Happy Friday, folks - today is a great day for a few different reasons, but today is also the start of the IIHF World championships, featuring the best players the world has to offer, unless they're still playing in the NHL playoffs, or are sitting out due to injury, or just didn't want to go. But still!

- Thoughts on Ryan Miller's intelligence, and some advanced stats to boot. [DGWU Sports]

- A third option for the Sabres 1st round draft pick. [Sabre Noise]

- A short preview of the World Championships. [Sabres Edge]

- What are the USA's medal chances at the World Championships? Pretty good, apparently. [USA Today]

NHL Playoff News:

- The Devils beat the Flyers in OT to take the series lead. [NHL.com]

- The Kings are now up 3-0 on the Blues after winning last night. [NHL.com]

- How Barry Trotz busted Radulov and Kostitsyn for curfew violations. [Puck Daddy]

- The top 10 overtime playoff goals of all time. [THN]

- Bruins owner Jeremy Jacobs says that he's just "loaning" the Cup to whoever wins this year. Uh-huh. [ESPN]

- Why doesn't ESPN need/want hockey? [Sherman Report]

- PLAYOFF BEARD UPDATE. [Puck Daddy]

- But more importantly, who had the best playoff beard of all time? [Globe & Mail]