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Hawks to Take Flight Against Flyers

EASTERN CONFERENCE
#7 Philadelphia Flyers OVER #8 Montreal Canadiens 4-1
Turning Point: The Flyers physically overmatched the Canadiens and Michael Leighton had another shutout in Game 4 to take a 3-1 series lead.
Key Stat: 3. The number of shutouts for Michael Leighton
Result: I guess whoever plays goalie for the Flyers will outplay the better goalie. After Brian Boucher was hurt in Game 5 in Boston, all Michael Leighton has done is post a 6-1 record with a 1.45 GAA and 3 shutouts. Go figure. In previous series, the Canadiens were able to match up against scoring first oriented teams in Washington and Pittsburgh. Philadelphia’s grind-it-out and physical approach overwhelmed the much smaller Canadiens.

WESTERN CONFERENCE
#2 Chicago Blackhawks OVER #1 San Jose Sharks 4-0
Turning Point: Dustin Byufglien buried a centering pass from Dave Bolland for a Game 3 overtime winner to give the Hawks a 3-0 lead.
Key Stat: 3. Game-winning goals for Byufglien in the series.
Result: So much for a long series between the top two teams in the conference. Separated by one point during the regular season, the Sharks couldn’t do enough to separate by a goal. Dustin Byufglien continued to be the unsung hero of the postseason finishing with game-winning goals in Games 1, 3, and 4. Antti Niemi continued his dominant play by stealing Game 1 and making enough key saves to sweep away the Sharks. For San Jose, another year goes by with no trip to the Stanley Cup Finals. While the Sharks went as far as many thought they would, to be swept away will leave more questions about what else this team can do to get to the next level.

Chaulk it Eastside Down, Apple Sauce, Shark Bite, and the Hawks Flying Up North

EASTERN CONFERENCE
#8 Montreal Canadiens OVER #4 Pittsburgh Penguins 4-3
Turning Point: The Canadiens jumped out early on the Penguins in Game 7 building a 4-0 lead and held on to clinch another Game 7 on the road.
Key Stat: 7-2. Michael Cammalleri outscored Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin.
Result: Let the momentum ride. The Montreal Canadiens continued to their streak of momentum to another Game 7 upset over a high scoring offense led by one of the best players in the league. For the defending champs, both Crosby and Malkin found trouble trying to get their game going. Jaroslav Halak was again brilliant rebounding from being pulled in Game 1 to win 4 of the next 6. Mike Cammalleri joined a class that includes Maurice “Rocket” Richard, Jean Beliveau and Guy Lafleur for the 4th highest goal total (12) in Habs playoff history. We will have a new champion.

#7 Philadelphia Flyers OVER #6 Boston Bruins 4-3
Turning Point: Simone Gagne scored an overtime winner in Game 4 to extend the series another game. Who knew it would lead to one of the great comebacks in sports history.
Key Stat: 0-3 to 4-3. A theme to this series.
Result: For only the third time in NHL history and fourth time in sports history, a team rallied from 0-3 down in a playoff series. While it’s about Philadelphia’s comeback it’s more about Boston’s collapse. How do you like dem apples? Ahhhhhh! The last team to comeback from 0-3 was the Red Sox over the Yankees. Now Boston gets the shaft this time. Apple Sauce bitch!

WESTERN CONFERENCE
#1 San Jose Sharks OVER #5 Detroit Red Wings 4-1
Turning Point: Patrick Marleau scored in overtime of Game 3 to give the Sharks a 3-0 strangehold on the series.
Key Stat: 31-23. San Jose’s advantage in power play opportunities, including more opportunities in all four wins.
Result: The playoff demons were exorcised in San Jose. Most people figured the Sharks would face the uphill climb against the mighty Red Wings, but really dominated the series, as a top seed should. Detroit took too many penalties, some were controversial, but some brain dead. The Sharks took advantage as power plays keyed the Game 2 and 5 victories. For the Red Wings, they went as far as they should’ve. Age is a question. Will they turn it over? Nik Lidstrom looks like he has another year or two in the tank but the likes of Kris Draper and a few other veterans may be on their way out. Jimmy Howard had a good rookie season.

#2 Chicago Blackhawks OVER #3 Vancouver Canucks 4-2
Turning Point: Dustin Byufglien’s Hat Trick in Game 3 not only swung the series in Chicago’s favor but frustrated the Canucks into too many penalties.
Key Stat: 22, the number of goals allowed by Roberto Luongo in this series.
Result: Two things dictated this series: 1. Dustin Byufglien. The top pest on Chicago’s roster frustrated the Canucks into bad penalties and took the Sedin twins off their game. 2. Chicago had better goaltending. In what was expected to be a high scoring series, Anti Niemi outplayed Roberto Luongo. Luongo didn’t make any big saves in this series. The overrated label will continue to be attached to his name. Vancouver’s penalty killing was awful again, giving up 7 of 28 opportunities.

Capitals Collapse, Lots of Games, the top Heavy West and the Upside Down East

EASTERN CONFERENCE
#8 Montreal Canadiens OVER #1 Washington Capitals 4-3
Turning Point: Trailing 3 games to 1 and having been pulled in Game 4, Montreal coach Jacques Martin opted to go back to Jaroslav Halak and he stopped 131 of 134 shots to pull the upset.
Key Stat: Capitals Power Play: 1-33 (#1 during the regular season)
Result: WOW. What a giant collapse by the Capitals. This was a clear 1 vs. 16 matchup. While upsets in the NHL are few and far between, for the Capitals to blow a 3-1 lead is a stunner. A team that lost 5 games in regulation at home during the regular season dropped 3 in this series. For the third straight year the Caps lose a Game 7 at home. Maybe they’re becoming the San Jose Sharks label. The real reason the season ended the way it did was due to Jaroslav Halak. Limiting the Caps to 3 goals in the final 3 games is remarkable. Considering he was lit up in the final period of Game 2 and all of Game 3 to respond the way he did was quite impressive. Montreal dictated the way the games were played and did an amazing job killing penalties.

#7 Philadelphia Flyers OVER #2 New Jersey Devils 4-1
Turning Point: Dan Carcillo buried home a rebound in overtime of Game 3 to win the swing game and take control of the series.
Key Stat: Brian Boucher (1.59 GAA, .940 SV%)
Result: A more predictable upset. Philadelphia, despite being decimated with injuries, was able to continue its domination of New Jersey. The Devils suffered another playoff failure are 3-7 at home since opening the Prudential Center. Brian Boucher outplayed Martin Broduer and Philly outplayed New Jersey in every facet of the game to cruise to an easy series win.

#6 Boston Bruins OVER #3 Buffalo Sabres 4-2
Turning Point: Miroslave Satan beat his former teammate in double overtime of Game 4 to give the Bruins a 3-1 edge in the series.
Key Stat: Home Teams 5-1.
Result: The series everyone expected. Low-scoring, solid goaltending, and close games. The Bruins benefited from the Tomas Vanek injury in Game 2 to rally and steal the one road game either team would win. Tuukka Rask and Ryan Miller went toe-to-toe but Boston was able squeeze out enough offense to advance. Boston who was one game over 500 at home during the regular season won all 3.

#4 Pittburgh Penguins OVER #5 Ottawa Senators 4-2
Turning Point: Down 3-0 in Game 6 Pittburgh fired off a furious rally to seal the game and the series.
Key Stat: Sidney Crosby (5-9-14)
Result: Despite some hiccups at home, the Penguins were dominant on the road taking all three in Ottawa. Sidney Crosby was a force. He was able to wear down and injured Senators team and took over Games 2, 3, and 4. Even though the Sens had injuries they made it a series by winning in triple overtime of Game 5. Now Pittsburgh is the highest seed remaining in the East and the forecast of a third straight Cup appearance looks promising.

WESTERN CONFERENCE
#1 San Jose Sharks OVER #8 Colorado Avalanche 4-2
Turning Point: Down 2-1 in overtime of Game 4 Joe Pavelski beat Craig Anderson glove side to tie the series and the Sharks closed it out in 6.
Key Stat: 100, the number of more shots for San Jose from Games 2-6
Result: After dominating Games 1-3 the Sharks found themselves down in the series thanks to the stellar play of Craig Anderson and the fluke own goal by Dan Boyle. Past Sharks teams might have wilted but thanks to picking up an overtime win in Game 4, the Sharks dominated Game 5 and finished it off in Colorado. More impressive is they did it without much production from the top line of Marleau, Thornton, and Heatley. For Colorado, Craig Anderson was amazing and this was just a taste.

#2 Chicago Blackhawks OVER #7 Nashville Predators 4-2
Turning Point: With the series tied at 2, the Predators held a 4-3 lead when Patrick Kane scored shorthanded with 14 seconds left and the goaltender pulled to the game and the Hawks won in overtime.
Key Stat: 2, Shutouts for Antti Niemi
Result: What a back and forth series. The teams alternated wins in the first four games before Chicago won the maddening Game 5. The Hawks just had too much firepower for Nashville. Antti Niemi answered the bell in net while Chicago’s offensive balance overwhelmed the Predators. Every punch Nashville threw Chicago was able to counter and outlast.

#3 Vancouver Canucks OVER #6 Los Angeles Kings 4-2
Turning Point: Trailing 2-1 in the series and 3-2 in Game 4, the Canucks rallied for 4 goals in the 3rd period including the winner by Henrik Sedin with 2.5 minutes remaining to regain control of the series.
Key Stat: 17-5, Vancouver’s advantage at even strength
Result: The Kings were 29-0-2 when leading after two periods. The Canucks led the league with 11 come-from-behind 3rd period victories. Advantage Vancouver. The Canucks took Games 4 and 6 in Los Angeles after trailing at the end of two periods to salt away the series. The Sedin twins did their thing but it was Mikael Samuelsson’s 7 goals the sparked Vancouver. Los Angeles stayed in the series because of their dominant power play which was converting at nearly 70% through the first four games. Drew Doughty had an unbelievable series but it was not enough for the young Kings.

#5 Detroit Red Wings OVER #4 Phoenix Coyotes 4-3
Turning Point: Detroit showed up for Game 7.
Key Stat: 5-2, the record for road teams
Result: Great series. In the end, the experience of Detroit was too much for the Coyotes. Phoenix showed great heart and grit by winning Game 6 in Hockeytown when it looked like a foregone conclusion the series would end. The Yotes validated their season by going toe-to-toe with two-time Western Conference champs but Game 7 was too much Pavel Datsyuk and Niklas Lidstrom.

The stage is set. Is it finally Ovechkin’s time? Will the Sharks finally get over the hump? Can the Blackhawks end the 43-year cup drought? What about the excitement in cities like Los Angeles and Phoenix? Without further ado my first round previews and predictions:

WESTERN CONFERENCE
No. 1 San Jose (51-20-11, 113) vs. No. 8 Colorado (43-30-9, 95)
Special Teams: Sharks 21.0%-PP (4th), 85.0%-PK (5th); Avalanche 18.1% (15th), 80.2% (21st)
Impact Players: Sharks: Joe Thornton (20-69-89), Patrick Marleau (44-39-83), Dany Heatley (39-43-82); Avalanche: Paul Stastny (20-59-79), Chris Stewart (28-36-64), Craig Anderson (38W, 2.63, .917, 7 SHO)
Outlook: All of the pressure is on the Sharks. This franchise has not made the Stanley Cup Finals despite five division titles and has been bounced as a favorite in 5 of the last 6 seasons including last season in the 1-8 matchup. The whole season has been a countdown to this stage. Colorado came out of nowhere to emerge in the postseason. The young core took off and are now they are way ahead in the rebuilding process. Anything for them is a bonus and although the Sharks won’t admit it they were thrilled Detroit beat Chicago on the final Sunday to avoid a first round matchup with the Red Wings. The Sharks should win this series easily on a talent basis but that’s been a bugaboo in the past. If Craig Anderson could steal Game 1, the pressure will build and the Sharks could press.
Pick: Sharks in 6

No. 2 Chicago (52-22-8, 112) vs. No. 7 Nashville (47-29-6, 100)
Special Teams: Blackhawks 17.7% (16th), 86.3% (4th); Predators 16.4% (24th), 28th (77.1%)
Impact Players: Blackhawks: Patrick Kane (30-58-88), Duncan Keith (14-55-69), Jonathan Toews (25-43-68); Predators: Steve Sullivan (17-34-51), Shea Weber (16-27-43), Pekka Rinne (32W, 2.53, .911, 7 SHO)
Outlook: The Blackhawks earned a franchise-record 112 points. They’re fast and deep and their defense is as mobile as any led by Norris Trophy candidate Duncan Keith. The questions remain in goal with Antti Niemi. The Predators gave up as many goals as they scored (225), the worst differential in the West. They don’t possess a difference maker on the ice but balance up and down. They’ll rely heavily on Pekka Rinne in net. They have yet to win a playoff series in their franchise history. This should be a fast and clean series with two of the least penalized teams in the league.
Pick: Blackhawks in 6

No. 3 Vancouver (49-28-5, 103) vs. No. 6 Los Angeles (46-27-9, 101)
Special Teams: Canucks 20.9% (6th), 81.6% (18th); Kings 20.8% (7th), 80.3% (20th)
Impact Players: Canucks: Henrik Sedin (29-83-112), Daniel Sedin (29-56-85), Roberto Luongo (40W, 2.57, .913, 4 SHO); Kings: Anze Kopitar (34-47-81), Drew Doughty (16-43-59), Jonathan Quick (39W, 2.54, .907, 4 SHO)
Outlook: Good series. The Canucks led the West with 272 goals and boast the NHL scoring champion in Sedin. Alex Burrows usually played alongside the twins and scored a team-high 35 goals. The weird thing is the concern is in net as Roberto Luongo suffered a bit of a letdown following the Olympics. However, goaltending will be a question for the Kings since Olympian Jonathan Quick was winless in his last 8 starts and pulled in two of those contests. The Kings will try to establish their cycle and bang the Canucks to wear them down in this series. Both of these teams will mirror each other in speed, depth, and physical play.
Pick: Kings in 6

No. 4 Phoenix (50-25-7, 107) vs. No. 5 Detroit (44-24-14, 102)
Special Teams: Coyotes 14.6% (28th), 84.5% (6th); Red Wings 19.2% (9th), 83.9% (10th)
Impact Players: Coyotes: Wojtek Wolski (23-42-65), Shane Doan (18-37-55), Ilya Bryzgalov (42W, 2.29, .920, 8 SHO); Red Wings: Pavel Datsyuk (27-43-70), Henrik Zetterberg (23-47-70), Jimmy Howard (37W, 2.26, .924, 3 SHO)
Outlook: This is the underdog versus the hated storied franchise. The Coyotes overcame bankruptcy, a coaching change, and rumors of relocations to their first postseason in 8 years. The credit goes to coach Dave Tippett’s tight checking defense and the stout goaltending of Bryzgalov. He who happens to posses a career 1.68 playoff goals-against average in 16 games with the Ducks. The Red Wings were the hottest team after the Olympics losing only three games in regulation. Goalie Jimmy Howard has no NHL playoff experience but that probably won’t matter given the experience of his teammates in front of him. This is the first time since 1990-91 the Red Wings will not have home ice in the first round.
Pick: Red Wings in 6

EASTERN CONFERENCE
No. 1 Washington (54-15-13, 121) vs. No. 8 Montreal (39-33-10, 88)
Special Teams: Capitals 25.2% (1st), 78.8% (25th); Canadiens 21.8% (2nd), 83.0% (12th)
Impact Players: Capitals: Alexander Ovechkin (50-59-109), Nicklas Backstrom (33-68-101), Mike Green (19-57-76); Canadiens: Tomas Plekanec (25-45-70), Andrei Markov (6-28-34), Jaroslav Halak (26W, 2.40, .924, 5 SHO)
Outlook: The Capitals led the NHL with 318 goals and a +85 goal differential. The Caps possess a ridiculous amount of offense with 8 guys who scored 19+ goals. We all know about Ovechkin but his complementary players give the Capitals the deepest team the franchise has ever had. Jose Theodore gets first crack at solving those goaltending questions. Last year he didn’t make it to Game 3 of the 1st round. The Canadiens are the opposite of the Caps with a negative goal differential (217 for, 223 against) and will ride goalie Jaroslav Halak, whose .924 save percentage ranked in the top 5. The biggest thing will be 5-on-5 where Washington was the league’s best at even strength while Montreal ranked dead last.
Pick: Capitals in 5

No. 2 New Jersey (48-27-7, 103) vs. No. 7 Philadelphia (41-35-6, 88)
Special Teams: Devils 18.7% (11th), 82.8% (13th); Flyers 21.4% (3rd), 83.0% (11th)
Impact Players: Devils: Ilya Kovalchuk (41-44-85), Zach Parise (38-44-82), Martin Brodeur (45W, 2.24, .916, 9 SHO); Flyers: Mike Richards (31-31-62), Jeff Carter (33-28-61), Chris Pronger (10-45-55)
Outlook: Kovalchuk averaged a point per game after the Devils acquired him from Atlanta, producing 10 goals and 26 points in 26 games to help team with Zach Parise. However, the Devils still finished near the bottom in goals scored. Martin Brodeur won his fifth Jennings trophy as the Devils allowed the fewest goals in the NHL, 191. The Flyers did their best to give away their playoff spot but won a shootout over the Rangers in their season finale to sneak in. They’ve been a huge disappointment, and not just because they can’t solve their eternal goaltending question. We’ll see if Brian Boucher answers the bell. Philly won 5 of 6 from New Jersey this year.
Pick: Devils in 7

No. 3 Buffalo (45-27-10, 100) vs. No. 6 Boston (39-30-13, 91)
Special Teams: Sabres 17.6% (17th), 86.6% (2nd); Bruins 16.6% (23rd), 86.4% (3rd)
Impact Players: Sabres: Derek Roy (26-43-69), Tim Connolly (17-48-65), Ryan Miller (41W, 2.22, .929, 5 SHO); Bruins: Patrice Bergeron (19-33-52), Zdeno Chara (7-37-44), Tuukka Rask (22W, 1.97, .931, 5 SHO)
Outlook: I hope you like 2-1 playoff hockey games. The Bruins ranked 29th this season with 206 goals and these two teams have the NHL’s top two goalies in save percentage and goals-against average. The Sabres possess a better offense which I think will probably be the difference here. However, if Boston is able to dictate the pace and limit Buffalo’s deeper scoring prowess it can stratch out some wins and extend this series the distance. We’ll see how Tuukka Rask responds to playoff hockey. If not, expect a quick hook and Tim Thomas to step in. Are you un-American if you go against Miller?
Pick: Sabres in 6

No. 4 Pittsburgh (47-28-7, 101) vs. No. 5 Ottawa (44-32-6, 94)
Special Teams: Penguins 17.2% (19th), 84.1 (9th); Senators 16.9% (21st), 84.3% (8th)
Impact Players: Penguins: Sidney Crosby (51-58-109), Evgeni Malkin (28-49-77), Jordan Staal (21-28-49); Senators: Daniel Alfredsson (20-51-71), Jason Spezza (23-34-57), Brian Elliot (29W, 2.57, .909, 5 SHO)
Outlook: Crosby finished second to Vancouver’s Henrik Sedin in points and hit 50 goals for the first time, sharing the goal-scoring lead with Tampa Bay’s Steven Stamkos. The defending champs Penguins have had an up-and-down season and have struggled mightly against the top teams, including going 0-10 against Washington and New Jersey. Marc-Andre Fluery has had a down season but he gets the benefit of the doubt with two finals appearances. The Senators lost winger Alexei Kovalev to knee surgery and will be hard pressed to match Pittsburgh offensively. The Sens will rely heavily on their top line. They’ve been a streaky team all year and will look to get on a roll starting Wednesday.
Pick: Penguins in 6

Regular Season Recap, Awards, Draft Needs, and the Playoffs

The Playoffs Start Wednesday. Nothing better than the Stanley Cup Playoff. Here are my regular season awards:

• Hart (MVP)- Henrik Sedin, VAN- Oveckin? Crosby? Nope the leading scorer in the NHL this season is a Swedish twin in the greater Northwest. Sedin finally reached the 100 (112) point plateau and did it despite missing his brother for a quarter of the season. Sedin took his game to a new level and helped Vancouver capture another Northwest Division Title. Runners Up: Sidney Crosby, Alex Ovechkin, Ilya Bryzgalov
• Vezina (Goalie)- Ilya Bryzgalov, PHX- This is a tough one. Frankly I think Ryan Miller is going to win it given his outstanding season and what he did for Team USA in the Olympics. The numbers are comparable. However I go with Bryzgalov based on the surprise that the Phoenix Coyotes were. Given the circumstances of the entire season, Phoenix was picked to finish at the bottom and finished 4th in the Western Conference, making the playoffs for the first time in 8 years. Runners Up: Ryan Miller, Martin Brodeur
• Norris (Defensemen)- Duncan Keith, CHI- You could go with Mike Green but his numbers are part of the byproduct that is the Capitals machine. Keith has emerged as one of the top defensemen in the game while assuming more offensive responsibility with down years from Brian Campbell and Brett Seabrook as the Blackhawks finished near the top of the West. Runners Up: Mike Green, Drew Doughty
• Jack Adams (Coach)- Dave Tippet, PHX- This is the easiest of them all. The Coyotes were without an owner, facing financial bankruptcy, their coach stepped down a week before the season, and they came off another horrible season. Enter Tippet. Phoenix thrived playing his defensive zone trap and the Yotes finished with 107 points about 30-40 more than people figured. Runners Up: Terry Murray, Joe Sacco
• Calder (Rookie)- Tyler Myers, BUF- The 6’7” force ranks 10th overall amongst defensemen scoring and finished 3rd amongst all rookies. His presence has in front of Ryan Miller and killing penalties helped propel Buffalo to the 4th lowest GAA in the league. Runners Up: Jimmy Howard, Matt Duchene
• Selke (Defensive Forward)- Alex Burrows, VAN- Burrows scored 35 goals, 5 of them shorthanded, which led the league, while finishing with a +34. Runners Up: Michal Handzus, Pavel Datsyuk

Eastern Conference:
Atlantic
* New Jersey Devils (48-27-7, 103, 2nd): Just another year, another 100 points, another division title, and another Vezina worthy season for Martin Brodeur. The trade for Ilya Kovalchuk added the additional offense the Devils were looking for. The question remains for New Jersey is can they get it done in the postseason. Since winning the Stanley Cup in 2003 New Jersey has not made it past the 2nd round and three times have been eliminated in the first round as a higher seed.
* Pittsburgh Penguins (47-28-7, 101, 4th): For the third straight year the Penguins finished 4th in the East. Will it translate into three straight Stanley Cup Finals appearances? Sidney Crosby finally reached the 50-goal plateau and had his best individual season in his five years.
* Philadelphia Flyers (41-35-6, 88, 7th): It took to the very last day to solidify a playoff spot. They dealt with injuries to top players, a new coach, and goaltending issues but held on just enough to make the playoffs. We’ll see if they can do anything.
* New York Rangers (38-33-11, 87, 9th): Henrik Lundqvist and Marion Gaborik did what they could but it wasn’t enough to get back to the postseason. This team is inbetween. It’s needs a puck moving defensemen and one more quality forward. You have to wonder if they spoiled a healthy season from Gaborik?
* New York Islanders (34-37-11, 79, 13th): John Tavares was worth the hype and brought with him the reason for hope. It’ll be interesting if Rick DiPietro returns healthy next year. This team is in the middle of about a 3-year rebuilding process of 20 years if you ask Islander fans.

Northeast
* Buffalo Sabers (45-27-10, 100, 3rd): Ryan Miller put together a season for the ages and led Buffalo back to the top of Northeast. This is a deep playoff experienced team with a goalie that is the kind of difference maker to go all the way. They’re two years removed from making it to consecutive conference finals.
* Ottawa Senators (44-32-6, 94, 5th): In my preseason preview I felt this was a team that could go either way finishing high or low. They finished high and have the offense to score goals but postseason hockey is about goaltending and we’ll see if Brian Elliot is the answer.
* Boston Bruins (39-30-13, 91, 6th): They made the playoffs with smoke and mirrors. They really don’t much have offense but were able to do enough to sneak in the last month of the season. They’re built around defense and goaltending the question is who will be in net? Do you go with Tim Thomas last years Vezina winner or Tuukka Rask, the leader in GAA?
* Montreal Canadiens (39-33-10, 88, 8th): They were really an enigmatic average team most of the season. They were able to channel momentum from a mid-March surge and make it in. They’re heavy underdogs against the Capitals and will be forced to ride either Carey Price or Jaroslav Halak as far as they go.
* Toronto Maple Leafs (30-38-14, 74, 15th): A rebuilding process Toronto style. Their lottery pick will go to Boston as part of the Phil Kessel deal but Brian Burke swung a deal for a goalie in J.S. Giguere and defensemen Dion Phaneuff. It’ll be another weird offseason full of dealing in Toronto.

Southeast
* Washington Capitals (54-15-13, 121, 1st): They scored 318 goals, 46 more than the next team, possess two 100 point scorers, two 40 goal scorers, and the games most dynamic player. They are deep and ready for a cup run. This is the year for Ovechkin to shine. We’ll see if they can take the next step.
* Atlanta Thrashers (35-34-13, 83, 10th): They traded Ilya Kovalchuk and flirted with making the playoffs without him. Despite the overhaul the franchise is still on the outside looking in.
* Carolina Hurricanes (35-37-10, 80, 11th): They got off to a horrible start due to massive injuries and could never catch up. It’s a trend for this franchise. Make the playoffs then miss it the next year.
* Tampa Bay Lightning (34-36-12, 80, 12th): This franchise has a ton offense led by sophomore sensation Steven Stamkos and his 51 goals. Yet, despite all of the marquee talent, they still can’t find goaltending and defense. That needs to change at some point.
* Florida Panthers (32-37-13, 77, 14th): This season brought expectations and ended with an 8th straight season out of the playoffs. Granted the concussion to David Booth set the team back but there is enough young talent to have had a better season.

Western Conference:
Central
* Chicago Blackhawks (52-22-8, 112, 2nd): This season is about the next step. They dethroned Detroit for the division title and just missed capturing the top seed in the West. After a run to the conference finals last season, it’s Cup or bust going into the playoffs. The offense will be there but like Washington will the goaltending hold up.
* Detroit Red Wings (44-24-14, 102, 5th): It looked as though the injuries and departed depth was about to do in Detroit. After the Olympic break, the Wings got healthy and started rolling climbing all the way up to 5th heading into the postseason. It won’t be Chris Osgood this time. Rookie Jimmy Howard will get the call. This is the team nobody wants to play.
* Nashville Predators (47-29-6, 100, 7th): The scrappy Predators clawed their way back into the playoffs for the fifth time in 6 seasons. Now can they finally win a playoff series? There isn’t a real difference maker on this team but the balance and speed the team possesses will be the difference.
* St. Louis Blues (40-32-10, 90, 9th): Similar to last season the Blues got off to a slow start and made a late push for the playoffs. Unlike last season, a deeper Western Conference prevented a duplicate performance. The Blues and league say goodbye to Keith Tkachuk, one of the five best American born players in NHL history, and will have to decide if they spend money on the open market or go to their deep farm system. Next season could be another tweener season for St. Louis.
* Columbus Blue Jackets (32-35-15, 79, 14th): Fresh off of their first playoff appearance in franchise history, the Jackets took a giant step backwards. Steve Mason experienced a sophomore slump after a stellar rookie campaign, Ken Hitchcock was fired, and the team resorted back to Rick Nash and 19 guys. Expect a front office house cleaning. This team desperately needs somebody to complement Nash.

Northwest
* Vancouver Canucks (49-28-5, 103, 3rd): The team that was defense and goaltending for so many years became an offensive juggernaut this season, leading the west in goals. The Sedin twins took their games to a whole new level, with Henrik leading the league in scoring. Luongo had a decent season but not one of his better ones. The pressure will be on to finally get out of the second round.
* Colorado Avalanche (43-40-9, 95, 8th): Last season this team finished last in the Western Conference and some (me included) thought they’d be worse off this season. The young core of players and solid goaltending of Chris Anderson propelled this team back into the postseason and ahead of schedule. This is the case of happy to here. Even if they’re swept in the first round it’s been a great season.
* Calgary Flames (40-32-10, 90, 10th): Overall a disappointing season that saw the departure of Dion Phaneuf and Olli Jokinen. Some thought this team could play for the Stanley Cup (Noonan) and it’s likely to see massive turnover. Some rumors have them trading Jerome Iginla but that would take a lot of balls and job security, which nobody has at the moment.
* Minnesota Wild (38-36-8, 84, 13th): Some thought this team should’ve made the playoffs but I thought they ended up where their talent had them. This was the first season out of Jacques Lemaire’s defensive system so they need players for the new one. Fans have to be disappointed with the season Martin Havlat had while Marion “Made-of-Glass” Gaborik put up a career year in New York.
* Edmonton Oilers (27-47-8, 62, 15th): A season from hell. The injuries to Ales Hemsky and Nikoli Khabibulin buried this team but it might be for better. They got to play some young inexpensive talent and will have the best odds of winning the draft lottery.

Pacific
* San Jose Sharks (51-20-11, 113, 1st): A fantastic regular season. #1 seed in the west. Great individual seasons from their top players. Where have we seen this before? Bottom line: Unless they make the Conference Finals at a minimum, it’s another wasted season.
* Phoenix Coyotes (50-25-7, 107, 4th): The story of the season. A team that didn’t have an owner, didn’t have a coach, and were possibly waiting to move at moments notice, turned in one of its finest seasons in the history of its franchise. Led by Ilya Bryzgalov’s stout goaltending and gritty defense Phoenix’s youth movement took full swing and as a result the White Out will take full effect in Glendale. For the better part it might have saved hockey in the desert.
* Los Angeles Kings (46-27-9, 101, 6th): Similar to Phoenix, the youth movement took full swing and the city of Los Angeles will get to experience playoff hockey for the first time in 8 years. Led by Anze Kopitar, goalie Johnathan Quick, and future Norris Trophy winner Drew Doughty, the Kings finally saw it all come together. With size and grit they’re built for the playoffs but it’ll be interesting to see how the young team reacts.
* Anaheim Ducks (39-32-11, 89, 11th): A bad start and an Olympic hangover led to a disappointing season in Anaheim. The team needs to improve its defensive play. The futures of Scott Niedermayer and Teemu Selanne will be the biggest offseason question. The core of youth will help either way the franchise goes.
* Dallas Stars (37-31-14, 88, 12th): Pretty average team all year. They didn’t win three in a row all season and this team looks to be in limbo. Will Mike Modano retire? Will Marty Turco be back? There is some good youth on this team but it seems like they need to experience a few bad seasons and get some Top 5 impact picks to build around.

EASTERN CONFERENCE
1. Washington Capitals (S1)*
2. Boston Bruins (NE1)*
3. Pittsburgh Penguins (A1)*
4. Philadelphia Flyers (A2)
5. Carolina Hurricanes (S2)
6. Florida Panthers (S3)
7. Buffalo Sabres (NE2)
8. New Jersey Devils (A3)

9. New York Rangers (A4)
10. Montreal Canadians (NE3)
11. Tampa Bay Lightning (S4)
12. Ottawa Senators (NE4)
13. Toronto Maple Leafs (NE5)
14. Atlanta Thrashers (S5)
15. New York Islanders (A5)

WESTERN CONFERENCE
1. San Jose Sharks (P1)*
2. Calgary Flames (NW1)*
3. Chicago Blackhawks (C1)*
4. Anaheim Ducks (P2)
5. Detroit Red Wings (C2)
6. St. Louis Blues (C3)
7. Vancouver Canucks (NW2)
8. Los Angeles Kings (P3)

9. Columbus Blue Jackets (C4)
10. Minnesota Wild (NW3)
11. Nashville Predators (C5)
12. Dallas Stars (P4)
13. Edmonton Oilers (NW4)
14. Phoenix Coyotes (P5)
15. Colorado Avalanche (NW5)

AWARDS
Hart (MVP): Alex Ovechkin, WAS
Vezina (Goalie): Roberto Luongo, VAN
Norris (Defensemen): Mike Green, WAS
Calder (Rookie): Viktor Hedman, TB
Selke (Defensive Forward): Pavel Datsyuk, DET
Adams (Coach): Terry Murray, LA

STANLEY CUP:
Washington over Calgary

More Wings?, Will the Sharks Bite?, The Kids in Chicago, and What Young Team Breakthrough?

Sorry, had to get a new computer:

• It was the first time since 1995 and four championships later but the Detroit Red Wings lost the Stanley Cup Finals. They blew a 3-2 series lead and wound up watching the Penguins clinch on its home ice. While the Wings are still the Wings, they are getting old, lost one of their best players to a division rival, and some defected to Europe. If Detroit is to make back this season, it could the hardest track they’ve had.
• The Sharks made the big offseason splash by trading for disgruntled star Dany Heatley. With Heatley and Thornton playing together, they could very well eclipse 100 points each and Heatley could score 60 goals. However, the fan base reaction is who cares? The Sharks could go undefeated but until they do something in the playoffs, every transaction, young stud, remarkable play is irrelevant. This is all about what happens in April and (maybe) May or June for this team.
• Hockey is back in Chicago and what a great sight to see. The Hawks made it all the way to the conference finals, but what was evident was they weren’t ready for the next step. You have to lose to win right? While it might not have the Olympics, Chicago may have a shot at hosting the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time since 1992.
• Last year we saw not Chicago emerge but St. Louis make it back to the postseason and finally Columbus broke through. There are plenty of other young teams that could climb up this year with Los Angeles and Minnesota about to make a push. It should be a fun playoff race.

By Division:
Central
* Chicago Blackhawks: Last Season- 46-24-12, 2nd in division, 4th seed, lost to Detroit (4-1) in Conference Finals
Players to Watch: Jonathan Toews (34-35-69); Patrick Kane (25-45-70); Marian Hossa (40-31-71)
Outlook: This team will score a lot of goals. They are absolutely loaded from top to bottom. By stealing away Hossa from Detroit, you get addition by subtraction. The Hawks are deep on defense led by Brent Seabrook and Duncan Keith. The only question that remains is goaltending. After signing a big free agent contract last offseason, Cristobal Huet slumped and was benched by Nikoli Khabibulin. Khabibulin is gone (Edmonton) and the onus on a cup run is one Huet.
* Columbus Blue Jackets: Last Season- 41-31-10, 4th in division, 7th seed, lost to Detroit (4-0) in 1st round
Players to Watch: Rick Nash (40-39-79); Kristian Huselius (21-35-56); Steve Mason (33W, 2.29, .916%)
Outlook: Finally it happened. Columbus got to experience playoff hockey. However, it wasn’t much of an experience as Detroit kicked their butts in a 4-game sweep. Yet, to finally break through was big for this organization. The question is what’s next? With Rick Nash and Steve Mason there are two franchise players to build around. However, you have to wonder about scoring depth. The Jackets will play Ken Hitchcock’s tight defensive system and didn’t score a lot last year and they got it done.
* Detroit Red Wings: Last Season- 51-21-10, 1st in division, 2nd seed, lost to Pittsburgh (4-3) in Stanley Cup Finals
Players to Watch: Pavel Datsyuk (32-65-97); Henrik Zetterberg (31-42-73); Niklas Lidstrom (16-43-59)
Outlook: It always a surprise when we watch Detroit knocked out of the playoffs. Yet, I don’t think anyone would imagine them losing a Game 7 at home, let alone in the Stanley Cup Finals. There is a lot of turnover. Hossa is gone. In addition, Juri Hudler and Mikel Sammuelson signed contracts to play in Europe. The deep farm system will be put to the test again this season and we’ll see if another Cup run is in them. It won’t come easy with the team a year older and the Central now the deepest division in hockey.
* Nashville Predators: Last Season- 40-34-8, 5th in division, 10th, No Playoffs
Players to Watch: Jason Arnott (33-24-57); Shea Weber (23-30-53); Ryan Suter (7-38-45)
Outlook: A model of consistency. Barry Trotz, the team’s original coach, enters year 11 behind the bench and the Preds have consistently been a team that is tough to play against and a pest near playoff time. For the first time, there is some uncertainty in the net. Pekka Rinne will be expected to shoulder the load of 55-60 starts. In addition, the Preds only won 16 road games last year, a number that essentially kept them out of the playoffs.
* St. Louis Blues: Last Season- 41-31-10, 3rd in division, 6th seed, lost to Vancouver (4-0) in 1st round
Players to Watch: Brad Boyes (33-39-72); Paul Kariya (2-13-15); Erik Johnson (#1 pick 06)
Outlook: About 1/3 of the way through the season, the Blues looked to be on their way to the lottery. Then they caught fire, despite injuries, and climbed all the way into the playoffs. Now they’re viewed by many experts as this year’s potential Blackhawks. If Kariya and Johnson both stay healthy, the Blues essentially a 70-point winger and strong two-way defensemen to a team that is climbing.

Northwest
* Calgary Flames: Last Season- 46-30-6, 2nd in division, 5th seed, lost to Chicago (4-2) in 1st round
Players to Watch: Jerome Iginla (35-54-89); Jay Bouwmeester (15-27-42); Dion Phaneuf (11-36-47)
Outlook: The Flames opted to let top goal scorer Mike Cammalleri leave via free agency and signed top defensemen Bouwmeester as his replacement. Defense for offense. The hope in Calgary is that by adding Bouwmeester, the Flames pair him Phaneuf and create a top tier defense that will lead them. In the back end Mikka Kiprusoff should play better as well especially since he won’t start 76 games this season. The likelihood is Olli Jokinen will be better in his second full season in Calgary as well. This team is built for a long playoff run.
* Colorado Avalanche: Last Season- 32-45-5, 5th in division, 15th, No Playoffs
Players to Watch: Paul Statsny (11-25-36); Milan Hejduk (27-32-59); John-Michael Liles (12-27-39)
Outlook: It’s amazing to think of the glory days of the Colorado Avalanche officially came to an end as Joe Sakic hung up the skates at the end of the season. Joe Sakic out, Joe Sacco in. Sacco takes over as coach, but it probably won’t make much of a difference. This team will be bad and lottery bound. The question is if both Statsny and Liles are healthy and playing well enough to come Olympic time for Team USA.
* Edmonton Oilers: Last Season- 38-35-9, 4th in division, 10th, No Playoffs
Players to Watch: Sheldon Souray (23-30-53); Ales Hemsky (23-43-66); Shawn Horcoff (17-36-53)
Outlook: They tried to get Dany Heatley. They tried again. They tried some more. Unfortunately, the problem with Edmonton is the city has a tough time luring free agents and players to come. They lost out on a Marian Hossa the previous year. Since losing Game 7 of the 06 Stanley Cup Finals, there have been no playoff games in Edmonton. The team appears to be stuck in neutral. In is Nikolai Knabibulin to replace Dwayne Roloson, but that appears to be a wash. It seems as if this team will be competing again for one of the final playoff spots, if they have enough juice.
* Minnesota Wild: Last Season- 40-33-9, 3rd in division, 9th, No Playoffs
Players to Watch: Martin Havlat (29-48-77); Mikko Koivu (20-47-67); Niklas Backstrom (37W, 2.33, .923%)
Outlook: It’s a new regime in Minnesota. First the organization replaced oft-injured star Marian Gaborik with another oft-injured star in Martin Havlat. In addition, Jacques Lemaire is no longer the head coach that title goes to Todd Richards. You would have to assume that means there will be more offensive freedom. We’ll see how that translates for a team built on defense. Mikko Koivu broke out last year and pair with a healthy Havlat in a more offensive system could reach 80+ points. This team should compete for a playoff spot.
* Vancouver Canucks: Last Season- 45-27-10, 1st in division, 3rd seed, lost to Chicago (4-2) in 2nd round
Players to Watch: Daniel Sedin (31-51-82); Henrik Sedin (22-60-82); Roberto Luongo (33W, 2.34, .920%)
Outlook: It’s kind of scary to think both twins registered the same amount of points. Anyway, this team was less than three minutes from going up 3-1 over Chicago last year but blew the lead and the series. There is a lot of balance up and down the lineup it should make the playoffs. There are potential bumps in the road. First is a 14-game road trip thanks to being the host city for the Winter Olympics. In addition, we’ll see how Roberto Luongo plays knowing he should be the starter for Team Canada and the pressure that comes with that. Vancouver needs to get off to a good start. It’s possible the second half wear this team down. If there’s a team you could see slipping, this might be it.

Pacific
* Anaheim Ducks: Last Season- 42-33-7, 2nd in division, 8th seed, lost to Detroit (4-3) in 2nd round
Players to Watch: Ryan Getzlaf (25-66-91); Corey Perry (32-40-72); Bobby Ryan (31-26-54)
Outlook: The Ducks scuffled during the season but caught fire at the end captured the final playoff spot and subsequently upset San Jose and pushed Detroit to 7 games. The players above represent the NHL’s most complete line. They possess strength and storing touch and yet all of them are under 25. Each should be a point-per-game player. The trade of Chris Pronger was a smart move in netting Joffrey Lupul (again) and a few picks. The defense may not be as strong with the departure of Pronger as well as Francois Beauchemin. But clearing cap space added more scoring depth with the addition of Saku Koivu to play with Finnish Teammate Teemu Selanne. The tandem of Jonas Hiller and J.S. Giguere is net is as good as it comes.
* Dallas Stars: Last Season- 36-35-11, 3rd in division, 12th, No Playoffs
Players to Watch: Mike Ribeiro (22-56-78); Brenden Morrow (5-10-15); Marty Turco (33W, 2.81, .898%)
Outlook: From Conference Finals to not a sniff went the Stars last season. The return of captain Brenden Morrow will make a difference. Marty Turco will be looking to rebound after a horrible year, especially in an Olympic year. The issue is this team is getting older. Turco, Morrow, Mike Modano, and Brad Richards are over 30 and on the back end of their careers. This could be a year of transition in Dallas.
* Los Angeles Kings: Last Season- 34-37-11, 5th in division, 14th, No Playoffs
Players to Watch: Anze Kopitar (27-39-66); Alexander Frolov (32-27-59); Drew Doughty (6-21-27)
Outlook: It’s taken six seasons to reach the point where the Kings look to finally be ready to seriously compete for the playoffs. The additions of Justin Williams, Ryan Smyth, and Rob Scuderi to a core of Kopitar, Frolov, Doughty, Dustin Brown, and Jack Johnson seem to be primed to take off and emerge as one of the up and coming teams. The verdict is still out if the young core is ready to blossom similar to their other California counterparts. It’s playoffs or bust this season. We could see a house cleaning if the Kings are sending another rep to the draft lottery this year.
* Phoenix (for now) Coyotes: Last Season- 36-39-7, 4th in division, 13th, No Playoffs
Players to Watch: Shane Doan (31-42-73); Ed Jovanovski (9-27-36); Peter Mueller (13-23-36)
Outlook: It really is sad what’s transpiring in Phoenix. The team needs to go. It’s a nice arena, customer service is outstanding, but nobody goes. There’s no way this team can compete this year with this hanging over them. Hopefully this is the last year in Phoenix and whoever buys them can do it during the season so we can have this issue solved by the start of next season.
* San Jose Sharks: Last Season- 53-18-11, 1st in division, 1st seed, lost to Anaheim (4-2) in 1st round
Players to Watch: Joe Thornton (25-61-86); Dany Heatley (39-33-72); Evgeni Nabokov (41W, 2.44, .910%)
Outlook: The Sharks will win a lot of games. The Sharks will score a lot of goals. The Sharks will make the playoffs. What happens then? Every time we think it’s a last ditch effort for San Jose, they make a trade for a player of Heatley’s caliber. We’ll see if that makes a difference. The team also stripped Patrick Marleau of his captaincy and gave that to veteran Rob Blake. We’ll see if that makes a difference. The expectations are simple. Nobody will believe this team is for real until it makes at least the Conference Finals and does not have any sort of a collapse during a series or upset.

Can The Pen Repeat?, Is it Ovechkin’s Turn?, Will the B’s Bring it Home?, and Who Surprises?

The East Looks Top Heavy:

• The Pittsburgh Penguins avenged last season’s defeat to the Detroit Red Wings in the Stanley Cup Finals by winning Game 7 in Detroit and sticking it to Marian Hossa in the process. With all the flack (and I don’t get why) Sidney Crosby receives from fans and media, he is now a Stanley Cup Champion. Can the Pens repeat? They’ll start with Maxim Talbot hurt and a new look defense.
• Alexander Ovechkin is pure magic. He’s arguably the most exciting player in any sport. He’s won the last two Hart Trophy’s (MVP) but has lost a Game 7 at home in consecutive seasons. Could this be the year that Ovechkin finally breaks through? His team is still loaded offensively and might be poised a breakthrough after consecutive years of heart break, similar to Pittsburgh. It’s possible that Alexander the Great has a season that includes a scoring title, Gold Medal, Hart Trophy, and Stanley Cup?
• The Boston Bruins went from 8th to 1st and dominated the East in the regular season and the Montreal Canadians in a sweep in the first round. Yet, hopes were dashed by the Carolina Hurricanes in overtime of Game 7. Boston opted to trade Phil Kessel but they still have Zdeno Chara and Tim Thomas
• The divisions look top heavy so who will emerge as contender or make a surprise run? Is Chris Pronger the difference in Philadelphia? Will Carolina make another deep playoff run? Is Montreal’s Makeover enough? We’ll see…

By Division:
Atlantic
* Pittsburgh Penguins: Last Season- 45-28-9, 2nd in division, 4th seed, won Stanley Cup (4-3) over Detroit
Players to Watch: Sidney Crosby (33-70-103); Evgeni Malkin (35-78-113); Marc-Andre Fluery (35W, 2.67, .912%)
Outlook: This team looks like it could repeat. Obviously with Crosby and Malkin, the Pens possess the best duo the game has seen since another Penguins duo. The Pens will have to replace their top defensive pair in Rob Scuderi (LA) and Hal Gill (Tor). They still have Sergei Gonchar and Brooks Orpik on the back end and were able to keep veterans Bill Guerin and Ruslan Fedotenko. Add Jordan Staal down the middle and this team is still three lines deep. It’s built for the playoffs but we’ll see if they can actually win the division, something they’ve only done once.
* Philadelphia Flyers: Last Season- 44-27-11, 3rd in division, 5th seed, lost to Pittsburgh (4-2) in 1st round
Players to Watch: Mike Richards (30-50-80); Jeff Carter (46-38-74); Chris Pronger (11-37-48)
Outlook: If there was ever a player that should be a Flyer it should be Chris Pronger. The nastiest and dirtiest player in the league belongs in Philadelphia. We’ll see if he makes a huge difference in covering the likes of Ovechkin, Crosby, Savard, and Staal to name a few. The Flyers are deep upfront with Richards, Briere, Carter, and Gagne. They’ll score goals. The thing that has always been the issue with Philly has been the goaltending. We’ll see if a year in Europe has humbled former Ottawa Senator Ray Emery. If he plays well enough, this could a Cup contender. If not, another early playoff exit seems to loom.
* New York Rangers: Last Season- 43-30-9, 4th in division, 7th seed, lost to Washington (4-3) in 1st round
Players to Watch: Marian Gaborik (13-10-23); Chris Drury (22-34-56); Henrik Lundqvist (35W, 2.43, .916%)
Outlook: In typical Rangers fashion, New York decided to jump into the free agent pool and made a splash by signing the oft-injured Gaborik. While Gaborik is a difference maker, he never stays healthy. Scott Gomez was sent to Montreal, so this team is banking on their new prize. If Gaborik is hurt, this team will have a tough time scoring goals. We’ll see about King Henrik’s work load and he’s expected to carry the Rangers every night while also trying to help Sweden defend its gold medal.
* New York Islanders: Last Season- 26-47-9, 5th in division, 15th, No Playoffs
Players to Watch: John Tavares (Rookie); Mark Streit (16-40-56); Rick DiPietro (1W, 3.52, .892%)
Outlook: This team earned the No. 1 pick last season (John Tavares) and it looks very much so that they’ll have plenty of opportunity compete for that position again. Tavares should sell some tickets and he’ll have every opportunity to capture the Calder Trophy (Rookie of the Year). Defensemen Mark Streit is a treat to watch on the power play but other than that this team will struggle mightly. We’ll see if goalie Rick DiPietro (knee surgery) makes it back to the ice this season after playing in only five games last year.
* New Jersey Devils: Last Season- 51-27-4, 1st in division, 3rd seed, lost to Carolina (4-3) in 1st round
Players to Watch: Zach Parise (45-49-94); Patrik Elias (31-47-78); Martin Broduer (19W, 2.42, .916%)
Outlook: The Devils brought back Jacques Lemaire as coach. Yet, their defensive prowess seems gone with the departure of Jon Madden. This looks like a one-line team of Elias-Parise-Langenbrunner. Offensive numbers will take a hit and the Devils will go back to the roots of the defensive Devils. We’ve counted them out before, but who knows, they always find a way to get it done.

Northeast
* Boston Bruins: Last Season- 53-19-10, 1st in division, 1st seed, lost to Carolina (4-3) in 2nd round
Players to Watch: Marc Savard (25-63-88); Zdeno Chara (19-31-50); Tim Thomas (36W, 2.10, .933%)
Outlook: This team has unfinished business. They currently possess the game’s top defensemen in Chara, the reigning Vezina winner (Thomas) and coach of the year. They were the best team in the East all of last year and still have to be shocked about the overtime loss to Carolina. They decided to trade Phil Kessel and his 31 goals to Toronto to clear cap space and we’ll see if that means more ice time for Milan Lucic. This team will still roll three lines and should be a contender in the East.
* Buffalo Sabres: Last Season- 41-32-9, 3rd in division, 10th, No Playoffs
Players to Watch: Thomas Vanek (40-24-64); Tim Connolly (18-29-47); Ryan Miller (34W, 2.53, .918%)
Outlook: Injuries did in the Sabres last year. Vanek was challenging for the goal scoring title before getting hurt. Connolly can always score but can’t stay healthy. Miller was rolling but got hurt and was limited to 59 games. All that said and the Sabres still contended until the final week for a playoff spot. This team is balanced but will rely heavily on these three guys to amount a run. If this team remains healthy, they should qualify for the playoffs and possibly climb the ladder.
* Montreal Canadians: Last Season- 41-30-11, 2nd in division, 8th seed, lost to Boston (4-0) in 1st round
Players to Watch: Mike Cammalleri (39-43-82); Brian Gionta (20-40-60); Scott Gomez (16-42-58)
Outlook: You want to take about a complete makeover. In Cammalleri, Gionta, Gomez, Travis Moen, Hal Gill, Jaroslav Spacek, Paul Mara, and new coach Jacques Martin. Apparently, dropping from 1st to 8th and having their butts whipped by rival Boston did not sit well with the brass. This team made drastic overhaul saying goodbye to long-time captain Saku Koivu and playmaker Alexi Kovalev. Still the onus is on goalie Carey Price. He struggled mightily down the stretch and the playoffs. It may take some time for this team to gel and as a result they could be playing catchup all year.
* Ottawa Senators: Last Season- 36-35-11, 4th in division, 11th, No Playoffs
Players to Watch: Jason Spezza (32-41-73); Daniel Alfredsson (24-50-74); Alexei Kovalev (26-39-65)
Outlook: The Sens made the big splash in the offseason by trading disgruntled winger Dany Heatley to San Jose for Jonathan Cheechoo and Milan Michalek. The cap space also allowed them to bring in Kovalev from Montreal and he’ll have something to prove. While Heatley is a dynamic player, the Sens essentially added an additional line by trading him. The Sens are deeper up front but the big question mark remains in goal. It’s now Pascal LeClaire’s turn, who’s essentially been an average player at best throughout his career. This is the hardest team to predict. If the goaltending is solid, they could break into the 100 point barrier but just as easily fall back into the 70 range.
* Toronto Maple Leafs: Last Season- 34-35-13, 5th in division, 12th, No Playoffs
Players to Watch: Phil Kessel (36-24-60); Jason Blake (25-38-63); Jonas Gustavsson (Rookie)
Outlook: GM Brian Burke wanted to make his splash in the offseason and he waited until the very end to pry away Kessel from division rival Boston. So much for the rebuilding process. The Leafs are going to try and make the playoffs and that’s going to be on the shoulders of Swedish goaltender Jonas Gustavsson. Toronto is hoping that he becomes the next Henrik Lundqvist and can turnaround the franchise into a playoff contender in a year. We’ll see. The irony of this season is that in the hot bed of Toronto, the GM (Burke) and potentially three best overall players (Kessel, Blake, and Mike Komisarek) are all American.

Southeast
* Atlanta Thrashers: Last Season- 35-41-6, 5th in division, 13th, No Playoffs
Players to Watch: Ilya Kovalchuk (43-48-91); Nik Antropov (28-51-59); Kari Lehtonen (19W, 3.06, .911%)
Outlook: Point blank this season is all about Ilya Kovalchuk’s pending free agency. Will he sign? Will they trade him? Kovalchuk caught fire last year after being named captain. The team brought in Nik Antropov to add some scoring touch and they finished on a 12-6 run last year. Still Kovalchuk has seen the likes of Dany Heatley, Marian Hossa, and Marc Savard leave for greener pastures and you have to wonder if he will too. If the Thrashers aren’t in playoff contention and Kovalchuk is not signed by the time the trade deadline rolls around, it’s hard to imagine he won’t be dealt.
* Carolina Hurricanes: Last Season- 45-30-7, 2nd in division, 6th seed, lost to Pittsburgh (4-0) in Conference Finals
Players to Watch: Eric Staal (40-35-75); Ray Whitney (24-53-77); Cam Ward (39W, 2.44, .916%)
Outlook: As steady as they go. Carolina returned to the playoffs last year after a two-year hiatus. After two grueling 7-game series, the Canes had nothing left in the tank and were swept by the Penguins. Eric Staal returned to form as one of the games elite power forwards while Cam Ward emerged as an elite goaltender and may have a crack at joining Team Canada in the Olympics. This team looks solid but the one thing that has hung over this organization has been a hangover. After their last three playoff appearances (two cup appearance and a conference final) they have failed to make it the following year.
* Florida Panthers: Last Season- 41-30-11, 3rd in division, 9th, No Playoffs
Players to Watch: David Booth (31-29-60); Stephen Weiss (14-57-61); Tomas Vokoun (26W, 2.49, .926%)
Outlook: 2000. That was the last year the Panthers made the playoffs, the longest current drought in the league. Florida came close last year pushing until the last few days of the season. The club opted to keep defensemen Jay Bouwmeester and make a run and subsequently were able to trade him to Calgary before the free agency deadline. Led by youngsters like Booth and Weiss the team looks to be poised to finally crack the top eight. For the first time in a long time there are some expectations in Miami, so we’ll see if the young team is up for task.
* Tampa Bay Lightning: Last Season- 24-40-18, 5th in division, 14th, No Playoffs
Players to Watch: Vinny Lecavalier (29-38-67); Martin St. Louis (30-50-80); Steven Stamkos (23-23-46)
Outlook: It seems like that Stanley Cup championship has been ages ago. Since the lockout Tampa has been awful. They earned the #1 pick two years ago (Stamkos) and #2 pick this year in defensemen Victor Hedman. It’s possible that this may be the year they get back into the postseason. With Lecavalier’s no-trade clause kicked, the questions will no longer linger. They’ll score a lot of goals but the problem has been defensemen. That issued is supposed to be addressed with Hedman and adding fellow Swede Mattias Ohlund. We’ll see if Mike Smith can actually emerge in net and lead this team to the playoffs.
* Washington Capitals: Last Season- 50-24-8, 1st in division, 2nd seed, lost to Pittsburgh (4-3) in 2nd round
Players to Watch: Alex Ovechkin (56-54-110); Nicklas Backstrom (22-66-88); Mike Green (31-42-73)
Outlook: The Capitals are ready for the next step. The last two years have ended with disappointing Game 7 losses at home. This team is loaded offensively and could lead the league in team scoring. The question will be in goal. Is Jose Theodore ready to shoulder the load or will rookie playoff sensation Semyon Varlamov takeover as the #1 at some point in the season? They’re the division favorites, in what has become a deep one, but can they get past the Game 7 jinx. The world needs as much Ovechkin as possible.