The Pens are really going for the cup this year trading for Murray and Morrow aswell as Iginla.Iginla turned down Boston to go to Pitt instead so I hope they meet in the playoffs as it could get interesting.

I really hope Tortorella gets fired soon.

Sharo has done some great work for the Pens on the trades as they have only given up one prospect.

The Bruins have taken Jagr from the Stars. Handzus returns to Chicago who will help in the playoff run especially on the face offs.

Think the final 4 will be Chicago V Ducks & Pens V Boston with a Final of Chicago v Pens.

Tortella I dont think will be dumped until at least the end of the season but for some reason the Blue Shirts still struggle to get anything in return for their outlay, although its interesting to note that the teams doing well at the moment all had relatively quiet off seasons trade wise where as the Rangers made quite a few changes.

Marian Gaborik traded to Columbus for Derek Brassard, Derek Dorsett ,John Moore and a 6th rnd pick. Afew minor players going with him.

Seems a very brave or reckless trade by Tortella (maybe due to an unhealthy relationship after benching him in the play-offs last season), Gaborik is a great player who has done well since going to New York although coming off his injury he has had a fairly quiet season so far although that can be said of the whole team. Think its been mainly a trade to get his salary off the cap and some more bodies although Dorsett is out for the season with a broken collar bone.

Would imagine Gaborik will be with another team come the start of next season no offence to CBJ, wouldn't mind seeing him in the Indian Head jersey

, although would need to be a careful trade for that to happen to stay in the cap and not risk destablising the current roster.

Not sure it's so much brave as necessary. Gaborik is a UFA in 2014. As I understand it they are commited to renewing Ryan Clowe as a condition of his trade. They have five RFA's at the end of this season Stepan, Hagelin, Zuccherelo, Sauer and Mcdonagh and three other UFA's in Hamrlik, Eminger and Gilroy. Without that trade they would only have about $11 million cap to play with taking into account Clowe that figure becomes a minimum of $7.5 that wouldn't give them a of maneuverability.

A consequence of the cap drop and a few other clubs may be in similar positions.

Like I said I think its more about dumping his salary but still think its a risky move by Tortella as Gaborik has been a major force over the last 3 seasons in scoring points for the Rangers.

Its the same old problem with the Rangers that they have one of if not the highest payrolls in the NHL but do not seem to be able to maximise the outlay into a winning product on the ice.

I think Gaborik although commanded a decent wedge of the cap also offered all round value for his salary by improving a team that struggles to score points.

I think in the close season the Rangers may well be doing a number of Trades.

The Blackhawks have clinched the number 1 seed in the conference so I would rest a few players now to keep them fresh.I never thought I would say this but if I was the coach I would start Emery in the playoffs.Still no idea who the Hawks will play yet as it could still be 1 of about 5 teams with the Redwings as of today not in the top 8.

How easy is it to get tickets for NHL/NBA games? I'm going to New York in December and would love to take in a Rangers or Knicks game while I'm there - can you get them to pick up on the day, or have them delivered to the hotel I'll be staying at??

Hi Mike you should be able to get some for Rangers games either from ticket office at MSG as they always hold some back for game day sales but no guarantee of decent price level ones left, from the scalpers outside although ticket price can sometimes be lot higher than face value or via ticketmaster either delivered to your home address or collect at 'will call window' at MSG.

Your best and safest bet is to check fixtures when they come out late summer then book your tickets from Ticketmaster for the dates you'll be there.

I've done all 3 ways and the easiest is always ticketmaster in advance when I know I'm going to the states.

Well Hawks had a complete stinker against the Canucks in Vancouver but still 3 pts clear of the Pens in the race for the Presidents Trophy

So the Play Offs start tonight I'll go with the following in the 1st round

Eastern Conference

Pens V Islanders - Pens in 5
Habs V Senators - Habs in 6
Rangers v Caps - Rangers in 6
Leafs v Bruins - Bruins in 5 if they turn up otherwise Leafs may well edge them out

Western Conference

Hawks V Wild - Hawks in 5
Ducks V Wings - Ducks in 5
Canucks V Sharks - Tough one to call but think the Canucks will nick it in 6 or 7
L.A. V Blues - Think the Blues will edge it in 6

East

Pens/Isles=Pens in 4
Habs/Sens=Habs in 5
Caps/Rangers=Caps in 7
Bruins/Leafs=Bruins in 6


West
Hawks/Wild=Hawks in 6
Ducks/Wings=Wings in 7
Canucks/Sharks=Sharks in 6
Blues/Kings=Kings in 6

Nervous start to the playoffs for the Hawks last night with them needing ot to beat the wild.I've got a feeling there will be more overtimes in this series before someone wins it.

Don't know if it was nervy or they just got off to a slow start as they have had a tendancy to do at times? This season the Wild have run the Hawks close with a S/O win, 1-0 loss and 5-3 loss to us so it was always going to be tight. Also you have to say Josh Harding kept the Wild in it with a great performance.

Just think the Hawks have a lot more to come and will wear the Wild down with 4 good lines.

Chicago have made it into the next round after beating the Wild.They play either Red Wings or Sharks next.I would like 1 last go at the Wings before they go to the east next season.Talking about the East it looks like the eastern bias now includes the NHL aswell as the media as the finalists for the Hart trophy have been announced with all 3 players named (Ovi,Sid and Tavares)play in the east,How Kane has missed out having been the best player on the best team i'll never know.

Dont get that decision at all.

Hawks now up against the Wings after they knocked off the Ducks.

I got 6 out of 8 predictions correct in the last playoff round with all 4 teams in the West correct.Here's my predictions for the next round.

East

Pens/Ott Pens win in 5
NYR/Bos Bos wins in 6

West
Kings/Sharks Kings win in 7
Hawks/Wings Hawks win in 6

Hawks are in a big hole and will have to dig deep and win 3 straight games to advance to the Conf Finals after getting shut down and out in Detroit in game 4 2-0.

Not good

Much better performance last night from the Hawks to take the series back to Detroit.They now need an even bigger game on monday to take it to game 7

The eastern final is now set with what looks likely to be a classic series between Boston and Pittsburgh.

Hawks take game 6 in Detroit and head abck to Chicago for the decider game 7.

The last 2 games the Hawks have not let themselves get dragged into the physical battle the Wings drew hem into in games 2,3 & 4. Hopefully the Hawks will see off the Wings with a comfortable regulation win but thinks its going to anything but.

Tortorella fired from the Rangers.

Thank christ for that!

Great come back from the Hawks after being 3-1 down in the series to beat the Wings in Game 7 , Seabrook ripping a shot past Howard in OT to take the win and series.

Cracking game and series and a shame the rivalry as it was is now over. Although the game was nearly remembered for a very bad call to rule out the go ahead goal by Hjmarsson with a minute and a half to go.

Good call by Coach Q to call a timeout midway through the 3rd to regroup a the Hawks who looked so sloppy in the first 10 mins of the 3rd.

Roll on Saturday for the visit of the Kings to the United for Game 1 of the W C Final.

Its also interesting to note that the final 4 are all the past 4 winners of the Stanley Cup.

Seems the likely candidate to be the new Head Coach of the Rangers if they can get him would be Tippet who's contract runs out with the Yotes on June 30th but Sather wants a Coach in before the Draft so other notable candidates Lindy Ruff and Alain Vigneault.

I think Vigneault would be a good choice for the Rangers to be honest looking at the current roster (which is a pretty good one) I think he would do well with it and get them to perform, which has been the Rangers problem for a while now in that they have the talent but can't get it out as a product on the ice.

The goal that was ruled out should have stood as to me it was a Wings penalty,where he got the Hawks penalty from I don't know as the Wings player slammed the Hawks player to the ice,justice was done in the end.After game 4 there was no way I could see us coming back.

I got all 4 teams correct in the last round taking me to 10 out of 12 so far in the playoffs.

East
Pittsburgh to beat Boston in 6 games.

After the 1st round I would have picked the Bruins as the Pens D was playing bad but putting Vokoun in the nets has changed them so i think the Pens will too much offence for the Bruins but every game should be close.

West
Hawks to beat LA in 7
Quick is getting better and better as the playoffs go on so Crawford needs to keep his good play going to match him,if he can do that I can see another game 7 win for the Hawks.