April 13 2013; Denver, CO, USA; Vancouver Canucks head coach Alain Vigneault on his bench during the first period of the game against the Colorado Avalanche at the Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

After being eliminated in the first round of the playoffs two years in a row the Vancouver Canucks decided it was time for a change. Today they announced that Alain Vigneault has  been relieved of his duties as head coach. Assistant coaches Rick Bowness and Newell Brown have also been fired. Vigneault was the most successful coach in Canucks history, which made this a hard decision for General Manager Mike Gillis:

“I have a very strong relationship with all of them. I like them all personally,” he told a news conference shortly after the firings were announced. “We’re in a results-oriented business, and if you look at the last two playoffs, we were the higher-seeded team and we lost the first two games at home. We’ve lost consecutive games in the last two playoff years, and there comes a point in time where the message has to change and we have to be better.

“We simply didn’t get the result we expected, and in this business you have to get results.”

Vigneault made a statement after the firing via the Canucks website:

“I am proud of many of the things we accomplished as a group these past seven seasons in Vancouver and only wish we were able to win the Canucks’ first Stanley Cup. I am a career coach and it is what I love to do. I hope to coach again in this League and will always have good memories of my time and the fans in Vancouver.”

With the firing of Vigneault has created much speculation about who will get his job. Darren Dreger tweeted his list of possible candidates.

In no specific order, here’s a list of possible Canucks coaching options: Tippett, Ruff, Renney, Boucher, Maurice, Arniel, Eakins, Martin.

— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) May 22, 2013

The timing makes me believe that Dallas Eakins is top of the list since he is allowed to entertain NHL job offers as of the Toronto Marlies elimination from the Calder Cup Playoffs yesterday. Who do you think will take the opening? Where do you think Vigneault will end up? Share your thoughts in the comment box below, on facebook, on twitter (@kcapp22 or @TMMotS), or by email (tmmots@yahoo.ca).

May 21, 2013; San Jose, CA, USA; Los Angeles Kings defenseman Robyn Regehr (44) battles against San Jose Sharks center Patrick Marleau (12) during the third period of game four of the Stanley Cup Playoffs at HP Pavilion. The San Jose Sharks defeated the Los Angeles Kings 2-1. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

The Los Angeles Kings twitter account has always been known for being slightly wittier than other teams but last night they went a little too far. This is what they said:

“Galiardi gets a penalty for running over Quick. Power Play Kings. Kopitar just got sexually assaulted in front of Niemi.”

This may seem like a funny joke that is no big deal but sexual assault is nothing to joke about. The King’s twitter account has since deleted the tweet and issued the following apology:

We apologize for the tweets that came from a guest of our organization. They were inappropriate and do not reflect the LA Kings.

— LA Kings (@LAKings) May 22, 2013

The guest was a morning radio show host named Kevin Ryder. He is a popular in the Los Angeles area and was taking over the account to attract fans. Ryder seemed to more upset by the media talking about his tweet then the actual people that were offended by it in his first apology via twitter:

“Should I apologize? I apologize to the Kings. Not to Deadspin, or ESPN, or any other group taking my joke out of context to be outraged by.”

He has since seen the light an issued an actual apology:

(1 of 2) My apology. I made a poor choice in the wording of my tweet. I wish I had used different words. If you were hurt by me, I’m sorry.

— Kevin Ryder(@thekevinryder) May 22, 2013

(2 of 2) I get angry when groups like Deadspin see it as kindling to make a fire for themselves. That’s worse than my choice of words.

— Kevin Ryder(@thekevinryder) May 22, 2013

On to round 2. It is time to leave round 1 behind and look on to new opponents in round 2, and with a new round comes a new printable playoff bracket. Just click the image and print from there and you are set to track your favourite teams through their playoff run.

There are two games scheduled in for tonight. The Pittsburgh Penguins are taking on the Ottawa Senators first. The Senators are coming off a hard fought round 1 battle with the Montreal Canadiens and the Penguins are coming off a surprisingly long series against the New York Islanders. I’m guessing most are choosing the Penguins to come out of this one but the Senators are already angry after the happenings of round 1 and with the history between Matt Cooke and Erik Karlsson this could make for a very interesting series.

The second game is the San Jose Sharks and Los Angeles Kings. The reigning Champions made it through the first round but will the team that swept the Vancouver Canucks prove to be too much for them or will the Sharks extended break make them rusty.

One thing is always certain in the playoffs, you are going to have great hockey. Enjoy the games tonight and remember to come to Too Many Men on the Site for all of your playoff news and opinions!