We have a new leader!

Sorry about the lack of a Thursday update folks, but Google documents was acting up and after the Flames loss I wasn't in the mood to go about manually updating the pool. Below you will find the latest update from the players' side. I will update the team side after the games on Saturday. Unless I get really ambitious I will likely provide only one update a day, but you can always check your score on the Google documents (links on the right-hand side of the blog). The team side Google document will be posted on Saturday.

Here are a few NHL tidbits since the last update:

• It looks like Ray Emery's Hummer will no longer be a fixture on Ottawa's highways and byways.

• Quebec hockey fans seem to be abandoning CBC in favour of RDS for the Montreal/Boston series. CBC sports Grand Poobah Scott Moore has responded, defended the Mother Corp's treatment of Le bleu, blanc et rouge.

• Sean Avery is still as classy as ever.

On the ice, my pick as Eastern Conference champions, the New Jersey Devils were eliminated in the first round (which means I will continue to languish at the bottom of both sections of the pool this year). The Rangers had the Devils' number all year and looked like a Stanley Cup contender in knocking of Martin Brodeur and Co. in five games.

The Anaheim Ducks staved off elimination, and put smiles on many poolies' faces I'm sure, with a 5-2 win over the Dallas Stars. This has been a strange series, with one team or the other not showing up for long stretches of games.

In Detroit, Chris Osgood took over the top job between the pipes. It worked for the Red Wings, but not for all the poolies (including Yours Truly) with Dominik Hasek on their rosters.

On Thursday, the Flames played better in Game 5 than they did in Game 4, but the result was the same, a one-goal loss. Calgary faces elimination at home on Sunday. (And as an aside: Who was the genius who booked a lacrosse game for the Pengrowth Saddledome for Saturday night?).

Also Carey Price looked human in Montreal, Colorado looks poised to knock off Minnesota and Philadelphia is close to putting an end to Washington's fairytale run.

In the pool, we have a new leader as Dave 'Washie' Washburn moved past fellow Canwester Brad Bouzane for top spot. Here's how the standings shake down.

1) Dave Washburn 82 The Flyers are winning, you're leading. . . does life get any better?
2) Justin Lee 81 Great night from Teemu, but it would have been better if he hadn't missed that semi-open net
T3) Rob Shaw 80 A bet you cracked a bit of a smile after that Bruins win Thursday night, eh
T3) Brad Bouzane 80 Hask pulled + Penguins not beating up on Sens = no longer in first
5) Mark Brennae 78 Four Canwest employees in the top five, not bad
T6) Sean Hutchinson 77 When are you coming to Ottawa?
T6) Jenn Hosfield 77 The Hosfields continue to jockey for position amongst themselves
T8) Mary Kay Hosfield 76 Enjoy Halifax and say hi to Leanne for me
T8) Dale Oviatt 76 If I call in sick on Sunday, it's not just because I want to watch the Flames game. I swear.
T10) Richard Warnica 75 Looking forward to the pigskin rematch
T10) Jack James 75 Your future in the top 10 will depend on what happens in Calgary on Sunday.
12) Liam Lynch 74 Tops among RLS staff alumni
T13) Cliff Hosfield 73 The first of many tied at unlucky No. 13
T13) James Peters 73 Not sure why 73 is such a popular score this time out
T13) David Forbes 73 Then again, I wish I was fortunate enough to have 73 points
T13) Jordan Stein 73 I'd also be satisfied with something in the mid-60s
T13) Julianna Nowaczek 73 I think a trip to Humphrey's is in order when you get back
T13) Mike James 73 I know where you're going to be Saturday afternoon
T19) Arthur Casement 72 We're well into the second week of the playoffs and this is the first Casement/basement comment. Wow.
T19) Adam Fulton 72 Rhyming names make for easier comments. Fulton isn't boltin' up the leaderboard
T19) Ryan Plesko 72 Let's Go, Plesko.
T22) Ron Strate 71 It's fate, Forbes will do better than Strate
T22) James Gordon 71 I enjoyed reading all the transcripts the past two days
24) Terry James 68 Remind me to ask you a bio fuels question next time we talk
T25) Barry Horeczy 67 Curling and hockey on the tube tomorrow, too bad it's going to be such a nice day out
T25) Jason Anthony 67 Extra Habs' game this round could help you
T25) Steve McKinley 67 Much like the Leafs, you have little chance of winning this thing
T28) Lloyd Mack 66 The soccer field expansion is long overdue and I'm sure it will get good use
T28) Colleen Turnbull 66 Only eight points behind Liam
30) Chris Chapman 65 I too was suckered into taking Michalek in another pool
T31) Scott McCleery 62 Huet gamble not paying off
T31) Jeff Sandelli 62 Hoping for better things on Sunday night
33) Neil MacKinnon 61 Ducks stay alive, so do your hopes of getting back in contention
34) Don McGowan 59 What's up with the Jays?
35) Kim Landon 58 Your turn in Scrabulous
36) Colleen Racine 57 Hasek benching only makes matters worse
T37) Peter James 56 With the Devils gone, I've got nothing
T37) Debb Coghlin 56 Hey look, we're tied again!
39) Janet Pringle 39 Things are looking up! Osgood is in net.