Hockey World Blog

All Things Hockey

Posts Tagged New York Rangers

NHL Photo of the Day

Apr 17

Posted by EB in NHL Photo of the Day | No Comments

Richard Wolowicz/Getty Images

The favorites all regained series leads last night in another good night of hockey. The Boston Bruins edged the Washington Capitals in a 4-3 final. The New York Rangers barely got  by 1-0 over the Ottawa Senators. And finally, the St. Louis Blues controlled the majority of the game, winning 4-3 against the San Jose Sharks.

In other news, Brendan Shanahan has a few meetings today with players, mainly the Pittsburgh Penguins. After a widely believed blown suspension to Shea Weber, where Shanahan admitted that a result of injury plays a role into the suspension instead of the act in itself, many believe he needs to regain control of NHL discipline. A James Neal suspension will be the focal point of his success.

Tags: , , , , , ,

Five NHL Playoff Matchups We Want to See

Apr 2

Posted by Chris in Soap Box | 1 Comment

With the playoffs less than a week away, matchups are beginning to take shape on both sides of the coast. While some first round matchups seem all but set, for the most part the standings continue to change on a daily basis with several teams still fighting on a nightly basis for highly contested points to keep their playoff hopes alive. With the stage set and time running out for many clubs, here are five playoff matchups we want to see during the 2011-12 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs:

5.) Florida Panthers vs Washington Capitals

It’s been widely speculated that the team who wins the Southeast Division will be the only one to make the playoffs thanks to the NHL’s bracket structure where the division winner automatically receives one of the top three seeds. As it stands right now, the Florida Panthers currently occupy the division lead – and the third spot overall in the Eastern Conference – while the Washington Capitals are barely clinging to the 8th and final spot in the East. Since these two have been fighting for the division lead for a good portion of the season, what better way to seek supremacy than in a head-to-head, seven game series to determine who the better team really is this season?

Both teams are fairly evenly matched with Washington averaging slightly more goals scored per game at 2.64 while Florida averages 2.38. However, the teams are closer in goals allowed per game with Washington allowing 2.78 per game while Florida allows 2.63 on average. Florida has a slightly better power play conversion rate while Washington has the better penalty kill percentage.

Will We See It? Probably not. Even if both teams make the playoffs, they won’t meet in the first round and the likelihood that either team makes it past the first round is slim.

4.) Pittsburgh Penguins vs Philadelphia Flyers

This is one of those playoff matchups that always seem to elicit excitement because, frankly, these two just don’t like each other. As cross-state rivals, both have had good success over the past several years and playoff matchup between the two usually makes for entertaining hockey. Plus, looking at the statistics for each team, this would be an incredibly even matchup with both teams sporting very similar stats.

The Penguins and Flyers currently lead the NHL in goals for per game, with both averaging over three goals a game, and both are incredibly close in goals allowed per game as well. The Flyers have a slightly higher success rate on the power play with a 20.2 conversion rate while the Penguins are at 19.3 percent, but Pittsburgh has a better penalty kill percentage at 88.2 percent compared to Philadelphia’s 82.2 percent. Looking at how close both teams are in stats, this could make for one of the most exciting playoff matchups of the season and could go a long way in determining who represents the Eastern Conference in the Stanley Cup Finals.

Will We See It? You betcha. If the playoffs started today, this would be your first round matchup. Although a week is left in the season, it appears as if neither team really has wiggle room to fall or move up the standings, meaning this should be a first round matchup next week.

3.) Los Angeles Kings vs San Jose Sharks

The Pacific Division might be one of the closest playoff races in the NHL with four of the five teams separated by two points. Los Angeles currently occupies the division lead and the third overall spot in the Western Conference with 90 points while San Jose is battling hard to break into the 8th spot in the West. Both teams feature a lot of star power, although both teams have underachieved in similar fashion this season despite high expectations coming into this year.

San Jose holds the edge on goals scored per game, averaging 2.60 goals per game to Los Angeles’ 2.26, but LA hold the edge in goals allowed with s.04 per game compared to San Jose at 2.51. San Jose has a much better power play, converting on slightly better than 20 percent of their opportunities compared to 15.4 percent for LA, but the Kings have a better penalty kill at 86.7 percent compared to San Jose’s 78.2 percent.

Will We See It? No. This matchup largely depends on San Jose even making the playoffs in the first place. Beyond that, both teams would face a very tough uphill climb to advance in the playoffs and, like I said before, neither of these teams has exactly performed to expectations this season.

2.) Vancouver Canucks vs Detroit Red Wings

Over the past two years, The Canucks and Red Wings have consistently been two of the best teams in the Western Conference, along with the San Jose Sharks and occasionally the Chicago Blackhawks. While the Wings and Sharks have met in the playoffs the last two years, somehow these two teams have managed to avoid each other on the road to the Finals over the past few years.

However, during that time some bad blood has brewed between both clubs that only a playoff series could really push to the breaking point. Things escalated some this year when Vancouver forward Ryan Kesler was “Kronwalled” by Detroit defenseman Niklas Kronwall.  It was also the Canucks who ended Detroit’s record-breaking home winning streak when they defeated the Wings in the shootout several weeks ago and seemed to send the Wings on a bit of a downward spiral that they can’t seem to break out of.

Detroit and Vancouver are ranked fifth and sixth respectively in goals scored per game and rank fourth and seventh respectively in goals allowed per game. Detroit is better five-on-five, but Vancouver has a big edge on special teams where they rank third on the power play and sixth on the penalty kill. A matchup between these two would likely be a fun, high-scoring affair to watch.

Will We See It? If the standings stay the same, the only way we’ll see this matchup is if they meet in the Western Conference Finals. That would be a heck of a series though.

1.) Pittsburgh Penguins vs New York Rangers

The Penguins and Rangers are two of the best teams in the Eastern Conference and a matchup between these two teams very well could determine the 2012 Stanley Cup Champions.

Offensively, the Penguins lead the league in goals scored per game while the Rangers sit 11th overall. Defensively, the rangers rank third in the league in goals allowed per game while the Penguins rank 17th. This is a series that could come down to goaltending. Rangers’ goalie Henrik Lundqvist has had a Vezina-caliber season with 38 wins, including eight shutouts, and a 1.92 goals against average along with a .932 save percentage. Lundqvist ranks in the top three in the league in all four of those categories. Marc-Andre Fleury, on the other hand, has 41 wins on the season with three shutouts and a 2.37 goals against average along with a .913 save percentage. Both goalies have started in over 60 games this season and their performance in a series between these two teams would be crucial to determining the potential winner.

Will We See It? There are two circumstances in which this matchup will happen – the top four seeds need to win each series in the East, setting up a first versus fourth seed matchup between the Penguins or Rangers, or else these two meet in the Conference Finals to determine who moves on to the Stanley Cup Finals. Personally, I’d prefer to see the latter happen to up the stakes and the intensity for both teams.

Tags: , , , , , , , ,

Eastern Conference Playoff Worries?

Mar 20

Posted by EB in Soap Box | No Comments

With under 10 games left in the season, some teams are fighting for a playoff shot while others are preparing for a long playoff push. For some of those Eastern Conference playoff teams showing abnormal decline in play leaves many fans wondering if they will even get out of the first round? Below is a list of current Eastern Conference teams slotted into the playoffs with their current standings while looking at their last 10 games played record and some of their potential concerns.

Scott Levy/NHLI via Getty Images

New York Rangers – 1st Eastern Conference (4-5-1 in)

As typical, Ranger’sHead Coach John Tortorella has more drama than a Soap Opera. While Tortorella may be dodging blame and pointing fingers instead for his team’s recent fight filled game between the New Jersey Devils, he may wish to focus more on the quality of play he is getting form his guys. Winning just 4 games in their previous ten, one of which was last night to end a 2 game skid, the team is losing to quality, playoff teams. Sure they beat the Devils and the Boston Bruins in these last 10, but they have also lost another game to the Devils as well as the Ottawa Senators, Chicago Blackhawks, Pittsburgh Penguins and the Colorado Avalanche; all playoff teams. So, when

Andre Ringuette/NHLI via Getty Images

the Rangers actually play some tough teams come playoffs, will the team win the games or fold under pressure?

Ottawa Senators – 7th Eastern Conference (5-3-2)

The Senatorsare winning but also losing, not really gaining any ground. This may be a concern given they are only 4 points up on 8th seed. But is there a need to worry? Team leaders Jason Spezza and team Captain Daniel Alfredsson are both healthy. Considering they both have been plagues with injuries throughout their careers, Senators fans should be pretty darn happy. Furthermore, despite a culinary mishap by main netminder Craig Anderson, acquired Ben Bishop has filled in nicely, going 3-1-2 with a 2.10 goals against average. Fear not though, Anderson has participated in a full practice, and without any setbacks, should be back sooner than later. With an

Dave Reginek/NHLI via Getty Images

honorable mention of Erik Karlsson’s record high 72 points to date, and yes, the Senators are looking to be just fine come playoffs under new Head Coach Paul MacLean.

Washington Capitals – 8th Eastern Conference (5-4-1)

A rough season for the Capitals who have seen a coaching change as well as some players come under scrutiny. They picked up a good win last night against the Detroit Red Wings where franchise player Alex Ovechkin scored two goals; looking like his old self. Will he ever return to a a 50 goal scorer, sure, but maybe not for a few years. The team has a work ethic problem or as some would much rather say, too many chiefs and not enough Indians. Nicklas Backstrom, who was on pace for 70+ points continues to be sidelined because of a concussion but has been symptom-free for a short while. Still no timetable for his return. The team also has three goalies with 2.53 plus goals against averages and a disappearing act greater than Houdini by defenseman Mike Green (7 points in 23 games). The team is not jelling and will not this year nor the playoffs. An early exit in the playoffs and a long off-season with some tough decisions.

 

Tags: , , , ,

Fantasy Hockey Friday: The Hot List

Mar 16

Posted by Chris in Fantasy | No Comments

The Hot List provides a small sampling of players putting up big numbers over the last week who are flying under the radar in Fantasy Hockey leagues and could be worth a look if you need an extra boost in your stat categories.

Alex Tanguy (forward): The Calgary Flames are fighting hard for that final playoff spot in the West and are only one point behind the 8th seed Colorado Avalanche. And Flames forward Alex Tanguy is heating up at the right time for the team to make that final push. Two goals, four assists and a plus-three over the past week, Tanguy now has 13 points over the last 10 games – including  four goals. Tanguy now has 47 points in 55 games this season and could be a great pickup for the remainder of the season as the Flames push for the playoffs.

Carl Hagelin (forward): New York Rangers rookie Carl Hagelin has put together a fairly productive season with 14 goals and 35 points in 52 games with the Blueshirts. He has two goals and four assists over the last seven days and was also a plus-four, putting him at plus-23 on the season – second best on the team. H

Tyler Ennis (forward): Owned in only 33 percent of Yahoo Fantasy Hockey leagues, Ennis has fallen quite short of expectations this season thanks to a handful of injuries that have severely limited his ice time. However, Ennis still has 21 points in 37 games, including three goals and three assists over the past week. He was also a plus-six but only fired five shots on goal. Great shooting percentage, but not a lot of shots from the former first round draft pick.

Travis Hamonic (defense): The New York Islanders may be preparing for another long summer, but they sure have some good pieces to build upon in future seasons. Hamonic posted one power play goal and four assists over the past seven days, two of which came on the power play as well. Hamonic also accumulated 14 penalty minutes to up his season total to 71 PIM. In the short term, however, Hamonic likely won’t offer much value for the remainder of the Fantasy season.

Semyon Varlamov (goaltender): Owned in 65 percent of Yahoo Fantasy leagues, Varlamov posted three wins allowing only eight goals against. The Colorado Avalanche are working hard to hold onto that final playoff spot in the West, but the team has a tough schedule with important points on the line in the upcoming weeks with games against two games against the Calgary Flames and one against the San Jose Sharks – both teams who would love to overtake the Avs and catapult into the playoffs.

Tags: , , , , , , ,

Five storylines to follow in the remaining weeks of the 2011-12 NHL season

Mar 3

Posted by Chris in Soap Box | No Comments

With the NHL trade deadline now several days behind us, the focus again shifts back to the race for the playoffs over the final five of the season. With the standings so tight on both sides of the NHL, teams are either looking to hold their position as a playoff contender while others are fighting nightly for those highly coveted two points to put themselves into the postseason. Regardless where a team stands, a rough patch in the waning weeks of the season could lead to an extended summer vacation. With that in mind, here are five story lines to watch as we gear up for the final stretch of the regular season.

Crosby Watch 2012:

Seems like déjà vu, eh? Last year around this time, fans were eagerly awaiting news about Crosby, who had suffered concussions in early January that kept him sidelined for the remainder of the 2010-11 season and the first few months of the 2011-12 season. After an enthusiastic return, Crosby was again sidelined after only eight games with concussion-like symptoms again. So, fans again find themselves awaiting news on Crosby, who continues his on-ice workouts but has not been cleared for contact yet. Ideally, the Penguins would love to get Crosby back on the ice for a week or two of games to prepare him for the playoffs. But nobody can say for certain when he will be symptom free and ready to return to the ice, so the waiting game continues…

Art Ross & Rocket Richard Trophy Races:

Steven Stamkos leads the league with 45 goals, including eight in his last 10 games. Evgeni Malkin comes in second with 37 goals on the season while Phil Kessel is a distant third with 32, leaving primarily a two-player race for the Rocket Richard Trophy this year. Stamkos will also try for his second career 50-goal season while Malkin will shoot for his first.

However, when it comes to the Art Ross scoring race, Malkin leads the pack with a total of 79 points, but he has company with Stamkos right on his heels with 78 points and Claude Giroux and Jason Spezza close behind at 75 points and 72 points respectively. Will Malkin capture the scoring crown for the second time in his career or will Stamkos, Giroux or Spezza manage to eclipse Malkin in the remaining weeks of the regular season?

Trouble in Toronto:

Going 1-9-1 over their last 11games, the Leafs fell out of playoff contention and made a drastic move by firing head coach Ron Wilson and replaced him with former Anaheim Ducks coach Randy Carlyle (pictured). Wilson coached for the Leafs for nearly four seasons, finishing in last place in the Eastern Conference in 2009-10, and only had one winning season as head coach. With a little over a month left in the season, the Leafs likely need to play better than .500 hockey from here on out in order to make it to the postseason. Can Carlyle help turn around this struggling franchise?

Battle of the Southeast:

The Southeast Division, comprised of the Capitals, Lightning, Jets, Hurricanes and Panthers, could create one of the most exciting playoff races during the last leg of the season. The Panthers currently lead the division, giving them the third overall seed on the East thanks to preference seeding for divisional winners in the NHL. The Jets, currently second in the Southeast, are barely clinging to the 8th seed in the East with 70 points – one better than the Capitals. Florida, Winnipeg and Washington are all within three points of one another, with Tampa Bay another three behind them. It’s not a far stretch to believe that the winner of this division will be the only team in the division to make the playoffs, especially if Toronto can turn their season around and make a late push. Either that, or a second team from the Southeast will take the 8th seed, but with Winnipeg, Washington and Tampa Bay all fighting for that spot, this year’s finish in the Southeast could produce some exciting hockey.

How the West Was Won:

The Rangers have basically run away with the lead in the East, but in the West things are a little different with no clear-cut favorite to win the conference. The Vancouver Canucks currently lead the Western Conference with 90 points, but the Detroit Red Wings are right on their tail with 89 points and the St. Louis Blues aren’t far behind with 87. Nashville has the next highest point total with 81, basically meaning the Western Conference will be a three-team race right up to the end of the season. Can Vancouver keep the lead or will the Blues or Red Wings overtake them?

Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

Top 5 NHL Eastern Conference Jerseys to Buy

Mar 3

Posted by EB in Gear, Soap Box | No Comments

Nothing fancy, but a little history and opinion on what jerseys I think are the top 5 within the Eastern Conference to add to your wardrobe.

 

Dave Reginek/NHLI via Getty Images

Philadelphia Flyers Premier Home Jersey – The Flyers joined the league in 1967 and have won 2 Stanley Cups in their day. Today, the Flyers are in 4th place sitting snug for a playoff spot. Donning the orange with white and black accents, you cannot help but like the jersey. Perhaps a little reminder of Halloween, or the black cuffs that add a little edge, the jerseys winged “P” represent speed.

 

Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

Tampa Bay Lightning Premier Road Jersey – The Lightning are slowly climbing back into a playoff spot, a spot most fans thought would come with ease. Only 6 points out of 8th seed, the Lightning’s road jersey has flare with their blue accents with a primary white jersey. The logo is a lightning bolt, tweaked a bit over the years, today looking much like the movie Incredibles. Maybe it’s the combination of blue hockey pants and a white lightning bolt down the side with the jersey, but the jersey has a superhero feel that any grown-up can relate to from as a child.

 

Scott Levy/NHLI via Getty Images

New York Rangers Premier Third Jersey – One of the Original Six teams, the Rangers did it right when creating their third jerseys. An updated cut with a classic look, with “NEW YORK” written across the chest. The focus of this jersey is the inscription on the inside of the collar that reads “Established 1926,” and all retired numbers appear in numerical order on the inside of the jersey on the rear below the stripe.

 

Mitchell Layton/NHLI via Getty Images

Winnipeg Jets Premier Road Jersey – So the new owners gave into trying to replicate the previous Winnipeg Jet’s colors and logo but still making it new. I think they have done a great job with paying respect to the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF), particularly Winnipeg’s 17 Wing. The logo is a silhouette of a McDonnell Douglas CF-18 Hornet on top of a Maple Leaf. Side note, the team had to receive permission from the Toronto Maple Leafs before using the leaf design. Some commented it looked like a target, perhaps a curling house, regardless, the jersey is a good combination of old and new.

 

Brian Babineau/NHLI via Getty Images

Boston Bruins Premier Third Jersey – The leagues third oldest team within the United States, the Bruins third jersey provides a little bit of the new style but not following the “circle” crowd. The jersey is primarily black and flip-flopped the primary logo with the shoulder patch. The bruin, now the main logo, is closely based off of Bruins jerseys used up until 1932. The team also used black socks with the third jersey, a first for the franchise. Dark, intimidating, all that of what makes up the the Big Bad Bruins.

There’s my Eastern Conference list; what jersey do you think should have been on it, from yesteryear to today?

Tags: , , , , , ,

Eric Staal Skating with Son for the First Time

Feb 23

Posted by EB in Media | No Comments

Bauer Hockey, major producer of all things hockey and sponsorship of Carolina Hurricanes Eric Staal, videotaped Eric’s first skate with his son. The video below shows the experience which is pretty cool to see. Brothers and also NHL players Marc and Jordan Staal came to skate as well. Their littlest brother, Jared who plays for the Charlotte Checkers, did not attend or at least was not videotaped.

Eric and the Hurricanes are doing pretty bad. Currently last place in the Eastern Conference, the team is hopefully looking for a good draft pick. Eric has 18 goals and 31 assists for 49 points in 60 games played. Roughly averaging 70+ points in a season, it may seem he is not on pace to meet his norm, yet with 7 goals and 6 assist in the last 30 days, he might just make it.

Jordan, of the Pittsburgh Penguins, currently has 19 goals and 8 assist in 40 games played. Playing more of a two-way forward, Jordan as well as sitting because of a sprained left MCL, his production is down. Still, Jordan has 6 points in his last 6 games.

Lastly Marc, the only defenseman of the bunch, sits on top of the Eastern Conference with the New York Rangers. Only being able to play 22 games to date due to concussion symptoms, Marc only has 2 points in 22 games. Last year Marc led the team in average time on ice with 25 minutes and 44 seconds a game. If he continues to stay healthy, Marc will be back to form and a highly depened upon defenseman come playoff time.

Tags: , , , , , , ,

NHL Photo of the Day

Feb 17

Posted by EB in NHL Photo of the Day | No Comments

Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

The Chicago Blackhawks are back in business after defeating the number one Eastern Conference New York Rangers. Chi-town went up by 4 – 0 in the first period and held onto a 4 – 2 victory. On the bright side, Chicago won a game. On the downside, Chicago came out on fire scoring, but was not capable of putting the puck in the nest for the remaining 40 minutes. Will they fall back into a losing streak or will they use this victory as a launchpad for more?

Tags: ,

HWB Eastern Conference Playoff Spot Predictions

Feb 14

Posted by EB in Soap Box | No Comments

Nearing three quarters of the season played so far, here is a list of predictions for Eastern Conference teams to either make or not make the playoffs.

Atlantic Division

Scott Levy/NHLI via Getty Images

Skimming right from the top, four of the five Atlantic division teams, New York Rangers, Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins and the New Jersey Devils will make the playoffs. The only team among the list that could be shaky is the Pittsburgh Penguins; yet with the return of star Sidney Crosby that some are guessing to be sooner than later, this will solidify their playoff spot.

The Rangers are a lock as they are currently and will lead the Eastern Conference at the end of the season. Marian Gaborik leads the charge while net minder Henrik Lundqvist continues to play solid in net. The only concern come playoff is the John Tortorella curse if they face the Washington Capitals.

Flyers have been struggling but the team has enough depth and grit to right the ship. Goalie woes continue to pile up but with a slight cushion of 7 points between them and 8th spot, the Flyers have some breathing room to work out the kinks. Jaromir Jagr has been a pleasant surprise in the beginning of the season; let’s hope he has enough juice come playoffs.

Andy Marlin/NHLI via Getty Images

The Devils of new have transitioned form a defense first team to an offensive minded mentality. Ilya Kovalchuk, Zach Parise and Patrik Elias are the top 3 point getters for the team, all of which are around the 50 point mark and should end up with at least 70 points per player. Veteran goalie Martin Brodeur is getting some rest, whether he likes it or not, that will aid in the team’s playoff chances of going far.

The Penguins on paper and on ice are one of the best teams in the league, which is of course if they are healthy. Star and Captain Sidney Crosby has gone through a whirlwind of media attention with his concussion filled season. Sources are expecting Crosby to return sooner than later; the return will ignite a fire under the team that could see them locking out 4th spot with ease.

Northeast Division

Rick Stewart/Getty Images

It is tough to rival the Atlantic Division, but early on the Northeast definitely put up a fight. Today however, the division is led by defending Stanley Cup Champions the Boston Bruins and followed up by a mash up of Canadian teams who string wins together as often as they string a bunch of losses. Then there is the Buffalo Sabres, who under new management promised the moon and the stars; one spot out of the last place in the Eastern Conference was as close as that promise has come.

Bruins in with only one more team from the Northeast to make it… the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Defending Champs Boston Bruins have showed they are not suffering from the Stanley Cup hangover. Having the best goals for a game average with 3.36 as well as fourth best goals against average with 2.24, the team is once again, a well balanced team. Playoff spot is without a doubt, and many would have them repeating last year’s success.

Paul Bereswill/Getty Images

It was a toss-up between the Ottawa Senators and the Toronto Maple Leafs. Both teams have had impressive seasons to date, both having good runs earlier in the season. The Senators however are beginning to show signs of fatigue, going 2-6-2 in their last ten; the decline is expected to continue. This is due largely in part by riding one goaltender, Craig Anderson, who to date has started 50 games. Sure, playoffs you need only 1 solid goalie, but you need to make the playoffs.

Toronto has surprised everyone, except those that are firm believers in General Manager Brian Burke. Burke is a God, never you forget that. While General Manager for the Vancouver Canucks, Burke drafted and signed Daniel Sedin, Henrik Sedin and Ryan Kesler, all contributing to the successful team that they are today. He moved to the Anaheim Ducks and in his second season as General Manager, Burke won a Stanley Cup. Today he is working his magic on the Toronto Maple Leafs, a club who has not seen the light at the end of tunnel for some time; today that light is near. Phil Kessel, Joffrey Lupul, Dion Phaneuff and two goalies competing hard for the number one spot, Jonas Gustavsson and James Reimer; the Leafs have a very talented team.

What is there to say about the Montreal Canadiens that has not already been said? The team from the top down needs a makeover. It is understood that your organization values a Head Coach that can speak French-Canadian, but have we forgotten that the goal of every team in the NHL is to win? If I had an option to have a coach that appeals to the fans or a coach that wins me games, I’m choosing the latter. The team is small, overpriced and lacks heart. Maybe once they stop looking into pressing legal charges against players and start focusing more on building a good team, maybe then they will be a competitor again. Save the argument of most Stanley Cup wins by a team, we live in today, and today they are currently a disgrace to an Original Six team.

Southeast Division

Eliot J. Schechter/NHLI via Getty Images

Two spots left and not a lot of talent to choose form. The Southeast is the dumping grounds of the Eastern Conference this year. Regardless, one team has to make it, Florida Panthers who are currently leading the division and will be at the end of the year, and the second will be the Washington Capitals.

The Florida Panthers have surprised many fans this year in not only having a winning record but leading a division with two powerhouse teams; the Washington Capitals and the Tampa Bay Lightning. They will make the playoffs but probably won’t go far as their goals for a game is lower than their goals against a game. How does that work with a 27-17-11 record?

Did you seriously think the “new” Winnipeg Jets would make the playoffs? The fact remains they still have the make-up of the Atlanta Thrashers without Ilya Kovalchuk. Moving to Canada does not turn you into a winning team; regardless of how much the fans want them to be. I’m happy for Jets fans to have a team again, but they are a few years out before making the playoffs.

In part the Tampa Bay Lightning deserves their own paragraph for merely being the Tampa Bay Lightning, but today they will share with the Carolina Hurricanes. Both teams have so much more potential than what they are putting forth. Steven Stamkos is leading all goal scorers with 37 this season and is on pace for 50 goals, one of the few if not the only one. But newer General Manager did not address the needs of a net minder and rode one trick pony Dwayne Roloson who needs to retire. Unfortunately Matthieu Garon has not filled the shoes of a number one goalie either. Speaking of goalies, Carolina Hurricanes have a solid one in Cam Ward, but lack the offense needed to help him out. Only 147 goals for a game this season is pretty bad. You could argue 175 goals against, but let’s be honest, if you’re facing a bunch of shots and your team cannot put any in, it’s tough to stay focused and keep everything out of the net. Eric Staal and teen heartthrob Jeff Skinner we expect more out of you.

Greg Fiume/Getty Images

So I picked the Washington Capitals to make it, yep, I’m drinking the Kool-Aid. The Capitals fired their Head Coach to be replaced by former player Dale Hunter. Hunter deserves it, but it really was not Bruce Boudreau’s fault. May we have a moment of swearing in his honor? The team has a real work ethic problem, superstaritis. Hunter seems to be working on that right now, benching the wrong players, but he is working on it. Going 3-4-3 in their last 10 will not help my cause of them making it, still, I have faith. If they make it they will most likely face the New York Rangers and hopefully knock them out of the playoffs who have done so the last two Ranger’s playoff appearances.

There you have it, my picks for the playoffs as well as a little bit of dissing on some Eastern Conference teams. Agree, disagree, and let me hear it. Minnesota Wild fans can save their comments for the second installment coming in a few days. Oh yeah, Minnesota will be a target of scrutiny.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

New Jersey Devils are Playoff Contenders

Feb 10

Posted by EB in News | No Comments

Len Redkoles/NHLI via Getty Images

The New Jersey Devils have begun to show their true skill, going 7-2-1 in their last 10, the Devils will be tough playoff contenders.

The Devils currently sit 6th place within the Eastern Conference with a point total of 65. In five of their last six games the team has won, beating the likes of Atlantic Division rivals the Pittsburgh Penguins, Philadelphia Flyers and Eastern Conference leading New York Rangers twice. Last night the Devils lost in overtime to Western Conference St. Louis Blues who are currently in 4th place.

The Devils of old, with the names of Scott Stevens, Scott Niedermayer, Ken Daneyko and a younger netminder Martin Brodeur were known for their defensive play style. Head Coach Jacques Lemaire, with his defense first mentality and neutral zone trap style, lead the team to their first Stanley Cup Championship in 1994-1995. Lemaire moved on and the team eventually won another Stanley Cup in 1999-2000 and most recently in 2002-2003 under the late Pat Burns.

Today however, of those four divisional foe wins, the Devils outscored their competition 16 to 9. In a “new” league that is built upon speed, the Devils are showing good signs.

The team is led by a superstar cast, both young and old. Captain Zach Parise is coming off of a knee injury that took him out for the majority of last season. This year he has picked up where he left off, totaling 47 point in 53 games played. Thirty-five year old veteran Patrik Elias is on pace for 81 points this season. Last time he hit that mark was in the 2003-2004 NHL season. If that is not enough firepower up front for you, don’t forget superstar Ilya Kovalchuk. Kovalchuk came to the Devils two seasons ago at a monstrous contract. Most fans felt it was insane, turning into a NBA team who signs one star and has no supporting cast. Well, the Devils proved fans wrong and Kovalchuk has been solid. To date, he has 50 points in 48 games played and a team high 191 shots on goal. Also, he now has a Gordie Howe Hat Trick to add to his resume.

The saying, “defense wins championships” comes to mind for any team to be considered a playoff contender. In the middle of the pack when it comes to goals against, the team still has some defensive firepower in Adam Larrson and Kurtis Foster, but more importantly, the team has Martin Brodeur as goalie. Brodeur is getting older, 39 to be exact, but is a veteran and don’t you forget that. Typically starting 70+ games in a season, this year he has seen a lighter load. Currently started 35 games, backup netminder Johan Hedberg has seen 19 starts. Sure it may not seem like much for a backup, but sitting the iron-man Brodeur any amount will pay dividends come playoffs where he normally is spent.

You don’t have to take my word for it, wait and see, but the New Jersey Devils are going to be one heck of a playoff contender this season. A team that can put the puck in the net, a veteran netminder and a solid defensive core all around, the Devils are going far.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,