Now that the trade deadline is behind us we can start to concentrate on the play-offs, specifically the eastern conference. I'm going to highlight the 3 teams fighting for the last 2 spots, I will also give my eastern conference winner prediction. Carolina has been sitting in a play-off position for the better part of the season, with Goalie Cam Ward, who has played the most games in the NHL with 57. For Carolina to be successful Ward will need to keep up his solid play in net, as he will be expected to carry the work load for the remainder of the season. Power forward Eric Staal leads the team in points with 60 points in 63 games. He will be the voice in the dressing room, leading the young stars to what could be their first play-off run, of many to come. Ten of the remaining eighteen games will be played against teams that sit ahead of the hurricanes in the standings. The ride wont be easy, but the canes and their loyal fans will see the play-offs this year. Finishing in 8th, the Buffalo Sabers have been up and down all season, but have 179 GF and 179 GA. The Sabers are a team that strive on speed and goal tending, this season they haven't had such luck. Forward Derek Roy went down fairly early in the season and Buffalo haven't been able to fill the void of such a key offensive player. Ryan miller has taken a step down this year and hasn't seemed to be the goalie of past years only posting a .914 SV%. The Buffalo Sabers have very important games coming up, they will fall short in these games and in the standings as well. 10th is where I see the Sabers. The Final team in the play-off window looking to make it is the Toronto Maple Leafs. Toronto has been one of the hottest teams in the league posting 8-2-2 winning record since the all-star break, lead by Phil Kessel and the outstanding play of rookie goalie James Reimer. Kessel has recorded 8 pt in the last 4 games. Phil has been getting it done both offensively and defensively impressing coach Ron Wilson, also being awarded first star of the week in the the NHL. His play can be contributed to the recent moves made by GM Brian Burke. Burke has been building a winner in Toronto, both in the attitude of the players and making some key moves that will set the leafs up to be successful in years to come. Joffery Lupul has had an immediate impact, being added to the roster on Feb 9 has given him the time to gel with his new team.Brian Burke has left land mark type qualities on his past teams Vancouver and Anaheim. With Vancouver looking to take the west this year, leafs fans need to be patient. Remember the obstacles Burke has had to over come with the past GM's in Toronto's crazy signings, which The Leafs are still paying for. It takes time to build a winning team and Brian is on the right path snatching up a handful of draft picks and having a very solid core of players fighting for a play-off spot. The leafs sit 6 pts out of the 8th spot and 7pts out of the 7th spot. All cylinders seem to be firing again this year come play off time, but the leafs willl change the trend of years past, over come the NY Rangers and take the 7th rank in to the post season. With the big play of Boston all season look for the bruins to take the east.
- Boston
- Tampa Bay
- Philadelphia
- Washington
- Pittsburgh
- Montreal
- Toronto
- Carolina
Now that the trade deadline is behind us we can start to concentrate on the play-offs, specifically the eastern conference. I'm going to highlight the 3 teams fighting for the last 2 spots, I will also give my eastern conference winner prediction. Carolina has been sitting in a play-off position for the better part of the season, with Goalie Cam Ward, who has played the most games in the NHL with 57. For Carolina to be successful Ward will need to keep up his solid play in net, as he will be expected to carry the work load for the remainder of the season. Power forward Eric Staal leads the team in points with 60 points in 63 games. He will be the voice in the dressing room, leading the young stars to what could be their first play-off run, of many to come. Ten of the remaining eighteen games will be played against teams that sit ahead of the hurricanes in the standings. The ride wont be easy, but the canes and their loyal fans will see the play-offs this year. Finishing in 8th, the Buffalo Sabers have been up and down all season, but have 179 GF and 179 GA. The Sabers are a team that strive on speed and goal tending, this season they haven't had such luck. Forward Derek Roy went down fairly early in the season and Buffalo haven't been able to fill the void of such a key offensive player. Ryan miller has taken a step down this year and hasn't seemed to be the goalie of past years only posting a .914 SV%. The Buffalo Sabers have very important games coming up, they will fall short in these games and in the standings as well. 10th is where I see the Sabers. The Final team in the play-off window looking to make it is the Toronto Maple Leafs. Toronto has been one of the hottest teams in the league posting 8-2-2 winning record since the all-star break, lead by Phil Kessel and the outstanding play of rookie goalie James Reimer. Kessel has recorded 8 pt in the last 4 games. Phil has been getting it done both offensively and defensively impressing coach Ron Wilson, also being awarded first star of the week in the the NHL. His play can be contributed to the recent moves made by GM Brian Burke. Burke has been building a winner in Toronto, both in the attitude of the players and making some key moves that will set the leafs up to be successful in years to come. Joffery Lupul has had an immediate impact, being added to the roster on Feb 9 has given him the time to gel with his new team.Brian Burke has left land mark type qualities on his past teams Vancouver and Anaheim. With Vancouver looking to take the west this year, leafs fans need to be patient. Remember the obstacles Burke has had to over come with the past GM's in Toronto's crazy signings, which The Leafs are still paying for. It takes time to build a winning team and Brian is on the right path snatching up a handful of draft picks and having a very solid core of players fighting for a play-off spot. The leafs sit 6 pts out of the 8th spot and 7pts out of the 7th spot. All cylinders seem to be firing again this year come play off time, but the leafs willl change the trend of years past, over come the NY Rangers and take the 7th rank in to the post season. With the big play of Boston all season look for the bruins to take the east.
1 comment:
I hope you're right! Go canes!
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