Archive for March 27th, 2009
Friday’s Games and Picks
Tonight’s Picks
TBL @ WSH: Take CAPITALS
TOR @ BUF: Take SABRES, Miller back in the net tonight.
NYI @ DET: Take RED WINGS
NJD @ CHI: Take DEVILS
VAN @ COL: Take CANUCKS
EDM @ ANA: Take DUCKS
MAKE or BREAK TIME !
DEBOER HAS PANTHERS STILL BATTLING FOR POST SEASON
NHL STANDINGS
1. BOSTON 107 1. DETROIT 107
2. NEW JERSEY 97 2. SAN JOSE 107
3. WASHINGTON 97 3. FLAMES 90
4. FLYERS 90 4. HAWKS 89
5. CAROLINA 89 5. CANUCKS 87
6. PENS 88 6. COLUMBUS 85
7. NYR 87 7. ANAHEIM 80
8. MONTREAL 85 8. NASHVILLE 80
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9. FLORIDA 83 9. EDMONTON 79
10. SABRES 78 10. BLUES 79 11. WILD 78 12. DALLAS 75
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BEST TEAMS STAND UP AT THIS TIME OF YEAR
In the Eastern Conference the battle of a playoff spot has come down to 10 teams with the Sabres barley holding on keeping their head above water.
Sabres injury to their number one goalie pretty well put a nail in the coffin. As Ryan Miller will play tonight. Sabres went 4-5-1 in the last 10 which was less than flattering for a team trying to stay in the race.
Panthers have stayed in the mix all season long a testimony to the coaching of Pete DeBoer with the roster he has to deal with in Florida.
The Panthers youngsters have felt the pressure the last few weeks as they themselves have struggled going 3-4-3 the last 10, but with a HUGE win last night in Philly.
Montreal having fired the coach have been in a state of turmoil the last month or so but have come up big with wins against weaker opponents in Atlanta and Tampa Bay to hold on to the 8th and final spot in the East. Habs are 4-4-2 hardly a solid record when fighting for thier playoff lives.
Montreal as many are predicting have the likeliness to choke down the stretch but I still think they may have the best schedule for teams still battling for a position.
Rangers have changed the coach and added players at the deadline that have helped change the chemistry and over all make up of the team in New York.
Not the least of which was Toronto’s Nik Antropov who has been nothing short of awesome on Broadway with 4G-4A-8 points since his arrival.
Also New York has got some stellar goaltending from Henrik Lundqvist and have ridden a solid record ( 6-3-1) into a battle for 6-7th place in the East.
No team has stood up more than Carolina Hurricanes who have leaped into 5th place in the Conference behind a 5 game winning streak which saw them go 7-1-2.
WEST
The Western Conference continues to be a battle with as many as 12 teams with a chance at the post season but the odd part is the teams have changed once again holding on to those precious 7th-8th positions.
Ducks are one of those teams that seemed dead just a few weeks ago and out of the race only to use a record of 6-3-1 in their last 10 games to pull back into the race.
With 80 points and five straight wins the Ducks have shown that their talent is just to good especially on the back end. But it’s Cory Perry and Ryan Getzlaf that have woken up in Anaheim scoring timely goals again for the Ducks.
Nashville holds on to 8th place but are in for a battle that will undoubtedly come down to the wire in the West. Preds have stumbled as of late and have gone 4-2-4 to just keep pace.
Oilers have really blown some chances to get ahead with a blown game last night in Phoenix that saw them get shut out for most of the game only to lose 3-2.
That loss is crippling for Edmonton who have gotten some great performances from goaltender veteran Dwayne Roloson but have not lit the league on fire with a 4-3-3 in their last 10 games.
The Blues have some how hung on in the race with a very respectable record of 6-3-1 that has still not gotten them back into a playoff spot.
But at the very least they are giving their dying fans something to cheer about as they sit in 10th on the outside looking in but are only one point out of a playoff position.
Wild are 4-3-1 in their last 10 games to hang in there in the West as well with one win away ( 2 points out) from getting back into a playoff spot.
The best thing to happen to the Wild is the return of star forward and point producer Marian Gaborik who is once again putting up major points keeping the Wild in contention.
Dallas has 75 points and the worst part is four teams to jump over to even get to 8th place.
Stars couldn’t have played worse losing key game after key game the last little while with a 3-6-1record in their last 10. Showing that they really don’t belong in the race to begin with in the West.
All of this jockeying for these final playoff positions in both conferences only to normally see them get punished in the first round by the likes of top teams like this season Detroit, San Jose, Boston or New Jersey.
As much as it’s a nice story to see upsets and parity in the NHL, I can’t see any one of those teams losing in this years first round.
For Hockey God I’m Dave Frost
www.joneslimousine.com