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The Sporting News puts it rather succinctly today, “A post season collapse by the San Jose Sharks is as much a part of the NHL playoffs as the Commissioner handing over the Cup”. Ouch…Well, shame on you if you picked Joe Thornton or Patrick Marleau in your pools.  There’s no longer a point in expecting those dogs to step up their play once their paycheques stop but you, well, you had a choice…here’s a list Thornton and Marleau will never grace - top NHL goal scorers in playoff overtime sessions are Joe Sakic, Maurice Richard and Glenn Anderson…NHL conspiracy theorists will abound depending on the results of tonight’s games. If Carolina and Washington advance, Commish Gary Bettman will get the Penguins - Capitals, Crosby - Ovechkin matchup he craves…I have the Hurricanes at just over 3-1 odds tonight (as mentioned, I bet Carolina to win the series when they trailed 3-2). Now, a cagey bettor could guarantee himself a payday by laying off some money on the Devils. Me? Never that smart. I’ll go for the gusto and stay on the Carolina bandwagon. Cam Ward is playing the best hockey of his life and the last time he was on a similar roll the Canes played right through to June…Sports Illustrated’s Allan Muir is absolutely scathing in his evaluation of the playoff performance of New York Ranger Nikolai Antropov. The ex Leaf, who has three goals in thirty six playoff matches, is described as possessing the grit of “a goose down pillow”. Muir suggests the Rangers will not resign the unrestricted free agent at the end of this season, opening the door for a return to Toronto (yeah, right)…Antropov spoke glowingly of the atmosphere in the New York dressing room when he arrived, slamming his old team in the process. Wonder what he’ll say when the Rangers wash their hands of his indifferent play…Anaheim - Detroit looms as a very punishing series. The winner of the Vancouver - Chicago series, and I pray to god it is Chicago, may find a battered and bruised foe. A real challenge for the Red Wings is going to be goaltending. The champs will be facing a sizzling Jonas Hiller while their prospects are tenuous at best. Osgood was hurt during the final game against Columbus and we, par for course, have not been given an honest appraisal of the severity of the injury. So listen, if the Wings are forced to start Conklin, can we deduce a progression which sees the Ducks upending the champs and actually marching to the Cup? The Ducks? I think it’s time to slap down a saver on that possibility…there is little doubt that the Washington Redskins made a mighty effort to acquire Mark Sanchez on Saturday. Current QB Jason Campbell has been sent a clear message; son, you’re just not that good…a must read for NFL fans is Michael Lewis’s “Blind Side: The Evolution of the Game”. The book lays out the theory that the left tackle is the most vital cog of the offensive line, and that an elite o-line is the key to a top offense. I had a long talk with the Unabomber (my scruffy buddy, not the real one) on Saturday night and he told me he has come to the same conclusion. The O-Line is the place to start when evaluating a team’s chance both for the season and for a particular Sunday…the Arizona Cardinals are expected to release Edgerrin James this week…thankfully, Square Eddie has been pulled from the Kentucky Derby. The animal’s connections were making fools of themselves attempting to cram fitness into the recovering colt. If he had started on Saturday he would have regressed from his fine effort in the Lexington and been humiliated…PioneeroftheNile wrapped up his Derby preparation on Monday with a five furlong work in 1.01. Trainer Bob Baffert  believes the horse will be better on dirt than he was on poly and also claims he has the brawny son of Empire Maker set to contest all three races of the Triple Crown…Danica Patrick is apparently mulling over a move to NASCAR. Her ability to drum up sponsorship deals would be of paramount importance as the Good Ole Boys struggle through the economic downturn…one woman suffered a broken jaw from debris as Carl Edwards car hurtled at the catch fence at Talladega on Sunday. Six other people suffered less severe injuries. There is now the usual hemming and hawing about what can be done to make racing safer. I guarantee you NASCAR will not leave the track. Why? Bottom line, the treacherous Alabama superspeedway delivers big thrills and deep chills. People love their Talladega, and a few injuries isn’t going to prevent the milking of one of the sports best cash cows…