But I still wouldn't want to play the Ravens in the playoffs.
-- Don't look now, but the Bruins have killed off 36 of their opponents' last 37 power plays and 44 of the last 46. The Bruins rank second in the league in goals per game while having allowed the fewest, and they rank third on the penalty kill, an improving 11th on the power play. About the only thing the Bruins have not done this season is score a shorthanded goal, leaving them as the only team in the NHL without such a tally.
So much for that Cup hangover, eh?
-- Celtics coach Doc Rivers recently acknowledged that the Celtics' window of opportunity is "closing," but let's not kid ourselves. The window is closed. The Chicago Bulls and Miami Heat now rule the Eastern Conference -- not necessarily in that order -- and the only question now is how much worse things are going to get before they get better.
And for how long.
-- This is some very rough math, but when adding in the estimated salaries for their arbitration players, including David Ortiz, the Red Sox' currently have a luxury tax payroll in the areas of $175 million. The luxury tax is at $178 million. While that still leaves some room for the Sox to pick up some low-risk, high-reward pitching, a greater question remains.
Are the Sox going to have any flexibility to add during the season, specifically at the trading deadline?
Or are they destined for another list of midseason options that includes dollar-menu buys like Erik Bedard?
-- For those getting amped up about the Patriots' latest run of victories, just remember: in the two previous seasons in which Tom Brady has thrown 35 or more touchdown passes, the Patriots have not won the Super Bowl thanks largely to deficiencies on the other side of the ball.
Which is to say that the Patriots were not balanced enough then and they may not be balanced enough now.
-- Can someone please explain what the Montreal Canadiens saw in Tomas Kaberle?
And for the sake of the close-minded Canadians following, please put the explanation in French.
