Northeast
– Boston are
looking strong, just like they did last season, only to be shocked in
the first round of the playoffs. It’s
still early days
but the Bruins are looking good to win their division as well as the
Eastern Conference. Montreal are keeping them honest, and I have to
say this looks one of the best Canadiens teams I have seen in a long
time. Montreal should join their fierce rivals in the playoffs.
Ottawa, for so
long hanging onto the Bruins’ coattails
are sliding slightly but they could find themselves in a huge battle
for one of the remaining playoff spots. Toronto,
can’t
make their mind up
what they want to do right now. They are currently in some good form,
but will that be enough to grab a playoff spot with the likes of
Ottawa, NY Rangers, Philadelphia & New Jersey all breathing own
their necks? Buffalo have been a massive disappointment, started well
in the first week, they slumped to the bottom of the standings which
culminated in the sacking of long term coach Lindy Ruff. I still
found his sacking to be shock, given the time he was in the job
there. Since his departure, though the sabres have been able to
string a couple of results together,
but it would surely take a miracle for them to qualify now right?
Southeast
– Ah the
Southeast, the Division nobody wants to win. Florida looked the real
deal during the first week and I thought a repeat of last season’s
success was going to be on the cards, but since then their loss of
form as been spectacular. So bad in
fact that fellow
qualifiers from last season, Washington
might not finish
bottom of the
division. Both teams look well out of contention and even if they
were to turn things around in the second half of the season,
I
still
don’t
think it would be
enough. Tampa
Bay for so long looked like they might sow up the division, but they
too have hit terrible form in recent weeks. I
am disappointed with them, as the Lightning were starting to look a
decent team, and in a division that usually only provides 1 team to
the playoffs, finishing first is doubly important.
That point can be
reiterated for Winnipeg,
who
can beat anyone
when they want too, but at the same time can drop points to teams
they really should be beating. A lack of consistency is what is
really troubling the Jets this season. So
that leaves the Carolina Hurricanes, a team that maybe were not
expected
to be leading the
charge right now. I don’t
mean any
disrespect
to the
Raleigh-based team, but I felt they were still in re-build mode right
now and that we would not see them at the top for another year or
two. But credit where it is due, and right now they find themselves
top and looking stronger
by the game.
Eastern
– If
I were to choose
the
teams for the
playoffs today,
Boston, Pittsburgh & Carolina would be there as the division
winners, with Montreal also, afforded a place. At this moment in time
these are the only 4 teams I think will
definitely
be there
come the end of
the season. NY Rangers, Philadelphia, New Jersey, Ottawa, Toronto,
Tampa Bay and Winnipeg will all be fighting
over the remaining
4 places, with 3 of those teams being
left disappointed. I would not like to call which
of those teams
would be. NY Islanders, Buffalo, Florida & Washington will all be
out of contention by then. If
I was too put my neck on the line I would say NY Rangers, New Jersey,
Ottawa and Philadelphia will make
it.
Central
– Where else is
there to start other than with Chicago? For
a while now I have been singing the praises of the Blackhawks, they
have one of the most exciting line ups in the NHL right now with,
Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane, Patrick Sharp & Marion Hossa all
firing well. At the half point (24 games) the Hawks have won 21 and
lost 3 in either overtime or a shootout,
they have only just lost their first game during regulation time.
They came ever so close, against
Detroit last week,
with 2:30 remaining, they were handed a power
play, watching it thousands of miles away in England, I remember
thinking this is their last chance to do it. Do it they did, grabbing
and equaliser during the first 30 seconds of the man advantage and
taking the game into overtime, where they won it. Their story this
season has been nothing
short of
incredible and was starting to almost hope we could have see them go
the rest of the season
without losing a
game in regulation. Although, Colorado put paid to that. With a
massive 45 points from a
possible 48, I think it’s safe to assume they have the central
division tied up already. St Louis will probably join them despite
being nearly 20 points behind them at this stage. The Blues have gone
about the season in a quiet manner, but it would be a surprise if
they didn’t
make the post
season. What of Detroit? Well,
I have said weeks back this is the worst Wings team I have seen in
the last 20 years, I know that is probably not saying much as during
that time their team has been made up from Hall of Fame players,
almost like a who’s
who of Hockey. So one-by-one
as these players have retired, Detroit have found it much harder to
still be able to compete like they once did. To question them not
even to make the playoffs, never mind not be genuine Stanley Cup
contenders would
have sounded ludicrous, even recently as last season, as for so long
they seemed to own the Central Division. Now though, there seems to
be a massive
power shift within
the division. First
of all after
setting records for a winning streak last
February, they hit
poor form
during the final
month of the season, allowing
St Louis to claim the Division title, then they were totally second
best to a very exciting Predators team, that
eliminated them in the opening round of the playoffs. This season
they have had to sit back and watch as their oldest of Rivals, the
Blackhawks have dominated the league to date. I do think they will
make the playoffs, just, but It isn’t
often you hear
yourself saying that about a team like Detroit.
Nashville
have had the same
problem as Winnipeg, a distinct lack of consistency. It is a shame
for a side that lit up the playoffs last season and only had the
Phoenix Coyotes prevent them from
a first crack at
the Western Conference Championship. I
was rather hoping they could have built on that
success this
season. While it isn’t
out of the
question for them to stay make the playoffs, something needs to be
done, and quick, to recover their form, and stop relying on Pekka
Rinne too much. Columbus are as Columbus do, and will finish bottom
of the division and the Western Conference.
Northwest
– Vancouver are
sitting top of a division which has the lowest points total. They
should win the division but it is one of the weakest in hockey right
now. It is debatable that another team will join them from here.
Calgary will finish bottom
of the division with Colorado disappointing again, not much further
ahead of them. Edmonton are having a good season, but are picking up
points from games they don’t
always deserve to
have. I
was also expecting a lot more from Minnesota this season, giving
their recruitment of players during the off-season, but
it just
hasn’t
seemed to have
worked for them just yet. With the Pacific Division being so ultra
competitive, it is
so important to win this division (just like the Southeast),
Vancouver seem to have it under control.
Pacific
– The Pacific
Division is the most interesting one in the NHL right now. It is not
inconceivable that all 5 teams could actually make the playoffs.
Anaheim surprised
everyone, with the start they have had to the season, and are the
only team to have really tried to keep pace with Chicago. There is no
doubt they will win the division, so the main focus will now be on
the 4 teams below them. Dallas, like so many teams this season, have
looked awesome at times, with veteran Jaromir Jagr adding some much
needed quality to their top line. They only narrowly lost out on a
playoff spot to eventual Stanley Cup winner the LA Kings, last season
so with Jagr now on board, a playoff berth should have been a given.
What the Stars have found is that with Phoenix,
LA & San Jose, who all made the post season
last year, along
with a revitalised Anaheim, they find themselves
in as close a
battle as I can remember in one division. It would be a huge
disappointment if they were to miss out for a second consecutive
season. San Jose were quick out the blocks and were up there with
Anaheim and Chicago after the first 7-8 games,
their form has tailed off a bit since then though. The Sharks are
playoff regulars, and I would expect to see them there this year too.
Phoenix and Los Angeles have had seasons that have mirrored each
other. Both met in the Western Conference Finals last season, both
got off to slow starts this year, and now both are the most in form
sides in this division. It would be a major surprise if both of these
teams were to miss the playoffs, especially the Kings, as reigning
Stanley Cup Champions.
Western
Conference – I
think it is safe to assume Chicago
has the Western Conference and Presidents Trophy in the bag already.
They will be joined by the other division winners in Anaheim and
Vancouver. St Louis should claim fourth spot, but after that
it’s
a pure guessing
game. I am going to rule out Columbus, Calgary & Colorado as I
don’t
see them making
the post season. That leaves 8 teams fighting over the last
4 places. Dallas,
San Jose, Phoenix, Los Angeles, Detroit, Nashville, Minnesota &
Edmonton. If
I was to go with my instincts right now, San Jose, Detroit, Los
Angeles & Phoenix will qualify.
On
current form it should be a Boston versus Chicago Stanley Cup finals,
that would be an interesting match up, as it would pair the
2010 Champion
Blackhawks against the 2011 Champion Bruins, however it is so rare to
see the best 2 teams in the league meet in the finals. You only have
to look back to 12 months ago when a repeat of Vancouver v Boston
looked certain, but both crashed out in the first round to teams who
sneaked into the
playoffs by the skin of their teeth, Los Angeles and Washington
respectively. There will be lots of twists and turns over the next 24
games never mind how the playoff will actually pan out, so keep
watching and keep reading my blog for all the action, goals and match
reports. One thing is for sure it is going to be one exciting season.
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