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1. Take it from The Maven who goes back to The Original Six, these playoffs are as intense – and hard-fought – as any from “The Good Old Days.”
2. Kudos to Brad Marchand who made his move to Florida look good with the critical OT goal that saved the Panthers last night.
3. My thinking was that overtime would favor the Leafs who were playing with house money in Game Two.
4. Winnipeg could have swooned under all the raves for its miracle win over St. Louis. But Connor Helleybuyck returned to form just in time last night to give the Jets a decisive win. This one could go to seven games.
5. Edmonton’s Corey Perry is the pro’s pro. Stan Bonman made a genius move getting the hard-nosed winger,
6. His team keeps winning but it strikes me that Connor McDavid has yet to find his highest gear.
7. Calvin Pickard is seeing his first consistent playoff action in seven years and is merely playing out-of-your mind goal. (Another Stan Bowman gem!)
8. Oilers Cup-winning odds, according to The Hockey News Yearbook, went at 11/1. For Vegas it’s 18-1.
9. There should be no concern about Joseph Woll in goal for Toronto. He was regarded as the Leafs starter last Fall. And he is right now, whatever happens to Anthony Stolarz.
10. The Maven’s only regret about the Leafs is that defenseman Conor Timmins does not hail from Timmins, Ontario. (He’s from St. Catherines.)