Oh Dany Boy

I could probably get shot for this in Buffalo right now, but the non-Sabre I most enjoy watching is Dany Heatley. The man totally owns us. If the rest of his team played us as well as he does, the Sens would've been playing in the Conference Finals last season. He just amazes me. He comes seemingly out of nowhere and he puts the puck in exactly the right spot to beat the goaltender. Even during last week's brawl I was a little relieved when Henrik Tallinder managed to find Heatley so they could finish out the fight with their arms wrapped harmlessly around each other. (Double bonus since Hank is one of two or three Sabres that I absolutely, positively do NOT want hurt for the playoffs.) I know there are some mixed opinions about his role in Dan Snyder's death and the legal consequences - or lack thereof - he had to deal with so I won't go into that except to say that I'm glad he seems to have found a place to re-settle in Ottawa. It was hard to watch the chemistry between the Dan(n)ys Heatley and Briere during the All-Star game and not salivate over the idea of them on the same regular line. (For us, Senators fans, not for you.)

This season I've also loved watching Vincent Lecavalier. In the past I've always focused more on Martin St. Louis because I'm tickled by how small he is, but this year Vinny has had an awesome fire in his eyes when he's played against us. There have been a few games the Lightning have come close to winning on his will alone, I think. He just seems like a guy willing to put his team on his back if necessary and that kind of player is so much fun to watch.

Over in the Western Conference I enjoy what I manage to see of Scott Niedermayer and Jarome Iginla. I'd love to both of them more often.