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PLAYOFF PREDICTIONS |
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PLAYOFF PREDICTIONS |
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EASTERN CONFERENCE: |
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Montreal entered the season as the Eastern Conference favorite by many of the experts. That, combined with the sentiment of the 100 year anniversery of the "Le Habitants de Montreal" allowed the Canadiens to think they would be awarded 2 points for showing up to the rink with the famous logo on their sweaters. Then, after a wake up call from the GM- Bob Gainey and an improved power play... the Canadiens found a some consistency on the ice and made a ferocious 3 week stand to make the playoffs. Unfortunately for the Canadiens, the late push took a toll in injuries. Boston, from start to finish was the "suprise" team of the NHL. They were also the most consistant and sound team in the East. Not much to say, just a better team that can do everything well. Carolina vs New Jersey: Consistancy meets streaky. Previous Stanley Cup winning goaltenders, captains, and organizations meet in a battle of teams that can do everything. The Devils Zach Parise vs Eric Stall. Rod Brind'amour vs Jaimie Lagenbrunner. Cam Ward vs Martin Brodeur. A series that promise to have everything. A series that promises to come down to the little things. The organization that has made winning Stanley Cups doing the little things is hard to bet against. Washington vs New York (Rangers): The Ovechlins met the NHL's home team and and best young goaltender. The best penalty kill vs one of the premier power plays. The reason I call the Rngers the home team is because there seemed to be a strong influence assisting the Rangers for a playoff push. If you have doubts and questions, ask the 25 Panther fans who are insensed by the happenings of the last 2 weeks that solidified the Rangers playoff appearance. After watching the last few weeks, I have to agree with the Florida fans that are still calling radio shows in waves to wonder why they get to enjoy the Florida Golf courses early. I have a hard time feeling bad for them for that reason; but, do not see any changes coming in the playoffs. Pittsburgh vs Philadelphia: The Penguins received a gift from the Islanders in Bill Guerin. They missed Ryan Malone more than they imagined. They missed Hossa as much as they imagined. They missed Gonchar and his healthy return was a gift from the doctors. The Flyers gave them the big gift of home ice to wrap the years end. The gifts keep coming for Crosby's crew.
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NHL Stanley Cup Playoff Matchups:
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(1) Boston 
(8) Montreal 
(1) San Jose 
(2) Washington 
(7) NY Rangers 
(2) Detroit 
(7) Columbus 
(3) New Jersey 
(6) Carolina 
(3) Vancouver 
(6) St. Louis 
(4) 
(5) 
(4) Chicago 
(5) Calgary WESTERN CONFERENCE: |
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Presidents trophy winner and most consistant team vs California rival. San Jose has been among the most consistant teams that can "do it all." They have leadership, goaltending, special teams, and skate well 5 on 5. That is why they have the most points. That is also why I had picked them to win the cup at the beginning of the year. Past playoff disappointments are in the past. This has looked like their year the way last year looked like Detroit's year. I won't argue with myself or destiny.
Finally, the Blue Jackets are arriving: The playoffs. The experience will serve them well as a team that has been building for the last 10 years. Unfortunately, that experience will be short lived. In a mirror image to the above match up and no power play to speak of...
Sentiment for the Blackhawks has been growing all season. From the Winter Classic build-up through the hightened TV ratings for a team that finally was able to get all their games televised to their local market. Now, if the young ones can go past the first round; they will have something to prove that the growing pains are starting to be a part of the past. The once proud hockey market is returning and the electricity in the building should be too much for just about any team. "Home Ice" will play the biggest role of any of the playoff pairings in this series. Calgary's hopes of experience and Kiprusoff will be hard pressed against all the Midway emotions.
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Boston U Scores 2 goals in final minute to force OT, then nets OT winner to win National cahmpionship over Miami (OH):(4-3)
NCAA Championship Game: Miami (OH) vs Boston U NCAA Frozen Four:
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| Flyers Killed by Penalties | |||||||||||||||
After listening to one of my favorite daily hockey shows in New York and hearing call after call of Ranger fans whine about Sidney Crosby "flops" and the lack of "no-calls" against their beloved Rangers... I started to wonder where the same callers were when Brandon Dubinsky pulled an all world oscar nominating flop to draw a penalty from a clean shoulder to shoulder hit from Flyers captain Mike Richards. Hey, why not? In a Simpson's episode, the jury of the damned was Nixon and the'72-'73 Flyers. The Broad Street Bullies reputation still follows the orginization 35 years later. So if you are playing the Flyers, grab your eye and scream, you'll get a whistle. The Flyers lead the league with 17.68 minutes per game in the penalty box. They have been awarded a league low 270 power play opportunities and have been short handed a league high 346 times. (-76) Again, back to the show... call after call is the NYR fan complaining about a goal being waived off. Flyer fans wondering what is going on with their teams inconsistancy of play... the goaltenders took the blame. But the reality is, the Flyers are just taking too many penalties to have any consistant play. They play 1/3 of every game short-handed and run out of juice by games end. Some in the organization in Philly believe that the problem is the reputation of 35 years ago is haunting them. After watching their games this year, I don't think that the officials are trying to single them out- but, they will never get any benefit of doubt, either. The Flyers are still the 3rd youngest team in the NHL. They will remain inconsistant until they gain a little more experience and discipline. Hopefully, for their sake... the league will also recognize that there is no Bob Clarke and Schultz still skating. They retired over 25 years ago. This is a new team... not the "bullies" of 35 years ago, and they can actually play a skilled hockey game. Until then, there is no use jumping down the throats of the goaltenders when it is the penalties that have been killing the team.
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COOL LINKS: |
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Overall Seeds for 2009 NCAA Div I Tornament: 1 Boston University |
Odds to win the Stanley Cup 2009: (BEGINNING SEASON) 4-1 DETROIT
5-1 PITTTSBURGH
6-1 ANAHEIM
8-1 SAN JOSE
8-1 NEW YORK RANGERS
10-1 DALLAS
12-1 MONTREAL
12-1 OTTAWA
15-1 WASHINGTON
18-1 NEW JERSEY DEVILS
18-1 PHILADELPHIA
20-1 CALGARY
20-1 COLORADO
20-1 MINNESOTA
25-1 VANCOUVER
25-1 CHICAGO
30-1 NASHVILLE
30-1 CAROLINA
40-1 FLORIDA
40-1 EDMONTON
40-1 TAMPA BAY
45-1 BOSTON
45-1 BUFFALO
50-1 TORONTO
50-1 NEW YORK ISLANDERS
65-1 COLUMBUS
65-1 SAINT LOUIS
75-1 PHOENIX
75-1 ATLANTA
75-1 LOS ANGELES KINGS
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| Rank | Player | Years | goals (current) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wayne Gretzky | (1979-1999) | 894 |
| 2 | Gordie Howe | (1946-1980) | 801 |
| 3 | Brett Hull | (1985-2006) | 741 |
| 4 | Marcel Dionne | (1971-1989) | 731 |
| 5 | Phil Esposito | (1963-1981) | 717 |
| 6 | Mike Gartner | (1979-1998) | 708 |
| 7 | Mark Messier | (1979-2004) | 694 |
| 8 | Steve Yzerman | (1983-2006) | 692 |
| 9 | Mario Lemieux | (1984-2006) | 690 |
| 10 | Luc Robitaille | (1986-2006) | 668 |
