The New Jersey ice arena known as “The Rock” hosts tonight’s first playoff game between the Devils and Carolina Hurricanes. Carolina arrives as the number six seed in the Eastern conference. New Jersey represents the third seeded team. The Devils are messing with a mental quagmire. The lower seeded Hurricanes have the edge in the regular season matches between the two. In the four regular season meetings, Carolina won three games. The only loss came last week with the Hurricanes’ goalie, Cam Ward, rested. Wednesday night they face each other in a best of seven series, the first two being played at The Prudential Center. Four wins by either means an advancement to the next round.
The Devil’s ornate offense is guided by Zach Parise, Patrick Elias, Jamie Langenbrunner, Brian Gionta and Travis Zajac. Elias became the franchise’s all-time scoring leader this season and contributed 31 goals. Zach zapped 45 of his own shots into goal this year, and provided the Devils 94 points at the forward position. Parisi has really blossomed this season and thrives as a unit with Langenbrunner and Zajac. Zach did not make an impact last year during the playoffs, but give the kid enough ice team and he is bound to score this year. John Madden and Jay Pandolfo are a dynamic duo who should see time along with Brendan Shanahan. Shanahan has the capacity to step up during the post-season and give the Devils clutch play.
The reposed Devils center, Brian Rolston, is one veteran on the final line who I am confident will be ready to bring it to the Hurricanes. Center Bobby Holik, another team leader, should be back on the ice after being scratched from last week’s game.
Dainius Zubrus scored the game winning goal in Saturday’s win on a pass from Gionta. Rolton’s flip to David Clarkson also led to a goal. The teamwork initiative seemed to spell success against a backup goalie, but the team will need to pack the punch against the starter, Ward. Clarkson is the agitator the Devils need and with their have size and balance they can match the pace of the Hurricanes. New Jersey is competent enough to beat Ward and win the series.
With the winningest goalie in league history in Martin Brodeur, the Devils have the edge in net. Martin’s experience in the playoffs and hot finish coming back from injury are positives for New Jersey heading into the tough series. Brodeur has been on three Stanley cup championship teams. Martin is mystifying and a proven commodity capable of closing out competition. However, Carolina is 10-7 against him and have faced Brodeur in the playoffs before. Scott Clemmensen is not a shabby backup goalie in case the Devils need him against the Hurricanes.
Southeast foe, Carolina, has their own well-versed backstop, Ward. The Conn Smythe Trophy winner in 2006, Ward was a major reason the Hurricanes won the Stanley Cup that year. Cam is a threat any time he takes the net, and his stamina is great. The Devils were unable to get the puck past him with success during the season, so the pressure will be on Parisi and company this time around. Ward seems to bring his game to another level during the playoffs and it’s important to have guys around the goal to shield Cam’s view from the net.
The Canes offense is sufficient and not untested, but they are prone to being overpowered. The team was able to outscore the Devils 11-8 during the year in mostly close affairs. One standout figure was the Hurricanes going 7 of 16 on the power play during those four games. That factor certainly has a mental advantage for the lower seed. The Devils only ranked 15th in power play percentage this year so that has to be a concern for head coach, Brent Sutter.
Eric Staal is one of the best NHL centers and hottest players coming into the playoffs. He scored 40 goals for the second time in his career and with left winger, Erik Cole, was even more efficient. Tuomo Ruutu and Cole ignite the Canes’ line up front and the team boasts 10 players with Stanley Cup rings. Cole’s speed and Staal’s assist ability are going to be the biggest challenge facing the New Jersey defense. Staal also had 14 power play goals this year. Center, Matt Cullen’s familiarity in handling the Devils’ in the post-season cannot be overlooked either. Ray Whitney was Carolina’s leading point man and Jossi Jokinen is a solid backup on offense. Unfathomable third liner, captain Rob Brind’Amour and mainstay, Sergei Samsonov also bring firepower to the Hurricane team. Chad LaRose is like the Shanahan of the Canes. He is an impact player with game winning goal capabilities. Carolina is a steady skating team with resonant lines.
Carolina can conquer because they are hard workers and don’t make many mistakes defensively. The defense, while not flashy, has skaters Joe Corvo and Joni Pitkanen. The two are excellent puck handlers who control the Hurricanes’ impressive tempo. Dennis Seidenberg and Tim Gleason are unsung defensive players with ice insight as well. Both could cause problems in front of Brodeur by jumping into play.
The Devils’ defense is a surefire, strong and deep bunch. Paul Martin and Colin White are the shutdown stoppers on the fourth best defense in the league. Johnny Oduya doesn’t get enough credit but does the little things defensively to make this Devils team better. His skating ability is extraordinary and he is a difference maker. Still, Carolina does not have a shut down guy on defense and the Devils need to work that to their favor.
Niklas Havelid returned to the lineup against the Canes Saturday after suffering an upper body ailment. Havelid was effective in turning the puck over. The Devils cannot allow the Canes power-play goals like they did during the regular season meetings. Carolina defensiveman, Anton Babchuk, scored four goals on the power play in just two of those games. There cannot be a reoccurrence of that if New Jersey has their hopes pinned on round two of the post-season. To an extent, the Devils are the more talented team. But Carolina is athletic and have surprise players like Babchuk who appear to be trivialities but are really tormentors.
New Jersey won a franchise best 51 games this year, and the goaltending and defense were the main reasons. The Devils do not have a high-powered offense, but can win games on defense. They only allowed 2.52 goals per game. Carolina is not defensive slacker either, allowing just 2.70 goals on average. New Jersey’s penalty shooting might be the x-factor. Last year’s loss in the playoffs to the New York Rangers is still fresh in New Jersey’s mind. The pitfall left a sour taste in their mouths and I think the team will use that as a motivating factor against the Hurricanes. Carolina is a team on the rebound, however. They brought back a former coach, Paul Maurice, and fan favorite in Cole. The team did nothing but win, including a record 12 straight at home, down the stretch of the season. The Devils can win with execution and mistake-free skating but must stay out of the box. The team has had such a momentous and memorable year. Will it be enough to overcome the late success and turn around in Carolina? I predict a thrilling six game series, with New Jersey finally taking care of business.
Parting points: “They say the devil’s water, it ain’t so sweet”- The Killers’ “When We Were Young”
Showing posts with label NHL playoffs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label NHL playoffs. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Hopping Hockey Happenings
The Easter Bunny isn’t the only one hopping around this time of year. Hockey teams are either leaping into the playoffs or skirmishing and skipping their way to a spot.
Every year, I find myself entrenched and engrossed in playoff hockey and 2009 is no different. While several teams already locked up a chance to skate in the league’s extra session, there are teams vying for a final spot. Here are each conference’s bubble teams trying to back into the post-season and the ones who already have a spring in their skates.
The snazzy, snappy San Jose Sharks lead the Western conference and continue to pull out one-goal wins. A tripping and tight Shark defense has strengthened the team’s chances of success in the playoffs. Look for San Jose to barrel through the competition and unleash their clashing command in the next month.
The central division is dominated by Detroit. The Red Wings are as good as advertised but only second best overall in the conference. They locked up a trip to the post-season with two net minders. Chris Osgood and Ty Conklin aren’t a guaranteed good combination however. The Detroit goalies are allowing too many goals to pass through their protective pads. The fact is their hopes of repeating as champions rests on an .887 save percentage at the goal position.
The Vancouver Canucks are hot at the present moment but are struggling to achieve the title of NW division champions. They will probably wind up third in the West come season’s end. The Flames are battling with Vancouver for that position, but have exhibited a recent slide in progress toward the goal. Calgary’s woes are felt at home and the team is not quite the road warrior type.
The 2007 Stanley Cup winning Anaheim Ducks unloaded some veteran players and stumbled right before the trade deadline. Now they are a team in contention. The Ducks areled by Scott Niedermeyer, Chris Pronger, and Ryan Getzlaf and are a talented skating team. Anaheim glows and gels on ice with the best record of the Western contenders down the stretch.
Chicago has been under performing but the Blackhawks are back in the playoffs for the first time in years. They will not have a long-lived stay in their return if they can’t find a quick solution for an inadequate defense. Chicago looks like a team that just doesn’t belong to me.
For the first time in franchise history, Columbus fans can watch their Bluejackets skate into the post-season. Rookie goalie, Steve Mason, has made all the difference and the team will need an extraordinary effort from the front line if they hope to surge forward. The team has Rick Nash and are in good with their relatively easy schedule on hand.
The surprise playoff hopeful Predators managed to legitimize their franchise by clawing back into contention late. Solid play has given them an opportunity to snare a spot over teams like the Sabres, Oilers and Wild. The offense in Nashville is merely mediocre but Pekka Rinne has been precise. Nashville is poised for a 7th or 8th seed with their unstable but grind-it-out team. The Predators can goal-tend but penalty killing is the foremost flaw.
The Blues have an outstanding head coach, Andy Murray, who has adapted to an injured lineup. Throw into the mix three road games in Phoenix, Dallas and Colorado to end the year, and things aren’t looking optimistic. All the games are winnable but St. Louis has little margin for error. St Louis has come on strong, even without Manny Legace in net and Keith Tkachuk and Erik Johnson sidelined so they have a half-chance making a run.
The Oilers are in deep danger of being the odd-team out because they are bordering on an 11th overall finish. The Minnesota Wild and Oilers probably have to win out in order to obtain a playoff berth. Niklas Backstrom ignites the Oilers but without solid net play they are likely to miss the playoffs. The Wild will have three home games but cannot seem to close out the opposition and are playing sub-par hockey as of late.
In the East, the first place Boston Bruins are ready to romp. The B’s defensive struggles should be a concern but all indications are the team will be pumped for the playoffs. New Jersey, Washington, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and Carolina are already in and the Canadiens, Rangers, Panthers and Sabres are eastern bubble teams.
The Devils cooled off substantially after Martin Brodeur’s record setting night last month. New Jersey is third best overall but fans should be disturbed by the recent slump. It is appropriate to question the Devils’ preparedness for the post-season based on how they have handled hockey intensity in recent chances.
The Washington Capitals have perhaps the game’s best player and the greatest offense. The SE division winners are second in the East but prone to sloppy play on defense. Defense wins championships so the Capitals have to re-focus on being more well-balanced. The one-sided approach only takes teams so far.
Carolina added Erik Cole and Eric Staal to an already charged club. They are stiff competitors and will go head-to-head with anybody in the East.
Just as scorching are the Pittsburgh Penguins. The team is loaded with talent. Chris Kunitz and Bill Guerin are throwback players brought to Pittsburgh to improve and rework the team. Evgeni Malkin and Sydney Crosby are the games’ shining youngsters who add depth, and with Kunitz and Guerin, will have a little help shooting and defending.
The Flyers downfall will be goaltending inconsistency. The team spirit took a hit as the team went into a funk down the stretch. It was as if the team needed a box spring to go along with their lazy play. Don’t sleep on Philadelphia though. Their coach is tough and will have them awake in time for their first post-season match up.
Blueshirt backers believe the link to their success is Henrik Lundqvist, but cannot rely only on the gifted goaltender. Nick Antropov, Sean Avery, Chris Drury, Markus Naslund and Scott Gomez haven’t been lighting up the scoreboard, especially in the third period. The Rangers are slowly sinking despite the effort from Ryan Callahan, Brandon Dubinsky, and Marc Staal. Coach John Tortorella’s team has three games left to earn a playoff spot. The Rangers are tied with Florida but hold the tiebreaker for the 8th and final Eastern conference spot. New York could take a blow that hope tonight against a Montreal team that is a lively one. Working for the Rangers is the fact the Canadiens are coming off consecutive back-to-back contests. Working against them is their tough schedule. It features playing Philly at home Thursday for the home finale and away at Boston Saturday and Philly Sunday. The team is collectively limping to the finish after a slight revival with the Avery and Antropov acquisitions. New York’s poor power play could cause a collapse for a team that had such promise earlier in the year.
The Canadiens dropped five straight games a week ago and were failing to clinch a playoffs spot. The turnaround came quickly though, and now the team is more productive with top forwards Saku Koivu and Alex Kovalev leading the charge.
The Buffalo Sabres would be content just to reach the next round. They are out a goalie in Ryan Miller and play some grueling road games, including in Detroit and Toronto, to end the year. They also have to host Boston one more time in Buffalo.
Florida hasn’t been in post-season in 9 years. The Panthers’ goaltending has carried the team all year and their chances of reaching the playoffs is not as good as New York’s but better than Buffalo’s. The Panthers square off against Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Washington, three playoff teams, to their finish 2009 campaign.
Parting Points: A new baseball book I am looking forward to delving into hit’s the shelves. It’s called “Forever Blue: The True Story of Walter O’Malley, Baseball’s Most Controversial Owner, and the Dodgers of Brooklyn and Los Angeles” by Michael D’Antonio
I can tell the bullpen for the Mets is going to be an integral part of their success this season. And, what a debacle the NCAA title game was last night.
Every year, I find myself entrenched and engrossed in playoff hockey and 2009 is no different. While several teams already locked up a chance to skate in the league’s extra session, there are teams vying for a final spot. Here are each conference’s bubble teams trying to back into the post-season and the ones who already have a spring in their skates.
The snazzy, snappy San Jose Sharks lead the Western conference and continue to pull out one-goal wins. A tripping and tight Shark defense has strengthened the team’s chances of success in the playoffs. Look for San Jose to barrel through the competition and unleash their clashing command in the next month.
The central division is dominated by Detroit. The Red Wings are as good as advertised but only second best overall in the conference. They locked up a trip to the post-season with two net minders. Chris Osgood and Ty Conklin aren’t a guaranteed good combination however. The Detroit goalies are allowing too many goals to pass through their protective pads. The fact is their hopes of repeating as champions rests on an .887 save percentage at the goal position.
The Vancouver Canucks are hot at the present moment but are struggling to achieve the title of NW division champions. They will probably wind up third in the West come season’s end. The Flames are battling with Vancouver for that position, but have exhibited a recent slide in progress toward the goal. Calgary’s woes are felt at home and the team is not quite the road warrior type.
The 2007 Stanley Cup winning Anaheim Ducks unloaded some veteran players and stumbled right before the trade deadline. Now they are a team in contention. The Ducks areled by Scott Niedermeyer, Chris Pronger, and Ryan Getzlaf and are a talented skating team. Anaheim glows and gels on ice with the best record of the Western contenders down the stretch.
Chicago has been under performing but the Blackhawks are back in the playoffs for the first time in years. They will not have a long-lived stay in their return if they can’t find a quick solution for an inadequate defense. Chicago looks like a team that just doesn’t belong to me.
For the first time in franchise history, Columbus fans can watch their Bluejackets skate into the post-season. Rookie goalie, Steve Mason, has made all the difference and the team will need an extraordinary effort from the front line if they hope to surge forward. The team has Rick Nash and are in good with their relatively easy schedule on hand.
The surprise playoff hopeful Predators managed to legitimize their franchise by clawing back into contention late. Solid play has given them an opportunity to snare a spot over teams like the Sabres, Oilers and Wild. The offense in Nashville is merely mediocre but Pekka Rinne has been precise. Nashville is poised for a 7th or 8th seed with their unstable but grind-it-out team. The Predators can goal-tend but penalty killing is the foremost flaw.
The Blues have an outstanding head coach, Andy Murray, who has adapted to an injured lineup. Throw into the mix three road games in Phoenix, Dallas and Colorado to end the year, and things aren’t looking optimistic. All the games are winnable but St. Louis has little margin for error. St Louis has come on strong, even without Manny Legace in net and Keith Tkachuk and Erik Johnson sidelined so they have a half-chance making a run.
The Oilers are in deep danger of being the odd-team out because they are bordering on an 11th overall finish. The Minnesota Wild and Oilers probably have to win out in order to obtain a playoff berth. Niklas Backstrom ignites the Oilers but without solid net play they are likely to miss the playoffs. The Wild will have three home games but cannot seem to close out the opposition and are playing sub-par hockey as of late.
In the East, the first place Boston Bruins are ready to romp. The B’s defensive struggles should be a concern but all indications are the team will be pumped for the playoffs. New Jersey, Washington, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and Carolina are already in and the Canadiens, Rangers, Panthers and Sabres are eastern bubble teams.
The Devils cooled off substantially after Martin Brodeur’s record setting night last month. New Jersey is third best overall but fans should be disturbed by the recent slump. It is appropriate to question the Devils’ preparedness for the post-season based on how they have handled hockey intensity in recent chances.
The Washington Capitals have perhaps the game’s best player and the greatest offense. The SE division winners are second in the East but prone to sloppy play on defense. Defense wins championships so the Capitals have to re-focus on being more well-balanced. The one-sided approach only takes teams so far.
Carolina added Erik Cole and Eric Staal to an already charged club. They are stiff competitors and will go head-to-head with anybody in the East.
Just as scorching are the Pittsburgh Penguins. The team is loaded with talent. Chris Kunitz and Bill Guerin are throwback players brought to Pittsburgh to improve and rework the team. Evgeni Malkin and Sydney Crosby are the games’ shining youngsters who add depth, and with Kunitz and Guerin, will have a little help shooting and defending.
The Flyers downfall will be goaltending inconsistency. The team spirit took a hit as the team went into a funk down the stretch. It was as if the team needed a box spring to go along with their lazy play. Don’t sleep on Philadelphia though. Their coach is tough and will have them awake in time for their first post-season match up.
Blueshirt backers believe the link to their success is Henrik Lundqvist, but cannot rely only on the gifted goaltender. Nick Antropov, Sean Avery, Chris Drury, Markus Naslund and Scott Gomez haven’t been lighting up the scoreboard, especially in the third period. The Rangers are slowly sinking despite the effort from Ryan Callahan, Brandon Dubinsky, and Marc Staal. Coach John Tortorella’s team has three games left to earn a playoff spot. The Rangers are tied with Florida but hold the tiebreaker for the 8th and final Eastern conference spot. New York could take a blow that hope tonight against a Montreal team that is a lively one. Working for the Rangers is the fact the Canadiens are coming off consecutive back-to-back contests. Working against them is their tough schedule. It features playing Philly at home Thursday for the home finale and away at Boston Saturday and Philly Sunday. The team is collectively limping to the finish after a slight revival with the Avery and Antropov acquisitions. New York’s poor power play could cause a collapse for a team that had such promise earlier in the year.
The Canadiens dropped five straight games a week ago and were failing to clinch a playoffs spot. The turnaround came quickly though, and now the team is more productive with top forwards Saku Koivu and Alex Kovalev leading the charge.
The Buffalo Sabres would be content just to reach the next round. They are out a goalie in Ryan Miller and play some grueling road games, including in Detroit and Toronto, to end the year. They also have to host Boston one more time in Buffalo.
Florida hasn’t been in post-season in 9 years. The Panthers’ goaltending has carried the team all year and their chances of reaching the playoffs is not as good as New York’s but better than Buffalo’s. The Panthers square off against Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Washington, three playoff teams, to their finish 2009 campaign.
Parting Points: A new baseball book I am looking forward to delving into hit’s the shelves. It’s called “Forever Blue: The True Story of Walter O’Malley, Baseball’s Most Controversial Owner, and the Dodgers of Brooklyn and Los Angeles” by Michael D’Antonio
I can tell the bullpen for the Mets is going to be an integral part of their success this season. And, what a debacle the NCAA title game was last night.
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