Heeeellllllooooo everybody out there in cyberspace!!!!!

Ha, just some poor late-night humor to try to put a cheer in your year after having to watch a last-place hockey team

Thanks everyone who left the kind comments on my last entry before the Atlanta game. This is a whole new experience for a lot of us in our business and we are still trying to feel our way through. In many ways, it’s like being a pioneer trudging into an unknown terrain whacking stuff out of your way with a over-sized machete. It’s nice to know that you guys appreciate what I have done this year and haven’t ripped on me too bad (Victor?) this season.

But hey, the fun’s not over. It’s playoff hockey time. So you can check in with me periodically for some thoughts and analysis on what’s taking place. And even though your Bolts are not involved in the post-season party this year (hey, just think of the extra money you have in your pocket this spring to spend on something other than playoff tickets and playoff priced beer!!!) doesn’t mean the playoffs won’t be fun to watch. To me this is absolutely the best time of the year in sports. It’s better than the football playoffs, tons better than baseball post-season and don’t even get me started on the NBA

And the first round is just the start. It’s when the overtime games are a blast, especially when they go into triple overtime. There’s nothing like it. What I have for you know is the first round schedule from the NHL, complete with television coverage. One thing I notice on this, NBC is passing on covering Pittsburgh Penguins and the Sidney Crosbys in favor of Washington and Alex Ovechkin. Last year NBC was all over Crosby and the Pens even though they are facing the same opponent in Ottawa. Interesting

So here is the complete series-by-series breakdown:

2008 EASTERN CONFERENCE QUARTER-FINAL

SERIES A TIME (ET) #1 Montreal vs. #8 Boston Network
Thursday, April 10, 2008 7 p.m. Boston at Montreal CBC, RDS
Saturday, April 12, 2008 7 p.m. Boston at Montreal CBC, RDS, VERSUS
Sunday, April 13, 2008 7 p.m. Montreal at Boston CBC, RDS
Tuesday, April 15, 2008 7 p.m. Montreal at Boston CBC, RDS
Thursday, April 17, 2008 7 p.m. Boston at Montreal CBC, RDS
Saturday, April 19, 2008 TBD Montreal at Boston CBC, RDS
Monday, April 21, 2008 TBD Boston at Montreal CBC, RDS

SERIES B TIME (ET) #2 Pittsburgh vs. #7 Ottawa Network
Wednesday, April 9, 2008 7 p.m. Ottawa at Pittsburgh VERSUS, CBC, RDS
Friday, April 11, 2008 7 p.m. Ottawa at Pittsburgh CBC, RDS
Monday, April 14, 2008 7 p.m. Pittsburgh at Ottawa CBC, RDS
Wednesday, April 16, 2008 7 p.m. Pittsburgh at Ottawa CBC, RDS
Saturday, April 19, 2008 TBD Ottawa at Pittsburgh VERSUS, CBC, RDS
Sunday, April 20, 2008 TBD Pittsburgh at Ottawa CBC, RDS
Tuesday, April 22, 2008 TBD Ottawa at Pittsburgh CBC, RDS

SERIES C TIME (ET) #3 Washington vs. #6 Philadelphia Network
Friday, April 11, 2008 7 p.m. Philadelphia at Washington VERSUS, TSN
Sunday, April 13, 2008 2 p.m. Philadelphia at Washington NBC, TSN
Tuesday, April 15, 2008 7 p.m. Washington at Philadelphia VERSUS, TSN
Thursday, April 17, 2008 7 p.m. Washington at Philadelphia VERSUS, TSN
Saturday, April 19, 2008 1 p.m. Philadelphia at Washington NBC, TSN
Monday, April 21, 2008 TBD Washington at Philadelphia VERSUS, TSN
Tuesday, April 22, 2008 TBD Philadelphia at Washington TSN

SERIES D TIME (ET) #4 New Jersey vs. #5 NY Rangers Network
Wednesday, April 9, 2008 7 p.m. NY Rangers at New Jersey TSN
Friday, April, 11, 2008 7 p.m. NY Rangers at New Jersey TSN
Sunday, April 13, 2008 7 p.m. New Jersey at NY Rangers VERSUS, TSN
Wednesday, April 16, 2008 7 p.m. New Jersey at NY Rangers VERSUS, TSN
Friday, April, 18, 2008 7:30 p.m. NY Rangers at New Jersey TSN
Sunday, April 20, 2008 TBD New Jersey at NY Rangers VERSUS, TSN
Tuesday, April 22, 2008 TBD NY Rangers at New Jersey TSN

2008 WESTERN CONFERENCE QUARTER-FINAL

SERIES E TIME (ET) #1 Detroit vs. #8 Nashville Network
Thursday, April 10, 2008 7 p.m. Nashville at Detroit VERSUS
Saturday, April 12, 2008 2 p.m. Nashville at Detroit NBC
Monday, April 14, 2008 TBD Detroit at Nashville VERSUS
Wednesday, April 16, 2008 TBD Detroit at Nashville VERSUS (JIP)
Friday, April 18, 2008 7:30 p.m. Nashville at Detroit VERSUS
Sunday, April 20, 2008 3 p.m. Detroit at Nashville NBC
Tuesday, April 22, 2008 TBD Nashville at Detroit

SERIES F TIME (ET) #2 San Jose vs. #7 Calgary Network
Wednesday, April 9, 2008 10 p.m. Calgary at San Jose VERSUS, CBC
Thursday, April 10, 2008 10 p.m. Calgary at San Jose CBC
Sunday, April 13, 2008 10 p.m. San Jose at Calgary CBC, VERSUS
Tuesday, April 15, 2008 10 p.m. San Jose at Calgary CBC
Thursday, April 17, 2008 10 p.m. Calgary at San Jose VERSUS, CBC
Sunday, April 20, 2008 TBD San Jose at Calgary CBC, VERSUS
Tuesday, April 22, 2008 TBD Calgary at San Jose CBC

SERIES G TIME (ET) #3 Minnesota vs. #6 Colorado Network
Wednesday, April 9, 2008 9 p.m. Colorado at Minnesota
Friday April 11, 2008 9 p.m. Colorado at Minnesota VERSUS (JIP)
Monday, April 14, 2008 10 p.m. Minnesota at Colorado VERSUS
Tuesday, April 15, 2008 10 p.m. Minnesota at Colorado VERSUS
Thursday, April 17, 2008 9 p.m. Colorado at Minnesota
Saturday, April 19, 2008 TBD Minnesota at Colorado VERSUS
Tuesday, April 22, 2008 TBD Colorado at Minnesota

SERIES H TIME (ET) #4 Anaheim vs. #5 Dallas Network
Thursday, April 10, 2008 10 p.m. Dallas at Anaheim VERSUS, TSN
Saturday, April 12, 2008 10 p.m. Dallas at Anaheim VERSUS, TSN
Tuesday, April 15, 2008 8:30 p.m. Anaheim at Dallas TSN
Thursday, April 17, 2008 8 p.m. Anaheim at Dallas TSN
Friday, April 18, 2008 10:30 p.m. Dallas at Anaheim VERSUS, TSN
Sunday, April 20, 2008 TBD Anaheim at Dallas TSN
Tuesday, April 22, 2008 TBD Dallas at Anaheim TSN

JIP – Joined in progress

* if necessary