There are 4 teams in the NHL's Eastern Conference that made the playoffs last year, that could miss it this year. Well, one of them has come to the Eastern Conference, but has made the playoffs the last 22 seasons.
Now, a bit of a disclaimer: I'm not saying this is a sure thing!
Oh, the Leafs?
You know the term, "Winning ugly"?
I'm not going to even bother with stats. This team has been outplayed night in, night out. Every game, pretty much this year. The other teams must be averaging 40 shots against them a game.
It's just too much for goalies like Jonathan Bernier and James Reimer to keep this up. And then, add to that the Dave Bolland injury. Whose to say that is not worse than what happened to Erik Karlsson last year?
Speaking of Karlsson...
He came back last year and played great. This year has been even better! After a slow start, he's on pace for his best season. Check. Jason Speeza, who also missed almost all of last year, is back. And he's also playing great. Check.
But Craig Anderson has been a little off. However, Robin (Hood) Lehner is there to save the puck and the day. Okay, so what is it with this team?
It's quite simple, as Barry Melrose explained over on nhl.com. Teams now take this team seriously. They didn't last year. Actually, I'm going to go one step further. Two seasons ago, the Sens were not expected to make the playoffs. They did, and gave the Rangers all they could handle in the first round.
Last year, Spezza and Karlsson go down. Okay, let's see them do that again!
They did, and then they upset Montreal in the first round. Now they are a team on the rise. The Sens know it. So do the other teams.
This will be a year where teams take the Sens seriously. Ottawa will have to work harder than they have in the past to win this season. If the Sens are as serious as the other teams, they make it.
If not...
Now, a bit of a disclaimer: I'm not saying this is a sure thing!
Toronto
Oh, the Leafs?
You know the term, "Winning ugly"?
I'm not going to even bother with stats. This team has been outplayed night in, night out. Every game, pretty much this year. The other teams must be averaging 40 shots against them a game.
It's just too much for goalies like Jonathan Bernier and James Reimer to keep this up. And then, add to that the Dave Bolland injury. Whose to say that is not worse than what happened to Erik Karlsson last year?
Ottawa
Speaking of Karlsson...
He came back last year and played great. This year has been even better! After a slow start, he's on pace for his best season. Check. Jason Speeza, who also missed almost all of last year, is back. And he's also playing great. Check.
But Craig Anderson has been a little off. However, Robin (Hood) Lehner is there to save the puck and the day. Okay, so what is it with this team?
It's quite simple, as Barry Melrose explained over on nhl.com. Teams now take this team seriously. They didn't last year. Actually, I'm going to go one step further. Two seasons ago, the Sens were not expected to make the playoffs. They did, and gave the Rangers all they could handle in the first round.
Last year, Spezza and Karlsson go down. Okay, let's see them do that again!
They did, and then they upset Montreal in the first round. Now they are a team on the rise. The Sens know it. So do the other teams.
This will be a year where teams take the Sens seriously. Ottawa will have to work harder than they have in the past to win this season. If the Sens are as serious as the other teams, they make it.
If not...
New York Islanders
Last year was a big step forward. Is this year a big step back? So far, yes.
But like Ottawa, they have the players to turn this thing around. That big trade might bring what they need. They have also added some character, toughness and depth to the team in the last few years. So what's the problem?
It's not jelling so far this season.
It's not jelling so far this season.
Detroit
Wait, this team is in the East? Oh, yeah! But after dominating the West for years, will it continue here? Only time will tell!
As for the last time the Red Wings missed the playoffs, you have to go back to 1989-90. It would be very odd if it was this year. But they are sort of due, yes?
References
"Official Site of the National Hockey League” | NHL.com. National Hockey League. Web. 13 Nov. 2013. <https://www.nhl.com>
Sports Reference LLC. Hockey-Reference.com - Hockey Statistics and History. http://www.hockey-reference.com/. Web. 13 Nov. 2013.
References
"Official Site of the National Hockey League” | NHL.com. National Hockey League. Web. 13 Nov. 2013. <https://www.nhl.com>
Sports Reference LLC. Hockey-Reference.com - Hockey Statistics and History. http://www.hockey-reference.com/. Web. 13 Nov. 2013.
No comments:
Post a Comment