No really -- like right now (okay, in a few hours, depending on when you read this): The Bridgeport Sound Tigers have one of those crazy 11 a.m. starts today, and if they win they clinch a playoff spot.
More on that and quotes from Kevin Poulin from Michael Fornabaio, who has threatened to "overtweet" updates on Twitter, so set your devices and lunch plans accordingly.
About last night: It's not so much that it was ugly as it was patently boring. But anyway: LHH recap | IPB recap by some Quinn guy | In Lou We Trust | Hornick's stat Skinny | Newsday wisely focuses on quotes from Matt Donovan and Brock Nelson | Fire & Ice | Star-Ledger
Jack Capuano: "I thought we played well defensively; so did they. ... Neither team generated a whole lot. They had some power plays and we didn't."
NEW: Salvo from agent Allen Walsh: "Have to laugh every time Newsday's Arthur Staples claims P.A. Parenteau is asking 4yrs, $16M from Isles. To date, we've made no proposals."
In bigger news, Brock Nelson signed and will be joining Bridgeport soon.
Fornabaio's Sound Tiger chat archive from yesterday afternoon.
Meanwhile, one day Mike Milbury calls out Sidney Crosby and Isles fans kind of agree with him. Next day Crosby calls out Milbury and Isles fans ... kind of agree with him. Turgeon1992 said it best: My world is exploding. Pens GM Ray Shero wasn't happy (and channeled Herm Edwards at one point). Milbury apologized, because it's always easier to mouth off and then act like you spoke out of turn. (Example: Hey Keith GFY. Later: I'm sorry, I didn't mean that.) Lather, rinse, repeat. In the wise words of Judge Smails: Don't you people have homes?
Speaking of lovely FanShots, Craig Berube calls Crosby and Evgeni Malkin the Pens' dirtiest players. FanShot reaction here.
The Islanders announced they'll play a preseason game in Barrie, Ontario, in a bid to threaten Hempstead that they'll move there generate some easy cash on the preseason circuit.
Since last night was so boring in the Isles-Devils game, here are highlights of a truly wild, playoff-implicating game with a 3-0 comeback and a late chaotic tying goal to send it into OT:
Sermonizing: Note on that tying goal how Mike Komisarek taunts, then gets owned by Foligno while trying to reverse-hit him on the way to the corner, then responds by trying to take his head off and sitting on him as the scramble carries on. If karma works on a play-by-play basis, karma took care of Komisarek on that play. It's just unbecoming to threaten to do something, fail at delivering on that threat, then blame the other guy because you're upset he got you.
But seriously: Lots of craziness last night, including Mike Smith's 54-save shutout (most in a shutout since at least 1988) over the Blue Jackets. There was that, the Sabres' crazy comeback, and the Senators losing 2-0 to out-of-it Carolina, among others.
Usually, hockey is fun.