I think it is rather safe to say that the NHL Playoffs have kicked both March Madness' ass and the NBA Playoffs' ass in terms of drama and excitement.

I can't wait for the conference semifinals to begin and Crosby vs. Ovechkin!

The playoffs actually start Thursday, with the Blackhawks-Canucks series.

Swine flu, sure.

I am pumped though for the Crosby-Ovechkin showdown.

I am excited for this round as well. I would have to agree that the NHL Playoffs have been great. Hell except for the 76ers-Magic and Bulls-Celtics series the NBA have been more boring than March Madeness, i didn't know that could happen. I wish Versus and the NHL's schedule making was better though.

I don't really understand why the Devils-Hurricane game wasn't televised here in Va. That was a shame I didn't get to see a classic game 7.

While Versus shuffles announcers around for the games, Canada gives one announcing team a series and they cover it from start to finish. With that being said, for those that care and/or live in Canada and don't yet know, here is who is doing which series...

Boston-Carolina: Chris Cuthbert and Pierre McGuire
Washington-Pittsburgh: Bob Cole and Greg Millen
Detroit-Anaheim: Gord Miller and Ray Ferraro
Vancouver-Chicago: Jim Hughson and Craig Simpson

Sources: Puck The Media and the506.

NHL has done a really poor job of scheduling these games this year. They had overlapping games and didnt adjust start times when Hawks/Flames and Ducks/Sharks were on same night. they could have at least moved start of Hawks/Flames to 8 pm Eastern (6 pm in Calgary). But then that would benefit fans, NFL and NASCAR have no problem juggling start times to maximize viewership. Except for maybe Chicago, none of the teams left has a confilct with an NBA team using the same arena. This schedule isnt much better than first round.

Generally you're right JFein, but the Bulls-Celtics and Magic-76ers series have been epic. I think the Rockets-Blazers series will also prove to be good. In any case, Canadians far and wide are all jumping on the Vancouver bandwagon. They should be well rested to face the Blackhawks.

It doesn't matter to me. I don't get Versus. Come on DirecTV.

Ugh...these Versus-only games suck. CSN-Chicago does such a great job with the Hawks games (Pat Foley ftw) that you really lose a lot of insight and talent when moving them over to Versus.