This is late due to a couple of issues today, mainly field trip and soccer practice, but other things as well, so for that lateness, I apoligize especially since one of the finalists today is a Lightning player....

The three finalists for the Lady Byng Award (awarded for gentelmanly play while maintaining a high level of play) are:
Pavel Datsyuk - Detroit
Jason Pominville - Buffalo
Marty St. Louis - Tampa Bay

Here is the history of the trophy, for those who are interested in this, courtesy of the NHL: “ Lady Byng, wife of Canada’s Governor-General at the time, presented the Lady Byng Trophy to the NHL in the 1924-25 season. After Frank Boucher of the New York Rangers won the award seven times in an eight-year span, he was given the trophy to keep and Lady Byng donated another trophy in 1936. After Lady Byng’s death in 1949, the League presented a new trophy in her memory.’’

These were my votes for the trophy:
1. Datsyuk
2. Anze Kopitar - Los Angeles Kings
3. Andrew Burnette - Colorado
4. Brad Boyes - St. Louis
5. Pominville

The finalists for the Selke Award as the top defensive forward will be announced on Friday (this was a tough one to figure out this year, by the way, so it will be interesting to see who the finalists are for this award)

Also today, the Lightning signed forward Paul Szczechura to a two-year contract. He scored 14 goals in 24 games with the Admirals last season after netting two in 29 games with the Iowa Stars before being traded to Norfolk on January 15 in exchange for future considerations.  He was tied for third on the Admirals in goals with 16 and was seventh in points with 31.  He led all Norfolk rookies in scoring and was tied for the team lead with three game-winning goals.

One last thing, I wanted to give my quick picks for the conference semifinal matchups, which start tonight (and have actually begun as I type this)…

Philadelphia vs. Montreal - A couple of teams coming off seven-game series victories, both of which after blowing 3-1 leads in the series. Geez, you think the league would push this series back a day and let the Pittsburgh-Ranger series start today since they each finished their first-round series in five or less games. Any way, I think the Canadiens take this series. I think they overlooked the Bruins in the first round because of the 8-0 record they had against Boston in the regular season. I don’t think they will make that mistake again despite going 4-0 against the Flyers in the regular season. Besides, Carey Price really showed something in shutting out the Bruins in Game 7 after giving up 10 goals in the previous two games. That’s some moxy for somebody who is supposed to be a rooke. Montreal in six

Pittsburgh vs. NY Rangers - I really like the Rangers, and they are my pick to come out of the East. I think they are a team that is really built for the postseason, starting with Henrik Lundqvist in net. I think they can roll three quality lines, they have a good enough defense and play good defense to go with some of their game-breakers they possess. Pittsburgh had such an easy time with a Ottawa team that was in shambles in the first round, they faced very little adversity to start the postseason and I think it will catch up with them. Rangers in six

Out West
Colorado vs. Detroit - What a great rivalry renewed. Postseason drama at its best. Some of the names have changed, but the rivalry remains the same. Before today I would have thought Colorado had a good chance to win this series. I just don’t think Detroit is a team built for the postseason. It’s kind of hard to put a finger on why I have that feeling, but I just do. I like the mix of veterans and youth the Avalanche possess and I think they are an underrated team. But seeing the Wings dominate the Avalanche in the first period, combined with the dominance they had over Colorado in the regular season, Detroit will win this series. Detroit in seven

Dallas vs. San Jose - What a difficult series to call. Part of me says that Dallas just won their Stanley Cup because they finally advanced past the first round and knocked off the defending Stanley Cup champs to do it. Maybe that gives a sense of relief in some of the players who have been there the past handful of seasons that ended in the first round. But it could work the other way, too, and serve as a launching pad to bigger and better things. San Jose, meanwhile, is coming off a hard-fought, seven-game series against a Calgary team that can wear opponents down. I was on the radio the other day thinking that San Jose is my pick to come out of the West (this was before they beat Calgary in Game 7), but I’m having some second thoughts on that notion. Either way, I think whichever team wins this series, ultimately wins the West. Dallas in seven

Any thoughts that contradict my thinking? Any predictions you guys are willing to put on writing?