THE WEST 1. Colorado Avalanche [It'll be them or the Canucks, depending on how Aebischer handles the stretch run.] 2. Detroit Red Wings [Forgone conclusion. They might challenge for the #1 seed.] 3. San Jose Sharks [Weak division, good team.] 4. Vancouver Canucks [Tight finish for Northwest Title.] 5. Calgary Flames [Wishful thinking, but if Kiprusoff plays the way he was before he got hurt...] 6. Dallas Stars [Coming on strong.] 7. St. Louis Blues [Could get up to 4th, won't fall below 8th.] 8. Nashville Predators [On the cusp, but if they stay healthy they'll make it.] 9. Los Angeles Kings [Too many injuries will take their toll.] 10. Phoenix Coyotes [So close, so far.] 11. Minnesota Wild [Close, no cigar.] 12. Edmonton Oilers [Worse chance than Minnesota.] 13. Anaheim Mighty Ducks [No chance.] 14. Columbus Blue Jackets [No chance.] 15. Chicago Blackhawks [Only question is "When will Sutter get fired?"] First round series would be Avs/Preds, Wings/Blues, Stars/Sharks & Canucks/Flames. Sounds good.
THE EAST 1. Philadelphia Flyers [Tight fight with Devils, Flyers come out on top.] 2. Toronto Maple Leafs [Another tight fight...] 3. Tampa Bay Lightning [And the weakest division in sports stays weak.] 4. New Jersey Devils [If they don't win the Atlantic, they'll get #4.] 5. Ottawa Senators [Could get up to 4th...won't win division.] 6. Boston Bruins [Could get up to 4th...but not higher.] 7. Montreal Canadiens [Not going anywhere.] 8. New York Islanders [Sticking around.] 9. New York Rangers [Could get close. Look for big moves by trade deadline.] 10. Buffalo Sabres [Slight chance.] 11. Atlanta Thrashers [Slight chance, depends how well Heatley does.] 12. Florida Panthers [Very slight chance.] 13. Carolina Hurricanes [Done.] 14. Washington Capitals [Done.] 15. Pittsburgh Penguins [Were done when Mario got hurt.] First round: Flyers/Isles, Leafs/Canadiens, Bruins/Lightning & Sens/Devils.
Thoughts?
FLAMES: 26-19-5-3 for 60 points LAST YEAR: 32-35-12-3 for 79 points PACE: 41-30-6-5 for 93 points
Looking at the schedules, Vancouver and Colorado play three more times this season so that'll probably determine it right there. The Canucks also seem to have a little bit easier schedule from now until the end then the Avs do but like last year, it's probably going to come down to the last week of the season.
This is where I'm starting to really dislike the "Three Division Winners" rule because there's no good reason why the Sharks should get to play 6 while the Canucks would play 5 when really the Canucks would probably be playing 7. Same thing in the East with the Devils and Flyers. Instead of playing Montreal (7) in the first round, the Devils would have to play Ottawa (4). That's ridiculous!
I agree with you there. I think a good change would be to guarantee the divisional winners a playoff spot, but not the 1-2-3 ranking. I would rather finish 6th in the east and play TB rather than finish 5th and play Ottawa/NJ/Toronto/Boston/whoever finishes 4th.
Of course, in the NHL playoffs, much like the WWE, "anything can happen."
Phoenix is forever doomed to mediocrity, thanks to the penchant for underachieving that was established when they were the Jets. I'd call it a curse, but I'll leave that type of ridiculous whining to Boston sports fans.
(edited by raygun on 8.2.04 1608) [GP] 1144 [G] 440 [A] 512 [PTS] 952 [PIM] 2974
Originally posted by Freeway 420 2. Toronto Maple Leafs [Another tight fight...]
I'm worried right now about this team, and usually when I do, it's for good reason. Either they're winning 5-1 or losing 5-1 most nights. It's not what you'd call consistancy.
Also, the prospect of Belfour in the playoffs scares me...that one or two years with Dallas notwithstanding, Belfous has always had the same problem as a playoff goalie: he'll make the spectacular save, but then he'll let a 40-foot greaser go by on the next shot. Usually in overtime. He's like the pitcher who's capable of throwing a shutout, but doesn't usually get shelled for 3 goals...he'll get shelled for 5 or 6.
I really should have left my fandom for the Leafs at customs.
As a Leafs fan, I'm praying for a first round matchup with either Ottawa (we're in their heads), Montreal or Boston (original six, baby!) I'd really, really, really rather not face Philly or the Islanders (they always gives the Leafs trouble), and if they end up against NJ in the first round, they're done. Falling to sixth place to play Tampa would be a decent matchup, but it would lay waste to any home ice for Toronto in the rest of the playoffs.
Wait…if it’s MLK Jr. Day AND Pat Patterson’s Birthday…who gets the token win here?-- Matt "Excalibur05" Hocking on a match between Mark Henry and Rico
MH: What’s a clever way to say that I have a penis? CJ: Uh…Mark, nobody’s going to buy that shirt. MH: How about if I say that I’ve got…a…uh…? CJ: Coming up with T-Shirt ideas is hard Mark, why not leave it to the WWE marketing department. MH: I know! I’ve got it! CJ: Got what? MH: Stank! That’s Mah Stank! I’m gonna make a fortune!! CJ: “That’s Mah Stank”? MH: On the front it’ll say “Can You Smell It?” and on the back it’ll say “That’s Mah Stank”. Everybody’ll buy it because they’ll think it’s a Rock shirt. CJ: You know…you might be on to something there, sad to say. MH: I can’t wait to show mah stank to Trish.
You know, I have a feeling that Spanky didn’t quit, he was fired. Why? So they could repackage Mark Henry as “Stanky.” Think about THAT! --Matt "Excalibur05" Hocking, 1/19/04 Raw Satire
Originally posted by Freeway 42012. Edmonton Oilers {Worse chance than Minnesota.}
The Oilers better pray for a miracle, because that's the only way they'll make it into the playoffs. God love 'em, they're trying...but it ain't gonna happen.
Originally posted by Freeway 42015. Pittsburgh Penguins {Were done when Mario got hurt.}
Doesn't help they have a rookie coach in the background. Eddie Olczyk was my favorite Leaf (way back when I was a rabid fan of the game) but he needs to push his team harder. No more Mister Nice Guy, eh?
SD2: April, Year 3; what's the point to the Career mode, anyhow? FF7: Disc 1; 4h into game; en route to the next reactor FF8: Disc 2; 14h into game; Squall, Rinoa, Quistis vs. Master NORG.
OVERALL STANDINGS [End of Feb 17/04] # [Conf #] Team [Details] 1[1] Avalanche [78pts; 32 wins in 58 games] 2[1] Flyers [78pts; 31 wins in 61 games] 3[2] Red Wings [76pts; 33 wins in 59 games] 4[2] Senators [76pts; 32 wins in 59 games] 5[4] Maple Leafs [76 pts; 32 wins in 60 games] 6[5] Bruins [75pts; 29 wins in 60 games] 7[4] Canucks [74pts; 32 wins in 60 games] 8[3] Lightning [72pts; 31 wins in 58 games] 9[6] Devils [72pts; 30 wins in 58 games] 10[3] Sharks [72pts; 28 wins in 59 games] 11[5] Flames [68pts; 30 wins in 58 games] 12[6] Kings [65pts; 22 wins in 59 games] 13[7] Blues [64pts; 28 wins in 58 games] 14[7] Canadiens [64pts; 28 wins in 60 games] 15[8] Islanders [64pts; 27 wins in 58 games] 16[8] Stars [64pts; 27 wins in 59 games] 17[9] Predators [63pts; 27 wins in 58 games] 18[9] Sabres [60pts; 27 wins in 59 games] 19[10] Wild [58pts; 20 wins in 60 games] 20[11] Oilers [56pts; 23 wins in 59 games] 21[12] Mighty Ducks [55pts; 20 wins in 59 games] 22[13] Coyotes [55pts; 19 wins in 58 games] 23[10] Thrashers [54pts; 23 wins in 61 games] 24[11] Panthers [54pts; 20 wins in 59 games] 25[12] Rangers [53pts; 21 wins in 59 games] 26[13] Hurricanes [49pts; 18 wins in 58 games] 27[14] Blue Jackets [46pts; 17 wins in 58 games] 28[14] Capitals [45pts; 18 wins in 59 games] 29[15] Blackhawks [44pts; 16 wins in 58 games] 30[15] Penguins [31pts; 11 wins in 59 games]
And for the heck of it, Calgary's year-by-year record during the Seven Year Playoff Drought compared with this season's record thus far: 1996-97: 32-41-9 for 73 points 1997-98: 26-41-15 for 67 points 1998-99: 30-40-12 for 72 points 1999-00: 31-26-10-5 for 77 points 2000-01: 27-36-15-4 for 73 points 2001-02: 32-35-12-3 for 79 points 2002-03: 29-36-13-4 for 75 points 2003-04: 30-20-5-3 for 68 points (WITH 24 GAMES LEFT)
FLAMES: 30-20-5-3 for 68 points LAST YEAR: 29-36-13-4 for 75 points PACE: 43-30-6-3 for 96 points
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