Brad Penner-Imagn Images1. Right this minute, Colorado is the Stanley Cup favorite. After a scout watched the Avs recently maul the Maple Leafs, he jotted in his notebook: "It was the men against the boys"
2. Vet New York broadcaster Rich Ackerman on Peter Laviolette: "I can't see how they can bring him back. As good as they were last year, the Rangers are a mess this year; and I don't think they can let that bleed into next season."
3. Why Alexei Yashin is an outstanding captain. Although he had a chance to shorten his record goal chase – and had an open net to fire at – Big 8 passed off to a teammate who got a hat trick.
4. Apart from the MacKinnon-Makar axis in Colorado, there's been a tendency to overlook the very underrated defense work of Devon Toews.
5. This from Mark Nussbaum: "Ovie's goal chase is getting the attention it deserves but Crosby's quest for breaking The Great One's record of 20 consecutive years averaging a point a game is not."
6. Interesting J.T. Miller X-Ray by way of Rich Ackerman: "Miller teases with athleticism and some great plays and then makes a brutal mistake. He came to defense late in his teens but he's had several years in the league and should have been able to figure it out by now."
7. No matter how good the McDavid Oilers play – nor the Matthews Leafs – neither can match Florida nor Tampa Bay when it comes to goaltending.
8. Both the Panthers' Paul Maurice and the Lightning's Jon Cooper know that their huge challenge is called attrition.
9. The Maven has no figures handy but it just seems that there are far and away too many injuries being suffered throughout the league.
10. Just a personal beef to broadcasters; it's the "boards" not the "wall" and should stay that way. Also, it's the "crease," not "blue paint."