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"Phaneufed" is Back: Monday's NHL Playoff Observations

Just a few things that caught my eye:

  • Phil Kessel and Evgeni Malkin look like they hate each other by the way they jaw at each other on the bench. Did you see Chris Kunitz trying to stifle laughter between them? #priceless
  • Look out -- Phaneufed is back as a verb. That Brian Rust hit was classic Dion. For your viewing pleasure -- a top-10 compilation of guys who were Phaneufed.

  • Ryan Getzlaf may be playing the best hockey of his career right now. All the more reason for keeper leaguers to deal him away. He's 32 and that makes him a declining asset. Big time.
  • Bobby Ryan, where have you been all my life? Look what happens when you actually buy in to a coach's scheme.
  • Speaking of Bobby Ryan -- the guy he was traded for is finally putting his game together this postseason. Jakob Silfverberg has eight goals and 12 points in 12 games. Any chance they'll see each other in the Final?
  • 4:56 and 19:50. The first is the time of the Sens' first shot in the third period. The second? The span between that shot and their last one. Yes, that's almost a full period. Blame Guy Boucher.
  • The Sens are in the heads of Phil Kessel and Evgeni Malkin. They need to get their crap together -- they're too easy to knock off their games. That will be the death of the Pens if they're not careful.
  • Mark Stone isn't Pavel Datsyuk, but he's still a pretty good pick pocket.
  • Talking about getting in someone's head. Ryan Kesler is in Ryan Johansen's head. And his bits. Brings a whole new meaning to saucer pass.
  • Pekka Rinne is entitled to one bad game. The Preds should be back on track in Game 3, now that he's gotten that out of his system.
  • So, the Stars' general manager Jim Nill gave up a fourth-round pick and got the rights to oft-injured 31-year-old Ben Bishop. And then promptly inked him to a six-year deal worth $4.916 million per. He could have gotten Scott Darling from the Hawks for a third AND a lot less term (about $4 mil per year for four seasons).
  • Speaking of the Stars, they have a lot of money tied up in netminders for next season. Try $15 mil in three guys, none of which the Vegas Golden Knights want.