In less than a week, we have witnessed some great playoff hockey. Let’s look at some of the story lines that are being created early in the second season:


Pittsburgh seems to have it all right now, and the play of goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury has been a bit of a surprise. Fleury is playing at a very high level and he is giving his team the type of goaltending it needs to go on a very long playoff run.


The Ottawa Senators need a miracle to survive now — winning four games in a row is the only option and it can be done. But will they do it?


The Minnesota/Colorado matchup is the one series that may go the distance. You could switch the jerseys on these two teams and you would probably get the same results. Both teams play the same style and are pretty close when comparing the talent of each team.


The Bruins and the Predators are one game away from making their respective series a best-of-three affair. Both teams are hanging around and when you least expect it, they are winning another game.


Montreal and Detroit, on the other hand, are beginning to look like teams that need a little bit of a wake-up call. Both teams have the better talent; but better talent doesn’t always win. Heart and desire are keys in the playoffs and the top-seeded teams better realize that quickly.


The third game between the Capitals and Flyers on Tuesday is huge. Washington needs to come out strong on the road and establish the team concept it seemed to have lost in Game 2. On the Philadelphia side, goaltender Martin Biron must continue to play well. Goaltending is a key in this series and the team with the better goalie will win it.


They say you must beat the champion to be champion, and that is exactly what the Dallas Stars have been doing. The Stars have been attacking the Anaheim Ducks, and the Stanley Cup Champions have been spending too much time in the penalty box.


However, a win by the Ducks on Tuesday in Game 3 could turn this series around in a hurry. One good game from the Ducks just may give them the momentum for which they have been searching. Game 3 is key. Remember, champions don’t give up easily.


Forget the New Jersey Devils against the New York Rangers. It is Brodeur against Lundqvist — all goaltending, all game long. Not only great saves, but saves that need to be made. Key saves, timely saves, the unexpected saves. Whoever makes the most of these usually wins. So far it has been Lundqvist, but with a win tomorrow night, the Devils would have a two-game winning streak and that means Brodeur is on a roll, just what Devils fans want.


The question of the night: Which San Jose team shows up Tuesday night? We witnessed both sides of this team during Game 3 of the series, and if there was a time for the good Sharks to appear, this is the time.


The Calgary Flames have everything going for them at this moment, but it could all change quickly. Just refer to Game 3 to verify that. Will this game be controlled by Iginla or Thornton or will a support player shine? I will be watching, and you should be too!


Oh, one more thing! My body clock is all messed up and is telling me no more hockey-viewing abuse. But deep down the clock is still ticking and waiting for one of those long, triple-overtime games. Could it be in our near future? I say yes, and the Flames/Sharks series is my pick for a game like that. My head hitting the pillow around 3 a.m. ET is near, I can feel it and my body can too!