Were you lucky enough....

To find Vs., the NHL's broadcast network, and turn on last night's offering, Buffalo-Pittsburgh, you would have had quite a treat.

I didn't see the first two periods. My loss. But the 3rd period, OT and shootout? Wow. Now I know the difference between playoff pretenders like 'my team', the Rangers, and the real deal teams. Sabres and Penguins played incredibly hard, incredibly fast hockey. Basically full tilt. The Sabres tied the game with 5 seconds left after Pittsburgh blew two chances at the empty net, one of which left the puck sitting about 6 inches in front of the goal line for Daniel Briere (what a player) and Chris Drury to rush back down ice with 15 seconds left and make a play, Briere from behind the Pittsburgh net finding Drury in front. He actually mishit the puck, but the change in direction got underneath Marc-Andre Fleury's pads. Goaltending could be a problem for Pittsburgh in the playoffs. I'm not sure Fleury is ready for the grind of two-month playoff run. But man can these teams skate. I would watch either of them in a heartbeat in the playoffs.

Meanwhile, Eastern Conference playoff order flips, with Rangers blowing ANOTHER 2-goal lead at home and losing to Ottawa, while Hurricanes took care of business in Raleigh and beat Florida. So 'Canes now occupy the 8th spot. The battle continues.