I've got an hour or so of downtime, so I've decided to stop being so neglecting. Just for now, though. I'm sure I'll go back to neglecting this place over the weekend. Actually I'm pretty sure of it, since I'm going to miss the next Columbus game in favor of the Griffins' final home game of the season. Expect a recap on that though.

Let's do bullets:

• Jimmy Howard was supposed to play about 25 games this season, but he just won game #35. It's an absolute joke to me that the cool topic with him right now is whether or not he's too old to win the Calder. What is the rule for (which, for the record, says that a player has to be younger than 28, and Howard is 25 in terms of hockey years) if it's going to be an ultimate factor in the decision? The rule says nothing about professional experience. Why take it out on Jimmy that Buffalo does not have defensive depth and is forced to play a 20-year-old 20+ minutes a night? It should be about impact, and Howard has made more of an impact than both Ty Myers and Matt Duchene. I'm awarding him the Calder right now.
• Since I didn't write anything about the Philadelphia game, it's worth noting that we should be glad Howard is racking up the W's because Chris Osgood is predictably far away from top form. That makes sense considering he hasn't played in two months, but I do like Osgood. I wouldn't say he's strong mentally, but I think he's proved over the past few years he's not weak either. Usually he shines when there's no pressure on him. I'm starting to worry about him for next year, how will he respond to a summer off after so few games down the stretch?
• He might have been the McDonald's Player of the Game, but I'm still waiting for Niklas Kronwall to wake up. He took two nasty looking hits that probably could have been avoided. Hopefully the increase in offensive production will lead to an increase of awareness on the ice.
• He may have gotten walked by RJ Umberger, but for all the people who used stats against me to argue against Nick Lidstrom at midseason, he has 29 points in the 37 games since recording his second goal of the year. I'm not into numbers, but now that the anti-Nicks don't have that on their side, where have they been? I've been here all along, quietly (well, loudly, I guess) enjoying another Norris-caliber season. But the media's already awarded that to Mike Green, since they can't give it to Crosby or Ovechkin.
• I don't know what it is about Dan Cleary that makes him ultra-productive on the bottom two lines and invisible on the top two, but I sure hope Mike Babcock is taking notes for playoff lines.
• I feel like I haven't mentioned Jason Williams for a while, and that's because I just don't know what to say. He split the fanbase in the summer with this who were convinced he was just going to screw up on the powerplay, and those convinced he could contribute (me). Well, neither party has been right. He's been solid on the powerplay point -- I can't remember a recent shorthanded goal against that was his fault or any real mishandling of the puck. But if he's not screwing up, what is he doing out there? He's got a great shot but I rarely see him using it. He was a useful playmaker back in the day of playing on the 4th line with Igor Larionov and Luc Robitaille, but I've yet to see him make a highlight reel setup all season. Is there any question that Justin Abdelkader (21 points in 31 games since being sent down) should be on the 4th line instead of him in the playoffs?
• Pavel Datsyuk has been red hot and I think it's because he's realized he can explore the top of the net. Seems like every shot he takes is going top corner now. I'm putting this thought in the file of "things we better see in the playoffs."
• I was worried about that shift where Chad Kolarik, Greg Moore, Tom Sestito, and Grant Clitsome pinned Detroit in their own zone. Between them? Twenty-four games of NHL experience.
• As of right now, we're in 5th, tied with Nashville but technically ahead since we still have two games to play. That gives us Phoenix. I see people worrying about this, but I don't see it. Ilya Bryzgalov definitely has some game-stealing ability, but I like the matchup. The Coyotes have no experience. I'm thrilled to be in the playoffs more than anything. I can find good and bad about playing anyone, I really have no preference. Also, refer to the new poll on the right.
• Final note, something I wanted to pass along. Nicole Yelland, the Wings' social media coordinator who I had a chance to meet at H2H, has sent out an e-mail that's being passed around to all the bloggers. She'd like you to know that you have an opportunity to appear on the scoreboard before each of the Wings' playoff games. All you need to do is send in a video following the formula "I am (name), I am (location), I am Hockeytown." That's no longer than ten seconds. But if you're taking ten seconds to say that, you're probably really drawing it out and I wouldn't be surprised if they don't pick you. Sorry, but that's just the way it is.