I hope all of you have Versus if you want to watch any of the First round of the NHL Playoffs this year. Here is the TV schedule via Puck Daddy, and there's even a bonus for you folks north of the border!

2009 EASTERN CONFERENCE QUARTER-FINALS

No. 1 Boston Bruins vs. No. 8 Montreal Canadiens

Thursday, April 16- Montreal at Boston (CBC/RDS, 7pm)
Saturday, April 18- Montreal at Boston (VERSUS/CBC/RDS, 8pm)
Monday, April 20- Boston at Montreal (CBC/RDS, 7pm)
Wednesday, April 22- Boston at Montreal (CBC/RDS, 7pm)
*Saturday, April 25- Montreal at Boston (CBC/RDS, 7pm)
*Monday, April 27- Boston at Montreal (CBC/RDS, TBD)
*Wednesday, April 29- Montreal at Boston (CBC/RDS, TBD)

No. 2 Washington Capitals vs. No. 7 New York Rangers

Wednesday, April 15- NY Rangers at Washington (TSN, 7pm)
Saturday, April 18- NY Rangers at Washington (NBC/TSN, 1pm)
Monday, April 20- Washington at NY Rangers (VERSUS/TSN, 7pm)
Wednesday, April 22- Washington at NY Rangers (VERSUS/TSN, 7pm)
*Friday, April 24- NY Rangers at Washington (VERSUS/TSN/RDS, 7pm)
*Sunday, April 26- Washington at NY Rangers (NBC/TSN/RDS, 2pm)
*Tuesday, April 28- NY Rangers at Washington (VERSUS/TSN/RDS, TBD)

No. 3 New Jersey Devils vs. No. 6 Carolina Hurricanes

Wednesday, April 15- Carolina at New Jersey (TSN/RIS, 7:30pm)
Friday, April 17- Carolina at New Jersey (TSN/RIS, 7:30pm)
Sunday, April 19- New Jersey at Carolina (TSN/RIS, 7:30pm)
Tuesday, April 21- New Jersey at Carolina (TSN/RIS, 7:30pm)
*Thursday, April 23- Carolina at New Jersey (TSN/RIS, 7:30pm)
*Sunday, April 26- New Jersey at Carolina (TSN/VERSUS, TBD)
*Tuesday, April 28- Carolina at New Jersey (TSN, 7:30pm)

No. 4 Pittsburgh Penguins vs. No. 5 Philadelphia Flyers

Wednesday, April 15- Philadelphia at Pittsburgh (VERSUS/CBC/RDS, 7pm)
Friday, April 17- Philadelphia at Pittsburgh (VERSUS/CBC/RDS, 7pm)
Sunday, April 19- Pittsburgh at Philadelphia (NBC/CBC/RDS, 3pm)
Tuesday, April 21- Pittsburgh at Philadelphia (VERSUS/CBC/RDS, 7pm)
*Thursday, April 23- Philadelphia at Pittsburgh (VERSUS/CBC/RDS, 7pm)
*Saturday, April 25- Pittsburgh at Philadelphia (NBC/CBC, 3pm)
*Monday, April 27- Philadelphia at Pittsburgh (VERSUS/CBC, TBD)

2009 WESTERN CONFERENCE QUARTER-FINALS

No. 1 San Jose Sharks vs. No. 8 Anaheim Ducks

Thursday, April 16- Anaheim at San Jose (VERSUS/CBC/RDS, 10:30pm)
Sunday, April 19- Anaheim at San Jose (VERSUS/CBC/RDS, 10pm)
Tuesday, April 21- San Jose at Anaheim (VERSUS/CBC/RDS, 10:30pm)
Thursday, April 23- San Jose at Anaheim (VERSUS/CBC/RDS, 10:30pm)
*Saturday, April 25- Anaheim at San Jose (VERSUS/CBC/RDS, 10pm)
*Monday, April 27- San Jose at Anaheim (VERSUS/CBC/RDS, TBD)
*Wednesday, April 29- Anaheim at San Jose (VERSUS/CBC/RDS, TBD)

No. 2 Detroit Red Wings vs. No. 7 Columbus Blue Jackets

Thursday, April 16- Columbus at Detroit (VERSUS/TSN, 7pm)
Saturday, April 18- Columbus at Detroit (TSN, 6pm)
Tuesday, April 21- Detroit at Columbus (TSN, 7pm)
Thursday, April 23- Detroit at Columbus (TSN, 7pm)
*Saturday, April 25- Columbus at Detroit (VERSUS/TSN, 7pm)
*Monday, April 27- Detroit at Columbus (TSN, TBD)
*Wednesday, April 29- Columbus at Detroit (VERSUS/TSN, TBD)

No. 3 Vancouver Canucks vs. No. 6 St. Louis Blues

Wed., April 15- St. Louis at Vancouver (CBC/VERSUS/RDS, 10pm)
Friday, April 17- St. Louis at Vancouver (CBC/VERSUS/RDS, 10pm)
Sunday, April 19- Vancouver at St. Louis (CBC/VERSUS, 7pm)
Tuesday, April 21- Vancouver at St. Louis (CBC/VERSUS, 8pm)
*Friday, April 24- St. Louis at Vancouver (CBC/VERSUS/RDS, 10pm)
*Sunday, April 26- Vancouver at St. Louis (CBC/VERSUS/RDS, 8pm)
*Tuesday, April 28- St. Louis at Vancouver (CBC/VERSUS/RDS, TBD)

No. 4 Chicago Blackhawks vs. No. 5 Calgary Flames

Thursday, April 16- Calgary at Chicago (TSN/VERSUS, 8:30pm)
Saturday, April 18- Calgary at Chicago (TSN, TBD)
Monday, April 20- Chicago at Calgary (TSN/VERSUS, 9:30pm)
Wednesday, April 22- Chicago at Calgary (TSN/VERSUS, TBD)
*Saturday, April 25- Calgary at Chicago (TSN/RIS, 10pm)
*Monday, April 27- Chicago at Calgary (TSN, TBD)
*Wednesday, April 29- Calgary at Chicago (TSN, TBD)

(*- If Necessary)

I didn't comment much about Don Cherry's recent undressing of Alex Ovechkin's goal celebrations, mainly because I'm a Caps fan and I'm biased in that regard, but more so because it's really nothing new. Today, Cherry talked with the Toronto Sun, and decided to express almost the exact same sentiment....

"I'm saying the same things I was before," Cherry said in a lengthy interview. "But the criticism is worse now. It has really picked up. I don't know why.

I admit I've been taken aback by all of it, the calls for me to get fired. Last week was the topper. I got ripped everywhere. I got ripped in four Toronto papers. The owner of the Washington Capitals wrote about me online. A couple of my friends in Florida saw it in the papers there. I'm front and centre. I guess I'm an easy target.

I'm having a good time. I can hardly wait for Saturdays. I really get a kick out of it. The critics? They never say one good thing I do. I've come to the point in my life where it doesn't bother me. I say to hell with them."

That's definitely the attitude to have. A lot of people compare Cherry to the likes of Bob Knight and Billy Packer, but I've always felt that Cherry loves his support to no end. I can't say the same for Knight and Packer. Don Cherry is an equal opportunity commentator, and is the same person that has gotten on both Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby.

Hopefully he doesn't try to tone things down, because definitely don't think he would be the same person that's become a beloved figure within the sport of Hockey.

Grapes ripe for pickin' (Toronto Sun)

What is it with the Mikes today, or yesterday for that matter? First Mike Patrick said he wanted to see Barry Bonds in prison stripes, and now NESN/NBC/CBC's Mike Milbury is calling players "dicks" on live television? Milbury used to be the GM of the Islanders, and drafted a player by the name of Tim Connolly in 1999, but then traded the Center onto the Sabres just two years later. Well apparently there's some bad blood between the two.

During the second intermission of the Bruins-Flyers game on NESN, Milbury and co-host Kathryn Tappen were showing highlights around the league. When the Buffalo highlights came up, and a clip of a Connolly goal was scored, Milbury sort of lost it. Barry Melrose Rocks has the breakdown....

During the second intermission, they're going through highlights from games around the league. You would think things would be pretty tame. I know, it's Milbury, but we're talking about simple highlights here. Well, when they get to highlights of the Buffalo game, they play the video of Connolly's goal, which opened the scoring. Tappen decides to ask Milbury for some comments on Connolly and he responds in the way we've kind of come to expect: "Tim Connolly, a former fifth overall pick...when he's not injured or acting like a self-centered little dick he's a very good player"

Live TV and folks who don't have any internal mute buttons, a match made in heaven! A big thanks to NESN for giving Milbury a mic when he's not on NBC or CBC. You're keeping the masses entertained!

Well then! I'm still looking for the video, but I'm pretty sure it's not okay to say the word "dick" on live television. As always....I could be wrong though.

Update: Video found, and unfortunately Milbury doesn't use the word "dick", but rather "dink"....



Mad Mike Rule #37: Whatever You Do, Don't Ask Him About Tim Connolly on Live TV (Barry Melrose Rocks)
Milbury thinks Tim Connolly is self-centered, not named 'Richard' (Puck Daddy)

A gay rights group, called Egale Canada, is upset with CBC's Mike Milbury for coining the term "pansification", and using it at least twice this season. The term was used by Milbury to describe the NHL's current discussion on fighting in the league, but the group doesn't seem to buy that explanation. Via Globe and Mail....

Network spokesman Jeff Keay said neither Milbury nor Cherry intended to offend homosexuals by using "pansification," a derivative of the word pansy.

"The point is, it was no way intended to be a reflection on or offensive to gay people," Keay said. "I think the colloquial use of the term was something they didn't associate with gay people. The way the language evolves over time, 20 or 30 years ago it would have been seen, reasonably enough, as a direct slur against gay people.

"But I think with usage now, I'm not sure the association is so immediate."

Kennedy wasn't buying the explanation.

"Words like pansification just further the stereotype and perpetuate the homophobic stereotype in our society," she said yesterday.

I've always said that if you offend anyone, you apologize and move on, but this is a little ridiculous. Sure the word was developed in Elizabethan Times to describe and effeminate male, but you also have to take into consideration the intent of the person who said it. I can't imagine that the thought of a comparison to homosexuality even crossed Milbury's mind.

Gay group outraged by CBC's use of 'pansification' (Globe and Mail)

I passed along a story last week that Canadians were upset with the apparent Sidney Crosby shunning that was taking place during the Stanley Cup Finals and apparently Crosby's management has contacted the network about it. Via Globe and Mail....

At the conclusion of the deciding game of the Stanley Cup final on Wednesday, Sidney Crosby's agent, Pat Brisson, huddled with Scott Moore, the head of CBC Sports, at Pittsburgh's Mellon Arena.

The subject was Hockey Night in Canada's coverage or — from the point of view of Brisson and others — the peculiar coverage of Crosby in the NHL final series.

The Pittsburgh Penguins' 20-year-old captain was largely ignored by Hockey Night host Ron MacLean and commentator Don Cherry, although MacLean did report on Wednesday before Game 6 that Crosby was the leading scorer of the playoffs. And Cherry aired a piece on Coach's Corner, the thrust of which was referees were allowing Crosby to be fouled because he was known as a diver in his rookie season.

Apparently, the conversation between Brisson and Moore was amicable, but inconclusive.

I'm not really versed in things Canadian but it's really amazing that one of Canada's own would be ignored or boycotted because of something that happened when he was in Junior Hockey. Don Cherry is seriously good at holding grudges.

CBC should examine Cherry-picking coverage (Globe and Mail)
Canadians Upset With Cherry's Snub Of Crosby (Awful Announcing)