WRIST SHOTS: NOT LICKED YET

I don't really have a lot of interesting hockey comments, because I've been watching mostly the maddening NCAA this week. All I know is that the playoff picture is starting to come into focus. I woke up this morning and the Rangers are in 7th place, thanks to a late Jagr goal to beat the Penguins last night. Hello, Blueshirts! Welcome back from the dead! Of course, if the season ended today (and it should already, honestly), they'd meet the Devils in the first round once again. Egads! Of course, the way the Devils have been playing as of late (only 2 points behind the Pens) they could easily slip to 4th or 5th. They play tonight in Toronto, and the Leaves will be fired up after the last game which featured that stupid-ass Janssen hit (although Kaberle isn't playing, do you think Belak might fight Janssen?).

The Isles' 15 year man Rick DiPi is hurt, and Mike Dunham is starting in his place. Yes, his name is on the Cup thanks to his buddy Marty, but he's not good, giving up 16 goals in the last 3 games going 0-3 with a 6.58 GAA and a .828 SV%. OUCH! So who is Dunham's backup? Wade Dubielewicz. Oh sweet Jebus. So can GM Garth Snow sign himself and get between the pipes? (Mario was owner/player for the Pens, so why not? I always thought he should have wore an "O" on his sweater, but I digress.)

Meanwhile, cooler heads have prevailed and charges will not be filed against Simon for his stick attack on Hollweg on March 8, but that's about the only good news. Do you think Ryan Smith misses Edmonton right now? He could have stayed home and missed the playoffs just as easily.

The Sabres are plugging away, and still in first despite losing 5 of their last 7. At the other end of the playoff spectrum, 8th place Carolina has 80 points, and in a 9th place logjam are Montreal, Toronto and the Isles (with 2 games at hand, with 2 more each on the schedule vs. NYR and NJ) are at 78.

Meanwhile in the West, the Predators are on top, and lead the NHL with 100 points. The Ducks are still in 2nd, and Bertuzzi returns with the Red Wings tonight. The rest of the playoff field looks set, unless the Avs and Son of Statsny can make a late push (they have 80 pts, 4 behind 8th place Calgary).

What happened to the NHL on NBC? Did they give up already? For that matter, where is The Office and Heroes? I haven't had a single reason to turn on that channel in two weeks (and their golf coverage is an unwatchable HD/SD mess).

Who am I kidding? I really just wanted to post this picture of Rockland County's own Hayden Panettiere (Heroes) licking the Stanley Cup.



(I would say that I'd let her lick my Cup any time, but she doesn't turn 18 until August 21 so that might be wrong.)

(Photo courtesy of Amanda Edwards/Getty Images)