Vancouver vs Edmonton

[ktang 34]

Edmonton is currently 1 pt ahead of Vancouver (as of Mon 20 Mar), and they have a 3-game back-to-back-to-back series coming up. This might decide who is ousted for the playoffs.

Both teams haven't had that much success since the trading deadline.

Edmonton: Rolo seems to have had a few lapses in concentration in the nets, and seems to be too hyper. Maybe if he steals a game in this high-pressure situation it will boost his confidence.

Vancouver: Weinrich and Carney look like they are still getting used to their new team-mates and the Vancouver system. I think they are both -ve since arriving in Vancouver. The Morrison - Naslund - Bertuzzi "line" have been struggling, so they have been split up.

I think this is a key series for both teams' seasons. If they split, they might be overtaken by Anaheim / LA / San Jose. If one spanks the other it will be a huge confidence booster.

[jjtt99 0]

I think the NorthWest division is the toughest in the league. Those games will totally be playoff like. I totally agree with your observations of both teams. These games could definitely determine who has an early date with the golf greens.

[KC83 2]

i think that carney is the only one that looks out of place, but he has made a lot of plays that most of vancouvers defencemen could not make

there was the columbus game, where nash went in 1on1 with carney and nash got a step outside on carney and carney just took a long turn on the outside and just barley pushed nash off the puck... there would be no way kevin bieska or nolan baumgartner could do that... but

this is going to be intense....

a definate playoff series...

[sherwood21 0]

I'm going to the game tonight, it should be really good. See how Van city reacts after getting wrecked by Detroit last game. The media here is going crazy off of this match up though.

[Chadd 916]

I think the NorthWest division is the toughest in the league. Those games will totally be playoff like. I totally agree with your observations of both teams. These games could definitely determine who has an early date with the golf greens.

I don't think it's the toughest division, just that each team has holes that the others can exploit. Edmonton has had suspect goaltending all year, but they can score sometimes. Vancouver has had injury and motivational problems, but can score when they want to. Calgary isn't very deep or talented on offense, but has great goaltending most nights. Minnesota has cheap management but works harder than most other teams.

I think the Pacific and Northeast divisions are just as good in terms of overall quality.

[ktang 34]

As of Tues 21 Mar...

Whoa, Anaheim is in 6th place now! Way to go Brian Burke!

Vancouver is in 9th, 1 point behind Edmonton and only a couple ahead of San Jose! The Canucks had a coaches-player meeting, and then a players-only meeting, in lieu of practice yesterday.

Edmonton vs Vancouver, 3 straight times in 5 nights, starting tonight.

I don't know what's going on in the East, but it looks like a lot of important games for Atlanta, Mtl, TO, and maybe Florida coming up...

[Eazy_b97 1]

Is TSN carrying the Edmonton game?

Lotta Leaf fans cheering for a loss tonight, that 6th overall pick is still within reach :)

[ktang 34]

The Edmonton - Vancouver game tonight is on Rogers Sportsnet West and Pacific.

[Adam91 0]

i think that carney is the only one that looks out of place,

Are you kidding me? Weinrich is already -8

[DarkStar50 679]

I think the Pacific and Northeast divisions are just as good in terms of overall quality.

Chadd,

Check the points and that idea falls apart.

[Eazy_b97 1]

I think the Pacific and Northeast divisions are just as good in terms of overall quality.

Chadd,

Check the points and that idea falls apart.

Top end in the NE is higher. St. Louis and Chicago are the weakest teams in the NHL, Washington and Pittsburg both are much more difficult to play against. Motivational factors of playing on HNIC against Toronto or Montreal can also come into play as well. I can't say one is a clear cut winner, but I think the NE is still up there for the most difficult division in hockey.

[DarkStar50 679]

Northeast vs Northwest: Records entering 3/21/06

Northeast 341 games 165 wins, 140 losses, 34 ot, 364 points

Northwest 341 games 177 wins, 126 losses, 38 ot, 392 points

Toronto and Boston would get chewed up in Northwest. Throw out HNIC motivation idea, its what happens on the ice that matters. There is another rachet of intensity in the Northwest that the Northeast doesn't come close to matching game in and game out.

[Eazy_b97 1]

Toronto matches up well against the North West. Calgary has no offense, Vancouver's hit and miss, Minny's a trapping team. They were in a huge slump just before they entered the West road trip when McCabe was injured and still remained competetive for those games. Boston I can see having trouble.

Vancouver doesn't have the depth on forward with Naslund's line producing like they and goaltending questions, so I'd say they don't march up well in the Northeast. I'd think Calgary would slide in around where Buffalo is. Hard working team, great coaching and goaltending. Buffalo is better offensively, Calgary defensively, although Buffalo can hold their own in their own end.

I definately think that the West has alot of middle ground teams, where the strongest clubs (at least for regular season) are in the East. I'd put Ottawa, Carolina and Buffalo ahead of anyone in the West on a night to night basis. I'd say Dallas is really the only team which rivals them, and they have alot of points from their shoot-out victories.

[Chadd 916]

Northeast vs Northwest: Records entering 3/21/06

Northeast 341 games 165 wins, 140 losses, 34 ot, 364 points

Northwest 341 games 177 wins, 126 losses, 38 ot, 392 points

Toronto and Boston would get chewed up in Northwest. Throw out HNIC motivation idea, its what happens on the ice that matters. There is another rachet of intensity in the Northwest that the Northeast doesn't come close to matching game in and game out.

I tend to agree with Eazy's comments. I would take Ottawa (with a healthy hasek) over any of the teams in a series, Buffalo too. After that it's all matchups and could easily see anyone winning. I just don't see it as a clear cut difference like some people say.

[DarkStar50 679]

Toronto matches up well against the North West.

Lots of good points but Toronto doesn't match up in their in own division. If there style is only good for 70 points and 10th place in the East, it would put them in 12th in the West behind Minnesota. That would be last place in the Northwest. Do you think the Leafs will make the playoffs? And making the playoffs is at least the minimum requirement to being a good team. Once the playoffs begin all the dust will settle and we will see who is left standing going deeper into the playoffs. The regular season can expose flaws in all teams but the playoffs bring out the strongest teams.

[Eazy_b97 1]

I do not think the Leafs will make the play-offs and I do not think they match up well in their division for a few reasons.

1 - Ottawa is out to kill them every game they play. Ottawa is bar none the most talented team in the NHL. Ontop of the talent and motivation they have a strong D-core, a good goalie, but most importantly a potent offense which is much stronger than anything in the NW. This gives Toronto most of their problems here.

2 - Buffalo has always been a Leaf killing team. Not sure why, but it's always been that way. They are one of, if not the quickest teams in the league and Toronto lacks speed. Once again, great all round offense which doesn't work well against Toronto's slower D.

3 - Montreal Toronto games are always a toss up because of the great history. Toronto does actually match-up well against Montreal as their goaltending is good, but they aren't overly offensive.

4 - Boston's in the same category, history causes problems, but on-ice they match up well.

Nobody in the North West has the offense of Ottawa or Buffalo, and I can only see Detroit even giving them a run for offensive talent. Toronto doesn't struggle against good defensive teams as they use their PP to score the majority of their goals. Strong goaltending causes some problems, but they are rarely "beaten by a goaltender". Kipper is a good goalie, and may cause some issues, but the overall North West make-up is 1 line, with a strong D-core.

Calgary - 1 line, strong D-core. Physical as hell

Vancouver - 1 line (at least this year) and have been struggling lately with their D.

Minny - 1 line, strong defensively

Colorado - May be the team they stack up the worst against, and even then it's not nearly as lobsided as their Buffalo or Ottawa match-ups.

I don't doubt someone from the NW will go deep into the play-offs, likely to the cup, and I'm not sure I can see Ott/Buff doing that, but thats not my point. For regular season purposes, the NE is at least as difficult. Calgary's strength is being able to wear down it's opponents during a 7 game series, you don't get those during regular "divisional" play. Vancouver needs it's players to have a chance. Edmonton is weak offensively, and weak in net. I love their players (mainly Stoll, Torres and Pronger), but they aren't an overly strong team. Colorado has huge question marks and Minny is built around the trap, so they are tough, but don't really stray from something you are expecting.

I definately think the stats lie in this case.

[Chadd 916]

I definately think the stats lie in this case.

"There are three kinds of lies. Lies, damn lies and statistics."

Benjamin Disraeli

[ktang 34]

Well, Vancouver won the 1st two, but Edmonton got a single point from the 2nd one (exciting game, with a shoot-out). This was supposedly the best Vancouver game of the year, from an entertainment point of view.

Hopefully the finale (tomorrow, Saturday 25 Mar) will be just as exciting.

In the East, I suppose the Mtl - TO 2-game series is similar, although both are out of the playoffs as of today.

[sherwood21 0]

Montreal isn't out of the playoffs. They actually have the best chance out of all those teams as they have a bunch of home games left against brutal teams.

[warrior37 0]

i think he meant as of now they are

[sherwood21 0]

ohh my bad. even if they do make it they'll play one of Ottawa/Carolina and get tpumped so I don't even know where I stand on the whole thing.

[warrior37 0]

im calling det vs car/ott for the cup.....with the wings winning in a perfect world, then the pistons, and maybe the tigers will go over .500, then the lions, mehhhh im rambling

[ktang 34]

Oil won the 3rd game tonight, so they and the Nucks are tied for 7th. A really good game. San Jose is only 2 points behind them, with 3 games in hand over the Nucks.

How about Anaheim, up to 5th in the West!

And, now Mtl is up to 8th in the East again.

Detroit definitely looks like the class of the West. But, who's consistent in the East? Maybe Ottawa or Carolina... Rangers look like they are cooling off... Buffalo?

[Eazy_b97 1]

Carolina's been the most consisent. Ottawa's had some real highlights, but some real poor showings as well.

[Chadd 916]

im calling det vs car/ott for the cup.....with the wings winning in a perfect world, then the pistons, and maybe the tigers will go over .500, then the lions, mehhhh im rambling

That's going out on a limb, they're the top couple teams in terms of points. When was the last time the top regular season teams made it to the cup finals?