New York Post NHL blog entry (March 19, 2007)
(Writer's note: I now write NHL blogs for NY Post.com. I will add my blog entries here, so editors can review them. --Denis Gorman)
March 19, 2007
The Whole Playoff Picture
With regular season games dwindling down to a precious few, it's time that the Post takes a look at the upcoming NHL playoffs. For the uninitiated, there is not a playoff or tournament that can compare to the NHL's. For the initiated, sit back and enjoy two months of goals, assists, checks, fights and overtimes. Lots and lots of overtimes.
Before we get started, we should note that we at the Post are old-school hockey fans. We don't refer to the conferences as Eastern and Western. Instead, we use their rightful, ancestral names, Wales and Campbell.
Without any further ado:
WALES CONFERENCE:
1) Buffalo: Are they this year's version of the 2005-06 Ottawa Senators, a team that starts fast but finishes prematurely? The Sabres can skate with anyone in the league, but when the games become battles of attrition, are they tough enough? Is Ryan Miller the next great American goaltender or is he another Jim Carrey, the ex-Capitals goalie? Also, consider this: No matter how Buffalo's season ends, there will be changes in the off-season. Forwards Chris Drury and Daniel Briere are free agents and, with the salary cap restrictions, one or the other will leave upstate New York.
2) New Jersey: Two words: Martin Brodeur.It's rare that you can tell your children and your grandchildren that you saw the greatest of all-time in their prime. That's what we are seeing with Brodeur. An MVP candidate, Brodeur will retire as the greatest goalie of all-time. And think about this: He lost a full season. What would his numbers look like if not for the lockout?
3) Atlanta: The lone remaining Flames fan in Atlanta weeps tears of joy over the Thrashers success. The Thrashers are one of the NHL's most exciting teams because they score goals. A team that boasts Ilya Kovalchuk, Marian Hossa and Keith Tkachuk should not have issues putting the puck in the net.
4) Pittsburgh: This generation's answer to the dynasty Oilers. Pittsburgh boasts 19-year-old phenom Sidney Crosby, probable Calder Trophy Winner Evgeni Malkin, probable Calder Trophy Winner In Any Year That Evgeni Malkin Isn't A Rookie Jordan Staal, franchise goaltender Marc-André Fleury, Colby Armstrong, Ryan Whitney, well, you get the idea. Pens fans should be giddy. They will be able to watch the March Of The Penguins Across The NHL now that the state of Pennsylvania and the organization agreed to work in conjunction to build a new arena.
5) Ottawa: You have to like a team whose goaltender gets into two fights in the same game and smiles through both bouts. Oh, and Ray Emery can turn a puck or two away, too.The Sens can still score goals by the bushel, but we're guessing the loss of 6'8" defenseman Zdeno Chara (who's now leading Boston's charge towards 8th place) will be exposed in the playoffs.
6) Tampa Bay: Vincent Lecavalier was dubbed the "Michael Jordan of hockey" when he was drafted. He may never live down that declaration, Lecavalier and his 48 (and counting) goals may steal MVP honors from Brodeur and Crosby. He's ably assisted by snipers Martin St. Louis and Brad Richards.
7) Carolina: The toughest thing to do in sports is to repeat as champions. Carolina won't. Too often this year, the defending Stanley Cup Champion Hurricanes have acted as if they wished they were anywhere else but at the rink.
8) Rangers: Broadway's hockey club was headed towards another inconsequential summer when Glen Sather traded for Sean Avery. Avery has sparked the Rangers with his agitation, grit and goal-scoring. Due to injuries, the Rangers also learned that kids Brandon Dubinsky, Ryan Callahan and David Liffiton can play at the NHL level. It will be another Cup-less summer in the NYC, but the Rangers will be heard from in the playoffs.
(On the outside looking in):
9) Islanders: The Hempstead Turnpike's Professional Hockey Team's playoff hopes were dashed when Montréal's Steve Begin's knee collided with Rick DiPietro's head. It's a shame that DiPietro's concussion will most likely rob the Islanders of a playoff berth. The Isles had been playing very good hockey and GM Garth Snow absolutely robbed Edmonton for all-everything forward Ryan Smyth. However, there is one positive that can come out of the DiPietro injury. That is: a warning to young goaltenders to never try and play the puck at your blue line when there's a hard-charging forward coming your way and you have a defenseman back in the zone.
10) Toronto: The Leafs haven't won a Cup since 1967. That won't change. We wonder if Mats Sundin ever wishes he hadn't been traded from Quebec.
11) Montréal: The wheels didn't just come off this bus. Instead, they came off and rolled back to the shop. There's always next year and memories of 'Rocket' Richard, Larry Robinson and Patrick Roy to keep Habs fans warm at night.
CAMPBELL CONFERENCE:
1) Nashville: If not for Tomas Vokoun's blood clot late last year, the Predators might have won the Stanley Cup. One of the league's youngest and deepest teams, a Nashville Cup will be a feather in the cap of Gary Bettman's Heartland Expansion plan.
2) Anaheim: Scott Niedermayer and Chris Pronger make up the best defense pair in the NHL. The Ducks' goaltending is solid. The only question about Anaheim is whether they have enough scoring upfront.
3) Vancouver: Poor Canucks fans. For years, Vancouver had goal-scoring and lackluster goaltending. Now, they have goaltending in dark-horse MVP candidate Roberto Luongo and little goal scoring. Canucks fans have to be dreaming of the day when they have goal-scoring and goaltending. Or maybe they see Tiger Williams skating in that hideous yellow sweater.
4) Detroit: No Brendan Shanahan. No Steve Yzerman. No matter. The Wings are still an elite team. If they were in the Wales Conference, they'd be a bona-fide contender. In the Campbell, there are far too many teams to navigate for another Cup celebration in Hockeytown.
5) San Jose: Getting hot at the right time. If Joe Thornton can put together a dominant playoff performance for the first time in his career, Central California could become a hockey hotbed.
6) Dallas: Is this last dance of an aged, proud team?
7) Minnesota: Is this the first dance of a young, skilled team?
8) Calgary: They have experience, having gotten to Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals in 2004. They have the second-best goaltender in the world in Mikka Kiprusoff. They have the league's best young defenseman in Dion Phaneuf. They have the league's best power-forward in Jarome Iginla. They have the league's best home-ice advantage at the Saddledome. They are poised to make a run that mirrors last year's Oilers.
Posted by Denis Gorman on March 19, 2007 09:03 PM
http://blogs.nypost.com/sports/rangers/archives/2007/03/the_whole_playo.html#more
March 19, 2007
The Whole Playoff Picture
With regular season games dwindling down to a precious few, it's time that the Post takes a look at the upcoming NHL playoffs. For the uninitiated, there is not a playoff or tournament that can compare to the NHL's. For the initiated, sit back and enjoy two months of goals, assists, checks, fights and overtimes. Lots and lots of overtimes.
Before we get started, we should note that we at the Post are old-school hockey fans. We don't refer to the conferences as Eastern and Western. Instead, we use their rightful, ancestral names, Wales and Campbell.
Without any further ado:
WALES CONFERENCE:
1) Buffalo: Are they this year's version of the 2005-06 Ottawa Senators, a team that starts fast but finishes prematurely? The Sabres can skate with anyone in the league, but when the games become battles of attrition, are they tough enough? Is Ryan Miller the next great American goaltender or is he another Jim Carrey, the ex-Capitals goalie? Also, consider this: No matter how Buffalo's season ends, there will be changes in the off-season. Forwards Chris Drury and Daniel Briere are free agents and, with the salary cap restrictions, one or the other will leave upstate New York.
2) New Jersey: Two words: Martin Brodeur.It's rare that you can tell your children and your grandchildren that you saw the greatest of all-time in their prime. That's what we are seeing with Brodeur. An MVP candidate, Brodeur will retire as the greatest goalie of all-time. And think about this: He lost a full season. What would his numbers look like if not for the lockout?
3) Atlanta: The lone remaining Flames fan in Atlanta weeps tears of joy over the Thrashers success. The Thrashers are one of the NHL's most exciting teams because they score goals. A team that boasts Ilya Kovalchuk, Marian Hossa and Keith Tkachuk should not have issues putting the puck in the net.
4) Pittsburgh: This generation's answer to the dynasty Oilers. Pittsburgh boasts 19-year-old phenom Sidney Crosby, probable Calder Trophy Winner Evgeni Malkin, probable Calder Trophy Winner In Any Year That Evgeni Malkin Isn't A Rookie Jordan Staal, franchise goaltender Marc-André Fleury, Colby Armstrong, Ryan Whitney, well, you get the idea. Pens fans should be giddy. They will be able to watch the March Of The Penguins Across The NHL now that the state of Pennsylvania and the organization agreed to work in conjunction to build a new arena.
5) Ottawa: You have to like a team whose goaltender gets into two fights in the same game and smiles through both bouts. Oh, and Ray Emery can turn a puck or two away, too.The Sens can still score goals by the bushel, but we're guessing the loss of 6'8" defenseman Zdeno Chara (who's now leading Boston's charge towards 8th place) will be exposed in the playoffs.
6) Tampa Bay: Vincent Lecavalier was dubbed the "Michael Jordan of hockey" when he was drafted. He may never live down that declaration, Lecavalier and his 48 (and counting) goals may steal MVP honors from Brodeur and Crosby. He's ably assisted by snipers Martin St. Louis and Brad Richards.
7) Carolina: The toughest thing to do in sports is to repeat as champions. Carolina won't. Too often this year, the defending Stanley Cup Champion Hurricanes have acted as if they wished they were anywhere else but at the rink.
8) Rangers: Broadway's hockey club was headed towards another inconsequential summer when Glen Sather traded for Sean Avery. Avery has sparked the Rangers with his agitation, grit and goal-scoring. Due to injuries, the Rangers also learned that kids Brandon Dubinsky, Ryan Callahan and David Liffiton can play at the NHL level. It will be another Cup-less summer in the NYC, but the Rangers will be heard from in the playoffs.
(On the outside looking in):
9) Islanders: The Hempstead Turnpike's Professional Hockey Team's playoff hopes were dashed when Montréal's Steve Begin's knee collided with Rick DiPietro's head. It's a shame that DiPietro's concussion will most likely rob the Islanders of a playoff berth. The Isles had been playing very good hockey and GM Garth Snow absolutely robbed Edmonton for all-everything forward Ryan Smyth. However, there is one positive that can come out of the DiPietro injury. That is: a warning to young goaltenders to never try and play the puck at your blue line when there's a hard-charging forward coming your way and you have a defenseman back in the zone.
10) Toronto: The Leafs haven't won a Cup since 1967. That won't change. We wonder if Mats Sundin ever wishes he hadn't been traded from Quebec.
11) Montréal: The wheels didn't just come off this bus. Instead, they came off and rolled back to the shop. There's always next year and memories of 'Rocket' Richard, Larry Robinson and Patrick Roy to keep Habs fans warm at night.
CAMPBELL CONFERENCE:
1) Nashville: If not for Tomas Vokoun's blood clot late last year, the Predators might have won the Stanley Cup. One of the league's youngest and deepest teams, a Nashville Cup will be a feather in the cap of Gary Bettman's Heartland Expansion plan.
2) Anaheim: Scott Niedermayer and Chris Pronger make up the best defense pair in the NHL. The Ducks' goaltending is solid. The only question about Anaheim is whether they have enough scoring upfront.
3) Vancouver: Poor Canucks fans. For years, Vancouver had goal-scoring and lackluster goaltending. Now, they have goaltending in dark-horse MVP candidate Roberto Luongo and little goal scoring. Canucks fans have to be dreaming of the day when they have goal-scoring and goaltending. Or maybe they see Tiger Williams skating in that hideous yellow sweater.
4) Detroit: No Brendan Shanahan. No Steve Yzerman. No matter. The Wings are still an elite team. If they were in the Wales Conference, they'd be a bona-fide contender. In the Campbell, there are far too many teams to navigate for another Cup celebration in Hockeytown.
5) San Jose: Getting hot at the right time. If Joe Thornton can put together a dominant playoff performance for the first time in his career, Central California could become a hockey hotbed.
6) Dallas: Is this last dance of an aged, proud team?
7) Minnesota: Is this the first dance of a young, skilled team?
8) Calgary: They have experience, having gotten to Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals in 2004. They have the second-best goaltender in the world in Mikka Kiprusoff. They have the league's best young defenseman in Dion Phaneuf. They have the league's best power-forward in Jarome Iginla. They have the league's best home-ice advantage at the Saddledome. They are poised to make a run that mirrors last year's Oilers.
Posted by Denis Gorman on March 19, 2007 09:03 PM
http://blogs.nypost.com/sports/rangers/archives/2007/03/the_whole_playo.html#more
posted by Denis P. Gorman at 11:05 PM
