First-round intensity, Lemaire, Kovalchuk and Bullies

                 While the Rangers settle in for their organizational meetings in La Quinta, Calif. , there are three intense playoff game sixes for the rest of us to visit tonight. I’ll be online here and at twitter.com/stevezipay starting around 7 ET, so feel free to weigh in...

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                   The key questions for our western neighbors are these: Who replaces the retired Jacques Lemaire, and will the new head coach have any impact on what UFA Ilya Kovalchuk decides?

                   There’s certainly a slew of possibilities (no particular order) outside the Devs: Ken Hitchcock, former Thrashers boss Bob Hartley, John Stevens, Craig MacTavish and perhaps even Ted Nolan and Tom Renney.

                   Kovalchuk, who was headed home to see his family and third child---born earlier this month---has not ruled out the KHL.

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                    Been invited to the Manhattan screening of HBO’s “Broad Street Bullies” docu tomorrow. Over the years, whatever Ross Greenburg and his troops have produced is almost always top-shelf.  Review to come…

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                  Today's playlist/Z-list:

                  "The Chandelier/Anne Lacey's"---Liz Carroll & John Doyle

                  "One of Those Days"---Eilen Jewell

                  "Lifeboats"---Snow Patrol

                  "Sea Fever"--William Topley

                  "Little Wing"---Clapton/Winwood Live at MSG