48 hours before the most uncertain playoff run in the last 25 consecutive years of playoff runs, we've got ourselves a full-fledged clusterf***.
Pavel Datsyuk told the Delicate Genius that he wanted the announcement of his likely retirement before the playoffs so that his teammates wouldn't be pestered about it as they get ready to (a) get their asses kicked if they play like they did Thursday, (b) lay waste to a crippled Tampa team if they play like they did Wednesday.
I have no idea what planet Pavel's been on, but there is no way that would have been anything other than a distraction.