Post by liberaljihad on Mar 7, 2014 9:31:32 GMT -5
I am in agreement with Pierre McGuire of NBC sports when he says that my beloved Chicago Blackhawks are the favorites to repeat as Cup Champions. There 221 goals scored is a league leader, and when combined with there very deep blue line and solid goaltending corps they are an obvious favorite. St Louis has the talent to present a formidable challenge to the Hawks supremacy. Their defense is as talented, if not more, than the Hawks' and are led by emerging superstar T J Oshie. The Blues will have to prove, however, they have the mental toughness to go deep in the playoffs, something they have lacked in recent years. The addition of veteran goalie Ryan Miller should help. While he has not gone deep in the playoffs since I think '06 he has won a Vezina Trophy and is hungry for a championship. In the Pacific division the Ducks are not weak at any position, are practicly unbeatable at home and continue to be the league's points leader.
In the east I only see two teams having any real potential to capture the Cup- the always contending Penguins and especially the Bruins. No one in the NHL is close to Boston for goals allowed. It is nice to see the Maple Leafs re-emerge as a solid playoff contender, but with a negative goal differential, I just do not see them going very far.
It's interesting that all of the Original 6 teams are entrenched in playoff spots except one..the Detroit Dead Wings. My heart is so broken (HAHAHA!!!)
Besides the talent mentioned above I think the goalies in Montreal and on Broadway are so talented that if they get hot they can carry their respective teams deep into the playoffs.
This is shaping up to be another exciting and entertaining stretch run and post season in the NHL.
In the east I only see two teams having any real potential to capture the Cup- the always contending Penguins and especially the Bruins. No one in the NHL is close to Boston for goals allowed. It is nice to see the Maple Leafs re-emerge as a solid playoff contender, but with a negative goal differential, I just do not see them going very far.
It's interesting that all of the Original 6 teams are entrenched in playoff spots except one..the Detroit Dead Wings. My heart is so broken (HAHAHA!!!)
Besides the talent mentioned above I think the goalies in Montreal and on Broadway are so talented that if they get hot they can carry their respective teams deep into the playoffs.
This is shaping up to be another exciting and entertaining stretch run and post season in the NHL.