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Posts Tagged playoffs

Carolina WR Smith Punches Teammate in Face

Aug 2

Posted by admin in Fantasy, Fantasy Sports, Fight, Football, NFL, Pro Sports, Sports, Sports Events, Sports Stars, Uncategorized, online sports community, sideline, training camp, training camp fight | No Comments

Fights breaking out during training camp are nothing new, but they usually occur on the field when players are protected by helmets and other gear. Well, not in this case as Steve Smith punched teammate Ken Lucas in the face while the two were standing on the sidelines during practice.

The two players have frequently jawed at one another since Lucas came to the Panthers In 2005. Smith is also know for having a volatile temper he was suspended for a game in 2002 after punching a different teammate, Anthony Bright during a film session. Smith received counseling for anger management and a lawsuit filed against him by Bright was settled out of court.

Smith and Lucas fighting on the sidelines

Smith and Lucas fighting on the sidelines

Noone is quite sure what provoked the fight, but what we do know is that both Lucas and Smith were dismissed from practice and Smith may face suspension from the team. Lucas was seen holding an ice pack to his left eye and was later carted off the field presumably to receive some medical assistance.

Coach John Fox tried to breakup the fight, but was unsuccesful in doing so. It took the strength of linebacker Jon Beason to pull Smith off of Lucas. Lucas then walked to a tent and Smith was escorted to the same tent by Mushin Muhammad where he attempted to apologize to Lucas. How well the apology went is not known.

Smith being restrained by Jon Beason

Smith being restrained by Jon Beason

Under the collective bargaining agreement the team is within its rights to suspend Smith for up to four games, but I am betting that this is unlikely to happen. How can you sideline your best offensive weapon for any amount of time in today’s NFL when even one game can be the difference between making the playoffs and going home.

Yet, not punishing Smith for this flagrant violation can also send a bad message to Smith and other players around the league. Most likely Smith will receive a hefty fine from the team, but one has to wonder if that really matters to a player who just signed a contract extension through 2012 that makes him one of the leagues highest paid receivers.

Carolina now faces a decision which could have a damaging impact on the rest of their season. If they don’t punish Smith severely enough coach John Fox runs the risk of losing control of his team. If they do levy a serious punishment they put themselves at risk of falling behind in the standings early on in the season. It remains to be seen what type of punishment Smith will receive or for that fact, how severe the damage is to Lucas’ face, but either way its going to be an intriguing few days in Carolina.

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Teixeira Traded to Angels

Jul 31

Posted by admin in Baseball, Fantasy, Fantasy Sports, Pro Sports, Sports, Sports Events, Sports Stars, Uncategorized, online sports community | No Comments

The Agels have to be praising new general manager Tony Reagins for the move that he just pulled off 1 day before MLB’s trade deadline. In a swift maneuver to add more protection to their lineup the Angels acquired slugging first baseman Mark Texira from the Atlanta Braves and sent rising star Casey Kotchman and a minor league pitcher to Atlanta.

Teixeira now an Angel.

Teixeira now an Angel.

It’s becoming a mid-summer tradition to “rent” Teixeira for an October run and this year is no different as Texiera is on the final year of his contract and will be a free agent at seasons end. Teixeira could demand as much as $20 million a year because he is by far the best first baseman available in the upcoming free agent market and should have a number of suitors if the Angels are unable to workout some type
of contract extension with Texiera by the end of the season.

Yet, the Angels have to be happy with the move, mortgaging a little bit of their futurte for the prospect of winning right now. The Angels already have one of the best rotations in the major leagues, they own the leagues best record , have an 11 1/2 game lead in the AL West and are now poised to correct one of their most glaring post-season problems…their offense.

Since winnning the World Series in 2002 the Angels have claimed three division titles, but won just one playoff series. During that stretch they were swept out of the playoffs twice, including last October by
the Boston Red Sox. The main problem has been finding a hitter dangerous enough to give Vladimir Guerrero some protection in the lineup, and now they have that in Teixeira.

Guerrero, the man who the Angels have relied on to provide their post-season pop, has produced poorly since claiming the World Series title in 2002. He’s batted just .183 with one home run in the 16 playoff games since 2002, most likely a result of the immense amount of pressure placed on him to perform in the post-season.

A number of other teams were interested in Teixeira but could not provide the Braves with the same type of package that the Angels were offering. The Arizona Diamonbacks who seemed an early frontrunner in acquiring Teixeira offered up Chad Tracy as possible trade bait, but Tracy is only under contract until 2009 while Kotchman is under contract for three more seasons. The Tampa Bay Devil Rays were also in the hunt for Teixeira, but could not put together a promising enough package either, leaving them some major offensive issues heading into the stretch.

The acquisition of Teixeira automatically makes the Angels one of baseball’s top contenders to capture the World Series. Their rotation has been dominant throughout much of the season, their key players are producing and have remianed healthy and with the addition of the switch hitting Teixeira they now have one of basbeall’s best lineup’s. Angel’s fans could find themselves in basbeall heaven at the end of the year.

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Melrose to Coach Tampa Bay Lightning

Jun 25

Posted by admin in 2008 NHL Draft, Analyst, Barry Melrose, ESPN, Eastern Conference, Fantasy Sports, Florida, Hired, NHL, New Coach, Pro Sports, Sports, Sports Events, Sports Stars, Tampa Bay Lightning, Uncategorized, Western conference, online sports community | No Comments

Hockey fans in Florida can rejoice on two fronts. First, Barry Melrose the esteemed ESPN NHL analyst and former coach of the Los Angeles Kings will be taking the place of John Tortorella to try his magic on Vincent Lecavalier and the rest of the Tampa Bay Lighting. Second, Melrose brings with him one of the most hallowed traditions in hockey…the mullet!

(Barry Melrose…notice the classic Mullet.)

Melrose has been working as an ESPN analyst and commentator for the last 12 years. His dashing suits, and slicked back mullet made him an in-house and fan favorite, and the one man who can make me blush.

Melroses’ last coaching gig with the L.A. Kings lasted just 2 1/2 years in which he posted a regular season record of 82-103-31. He did lead the Kings to the franchises first Stanley Cup Finals in 1993 where they lost a 5 game series to the Montreal Canadiens.

Though he has not coached in 13 seasons Melrose has always remained close to the game and kept a watchful eye over the players, and changes that game has undergone in the past years. He should be well prepared to tackle the dynamics of the “new” NHL and should spark life into a franchise that turned in an extremely disappointing season last year.

The Tampa Bay Lightning finished dead last in the 30 team league and missed the playoffs for the first time since 2002, despite having talented superstars Vincent Lecavalier and Martin St. Louis. The Lightning have not won a playoff series since their Stanley Cup championship in 2004.

Melroses biggest priority will be to improve the teams defensive play, “I believe in effort. I believe in energy. I believe in speed. I believe in aggression. I believe in letting guys be creative, using their imagination,” he said. “I give them a lot of freedom. All I ask in return is that they compete defensively.”

Melrose is no stranger to the Lightning squad and estimated that he watched about 90% of their games on television last season. He believes he knows why the team failed telling reporters that,

“I think what happened here is just a group that lost their passion in the second part of the season. That’s why you win,” Melrose said. “You out-work other teams, you out-want other teams. When you lose that fire and lose that passion, it’s very hard to compete in the NHL.”

Melrose received a vote of confidence from his former player and current Phoenix Coyotes coach Wayne Gretzky who said, “He treats his role players with a great deal of respect. He treats those guys just as good as he treats his top players, I think that’s a fine line and important because guys who don’t play as much … they need to have that reassurance that they’re part of the team also.” Gretzky also called Melrose a tremendous coach, and a true “players coach”.

The Lightning are in the midst of a change in ownership, a deal which should be finalized in June. The Lightning are being sold to a group headed by Oren Koules, Hollywood producer and friend of Barry Melrose and Canadian developer and former NHL player Len Barrie. The pair plan to sign Lecavalier to a contract extension and be an aggressive player in the free agent market.

The Lightning should be a team to watch out for with the talent of Lecavalier, St.Louis and the newly acquired number one overall pick in 2008 NHL draft, Steve Stamkos. Just look up the name on YouTube and you’ll see the type of talent we’re dealing with.

Congrats Barry, just be careful when you go to The Rock in Newark,NJ…I don’t think you’ll want to be seen walking around that building.

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Willie the Goat: Mets Fire Randolph

Jun 17

Posted by admin in AL, Baseball, Defeat, Fantasy Baseball, MLB, NL, NL East, National League East, RBI, Sports, Sports Event, Sports Events, Sports Star, Sports Stars, Uncategorized, World Series, american league, batter, bud selig, manager, national league, online sports community, pitcher, playoffs, scandal, stats | No Comments

By Matt Valentine

(Former Mets Manager Willie Randolph faces questions about his status as manager.)

After a lackluster start to a season that began with high expectations, Willie Randolph was fired by the Mets amidst little fan fare at 3:15 am EST. Just two hours after the Mets (34-35) won their second straight game defeating the L.A. Angels 9-6.

After weeks of letting Randolph twist in the wind, the club has finally made the decision to go another direction with Bench coach Jerry Manuel set to take over as the interim head coach. Also let go were pitching coach Rick Peterson and first base coach Tom Nieto. They will be replaced by the clubs manager at Triple-A New Orleans, Ken Oberkfell, and Dan Warthen, pitching coach for the Zephyrs. Luis Aguayo a Mets field coordinator will also join the major league staff.

Manuel has had success before, he was named the AL Manager of the Year in 2000 after leading the Chicago White Sox to the leagues best record (95-67), he managed the team from 1998-2003.

The Willie saga is finally over, but you have to be disappointed by the way the club handled the matter. Up until point Mets management seemed content to hang Willie out to dry, never giving him a vote of confidence or telling him that he would be let go. Now, it seems they’ve pulled off a midnight coup releasing the manager while Mets fan slept peacefully in their beds dreaming of past glories.

Randolph is not a bad manager he just may have been the wrong man for this team. He did come within one game of the 2006 World Series losing to the eventual champion St. Louis Cardinals on a ninth inning home run by catcher Yadier Molina.

Heading into the 2007 season many predicted that it would be the Mets year to take home the championship that has eluded them since 1986. The Mets were one of the best teams in the National League that year until they pulled off one of the most historic collapses in baseball. The Mets led the NL East by seven games on Sept. 12, but lost 12 of their last 17 and missed the playoffs, with Philadelphia surging back to secure the division crown.

A portion of the blame for that historic collapse should undoubtedly be placed on Randolph. His laid back leadership style was not really suited to spark a team that was in a dismal stretch and showed little desire to avoid an embarrassing situation. Yet, much of the blame should be placed on the players themselves. Jose Reyes slumped for the entire second half of the season, Carlos Delgado was a mere shadow of his former self and Tom Glavine, the Mets most reliable starter, pitched terribly down the stretch.

Both Randolph and the Mets tried to convince their fans and perhaps themselves that last season was behind them, “I really felt we put last year behind us,” he said last month. “Any pressure we feel is because of staying in the mix and not reverting back to last year. I don’t sense that at all. No one ever talks about it, no one ever brings it up, so if we are looking a little like we were last year, there’s no correlation.” But, the demons of last season seemed to have firmly implanted themselves in the Mets psyche , and they have struggled ever since.

I think this is just another case of everyone looking for someone or something to blame and the finger got pointed at Willie. If I was a member of the Mets roster, management, or organization I’d be taking a long, hard look in the mirror before I’d let Willie be the official scapegoat for our mediocre play.

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Hockeytown Opens Its Arms to Embrace Another Stanley Cup

Jun 5

Posted by admin in College Sports, Eastern Conference, Fantasy, Fantasy Sports, GAA, Hockey, NBC, NHL, NHL on NBC, Playoff hockey, Pro Sports, Rules, Sports, Sports Events, Sports Stars, Stanley Cup, USCHO.com, Uncategorized, Western conference, comissioner, commissioner, ice hockey, instant replay, online sports community, playoffs, red light, slapshot, update, wrist shot | No Comments

For the fourth time in 11 seasons the Stanley Cup will spend the off season nesting in Detroit

Thats because the older,and more experienced Detroit team once again outplayed the young rising stars of the Pittsburgh Penguins 3-2 in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Finals, securing their place as the NHL’s best team of the past decade.

(Detroit Red Wings celebrate their 3-2 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Finals.)

The Wings jumped out to an early 1-0 lead when hometown boy Brian Rafalski netted a power play goal just 5:03 into the first period. The goal seemed to deflate the Penguins team and their home crowd leaving the Penguins unable to muster any significant scoring chances for the rest of the period.

Detroit went up 2-0 when Valtteri Filppula put home the rebound of Mikael Samuelsson’s slapshot from just inside the blue line 8:07 into the second period. Pittsburgh stepped up the pressure with about 6 minutes remaining in the second period, but Gary Roberts was denied t

wice by Chris Osgood just outside the crease.

Pittsburgh finally got on the scoreboard during a power play when Evgeni Malkin ripped a slapshot from just inside the left faceoff circle past Osgood, notching his first goal of the series and closing the deficit to one goal.

Detroit recaptured their 2 goal lead when Conn Smythe winner Henrik Zetterberg made a nice move to open up a shooting lane and took a wrist shot that trickled through Fleury’s legs eventually finding its way to the net when Fleury moved to secure the puck.

The Penguins fought their way back to within one when Marian Hossa scored a power play goal with just 1:37 remaining in the third, giving hope to the Pittsburgh faith

ful that another miracle comeback may be on its way. The Pens came close when captain Sidney Crosby took a backhander from the slot that bounced off Osgood’s shoulder and trickled toward the outside of the post. Marian Hossa came streaking in and with just one hand on his stick poked the puck, sending it just wide of the net and across the crease as time expired.

Many of the fans at Mellon Arena applauded their teams valiant effort and stayed to watch the awarding of the Stanley Cup and Conn Smythe trophy from NHL commissioner Gary Bettman.

The Conn Smythe was awarded to Henrik Zetterberg who was tied for the league lead in post-season points (27) and goals (13), and scored the Cup clinching goal. Then the commissioner called over Detroit captain Nicklas Lidstrom, the first European born player to captain his team to a Stanley Cup, to receive hockey’s ultimate prize. It was Lidstrom’s fourth Stanley Cup, and he was joined by some other 4 time Stanley Cup winners including: Darren McCarty, Kris Draper, Tomas Holmstrom , and Kirk Maltby. Dominik Hasek (2), Brian Rafalsk(3), Pavel Datsyuk(2), Chris Chelios(3) and Chris Osgood (3) have all hoisted the cup multiple times as well.

In traditional fashion the cup was passed from player to player and skated around the rink while the fans, players, and coaches allowed the moment to sink in. This marks the 11th Stanley Cup victory for the Detroit Red Wings leaving them third all time behind Toronto(14) and Montreal (24).

Perhaps most noteworthy is that this team is comprised largely of European players, who prefer to play a puck possession game as opposed to the dump and chase game that has been widely employed in the NHL.

Whatever the style of play the outcome is all that matters and for Hockeytown its now time to welcome back an old friend in Lord Stanley’s Cup.

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Ultimate MVP: Conn Smythe Contenders

May 23

Posted by admin in College Sports, Fantasy, Fantasy Sports, High School Sports, Hockey, NHL, Pro Sports, Sports, Sports Events, Sports Stars, Stanley Cup, Uncategorized, ice hockey, playoffs | No Comments

Now that we’ve seen the contenders from the Red Wings, lets take a look at the Conn Smythe contenders from the Pittsburgh Penguins.

1. Sydney Crosby

Any conversation about the Penguins needs to start with their captain and face of the franchise, Sydney Crosby. Crosby has accomplished a lot in his three short years in the NHL, capturing the Hart Trophy, Art Ross Trophy and the Lester B. Pearson Award. Now, Crosby has the chance to add two new trophies to his mantle, Lord Stanley’s Cup and the Conn Smythe. Crosby has always been a team oriented player and has demonstrated that by his terrific defensive play and his ability to set up his talented teammates posting 17A in the playoffs so far. He’s tallied only 4 goals to date but I’m expecting him to step his goal production for the finals. We all know he is an extremely gifted, and talented player and it only helps that Detroit won’t be able to focus all their attention on him given the depth of the Penguins offense.

2. Evgeni Malkin

Malkin is big, strong, physical, an excellent stick handler, and pure scorer, too bad he can’t speak a spit of English otherwise he could be the face of this franchise if Crosby is unavailable. Actually, in a way he did become the face of the franchise when Crosby went down with an ankle injury during the regular season. Malkin carried the Pittsburgh offense during that stretch and the team never missed a beat. Malkin has been streaky in the playoffs this year going on mini hot streaks and then disappearing for a game or two at a time. Despite that he’s still second on his team in scoring and is tied for third in the league with 19 pts (9G-10A). If Malkin can remain consistent throughout the series and if his team captures the cup then he could be hoisting two trophies that night.

3. Marc-Andre Fleury

There have been a lot of factors that have made Fleury a more complete goalie this year, and the most important one is his increased willingness to play the puck. Fleury used to avoid the puck like it carried the plague. Now, his outlet passes have taken pressure off his defenseman and created offensive chances. Fleury also has to credit an optometrist with an assist when he informed Fleury that his yellow pads made him extremely visible to opposing players, he made the switch to white pads, and his game has truly seemed to benefit from the change. Fleury has blossomed in the post-season leading the league in shutouts with 3, save percentage (.938) and is second in GAA (1.70). Fleury has a daunting task ahead of him in shutting down the Wings offense, but if he pulls it off it will be hard to argue against him winning the Conn Smythe.

4. Marian Hossa

Far and away the best trade deadline move made in the NHL this year was the Penguins acquisition of Marian Hossa. Hossa has tallied 9G and 10A for a total of 19pts this post-season and is a threat to score every time he takes the ice. Playing with some of the leagues most talented players doesn’t exactly hurt his stat-line either. This may be the last games Hossa plays in a Penguins uniform and taking home the cup and the Conn Smythe are well within reach for this superstar.

5. Ryan Malone

Malone is a veteran presence for this young team and really seemed to catch fire in the last series against Philadelphia notching 6 points in five games (3G-3A). He has 15 points so far in the post-season with 6G and 9A, and has continued to elevate his game from series to series. Malone is defintely the dark horse candidate to take home the Conn Smythe, but if he continues to elevate his game like he has throughout the playoffs he could be the one taking home the hardware.

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Let’s See That in Instant Replay!

May 23

Posted by admin in Baseball, Basketball, College Sports, Fantasy, Fantasy Sports, Football, High School Sports, Pro Sports, Sports, Sports Events, Sports Stars, Sports Tragedies, Uncategorized, ice hockey, instant replay, online sports community | No Comments

BY Matt Valentine

I really don’t know what Major League Baseball is thinking, but I am pretty sure it’s a thought process that is stuck somewhere in the 1900’s.

MLB needs to face the facts and realize that we are living in a fairly technologically advanced society. Every other major sport including the NFL, NHL, and NBA all employ the modern marvel that is instant replay, and the MLB should follow suit.

We’ve all seen games turn on important calls made by officials after they have taken a good long look at instant replay. Instant replay allows us to see whether or not Crosby kicked that puck in with a skate, or if Randy Moss had both feet in for that game winning catch, or if Carlos Delgado really just hit that three run homer. Oh wait…instant replay didn’t do too much for that last one.

(Delgado’s “foul ball” glances off the foul pole at Yankee Stadium nearly killing a fan…just kidding. )

And this is what I don’t understand. If you have the technology that would allow you to make the right call a helluva lot more often then you would without it, then why not use it? I don’t buy into that whole integrity of the game argument, what integrity is there in getting a call wrong and possibly changing the outcome of a game?

Fortunately for the NY Mets taking away Delgado’s home run didn’t really matter as they went on to trounce the Yanks anyway, but what if it had mattered? And how many times could instant replay have changed the outcome of other baseball games? Home plate Umpire Bob Davidson took the blame for having blown the call telling reporters, ” I —-ed it up. I’m the one who thought it was a —- foul ball. I saw it on the replay. I’m the one who —-ed it up so you can put that in your paper,”.

I for one agree Bob, you definetely F’d it up, but you also said the key words “I saw it on the replay”. Um…hello, if MLB had replay you could have overturned your own bad call right then and there, and you wouldn’t have to feel so bad about it Bob.

I’m not suggesting that instant replay should be used for every play in baseball, but for certain plays it could be incredibly useful. It could have been really useful for Delgado fantasy owners I’ll tell you that much.

So heres my criteria for how instant replay should be used in MLB.

  1. Boundary Calls- Use instant replay to see if balls really cleared the fence, if a fan interfered, or if the ball was fair or foul. Umps are only human they’re bound to make mistakes especially considering the speed of the plays. Instant replay could help eliminate a vast majority of these mistakes.
  2. Plays at the plate- a play at the plate can really change the outcome of a game, that should go without saying, but sometimes even the home plate umpire doesn’t have a clear view, or the play just happens too quickly. Let the ump take a look at replay to see if he made the right call.
  3. Stolen bases- We’ve all seen it, a player slides into second base seemingly way ahead of the tag or way behind the tag and the call goes the opposite way. Stolen bases help lead to runs, look at what happened in Game 4 of the 2004 ALCS, Roberts steal of second helped force the game to extra innings and the rest is history. Not that, that particular steal was a close call, but in the case of close calls instant replay would help.

Using instant replay for any other means such as deciding strikes or balls would just slow an already slowly paced game and is truly unnecessary. So, heres to hoping that sometime in the very near future the players, the fans, and the umps will all reap the benefits of instant replay.

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Avery’s Antics Forces NHL to Change Rule

Apr 15

Posted by admin in Eastern Conference, Fantasy, Fantasy Sports, GAA, Hockey, NBC, NHL, NHL on NBC, Playoff hockey, Pro Sports, Rules, Sports, Sports Events, Sports Stars, Stanley Cup, USCHO.com, Uncategorized, Western conference, comissioner, ice hockey, online sports community, playoffs, slapshot, stats, update | 3 Comments

Let’s start this by saying I am a Devil’s fan, I’m not going to hide, in fact I am quite proud of it. I have had the pleasure of watching my team skate to 3 Stanley Cup Championships. And in all my time playing and watching hockey I have never, and hopefully will never see the likes of what Sean Avery did in game 3 of the Devils/Rangers series again.

I’m sure by know most of you know what I’m talking about, but just in case you don’t it looked like Sean Avery was having a seizure in front of Marty Brodeur. Arms flailing around everywhere, stick flying all over the place, it was by far one of the most bush league plays I have seen in a long time.

(Avery screens Brodeur in an “unusual manner”.)

And honestly, it couldn’t have come from a more likely source. Avery has been a pest ever since he joined the NHL, he is the leagues premiere instigator, and many would say it’s premiere Jack ass. Avery’s mouth is like a 7-11 its open 24 hours a day. And like a 7-11 pretty much everything that comes out of it is garbage.

It is no secret that Avery and Brodeur are not the best of friends, hell I’d venture to say their mortal enemies at this point. After all, it is Avery who keeps a running commentary about Brodeur’s old divorce, (just a side note wasn’t Avery like 18 when the Olsen twins were making their debut on “Full House”?) and it is Avery who so frequently finds himself interfering with Brodeur he might as well just save us all the trouble and head to the box before the puck even drops.

I could admire Avery if he did his jawing, played a tough game, and produced, which he does, but every time something happens to him, every time someone brushes up against him, or hits him a second after he’s played the puck he’s constantly looking for the man in stripes, whining that the other team is playing unfairly. This coming from a guy who was recently voted the dirtiest player in the NHL by his own peers!

I think it diminishes from his talent. Avery may be an ass but he is also a talented player, that is if you can notice his skill level, in between all his jawing and his ridiculous antics. Perhaps Gary Roberts from the Pittsburgh Penguins put it best when he said, “He’s an idiot”. I mean Avery has managed to carve out a place for himself in NHL history, but it won’t be in the Hall of Fame, more likely (you already know it) the Hall of Shame.

Granted there was no rule in place to stop Avery from doing what he did but as Montreal goalie Carey Price said, “It’s almost an unwritten rule”. Well now it is a written rule, so thank you Sean Avery, for forcing the NHL to protect itself and its integrity against morons like yourself. The NHL released a statement today saying that:

“An unsportsmanlike conduct minor penalty (Rule 75) will be interpreted and applied, effective immediately, to a situation when an offensive player positions himself facing the opposition goaltender and engages in actions such as waving his arms or stick in front of the goaltender’s face, for the purpose of improperly interfering with and/or distracting the goaltender as opposed to positioning himself to try to make a play.”

Sean you’ve done it, you’ve made your mark on the NHL! Congratulations! I hope your parents are proud.


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2008 NHL Eastern Conference Stanley Cup Playoff Predictions

Apr 10

Posted by admin in Uncategorized | 3 Comments

It is the time of the year for every NHL fan to flash that empty toothed grin because for all of us it is the best time of the year…the playoffs. Every player will be pushing towards hockey’s ultimate prize… Lord Stanley’s Cup. This year features some storied rivalries and some tight match ups. Let’s examine the opening round of the 2008 Eastern Conference playoffs.

Eastern Conference-

In the East the Devils and Rangers will square off and add another chapter to their cross river rivalry. Look for the talented Rangers offense to outscore the sometimes stagnant offense of the Devils in a tight series that should go 6 or 7 games. The Devils only saving grace will be the play of goaltender Martin Brodeur, if he can be a stone wall between the pipes the Devils have an excellent chance to move on to the conference semifinals. If Brodeur is anything less than stellar look for the Rangers and their goalie Henrik Lundqvist, who has played outstanding hockey against the Devils this season to take the series in 6.

(Rangers Jagr slips a shot past the Devils Martin Brodeur)

Another long and storied rival rooted in the NHL’s past takes place between the Montreal Canadians and the Boston Bruins. These two teams have a long history of heated playoff series. However, Montreal’s potent offense and talented, hard hitting blue-liners should give the Habs the edge. Once again, the play of Bruin’s goalie Tim Thomas, who was incredibly hot in net leading the Bruins to the playoffs, could be the difference maker. Consider also, that Montreal’s Carey Price is an inexperienced playoff goaltender, making his first ever post-season appearance this year. The emotion of this rivalry should keep the games close but I’m taking the Canadians in 5.

Montreals Carey Price celebrates a win with his teamates.

(Canadians goalie Carey Price celebrates a win with his teammates.)

Another interesting series to watch is between the second seeded Pittsburgh Penguins and seventh seeded Ottawa Senators. Both of these teams have incredible offensive talent, with top lines that should rival or be considered the best in the NHL. Pittsburgh has a great mix of young explosive talent, and grizzled veterans in the form Sydney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Marion Hossa, and veterans Petr Sykora, Gary Roberts and Sergei Gonchar. Ottawa can counter with some extremely talented players of their own in Daniel Alfredson, Dany Heatley, and Jason Spezza. However, the Penguins look to be a team primed to make a deep run in the playoffs, and Ottawa has under preformed all year… I don’t see that changing anytime soon and I’m taking the Penguins in 5.

(Penguins Sydney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin celebrate a goal.)

Perhaps the toughest series to call is between third seeded Washington and sixth seeded Philadelphia. The Capitals have what some say is the most talented player in the NHL in Alexander Ovechkin, who tallied a league leading 65 goals this year. The Flyer’s have their share of talented players as well and the talent level between the two teams forwards is not as decisive as some may think. Philly has the edge with its tough and experienced defense but Martin Biron (Philly’s goalie) has never been a number one goalie in the playoffs and Cristobel Huet, (the Capitals backstop) gained some valuable playoff experience with Montreal last year. This series though, will hinge on the play of Alexander Ovechkin if he takes his game to the next level there is no slowing him down and given that its his first crack at the playoffs, I think he will. I’m taking Washington in 7.

(Capitals Alexander Ovechkin celebrates one of his 65 goals.)

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