betED.com - The View from the Couch - by Gavin McDougald!
April 9th , 2008 - Goon Squads
After a disastrous strike that all but killed the National Hockey League, the authorities decided when the game would return, it would be stronger, better faster?
Gone would be the gooning, goaltenders were restricted from wearing everything but the kitchen sink to fill the nets, hooking and holding infractions would actually be called as penalties and the trap that had slowed down the game play to glacial rates would be eliminated.
The resulting transformation would ensure that the pissed-off fans would return because the offense, not the defense, would once again be the focus. Scoring would go up. The speed of the game would jump and the seats would, in turn, get packed.
Strangely enough, for the league that spends most of its time shooting itself in the foot, it was pretty much working for a while.
Until the end of last season.
The Anaheim Mighty Ducks, as constructed by the old-schooler of old-schoolers General Manager Brian Burke, demonstrated that a defensively minded, physical, tough, quasi-crazy team could dominate the softer style the NHL was trying to instill.
A sickening elbow thrown by Ducks defenseman Chris Pronger delivered to the head of Senator Dean McAmmond in the finals last season exemplified that.
That hit shook up Ottawa so much Anaheim went on to win the Stanley Cup in a bit of a stroll.
It shook up the rest of the league as well ? particularly out west. Teaching finesse is hard compared to playing a puck-control, aggressive in-your-face style, and the Ducks demonstrated it could be a winning formula.
Suddenly players who were considered dinosaurs in the ?New NHL? were once again in demand. Goons were pulled off the scrap heap and spent this season reeking havoc over the rest of the league, resulting, in part, in scoring going way, way down. In the post-strike season, teams were averaging nearly six goals a game. That total has dropped more than 15% this year alone.
Now it?s time for the playoffs, where the defense tightens even more. What is a league to do?
All they can do it seems is hope that the eventual winner of Stanley Cup changes the style ? yet again.
Who could that be?
How about ? the Anaheim Might Ducks?
It?s pretty clear that the Ducks are even a better team than they were last year. Now not just tough, they?ve actually added back some of that vaunted finesse with Teemu Selanne. Veterans Doug Weight and Todd Bertuzzi came on board and changed the team?s chemistry enough to make them not just a one trick ? defense - pony. Although they are still clearly the best there is in the league from the blue line back. Burke signed Mathieu Schneider thinking Scott Niedermayer was going to retire for good. He didn?t. And their captain got an unexpected eight-game rest before the playoffs. (More about that later). And all those guys front the Conn Smythe winner Jean-S?bastien Gigu?re in goal.
A perfectly balanced exciting team who are experienced, healthy yet still hungry. Hopefully they?ll be ones to set a new trend to save next season ? especially after what they did to this one.
As for the first round?
Out West
Detroit Red Wings (1) vs. The Nashville Predators (8)
It?s pretty much a miracle that Nashville made it into the post season at all ? and they get to take on the 115-point Detroit Juggernaut who added some toughness of their own in Darren McCarty. Nashville should be able to win one game at home in front of their dozens of fans.
Detroit in five
San Jose Sharks (2) vs. Calgary Flames (7)
Everything rests on the goaltending of Evgeni Nabokov. If he plays anything like he did in the regular season, well enough to be a virtual lock on the Vezina, this one will go the Sharks way. However, Nabokov has a well-earned reputation of underperforming in the post-season. Until he proves otherwise?
Flames in seven
Minnesota Wild (3) vs. Colorado Avalanche (6)
Minnesota was another one of those teams who went the Ducks route by adding tough guys Chris Simon and Todd Fedoruk. Can a finally in game shape Peter Forsberg compete against the likes of them? God, let?s hope so!
Colorado in six
Anaheim Ducks (4) vs. The Dallas Stars (5)
Guess who is back? Just in time for the post-season the Ducks get their captain Chris ?I don?t look like a psycho? Pronger nice and rested after that eight game suspension. What did he do this time? He stomped on Vancouver?s Ryan Kesler ? and yes, he was wearing his skates. The Stars will try to act as if they aren?t intimidated, but of course, they will be.
Anaheim in five
Down East
Montreal Canadiens (1) vs. The Boston Bruins (8)
Both Saku Koivu and Mike Komisarek have nagging injuries that could hurt Montreal?s chances ? of a sweep. They met one another seven times over the regular season. The Habs outscored them 36 ? 14 and won all seven.
Habs in five
The Pittsburgh Penguins (2) vs. The Ottawa Senators (7)
Remember last year?s first rounder when Sidney Crosby was supposed to launch his assault on the post-season record book. Ummm, not so much. The Sens schooled ?em and advanced all the way to the Stanley Cup final. This year things are a little different. The Sens are hurt and barely made it into the playoffs losing seven of their last ten.
Pens in four
The Washington Capitals (3) vs. The Philadelphia Flyers (6)
On Thanksgiving Day, the Capitals were dead last in the standings in the NHL. A coaching change (Glen Hanlon out - Bruce Boudreau in) turned their fortunes around along with a staggering performance from the most exciting player in the league, Alex Ovechkin. All I can say is it?s a good thing he doesn?t play out west.
Washington in seven
The New Jersey Devils (4) vs. The New York Ranger (5)
For fans in the greater New York era, things are setting up very nicely for this one. On Sunday, the Devils beat the Rangers for first time all season. All that was on the line was home ice advantage and Martin Brodeur stole it in a shootout. Classic. Hopefully the whole series can match it.
The Rangers in seven
Cheers - Gavin McDougald - AKA Couch
Bet NHL Playoffs at betED.com here!
April 9th , 2008 - Goon Squads
After a disastrous strike that all but killed the National Hockey League, the authorities decided when the game would return, it would be stronger, better faster?
Gone would be the gooning, goaltenders were restricted from wearing everything but the kitchen sink to fill the nets, hooking and holding infractions would actually be called as penalties and the trap that had slowed down the game play to glacial rates would be eliminated.
The resulting transformation would ensure that the pissed-off fans would return because the offense, not the defense, would once again be the focus. Scoring would go up. The speed of the game would jump and the seats would, in turn, get packed.
Strangely enough, for the league that spends most of its time shooting itself in the foot, it was pretty much working for a while.
Until the end of last season.
The Anaheim Mighty Ducks, as constructed by the old-schooler of old-schoolers General Manager Brian Burke, demonstrated that a defensively minded, physical, tough, quasi-crazy team could dominate the softer style the NHL was trying to instill.
A sickening elbow thrown by Ducks defenseman Chris Pronger delivered to the head of Senator Dean McAmmond in the finals last season exemplified that.
That hit shook up Ottawa so much Anaheim went on to win the Stanley Cup in a bit of a stroll.
It shook up the rest of the league as well ? particularly out west. Teaching finesse is hard compared to playing a puck-control, aggressive in-your-face style, and the Ducks demonstrated it could be a winning formula.
Suddenly players who were considered dinosaurs in the ?New NHL? were once again in demand. Goons were pulled off the scrap heap and spent this season reeking havoc over the rest of the league, resulting, in part, in scoring going way, way down. In the post-strike season, teams were averaging nearly six goals a game. That total has dropped more than 15% this year alone.
Now it?s time for the playoffs, where the defense tightens even more. What is a league to do?
All they can do it seems is hope that the eventual winner of Stanley Cup changes the style ? yet again.
Who could that be?
How about ? the Anaheim Might Ducks?
It?s pretty clear that the Ducks are even a better team than they were last year. Now not just tough, they?ve actually added back some of that vaunted finesse with Teemu Selanne. Veterans Doug Weight and Todd Bertuzzi came on board and changed the team?s chemistry enough to make them not just a one trick ? defense - pony. Although they are still clearly the best there is in the league from the blue line back. Burke signed Mathieu Schneider thinking Scott Niedermayer was going to retire for good. He didn?t. And their captain got an unexpected eight-game rest before the playoffs. (More about that later). And all those guys front the Conn Smythe winner Jean-S?bastien Gigu?re in goal.
A perfectly balanced exciting team who are experienced, healthy yet still hungry. Hopefully they?ll be ones to set a new trend to save next season ? especially after what they did to this one.
As for the first round?
Out West
Detroit Red Wings (1) vs. The Nashville Predators (8)
It?s pretty much a miracle that Nashville made it into the post season at all ? and they get to take on the 115-point Detroit Juggernaut who added some toughness of their own in Darren McCarty. Nashville should be able to win one game at home in front of their dozens of fans.
Detroit in five
San Jose Sharks (2) vs. Calgary Flames (7)
Everything rests on the goaltending of Evgeni Nabokov. If he plays anything like he did in the regular season, well enough to be a virtual lock on the Vezina, this one will go the Sharks way. However, Nabokov has a well-earned reputation of underperforming in the post-season. Until he proves otherwise?
Flames in seven
Minnesota Wild (3) vs. Colorado Avalanche (6)
Minnesota was another one of those teams who went the Ducks route by adding tough guys Chris Simon and Todd Fedoruk. Can a finally in game shape Peter Forsberg compete against the likes of them? God, let?s hope so!
Colorado in six
Anaheim Ducks (4) vs. The Dallas Stars (5)
Guess who is back? Just in time for the post-season the Ducks get their captain Chris ?I don?t look like a psycho? Pronger nice and rested after that eight game suspension. What did he do this time? He stomped on Vancouver?s Ryan Kesler ? and yes, he was wearing his skates. The Stars will try to act as if they aren?t intimidated, but of course, they will be.
Anaheim in five
Down East
Montreal Canadiens (1) vs. The Boston Bruins (8)
Both Saku Koivu and Mike Komisarek have nagging injuries that could hurt Montreal?s chances ? of a sweep. They met one another seven times over the regular season. The Habs outscored them 36 ? 14 and won all seven.
Habs in five
The Pittsburgh Penguins (2) vs. The Ottawa Senators (7)
Remember last year?s first rounder when Sidney Crosby was supposed to launch his assault on the post-season record book. Ummm, not so much. The Sens schooled ?em and advanced all the way to the Stanley Cup final. This year things are a little different. The Sens are hurt and barely made it into the playoffs losing seven of their last ten.
Pens in four
The Washington Capitals (3) vs. The Philadelphia Flyers (6)
On Thanksgiving Day, the Capitals were dead last in the standings in the NHL. A coaching change (Glen Hanlon out - Bruce Boudreau in) turned their fortunes around along with a staggering performance from the most exciting player in the league, Alex Ovechkin. All I can say is it?s a good thing he doesn?t play out west.
Washington in seven
The New Jersey Devils (4) vs. The New York Ranger (5)
For fans in the greater New York era, things are setting up very nicely for this one. On Sunday, the Devils beat the Rangers for first time all season. All that was on the line was home ice advantage and Martin Brodeur stole it in a shootout. Classic. Hopefully the whole series can match it.
The Rangers in seven
Cheers - Gavin McDougald - AKA Couch
Bet NHL Playoffs at betED.com here!
