PLAYOFFS? PLAYOFFS?! MUCH DOUBT THAT ATLANTA CAN KARI THIS OFF

• Mirtle just noted (it was also reported on The Fan 590) that the Thrashers plan to bench Kari Lehtonen and put backup Johan Hedberg in for Game 2 vs. the Rangers. The one interpretation seems to be this is less about Lehtonen than it is about the Thrashers' lukewarm effort last night.
• And the Canucks' Ryan Kesler is out 4-5 weeks.
• For everyone who thinks you should cheer for whatever Canadian NHL team is left in the playoffs, Andy Grabia has reached back to 2004 to remind you that is very shallow and unhockeyfan-like:
  
  "Along the way, out of some misplaced nationalism, many Oilers fans began cheering for the Flames because they were 'the only Canadian team' still left in the playoffs. Signs and flags popped up everywhere, and even Edmonton’s sporting goods stores were selling out of Flames merchandise. Never mind that Tampa Bay actually had more Canadian players on their roster than the Flames did, that this type of jingoism paralleled the creation of the 'Freedom Fry,' or that it was the hockey equivalent of Red Sox fans cheering for the Yankees, a sorrowfully large group of Edmontonians abandoned their integrity for the quick promise of Red Mile titties."
  
• Kingston can't find a naming sponsor for the new downtown arena where the Kingston Frontenacs will play -- apparently no local business wants to ante up $150,000 to be associated with the Limestone City's Light Brigade.