Monday, April 02, 2007
Welcome Back Blog
Well I had my Spring Break last week and along with starting my new job I really did not have time to blog. My new job has me starting at 7:30am. Which for me anything early then 10am is early then hell. So imagine how I felt getting to work at 7:30. I was completely done when I got home. Usually just ate and then fell right to sleep. Then on Friday and Saturday my friends and I planned our Paintball outing so that is the reason why we did not have a podcast this week.
East Playoffs
Well the newest team to clinch is the Atlanta Thrashers. This is great as this is their first trip to the playoffs. Waddell made a lot of moves at the deadline, a lot that I was very critical of because of the youth he gave up, but he made the playoffs and that is the most important thing. So good for them. Personally I hope they don't do too well as the Price of Belanger's jersey will go up. If the Thrash make the finals I do not know if I can afford his jersey.
Now the bottom of the East is as crazy as ever. I made my predictions last show and it looks like two of the three are going to make it. The Islanders' season ended it seems when Steve Begin's knee met Rick DiPietro's head. They are not playing good hockey and sadly they are not going to make it. I still do not blame Garth Snow for his move at the deadline bringing in Ryan Smyth. It was still a great trade for them to get towards the playoffs. If DiPietro stayed healthy they would have had a better shot.
So this opens up a spot between Montreal, Toronto, and Carolina. Carolina in my opinion is already floating in the dead pool. They had to battle back to beat Florida yesterday in the 3rd period after being down 3-1. They won it in OT when they were awarded a two-man advantage. Now in OT they do not play 4 on 2 they go back to regular 5 on 3. It is amazing how much the loss of Matt Cullen and Aaron Ward was to this team.
So that leaves a battle between the two most storied teams. Toronto and Montreal. Toronto pulled out a victory on Saturday against Pittsburgh after blowing a lead with 4 seconds on the clock and causing a fan to have a heart attack(He was revived and is in stable condition). Kaberle won it in overtime to keep them alive. Then they played the Rangers on Sunday and got smacked around. Seven goals scored against Toronto. They have three games left and sitting in ninth place with 87 points. Their final games are against Philadelphia, Islanders in NY, and Montreal. That last game against Montreal could be the deciding game.
Montreal on the other hand is riding the hand of Jaroslav Halak. Halak has been playing great allowing Montreal to get into the race. Right now I think they are the odds on favorite to make it. They have Boston at home then they move on to play the Islanders and Toronto on the road. Personally I think they have a good chance to sweep all three.
Western Ho
Colorado is knocking on the door step of doom and will most likely not make the playoffs. Any Calgary win or Colorado loss will spell disaster. Eight games between the two and that one win or loss ends the season.
The rest of the west is fricken crazy. Right now there are three teams with a chance of winning the division. Anaheim(106), Detroit(108), Nashville(105). Personally I hope Detroit gets it because I'm not a fan of the other two. Besides that San Jose and Dallas are both at 102 points Vancouver is right there with 101. Minnesota in knocking on the door at 98. There is a good chance all eight playoff teams in the West will have 100+ points. Most likely teams will not know who they play and if they have home ice till the last two days of the season. There could be some interesting match ups. San Jose and Anaheim, Detroit and Calgary, Dallas and Anaheim, maybe even Minnesota and Dallas is possible. Should be a great time.
Vinny hits 50!
Vinny Lecavalier put in his 50th goal this season against Carolina. It has been a great year for Vinny and he is leading the NHL in goals and is looking like he'll be the Rocket Richard Trophy winner barring a goal scoring output from Dany Heatley(For fantasy reasons I'd love for this to happen). Heats needs two goals in his final three games to hit the 50 mark. Teemu Selanne is the only other player who in my mind has a chance. He needs five goals in three games to hit the mark. It will be tough but the Finnish Flash always preforms well under pressure.
It also looks like Sid the Kid will lead the league in Points. He has 117 now and is eight ahead of Joe Thornton(109) who had a four point game on Sunday against the Kings. Hitting 100 I think the best chance goes to Marian Hossa who needs three points in three games to hit the century mark.
That is all for now.
SC
East Playoffs
Well the newest team to clinch is the Atlanta Thrashers. This is great as this is their first trip to the playoffs. Waddell made a lot of moves at the deadline, a lot that I was very critical of because of the youth he gave up, but he made the playoffs and that is the most important thing. So good for them. Personally I hope they don't do too well as the Price of Belanger's jersey will go up. If the Thrash make the finals I do not know if I can afford his jersey.
Now the bottom of the East is as crazy as ever. I made my predictions last show and it looks like two of the three are going to make it. The Islanders' season ended it seems when Steve Begin's knee met Rick DiPietro's head. They are not playing good hockey and sadly they are not going to make it. I still do not blame Garth Snow for his move at the deadline bringing in Ryan Smyth. It was still a great trade for them to get towards the playoffs. If DiPietro stayed healthy they would have had a better shot.
So this opens up a spot between Montreal, Toronto, and Carolina. Carolina in my opinion is already floating in the dead pool. They had to battle back to beat Florida yesterday in the 3rd period after being down 3-1. They won it in OT when they were awarded a two-man advantage. Now in OT they do not play 4 on 2 they go back to regular 5 on 3. It is amazing how much the loss of Matt Cullen and Aaron Ward was to this team.
So that leaves a battle between the two most storied teams. Toronto and Montreal. Toronto pulled out a victory on Saturday against Pittsburgh after blowing a lead with 4 seconds on the clock and causing a fan to have a heart attack(He was revived and is in stable condition). Kaberle won it in overtime to keep them alive. Then they played the Rangers on Sunday and got smacked around. Seven goals scored against Toronto. They have three games left and sitting in ninth place with 87 points. Their final games are against Philadelphia, Islanders in NY, and Montreal. That last game against Montreal could be the deciding game.
Montreal on the other hand is riding the hand of Jaroslav Halak. Halak has been playing great allowing Montreal to get into the race. Right now I think they are the odds on favorite to make it. They have Boston at home then they move on to play the Islanders and Toronto on the road. Personally I think they have a good chance to sweep all three.
Western Ho
Colorado is knocking on the door step of doom and will most likely not make the playoffs. Any Calgary win or Colorado loss will spell disaster. Eight games between the two and that one win or loss ends the season.
The rest of the west is fricken crazy. Right now there are three teams with a chance of winning the division. Anaheim(106), Detroit(108), Nashville(105). Personally I hope Detroit gets it because I'm not a fan of the other two. Besides that San Jose and Dallas are both at 102 points Vancouver is right there with 101. Minnesota in knocking on the door at 98. There is a good chance all eight playoff teams in the West will have 100+ points. Most likely teams will not know who they play and if they have home ice till the last two days of the season. There could be some interesting match ups. San Jose and Anaheim, Detroit and Calgary, Dallas and Anaheim, maybe even Minnesota and Dallas is possible. Should be a great time.
Vinny hits 50!
Vinny Lecavalier put in his 50th goal this season against Carolina. It has been a great year for Vinny and he is leading the NHL in goals and is looking like he'll be the Rocket Richard Trophy winner barring a goal scoring output from Dany Heatley(For fantasy reasons I'd love for this to happen). Heats needs two goals in his final three games to hit the 50 mark. Teemu Selanne is the only other player who in my mind has a chance. He needs five goals in three games to hit the mark. It will be tough but the Finnish Flash always preforms well under pressure.
It also looks like Sid the Kid will lead the league in Points. He has 117 now and is eight ahead of Joe Thornton(109) who had a four point game on Sunday against the Kings. Hitting 100 I think the best chance goes to Marian Hossa who needs three points in three games to hit the century mark.
That is all for now.
SC
