The All-Star break is upon us. The exciting and important half of the NHL season is about to start. The playoff race has officially begun, and the quality of the hockey ought to rise. Another perk is that NBC is going to start showing games every week.
It's been a 50-50 year so far; half the games ruined by stupid penalties, three-point games being handed out left and right, and the "parity" of the salary-cap era ushering in an age of twenty five mediocre teams to go along with five awful ones. However, it's still hockey, and I still hold it dear to my heart. There have been great moments this season, and extremely entertaining games.
It's going to be a close race down to the wire. 12 points separate the eighth spot in the East from the first, and a mere 9 points separate the last spot in the conference from the eighth. The West is not quite as crazy, but the bottom few playoff berths are similarly up for grabs.
Let's kick off the second half with a new round of predictions.
Make your predictions on the playoff teams and the playoff results.
Also, share your favorite moments from the first half of the season. If you have any.
Current Standings:
Eastern Conference
1. * Ottawa 66
2. * Philadelphia 59
3. * Carolina 52
4. Montreal 60
5. New Jersey 59
6. Pittsburgh 58
7. Boston 55
8. NY Islanders 54
9. NY Rangers 54
10. Washington 51
11. Atlanta 50
12. Florida 49
13. Buffalo 48
14. Toronto 48
15. Tampa Bay 45
Western Conference
1. * Detroit 78
2. * San Jose 61
3. * Minnesota 59
4. Dallas 61
5. Anaheim 60
6. Calgary 58
7. Vancouver 57
8. Colorado 56
9. Columbus 56
10. Nashville 55
11. Phoenix 54
12. St. Louis 51
13. Edmonton 51
14. Chicago 50
15. Los Angeles 42
Last edited by Cowutopia; 25 Jan 2008 at 01:43 PM.
Here are the playoff teams:
Eastern Conference
Boston
Carolina
Montreal
New Jersey
Ottawa
Philadelphia
Pittsburgh
Washington
Western Conference
Anaheim
Calgary
Dallas
Detroit
Minnesota
Phoenix
San Jose
Vancouver
Stanley Cup Finals
Detroit vs New Jersey, aka the two best franchises over the last ~15 years.
Favorite Moment
Eastern Conference
New Jersey
Ottawa
Boston
Montreal
Pittsburgh
Philadelphia
NYR
Washington
I think Washington will catch Carolina and the NYR will beat out the Isles, but only if the division teams fare better against them in the second half than in the first, which I think they will. Lundqvist will start playing well again, for about a month and a half. Everyone will be upset at DiPietro not getting the job done down the stretch. Washington will be the only Southeast team, and we will all lol.
Western Conference
Anaheim
Detroit
Calgary
San Jose
Dallas
Vancouver
Minnesota
Nashville will benefit from their division, make a push and take the seventh or eighth spot from Colorado, who has to play too many against Calgary and
That could go either way however, it's either Colorado or Nashville in the playoffs.
Stanley Cup Finals
New Jersey Devils vs. Anaheim Ducks
Ducks in six.
Teams that could Ruin My Shit
Ottawa could play consistently, not choke in the postseason, and lose to the ducks for the second straight year.
Detroit could live up to its regular season record for a change with a more solid blue line than they have had previously
Atlanta could get red-hot and grab a low playoff berth only to get wiped in round one.
The Isles could continue their lights-out division play and beat out the NYR for a spot.
The Flyers could have a meltdown that does not correct itself.
I predict that with Crosby absent the Devils will win the Atlantic AND catch Ottawa, but I think Montreal will win the Northeast. That is up to Kovalev staying hot though. Huet can also get hot. And Montreal owns Boston.
Last edited by Cowutopia; 25 Jan 2008 at 12:15 PM.
I remember at least two goals he's scored on wrap-arounds. One was pretty recent.
Banned by Administrators
Columbus >> The Islanders.
GTFO
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See scoreboard, thx.
it doesn't much matter at the moment, the NHL season is just beginning.
Banned by Administrators
All I know is that watching hockey live kicks ass, did it for the first time on business in Columbus.
Oh, and the savior Crosby is out for like 8 weeks.
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