Weekend thoughts

- The Bruins make the playoffs for the first time since the lock out. They're reward...The Canadiens whom they have lost to 8 times this year and 11 in a row overall. Great...

- On the topic of the Bruins, there is some hint that Bergeron may play should they make it past the first round. I don't think this is such a good idea. Not that he isn't ready but there is no way that he will be 100%. He hasn't played since the Prison Ward (otherwise known as the Philadelphia Flyers) took him out in October. He will be rusty and its going to take him time to get back into the flow of the game. Not only that but the team has been able to gel with him out of the line-up. Great hockey comes from finding the right line combinations and I'm not sure I want to throw someone essentially brand new into the mix. The kids (Lucic and Krecji especially) have elevated their game and someone is going to lose ice time if Bergeron were to return. I understand it may be an emotional life (as Carolina used back in 2006) but it might cause more harm than good. He should sit no matter what and take the whole off-season to get 100% and start next year fresh.

- Speaking of Philly, I watched a Philly game against Pittsburgh last Wednesday and there is no two ways about it. Scott Hartnell is just plain dirty. I twice saw him go late into piles and intentionally aim for an opposing players head. He did it to Andrew Alberts months ago and only lost two games for it. One of these days he is going to seriously hurt someone and they aren't going to come back. Why does going for someone's head garner a lighter sentence than stomping on someone's foot (see Chris Simon & Chris Pronger)? Once is just as dangerous and some may say a blow to the head is more so.

- Finally some exciting basketball this weekend. UCLA held tight with Memphis for most of the game and UNC came back strong after a miserable first half that cost them the game. Credit to Kansas for putting the lock down when UNC got with in 4 (same kudos to Standford women for doing the same to UConn when they got within one last night). Let's hope that tonight's contest shows some of the same flair and is not the blow-out, snooze-fest that the last two title games have been.

- Since there is still college hockey to be played and the Bruins are in the playoffs, the Sox have not quite made the radar yet. I have yet to watch a full game but what I have seen so far has not been good. Not sure if Toronto is good or they're feeling the effects of Japan or if the bullpen is just starting slow. All I know is that if they went on a 3-4 stretch in the middle of the season people would just see it as a slump, since it is happening now the panic button is starting to get pressed. Gotta love Boston fans!