from Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal,

*SportsNet, taking a big hit on their $5.2-billion investment with no Canadian teams making the playoffs, will probably hitch their wagon to the Washington Capitals and defending-champion Chicago Blackhawks with their own play-by-play, colour commentary people and use the local feeds from the other six series in Round 1.

*I know Montreal coach Michel Therrien has a vote of confidence from his boss Marc Bergevin and a bit of a free pass with Carey Price out for months, but with the bilingual Marc Crawford available after leaving Zurich, where he coached Auston Matthews, would that give Bergevin pause?

*Will the Winnipeg Jets be able to find a team to take goalie Ondrej Pavelec this summer, one year from UFA status? Pavelec reminds me of Jonas Hiller. He’s still an NHL goalie who can get very hot over a period of time, but no longer a game-in, game-out starter. Yet he’s paid like one. Connor Hellebuyck will be the No. 1 in Winnipeg next year.

*The Capitals are the NHL’s best team by 15 points, but a part of me says they could still stumble if they meet the wrong opponent. “Can somebody beat them? I don’t think they want to see the Rangers,” said one NHL coach. The Rangers have knocked them three times they’ve met in post-season, all in seven games.

more including is this the year for the St. Louis Blues...