Did we just see the best 1st round in Stanley Cup Playoff history?
It's a fair question. Everyone I have talked about hockey says the same thing, they can't believe how entertaining these playoffs have been.
The talk about the NHL playoffs have been rampant on Facebook & Twitter by hardcore and casual fans. And the drama off the ice has been just as good as play on the ice.
I'll have a recap this weekend about what happened in the 1st round but the 2nd round awaits so here are my picks for the Conference Semifinals. We'll start in the West.
Nashville vs. Vancouver:
Both teams had to conquer personal demons to get here.
The 3rd time was the charm as Vancouver finally got by Chicago while Nashville got past the 1st round for the first time in six tries.
Nashville game plan to beat Vancouver should be similar to their game plan against Anaheim, have their defense contain the top line of Vancouver and use your offense to expose their defense.
The only problem with that plan is Vancouver is a much deeper team than Nashville and is much better defensively.
The Predators will give Vancouver fits during the series but the Canucks have too much talent in the end.
Canucks in 6.
Detroit vs. San Jose:
This is the 1st of two semifinal rematches from last season.
Last year Detroit played a grueling seven games series against Phoenix before playing San Jose and it cost them as the Sharks won the 1st three games of the series en route to a 4-1 series win.
This year Detroit swept Phoenix and will have had nine days off before they play the Sharks. Henrik Zetteberg returns from a knee injury and will make his 1st post-season appearance in this series.
So why do I like the Sharks in this one?
I think they match up very well with the Red Wings. They have three very good lines that can score. Their goaltending is much improved with Antti Niemi in net.
I watch San Jose & I see a different Sharks team than in years past. No one has mentioned this year how they always come up short in the playoffs. It's like they are under the radar. They won three overtime games against Los Angeles they would have lost in past years.
The Sharks went 3-1 against Detroit in the regular season and they know they can play with them. It won't be easy and they will have to play better than they did against the Kings but I believe the Sharks have the players to get the job done.
Sharks in 7.
Tampa Bay vs Washington:
Speaking of teams who look completely different that they have in years past here are your Washington Capitals.
They took care of New York in 5 games after having their last four post-season series go seven games each.
The Capitals are still dangerous on offense but they are much better defensively than previous seasons. Michal Neuvirth has the best GAA (1.38) in the playoffs and has given Washington the stability they have lacked in goal the last couple years.
As for Tampa Bay they stole a page from the Pittsburgh Penguins showing a lot of resiliency in rallying from a 3-1 deficit to win the series 4-3.
The Lightning have two good scoring lines that can match up with Washington & Dwayne Roloson gives them an edge in goal. But I don't think Tampa's defense will be enough to stop the offense of the Capitals.
Washington looks like a more complete team than they have been in previous years and they will move on to the conference finals.
Capitals in 6
Boston vs. Philadelphia:
When we saw these two meet last spring Philadelphia was becoming the 3rd team in NHL history to rally from a 3-0 deficit to win a series. It seems only fitting that both teams meet again a year later.
Both teams are coming off of difficult seven game series. The Flyers had to use three different goaltenders before they were able to advance past Buffalo while Boston had to win three overtime games to eliminate Montreal.
The Flyers are a deeper team up front. They have four good lines they can put on the ice in any situation. Their defense is one of the deepest in the NHL and that is without Chris Pronger who is just returning from a hand injury.
The one area the Bruins have an edge is in goal where Tim Thomas (2.25 GAA, .926 save percentage) has retaken his role as starting goaltender. I feel better with him in net than I do the three headed monster (Brian Boucher, Sergei Bobrovsky, Michael Leighton) the Flyers use.
I think this series comes down to the health of Chris Pronger & the play of Philly's goaltending. If Pronger is healthy & the goaltending is serviceable the Flyers should take this series. If either one isn't what it is suppose to be then all bets are off.
Flyers in 7
Friday, April 29, 2011
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Thanks For Playing: Pittsburgh Penguins
Each spring 16 NHL teams play for Lord Stanley's Cup. At the end one team is left holding the cup while the other 15 teams can only think of what could of what might have been.
This is about one of the 15 teams who wasn't so lucky.
Pittsburgh Penguins:
How They Finished: 49-25-8 106 points
2nd in Atlantic Division, 4th in Eastern Conference.
What Went Wrong:
The Penguis lost Sidney Crosby to a concussion in January & Evgeni Malkin to an ACL injury in February. Despite the injuries Pittsburgh was able to clinch the 4th seed and home ice in the 1st round.
What they weren't able to do was close out the Tampa Bay Lightning when they had the chance.
The Penguins lead the series 3 games to 1 but were blown out at home in Game 5 by a score of 8-2. They then went to Tampa where they lost 4-2 setting up for a Game 7.
In Game 7, Dwayne Roloson stopped all 41 shots he faced and Sean Bergenheim scored the only goal of the game giving Tampa a 1-0 win and the series four games to three.
Injuries didn't cost the Penguins the series because they played so well this season after both Crosby & Malkin went down. What cost Pittsburgh this series was going 1 for 35 on the Power Play. If you squander that many opportunities it will catch up with you eventually.
Where Do They Go From Here:
Where the Penguins go depends on the health of Crosby & Malkin. Malkin resumed skating last week and I'm guessing he will be ready for next season.
Crosby is a little harder to predict because of the symptoms from his concussion. He was skating with the Penguins near the end of the season but was not taking any part in contact drills.
The Penguins have about $3.6 million in projected cap space. They are set in goal and on defense. The only big money forwards they have to decide on are Alexei Kovalev, Pascal Dupuis, & Max Talbot. I don't think they will bring back Kovalev and I'm not sure they can afford to keep both Talbot & Dupuis while upgrading the team via free agency.
This season the Penguins did learn is they can compete & they can win without their two best players. The question is whether they can be a Stanley Cup contender without either one. That's a question they hope they don't have to find out the answer to.
This is about one of the 15 teams who wasn't so lucky.
Pittsburgh Penguins:
How They Finished: 49-25-8 106 points
2nd in Atlantic Division, 4th in Eastern Conference.
What Went Wrong:
The Penguis lost Sidney Crosby to a concussion in January & Evgeni Malkin to an ACL injury in February. Despite the injuries Pittsburgh was able to clinch the 4th seed and home ice in the 1st round.
What they weren't able to do was close out the Tampa Bay Lightning when they had the chance.
The Penguins lead the series 3 games to 1 but were blown out at home in Game 5 by a score of 8-2. They then went to Tampa where they lost 4-2 setting up for a Game 7.
In Game 7, Dwayne Roloson stopped all 41 shots he faced and Sean Bergenheim scored the only goal of the game giving Tampa a 1-0 win and the series four games to three.
Injuries didn't cost the Penguins the series because they played so well this season after both Crosby & Malkin went down. What cost Pittsburgh this series was going 1 for 35 on the Power Play. If you squander that many opportunities it will catch up with you eventually.
Where Do They Go From Here:
Where the Penguins go depends on the health of Crosby & Malkin. Malkin resumed skating last week and I'm guessing he will be ready for next season.
Crosby is a little harder to predict because of the symptoms from his concussion. He was skating with the Penguins near the end of the season but was not taking any part in contact drills.
The Penguins have about $3.6 million in projected cap space. They are set in goal and on defense. The only big money forwards they have to decide on are Alexei Kovalev, Pascal Dupuis, & Max Talbot. I don't think they will bring back Kovalev and I'm not sure they can afford to keep both Talbot & Dupuis while upgrading the team via free agency.
This season the Penguins did learn is they can compete & they can win without their two best players. The question is whether they can be a Stanley Cup contender without either one. That's a question they hope they don't have to find out the answer to.
Thanks For Playing: Montreal Canadiens
Each spring 16 NHL teams play for Lord Stanley's Cup. At the end one team is left holding the cup while the other 15 teams can only think of what could of what might have been.
This is about one of the 15 teams who wasn't so lucky.
Montreal Canadiens:
How They Finished: 44-30-8 96 points
2nd in Northeast Division, 6th in Eastern Conference.
What Went Wrong:
The Canadiens couldn't win in overtime and it cost them the series.
Montreal won the 1st two games in Boston and had a 3-1 lead in Game 4 before the Bruins tied the game to force overtime. In the overtime Michael Ryder scored on a pass from Chris Kelly to win the game and tie the series 2-2.
The teams returned to Boston for Game 5 where they went to overtime again. This time Nathan Horton ended the festivities when he scored in the 2nd overtime to give Boston a 2-1 win and a 3-2 lead in the series.
Montreal won Game 6 to send the series back to Boston for a winner take all Game 7. The Canadiens were able to take the game to overtime thanks to a goal by P.K. Subban. At that point I thought Montreal was destined to win because that what usually happens to the Bruins in this situation.
Instead Nathan Horton shows up once again scoring on a blast from just inside the blueline to give the Bruins their 3rd overtime win of the series and end Montreal's season.
Where Do They Go From Here:
I'm actually surprised Montreal lost this series. Boston's special teams was horrible and this is a series where I felt the Canadiens were the better team.
One thing Montreal does need to do going forward is get a little more size on their team. They have a lot of small, quick forwards that can skate but going against a bigger team like Boston they can be worn down in a series.
The Canadiens have five unrestricted free agents on defense and I'm guessing half of them will not be back next season. The emergence of Subban on the blueline gives Montreal something to build around defensively.
The most important thing for Montreal is Carey Price in goal.
Last year I questioned the Canadiens for trading Jaroslav Halak & keeping Price as their goaltender. Price rewarded their faith by winning 38 games and finishing with a GAA of 2.35 and a save percentage of .923.
If Price can continue to play like this Montreal should be a team that contends for a division title next season. They have some good young players that are starting to emerge.
They are nowhere close to being near the dominant teams they were in the 70's but they are becoming a team that when they win a playoff series it won't be considered an upset.
This is about one of the 15 teams who wasn't so lucky.
Montreal Canadiens:
How They Finished: 44-30-8 96 points
2nd in Northeast Division, 6th in Eastern Conference.
What Went Wrong:
The Canadiens couldn't win in overtime and it cost them the series.
Montreal won the 1st two games in Boston and had a 3-1 lead in Game 4 before the Bruins tied the game to force overtime. In the overtime Michael Ryder scored on a pass from Chris Kelly to win the game and tie the series 2-2.
The teams returned to Boston for Game 5 where they went to overtime again. This time Nathan Horton ended the festivities when he scored in the 2nd overtime to give Boston a 2-1 win and a 3-2 lead in the series.
Montreal won Game 6 to send the series back to Boston for a winner take all Game 7. The Canadiens were able to take the game to overtime thanks to a goal by P.K. Subban. At that point I thought Montreal was destined to win because that what usually happens to the Bruins in this situation.
Instead Nathan Horton shows up once again scoring on a blast from just inside the blueline to give the Bruins their 3rd overtime win of the series and end Montreal's season.
Where Do They Go From Here:
I'm actually surprised Montreal lost this series. Boston's special teams was horrible and this is a series where I felt the Canadiens were the better team.
One thing Montreal does need to do going forward is get a little more size on their team. They have a lot of small, quick forwards that can skate but going against a bigger team like Boston they can be worn down in a series.
The Canadiens have five unrestricted free agents on defense and I'm guessing half of them will not be back next season. The emergence of Subban on the blueline gives Montreal something to build around defensively.
The most important thing for Montreal is Carey Price in goal.
Last year I questioned the Canadiens for trading Jaroslav Halak & keeping Price as their goaltender. Price rewarded their faith by winning 38 games and finishing with a GAA of 2.35 and a save percentage of .923.
If Price can continue to play like this Montreal should be a team that contends for a division title next season. They have some good young players that are starting to emerge.
They are nowhere close to being near the dominant teams they were in the 70's but they are becoming a team that when they win a playoff series it won't be considered an upset.
Thanks For Playing: Chicago Blackhawks
Each spring 16 NHL teams play for Lord Stanley's Cup. At the end one team is left holding the cup while the other 15 teams can only think of what could of what might have been.
This is about one of the 15 teams who wasn't so lucky.
Chicago Blackhawks:
How They Finished: 44-29-9 95 points
3rd in Central Division, 8th in Western Conference.
What Went Wrong:
The Blackhawks lost too many of their role players from last seasons Stanley Cup Championship team.
Dustin Byfuglien, Andrew Ladd, Ben Eager, & Brent Sopel were sent to Atlanta in the off-season while Kris Versteeg was traded to Toronto. Adam Burish (Dallas) & John Madden (Minnesota) signed elsewhere as free agents.
Antti Niemi won his arbitration case and became a free agent when the Blackhawks decided to walk away from the deal. Marty Turco was signed to replace Niemi and went 11-11-3 in 29 games with a GAA of 3.02 and a save percentage of .897 before being replaced in net by Corey Crawford.
The Blackhawks weren't bad this season but the turnover of players on the roster along with a Stanley Cup hangover added up to a slow start where Chicago was fighting for a playoff spot all season, not clinching until the final day of the season when Dallas lost to Minnesota.
The Blackhawks opened up against Vancouver and fell behind in the series 3 games to none before rallying to force a Game 7 by winning the next three games.
However a comeback wasn't meant to be when Alexandre Burrows scored in overtime to give the Canucks a 2-1 win and a 4-3 series win.
Where Do They Go From Here:
They say in hockey one of the hardest things to do in this era is repeat as Stanley Cup Champions. That ended up being the case this year for Chicago.
The Blackhawks still have a talented roster led by Jonathan Toews & Patrick Kane but they still have salary cap issues that need to be dealt with.
Corey Crawford emerged as a number one goalie this season but he is a restricted free agent and will command a raise from the $800,000 he was making this season. Chicgao also has to decide if they want to extend qualifying offers to Michael Frolik, Viktor Stahlberg, Jake Dowell, Troy Brouwer, & Chris Campoli.
The Blackhawks have just a little over $8 million available in cap space so how they decide to handle their restricted free agents plays a huge factor in how the roster shapes up for next season. Because of that I think that next year Chicago will be a talented team that is once again fighting for a playoff spot.
This is about one of the 15 teams who wasn't so lucky.
Chicago Blackhawks:
How They Finished: 44-29-9 95 points
3rd in Central Division, 8th in Western Conference.
What Went Wrong:
The Blackhawks lost too many of their role players from last seasons Stanley Cup Championship team.
Dustin Byfuglien, Andrew Ladd, Ben Eager, & Brent Sopel were sent to Atlanta in the off-season while Kris Versteeg was traded to Toronto. Adam Burish (Dallas) & John Madden (Minnesota) signed elsewhere as free agents.
Antti Niemi won his arbitration case and became a free agent when the Blackhawks decided to walk away from the deal. Marty Turco was signed to replace Niemi and went 11-11-3 in 29 games with a GAA of 3.02 and a save percentage of .897 before being replaced in net by Corey Crawford.
The Blackhawks weren't bad this season but the turnover of players on the roster along with a Stanley Cup hangover added up to a slow start where Chicago was fighting for a playoff spot all season, not clinching until the final day of the season when Dallas lost to Minnesota.
The Blackhawks opened up against Vancouver and fell behind in the series 3 games to none before rallying to force a Game 7 by winning the next three games.
However a comeback wasn't meant to be when Alexandre Burrows scored in overtime to give the Canucks a 2-1 win and a 4-3 series win.
Where Do They Go From Here:
They say in hockey one of the hardest things to do in this era is repeat as Stanley Cup Champions. That ended up being the case this year for Chicago.
The Blackhawks still have a talented roster led by Jonathan Toews & Patrick Kane but they still have salary cap issues that need to be dealt with.
Corey Crawford emerged as a number one goalie this season but he is a restricted free agent and will command a raise from the $800,000 he was making this season. Chicgao also has to decide if they want to extend qualifying offers to Michael Frolik, Viktor Stahlberg, Jake Dowell, Troy Brouwer, & Chris Campoli.
The Blackhawks have just a little over $8 million available in cap space so how they decide to handle their restricted free agents plays a huge factor in how the roster shapes up for next season. Because of that I think that next year Chicago will be a talented team that is once again fighting for a playoff spot.
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Thanks For Playing: Buffalo Sabres
Each spring 16 NHL teams play for Lord Stanley's Cup. At the end one team is left holding the cup while the other 15 teams can only think of what could of what might have been.
This is about one of the 15 teams who wasn't so lucky.
Buffalo Sabres:
How They Finished: 43-29-10 96 points
3rd in the Northeast Division, 7th in the Eastern Conference.
What Went Wrong:
They didn't take advantage of a golden opportunity in Game 6.
The Sabres won Game 5 against Philadelphia in overtime & had a chance to close them out in Game 6.
Buffalo jumped out to a 3-1 lead in the 1st period & chased Michael Leighton from the net.Philadelphia would fight back to pull within one goal trailing 4-3 at the end of two periods.
The Flyers would tie the game in the 3rd period to force overtime where Ville Leino would get the game winner giving Philly a 5-4 win and forcing a Game 7 back in Philadelphia.
Listening to people talk about the game the consensus was that Buffalo would regret not closing out the series in six games.
That proved to be true in Game 7.
The Flyers came out with an aggressive forecheck and were clearly the better team outskating the Sabres & outshooting them 16-2 in the 1st period.
Ryan Miller was turned away every shot he faced and it looked like the teams would go into the 1st intermission scoreless. That was until Brayden Coburn shot from the blueline found it's way between Miller's pads to give the Flyers a 1-0 lead.
Once that happened it changed the whole complexion of the game. The Flyers would add three more goals & chase Miller from the net en route to a 5-2 win & a 4-3 win in the series.
Another thing that hurt the Sabres was they had no answer for Danny Briere. Going against his old team, Briere finished the series with 7 points (6G, 1A) and is a candidate for the Conn Smythe Trophy. He did the most damage against Buffalo and is a key reason why the Sabres season is over.
Where Do They Go From Here:
Despite the loss things are looking good for Buffalo.
This past winter the Sabres were sold to Pennsylvania businessman Terry Pegula who is a longtime fan of the franchise.
Pegula has vowed to spend the most money he can into the organization to make them a consistent Stanley Cup contender.
The commitment from him has energized the team & fanbase in Buffalo. The Sabres have one of the best goalies in the NHL in Ryan Miller and a good young core of talent to build around.
They should contend for the Northeast Division next season & if they were playing in the Eastern Conference Finals it wouldn't surprise me.
Yes Buffalo, Better Days are ahead.
This is about one of the 15 teams who wasn't so lucky.
Buffalo Sabres:
How They Finished: 43-29-10 96 points
3rd in the Northeast Division, 7th in the Eastern Conference.
What Went Wrong:
They didn't take advantage of a golden opportunity in Game 6.
The Sabres won Game 5 against Philadelphia in overtime & had a chance to close them out in Game 6.
Buffalo jumped out to a 3-1 lead in the 1st period & chased Michael Leighton from the net.Philadelphia would fight back to pull within one goal trailing 4-3 at the end of two periods.
The Flyers would tie the game in the 3rd period to force overtime where Ville Leino would get the game winner giving Philly a 5-4 win and forcing a Game 7 back in Philadelphia.
Listening to people talk about the game the consensus was that Buffalo would regret not closing out the series in six games.
That proved to be true in Game 7.
The Flyers came out with an aggressive forecheck and were clearly the better team outskating the Sabres & outshooting them 16-2 in the 1st period.
Ryan Miller was turned away every shot he faced and it looked like the teams would go into the 1st intermission scoreless. That was until Brayden Coburn shot from the blueline found it's way between Miller's pads to give the Flyers a 1-0 lead.
Once that happened it changed the whole complexion of the game. The Flyers would add three more goals & chase Miller from the net en route to a 5-2 win & a 4-3 win in the series.
Another thing that hurt the Sabres was they had no answer for Danny Briere. Going against his old team, Briere finished the series with 7 points (6G, 1A) and is a candidate for the Conn Smythe Trophy. He did the most damage against Buffalo and is a key reason why the Sabres season is over.
Where Do They Go From Here:
Despite the loss things are looking good for Buffalo.
This past winter the Sabres were sold to Pennsylvania businessman Terry Pegula who is a longtime fan of the franchise.
Pegula has vowed to spend the most money he can into the organization to make them a consistent Stanley Cup contender.
The commitment from him has energized the team & fanbase in Buffalo. The Sabres have one of the best goalies in the NHL in Ryan Miller and a good young core of talent to build around.
They should contend for the Northeast Division next season & if they were playing in the Eastern Conference Finals it wouldn't surprise me.
Yes Buffalo, Better Days are ahead.
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Thanks For Playing: Los Angeles Kings
Each spring 16 NHL teams play for Lord Stanley's Cup. At the end one team is left holding the cup while the other 15 teams can only think of what could of what might have been.
This is about one of the 15 teams who wasn't so lucky.
Los Angeles Kings:
How They Finished: 46-30-6 98 points
4th in Pacific Division 7th in the Western Conference.
What Went Wrong:
You probably think I'm going to say the Kings were doomed once they lost Anze Kopitar to an ankle injury.
Truth be told it didn't help Los Angeles to lose Kopitar before the playoffs. Ryan Smyth (2G, 3A) and Justin Williams (3G, 1A) had a good series for the Kings but they needed more from Dustin Brown & Dustin Penner (1G, 1A, -3 each) if they were to beat San Jose.
Where the Kings lost this series was in Game 3 when they blew a four goal lead against the Sharks.
Los Angeles scored the 1st four goals of the games and chased Antti Niemi out of goal. Instead of capitalizing the Kings gave up five goals in the period leaving the game tied at 5-5 after two periods.
Devon Setoguchi would go on to score the game winner giving San Jose a 2-1 lead in the series they would not relinquish.
Another thing that hurt the Kings was they couldn't get the job done in overtime. Three games went into overtime and all three times San Jose found a way to get the win. That's a sign of a young team still learning how to win.
Where Do They Go From Here:
Getting Kopitar back from injury will help the Kings next season. He lead the team in points with 73 and was 2nd on the team in goals with 25 before the ankle injury.
The other good thing for the Kings is most of their core players are under contract. The only player they need to re-sign is restricted free agent Drew Doughty. Los Angeles has $11.5 million in projected cap space next season so getting Doughty signed shouldn't be a problem.
At the start of this season I thought the Kings were a team that could contend for the Stanley Cup. That didn't happen this season but they are a talented team that is learning how to win.
If you look at the great teams that won the Stanley Cup in the 90's (New Jersey, Detroit, Colorado, Dallas) They had to all overcome playoff adversity to take that next step.
I think Los Angeles has the talent to become one of those teams. It won't be easy playing in the Pacific Division where four of the five teams made the post-season but the Kings are good enough where they should finish closer to the top of the Western Conference than the bottom.
This is about one of the 15 teams who wasn't so lucky.
Los Angeles Kings:
How They Finished: 46-30-6 98 points
4th in Pacific Division 7th in the Western Conference.
What Went Wrong:
You probably think I'm going to say the Kings were doomed once they lost Anze Kopitar to an ankle injury.
Truth be told it didn't help Los Angeles to lose Kopitar before the playoffs. Ryan Smyth (2G, 3A) and Justin Williams (3G, 1A) had a good series for the Kings but they needed more from Dustin Brown & Dustin Penner (1G, 1A, -3 each) if they were to beat San Jose.
Where the Kings lost this series was in Game 3 when they blew a four goal lead against the Sharks.
Los Angeles scored the 1st four goals of the games and chased Antti Niemi out of goal. Instead of capitalizing the Kings gave up five goals in the period leaving the game tied at 5-5 after two periods.
Devon Setoguchi would go on to score the game winner giving San Jose a 2-1 lead in the series they would not relinquish.
Another thing that hurt the Kings was they couldn't get the job done in overtime. Three games went into overtime and all three times San Jose found a way to get the win. That's a sign of a young team still learning how to win.
Where Do They Go From Here:
Getting Kopitar back from injury will help the Kings next season. He lead the team in points with 73 and was 2nd on the team in goals with 25 before the ankle injury.
The other good thing for the Kings is most of their core players are under contract. The only player they need to re-sign is restricted free agent Drew Doughty. Los Angeles has $11.5 million in projected cap space next season so getting Doughty signed shouldn't be a problem.
At the start of this season I thought the Kings were a team that could contend for the Stanley Cup. That didn't happen this season but they are a talented team that is learning how to win.
If you look at the great teams that won the Stanley Cup in the 90's (New Jersey, Detroit, Colorado, Dallas) They had to all overcome playoff adversity to take that next step.
I think Los Angeles has the talent to become one of those teams. It won't be easy playing in the Pacific Division where four of the five teams made the post-season but the Kings are good enough where they should finish closer to the top of the Western Conference than the bottom.
Monday, April 25, 2011
Thanks For Playing: Anaheim Ducks
Each spring 16 NHL teams play for Lord Stanley's Cup. At the end one team is left holding the cup while the other 15 teams can only think of what could of been.
This is about one of the 15 teams who wasn't so lucky.
Anaheim Ducks:
How They Finished: 47-30-5
This is about one of the 15 teams who wasn't so lucky.
Anaheim Ducks:
How They Finished: 47-30-5
2nd in Pacific Division, 4th in Western Conference
What Went Wrong:
The Ducks lost goalie Jonas Hiller to vertigo like symptoms back in February. In the interim they used Curtis McElhiney at first until he was traded to Tampa Bay for Dan Ellis.
When they found out that Hiller would not return in time for the playoffs they signed Ray Emery, who was coming off of major hip surgery, to play goalie for them.
The other thing that hurt the Ducks was they faced the one team in the 1st round that they needed to avoid.
Nashville has a great core of defenseman lead by Shea Weber & Ryan Suter. Add in Vezina trophy candidate Pekka Rinne & the Predators were a team that could contain the offense of the Ducks.
The Ducks top line of Corey Perry (2G, 6A) Ryan Getzlaf (2G, 4A) & Bobby Ryan (3G, 1A) played well but never did take control of the game like they did in the regular season. Losing Ryan to a two game suspension didn't help their cause.
But the thing I think that hurt the Ducks most was it was Nashville's time. Remember last year the Predators were on the brink of beating Chicago in Game 5 only to give up the tying goal late & lose in overtime. They then went on to lose the series in six games.
Fast forward to a year later and it is the same situation except that Anaheim has the lead and are on the brink of winning Game 5. Just like the previous year a late goal is given up to tie the game leading to the game winning goal in overtime but this time it was Nashville coming through.
What Went Wrong:
The Ducks lost goalie Jonas Hiller to vertigo like symptoms back in February. In the interim they used Curtis McElhiney at first until he was traded to Tampa Bay for Dan Ellis.
When they found out that Hiller would not return in time for the playoffs they signed Ray Emery, who was coming off of major hip surgery, to play goalie for them.
The other thing that hurt the Ducks was they faced the one team in the 1st round that they needed to avoid.
Nashville has a great core of defenseman lead by Shea Weber & Ryan Suter. Add in Vezina trophy candidate Pekka Rinne & the Predators were a team that could contain the offense of the Ducks.
The Ducks top line of Corey Perry (2G, 6A) Ryan Getzlaf (2G, 4A) & Bobby Ryan (3G, 1A) played well but never did take control of the game like they did in the regular season. Losing Ryan to a two game suspension didn't help their cause.
But the thing I think that hurt the Ducks most was it was Nashville's time. Remember last year the Predators were on the brink of beating Chicago in Game 5 only to give up the tying goal late & lose in overtime. They then went on to lose the series in six games.
Fast forward to a year later and it is the same situation except that Anaheim has the lead and are on the brink of winning Game 5. Just like the previous year a late goal is given up to tie the game leading to the game winning goal in overtime but this time it was Nashville coming through.
After that the Predators had control and there was no way Anaheim was winning Game six in Nashville.
Where Do They Go From Here:
I actually think the Ducks are in decent shape. They returned to the playoffs after a one year absence and finished strong this season. They have one of if not the top line in hockey & good scoring depth up front.
I was not impressed with the defenseman this season from a defensive standpoint but it is a young group that should improve next season.
Cam Fowler & Luca Sbisa were regulars for the 1st time & are both good enough to fill the void left by Scott Niedermeyer on defense.
I'm not saying they will be the 2nd coming of Niedermeyer & Pronger but they should develop into the best pair of defenseman the Ducks have had since Niedermeyer & Pronger played together.
The key thing for the Ducks is the health of Jonas Hiller in net. If Hiller doesn't get hurt in February there is a chance the Ducks win the Pacific Division & finish 2nd in the Western Conference.
With Hiller in net the Ducks were a Stanley Cup contender. Without him they are another talented team that is just good enough to go so far in the playoffs. His health and how the defenseman mature will determine how far Anaheim goes next season.
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Each spring 16 NHL teams play for Lord Stanley's Cup. At the end one team is left holding the cup while the other 15 teams can only think of what could of been.
This is about one of the 15 teams who wasn't so lucky.
New York Rangers:
How They Finished: Finished 44-33-5 93 points.
3rd in the Atlantic Division, 8th in the Eastern Conference.
What Went Wrong:
The Rangers lost Ryan Callahan to a broken ankle right before the start of the playoffs. Callahan only played in 60 games this season but he finished 2nd on the team in goals (23) and points (48).
More importantly he was one of those forwards who could do just about anything. He score goals, he could set up goals, he could play defense against the other teams top line. In the 5 years Callahan has been in the NHL he has become one of the most important players on the Rangers. His presence simply can not be replaced.
And yet if Callahan was healthy I'm not sure it would have made a difference.
The Rangers clinched their playoff berth thanks to a Carolina loss on the next to last day of the season. If Carolina wins that game the Rangers miss the post-season for the 2nd year in a row.
However Carolina lost allowing New York to finish 8th in the East and face Washington in the 1st round.
In the series Henrik Lundqvist played well enough in goal to give the Rangers a chance to win but Michal Neuvirth played just as well in goal for the Capitals leading them to wins in the first two games of the series.
The Rangers were able to win game three back in New York and had a 3-0 lead in Game four before Washington scored three unanswered goals to force overtime. In double overtime Jason Chimera scored a freak goal to give the Capitals a 4-3 win & control of the series.
In Game 5 the Rangers needed to take control of the game early and plant a seed of doubt in the heads of the Capitals & their fans. Instead the Capitals scored the first goal of the game and added two more before New York scored with 31 seconds left to play. At that point the game was in hand & the Rangers season was coming to an end.
Where Do They Go From Here:
The Rangers actually did a lot better than I thought they would this season.
At the start of the season I thought they would miss the playoffs & John Tortorella would be fired as head coach.
Well it took until the penultimate day of the season but New York did make the playoffs.
One thing the Rangers have managed to do a good job of the last few years is drafting & developing homegrown talent instead of trying to build an all-star team through free agency.
Ryan Callahan, Brandon Dubinsky, Henrik Lundqvist, & Marc Staal were all drafted by the Rangers and make up the core of the team that should keep them competitive.
What the Rangers need is for their goal scores to show up. Marian Gaborik was a non factor this season scoring only 22 goals in the regular season and one goal in the playoffs. If I was the Rangers I would be expecting a little more out of my forward if I was paying him 7.5 million a year.
The core of this team is good and as long as Lundqvist is in goal the Rangers will be a threat to make the playoffs but they need more scoring from their forwards if they want to take that next step. Otherwise another one and done is likely to be expected come next April.
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Thanks For Playing: Phoenix Coyotes
Each spring 16 NHL teams play for Lord Stanley's Cup. At the end one team is left holding the cup while the other 15 teams can only think of what could of been.
This is about one of the 15 teams who wasn't so lucky.
Phoenix Coyotes:
How they got here: Finished 43-26-13 99 points.
3rd in Pacific Division, 6th in the Western Conference.
What went wrong:
For starters they drew the Detroit Red Wings in the 1st round. Now I know the Red wings aren't as dominant as they have been in years past but it is a veteran hockey club that knows what it takes to win in the post-season. That was the case again this year.
Phoenix started strong against Detroit in game one taking an early 1-0 lead. Unfortunately the Coyotes went 0-6 on the Power Play and couldn't take advantage of numerous Red Wings penalties. Detroit would score three goals in the 2nd period & never look back en route to a 4-2 win.
In game two, Detroit came out strong scoring the 1st four goals of the game before Phoenix knew what hit them. The Coyotes were able to get within one goal but ran out of time as the Red Wings won 4-3.
In game three the Coyotes were back home & hoping with the crowd behind them they could get an early jump on the Red Wings. Instead Detroit scored two goals 44 seconds apart in the 1st period to give them a lead they would never relinquish as they won 4-2.
Phoenix fell behind 1-0 in game four before answering with two quick goals to give them their first lead since game one of the series. The two clubs would trade goals back & forth until Dan Cleary scored from a difficult angle to give Detroit a 4-3 lead. Todd Bertuzzi would add an insurance goal to give the Red Wings a 5-3 win & a series sweep.
For the Coyotes to be able to win this series Ilya Bryzgalov needed to be the best player in the series. Bryzgalov finished 0-4 with a 4.36 GAA & a save percentage of .879. Not a good series for the soon-to-be free agent.
Another thing that hurt Phoenix was recent history. Last season they pushed Detroit to the brink losing to them in seven games. Watching this series it looked like Detroit remembered that and was determined to end this series as soon as possible. The Coyotes missed their opportunity and were playing catch up for the rest of the series.
Where do they go from here:
That is the question everyone is wondering. The Coyotes filed for bankruptcy two years ago & have been owned by the NHL since then.
Potential owners have been linked to buying the franchise & keeping them in the desert only to have the deal fall through.
The latest saga involves Chicago businessman Matthew Hulsizer attempt to purchase the franchise which is being held up by the Goldwater Institute. The Goldwater Institute is challenging the sale based the proposed sale of bonds to finance the Hulsizer purchase on the grounds that the deal between the city of Glendale and Hulsizer would violate the Arizona Constitution.
With no deal in place & the NHL losing money trying to keep the Coyotes in the desert other ownership options are being considered & their is a group in Winnipeg that is standing by ready to purchase the team & move them back to Manitoba.
Reports of a potential move & sale surfaced right before game one & I'm guessing that had to be on the players mind as they took to the ice. It's not the reason Phoenix lost the series but the off ice drama didn't help.
Will the Coyotes be in Phoenix next season or will they return to Winnipeg? At this point we don't know.
What we do know is that one way or another the ownership situation should be resolved in the next couple of months. Once it is resolved there will be a solid nucleus in place for ownership to build around & keep the Coyotes competitive. Until then all we can do is wait & see what happens.
Just like they are doing in Phoenix & Winnipeg.
This is about one of the 15 teams who wasn't so lucky.
Phoenix Coyotes:
How they got here: Finished 43-26-13 99 points.
3rd in Pacific Division, 6th in the Western Conference.
What went wrong:
For starters they drew the Detroit Red Wings in the 1st round. Now I know the Red wings aren't as dominant as they have been in years past but it is a veteran hockey club that knows what it takes to win in the post-season. That was the case again this year.
Phoenix started strong against Detroit in game one taking an early 1-0 lead. Unfortunately the Coyotes went 0-6 on the Power Play and couldn't take advantage of numerous Red Wings penalties. Detroit would score three goals in the 2nd period & never look back en route to a 4-2 win.
In game two, Detroit came out strong scoring the 1st four goals of the game before Phoenix knew what hit them. The Coyotes were able to get within one goal but ran out of time as the Red Wings won 4-3.
In game three the Coyotes were back home & hoping with the crowd behind them they could get an early jump on the Red Wings. Instead Detroit scored two goals 44 seconds apart in the 1st period to give them a lead they would never relinquish as they won 4-2.
Phoenix fell behind 1-0 in game four before answering with two quick goals to give them their first lead since game one of the series. The two clubs would trade goals back & forth until Dan Cleary scored from a difficult angle to give Detroit a 4-3 lead. Todd Bertuzzi would add an insurance goal to give the Red Wings a 5-3 win & a series sweep.
For the Coyotes to be able to win this series Ilya Bryzgalov needed to be the best player in the series. Bryzgalov finished 0-4 with a 4.36 GAA & a save percentage of .879. Not a good series for the soon-to-be free agent.
Another thing that hurt Phoenix was recent history. Last season they pushed Detroit to the brink losing to them in seven games. Watching this series it looked like Detroit remembered that and was determined to end this series as soon as possible. The Coyotes missed their opportunity and were playing catch up for the rest of the series.
Where do they go from here:
That is the question everyone is wondering. The Coyotes filed for bankruptcy two years ago & have been owned by the NHL since then.
Potential owners have been linked to buying the franchise & keeping them in the desert only to have the deal fall through.
The latest saga involves Chicago businessman Matthew Hulsizer attempt to purchase the franchise which is being held up by the Goldwater Institute. The Goldwater Institute is challenging the sale based the proposed sale of bonds to finance the Hulsizer purchase on the grounds that the deal between the city of Glendale and Hulsizer would violate the Arizona Constitution.
With no deal in place & the NHL losing money trying to keep the Coyotes in the desert other ownership options are being considered & their is a group in Winnipeg that is standing by ready to purchase the team & move them back to Manitoba.
Reports of a potential move & sale surfaced right before game one & I'm guessing that had to be on the players mind as they took to the ice. It's not the reason Phoenix lost the series but the off ice drama didn't help.
Will the Coyotes be in Phoenix next season or will they return to Winnipeg? At this point we don't know.
What we do know is that one way or another the ownership situation should be resolved in the next couple of months. Once it is resolved there will be a solid nucleus in place for ownership to build around & keep the Coyotes competitive. Until then all we can do is wait & see what happens.
Just like they are doing in Phoenix & Winnipeg.
Monday, April 18, 2011
Stanley Cup Playoff Power Poll.
The Stanley Cup playoffs started last Wednesday and so far everything has gone the way I thought they would.
Detroit took a two games to none lead over Phoenix even without Henrik Zetteberg in the lineup. What's scarier is it looks like they can turn it on or off when they want to. They need to find away to play a consistent 60 minutes before it burns them.
Washington leads the Rangers two games to one. The Capitals had a chance to go up 3-0 in the series but the Rangers were able to hold off Washington & win their 1st game of the series thanks to a goal by Brandon Dubinsky. I still think Washington wins this series as they have looked like the better team. Henrik Lundqvist needs to steal a game soon to give the Rangers a chance.
Nashville received a huge break with the suspension of Bobby Ryan & were able to take advantage defeating the Ducks yesterday 4-3. Nashville's defense came up big once again holding Anaheim to only 16 shots on goal. If Nashville can win game four that should be enough for them to win their 1st playoff series in franchise history.
Vancouver has Chicago on the brink of elimination thanks to their 3-2 win last night while the only major surprise so far is Montreal leading Boston 2-0. Of course if you read this blog that comes as no surprise as I predicted a Montreal series win.
Buffalo/Philadelphia, Pittsburgh/Tampa Bay, & San Jose/Los Angeles are all tied at one game a piece. It's still anybody series in those three matchups.
Here is the Stanley Cup Power Poll:
1. Vancouver 2-0
Canucks are one win away from exercising their playoff demons.
2. Montreal 2-0
Carey Price is playing this post-season like Jaroslav Halak last season.
3. Detroit 2-0
Won 1st two games but have yet to play a good 60 minutes of hockey.
4. Washington 2-1
Michal Neuvirth (1.22 GAA .951 Save percentage) is giving the Capitals the goaltending they have been lacking.
5. Nashville 2-1
If they win Game four they will win the series.
6. San Jose 1-1
Joe Pavelski continues to cement his reputation as a clutch player.
7. Pittsburgh 1-1
Control of the series against Tampa Bay is still up for grabs.
8. Buffalo 1-1
Need to be more disciplined on the ice against Philadelphia.
9. Tampa Bay 1-1
Nice response for the Lightning after being shutout in Game one.
10. Philadelphia 1-1
Only took two games before the goalie controversy started.
11. Los Angeles 1-1
Nice win over the Sharks without Anze Kopitar & Jarrett Stoll.
12. Anaheim 1-2
It's going to be tough to beat Nashville without Bobby Ryan.
13. New York 1-2
Played their best game of the series in a game they needed to win.
14. Boston 0-2
Do they even remember how to win a playoff game?
15. Phoenix 0-2
Failed to take advantage of their series against Detroit with Henrik Zetteberg out of the lineup.
16. Chicago 0-3
Their defense of the cup is about to come to a quick end.
Detroit took a two games to none lead over Phoenix even without Henrik Zetteberg in the lineup. What's scarier is it looks like they can turn it on or off when they want to. They need to find away to play a consistent 60 minutes before it burns them.
Washington leads the Rangers two games to one. The Capitals had a chance to go up 3-0 in the series but the Rangers were able to hold off Washington & win their 1st game of the series thanks to a goal by Brandon Dubinsky. I still think Washington wins this series as they have looked like the better team. Henrik Lundqvist needs to steal a game soon to give the Rangers a chance.
Nashville received a huge break with the suspension of Bobby Ryan & were able to take advantage defeating the Ducks yesterday 4-3. Nashville's defense came up big once again holding Anaheim to only 16 shots on goal. If Nashville can win game four that should be enough for them to win their 1st playoff series in franchise history.
Vancouver has Chicago on the brink of elimination thanks to their 3-2 win last night while the only major surprise so far is Montreal leading Boston 2-0. Of course if you read this blog that comes as no surprise as I predicted a Montreal series win.
Buffalo/Philadelphia, Pittsburgh/Tampa Bay, & San Jose/Los Angeles are all tied at one game a piece. It's still anybody series in those three matchups.
Here is the Stanley Cup Power Poll:
1. Vancouver 2-0
Canucks are one win away from exercising their playoff demons.
2. Montreal 2-0
Carey Price is playing this post-season like Jaroslav Halak last season.
3. Detroit 2-0
Won 1st two games but have yet to play a good 60 minutes of hockey.
4. Washington 2-1
Michal Neuvirth (1.22 GAA .951 Save percentage) is giving the Capitals the goaltending they have been lacking.
5. Nashville 2-1
If they win Game four they will win the series.
6. San Jose 1-1
Joe Pavelski continues to cement his reputation as a clutch player.
7. Pittsburgh 1-1
Control of the series against Tampa Bay is still up for grabs.
8. Buffalo 1-1
Need to be more disciplined on the ice against Philadelphia.
9. Tampa Bay 1-1
Nice response for the Lightning after being shutout in Game one.
10. Philadelphia 1-1
Only took two games before the goalie controversy started.
11. Los Angeles 1-1
Nice win over the Sharks without Anze Kopitar & Jarrett Stoll.
12. Anaheim 1-2
It's going to be tough to beat Nashville without Bobby Ryan.
13. New York 1-2
Played their best game of the series in a game they needed to win.
14. Boston 0-2
Do they even remember how to win a playoff game?
15. Phoenix 0-2
Failed to take advantage of their series against Detroit with Henrik Zetteberg out of the lineup.
16. Chicago 0-3
Their defense of the cup is about to come to a quick end.
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