Stanley Cup Predictions

[Reenk Roink]

I'm definitely thinking 4 cups in 9 years for the Red Wings...

Look how good Shanahan is playing.

[Krypta]

Well I do think its a bit early still to make predictions, I don't think Red Wings have a chance. And I will tell you why for a number of reasons. Stevie Y, the backbone of the Red Wings hasnt been the same since being injured and imo we are witnessing the twilight of his career. Their goaltending is questionable and without Scotty Bowman they havent been the same. Shanahan is good but he isnt a Stevie Y nuff said. Furthermore, their division is devoid of any sort of challenge(St.Louis is the worst in the entire NHL, Chicago is almost as bad and Columbus Who?) and thus when it comes to conference rankings I think that Detroit numbers are a bit inflated.

Now the Red Wings have some talent, they arent pure evil and are gonna get punished come play off time. Why? 4 reasons, Montreal, Ottawa and the machines Edmonton and Calgary. My prediction for Stanley's Mug, follow the trail of heads and broken bodies ... it will lead you to one of these 4 teams.

[Mount Suribachi]

Impossible to predict, too many teams in with a chance...

I'll still go with my Redwings though Babcock has added a bit of steel to the team and they're younger and faster with more role players on the roster than in the past few years (with thanks to the salary cap for that)

[Alexanderofmacedon]

Yeah, I've loved the Red Wings for ages, even though I live in Texas...

Go Wings!

[Ldvs]

I'd say the Senators, although they're having a hard period and Philadelphia because Forsberg is unstoppable.

[Reenk Roink]

Forsberg is unstoppable.

Good one .

[Ice]

Yeah, I've loved the Red Wings for ages, even though I live in Texas...

Go Wings!

[Reenk Roink]

Well, it's time to bump this once poorly timed thread as it now has more relevance and discuss the professional level of the only sport that's > than Curling...

Hockey...

Here are the standings:



And here are the matchups:

http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/matchups?season=2006

Some fun facts:

The Red Wings, once again, win the Presidents Trophy (easily) for the best record in the league. Their 3rd in 4 seasons...

The Red Wings had the second most goals scored (behind Ottawa) and second least goals allowed (behind Calgary)...

The Red Wings had the best special teams in the league (#1 power play and #3 penalty kill) adding up to 4...much lower than any other team in the NHL.

The Red Wings were the only team with less than 20 regulation losses (16), 5 less than #2 Ottawa.

The Red Wings had eight 20-goal scorers...

The Red Wings still command the best depth of any lineup in the NHL:

With the legendary captain Steve Yzerman (who recently also had a coming-out party with an 11 game point streak in which he had 5 goals and 9 assists, only ended when he was slightly injured in a game with Edmonton, after which he missed two games and was held scoreless in the meaning loss to Nashville which closed the regular season) and Brendan Shanahan (who saved the NHL from more lockout, and then had his best season in 10 years with 40 goals and 41 assists) showing that the only effect age has is building experience and leadership.

With a front line that can boast the likes of veterans Yzerman, Shanahan, and Lang as well as the younguns Datsyuk and Zetterberg, the surprisingly good Williams and Samuelsson, and the roleplaying Draper, Maltby, and Holmstrom, can you name another team that match the diverse talent?

Oh, and don't forget about the defense. You have world class Lidstrom (aka the best player in the world currently and for the past 5 years) and Schneider, who both are offensive machines (Lidstrom leads NHL defensemen in points, Schneider leads NHL defensemen in goals) but are also masters of the art of defense. Then you have Hall of Famer Chelios, who keeps getting better on defense though his offense is in his late stages. Then you have the young Kronwall, who is sure to become a defenseman of renown, and don't forget Fischer, who probably wont play but still...

And if you even try to question Manny, question this record:



Oh, and our backup won a Stanley Cup with us too...

Woot!

Happyness

[Evil_Maniac From Mars]

Go New Jersey!

[GeneralHankerchief]

I have to go with the Flyers.

After a Game One demolishment by Buffalo, they put Niitymakki in and proceeds to play at the level he did in Torino.

Forsberg/Gagne stay healthy, and wreak havoc on their Eastern Conference rivals, taking down the Devils in 7 games.

They meet the Red Wings, who finally show their age and lose in 6. The Curse of Billy Penn is over and Ken Hitchcock is elected Mayor of Philadelphia even though the election isn't until 2007 and Hitchcock doesn't run.

Oh well, I can dream can't I?

[Alexanderofmacedon]

• Dallas Stars
• Red Wings

Those are my picks. One of those two will win.

[Renly]

The Wings got it this year. This city is amazing around playoff time.

[Hurin_Rules]

In the east, look out for New Jersey and Buffalo. I don't think Ottawa is going all the way, so I'm going to pick a dark horse and say Buffalo. In the West, I like the Red Wings. In fact, I'll pick them for the cup.

I'm a Habs fan myself, but even I know they don't have much of a shot unless Christobal Huet is the reincarnation of Patrick Roy and Ken Dryden.

[Alexanderofmacedon]

Some how Colorado is really taken it to Dallas right now. It was 5-2 last time I checked! Sucks for my dad, but I'm a Wings fan myself!

[Mount Suribachi]

LETS GO REDWINGS!

After the Avs upset win in game 1, I strangely find myself rooting for them. A 2nd round wings-avs matchup would kick ass

[Evil_Maniac From Mars]

Wow. Just wow. The Devils can't POSSIBLY lose. Martin Brodeur OWNAGE!



The Rangers might as well now.

[KukriKhan]

Red Wings in 7. Or that $20 is gone.

[BigTex]

The canadians will lose and the swedish will go home with the Stanley cup!




















Oh no wait that was the olympics. My bet is the Dallas Stars.

[Reenk Roink]

Red Wings in 7. Or that $20 is gone.

So far every team has been able to even up the series. We'll see how that stands after tonight's games..

EDIT: Disregard that...

[Alexanderofmacedon]

What is crazy? The Dallas series. First game went something like this:

Game One:Dallas goes up 2-0. Colorado scores 5 unanswered goals to finish the game at 5-2.

Game Two:Colorado goes up 3-0. Dallas scores 4 unanswered goals to make it 4-3. Colorado scores in the last three minutes of regulation and win in overtime.



AND, Dallas is 2nd in their division while Colorado is 7th and both games IN Dallas were won by Colorado.

WTH?

[drone]

Just heard about the Edmonton Beer Shortage:
http://www.citytv.com/edmonton/news_29554.aspx
My sincerest condolences to our neighbors from the North. Give us a call if you need an emergency airlift.

Go Oilers!