Just a follow-up to my Northeast Division notebook and some other tidbits flying through my congested head. Will this cold ever leave?

Unfortunately the folks at NHL.com decided to omit my reference to the 1997 Top 40 hit “Tubthumping” by Chumbawamba. Found it ironic that the main chorus pretty much describes the 2007-08 Boston Bruins and that PJ Axelsson, the senior member of this Bruins squad compared this team to his rookie season, which began in 1997. Here’s what you don’t see in that NHL.com article and yes that song was pure Kraft cheese, but again the chorus could be the theme chant of the Bruins this season, who have showed tremendous resilience!

When asked if the team had a theme song, Axelsson said they had a few but not one in particular. Ironically, the year Axelsson broke into the NHL, 1997, the hit song “Tubthumping” by the group Chumbawamba was released. The main chorus was:

I get knocked down
But I get up again
You're never going to keep me down

The Bruins may just want that one in the team iPod.

Not to kill the high for you Bruins fans here, but congratulations to the Montreal Canadiens for winning the Northeast Division. I can’t think of anyone I know or read in October that had the Habs winning the division, let alone possibly the Eastern Conference regular season crown. This team is balanced, and has a transition game that can burn most of, if not any team in the NHL. Just ask the Bruins and they will tell you eight reasons why that’s a fact!

Alright, since my bandwagon pick, (Edmonton) for the playoffs is out, I’ll have to hop on board my friend and co-host Brian Malone’s, for a team I wouldn’t mind seeing make a long run into the playoffs. Obviously, since I cover the Northeast Division, for financial reasons I pull for the Canadiens, Bruins and Senators (if they even make it), but after watching the buzz that has taken over the Verizon Center, how can one not cheer for Alexander Ovechkin and the Capitals?

But let me still say, I’d rather spend my hard-earned money at a parade in Boston or on St. Catherine Street.

Here’s tonight’s possible playoff clinchers:

EASTERN CONFERENCE
#1 Pittsburgh Penguins can clinch the Atlantic Division tonight:
* If they beat Philadelphia
or
* If New Jersey gets one or no points against Boston.

#5 New York Rangers (idle) can clinch an Eastern Conference playoff berth tonight:
* If Carolina gets no points against Tampa Bay.

#7 Boston Bruins can clinch an Eastern Conference playoff berth tonight:
* If they beat New Jersey and Carolina gets no points against Tampa Bay.

#8 Philadelphia Flyers can clinch an Eastern Conference playoff berth tonight:
* If they beat Pittsburgh and Carolina gets no points against Tampa Bay.

WESTERN CONFERENCE
#1 Detroit Red Wings can clinch the Presidents' Trophy tonight:
* If they get at least one point against Chicago.

Just a head’s up on our radio show this week. We’ve got Hall of Famer Larry Murphy and hockey scribe James Mirtle joining us in the Press Box, Bob Snow previewing the Frozen Four for us and much more! So be sure to tune into the FASTHockey Radio Show this Saturday 2-4 PM ET.

* XM Home Ice 204: Saturday, 2-4 pm ET; Sunday, 7-9am ET
* The Team 990 Montreal: Saturday, 2-4pm ET
* 1510 The Zone Boston: Saturday, 2-4pm ET
* Team990.com: Saturday, 2-4pm ET
* 1510TheZone.com: Saturday, 2-4pm ET
* FASTHockey.com: Saturday, 2-4pm ET

Looking ahead, Sunday we’ll give you our Award winners, and while we didn’t keep our promise and give you a weekly “Now That’s a Hockey Player” Award, we’ll give you a winner for the season.

Enjoy the hockey tonight!

Slainte,
Murph