Fight Night

I continue to obsess only over the bottom wrungs of the Western Conference playoff ladder. It helps distract me from the Sharks.

As you well know, San Jose has clinched #1 in the West (HOORAY!). Now we just watch and wait to see who lands in 8th. If the playoffs are the main event, tonight provides a hell of an undercard:

1st bout - Nashville at Minnesota - 5 p.m.

2 teams who absolutely, without a doubt, have to win this game. Minnesota is eliminated from the playoffs with anything less than 2 points. Nashville actually plays their 82nd game tonight. Should the Preds fail to record a point, St. Louis can eliminate them by earning a single point later in the night.

2nd bout - Columbus at St. Louis - 5:30 p.m.

Columbus locks up the #6 seed with a point in either this or their final game. The Blues will know a lot more about their playoff destiny at some point during the 3rd when the 1st bout wraps up. They're still in a dog fight for a playoff spot.

3rd bout - Dallas at Anaheim - 7:00 p.m.

Dallas is out of the playoffs but is still giving us reasons to watch. Anaheim locks up a playoff seed with a home win, but the Stars are 2-0 in Anaheim this season, outscoring the Ducks 8-4.

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Hey, Fear The Fin asked for my opinion on who is deserving of hardware on the Sharks. I told them Patrick Marleau. You can read my insightful opinions, and check out a much better blog than mine, here. (Hey, they're talking about masturbation in the comments, that's my gimmick!)

Also, check back tomorrow for a flow chart for potential Sharks first round match-ups. I normally don't post on weekends, but I'll get out of bed around noon to make a flow chart.