The Lost NHL City of Atlanta

I will be blunt when I say this - the city of Atlanta no longer deserves an NHL team. It is the second time the city had an NHL team, but ultimately lost it due to financial hardship. This is not to disrespect the few NHL fans living in Atlanta, but even you must admit your city can not support an NHL team.

In life, you'd be lucky to find a boss willing to give you a second chance after you've screwed up, and luckier to find a girlfriend willing to forgive you on your first mistake. And for the city of Atlanta known more for its Braves, there's no three-strike rule here. The city's inability to attract fans and more importantly, revenue and profitability, for a second time is proof that the hockey market in southern USA is very small and limited.

Success also breeds interest and a lack of success by the Thrashers does not attract the casual fan. Once Kovalchuk was traded, what's left to watch? The team was essentially a stopping point for many teams in the southwest, a way to practice and get their kinks out. I only remember this franchise making the playoffs once, and it ended in the first round. Now, let's see if Winnipeg owners can do something about their mediocrity and make them a half-decent team.

I feel bad for the hockey fans that do exist in Atlanta, as they have lost a team twice now. Moving a team is always the last thing a league wants to do because it uproots families and players, and adds uncertainty into a league. The expectations that the NHL will revert back to a 20-something-team league is definitely a possibility as many markets in the sunbelt are showing signs of thinning margins and there are fewer cities in Canada and the United States that can support a team than teams losing money.

Anyways, without getting too off topic, Winnipeg has been given a second chance by the NHL, well, as we wait for the vote next week, which will almost certainly pass. The city is the smallest market in the league, with just 750,000 citizens. It also has the smallest arena by capacity and television deals and season ticket sales are unconfirmed numbers at this point. The city must support their team financially and emotionally, or else this should also be the final time Winnipeg gets an NHL team. Fair is fair.

Are the Canucks For Real?

Imagine this - a Vancouver Canucks team that did not finish with 54 wins and 117 points this year. Instead, they finished the season having to fight to the bitter end to get that Presidents' Trophy, but lost out to the Sharks by a single point. Despite having the most goals scored and fewest allowed, despite having a top ranked power play and third ranked penalty kill, the team only finished second. In that situation, I ask you this, "Would Vancouver still be favoured to win the Stanley Cup?" Imagine that.

It's a hypothetical situation that isn't so far-fetched. Consider the idea that if the Northwest Division was more competitve, Vancouver may have had fewer wins within the division. The Canucks won 18 out of 24 games against their divisional foes, an impressive feat on its own under normal circumstances, but not as impressive when 12 of those games happens to be against the rebuilding Avalanche and Oilers and the remaining 12 were against the Flames and Wild, who also did not make the playoffs.

Had the division been a little better, Vancouver probably would have only finished with 12 or 13 wins against the Northwest, the amount of wins against the other two Western Conference divisions. In that sense, the team would have earned about 10-12 points fewer, putting them on par with the Sharks or Red Wings.

Last season, the Washington Capitals won the Presidents' Trophy but were ousted in the first round by the Montreal Canadiens. Questions about the team's inflated place in the standings has been raised for many seasons now. The Southwest Division has never had more than two representatives make the playoffs since Ovechkin was drafted. And last year, no other team made the playoffs. The Capitals have had a dominant record against their division rivals, reaching the same win levels as the Canucks did this season against their own respected division. However, the Capitals record outside the Southwest was mediocre at best, barely posting above .500.

So are the Canucks built for the playoffs? Based on their elite statistics, you could easily argue they are, but seeing them almost lose to an eighth place team that's a shadow of their former glory should have fans concerned.

Ryan Kesler, who is having a break out season, managed to score an impressive 41 goals, tying him with team mate Daniel Sedin, and tied for fourth overall in the league. However, Kesler managed to pocket just 11 goals against playoff teams, and it's not like he only played 25 games against playoff teams. The amount of games versus playoff and non-playoff teams is almost exactly even at 41. This lack of productivity has continued into the first eight games of the playoffs, with zero goals.

Even Don Cherry says you need your best players to score in the playoffs. After all, you can only lean on your third and forth line for so long; their roles are not to score. The Sedin brothers just haven't really showed up statistically. TSN pointed out some poor defensive play by Henrik which ultimately lead to at least two goals against Chicago. Maybe it was a weakness that nobody was aware of because it was not exposed during the regular season. I don't really know.

To say that Vancouver does not deserve the Presidents' Trophy would be the voice of a bitter Oilers fan. Vancouver and Calgary success just isn't allowed in Oil Country, but as a realist, I know that Vancouver is a good team, arguably the best Vancouver team since 1996. They do deserve the Trophy, no doubt about it. However, with that said, I truly believe this team is a 48-win team. So to answer my own question above, no, the Vancouver Canucks real odds of winning the holy grail is about as good as the Sharks or the Wings. That's going to set up a very good third round.

Extra Point a Moot Point

Every year, NHL fans and analysts start a debate about whether or not the extra point for losing in overtime or the shootout is justified. Some argue that it keeps the playoff race alive and rewards teams for extending the game. On the other side of the coin, opponents argue that there should be no rewarding mediocrity and losers. Its a battle that occurs all throughout every season since the extra point was adopted. The argument has even brought up other creative solutions, most notably creating a three-point system, where a regulation win is worth 3, an OT or shootout win is 2, and the OT or shootout loser earns 1.

But before we continue to divide fans on this topic, what we should really consider is if it has a real impact on the standings. Last season's Philadelphia-New York game to finish the year made for real excitement. The winner of the shootout would make the playoffs. If you didn't know, the Flyers would win that game, earning 7th and ultimately reached the Stanley Cup Finals only to lose to Chicago. Anyways, I digress. In my opinion, the debate on the extra point is a moot point and I can easily prove it with statistics and not opinion.

The extra point has contributed very little to the standings in both conferences. In fact, there would be no change to the teams earning a playoff spot, but there would be substantial changes to the standings, at least for the 2010-2011 season. And strangely, the point totals in the theoretical standings (without extra point) are almost a mirror image between the two conferences.

Eastern Conference Official Standings		Eastern Conference Without Extra Point
Team	Pts	Team	Pts
Washington	107	Pittsburgh	98
Philadelphia	106	Washington	96
Boston	103	Boston	92
Pittsburgh	106	Philadelphia	94
Tampa Bay	103	Tampa Bay	92
Montreal	96	Montreal	88
Buffalo	96	NY Rangers	88
NY Rangers	93	Buffalo	86
Carolina	91	Carolina	80
Toronto	85	New Jersey	76
New Jersey	81	Toronto	74
Atlanta	80	Atlanta	68
Ottawa	74	Ottawa	64
NY Islanders	73	Florida	60
Florida	72	NY Islanders	60

Notes: In theoretical standings, Montreal has more regulation wins than the New York Rangers. Florida and the New York Islanders tied in the season series, but Florida had a better goal differential over the entire season.

Western Conference Official Standings		Western Conference Without Extra Point
Team	Pts	Team	Pts
Vancouver	117	Vancouver	108
San Jose	105	San Jose	96
Detroit	104	Detroit	94
Anaheim	99	Anaheim	94
Nashville	99	Los Angeles	92
Phoenix	99	Chicago	88
Los Angeles	98	Nashville	88
Chicago	97	Phoenix	86
Dallas	95	Dallas	84
Calgary	94	Calgary	82
St. Louis	87	Minnesota	78
Minnesota	86	St. Louis	76
Columbus	81	Columbus	68
Colorado	68	Colorado	60
Edmonton	62	Edmonton	50

Notes: In theoretical standings, Chicago secures the tie-breaker over Nashville with more wins head-to-head.

The information in the table illustrates that the extra point has done very little in terms of rewarding enough teams to catapult them into the playoffs. The reason for this is that most teams in the NHL have a similar amount of points from overtime losses, but what we do observe is that more teams are closer to a playoff spot, suggesting more teams are in the hunt for a longer period, making later games in the season more important.

Going back the last few seasons, the top eight teams in each conference would have been nearly identical, with the exception of 2008-2009 where three teams would have been tied for eighth in the east, possibly having removed Montreal from the last playoff spot in replacement for Florida or Buffalo. As well, in 2007-2008, the eight place team in both conferences may have changed. In the east, Carolina would have advanced instead of Boston, and possibly Edmonton earning eighth, instead of Nashville.

With all the data and facts stated, the debate about whether the extra point is needed or not will continue, but what we do see is that an extra point earned by teams losing in extended time lengthens a team's hunt for a playoff spot, which makes the NHL season a little more exciting. Over the last four years, only one team would have certainly made the playoffs, with an additional two possibly having earned a spot, depending on the tie-breaker for that season. All in all, this eternal debate really is a moot one at that and until there is a season where a team loses 20 or 30 games in extended time, it will remain that way.

Khabibulin to Blame for Poor PK

Watching the Oilers penalty kill is like watching a train wreck. It's just terrible! After opening the season with two wins and going a perfect 9 for 9 on the PK, they have now allowed 15 power play goals in 39 opportunities in 8 games, and this horrendous special team is costing the Oilers games.

They allowed 4 PP goals against Minnesota and lost that game 4-2. The Oilers could not hold the fort against the Flames, allowing a PP goal in the third period, which broke a 3-3 tie, resulting in a 5-3 loss including an empty netter. And last game, the Oilers allowed 2 PP goals and lost the game 4-3 to the Canucks.

The coaching staff implemented a new aggressive system that worked great in the first two games, but has been exploited. Some people are saying that teams have scouted this team's aggressive manner and have been able to score goals, but I don't think this is the case.

I know it's a little unfair, but I'm putting the blame on Khabibulin. In hockey, your best penalty killer is the goalie. Khabibulin has been in goal for all PP goals and has one of the worst GAA in the league (3.44) and a poor save percentage too (.897). Poor goaltending is destroying this offensively gifted team, ranked 7th in goals per game. And if you have seen any game, you may have noticed most of the PP goals scored occur very early and on the first shot too.

In the Minnesota game, M. Koivu scored two PP goals in less than a minute, on successive power plays, both goals occurring in the first minute of the power play. Against Calgary (Oct 26), the Oilers received a penalty in the second period with 32 seconds to go, and Calgary scored 12 seconds later before the period could end.

Dubnyk on the other hand, who has only started one game this year, faced 7 power plays and did not allow a single goal against Columbus. The team ended up earning a single point by forcing OT, but lost in the shoot out. They were key saves that kept the team in the game and the Oilers offensive talent allowed them to tie it up.

I know it's not scientific or even fair to compare Dubnyk's one game to Khabibulin's nine games played, but the facts are there. If the team's poor penalty killing was because of an aggressive system exploited by scouting, then how can a game in which the Oilers took 7 penalties, the most in one game this season so far, be perfect when Dubnyk started? I won't bet on it yet, but the next time Dubnyk starts, he will be able to stand tall and keep the Oilers in the game, unlike Khabibulin, who has been riddled with personal issues, injury, and aging muscles.

Now, I'm definitely not saying this team would be an elite PK team if Dubnyk started. Heck they'd probably be in the bottom 10 still, because there are still many things that need to be worked on, like net presence and shot-blocking, but without a goalie being able to make the big save, especially on a man advantage, how can this Oiler team expect to beat the pundit's and make a playoff run?

NFL Aggressively Tackles Hits to the Head, NHL Should Follow

Unlike the National Hockey League (NHL), the National Football League (NFL) took one giant leap tackling the issue of hits to the head (the controversy that has brewed is a completely different topic one I most likely will discuss). Meanwhile, the NHL, after contemplations for five years, has seen very little progress in protecting players, especially hits to the heads.

The baby steps taken by the NHL started with a round table discussion leading to the current $2,500 fine players receive with a possibility for a suspension. Considering all players make more than $500,000 US per year and there are 82 games in a season, these fines and suspensions are a drop in the bucket. It will not serve as a deterrent and is nothing more than a public relations strategy aimed to please the media and the fans after devastating hits to Savard and Booth plagued the image of the NHL last season. Does the NHL take its fans as dummies?

Meanwhile, the NFL decided two days ago that fines would be handed out to hits to the head, or helmet-to-helmet hits, which might actually make an impression. Meriweather (New England Patriots), Robinson (Atlanta Falcons), and Harrison (Pittsburgh Steelers) all received fines of $50,000 to $75,000 for the latter.

Both leagues are starting to crack down on dangerous hits because of the potentially life-threatening and most certainly life-altering hits that are taking out men from their careers. Take for example Marc Savard (Boston Bruins) who was hit last season and has not played an NHL game since. And just last weekend, a college football player, Eric LeGrand, was paralyzed from the neck down after his helmet went head first into a kick returner's body (see video). On a side note, thoughts and prayers to the LeGrand family and hopes he will one day walk again.

The NHL's lack of response to this situation, a situation that has been on the forefront of hockey for years now, has left many fans and commentators wondering if their recent fines and suspensions will really crackdown on hits to the head. I think not. It's no secret that players of the NHL want hits to the head removed, including Doan and Gilbert who were suspended and fined respectively, yet players continue to do so. Yes, the sport is very fast. Yes, players are acting instinctively. Yes, big hits are often praised. Yes, players are responsible for their positioning. But those are not excuses for blind side hits to the head and other dangerous hits.

I've heard the mantra that a player in a vulnerable position should also be blamed, but is this really fair? A player in a vulnerable position, whether it be in the NHL or NFL, is in that position for a reason. He is trying to make a play to create offense or catch an errant ball. A massive hit by a 250 pound player is not required. A person whose center of gravity is elevated and balance is unstable needs barely a tap to knock them over. And an average hit to the torso would do enough to prevent the play from going forward.

Major injuries that ended Lindros's career a decade ago is not a joke anymore. Players are now forever changed on and off the ice. Significant research and better information about brain injuries are now available and all sports, and every job for that matter, should take better control of these situations. If the NHL really wants to adress hits to the head, let's not charge players with fines even I could afford. Let's hit them with massive fines like the NFL. It won't take long before a star player like Crosby or Ovechkin takes an illegal hit and gets removed from the game altogether. That won't be good for the NHL's marketability, that won't be good for anyone really.

Redden Waived, Souray Should Be Next

The Edmonton Oilers situation with Sheldon Souray continues to be overshadowed by the bright future of the team, and thankfully so. Souray's attitude last year and down-right awful play, especially from a former all-star defencemen, would have booked him a flight to 29 other destinations, but in a salary-cap world, trading Souray has proven extremely difficult.

Two main problems exist in this situation: his tendency for injury, as observed last year, and his $5.4 million cap hit with two years remaining. General Managers should be reluctant on trading for a player whose cap hit is $900,000 above his salary, and is possibly not going to perform up to the standards of a $4.5 million player, not to mention his high-risk style of play.

But the Oilers might have an out and a low-risk one at that. Many had already suggested that Tambellini send Souray down to the Oklahoma City Barons (AHL), allowing the team to free up the $5.4 million cap hit. And earlier today, 11-year veteran Wade Redden (New York Rangers) cleared waivers and was sent down to their AHL affiliate, the Hartford Wolf Pack, suggesting that no NHL team is ready to pick up an overpaid defencemen, even for half the price. Although there are no guarantees, given the lack of responses from the other NHL teams, Souray has a very good chance of clearing waivers too.

If Souray were to clear waivers, the Oilers would be able to free up precious cap-space. I also assume that the Barons would be willing to have Souray in the line-up.

Rumours have also circulated that Redden is speaking to others teams about signing a contract, possibly even smaller than his current salary, which pays him out $23 million over the next four years. If Redden refuses to play in the AHL, the Rangers would be able to release Redden as an unrestricted free agent and would not have to pay the remaining money, and in turn, Redden can sign with his new team, assuming the talks are true.

If Souray balks at playing in the AHL, the Oilers would also have the luxury of releasing Souray to the open market, allowing him to play for another team, or even in the KHL, Swedish Elite League, or elsewhere.

It's pretty clear that the Oilers no longer want a part of Souray, and would be quick to rid jersey 44, which has proven to be a curse over the last five years (Pronger also wore #44). Tambellini has said that no beneficial bid has emerged for the team with Souray, so why not consider sending him to the minors? The team is paying $9 million a year for the next two years regardless of where or if he plays. And if a team does put in a claim from waivers, Tambellini should not be so quick to believe that the team lost him for nothing. Ownership would no longer be responsible for his contract, the management team would be free from distractions, and cap-space would be open to sign or trade for other promising players.

Although it is probably the last resort for Tambellini, it may prove to be the best move. The Oilers want to end the Souray saga immediately, and what other way then to take control by putting the ball in Souray's court? Let him decide if wants to finish his career in the AHL or not. If he really wants out, as he proclaimed last year by requesting a trade, he'll do it when he has no other choice.

Oilers 'Big Three' Run Down

The city of Edmonton is ready to witness an exciting Edmonton Oilers team. The Oilers showcased their top prospects in Penticton yesterday at the NHL Rookie Tournament, beating the Vancouver Canucks rookies 4-1, with their 'Big Three' players all hitting the score sheet.

Taylor Hall, along with Jordan Eberle and Magnus Paajarvi, are grabbing the focus of the media and hockey fans at this tournament. Although, only one game has been played, Oiler and general hockey fans were treated to some fancy skating, puck-handling, and passing plays that will ultimately land them a job in the Oilers line-up, come October.

The three players have shown that they are capable of playing well in a competitive environment. Many are not taking too much stock in their one-game performance, but if all three players finish top in scoring, consider those skeptics believers. Considering the Oilers entire rookie team is under the age of 21 and their opposition consist of players 21 to 25, we should remind ourselves that the team, not just the Big Three, outplayed people about 5 years older than them. At that age, 5 years is huge difference in terms of strength and maturity.

Paajarvi, 10th overall in 2009, who is considered the most NHL-ready, scored two goals in the first game of the tournament. Many in Oil Country believe that Paarjavi has the better chance of winning the Calder this year, not Hall, but if all three players compete for that trophy, without hurting the team, Oiler fans will be treated to great hockey. Eberle, 22nd overall in 2008, also scored a goal, receiving a nice pass from Hall, something I'm hoping to hear a lot of when the real season starts.

Comparisons to Gretzky, Messier, and Kurri, the Oilers Big Three of the 1980's, have emerged in the City of Champions, and many are expecting this team to one day hoist the Cup again. It's probably too soon, no, it is too soon, to say this is the next dynasty, but if the players live up to their hype, and can get better productivity from their past "kids" Gagner and Cogliano, we could see this last place team really be a Cup contender in just a few seasons. Oiler fans have seen many promising prospects flop, like Schremp, or play in the KHL, like Mikhnov, so it would be nice to see some prospects want to play here and one day win.

Last year's dismal performance by the team had one silver lining - nabbing Taylor Hall. He has won at multiple levels, including the two Memorial Cups with the Windsor Spitfires and a gold medal at the U18 in 2008 (with Eberle). Hall also won three gold medals in 2008 alone, one at the World U-17 Hockey Challenge, the IIHF World U18 Championsihps, and the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament (also known as the U-18 Junior World Cup).

Eberle has also shown he can show up and win big games. At the end of the NHL regular season last year, Eberle proved he can play with men in the IIHF World Championships in Germany, although Canada finished in a disappointing 7th place. After being called up to the AHL from the WHL late in the season, Eberle tallied 14 points in 11 games with Springfield, and was even rumoured to hit the ice for the Oilers in one regular season game, but of course nothing transpired.

Paajarvi, the biggest Swede to impact the Oilers since Tommy Salo, has a lucrative tradition of winning as well. Although not as successful as Hall and Eberle, Paajarvi has two silver medals and one bronze medal in the annual World Junior Championships Tournament, one bronze medal at the World Championships (2010) and was the youngest Swede to ever play in the under-18's. Paajarvi also won a gold medal in the J20 SuperElit (the highest junior level hockey league in Sweden, comparable with the OHL, WHL, CHL, and ECHL in North America).

With three players who have won so many titles and medals in their days, what's to stop them from winning the Stanley Cup? Just themselves.

On a side note, I really want to see Hall and Eberle play together with Crosby, Nash, or Perry and so many other talented players at the next Olympics in Russia. The 2010 decade for the NHL looks very promising and high-calibre players from all over the world are emerging in this sport including Russia's Malkin (Pittsburgh) and Ovechkin (Washington), Calgary prospect Backlund (Sweden), Los Angeles forward Kopitar (Slovenia), and Washington forward Backstrom (Sweden).

Well, that's my basic run down of the Oilers 'Big Three' prospects. It should make for a heck of a season, even if this team fails to reach the post-season again. Fans will be treated with creativity and imaginative plays beyond Hemsky and that should make it worth it. The development of the players from boys to men should also allow many superstars to realize the Oilers will be a legitimate contender very soon, and could bring greater talent to the city. For now, that's my run-down of this season. I hope to bring more updates of the Oilers in my blog. Good luck to the boys in copper and blue.

You can watch the entire tournament unfold for the Oilers, Flames, Canucks, Ducks, and Sharks at http://youngstars.insinc.com.

Halak!

The city of Montreal has gone Halak-crazy. People have been seen putting stickers of Halak on stop signs, indicative of his great play so far in the NHL playoffs. Well, a few fans went beyond border line vandalism and creatively did a Budweiser parody commercial from a decade ago. If you haven't done so, take a look at the video above.

Flyers Beat Bruins in 7

When the NHL introduced their new playoff ad campaigns "History will be Made," nobody knew that history would truly be made. The Canadiens overcame one of the biggest regular season underdog stories in NHL history and beat the Capitals in the first round, but now the 2010 NHL Playoffs have another huge story of the spring. The third team in NHL history to over come a 3-0 series deficit and win the series, and only the fourth team in North American professional sports.

Just minutes after the game ended, hundreds of news articles appeared on Google search claiming this to be one of the biggest wins ever, and TSN announces that this "is the greatest come back in NHL playoff history."

Earlier in the month, Detroit Red Wings coach Mike Babcock said that a 3-0 series come back is due. He was clearly referring to his team trying to make a come back against the Sharks, but his words came true. It only happens once a generation and it happened this year.

The Bruins started off the game with intent, scoring three goals in the first period to take a 3-0 lead. Goals by Ryder and two by Lucic gave the Bruins what should be a comfortable lead. The crowd was roaring as a Montreal-Boston Conference Finals was less than 45 minutes away, but a fanned shot by Van Riemsdyk cut the lead by two.

In the second period, the Flyers continued to pour on the pressure. Hartnell and Briere would both score in the second frame to tie the hockey game. Both players also assisted on each other's goal.

The Flyers would complete the comeback with a power-play goal by Gagne, his forth goal in four games. The Bruins tried to push back but what plagued them all year, lack of offense, could not be cured. The Bruins would only get 11 shots on net in the final two periods.

Leighton came in relief when Boucher injured his knee in game 5, being the second goaltending duo in NHL Playoff history to share a shut out. In a twist of fate, it was the first game he was ready to play, as he had been sidelined the entire playoffs until game 5.

Game 7 was a microcosm of the entire series, as a 3-0 lead would be squandered by the Bruins in too many aspects. Up next for the Flyers, the Montreal Canadiens and their red-hot goalie, Halak. Stay tuned for my predictions.

2010 NHL Playoff Predictions: Semi Finals

Well, I went 5/8 in the quarter finals. I was not expecting any upsets in the Eastern Conference, with the top teams being such power houses full of offensive skill, great goaltending, and talent. The under dog teams in the East showed resilience and determination. You could sense that some of the top teams did not know what it took to win, take for example Ian Laperriere's blocked shot, which required 50-60 stitches above the eye.

So, which team now has the better chance winning their series? (Note, I have made these predictions before this post, but I was too busy to post this). Let's start in the Western Conference.

[1]San Jose Sharks vs. [5]Detroit Red Wings
The Sharks disposed of the Avalanche in six games and were well prepared for the Wings, especially in game 1. San Jose must continue to count on scoring by committee, because I am still unsure about Nabakhov's ability to win a game. Can Nabakhov play well with the Red Wing's net presence? Holmstrom and Franzen will drive and screen the net, making his life miserable. I do not believe the Avs tested him in this area, but we will see how he prevails.

On the other side of the coin, no matter where the Wings are in the standings, I do not think they will ever be the under dog. The Wings faced the surprising Coyotes in the first round, but only in game 7 did they seem to step up their game. The Red Wings success will stem from rookie goalie Howard and the Wings offensive talent.

Both teams are so evenly matched that I believe this series will go to game 7. It is very hard to figure out who will win this, but I believe the Wings know-how to win will give them a slight edge. Wings in 7. Expect a high-scoring series as well.

[2]Chicago Black Hawks vs. [3]Vancouver Canucks

Last year, Vancouver was eliminated by Chicago in the semi-finals and how fitting that the two teams will face each other again in this year's playoffs. Luongo had told Kane in the Olympics when shaking hands at the end of the gold medal game, "See you in the playoffs." Luongo admitted it was a spur of the moment thing, but funny how fate works. We must now wait and see how this series turns out and if the Canucks can finally reach the third round, something they have not achieved since 1997.

The Black Hawks questions in goaltending were answered, temporarily, in the previous series. However, it was clear that Niemi was not playing at a Stanley Cup Champion calibre. He allowed weak goals, and was unable to make the timely save. Niemi can prove the doubters wrong by shutting down the Vancouver Canucks offensive talent. Secondary scoring will be required for Chicago to move on and getting in front of the net will pay dividends in the series. Vancouver's large defensive core will have their work cut out moving guys like Byfuglien, who loves going to the net, evidenced by last year's performance against Luongo.

The Canucks don't have much to worry about. Good offense, good defense, and good goaltending. Luongo has been able to step up his game, but his inconsistency has been a problem this year. He has allowed almost 4 goals a game against the Hawks this year and if that is to continue, the Canucks will be shown out the door.

Another series that will go down in seven, but I select the Hawks to triumph again over the Canucks. I'm going to select over in this series as well.

[4]Pittsburgh Penguins vs. [8]Montreal Canadiens
Wow! What an underdog story. The Habs beat the Capitals in 7 games, and did it trailing 3 games to 1. The Habs have a good shot at making the Finals if they can dispel the Penguins. The remaining two Eastern teams are ranked 6th and 7th. In 2006, the Oilers were able to make it to the finals when the top four teams were eliminated in the first round, allowing them an easier route, but an impressive run nonetheless.

The Penguins have it all. Scoring from three lines, hard working players like Guerin, a proven goalie, and a strong defensive core. There isn't much the Penguins need to do differently against the Habs, except beat Halak.

The Habs success will only continue of Halak has a strong performance. He did not do well in game 1 of this series, but rebounded in game 2. However, the Habs have lost significant man-power on the back-end, with Markov out most likely for the rest of the season. Subban, Begeron, and O'Byrne will need to rise to the occasion and allow this team to succeed.

This series will go the distance, with the Pens winning game 7. I believe that the fatigue will set in for the Habs and their back-end will not hold against Crosby, Malkin, and Staal.

[6]Boston Bruins vs. [7]Philadelphia Flyers
With the Eastern division leaders all eliminated, what's left? Two mediocre teams that won with grit, heart, and determination. I am a huge Flyers fan, so it pains me to say this, but the Flyers have almost no chance with half their all-stars gone.

The Bruins got some good news in the return of Savard, and how fitting if Savard can play against the Penguins in the Conference Finals and do some damage to Cooke? The Bruins offense will improve drastically with the addition of Savard. Rask must continue to play strong and Chara just has to be himself.

The Flyers have a strong core as well, but without three good forwards, their days are numbered. I would love to see the Flyers win, but Boucher may not be able to out dual Rask. You can only beat the best goalies so many times without run support.

I am not confident the Flyers offense will be strong enough to beat Rask, and Savard's return is both a moral win and offensive uprising. Sadly, I predict the Bruins in 7.

The great thing about all the series is that they will be extremely close, and one laps in the brain could change the respective series. Don't be surprised if all my predictions were wrong, because one mistake changed the momentum in game 4, or a lucky bounce won the triple OT of a game 6. For now, let's just leave it at that and get ready for round 2. The games shown already have all been good to watch.

2010 NHL Playoff Predictions: Eastern Conference Quarter Finals

The race for the final playoff spots in the Eastern Conference proved to be one of the most exciting and dramatic finishes I have experienced. To see the Flyers win the shoot out to eliminate the Rangers and lift their team into the final playoff spot was intense. But, now the race is over, and it is time for these teams to settle down and aim for the Stanley Cup. When it comes to predicting the Eastern Conference series, it's safe to say upsets probably will not occur. The division leaders and the Penguins are just too strong against the other four teams. They've had consistency all year the top four teams are going into the playoffs with 5 or more wins in their final ten games. So, let me break down my predictions and my personal analysis of each series. [1]Washington Capitals vs. [8]Montreal Canadiens Washington finished the year on top of the NHL with the most goals for, points, and wins. The team also finished first on the power play with a stunning 25.2 per cent, almost 3.5 per cent better than second place, which happens to be the Canadiens. Many have criticized the Capitals goaltending as insufficient for a long playoff run, but both Theodore and Varlamov have comparable statistics to Marc-Andre Fleury (Pittsburgh). Experience is the only real difference between Fleury and the Caps goalies. It's honestly tough to believe the Habs have a chance at taking down the NHL's President's Award winners, but if there's a will, there's a way. Although the regular season goals allowed by both teams is only a difference of 10, recent play by Halak has shown he is the new number one goaltender in Montreal, at least until he makes a mistake in the playoffs. The Habs will only win if they can outscore the Capitals on the special teams, and making sure they limit the power play chances they give to the Capitals. With that said, the Capitals should easily take this series in 5. I'm giving Montreal credit they can win one game here. Washington's fire power, at least for the first round, will prove an asset and will overcome any goaltending issues. Goals will be scored in this series and I will be betting the over every time. [2]New Jersey Devils vs. [7]Philadelphia Flyers The Devils have the best goalie in NHL history. Enough said! Well, that would have been what most would have said about the Devils in previous years, but this year the team added some fire power in Kovalchuk, and Parise and Zajac continue to produce offensively on the Devils. Langenbrunner is a perennial point-producer in the playoffs as well, and could very well be among the points leaders at the end of the first round. The only way the Flyers can win this series is if their goalie, Boucher, can out duel Brodeur. Good luck with that. The Flyers are capable of scoring, but seem to take a lot of penalties. They are fortunate that the Devils power play is ranked in the middle of the league, however, that doesn't mean the Flyers will get away with it. The team needs to stay out of the box to increase their offensive chances. Richards who leads the league in face-off percentage (according to TSN) will provide the team with ample offensive zone wins, but they must crash the net and do what the Americans did against Brodeur in the Olympics. One other positive note is that the Flyers won the season series 6-2, but I do not expect that to translate into playoff wins. Sadly, as a Flyers fan, I expect a very low-scoring series with the Devils winning in 6. [3]Buffalo Sabres vs. [6]Boston Bruins Olympic team mates Thomas and Miller will face each other in the playoffs in the first round, that is, if Thomas gets to start. Rask has been playing well enough and the team may end up going with the youngen. Buffalo's offense is average, but goaltending is spectacular. Both teams boast great penalty killing, ranked second and third. Boston on the other hand has very little to talk about. Lowest scoring team (second to Calgary HAHAHA!) going against one of the best goalies in the league and although Rask has the best save percentage in the league, can he sustain that in the playoffs? Their best player, Savard, will not be in the line up and that equates to a short playoff journey. At least the team can celebrate a second overall draft pick, including another first rounder. Defense will be the theme of this series, or is it a lack of offense... either or, Buffalo takes this series in 6. No Savard, no win. Bet under for each game. I wouldn't be surprised if each game is less than 4 goals, and hitting 4 with empty netters. [4]Pittsburgh Penguins vs. [5]Ottawa Senators It's too early to tell, but this will be the best series in the East. Two great teams going into the playoffs with good records and tonnes of confidence. The Penguins have a lot of talent, but goaltending has been inconsistent this year. Fleury's play at the start proved the playoff hangover was a myth, but as the season wore on, we saw Fleury become a little more human. The team has enough offense to win games, but Fleury needs to step up his game if the Pens want to repeat. The team has Crosby and Malkin, who seem to be playing inspired hockey. The Pens also have the best third line in the league and will be able to get secondary scoring. The Senators will have to prove many that they deserve to be in the second round and must resolve their problems. First, the team has lost Kovalev, and a goalie who has very little NHL experience, let alone NHL playoff games. The team's lack of success on the road will also be an issue. If they continue to lose on the road, they can not expect to win in the playoffs, especially when they do not have home-ice advantage. For the Senators skill and potential, this series will end in 6, with their away games being extremely embarrassing. Expect a lot of scoring as well, so betting over might be best. Well, those are my final predictions for the Eastern Conference Quarter Finals. The playoffs start tomorrow, so let's hope they are great. Have any thoughts on my predictions? Post them up please.

2010 NHL Playoff Predictions: Western Conference Quarter Finals

The NHL Playoffs start Wednesday April 14, and sixteen great teams will fight it out for the Stanley Cup. But winning the ultimate prize comes with both skill and a little bit of luck. In the West, two teams are entering the playoffs with very little experience, and that could be a downfall. Others are entering hot, while other teams have free fallen in the past several games, which could lead to a short post-season run. It is safe to say that each series has the potential for a great battle, and below, I have provided my thoughts on each match-up with predictions on the winner, length of series, average goals per game, and other notes. Today, I will post up my predictions in the Western Conference - tomorrow I will post up the East. [1] San Jose Sharks vs. [8] Colorado Avalanche The San Jose Sharks have disappointed fans (and themselves) in the playoffs over the past few seasons, but all those lost games will eventually lead to experience and ultimately success. The Sharks boasted the best record in the West and are going into the playoffs extremely hot, with a last-10 record of 8-1-1. However, Nabakhov's goaltending has been volatile since the Olympic break, and questions in goaltending can not be avoided. Heatley has been the best acquisition by the team this year and could be what the Sharks need to make it to round 3. The team currently has no key injuries that can hold them back, so expect the Sharks to end this series as soon as possible. On the other side, the Avs have fallen from division contenders to eighth in the West. Anderson's goaltending as of late has been a little shoddy, and after 82-games, the Avs have the most goals allowed in the west (out of all playoff teams). That doesn't hold well against one of the leagues most elite scoring teams. Key injuries to Duchene and Mueller will prove costly and their mediocre special teams will have to turn it up. With that being said, San Jose will win this series 4-1; games will be high scoring, mostly on the Sharks part, so betting over could prove profitable. [2]Chicago Black Hawks vs. [7]Nashville Predators The Hawks are one of the league's young and talented teams, with many more years of success on the horizon. Toews and Kane will prove to be key assets and as long as their scoring success continues, this will be a short series. People had questioned the Hawks goaltending, but considering they are second in the west in goals allowed, I believe it is not justified. Their goaltending issues clearly stems from inexperience, but let's not forget that the job of a goalie is just to keep the puck out, so I personally believe experience should not be too much of a factor, especially since Nashville's goaltending is not extremely any better. The Hawks have both youth and veteran players with Stanley Cup rings, and their penalty killing will prove beneficial. The Predators on the other hand should expect a tough, and short series. They are going in with the 4th worst penalty-killing in the entire league, and the worst of all playoff bound teams. The only way the Predators can win is if they can stay out of the box and some how exploit Niemi. Another downfall with this team is their weakness in offense. They have the fewest goals for of any playoff team and goaltending has not been strong either. Although the team has 18 more wins than losses, they have scored and allowed an equal amount of goals. The team lacks impact players that can turn the tide in a 2-2 game. Chicago should win this series easily, with a possible sweep. This series should not go more than 5 games and games will be low scoring, with the majority being from the Hawks. [3]Vancouver Canucks vs. [6]Los Angeles Kings The Canucks have proven to be an elite team for the first time in many years. They were always pretenders, but this year, they are Canada's best chance at a Stanley Cup. Offense had been a long-time issue for this team, but this year, the Sedin's are hot, with Henrik winning the Art Ross and scoring coming from all four lines and the back end. If the top line is shut down, secondary scoring should get the job done. Luongo's solid play in the Olympics will also give the team confidence, however, his play during the NHL year should also be questioned. The Canucks have allowed 222 goals this year, which is only 2 goals below the entire NHL average. Luongo is supposed to be one of the greatest ever, but which Luongo will show up? The Olympic gold medalist or the average goalie he has been often named. The Kings are making their first appearance in 8 years. Another young team with a many more years to go. First round picks, Kopitar, Doughty, and others will finally get a chance to feel the energy that is the playoffs. One concern will be Quick's goaltending. He has not won a game in 8 attempts, and had a poor performance to end his season against the Oilers. Ersberg will not get the start, so if Quick wants to win this series, he must muster the confidence to beat the top scoring line in the league. Each team have remarkably similar special teams statistics, but the key difference is the recent goaltending. The Canucks will win this series in 7 with games reaching six or more goals very probable. [4]Phoenix Coyotes vs. [5]Detroit Red Wings The Coyotes have shown that if a team concentrates on playing hockey, they can be successful. All the off-ice drama and attention has not affected this team's continued winning throughout the year, led by Bryzgalov fantastic goaltending. Phoenix has allowed the fewest goals in the West and expect that to continue. Trade deadline acquisitions (Stempniak and Wolski) have paid dividends to the team. One concern is the teams lack of experience in the playoffs. The Red Wings are going in extremely hot. Just a month ago, they were fighting for 8th place, but leaped up to 5th, and if the season was any longer, would have taken 4th. The Wings have an abundance of experience, and almost all their players have won the Stanley Cup prior (mostly as a Wing). This team is not the same team as they had been prior to the Olympics, and a run back to the Finals for the third year in a row is not out of the question. Howard, who had question marks all around him, has proven he is the go-to guy, but whether or not he can out battle Bryzgalov remains to be seen. The team has just too much experience and can handle the pressure. Too many players have been here before, and it may just be another game to them. This series will be very interesting, but the Wings should take this series in 6, possibly 7. Scoring will be low, but key players on the Wings, like Zetterberg and Datsyuk will shine in the playoffs. Well those are my picks and some of my reasons. What are your thoughts on my picks, or do you have your own reasons why you agree or disagree? Let me know.

Boston Bruins the key to the East Playoffs

There's just a dozen games or so left for each team, and bubble teams know that they must make a final push for the playoffs. Any team that can put together a win-streak of five games from this point on can almost guarantee a ticket to the post-season. As well, teams that take advantage of the "four-point" games will clearly earn the spoils of victory. Last week, the four-point story was between the Detroit Red Wings and the Calgary Flames. The two teams would battle for positioning for the 8th and final place in the playoff standings, with the Red Wings capturing a 2-1 victory over the Flames. With that win, Detroit has just a two-point lead over the Flames, and at the end of the season, if Calgary is out by two points or less, they can easily argue that this game was literally a season-changer. These games prove so critical that an 82-game season can be determined by one game. This week, the story moves east to the US Northeast, where the Boston Bruins, currently holding down the final spot in the playoffs, face the three teams directly below them in the standings: Atlanta Thrashers, New York Rangers, and Tampa Bay Lightening. The team just wrapped up a media-circus of a game against the Penguins. A few days back, Cooke knocked out their star player, Marc Savard, who has the best points-per-game average on the team. The team was looking for revenge. Now that this game has passed, the team must refocus on winning games and making it to the playoffs. The final eight teams, including the Carolina Hurricanes, the New York Islanders, the Florida Panthers, and the Toronto Maple Leafs are all separated by just ten points. Let's not forget how poorly the 'Canes and the Leafs were before the trade deadline, and suddenly, the playoffs are actually attainable. The Boston Bruins control their own destiny here. The team will face every team, except the New York Islanders at least one more time in their final dozen. Simply put, win these four-point games and no team has a chance at catching them. Lose even just three of the six, and the Bruins will miss the playoffs (yes a bold prediction). It also doesn't help that the other five games are against the Buffalo Sabres, the New Jersey Devils, the Washington Capitals (twice), and the Calgary Flames. The first three teams are leading their respective divisions. As a prediction, Boston must win five, that's right, five of these six four-point games to make the playoffs. This will prevent them from having to win against the best teams in the East and prevents the chasing teams to gain any ground. It is clearly too early to tell, but the final spot for the playoffs might come down to Saturday April 10, where Carolina and Boston meet to finish their season. Carolina, who was the worst team in the league before the Oilers crashed and burned, is now one of the hottest teams in the league. This team has captured a lot of momentum and recently had an 8-game winning streak, propelling them into a three-way tie for 11th, and just 6 points (3 wins) back of Boston. Atlanta has also put on a mini-streak recently, currently with three consecutive wins and only behind by one point, although with one more game played. These two teams will meet Tuesday March 23, but prior, the Bruins will play the Rangers Sunday March 21, and the Thrashers will face the Flyers on the same day. Normally, I do not follow the Eastern Conference races. It has never been this exciting, especially since Southeast Division teams are so far behind, but this year, it is hard to believe that all fifteen teams may be fighting for a playoff spot by April 1. This is the best drama any hockey fan could ever dream of.

Noh Canada.

The Men's Canadian Olympic Hockey Team was supposed to challenge for the gold medal alongside power house nations like the Russian and Swedish hockey teams, but when the team emerged with only two points against the Swiss and failed to beat the Americans earlier tonight, the questions about Canada's strength have arose. It is well known that the world is catching up to Canada's once dominate reign over ice hockey, but we have seen a steady trend of teams defeating Canada at major tournaments in the last 60 days, most notably, the Americans. They have beaten Canada in the last three major international tournaments, including the under-17's, under-18's, and today, the Olympics. Both Canadian junior teams lost to the USA for a bronze and a gold medal respectively. It seems to me that team USA and their hockey program has finally reached its potential. Prior to the Games starting, I predicted Russia to defeat Canada in the gold medal game, and Sweden defeating Finland for bronze. Now that Canada will potentially face Russia in the quarter finals, one of the two best teams (in my opinion) will not win a medal. That is the harsh reality of a short tournament. If my prediction holds true, that means Canada will be defeated in the quarter finals, assuming they beat Germany on Tuesday. If this happens, I do not know what Canadians in this country will do. Riots? Too cold. Complete economic shut down is much more likely. Tonight's disappointing loss was unbearable to watch. My blood ran red hot for a few minutes. I know it is just a sport, but hockey is a part of my identity. I do not want to witness the Russians defeat Canada, and I know this team has what it takes to still win gold. On paper, Canada's worst players are enviable. Team Canada, make me proud and fight for that medal. I'm sorry to say this but Ovechkin and Malkin might have to wait for 2016, when the Olympics head to their home country.