Well my Avs have made it, but who knows what match up we’ll get…If I got to choose I’d rather they not play Dallas, and deffinately not Detroit. So here’s to the Avs winning their last game and the Ducks loosing theirs.
Anybody interested in doing a fantasy playoff pool?
Pick a centre, two wingers, two defensemen and a goalie from each conference for each round. I could set up it here: Sportsnet
I’m always worried when my Red Wings do well in the regular season.
This leads to first or second round exit in my mind…
If you had asked me on Jan. 1:
“The team looks great, leading the Pacific Division. Andy Murray really has the team playing well,scoring a lot, decent golatending. I think we have a real chance ot make some noise in the playoffs.”
Now:
“A disaster. One of the worst season’s I have ever had the displeasure to witness. The team totally quit, for whatever reason. Dave Taylor has to go, we need dependable goaltending. One of the most heartless performances I have ever seen…”
I’m hoping for a Canes v. Lightening matchup. Start the vcr and record some of the fastest hockey to be seen in decades 
Detroit looks good but I can’t get a good feeling about them. I don’t know what it is. I can’t seem to put my finger on it but I’d be surprised if they make the conference final.
SJ is scary. One line team? Sure. Does it matter? Not a bit. With their team defence and team speed, they’ll be in many low scoring games in the playoffs. All it takes is Thornton to find Cheechoo once and the game is over. If I’m facing SJ, I’d hope they’d open up. You can’t shut down Thornton but you have a much better chance limiting him.
Roloson is looking like a goat already and the playoffs haven’t started yet.
Buffalo, as a team, is young and naive enough they might not know they are not supposed to win.
Philly’s defence is in trouble if they run up against a fast team. Hatcher and company are not exactly known to be fleet of foot and could end up taking some costly penalties trying to cope with speed both on the forecheck and off the rush.
That’s all I got atm.
Gangster Octopus, with a name like that you really should be a Wings fan.
The Wings look poised for a big run. Let’s get one more for Stevie Y. In my book he’s one of the classiest stars in recent years. Let’s get that cup out of Florida and bring it back to Detroit where it belongs.
Go Sharkies!
Amen, Bobby . How in the hell did we ever let the Cup get south of the Mason-Dixon line anyways?
Like CapnPitt, I’m a Pens fan, and it has been a painful season. I figure it’s retribution for the Steelers SuperBowl victory. I can live with the trade for this year, but I hope Pittsburgh is able to make a deal to keep the franchise and build. We’ve got a lot of good young talent, and if given the right coaching and growth…they could be a Cup contender in a few years.
I’m also a huge college hockey fan, and a Cornell U alumnus. It was a much better year for me in the NCAA side, though a very disappointing loss in the quarterfinals to eventual national champion Wisconsin (1-0 in triple OT).
The Sharks are really flying right now. I can’t figure out how the hell Boston let Joe Thornton get away; something really weird must have happened there, because the guy is clearly one of the best players in the league, and you don’t let that get away. Also, for those dismissing the Sharks as a one line team: remember, a lot of their guys are young players who have only this year stepped up and become regulars. That inexperience may hurt, but it also means you’re not quite sure how good they are; they might be better than we think (right now). Case in point: Matt Carle won the Hobie Baker Award, then came in and is now getting big, regular minutes on defense. And scoring, too. He’s only had about 10 games in the NHL, but he’s getting better each game. And the Sharks have been on their streak since he showed up. Coincidence? Who knows, but the team might be better than anyone thinks with all those talented young players maturing right about now.
On the other end of the country, I fear the Flyers will make a quick exit. Watched them beat the Rangers on Saturday, and they looked OK, but not like Cup material. I hope I’m wrong, I’ve been wanting that third Cup for thirty years now, but I don’t think this year’s team can do it.
As for the other teams (not “my” teams): I’m strangely unconcerned about Detroit and Dallas. I know they won a lot of games, division titles and all that, but I don’t think either team is unbeatable. I think Calgary is the team to beat in the West.
Back East, Carolina scares the hell out of me, and should scare everyone else. A very solid team. I think they’ll go very far. Ottawa has had a nice season, but we’ve seen this sort of thing before. Until they prove it, the Senators are shaky to me. I just hope and pray that the Rangers and Devils get their brains beat out in ugly, first round losses. That will make seeing the Flyers tank worth it.
I was there too, and it was indeed a fantastic game on many levels. Let’s see:
- Score first goal six seconds into the game? Check.
- Score a 3-on-5 shorthanded goal seconds before end of period? Check.
- Knock the Ducks out of fifth place? Check.
- Hat trick for Cheechoo? Check.
- Knock Jagr out of highest overall point total? Check.
- Knock Jagr out of highest goal total? Check.
Yeah, I’d say it was a pretty good day.
I’ve never been a sports fan before, but ever since I started playing hockey, I’ve developed quite a fondness for the Sharks. And they’re not letting me down.
Oh, and they scored at least four goals, so I get a free pizza out of the deal too. Can’t knock that, either!
Alas, my beloved Kings will be partaking of the gentleman’s game of golf rather than competing in the man’s sport of hockey this April, May and June.
Between Tim Lieweke, Dave Taylor, Andy Murray, John Van Boxmeer, Jeremy Roenick, Sean Avery and the dreaded injury bug, the Kings never had a chance.
You might as well tell me I should kick puppies and give out razor blades at Halloween.
We owe those clowns one more of these.
As for the Kings…Dammit, why did you do Luc like that?
They lost to Edmonton tonight (F*CK!) so it looks like they’ll be playing Dallas.
Penguins fan. Nothing else to add. Pity me. 
Crosby just got his 100th point, you might get Melkin next year, you have a good young goalie, and you get a top draft pick which might net you Johnson, Staal, Toews, kessel, or Beckstrom.
You’re gonna be good in a few years, there’s nothing to pity.
Heh. That playoff run was one of the seminal events of my life as a sports fan, so I can’t say I’ve forgotten. But damn, it’s been a long time.
I think we may have backed into a playoff spot last night when the Thrashers finally lost, but not positive if we don’t have to win against the “hapless” Caps tonight to secure it. Not looking good for a long postseason unless John Grahame grows a pair over night.
According to nhl.com, the Lightning are in and will face Carolina in round one.