Third round over before it began?

I'm hardly the first person to suggest this, but could Chris Osgood be one of the leading contenders for the Conn Smythe Trophy?

Since he took over for Dominik Hasek the Wings have won nine straight games, and I wouldn't be surprised if they made it 10 straight and swept the Stars on Wednesday. Should the Wings somehow sweep the Eastern Conference champion (read: Pittsburgh Penguins), it would be easy to make a case for the veteran netminder.

And yes although it's only midway through the third round, the only way to keep things exciting is to start throwing around potential playoff MVP candidates.

The other big news in the hockey world today was the San Jose Sharks' decision to fire head coach Ron Wilson. You can read my account of the conference call to announce the news here

Here are the standings:

1) Brad Bouzane 189 Your lead is less safe than it was a few days ago
2) Sean Hutchinson 186 I don't foresee you hanging in much longer
3) Terry James 184 You might just break through for your first win this year
4) Cliff Hosfield 183 You're still in the running for rookie of the year
T5) Justin Lee 182 So long Justin's wall
T5) Jason Anthony 182 Catch any of the world championships in Halifax?
7) Mary Kay Hosfield 179 Have you ever been this high in the standings, this late in the playoffs?
8) James Peters 177 Strong results from Hossa will keep you in the top 10
9) Lloyd Mack 174 I bet the party is still going on in Humboldt
10) Arthur Casement 173 First place among Toronto-based poolies
11) Jordan Stein 171 You're fate rests with Sykora
12) Rob Shaw 170 Why does Winnipeg have an earthquake search team?
13) Mike James 169 Can Flyers compete without Timonen AND Coburn
14) Richard Warnica 168 Football?
15) Steve McKinley 165 Leapfrogged a pair of fellow Canwesters
16) Kim Landon 164 Bribes or not, you're moving up the leaderboard
17) Dale Oviatt 161 I heard a rumour about you and a garage sale
18) Mark Brennae 160 You're still dropping and you will likely continue to drop
T19) Jennifer Hosfield 159 Outdoor field hockey season must be underway by now, eh
T19) Ron Strate 159 Hey! Gary Roberts is back!
T21) Liam Lynch 157 Look who you're tied with.
T21) Colleen Turnbull 157 You've caught Liam. Let the gloating begin.
23) Ryan Plesko 155 Ron Wilson gets fired, yet MacT keeps his job? Go figure.
T24) Jack James 154 Zetterberg without Datsyuk is like Brad without Angelina
T24) Julianna Nowaczek 154 You should take on the guy below you in the standings in Scrabulous
T26) Dave Washburn 152 I should have known better than to leave an exposed triple-word against you
T26) David Forbes 152 I don't understand gibbled
28) Adam Fulton 141 Big gap between top 27 and bottom 11.
T29) Neil MacKinnon 140 Ryan White could be in the bleu-blanc et rouge quicker than you think
T29) Barry Horeczy 140 Leaving McGowan in your dust
31) Scott McCleery 139 Closing in on the top 30
32) Colleen Racine 135 You passed one poolie, but one poolie passed you
T33) Don McGowan 130 You're not officially frozen, but you might as well be
T33) James Gordon 130 Ron Wilson would look good behind the Sens' bench
35) Peter James 119 I'm making my move
36) Chris Chapman 117 FROZEN!
37) Debb Coghlin 110 You'll need luck to hold off a surging Mrs. Chapman
38) Jeff Sandelli 107 FROZEN!
39) Janet Chapman 104 I never though I'd say this, but you're not going to finish in last.