So, the Capitals have cinched the last ever Southeast Division title with last night's win over Winnipeg. (Yes, Winnipeg, a city in Manitoba, Canada is in the Southeast Division. And yes, the National Hockey League's divisions are generally geographical. It makes sense, honestly. Has to do with the history of the NHL). It still leaves one to wonder if they: a) would have done this without the stupid lockout crap on the part of the NHL owners, and consequently shortened season; and b) if the Caps are going to end up choking in the playoffs, as usual.

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On the kinkometer, my kink measures as a sine wave.

You know who I'm rooting for

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Si à travers nos veines coule encore le sang...
Si dans les jeux d'enfants on entend encore l'accent...
Si nous sentons encore l'espoir de nos grands-parents...
Si dans les voiles du large souffle encore le vent...
Y'a jamais eu de Grand Dérangement.

Yeah, but we'll have to see what the outcome of today's Boston-Ottawa makeup game is before we find out who the Habs play first.

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On the kinkometer, my kink measures as a sine wave.

Ottawa 4, Boston 2 (on an empty-net goal by Ottawa).

So, Ottawa (7) gets Montreal (2) in the first round, Pittsburgh (1) gets the NY Islanders (8), Washington (3) gets the NY Rangers (6), and Boston (4) faces Toronto (5)..

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On the kinkometer, my kink measures as a sine wave.

Oh, and in the "other" conference it's Chicago (1, and best record int he NHL this season) vs Minnesota (8), Anaheim (2) & Detroit (7), Vancouver (3) against San Jose (6) and St. Louis (4) facing Los Angeles (5).

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On the kinkometer, my kink measures as a sine wave.

Yes! Caps take game 1, 3-1 over the rangers.

Sorry Neige, Ottawa over Montreal, 4-2 for game 1. Further (excerpt from press release): The NHL has scheduled a disciplinary hearing for Ottawa Senators defenseman Eric Gryba on Friday for his hit on Lars Eller of the Montreal Canadiens in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference Quarterfinal series. The following grounds for potential supplemental discipline are being considered: Illegal check to the head. However, the Department of Player Safety retains the right to make adjustments to these infractions accordingly upon further review.
Gryba was assessed a five-minute major for interference and a game misconduct on the play.

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On the kinkometer, my kink measures as a sine wave.