Kudos to Japers’ on this blog post regarding momentum going into the playoffs.
If it was so true, we would have won the Stanley Cup last season as no team was hotter than us entering the playoffs. Home ice helps and I would love to see us move up in the East from 3rd to 2nd or even 1st.
The playoffs start the season anew. The key is to be rested, healthy and confident entering the playoffs and hope for a hot goaltender. Goaltenders can win games in the playoffs for a team single handedly.
I don’t think what is happening to the Capitals, Bruins or Devils right now has any sway on how all of these teams will perform in the playoffs. It is a clean slate. I hope we perform better in the next 7 games compared to our last 7 games. I really do. But at the end of the day, the playoffs start and everyone is 0-0 and a new season begins. So for those of you in total meltdown and “the sky is falling mode” it would be OK to chill just a bit. 
Mass Hysteria!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Not sure its meltdown….well maybe your emails are, but the boards are realistic. Ottawa of years past had great reg. seasons, slowed at the end, and their D was not built for the playoffs, nor was their 3rd and 4th line…their top 2 lines scored…that earned them mucho reg season points…could they have gone all the way ?? sure ANYTHING is possible…one year they did make it to the final…I wouldn’t have put money on any of them making that far….
I would use what the Canes and Pens (see trade deadline) have done as an example…much better :^)