We’ve moved into the Frozen Four section of the NHL playoffs. The Western Conference final got underway Thursday night with the Detroit Red Wings (-225) beating the Dallas Stars 4-1. The Red Wings went into this series as the 3-2 favorites to win the Stanley Cup. Dallas was 3-1 and on a roll after upsetting the San Jose Sharks in the Western semis. What looked like a very promising series will turn into a Detroit massacre if Game 1 is any indication.

The Eastern final between the Philadelphia Flyers and the Pittsburgh Penguins starts Friday night at 7:30 p.m. ET. The Penguins are heavy –230 favorites to win the series and 2-1 to take their third Cup in team history; Philadelphia is 11-2. The Flyers have the steeper uphill skate to add Cup No. 3 to their collection, more so now that All-Star defenseman Kimmo Timonen has developed a blood clot in is left ankle.

For me there is noting more suspenseful in a hockey game then overtime. Especially during the playoffs.

Here is a list of the longest Stanley Cup overtime playoff games and who ended it with the game winning goal (GWG)

Jaromir Jagr rocks the classic mullet.

Jaromir Jagr’s phenomenal NHL career may have come to an end. The impending free agent says he’ll play at least one more year of hockey, but that could wind up being in Europe. If so, Jagr leaves behind a Hall of Fame legacy that included two Stanley Cups, a Hart Trophy, an Olympic gold medal – and one of the best mullets ever to grace a hockey card. Business in front, party at the back.

Even in its prime, Jagr’s bouffant could never compare with George Parros. Check out the lid on this guy. Parros plays right wing for the Anaheim Ducks, but he’s more famous for his swarthiness. I’m sure he fit in quite nicely with his classmates at Princeton.

But my award for Best Hockey Hair goes to Alexei Kovalev of the Montreal Canadiens. Did you see Game 5 of the Bruins-Habs series where Kovalev lost his helmet and scored a goal? Or was it Guy Lafleur?

During the post-game interviews immediately following the New York Rangers’ third straight loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins, Jaromir Jagr was quoted as saying this may be his last year. Clearly, the star forward was frustrated by the team’s inability to win a crucial game on home ice, but many are thinking that Jagr may be hinting at retiring or at the very least, leaving the New York Rangers. There’s talk the 36-year-old may be headed back to Russia to play hockey. (Read more Jaromir Jagr here.)

And then there’s Brendan Shanahan, whose one-year contract with the New York Rangers is up at the end of the season. At 38, Shanahan’s been in the game longer than most and his retirement wouldn’t come as much of a surprise. Still, he’s not ready to give up just yet.

“I don’t want to talk about that stuff. I’m just thinking about that next game,” Shanahan told reporters. “I dig for everything I have on every shift of every game I play. But it’s now a matter where we’re facing the realization that, unless the production is there from us individually and as a team, obviously [the Penguins] found a way to be on top in each and every game.

Game 4 between the Pittsburgh Penguins vs. New York Rangers goes down tonight. Also facing elimination are the Colorado Avalanche, who are at home to the Detroit Red Wings. Get all your Stanley Cup playoffs betting here.

Betting on the NHL playoffs? There’s still hope for Canada’s last remaining team, the Montreal Canadians, who are not out of it yet.

The Montreal Canadiens are finally back in their rightful place among the elite teams in the NHL. After 15 years in the wilderness, the Habs finished first in the Eastern Conference and rode the phenomenal goaltending of wunderkind Carey Price into the second round of the playoffs.

Except Price has been tagged for 10 goals on 68 shots by the Philadelphia Flyers. He was replaced by Jan Halak early in Game 3; the starter for Game 4 had yet to be announced at press time. It’s la fin du monde.

Price is a superstar in the making, so there’s no reason to panic. That can wait until the next round of the playoffs, where it’s almost certain the Pittsburgh Penguins will be waddling in wait. After taking three straight in their series with the New York Rangers, the Pens are 7-0 in the postseason and 8.71 units in the black. This looks like their year.

The NHL’s ice hockey rule book is expected to undergo changes in order to give more protection to goaltenders.

This move was set to be a counter action to some recent incidences. Most recently was a playoff game where Sean Avery, a New York Rangers forward, stood in front of New Jersey goaltender Martin Brodeur and waved his arms with the intention to distract him.

The changes to the rule book would make attempts such as these as “an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty to the offending player”

In my opinion changes like these are always a big deal. If players are seriously going to stoop to a level where they have to wave their arms around like children then yes they should get penalized. However this “unsportsmanlike conduct” can be open to interpretation and when things aren’t clearly defined, there is going to be a lot of individual interpretation and a lot of unhappy recipients of a penalty. Once this kicks in be prepared to let the conspiracy theories fly.

I have to admit I’m not a Dallas Stars fan. Not at all, actually. Marty Turco is a great goal tender and an even better stick handler, but he’s a bit too cocky for my liking. Mike Modano is one heck of a player but there’s something about the guy that rubs me the wrong way (is he too good?). But there’s no doubting the talent and determination of this team. In last night’s game against the San Jose Sharks they made darn sure their presence was felt in the Shark Tank and by putting in three quick goals in the third period they took the fans right out of the game. And up two games in their series against San Jose, they look like they’re headed into the Western Conference finals. Who knew…?

If you had to pin point one factor in the Stars’ recent success you’d have to consider Turco’s performance as of late. Turco was huge for the Stars in the series against Anaheim, as he went 4-2 with a 2.01 goals against average and .912 save percentage. So far against San Jose, he is 2-0 and has stopped 54-of-58 (.931) shots thrown his way.

And like I said, I’m not exactly Turco’s number-one fan…but there’s no denying the guy is coming up big when his team needs him most.

Currently in most sportsbooks, the Dallas Stars are 4/1 favorites to win the Stanley Cup.

The second round of the NHL playoffs started last night with a victory by the Montreal Canadians over the Philadelphia Flyers, and a huge win by the Detroit Red Wings over the Colorado Avalanche. Tonight’s action pits the Pittsburgh Penguins against the New York Rangers, and the San Jose Sharks against the Dallas Stars.

I have to admit (and please don’t think I’m being too smug here), but so far so good. I was surprised to see the Ottawa Senators swept in the first round, but good for Sid the Kid to get his team to the second round. I was kind of hoping on seeing Alexander Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals make it past Round One, but what are you gonna do? And so much for a repeat Stanley Cup win for the Anaheim Ducks. Whatev.

Anyway, here’s a glimpse of how things stand as of today. Good luck with your brackets! Don’t forget to get your NHL playoffs betting lines and NHL Stanley Cup odds while they’re hot…

Note: Unlike the NCAA Basketball Tournament, which is what most sports fans think of when they hear the word “bracket”, the Stanley Cup Playoffs are not based on a true bracket system. After the Conference Quarterfinals, the No. 1 seed is assured of playing the lowest-seeded team in the conference. The higher seed of any matchup receives home ice advantage.

Sidney Crosby was all smiles after sweeping the Sens in Round One.

Montreal Canadians vs. Philadelphia Flyers
The only Canadian team remaining in the NHL playoffs, the Montreal Canadians will face-off against the Philadelphia Flyers in what should be a tough series. The Flyers have a lot of depth and lead the Stanley Cup playoffs in goals (23) after its opening series win over the Washington Capitals. Look for Saku Koivu and Carey Price to ignite just the right amount of energy to even things out for the Canadiens. This second-round series starts Thursday (7 p.m. EST).

Canadians: 7/4 odds to win the Eastern Conference; Flyers: 8/1 odds to win the Eastern Conference.

Pittsburgh Penguins vs. New York Rangers
Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin will take to the center ice on Friday when the Pittsburgh Penguins meet the New York Rangers. The Penguins earned the only sweep of the first round by knocking out the Ottawa Senators, but the Rangers can pack a powerful punch with Jaromir Jagr (eight points) and Scott Gomez (seven points) leading the offensive battle. This matchup starts Friday (7 p.m. EST).

Penguins: 6/5 odds to win the Eastern Conference; Rangers: 7/2 odds to win the Eastern Conference.

Detroit Red Wings vs. Colorado Avalanche
Here’s a rivalry we haven’t seen in awhile…the Detroit Red Wings and the Colorado Avalanch. Nicklas Lidstrom and Joe Sakic are the wiley veterans for each respective team. This one heats up on Thursday (7:30 p.m. EST).

Red Wings: 2/3 odds to win the Western Conference; Avs: 13/2 odds to win the Western Conference.

San Jose Sharks vs. Dallas Stars
After just barely squeaking past the Calgary Flames in the first round, the San Jose Sharks will have to dig deep to fend off the Dallas Stars, who appear to be the stronger of the two teams heading into this second-round matchup, which gets going on Friday (10 p.m. ET).

Sharks: 11/4 odds to win the Western Conference; Stars: 9/2 odds to win the Western Conference.

The first round of the NHL playoffs ended with a bang Tuesday night. In a pair of Game 7 clinchers, the Philadelphia Flyers (+145) beat the Washington Capitals 3-2 in overtime, and then the San Jose Sharks (-185) chased Miikka Kiprusoff from the net in a 5-3 victory over the Calgary Flames.

The Flyers’ win means they’ll face the top-seeded Montreal Canadiens in the Eastern Conference semifinals. The Pittsburgh Penguins will face the New York Rangers, who dusted off their suburban rivals from New Jersey in just five games. Pittsburgh leads all teams in playoff profit after the first round with 6.65 units, courtesy of a four-game sweep of the Senators. The Pens covered all four games against the spread.

In the West, the Sharks avoided the golf course and earned themselves a second-round matchup with the Dallas Stars, thus ensuring the latest chapter in the Detroit Red Wings-Colorado Avalanche saga will be written. Get the foil.