Just a few things that caught my eye:

• Jake Allen had a short leash. He probably should have been wearing a prong collar. He can't honestly be their future ... can he?
• Carey Price is a freaking cyborg. He doesn't get too up or too down. His emotion is always the same. And so his talent. Vezina. Hart. Pearson. And Stanley??

• The Blackhawks had better win it all this year. The cap is expected to go up next season, but only slightly (from $69 to $71.5 million). That's down from the $73 million estimate from around Christmas. They'll have $21 mil tied up in Messrs Toews and Kane starting next year. Who wants Patrick Sharp?
• Darnell Nurse must be thanking his lucky stars that the Oilers won the draft lottery. He's being schooled by his future teammate, Connor McDavid, in the OHL playoffs and will be glad he only has to attempt to be his shadow for up to seven games this series. Ouch.
• Sens fans will be moaning for years about the early whistle and how it robbed them of their dream. But referee Chris Lee will never supplant Kerry Fraser. Sens fans are whiney, but not nearly as bad as Leafs' fans.
• Kevin Shattenkirk is probably the quietest league leader in playoff points. Too bad we won't get to see him and Alex Pietrangelo in the next round.
• Shrinkage. I'm just thinking ahead to Monday. Steven Stamkos has gone eight straight postseason game without tickling the twine. Your reputation takes a hit when you perform with excellence during the regular season, but shrink from sight in the playoffs. Just ask Alexander Ovechkin.
• Zach Parise went all Rick Grimes on the Blues. Will he be able to lead the Wild through those walkers from Illinois? I'm not convinced.
• Bu-bye Ken Hitchcock. But it should be Doug Armstrong who goes instead -- he was the one who gave Hitch the Jake Allen/Brian Elliot combo this year. And Ryan Miller last year.