you ever tell. I'm rooting for a

We're down to five teams vying for Lord Stanley's cup.  The poolie with the most players remaining is Alexi who has six, but he's in fourth and will most likely finish out of the money.  Should Edmonton advance, Marc will be left with a couple of Hurricanes while Ryan will

There are rumours on the internets that suggest Canadian hockey fans always root for the other Canadian teams in the playoffs if their team is eliminated.  I'm a Leafs fan through and through, and I assure you this isn't true.  I may adopt a team from the west for the

Ryan made a little move yesterday, chomping into Marc's lead like it was hot fresh pizza after a night of grandeur.  Marc's lead is down to a measly five points after Ekman and Pronger put points on the board.  If Buffalo wins tonight, it shouldn't be too difficult for Ryan

The Sens live to play another day but the Avs are down and out.  That means Enzo wins the annual prize for being the first poolie to have all ten players eliminated.  Contratulations Enzo! For the current standings, visit http://www.torontomike.com/2006hockeypool.html.

In the second round this year, there are only two teams I'm rooting for.  I'd like to see the Oil advance, to represent the mother country, and I'd like to see Buffalo stomp the Senators.  I wish Ottawa nothing but playoff failure.  I can't stand 'em. During the Pearl Jam

Joffrey Lupul had one of those nights last night, scoring all four goals in the big Ducks win.  Alexi has him in the pool and now looks poised to assume third place overall.  If Lupul keeps up this torrid pace, scoring four every game for the remainder of the playoffs,

With a 2-0 leader in all four series, we're getting a clearer picture as to who is likely to advance.  Marc has a solid ten point lead over Ryan right now, but Ryan has two Sabres whereas Marc has none.  When it comes to Hurricanes, Marc has the clear advantage.

When the playoffs started, I was intriged by the first round match up between 2004 darling Miikka Kiprusoff and 2003 darling Jean-Sebastien Giguere.  Little did I know at the time that Ilya Bryzgalov would so quickly become the coolest duck since Frank McCool, recording his third shutout in a row.

In my mind I’m goin’ to Carolina, Can’t you see the sunshine, Can’t you just feel the moonshine, Maybe just like a friend of mine, It hit me from behind. Yes I’m goin’ to Carolina in my mind. For the current standings, visit http://www.torontomike.

I watched that wild Buffalo ~ Ottawa game last night.  With goaltending like that, our playoff totals will go through the roof.  I'm telling you, when the Sabres tied it up late and scored early in overtime, I was one happy pappy.  The annual tradition is that the Maple Leafs defeat

Many are disappointed with Calgary's loss last night.  Everyone wanted to see the battle of Alberta.  Everyone, except me.  I'm growing a little tired of Alberta.  Who do they think they are?  The centre of power in Canada has always been Ontario, but now Alberta has the money and the

I'm glad the Habs lost.  Sure they're Canadian, but I still hate 'em.  So much success, it's so unfair.  I'm also glad the Flyers are out.  Bob Clarke's Flyers are hateful.  The last time we had playoff hockey in Toronto, it was the Flyers who beat us in six in

What's the deal with the Red Wings?  This team won the President's Trophy as the regular season team with the most points yet they bowed out rather easily in the first round.  It's a great line-up, with a nice mix of youth and veterans who have won in all before,

Four teams are out, the biggest hurt was felt by yours truly.  When the Stars bowed out early and unexpectedly to the Avs, 40% of my team went with them.  It's all over but the cryin'. For the current standings, visit http://www.torontomike.com/2006hockeypool.html.

Enzo lost three players yesterday when Tampa Bay bowed out, but he lives and dies by the play of the Calgary Flames.  He has five Flames who have combined to give him 24 points and a share of the lead. For the current standings, visit http://www.torontomike.com/2006hockeypool.

There's been a see-saw battle between Marc and Enzo all week.  Meanwhile, Steve crept out of the basement on the back of Peter Forsberg.  I watched a good chunk of that game last night and Forsberg is just an unbelievable playoff performer. For the current standings, visit http://www.torontomike.