View Full Version : The True Contenders
gordphish
4-06-08, 8:38 PM
History tells us that only the top 6 regular season teams have a legitimate shot at winning the Stanley Cup. So which of these 6 will take her home this season?
AtLossForWords
4-07-08, 1:17 AM
I vote for Joey T and his Sharks.
Their size will be a factor this year, and I think when they added Brian Campbell they finally added the piece they never had. Nabokov as the number one this year has played Vezina caliber hockey for this team which they hadn't had in the past. The Sharks are a different and seemingly healthy team this year, and they will excel.
As an honest Devils fan, I think the Devils chances of winning the Cup are...well slim to none is being generous. I haven't had this little confidence in a Devils team heading into the playoffs since 2003-04 against the Flyers.:(
I'll go with Anaheim. If anything I think they're actually better than last year and with Giguere at the top of his game I think they're a very dangerous team. The Sharks are right there with them, although I would be a bit worried about them peaking early. I think one of those two teams will win it all. I don't think there's anybody in the East that matches up well with either team.
TimmyTabasco
4-07-08, 3:48 AM
Despise the Ducks..
I'll go with the Habs. They are playing very well, and have great chemistry. Not to mention they can play excellent offense, but also great defense
Sure, Price is a young guy..but I think he can pull it off..we'll see
If not the cup, they will atleast make the finals..
charlio lemieux
4-07-08, 1:38 PM
Ducks. Best D in the league, solid Goaltending, and good offence.
I am picking the Rags to come out of the East.
KB in Kelowna
4-08-08, 7:20 PM
Sharks, solid goal tending, they can score and Brian Campbell was the missing ingredient for this team.
I gotta pick the rangers because.... well..... that's just what I do!
seriously in the west you obviously look for a California final. Everybody seems to agree on that.
back here on the right coast. I don't really see a heavy favorite to be honest. I think it's up for grabs. Especially since one of either Pitt / Ottawa will not even see round 2. Washington and Montreal should win. I really do think the Rangers will take the Devs this time... but it won't be easy (never is against NJ). I think Brodeur gets at least 2 wins in this round, hopefully no more than that.
You know what would be a lot of fun is to see a Washington/Pittsburgh series with everybody healthy... now THAT is a series will have some highligts.
gordphish
4-10-08, 3:57 PM
I gotta pick the rangers because.... well..... that's just what I do!
seriously in the west you obviously look for a California final. Everybody seems to agree on that.
back here on the right coast. I don't really see a heavy favorite to be honest. I think it's up for grabs. Especially since one of either Pitt / Ottawa will not even see round 2. Washington and Montreal should win. I really do think the Rangers will take the Devs this time... but it won't be easy (never is against NJ). I think Brodeur gets at least 2 wins in this round, hopefully no more than that.
You know what would be a lot of fun is to see a Washington/Pittsburgh series with everybody healthy... now THAT is a series will have some highligts.
How will one of Pitt / Ott not even see round 2? They play each other...
charlio lemieux
4-11-08, 1:06 AM
How will one of Pitt / Ott not even see round 2? They play each other...
Take two teams.
They play each other.
The first one to lose 4 games, doesn't get to see the second round. :thumb:
AtLossForWords
4-11-08, 1:49 AM
Nice commanding win by the Sharks over Calgary tonight. Nabokov made some excellent saves at key points in the game that showed how he will be coming up big in the clutch for his team this Spring.
Kiprusoff was excellent as well considering how much the Sharks were swimming around his crease. This series is the one to watch, it is not going to come down to goaltending though, it is going to come down to puck control.
gordphish
4-11-08, 12:33 PM
Take two teams.
They play each other.
The first one to lose 4 games, doesn't get to see the second round. :thumb:
Yeah oops...I read the wording wrong on it...yesterday wasn't a very good day for me. Sorry.
AtLossForWords
4-14-08, 1:54 AM
What a weak effort by the Sharks tonight. That's a way to piss away a win. There's no way to blame Nabokov for that loss, his team just went to sleep after the third goal. I feel like I'm watching the Canucks all over again.
It's official...Sean Avery is now my most hated Rangers player, moving ahead of Scott Gomez. His lovely little asshat act of standing in front of Brodeur on the PP, facing him and not even looking at the play, and acting like he was defending a basketball player pushed it over the top for me. I'm not sure how it wasn't an unsporstmanlike conduct penalty, but then the refs in this series have been horrible anyway. Clarkson should have gone down to the other end and done the exact same thing to Lundqvist, since it's apparently all legal.
But the Devils won the game despite it all and are now back in the series. I hope this win gives them some momentum heading into Wednesday...
AtLossForWords
4-14-08, 3:17 PM
Agreed on Avery, that was in no way a class act. I hope Brodeur and the Devils pay no attention to him when it is possible.
Avery's antics borderline Tootoo's questionable hits, because it shows they aren't playing for the puck. Avery doesn't stand in front to tip pucks in or get his stick on a rebound he's just trying to irritate the opposing goalie. When Tootoo hits he doesn't do it to get the puck, he just wants to nail someone.
Both of those players are jokes who should have no place in this league.
Avery is a douche. but the Rangers really are a better team with him than without him, for what it's worth.
gordphish
4-14-08, 5:18 PM
What Avery did was goaltending interference. You have to allow the goalie the opportunity to make the save. I thought Darren Pang's comparison to a corner screening a receiver in football was a good assessment. It wasn't a hockey play, and he should have been penalized for it.
As for San Jose, I thought the same thing as Lossy...hey, how did the Canucks end up playing in the playoffs?
AtLossForWords
4-18-08, 2:04 PM
Another nice win by the Sharks tonight. It looks like this whole team is starting to realize what it takes to get by in the playoffs. Thornton is looking much more comfortable, Marleau is leading by example scoring big goals and battling through big hits. Even Cheechoo has three goals in the last two games showing that he's finally getting his game going. If Michalek finds his regular season form this Spring, the Sharks are going to be a very dangerous team.
Just one more to go against Calgary. It would be nice to see them close out this series in six games.
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