With the MLB season well under way and the NBA playoffs just around the corner, the quest for Lord Stanley’s Cup is often overlooked and forgotten on this campus. But for some, including myself, playoff hockey is the most thrilling, captivating event in all professional sports. To put it plainly, sudden-death overtime, bitter rivalries and oh yes, the playoff beard makes the months of April, May and June the most enjoyable, yet destructive, time of the year. And luckily, having been born and raised in the Garden State, playoff hockey is not a hope, but a guarantee. Because the New Jersey Devils have made the playoffs for thirteen consecutive seasons, who better than I, a Devils fan, to present you with a look at the upcoming 2010 NHL playoffs.
Rather than discussing the first round match-ups, I will begin with an alarming disclaimer: The Washington Capitals will not advance to the Stanley Cup Finals. Alex Ovechkin can score goals, no one can argue with that, but until the Capitals prove that they have more to offer than just one line I do not see them advancing past the conference finals. To go far in the playoffs a team cannot rely on one man, even if his nickname is Alex the Great. So call me crazy, but the cup will not be parading down Pennsylvania Ave this June. Sorry Charlie.
With 15 other teams all vying for Lord Stanley’s Cup, the question remains, if not the Washington Capitals, then who? Of course the obvious choices out west are the San Jose Sharks, or the Chicago Blackhawks. And with the accusations of Danny Heatley and Rob Blake, I expect the Sharks to avenge their untimely exits in 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009, but not to hoist the cup.
My prediction for this year’s Western Conference champ is the quiet Vancouver Canucks. With a talented group of goal scorers, expert defense and of course exceptional goaltending in Roberto Luongo, I anticipate the Canucks to reach the finals. This past Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Luongo proved to his home country and the world that he is the rising goaltender in the NHL and nothing would look better next to his gold medal than one of the most valued trophies in all of sports.
In the East, the choice is obvious: the Boston Bruins …just kidding! The only positive thing going for the Boston Bruins is the following statistic: the last team to enter the playoffs to record the most goals scored in one season (2009) and then the least amount of goals the following season (2010) went on to the Stanley Cup Finals in 1994.
Call me biased, but the New Jersey Devils will advance to the finals this year. With the addition of Ilya Kovalchuk, the greatest Russian hockey player in the NHL, and the tremendous talent of Martin Brodeur in goal, I see this series having Olympic potential. Excitement surrounding Vancouver this past winter will be revisited as Canada’s greatest goaltenders compete for the cup.
“To go far in the playoffs a team cannot rely on one man, even if his nickname is Alex the Great.”
Don’t know if you’ve noticed but most of their goals haven’t been coming from him lately. The Caps were one game away from going to the cup finals last year and they are a much better team this year than they were last year.
Just cause Ovie is the only name you know doesn’t mean he’s the only weapon on the team. Go look at TSN.ca’s player rankings 4 of the top 6-10 have been caps all year long. Semin (80pts, 40g), Backstrom(100 pts, 30g) and ovie (100pts, 50g), they had 7 20 goal scorers…
What you have proven here is that you are not qualified to give any sort of predictions whatsoever. This season Ovechkin has only scored around 16% of the Caps’ total goals. Obviously someone else is doing some of the work. Now, if we look at the three previous playoff games for this season, so far Ovie has a grand total of 2 goals. That’s 2 goals out of 13. Not only that, but only 6 of the 13 goals have come from the top line, 4 of which were courteousy of Nick Backstrom. Obviously the Caps are screwed and should just drop out now since without Ovie we are nothing but a team that has managed to score 11 goals in the playoffs not credited to the Great 8. I guess we should just pack our bags and throw in the towel now because all hope is lost.
But before we Caps fans do give up complete hope, I have one last recommendation: before you run your mouth about a certain team’s season, try taking a look at the stats first.
Ok lets talk stats…
How about becoming the first No. 1 seed to blow a 3-1 series lead in the playoffs to an 8-seed in NHL HISTORY. That one has gotta hurt.
Dude, talk about biast…
I think i’ll write an article about the tortures of being a Caps fan though. I’m not saying you made a bad call counting us out, but you’re retarded to say we were a one man team. Thanks for the shoutout though