Fridays Are Good

Some random musings on this Friday to get you ready for Saturday and Sunday:

• The Eastern Conference playoff spots have been claimed with 3 days left in the regular season. It's good to see two storied franchises make it despite the roller coaster seasons the Rangers and Canadiens have had. Though I'm pretty sure their will be riots in Miami today as fans realize the Panthers will now lose defenseman Jay Bouwmeester for nothing. (checking cnn.com right now....... ) Wait, no riots? Oh, well maybe there's a one-man riot in GM Jacques Martin's office. The Miami Herald didn't even mention it... too soon?
  
• Speaking of the Rangers, last night's crowd at Madison Square Garden was one of the more spirited crowds I've seen at a regular season game. It's just a shame referee Don Van Massenhoven joined the party in the first minute of the game. I'm not one to gripe about calls costing a team a game, but there was absolutely no good reason that the Rangers' first goal counted. Last time I checked, you can't slash a goalie's glove (6 times in total) and push him behind the goal line. Bad officiating like that is definitely unfair this time of year when one-goal victories are a nightly occurrence.
• HBO's next installment of their 24/7 series featuring Manny Pacquiao and Ricky 'the hitman' Hatton starts tomorrow. Set your DVRs. Why? Because Floyd Mayweather, Sr. is the trainer that's why. Check out the trailer.
• The season finale of NBC's Friday Night Lights is on tonight at 9 PM. This has to be the best TV show I've never seen. Honestly, my DVR is too full... don't think for one second that I'm not setting my DVR for the Groomer Has It finale on Saturday night. Blah.
  
• Have you heard of this rising comic star, Seth Rogen? Ok you probably have, but did you know he's starring in his 9th film (not counting voice work) in 3 years? Observe and Report hits theaters today and hits you over the head with Rogen. Remember Will Ferrell in Semi Pro? That's what's going on with Rogen right now, although this film does have potential. Ah, nevermind...thanks for saving me $12 Metacritic.
• Back to the NHL... four teams are battling for the final 2 spots in the Western Conference. Minnesota trails the Ducks, Blues and Predators by 3 points and faces the former squad tonight for a must win game. This is also the Preds' last game of the season and without gaining at least a point in tonight's game, they will be eliminated from the playoffs. Cool, right?
• Last night's BU-Vermont NCAA Hockey game on ESPN2 was a pretty epic battle. BU got a late goal from big-time NHL prospect Colin Wilson for the 5-4 win.
• Lastly, Sunday is the officially the best nap day of the year with the Masters on CBS. Tune in to the soothing sounds of Jim Nance, set the volume to 22 and take in all that Augusta has to offer...just make sure you wake up in time to catch the back nine.