Rapid Fire

The Carolina Hurricanes are stunning the hockey world after winning three straight against the Boston Bruins in the Eastern Conference Semi Final. So it's time to pick your favorite cliché... they've got their backs up against the wall, it's do or die, there's no room for error... you get the picture. Bottom line, the Boston Bruins - a team that finished first in the Eastern Conference, won the Northeast Division Title, and finished 19-points higher than the Hurricanes are on the verge of elimination.

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The Hurricanes are playing like they did back in 2006 when they beat the Edmonton Oilers to win the Stanley Cup. They have that heart, determination, speed, physical presence and of course a stellar netminder.

Cam Ward is a stud in between the pipes and to be honest, I think deserves some strong consideration to fight for one of three spots available for Team Canada at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

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We'll soon find out if the NHL provides "special treatment" towards its superstars. There's no doubt Alexander Ovechkin's knee on knee hit on Sergei Gonchar was deliberate and should be worth a one game suspension. Whether or not the league agrees is a different story. Though I can almost guarentee if it was Sean Avery on Ovechkin, Colin Campbell would be up in arms.

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Don't you hate it when you play "Sport Select" and pick a bunch of sure-fire winners in an effort to win some "easy" money... and then one team screws it up for you? I had Pittsburgh, Boston, Yankees and Red Sox to win tonight... way to blow it for me Bruins. Jerks.

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Welcome back A-Rod! After missing the first month of the season with a hip injury, Alex Rodriguez returned to the Yankees lineup for the first time this year - and first time since he admitted to using steroids. And honestly, you couldn't have scripted it any better. First game back, first pitch he faces and it's a 3-run homerun. Brilliant!