Blackchecking is ManInBlack’s quick-hit thoughts of the day.

~With the exception of the Chicago/Nashville series, every playoff series sits at 1-1 after two games played.  Does that say something about the absence of home-ice advantage, parity in the league, or just dumb luck?  I’ll go with curtain number two, although I think a little of each is involved.

~Speaking of the NHL, how in the hell did Montreal piss away the game yesterday?  They were up 4-1 with 2 minutes left in the second period.  Washington scores a goal at the end of the second.  Two more in the third.  All of the sudden its a tie game.  Then Montreal scores another goal, takes the lead with 2 minutes left in the 3rd.  Lets Washington tie.  And the Caps score the game winner 30 seconds into OT.  How does this happen?  This is why an otherwise decent Montreal team barely snuck into the playoffs.  You need to learn to salt away the clock and play some defense.  Especially when you have a 3-goal lead with 22 minutes left in the game.

~Hard to see the NBA finals being anything but Cavs vs Lakers.  Is that exciting, or just more of the same?  I’m not sure.

~The NFL draft is this week.  Its always one of the most exciting days of the offseason, and also one of the most overrated.  The coverage on ESPN, NFL Network, etc has turned the draft into a circus.  Yes, I’m interested in who my team drafts.  No, I’m not going to watch it on television.  Well, maybe the first round…

~Why is Joakim Noah talking about Kevin Garnett?  Noah called KG a dirty player after he threw an elbow to the head of Quentin Richardson that got him ejected from his first-round game against Miami.  It was a dirty play, and Garnett will deserve whatever additional punishment comes down.  But shouldn’t Noah, I don’t know, be more concerned about his team’s series against Cleveland?  They’re only arguably the best team in the league, and the Bulls are already down a game in the series.  But by all means, worry about what’s happening in someone else’s playoff series.  Noah has always been and always will be a buffoon.

SHARKEY SAYS:

I love the NFL draft.  It takes forever, but I find myself mesmerized by it.  Maybe I’ll imitate some former New Englander who writes for that sports network, and keep a live running journal of what transpires.  Also, don’t forget Tuesday is NFL Schedule release day; the day of the year you can start seeing which players have great fantasy playoff matchups, and which don’t.

Also, I find it hard to say Cleveland vs Los Angeles is more of the same, considering they’ve never played each other in the finals.
          ~More of the same in that one of those teams have been in the Finals the last three years, and 7 of the last 10.