'History Will Be Made - Ales Hemsky'

Here is a video I made this afternoon...

Top 5 players who need to step up – now!

As we inch towards the playoffs, there are certain players on certain teams that need to kick their game up a notch before April 14 rolls around. Here are my top five players (on playoff contenders) who need step up – now!

1. Thomas Vanek
As it sits right now, the Buffalo Sabres are a good enough all-around team to make some noise and challenge Washington and/or Pittsburgh in a seven-game series. Maybe not beat them, but challenge them. A cameo appearance of the real Thomas Vanek could change that. He has the ability to be the Sabres’ answer to Ovechkin or Crosby (goal-scoring wise). Vanek is a great talent having an off-year. If he kicks it up a notch in April and May, don’t be surprised to see Buffalo still playing in June.
2. Jose Theodore / Semyon Varlamov
Last year, all it took was 60 minutes before Bruce Boudreau surprisingly turned to then-rookie Varlamov. Theodore was awful in Game 1 vs. the Rangers, and rode the pine the rest of the way. How will he fare this time around?? In his last three playoff seasons, he has posted a 3.14 GAA between the Avalanche and Capitals. If he’s on a short leash again this year, Varlamov will certainly see some action. He also has to be better in the playoffs, compared to his second round debacle vs. Pittsburgh a year ago.
3. Antti Niemi / Cristobal Huet
Another team with some questions between the pipes is Chicago. Niemi and Huet have played musical chairs in the crease this season, and it’s still unclear who’ll get the nod come playoff time. Joel Quenneville doesn’t have much time to decide, but my money is on Niemi to at least get the start in Game 1 unless Huet steals the show down the stretch. The Blackhawks’ talent up front can carry them in an opening round series vs. Colorado or Nashville, but the goaltending has to step up and be clutch against the big boys in the West.
4. Alexei Kovalev
When GM Bryan Murray signed Kovalev to a hefty two-year pact this summer, he was probably expecting more production out of the veteran forward. Last night’s overtime winner in Washington was his first point since the Olympic break. His offensive production has come in waves in his first year with the Senators. 7 of his 18 goals came in 2 separate games this winter against Carolina and Philly. Kovalev, who was a point-per-game-player in the playoffs with Montreal, needs to add some offensive punch to Ottawa’s lineup this spring.
5. David Legwand
While Legwand does play a really good defensive-minded game, his lack of production over the years on the other end of the ice has driven Predators fans crazy. With Jason Arnott sidelined for who-knows-how-long with a supposed concussion, Legwand has become the team’s top center… which isn’t a good thing with two weeks before the playoffs. Needless to say, Legwand has to step up and at least create scoring chances – with the occasional goal – and help the Preds accomplish their goal of getting out of the first round.

See you next year, Toronto!

(Note: By Anthony Curatolo, emailed to me!)

Current record-
28-36-13, 69 points (15th in East)
When they were mathematically eliminated-
March 30th
The stretch that killed them-
October 1 through November 19 (3-11-6)

Here's the best thing about hockey: there is always next year! Well at least we know, at this point in time, there will at least be one more following this season. Unfortunately for Ron Wilson, Brian Burke, and the rest of the Toronto Maple Leafs, this season was over before it started.

Truculence was the theme Burke used to place the pieces of the puzzle for his roster together. It failed miserably. Just because you hand out the big contracts to the supposed big-name players does not mean there will be chemistry.

As of today, Burke has an overpaid blue-line, an inconsistent set of goaltenders, a forward group of youngsters begging for experience and his team is a lottery team in the draft – yet they do not even own their first round pick!

And to be frank, as well as the team has been playing since the return of the NHL from the Olympic break, there is no pressure on the team when there is no playoffs opportunity in sight.

The good:
Phil Kessel
Tyler Bozak
Luke Schenn
Nikolai Kulemin
Luca Caputi
Mikhail Grabovsky

The bad:
Francois Beaucheman
Jeff Finger
Garnet Exelby

The ugly:
Mike Komisarek
Rickard Wallin
Jonas Gustavsson’s medical issues

Heading up to as well as on deadline day, Brian Burke held true to his word that changes would be made. Shipped out were the likes of Matt Stajan, Alexei Ponikarovsky, Jason Blake, Vesa Toskala and Ian White to name a few; a lot of salary was sent packing. Although the returns Burke obtained for the future came with high price tags, Dion Phaneuf was worth both the price Burke paid as well as what was taken on with his salary.

There remains a puzzle, though, which has yet to be completed in Toronto. As of this writing, the pieces that are currently missing are easier to obtain than one may think.

Just because the original plan failed in Toronto, do not underestimate Brian Burke. I'm sure he has a few new tricks up his sleeve for when July 1st rolls around. It should also be an understanding among the general public of hockey that Burke will do all he can to obtain a first round pick for this summer’s upcoming NHL Entry Draft.

Next season has brighter spots when comparing to this season. Opportunity exists from the chemistry that is being created with the remainder of this season. Burke may have overpaid a bit with his off-season strategies, but he has made amends since.

The Leafs’ youth looks to lead the club in a competitive direction as early as next year. With a properly solidified blue-line now, J.S. Giguere being re-united with Francois Allaire, and the kids proving they are deserving of roster spots next season, the Leafs will only need to tinker a bit this off-season.

The playoffs will have to wait until next year for Toronto.

See you next year, Tampa Bay!

Current record-
30-34-12, 72 points (14th in East)
When they were mathematically eliminated-
Pending – will be any day now
The stretch that killed them-
February 11 through March 21 (2-11-1)

You can define Tampa Bay’s season with one word: inconsistency. Whether it was the offense, blue-line, or goaltending, Rick Tocchet and company couldn’t stay consistent enough to be a playoff team in a relatively weak Eastern Conference. There were stretches – like late-January/early-February – that made you think they could ultimately make the playoffs. But in the end, they are going home early for a third straight year.

The line of Steven Stamkos, Martin St. Louis, and Steve Downie was one of the only bright-spots for this Lightning club this season. Stamkos had his breakout campaign in his sophomore season, and is currently in the running for the Rocket Richard Trophy with 46 goals to his credit. His great year has kind of overshadowed St. Louis’ success; he has 87 points, the third-highest total of his career. I still believe he should have been on Team Canada, but I’ll leave that discussion for another day!

And then you have Downie, the man who kind of jelled this line together. Before this season, Downie was more known for being a ‘wild-man’ rather than the highly-touted prospect he was thought to be. But he became the first 200-PIM, 20-goal player in the league since Theo Fleury did it with the Rangers back in 2001/02. While he has still done some dumb stuff, he has become a more effective, complete player under Tocchet’s wing.

The biggest bugaboo for the Bolts, though, has been the goaltending. After a hot start, Antero Niittymaki fell back to earth. It seems like the only team he can beat now-a-days is Atlanta! All kidding aside, he’s earned the chance to return next year given the play of enigmatic Mike Smith. Smith has been usual self this season, and hasn’t won a game since January 8th.

Looking ahead, the organization possesses great young talents, along with some solid prospects. We’ve already touched on Stamkos and Downie, but what about rookie Victor Hedman? The 6’6” defenseman has played pretty well – given his age – and his potential is through the roof. They also have Carter Ashton, Ty Wishart, and Dustin Tokarski to look forward to, all of whom should get to the NHL in the next year or two.

Will Tocchet still be around to coach these youngsters?? It’s safe to say he’s had enough talent on his hands to at least make a valiant effort to make the playoffs. But the fact that this team could be drafting in the top-five for a third straight summer makes you wonder if another change is on the horizon.

The hottest topic this off-season in Tampa could be the status of Captain Vincent Lecavalier. Whether the trade rumors are true or not, you can’t ignore the fact that he’s been rather disappointing in the two seasons since donning the ‘C’. They are his two lowest point totals since the lockout. Would a Marleau-type move (stripping the ‘C’) be the difference?? Or has he reached his peak and we’re just expecting more??

With the ownership changes and the unknown statuses of Tocchet and Lecavalier, the Lightning will once again be an interesting team to watch June rolls around…

The Stretch Run: 3/31

Sportsclubstats.com Swing Game of the Night:
Carolina @ Montreal
Canadiens’ playoff chances w/ win: 96.1% (+4.4)
With a loss: 83.8% (-6.9)

Eastern Conference Bubble Watch:
6. Philadelphia, 82 pts
Games Rem.: 6
Next game: Thursday @ NYI
7. Montreal, 82 pts
Games Rem.: 6
Next game: Tonight vs. CAR
8. Boston, 82 pts
Games Rem.: 6
Next game: Thursday vs. FLA
9. Atlanta, 80 pts
Games Rem.: 5
Next game: Thursday @ WSH
10. NY Rangers, 78 pts
Games Rem.: 6
Next game: Friday @ TB

Western Conference Race for 5th:
5. Nashville, 94 pts
Games Rem.: 4
Next game: Thursday vs. STL
6. Detroit, 93 pts
Games Rem.: 6
Next game: Tonight vs. EDM
7. Los Angeles, 92 pts
Games Rem.: 6
Next game: Thursday vs. VAN
8. Colorado, 89 pts
Games Rem.: 7
Next game: Tonight vs. ANA

Video of the Day:

Morning Skate: March 31

The Morning After:
Yesterday’s scores:
Thrashers 3, Maple Leafs 2
Bruins 1, Devils 0 (OT)
Rangers 4, Islanders 3
Senators 5, Capitals 4 (OT)
Blue Jackets 3, Lightning 2
Red Wings 5, Oilers 4
Blues 4, Blackhawks 2
Kings 2, Predators 0
Canucks 4, Coyotes 1
Predictions record: 6-2-1

My 3 stars from last night:
1. Jason Spezza, OTT (2 Goals, 2 Assists)
Spezza’s 4 points helped the Sens grab 2 crucial points in Washington.
2. Jonathan Bernier, LA (34 Saves, Shutout)
Bernier was calm between the pipes, turning away all 34 shots that came his way.
3. Henrik Sedin, VAN (1 Goal, 2 Assists)
Henrik added to his amazing point-total with three points vs. Phoenix.
Honorable Mention: A. Steen, T. Rask, R. Luongo, R. Nash, N. Antropov, J. Franzen, V. Prospal, E. Karlsson, E. Johnson
---

Tonight’s Slate:
Panthers @ Sabres, 7:00 ET
Hurricanes @ Canadiens, 7:00
Lightning @ Penguins, 7:30
Blackhawks @ Wild, 8:00
Sharks @ Stars, 8:30
Ducks @ Avalanche, 9:00
Coyotes @ Flames, 9:30

Game of the Night:
Phoenix Coyotes @ Calgary Flames
9:30 ET… TV: Local Networks

Records:
Overall: Coyotes (47-24-6) … Flames (38-29-9)
Last Ten: Coyotes (7-2-1) … Flames (5-5-0)
Away/Home: Coyotes (20-14-4) … Flames (19-16-3)
Season Series: 2-1 Flames

Players to watch:
PHX- Shane Doan
Doan has not scored since January. The drought has to end at some point, right?
CGY- Jarome Iginla
With his team’s backs against the wall, ‘Iggy’ has to be the one to step up.

Projected Goaltenders:
PHX- Jason LaBarbera (09/10 stats: 7-4-1, 2.16 GAA)
CGY- Miikka Kiprusoff (09/10 stats: 33-25-9, 2.28 GAA)

Injury Report:
PHX- Robert Lang (lower body, out), Scottie Upshall (knee, out), Kurt Sauer (head, out)
CGY- Daymond Langkow (neck, out), Christopher Higgins (foot, out), Curtis Glencross (knee, out)

Game Thoughts:
After dropping a 4-1 decision to Vancouver last night, the ‘Yotes will look to rebound tonight in Calgary. They’ll be facing a desperate Flames team (you’d think), looking to catch the Avalanche for the eighth and final spot in the West. Phoenix has had their fair share of success in the Saddledome over the last couple years, but look for Calgary’s desperation to trump that tonight.
Prediction: Flames 2, Coyotes 1 (OT)

The rest of tonight’s predictions:
Sabres over Panthers
Canadiens over Hurricanes
Penguins over Lightning
Blackhawks over Wild
Sharks over Stars
Ducks over Avalanche

You can follow the Red Light District on Twitter @RLDhockey!
Don’t forget about our radio show at 1:00 ET this Tuesday!

'History Will Be Made' Videos

The NHL has struck gold with their new playoff ad campaign, 'History will be made'. So much so, that people from all over are making their own (serious and/or sarcastic). Here are two that I made yesterday...




These are fairly easy to do... so if you have a request, put them in the comment box. I'll try to make some more before the playoffs!

'RLD Hockey Talk' Episode 7 Outline

You can listen to today's show right here at 1:00 ET!

12:00 CT
- Show Introduction
- Welcome in co-host Anthony Curatolo
- Eastern Conf. bubble

12:05 CT (roughly)
- Welcome in guest John Jaeckel, Hockeybuzz.com
- Chicago Blackhawks discussion
- 'Hawks struggling… what’s the deal?
- Defense and goaltending issues
- Playoffs look-ahead for the 'Hawks

12:30 CT (roughly)
- Calgary Flames discussion
- Can they sneak in past Colorado?

12:40 CT (roughly)
- Welcome in guest Alexander Monaghan, NHL Hot Stove
- Top 5 Stanley Cup contenders
- Dark horse contenders
- And much more!

- Show closing

The Stretch Run: 3/30

Playoffs Countdown: 15 DAYS!!!

Sportsclubstats.com Playoff Percentages:
Eastern Conference
1. Washington – Clinched
2. Pittsburgh – Clinched
3. Buffalo – Clinched
4. New Jersey – Clinched
5. Ottawa – 100%
6. Philadelphia – 95.4%
7. Montreal – 94.9%
8. Boston – 77.9%
9. Atlanta – 11.3%
10. NY Rangers – 18.9%
11. Carolina – 0.4%
12. NY Islanders –0.4%
13. Florida – 0.4%
14. Tampa Bay – 0.3%
15. Toronto – 0.0%

Western Conference
1. San Jose – Clinched
2. Chicago – Clinched
3. Vancouver – 100%
4. Phoenix – Clinched
5. Nashville – 99.9%
6. Detroit – 99.3%
7. Los Angeles – 98.8%
8. Colorado – 96.4%
9. Calgary – 4.8%
10. St. Louis – 0.5%
11. Anaheim – 0.3%
12. Minnesota – 0.0%
13. Dallas – 0.0%
14. Columbus – Eliminated
15. Edmonton – Eliminated

Sportsclubstats.com Swing Games of the Night:
Boston @ New Jersey
Bruins’ playoff chances w/ win: 88.3% (+10.6)
With a loss: 68.4% (-9.5)
Atlanta @ Toronto
Thrashers’ playoff chances w/ win: 16.7% (+5.4)
With a loss: 4.2% (-7.1)

Eastern Conference Bubble Watch:
6. Philadelphia, 82 pts
Next game: Thursday @ NYI
7. Montreal, 82 pts
Next game: Wednesday vs. CAR
8. Boston, 80 pts
Next game: Tonight @ NJ
9. Atlanta, 78 pts
Next game: Tonight @ TOR
10. NY Rangers, 76 pts
Next game: Tonight @ NYI

Western Conference Race for 5th:
5. Nashville, 94 pts
Next game: Tonight vs. LA
6. Detroit, 91 pts
Next game: Tonight vs. EDM
7. Los Angeles, 90 pts
Next game: Tonight @ NSH
8. Colorado, 89 pts
Next game: Wednesday vs. ANA

Current Playoff Matchups:
Eastern Conference
1) Capitals vs. 8) Bruins
2) Penguins vs. 7) Canadiens
3) Sabres vs. 6) Flyers
4) Devils vs. 5) Senators
Western Conference
1) Sharks vs. 8) Avalanche
2) Blackhawks vs. 7) Kings
3) Canucks vs. 6) Red Wings
4) Coyotes vs. 5) Predators

Video of the Day:

Morning Skate: March 30

Don’t forget about our radio show at 1:00 ET TODAY!

The Morning After:
Yesterday’s scores:
Sabres 3, Bruins 2
Hurricanes 4, Thrashers 1
Predators 3, Panthers 2 (OT)
Wild 3, Kings 2
Ducks 3, Stars 1
Predictions record: 3-2

My 3 stars from last night:
1. Ryan Miller, BUF (40 Saves, 2 GA)
Miller fended off a desperate Boston team, who was buzzing around his net in the 3rd.
2. Martin Havlat, MIN (1 Goal, 1 Assist)
Havlat’s 2 points (and game-winner) lifted Minnesota over L.A.
3. Brandon Sutter, CAR (1 Goal, 1 Assist)
Sutter is quietly playing really well, and kept up his success with 2 key points in Atlanta.
---

Tonight’s Slate:
Thrashers @ Maple Leafs, 7:00 ET
Bruins @ Devils, 7:00
Rangers @ Islanders, 7:00
Senators @ Capitals, 7:00
Lightning @ Blue Jackets, 7:00
Oilers @ Red Wings, 7:30
Blackhawks @ Blues, 8:00
Kings @ Predators, 8:00
Coyotes @ Canucks, 10:00

Games of the Night:
Ottawa Senators @ Washington Capitals
7:00 ET… TV: Local Networks

Records:
Overall: Senators (41-30-5) … Capitals (49-15-11)
Last Ten: Senators (5-5-0) … Capitals (5-2-3)
Away/Home: Senators (16-20-1) … Capitals (27-5-4)
Season Series: 2-1 Senators

Players to watch:
OTT- Erik Karlsson
The rookie D-man is starting to produce with 6 points in the last 4 games.
WSH- Alexander Semin
He had 4 points in their last meeting, and is on a 4-game point streak.

Projected Goaltenders:
OTT- Brian Elliott (09/10 stats: 27-17-3, 2.50 GAA)
WSH- Jose Theodore (09/10 stats: 27-7-6, 2.82 GAA)

Injury Report:
OTT- Anton Volchenkov (upper body, doubtful), Milan Michalek (knee, out), Filip Kuba (lower body, questionable)
WSH- Brooks Laich (face, questionable), Shaone Morrisonn (dental, probable), Brendan Morrison and Scott Walker (knee, out), Boyd Gordon (back, doubtful), Milan Jurcina (hernia, doubtful)

Game Thoughts:
The suddenly-sizzling Senators are looking to stay hot as they visit the Capitals to close out the season series. Coming off back-to-back losses, you can bet the Caps will be determined to get back on track (even with everything locked up). Ottawa is hoping to bolster their positioning in the 5th seed. They have played some good games this year, and I’m leaning towards Ovechkin and company.
Prediction: Capitals 4, Senators 3
---
Phoenix Coyotes @ Vancouver Canucks
10:00 ET… TV: Local Networks

Records:
Overall: Coyotes (47-23-6) … Canucks (45-26-4)
Last Ten: Coyotes (8-1-1) … Canucks (5-3-2)
Away/Home: Coyotes (20-13-4) … Canucks (27-8-2)
Season Series: 2-1 Coyotes

Players to watch:
PHX- Wojtek Wolski
Wolski is familiar with the Canucks, and has 5 points in the last 2 games.
VAN- Daniel Sedin
Daniel has been red-hot over the last couple months, collecting a point in 15 of the last 16 games.

Projected Goaltenders:
PHX- Ilya Bryzgalov (09/10 stats: 40-19-5, 2.28 GAA)
VAN- Roberto Luongo (09/10 stats: 37-21-3, 2.49 GAA)

Injury Report:
PHX- Robert Lang (lower body, out), Scottie Upshall (knee, out), Kurt Sauer (head, out)
VAN- Mikael Samuelsson (shoulder, out), Willie Mitchell (concussion, out), Pavol Demitra (personal, questionable), Steve Bernier (hernia, out)

Game Thoughts:
Phoenix makes their way to Vancouver tonight in what should be a doozie! The ‘Yotes just clinched their playoff spot, but have bigger aspirations in their sights – the division lead. Vancouver can come closer to clinching the Northwest Division with 2 points here. It should be a great, 60-minute game. If the Canucks’ PP can solve the Coyotes’ solid PK, they’ll win.
Prediction: Canucks 3, Coyotes 1

The rest of tonight’s predictions:
Thrashers over Maple Leafs
Bruins over Devils
Islanders over Rangers
Blue Jackets over Lightning
Red Wings over Oilers
Blues over Blackhawks
Kings over Predators

You can follow the Red Light District on Twitter @RLDhockey!

Tuesday Morning Videos

The best videos of the week...

Power Rankings #24

1. Washington Capitals (49-15-11), LW: 1
Bruce Boudreau’s crew stays atop the rankings for a 7th straight week. What else do they have to accomplish?? Who the starting net-minder will be come playoff time.
2. Phoenix Coyotes (47-23-6), LW: 2
The ‘Yotes celebrated their first playoff berth since 2002 by tearing apart the Avalanche like a little kid opening his first Christmas present!
3. San Jose Sharks (47-19-10), LW: 8
And with a snap of the finger, the Sharks are back on track by winning four in a row. This is the perfect time for them to get hot.
4. Vancouver Canucks (45-26-4), LW: 3
Henrik Sedin has taken over the league’s point race, passing the 100-point plateau for the first time in his career. Can he fend off Ovechkin for the Art Ross?
5. Detroit Red Wings (39-23-12), LW: 9
This is the Detroit team we were all expecting, huh? They are 11-2-1 since the Olympic break, and their schedule suggests they’re on track for the 5th seed. Sorry, Phoenix.
6. Pittsburgh Penguins (44-25-7), LW: 6
While Crosby lifted the Pens to two victories over the weekend, this team doesn’t have the same feel as it did this time last year. They also haven’t beaten the Caps or Devils this year...
7. Buffalo Sabres (41-23-10), LW: 7
Lindy Ruff’s squad has won 4 of 5 to take a stranglehold on the division. They have a hectic schedule to close out the year… can they claim the 2-seed??
8. Nashville Predators (43-27-6), LW: 4
By no means do they deserve to drop four slots… but they have to respond to the Detroit loss with a solid week – which ends in the Motor City.
9. Chicago Blackhawks (46-21-7), LW: 5
This team has lost 7 of 10 and can’t find any consistency in net. Combine that with the loss of Brian Campbell, and they very well could be vulnerable in round one.
10. Ottawa Senators (41-30-5), LW: 21
Led by the NHL’s first star of the week (Brian Elliott), the Sens almost guaranteed a playoff spot will be there’s… barring a major collapse.
11. New Jersey Devils (44-26-5), LW: 13
Ilya Kovalchuk has started to produce, but the Devils haven’t more than two games in a row with him in the lineup. Warning signs for the playoffs?? You bet.
12. Los Angeles Kings (42-26-6), LW: 10
The Kings are 2-4-1 in their last seven games, and Jon Quick is starting to hit a wall. Will the recall of Jonathan Bernier left them??
13. Colorado Avalanche (41-27-7), LW: 11
This could be the biggest week of Colorado’s season. They have a crucial home date with Calgary sandwiched between toughies Anaheim and San Jose.
14. Montreal Canadiens (37-31-8), LW: 12
After a 6-game winning streak, the Habs have dropped 4 of 5. But once Mike Cammalleri gets back in a groove, they’ll be a dangerous team to play.
15. Boston Bruins (34-28-12), LW: 16
The B’s still have some work to do, and it’d be a good idea for them to carry over momentum from their 5-0 win over Calgary.
16. Atlanta Thrashers (33-30-12), LW: 14
This has been the hardest team to figure out all year. They shot themselves in the foot at home this week, and have an uphill climb to grab a playoff spot.
17. Calgary Flames (38-29-9), LW: 15
When April 12 rolls around, Brent Sutter and company will wish they got 2 points on Long Island. Instead, they went 1-2 on the east coast trip, and are behind the eight ball.
18. Philadelphia Flyers (38-32-6), LW: 17
I wouldn’t start any ‘In Boucher We Trust’ campaigns just yet, even after a solid outing vs. New Jersey. They have a tough slate ahead, and a playoff berth is still up in the air.
19. New York Rangers (33-32-10), LW: 23
The Blueshirts are running out of time to make the playoffs for a 5th consecutive year. If I were GM Glen Sather, I’d be preparing to get axed in the near future.
20. Dallas Stars (33-28-14), LW: 26
Dallas will not go down without a fight, and their two wins in Nashville and L.A. proved just that. Brad Richards has been red-hot (19 points in the last 14 games).
21. St. Louis Blues (36-30-9), LW: 22
The Blues have won two straight games at home. Catch me while I faint! They need to finish strong here down the stretch…
22. Carolina Hurricanes (31-35-9), LW: 18
Interesting tidbit: in the last 3 Thursday games, the ‘Canes have defeated the Caps (twice) and Pens in overtime at home.
23. Anaheim Ducks (35-31-8), LW: 19
Even with the Ducks all but of the playoff hunt, look for them to play spoiler on the Avs and Kings in the last couple weeks.
24. Toronto Maple Leafs (28-35-13), LW: 24
Jonas Gustavsson may be the best waiver wire pickup for your fantasy playoffs! Since the Olympic break, he is 7-0 with a 1.93 GAA.
25. New York Islanders (31-34-10), LW: 25
The Isles played spoiler vs. Calgary last week, and they would love nothing better than to do the same against the Rangers tomorrow night.
26. Minnesota Wild (36-33-6), LW: 20
Last week, Niklas Backstrom was injured and Josh Harding was starting; now it’s other way around. Also, in there last 4 losses on the road, they’ve been beaten by a combined 20-4.
27. Columbus Blue Jackets (31-32-13), LW: 28
The Jackets defeated Chicago not once last week, but twice… including an 8-3 annihilation. Three games in two weeks vs. Detroit are on the horizon, though.
28. Florida Panthers (30-33-11), LW: 27
It’s looking like it will be a 9th straight year of going home early in Sunrise. Will the sun come up for them next season??
29. Tampa Bay Lightning (30-33-12), LW: 29
If the Bolts happen to claim a third straight top-five pick in the draft, eventually the success will come.
30. Edmonton Oilers (24-44-7), LW: 30
The Oilers beat the Wings, Sharks, and Canucks, and were rewarded with a day off. Then they couldn’t beat the Ducks or Blues…

The Stretch Run: Who's in, who's out?

Here’s another edition of ‘Who’s in, who’s out?’ Who’s going to be in the playoffs?? Who’s going home early?? Find out here…

Eastern Conference
1. Washington Capitals, 118 pts.
Record the rest of the way: 4-2-1
2. Pittsburgh Penguins, 105 pts.
Record: 5-1-0
3. Buffalo Sabres, 101 pts.
Record: 4-3-1
4. New Jersey Devils, 102 pts.
Record: 4-2-1
5. Ottawa Senators, 95 pts.
Record: 4-2-0
6. Montreal Canadiens, 90 pts.
Record: 4-2-0
7. Boston Bruins, 90 pts.
Record: 4-2-2
8. Philadelphia Flyers, 88 pts.
Record: 3-3-0
---
9. Atlanta Thrashers, 84 pts.
Record: 2-3-2
10. New York Rangers, 84 pts.
Record: 4-3-0
11. Carolina Hurricanes, 78 pts.
Record: 3-3-1
12. New York Islanders, 78 pts.
Record: 2-3-2
13. Tampa Bay Lightning, 77 pts.
Record: 2-4-1
14. Toronto Maple Leafs, 77 pts.
Record: 4-2-0
15. Florida Panthers, 76 pts.
Record: 2-5-1

Western Conference
1. San Jose Sharks, 112 pts.
Record the rest of the way: 4-2-0
2. Chicago Blackhawks, 108 pts.
Record: 4-3-1
3. Vancouver Canucks, 106 pts.
Record: 6-1-0
4. Phoenix Coyotes, 108 pts.
Record: 3-1-2
5. Detroit Red Wings, 103 pts.
Record: 5-0-2
6. Nashville Predators, 101 pts.
Record: 4-1-1
7. Los Angeles Kings, 100 pts.
Record: 4-2-2
8. Colorado Avalanche, 96 pts.
Record: 3-3-1
---
9. Calgary Flames, 92 pts.
Record: 3-2-1
10. St. Louis Blues, 88 pts.
Record: 3-3-1
11. Dallas Stars, 88 pts.
Record: 4-3-0
12. Anaheim Ducks, 86 pts.
Record: 3-3-2
13. Minnesota Wild, 84 pts.
Record: 3-4-0
14. Columbus Blue Jackets, 80 pts.
Record: 2-3-1
15. Edmonton Oilers, 59 pts.
Record: 1-5-2

If this scenario plays out, these would be the playoff matchups:
Eastern Conference
1) Capitals vs. 8) Flyers
2) Penguins vs. 7) Bruins
3) Sabres vs. 6) Canadiens
4) Devils vs. 5) Senators
Western Conference
1) Sharks vs. 8) Avalanche
2) Blackhawks vs. 7) Kings
3) Canucks vs. 6) Predators
4) Coyotes vs. 5) Red Wings

The Week Ahead

Top 5 games I’m looking forward to:
1. Coyotes @ Canucks (Tuesday)
2. Blackhawks @ Devils (Friday)
3. Senators @ Capitals (Tuesday)
4. Predators @ Red Wings (Saturday)
5. Canucks @ Kings (Thursday)

Matchup of the Weak:
Lightning @ Blue Jackets (Tuesday)… This actually may not be a bad game, but it’s one of the few games this week that has zero playoff implications.

Two teams to watch:
1. Atlanta Thrashers
Their biggest week of the season awaits, as they play four games in six days (with three on the road). John Anderson’s club has to win their first two – Carolina and Toronto – then hope to get a win later in the week in Washington or Pittsburgh. If they wish to snatch the 8th seed, three wins is a necessity.
2. Los Angeles Kings
L.A. has sputtered here in the last couple weeks, and need to bounce back before Calgary is in their rear-view mirror again. They have road dates in Minnesota and Nashville, then return home to face Vancouver and Anaheim. All four will be tough games, meaning Jonathan Quick has to turn it around sooner rather than later.

National TV schedule (U.S.):
Tonight
Sabres @ Bruins… VERSUS
Tuesday
Blackhawks @ Blues… VERSUS
Wednesday
Lightning @ Penguins (or) Blackhawks @ Wild… VERSUS
Thursday
Thrashers @ Capitals… VERSUS
Canucks @ Kings… NHL Network
Friday
Blackhawks @ Devils… NHL Network
Saturday
Sabres @ Canadiens… NHL Network
Sunday
Red Wings @ Flyers… NBC

The Stretch Run: 3/29

Playoffs Countdown: 16 DAYS!!!

Sportsclubstats.com Playoff Percentages:
Eastern Conference
1. Washington – Clinched
2. New Jersey – Clinched
3. Buffalo – Clinched
4. Pittsburgh – Clinched
5. Ottawa – 99.9%
6. Philadelphia – 92.8%
7. Montreal – 91.2%
8. Boston – 81.9%
9. Atlanta – 20.2%
10. NY Rangers – 13.0%
11. NY Islanders – 0.2%
12. Tampa Bay –0.2%
13. Florida – 0.5%
14. Carolina – 0.1%
15. Toronto – 0.0%

Western Conference
1. San Jose – Clinched
2. Chicago – Clinched
3. Vancouver – 100%
4. Phoenix – Clinched
5. Nashville – 99.4%
6. Detroit – 99.3%
7. Los Angeles – 99.5%
8. Colorado – 96.4%
9. Calgary – 4.7%
10. St. Louis – 0.5%
11. Dallas – 0.1%
12. Anaheim – 0.1%
13. Minnesota – 0.0%
14. Columbus – Eliminated
15. Edmonton – Eliminated

Sportsclubstats.com Swing Games of the Night:
Buffalo @ Boston
Bruins’ playoff chances w/ win: 89.9% (+8.0)
With a loss: 72.5% (-9.4)
Carolina @ Atlanta
Thrashers’ playoff chances w/ win: 26.9% (+6.7)
With a loss: 9.1% (-11.1)

Video of the Day:

Morning Skate: March 29

The Morning After:
Yesterday’s scores:
Flames 5, Capitals 3
Penguins 5, Maple Leafs 4 (SO)
Blues 2, Oilers 1
Flyers 5, Devils 1
Blue Jackets 4, Blackhawks 2
Sharks 4, Avalanche 3
Predictions record: 4-2

My 3 stars from last night:
1. Sidney Crosby, PIT (2 Goals, SO Goal)
Captain Crosby stepped up this weekend without Malkin, including a great 2-goal effort (and the shootout-deciding goal) vs. Toronto.
2. Rene Bourque, CGY (1 Goal, 2 Assists)
The Flames needed 2 points in Washington, and Bourque stepped up in a big way.
3. Devin Setoguchi, SJ (2 Goals)
Setoguchi’s pair of goals lifted the Sharks over Colorado.
---

Tonight’s Slate:
Sabres @ Bruins, 7:00 ET
Hurricanes @ Thrashers, 7:00
Predators @ Panthers, 7:30
Kings @ Wild, 9:00
Stars @ Ducks, 10:00

Game of the Night:
Buffalo Sabres @ Boston Bruins
7:00 ET… TV: VERSUS

Records:
Overall: Sabres (41-23-10) … Bruins (34-28-12)
Last Ten: Sabres (6-3-1) … Bruins (5-4-1)
Away/Home: Sabres (18-13-4) … Bruins (16-15-6)
Season Series: 3-1 Bruins

Players to watch:
BUF- Jason Pominville
‘Pommer’ had a big weekend, and has tallied a point in 9 of the last 10 games.
BOS- David Krejci
Krejci has really stepped up since Savard went down (13 points in 9 games).

Projected Goaltenders:
BUF- Ryan Miller (09/10 stats: 37-16-8, 2.21 GAA)
BOS- Tim Thomas (09/10 stats: 16-17-8, 2.50 GAA)

Injury Report:
BUF- Thomas Vanek (lower body, questionable), Tim Connolly (foot, questionable), Raffi Torres (wrist, doubtful), Patrick Kaleta (upper body, doubtful)
BOS- Marc Savard (concussion, out), Andrew Ference (groin, doubtful)

Game Thoughts:
Boston looks to get further away from the bubble as they host Buffalo tonight. Claude Julien’s crew has won 3 of 4, but they still have a lot of work to do to ultimately clinch that playoff spot. They’ve had success this year against the Sabres, who are looking to bolster their playoff positioning and chances to win the division. I expect to see an exciting game, with the Bruins prevailing.
Prediction: Bruins 3, Sabres 2

The rest of tonight’s predictions:
Hurricanes over Thrashers
Predators over Panthers
Kings over Wild
Ducks over Stars

You can follow the Red Light District on Twitter @RLDhockey!
Don’t forget about our radio show at 1:00 ET this Tuesday!

Welcome to the playoffs, New Jersey!

Current record-
44-25-5, 93 points (4th in East)
When they clinched a playoff spot-
March 27th
The amazing stretch-
October 4 - November 14th (14-2)

With 93 points, the New Jersey Devils are now in the pantheon that is the Eastern Conference playoffs. After all, only 8 teams get to enter out of 15, and they are one of four who have a realistic chance at getting out of the East.

Thursday's loss to the Rangers hurts only because of the same, familiar bad luck that has plagued the Devils against the Rangers in previous playoffs more than anything. Disallowed goals, missed calls, and lucky saves all played a part but the defensive liabilities of certain players on the team make you wonder what this team will do come Round 1.

If they can get by Round 1...look out. The question is can they?

Last year, the Devils were fairly unlucky in losing in 7 to the Carolina Hurricanes. There will be no excuses this year for New Jersey as they will draw a team likely inferior to them again. Will Ilya Kovalchuk be the difference maker in the playoffs like everyone expects or will the defense let New Jersey down again?

Better yet, does Martin Brodeur have one more deep run in him? I do not doubt that he does but can he shoulder the load for a team that defensively has been deficient at times and that is being kind. Time will tell.

What we do know is the Devils will go only as far as Brodeur can take them. The last two years were very heartbreaking for this club but with Jacques Lemaire as the coach...I can see a different result. The key will be, as always, who they draw in the first round. Right now it could be Boston, Philadelphia, Montreal, or even Ottawa...it just depends.

The other unknown will be how Ilya Kovalchuk performs in the playoffs for New Jersey. It was not a secret that he was brought in for scoring in the playoffs. His one playoff appearance was not-so-good as everyone knows. That cannot happen this year as this could determine where Kovalchuk winds up come July 1st.

So a simple congratulations to the New Jersey Devils on making the postseason for the 13th win in a row. Hopefully the stay will be a long one.

Welcome to the playoffs, Buffalo!

Current record-
41-23-10, 92 points (3rd in East)
When they clinched a playoff spot-
March 27th
The stretch that lifted them-
November 27 through January 8 (16-4-2)

After two years of finishing just outside of the top eight in the east, Lindy Ruff’s Sabres are back in the postseason! Before the season started, most people had the Sabres as a bubble team, barely making the playoffs. They’ve exceeded expectations, and are closing in on their first division title in three years.

Two big reasons why they are one of the best in the conference are Ryan Miller and Tyler Myers. Both are considered the favorites in their respective award races (Vezina and Calder). Miller is first in the league in save percentage (.929), second in GAA (2.21), and fifth in wins (37). More importantly, he’s carried this team through offensive struggles, standing tall in the 2-1 type games. Miller will also garner some consideration for the Hart, because there’s no way the Sabres would be in the playoff mix this year without him.

The big defenseman Myers has burst onto the scene as a rookie. He was Buffalo’s 1st round pick in 2008, and as previously stated, is a favorite to win the Calder. In no way has he played like a rookie, though. Myers is playing in all situations, and leads the team in ice-time – by a mile! The Sabres found themselves a gem with this 6’8” defenseman.

Looking ahead to the playoffs, the biggest question (for me at least) with this team is can they beat the big boys – most notably Washington and Pittsburgh – in a seven-game series?? Miller would obviously have to stand on his head like he did in the Olympics… but it goes beyond that.

The offense would have to collectively step up, specifically Thomas Vanek. You can make the argument that he’s the team’s only pure goal scorer… but he only has 23 goals this year. With his skill and speed, Vanek can take over a game. The blue-line is good enough, as a unit, to go deep in the playoffs. We’ve talked about Myers, but others like Henrik Tallinder and Toni Lydman have played really well this year.

To answer that question above… yes, I do believe this team can go far and perhaps represent the Eastern Conference in the finals. One thing I think they need to do here down the stretch is claim the 2-seed over New Jersey or Pittsburgh. It’d be very important for them to have home-ice in a potential 2nd round series against either team.

Behind Miller and a collective 60-minute effort from the whole team, the Sabres can go places this postseason. But they could also exit early depending on who they draw in the first round. Since they’ve exceeded expectations most of the season, there’s no reason to think they can’t do so again in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. If Washington or Pittsburgh slips up, the door will open for Ruff’s squad to go to the finals and possibly deliver the City of Buffalo their first championship.

Who do you want to face in the playoffs?

With the final two weeks of the regular season approaching, the seeding races are going to intensify! We’re going to take some time today to look at the top four from each conference, and state who they do and don’t want to face in the first round. We’ll also pick out a dark-horse for both the East and West…

Eastern Conference
This is a pretty shallow conference if you ask me. The bottom teams will have a tough time keeping up with the likes of Washington and Pittsburgh in a seven game series. The top four seeds (WSH, NJ, BUF, PIT) are pretty much set in stone… it’s just a matter of which seed they’ll get.

1. Washington Capitals
They DO want: Philadelphia… A match-up with the Flyers would be a breeze to the 2nd round for the Caps. Brian Boucher wouldn’t be able to contain all those weapons, and Philly can’t even match the Caps’ firepower up front.
They DON’T want: Montreal… The Habs are a team that can hang with Washington, assuming Jaroslav Halak plays well (like the Rangers/Lundqvist last spring). I don’t know if they can beat them, but they could give them a scare.

2. New Jersey Devils
They DO want: Montreal… While they could hang with the Caps, I don’t like the way they matchup with the Devils. Jacques Lemaire’s system may put the Habs to sleep, and Martin Brodeur plays well against his hometown team more times than not.
They DON’T want: Boston… Even though the Devils are 3-0 against them this year, the B’s are a team that could give Lemaire and company some trouble. If Thomas or Rask could match Brodeur’s play, Boston would make things interesting.

3. Buffalo Sabres
They DO want: Boston… Buffalo may not have an ‘easy’ matchup, as they could be vulnerable due to their lack of depth across the board. But if I were a Sabres fan, I’d want the B’s because they wouldn’t be able to beat Ryan Miller too often.
They DON’T want: Ottawa… Unless the Sens struggle down the stretch and lose their positioning as the 5th seed, this won’t happen in the first round. For conversation sake though, Ottawa has Buffalo’s number, winning 9 straight head-to-head.

4. Pittsburgh Penguins
They DO want: Philadelphia… Talk about mind games. The Pens have eliminated the Flyers each of the past two seasons, and would annihilate them this year because of the goaltending issues in Philly. This series wouldn’t last more than 5 games.
They DON’T want: Montreal… This matchup would scare me if I was Pittsburgh. If Halak is on top of his game, and the Pens aren’t in a rhythm offensively, it would create problems for the defending champs. With that being said, I don’t think Montreal can beat them 4 times in 7 games.

Dark-horse: Ottawa Senators… Cory Clouston’s club is very streaky, and has had their fair share of highs and lows this season. But if Brian Elliott rides his current play into the playoffs, they could make some noise and go deep.

Western Conference
While the East is top-heavy, this conference is anything but! The West is best, and you feel almost anything can happen. In the last Olympic year (2006), the bottom four seeds in the West advanced past the first round. Will the same thing happen?? It’s unlikely, but I wouldn’t rule it out…

1. San Jose Sharks
They DO want: Nashville… Like Pittsburgh vs. Philadelphia, the Sharks would have a big mental edge on the Preds. Barry Trotz and company have struggled against them in past postseasons, and blew two 3rd period leads at the Tank this season.
They DON’T want: Los Angeles… With the Wings catching fire, it appears unlikely they’ll play in the first round. But in-state rival L.A. is a possibility, and the Sharks have had a tough time with them this year. Would the playoffs be different?

2. Chicago Blackhawks
They DO want: Colorado… On paper, the Avs don’t come close to matching up with the Blackhawks. Chicago is going to be a determined bunch, while Colorado will be ‘happy to be there’. ‘Hawks fans should want to face Colorado in round one.
They DON’T want: Detroit… Can’t you just see the Hawks’ hard work pay off with a date with Detroit?! Marian Hossa would be facing his former ‘mates, too (like last year’s finals). If Chicago’s goaltending doesn’t improve by the playoffs, this would Joel Quenneville’s bunch sweat a bit.

3. Vancouver Canucks
They DO want: Los Angeles… Youngster Jon Quick is starting to hit a wall and slide a bit, and it’s possible that he’d get rattled in a hostile environment like Vancouver. I also like how the Canucks stack up offensively against the Kings.
They DON’T want: Nashville… I could go with Detroit here, but Nashville would cause problems of their own for Vancouver. They don’t want to play the Preds because of the defensive pairing of Weber and Suter, who can potentially neutralize the Sedins.

4. Phoenix Coyotes
They DO want: Los Angeles… Dave Tippett’s defensive-minded system would wear down a young Kings team in a seven-game series. Also, Ilya Bryzgalov has had his fair share of success vs. L.A… so I wouldn’t mind facing the Kings if I were a ‘Yotes fan.
They DON’T want: Detroit… The Coyotes can do some damage in the playoffs, but a first round pairing with the Wings may put a halt to those aspirations. Over the last few years, Phoenix has struggled against Detroit.

Dark-horse: Nashville Predators… Detroit is the easy choice here, so I’m going to make a case for the Preds. There is a certain urgency from the coaching staff on down to finally advance in the playoffs. Pekka Rinne, who feeds off of more work, would thrive in the postseason.

These are my thoughts, but you may think differently. Comment away...

The Stretch Run: 3/28

Playoffs Countdown: 17 DAYS!!!

Sportsclubstats.com Playoff Percentages:
Eastern Conference
1. Washington – Clinched
2. New Jersey – Clinched
3. Buffalo – Clinched
4. Pittsburgh – Clinched
5. Ottawa – 100%
6. Montreal – 91.9%
7. Philadelphia – 86.3%
8. Boston – 82.8%
9. Atlanta – 22.5%
10. NY Rangers – 15.5%
11. NY Islanders – 0.2%
12. Tampa Bay –0.2%
13. Florida – 0.6%
14. Carolina – 0.1%
15. Toronto – 0.0%

Western Conference
1. San Jose – Clinched
2. Chicago – Clinched
3. Vancouver – 100%
4. Phoenix – Clinched
5. Nashville – 98.9%
6. Los Angeles – 99.7%
7. Colorado – 98.6%
8. Detroit – 97.5%
9. Calgary – 4.7%
10. St. Louis – 0.4%
11. Anaheim – 0.1%
12. Dallas – 0.0%
13. Minnesota – 0.0%
14. Columbus – Eliminated
15. Edmonton – Eliminated

Sportsclubstats.com Swing Game of the Night:
New Jersey @ Philadelphia
Flyers’ playoff chances w/ win: 92.4% (+6.1)
With a loss: 78.1% (-8.2)

Eastern Conference Bubble Watch:
7. Boston, 80 pts
Next game: Monday vs. BUF
8. Philadelphia, 80 pts
Next game: Tonight vs. NJ
9. Atlanta, 78 pts
Next game: Monday vs. CAR
10. NY Rangers, 76 pts
Next game: Tuesday @ NYI

Western Conference Race for 5th:
5. Nashville, 92 pts
Next game: Monday @ FLA
6. Detroit, 91 pts
Next game: Tuesday vs. EDM
7. Los Angeles, 90 pts
Next game: Monday @ MIN
8. Colorado, 89 pts
Next game: Tonight @ SJ

Current Playoff Matchups:
Eastern Conference
1) Capitals vs. 8) Flyers
2) Devils vs. 7) Bruins
3) Sabres vs. 6) Canadiens
4) Penguins vs. 5) Senators
Western Conference
1) Sharks vs. 8) Avalanche
2) Blackhawks vs. 7) Kings
3) Canucks vs. 6) Red Wings
4) Coyotes vs. 5) Predators

Video of the Day:

Morning Skate: March 28

The Morning After:
Yesterday’s scores:
Bruins 5, Flames 0
Penguins 4, Flyers 1
Sabres 7, Lightning 1
Maple Leafs 3, Rangers 2 (OT)
Devils 4, Canadiens 2
Senators 3, Panthers 2
Thrashers 4, Hurricanes 0
Islanders 4, Blue Jackets 3 (OT)
Red Wings 1, Predators 0 (SO)
Coyotes 6, Avalanche 2
Sharks 4, Canucks 2
Stars 4, Kings 1
Predictions record: 7-3-2

My 3 stars from last night:
1. Jimmy Howard, DET (33 Saves, Shutout)
Howard was unbelievable in shutting out the Preds last night, making some massive saves.
2. Derek Roy, BUF (3 Goals, 1 Assist)
Buffalo thumped the Bolts, and Roy’s hat trick certainly helped.
3. Johan Hedberg, ATL (34 Saves, Shutout)
The Thrashers needed a win in the worst way, and Hedberg delivered with a shutout.
Honorable Mention: T. Thomas, P. Rinne, P. Marleau, B. Richards, L. Stempniak, S. Crosby, J. Gustavsson, E. Karlsson, M. Brodeur, J. Bailey, N. Kulemin, T. Pyatt

Saturday Fantasy Roundup:
Ryan’s Picks:
F- J. Thornton (-1)
F- J. Pominville (1 G, 2 A, +1, 2 PPP)
D- S. Weber (nada)
G- J. Quick (22 Saves, 4 GA)
Michael’s Picks:
F- S. Crosby (3 A, +1, 2 PPP)
F- M. Gaborik (nada)
D- D. Doughty (2 PIM)
G- I. Bryzgalov (27 Saves, 2 GA, W)
Chris’ Picks:
F- D. Heatley (1 G, 1 PPP)
F- J. Langenbrunner (1 G, -1, 2 PIM, 1 PPP)
D- C. Pronger (+1, 2 PIM)
G- M. Fleury (26 Saves, 1 GA)
---

Today’s Slate:
Flames @ Capitals, 3:00 ET
Maple Leafs @ Penguins, 5:00
Oilers @ Blues, 6:00
Devils @ Flyers, 7:00
Blue Jackets @ Blackhawks, 7:00
Avalanche @ Sharks, 8:00

Games of the Night:
New Jersey Devils @ Philadelphia Flyers
7:00 ET… TV: Local Networks

Records:
Overall: Devils (44-25-5) … Flyers (37-32-6)
Last Ten: Devils (6-2-2) … Flyers (2-6-2)
Away/Home: Devils (19-15-3) … Flyers (21-13-3)
Season Series: 4-1 Flyers

Players to watch:
NJ- Patrik Elias
Elias has been picking up the pace lately, and I’m expecting a good game from him.
PHI- Simon Gagne
With Carter out of the lineup, Gagne has to step up offensively.

Projected Goaltenders:
NJ- Martin Brodeur (Last night @ MTL: 25 Saves, 2 GA)
PHI- Brian Boucher (Yesterday @ PIT: 5 Saves, 2 GA – 3rd period)

Injury Report:
NJ- Andrew Peters (eye, questionable)
PHI- Jeff Carter (foot, out), Michael Leighton (ankle, out), Matt Carle (foot, questionable), Ray Emery (hip, out), Johan Backlund (groin, out)

Game Thoughts:
With goalies dropping like flies, Philly looks to stop the bleeding as they host the Devils. They’ve had success against them all year, but tonight is a different scenario. The Flyers aren’t playing with much confidence, but are playing for their playoff lives. New Jersey, who has struggled on the road since their hot start, looks to take full control of the division. Philly comes close, but the Devils prevail…
Prediction: Devils 3, Flyers 2
---
Colorado Avalanche @ San Jose Sharks
8:00 ET… TV: Local Networks

Records:
Overall: Avalanche (41-26-7) … Sharks (46-19-10)
Last Ten: Avalanche (5-4-1) … Sharks (4-5-1)
Away/Home: Avalanche (23-11-2) … Sharks (24-6-8)
Season Series: Tied 1-1

Players to watch:
COL- Paul Stastny
Stastny has been dynamite since the break, and has played pretty well vs. San Jose.
SJ- Ryane Clowe
The big forward has seen a recent spike in his offensive production.

Projected Goaltenders:
COL- Craig Anderson (09/10 stats: 36-21-6, 2.53 GAA)
SJ- Evgeni Nabokov (Last night vs. VAN: 35 Saves, 2 GA)

Injury Report:
COL- Peter Mueller (hip, questionable), Brandon Yip (shoulder, out), Ryan Wilson (concussion, doubtful), Stephane Yelle (leg, out), David Jones (knee, out), David Koci (hand, out)
SJ- Joe Thornton (lower body, questionable)

Game Thoughts:
The Avs and Sharks face-off at the Shark Tank tonight, and it could be a first round preview! Colorado has dropped 4 of 5, and need all the points they can get. San Jose has won 3 straight after losing 5 in a row, and have re-taken the conference lead. Look for Joe Sacco’s club to play desperate enough to grab a point… but it won’t be enough.
Prediction: Sharks 4, Avalanche 3 (SO)

The rest of tonight’s predictions:
Flames over Capitals
Penguins over Maple Leafs
Blues over Oilers
Blackhawks over Blue Jackets

You can follow the Red Light District on Twitter @RLDhockey!
Don’t forget about our radio show at 1:00 ET this Tuesday!

Welcome to the playoffs, Phoenix!

(Note: By ACHockeyGuys, emailed to me from the road!)

Current record-
46-23-6, 98 points (4th in West)
When they clinched a playoff spot-
March 27th
The stretch that lifted them-
March 4 through March 21 (9-0-0)

When the NHL season started, the Phoenix Coyotes were surrounded by turmoil; massive turmoil, that is. At the time, head coach Wayne Gretzky was nowhere to be found when training camp and pre-season got underway. Associate coach Ulf Samuelsson was running the show until upper management was able to find a solution. That solution would be none other than Jack Adams candidate for coach of the year Dave Tippett.

Coach Tippett stepped into the role right before the season was prepared to drop the puck. With limited time to implement his style and have his newly adopted players buy into his system, expectations were minimal. It was almost as if the 'Yotes were slated for a lottery pick.

Today, things are on the entire opposite end of the spectrum. And when I say spectrum I do not mean the old arena the Philadelphia Flyers used to skate in! The Coyotes are not only on their way to the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2002, but they have an opportunity to capture both the division and conference titles.

With 46 wins and 98 points as of this writing, the Coyotes have put together one of the most impressive seasons since moving from Winnipeg to Phoenix.

2008 waiver wire pickup Ilya Bryzgalov (yes you read that correctly), who leads the league in shutouts, is having a brilliant season and will be in the running for the Vezina Trophy.

The best part of the Coyotes this season is the feel-good story they have written. When scanning the roster you will notice not one superstar. There are no Sidney Crosbys, Alex Ovechkins, Martin Brodeurs or Nicklas Lidstroms. What you have is a make up of roster players such as Shane Doan, Matthew Lombardi, Petr Prucha, Keith Yandle, Radim Vrbata, and Ed Jovanovski. Of those mentioned, only Vrbata has scored more than 20 goals.

However, trade deadline acqusitions Wojtek Wolski and Lee Stempniak have been playing like players possessed. Both, though not all with the Coyotes, have surpassed the 20-goal plateau and have added a massive (and much-needed) boost to the offense.

The Western Conference is a tricky one this year. With question marks surrounding most of the top seeds, it is fair to say that the Coyotes have the potential to wind up representing the West in the Sanley Cup Finals. Something that didn’t seem possible back in September!

Welcome to the playoffs, Pittsburgh!

Current record-
43-25-7, 93 points (2nd in East)
When they clinched a playoff spot-
March 27th
The stretch that lifted them-
November 14 through December 23 (14-3-1)

As expected, the Penguins are back in the playoffs, trying to do something not many teams accomplish: win back-to-back Stanley Cups. The defending champs have been steady most of the season, and failed to suffer from the annual ‘Cup hangover’ that champions experience. They are currently in a battle with the Devils to win the Atlantic Division. If they can win it and claim the 2 or 3 seed, the Pens would be able to avoid the Capitals until the conference finals (if they both get that far).

The 2009/10 campaign has been a different script for this Penguins team, though. Last year on Valentine’s Day, they sat 5 points out of a playoff spot and changed coaches to try to find a spark. With Dan Bylsma behind the bench, they won 18 of their last 25 games to fly up to the 4th seed in the conference. The Pens rode that hot streak into the playoffs, and were able to win the Cup in Game 7 in Detroit.

In this final stretch of the regular season, they are struggling to capture any momentum. Evgeni Malkin, last year’s Conn Smythe winner, is on pace for his lowest point total since coming into the league, and is banged up with a bruised foot right now. Sidney Crosby has picked up some of the slack, and is tied for the NHL lead in goals (45)… but they still don’t have the momentum they had at this time last year.

They also don’t have the same band of brothers on board. The solid defensive pairing of Hal Gill and Rob Scuderi went separate ways in the off-season, and some veteran leadership in Petr Sykora and Miroslav Satan isn’t around anymore.

Will the Pens have the same fire and desire in them to win the Cup again?? Last spring they were able to use their Game 6 loss to Detroit in 2008 as motivation; what is it this year? Can they go to the finals for the third straight postseason?? Even though they’re young, their bodies have definitely taken a toll over the last couple of years. It will catch up to them eventually.

It is so hard to win the Stanley Cup in back-to-back seasons… probably the hardest of any of the 'big four' professional sports. No one has done it since the 1997 and 1998 Red Wings teams ('91 and '92 Penguins before that). Even though the Capitals have dominated all year, these Penguins will have the target on their back in the playoffs. And it’s tough to win 16 games when everyone is gunning for you.

If any team can pull off the near-impossible feat, though, it’s Pittsburgh. Many have compared them to the Oilers of the 80’s, who won four titles in a row. Crosby and company have a chance to start a modern-day dynasty of their own by winning it all again. He and Malkin are capable of dominating for two months, like they did in 2009. The x-factor in this equation is Marc-Andre Fleury. If he can stand tall in the big moments like last postseason, the Penguins could find their names etched on Lord Stanley for a second straight season.

Savard speaks to the media

Bruins C Marc Savard spoke to the media today for the first time since his hit from Matt Cooke...

Saturday Fantasy #24

This is the 24th edition of this year’s ‘Saturday Fantasy’! If you’re new to the RLD, 3 of us pick 2 forwards, 1 defenseman, and 1 goalie each Saturday. Last year, I beat Chris 6-3. This year, we’ve added Michael (AKA fantasy_hockey_guru)! Michael leads by a slim margin, 4-3-1-1. Here are today’s selections…

RYAN:
F- Joe Thornton, SJ
F- Jason Pominville, BUF
D- Shea Weber, NSH
G- Jonathan Quick, LA

MICHAEL:
F- Sidney Crosby, PIT
F- Marian Gaborik, NYR
D- Drew Doughty, LA
G- Ilya Bryzgalov, PHX

CHRIS:
F- Dany Heatley, SJ
F- Jamie Langenbrunner, NJ
D- Chris Pronger, PHI
G- Marc-Andre Fleury, PIT

The Stretch Run: 3/27

Playoffs Countdown: 18 DAYS!!!

Sportsclubstats.com Playoff Percentages:
Eastern Conference
1. Washington – Clinched
2. New Jersey – 100%
3. Buffalo – 100%
4. Pittsburgh – 100%
5. Ottawa – 99.7%
6. Montreal – 96.2%
7. Philadelphia – 92.6%
8. Boston – 72.1%
9. Atlanta – 14.3%
10. NY Rangers – 20.7%
11. Tampa Bay – 1.1%
12. Florida – 2.3%
13. Carolina – 0.8%
14. NY Islanders – 0.1%
15. Toronto – 0.0%

Western Conference
1. San Jose – Clinched
2. Chicago – Clinched
3. Vancouver – 100%
4. Phoenix – 100%
5. Nashville – 98.9%
6. Los Angeles – 99.7%
7. Colorado – 98.6%
8. Detroit – 97.5%
9. Calgary – 4.7%
10. St. Louis – 0.4%
11. Anaheim – 0.1%
12. Dallas – 0.0%
13. Minnesota – 0.0%
14. Columbus – Eliminated
15. Edmonton – Eliminated

Sportsclubstats.com Swing Games of the Night:
NY Rangers @ Toronto
Rangers’ playoff chances w/ win: 27.4% (+6.7)
With a loss: 10.8% (-9.9)
Atlanta @ Carolina
Thrashers’ playoff chances w/ win: 21.2% (+6.9)
With a loss: 6.9% (-7.4)

Western Conference Race for 5th:
5. Nashville, 91 pts
Next game: Tonight vs. DET
6. Los Angeles, 90 pts
Next game: Tonight vs. DAL
7. Colorado, 89 pts
Next game: Tonight @ PHX
8. Detroit, 87 pts
Next game: Tonight @ NSH

Video of the Day:

Morning Skate: March 27

There were too many key games today with playoff implications to just choose 2 or 3, so here is a deluxe version of the Morning Skate!!

The Morning After:
Last night’s scores:
Senators 4, Sabres 2
Red Wings 6, Wild 2
Ducks 3, Oilers 2
Predictions record: 2-1

My 3 stars from last night:
1. Brian Elliott, OTT (41 Saves, 2 GA)
Elliott’s hot streak continued with his 8th straight win over the Sabres.
2. Johan Franzen, DET (2 Goals, 2 Assists)
Franzen engineered the Wings’ attack with 4 points.
3. Corey Perry, ANA (2 Goals)
Perry netted 2 power play goals in the 3rd period, which was the difference.
---

Today’s Slate:
Flames @ Bruins, 1:00 ET
Flyers @ Penguins, 1:00
Lightning @ Sabres, 7:00
Rangers @ Maple Leafs, 7:00
Devils @ Canadiens, 7:00
Panthers @ Senators, 7:00
Thrashers @ Hurricanes, 7:00
Islanders @ Blue Jackets, 7:00
Red Wings @ Predators, 8:00
Avalanche @ Coyotes, 9:00
Canucks @ Sharks, 10:00
Stars @ Kings, 10:30

Tonight’s premier games:
Detroit Red Wings @ Nashville Predators
8:00 ET… TV: Local Networks

Records:
Overall: Red Wings (38-23-13) … Predators (43-27-5)
Last Ten: Red Wings (8-1-1) … Predators (8-2-0)
Away/Home: Red Wings (16-13-8) … Predators (22-13-2)
Season Series: 3-1 Red Wings

Players to watch:
DET- Pavel Datsyuk
He’s been incredibly consistent this year, and usually has Nashville’s number.
NSH- Shea Weber
Weber needs to play better than he has the last couple of games.

Projected Goaltenders:
DET- Jimmy Howard (Last night vs. MIN: 25 Saves, 2 GA)
NSH- Pekka Rinne (09/10 stats: 29-14-4, 2.61 GAA)

Injury Report:
DET- Kirk Maltby (shoulder, out)
NSH- Jason Arnott (head, doubtful), Joel Ward (upper body, out), Denis Grebeshkov (lower body, out)

Game Thoughts:
Oh my, what a game we have here! Detroit travels to the Music City after crushing Minnesota last night. They’ve been red-hot (7-0-1 in last 8), pulling away from Calgary in the playoff race. The Predators have been equally as good over the last couple weeks, and beat Phoenix on Thursday. I wouldn’t be surprised to see this go past regulation, but I like the Preds in front of a raucous home crowd.
Prediction: Predators 4, Red Wings 2
---
Vancouver Canucks @ San Jose Sharks
10:00 ET… TV: CBC, Local Networks

Records:
Overall: Canucks (45-25-4) … Sharks (45-19-10)
Last Ten: Canucks (6-2-2) … Sharks (4-5-1)
Away/Home: Canucks (18-17-2) … Sharks (23-6-8)
Season Series: Tied 1-1

Players to watch:
VAN- Henrik Sedin
Henrik, who has 19 points in 13 games this month, can help his Hart Trophy case with a big performance.
SJ- Joe Thornton
Thornton has a 4-game point streak, has good career numbers vs. Vancouver, and needs to elevate his game tonight.

Projected Goaltenders:
VAN- Roberto Luongo (09/10 stats: 37-20-3, 2.48 GAA)
SJ- Evgeni Nabokov (09/10 stats: 39-15-9, 2.39 GAA)

Injury Report:
VAN- Mikael Samuelsson (shoulder, out), Willie Mitchell (concussion, out), Pavol Demitra (personal, out), Steve Bernier (hernia, out)
SJ- Rob Blake (knee, probable), Scott Nichol (upper body, questionable)

Game Thoughts:
For the second time in ten days, the Canucks and Sharks face-off in a matchup of Western Conference elites. Vancouver won at home last week, so Todd McLellan and company are looking to avenge that loss. After an ugly losing streak, his team is back on track with two solid wins. Luongo hasn’t had great success vs. San Jose, and I’m feelin’ a ‘W’ from the home team.
Prediction: Sharks 3, Canucks 1
---
The rest of today’s games:
Calgary Flames (37-28-9) @ Boston Bruins (33-28-12)
1:00 ET… TV: Local Networks

Players to watch:
CGY- Jarome Iginla
BOS- David Krejci

Projected Goaltenders:
CGY- Miikka Kiprusoff (09/10 stats: 32-24-9, 2.22 GAA)
BOS- Tim Thomas (09/10 stats: 15-17-8, 2.57 GAA)

Game Thoughts:
Both teams need wins following disappointing losses on Thursday. It’ll go down to the wire, and look for the Flames to emerge victorious.
Prediction: Flames 3, Bruins 2 (SO)
---
Philadelphia Flyers (37-31-6) @ Pittsburgh Penguins (42-25-7)
1:00 ET… TV: Local Networks

Players to watch:
PHI- Scott Hartnell
PIT- Sidney Crosby

Projected Goaltenders:
PHI- Johan Backlund (First career NHL start)
PIT- Marc-Andre Fleury (09/10 stats: 33-19-6, 2.66 GAA)

Game Thoughts:
The two rivals clash in what should be a matinee full of fireworks. The Flyers are suddenly fighting for their playoff lives, but I like the Pens at home.
Prediction: Penguins 4, Flyers 2
---
Tampa Bay Lightning (30-32-12) @ Buffalo Sabres (40-23-10)
7:00 ET… TV: Local Networks

Players to watch:
TB- Steven Stamkos
BUF- Jason Pominville

Projected Goaltenders:
TB- Antero Niittymaki (09/10 stats: 20-16-5, 2.73 GAA)
BUF- Patrick Lalime (09/10 stats: 3-6-2, 3.02 GAA)

Game Thoughts:
The Sabres couldn’t find a way to beat Ottawa last night, and look to rebound against the Bolts. If Miller starts again, he’s owned Tampa throughout his career.
Prediction: Sabres 4, Lightning 1
---
New York Rangers (33-32-9) @ Toronto Maple Leafs (27-35-12)
7:00 ET… TV: CBC, Local Networks

Players to watch:
NYR- Marian Gaborik
TOR- Dion Phaneuf

Projected Goaltenders:
NYR- Henrik Lundqvist (09/10 stats: 30-26-8, 2.43 GAA)
TOR- Jonas Gustavsson (09/10 stats: 15-13-8, 2.86 GAA)

Game Thoughts:
Toronto has played some great hockey since the break, and ‘The Monster’ is starting to live up to his potential. Can the Rangers stretch their win streak to three? I have my doubts.
Prediction: Maple Leafs 3, Rangers 2 (OT)
---
New Jersey Devils (43-25-5) @ Montreal Canadiens (37-30-8)
7:00 ET… TV: CBC, NHL Net. (US), Local Networks

Players to watch:
NJ- Ilya Kovalchuk
MTL- Brian Gionta

Projected Goaltenders:
NJ- Martin Brodeur (09/10 stats: 40-23-4, 2.34 GAA)
MTL- Jaroslav Halak (09/10 stats: 24-11-3, 2.41 GAA)

Game Thoughts:
Jacques Martin’s Canadiens have played solid hockey of late, but the Devils will be madder than you-know-what after blowing their last game to the Rangers.
Prediction: Devils 3, Canadiens 1
---
Florida Panthers (30-32-11) @ Ottawa Senators (40-30-5)
7:00 ET… TV: CBC, Local Networks

Players to watch:
FLA- Stephen Weiss
OTT- Jason Spezza

Projected Goaltenders:
FLA- Tomas Vokoun (09/10 stats: 23-25-11, 2.44 GAA)
OTT- Brian Elliott (Last night @ BUF: 41 Saves, 2 GA)

Game Thoughts:
Elliott led the Sens to another victory over the Sabres last night, but he’s due for a bad start. Florida usually plays well in Ottawa, so I’m going with the mild upset.
Prediction: Panthers 4, Senators 3 (SO)
---
Atlanta Thrashers (32-30-12) @ Carolina Hurricanes (31-34-9)
7:00 ET… TV: Local Networks

Players to watch:
ATL- Nik Antropov
CAR- Ray Whitney

Projected Goaltenders:
ATL- Ondrej Pavelec (09/10 stats: 13-16-7, 3.31 GAA)
CAR- Manny Legace (09/10 stats: 10-7-5, 2.82 GAA)

Game Thoughts:
This is a tough game to get a feel for… Atlanta needs the ‘W’ (badly), while Carolina has played more inspired hockey. My gut says take Atlanta...
Prediction: Thrashers 4, Hurricanes 2
---
Colorado Avalanche (41-25-7) @ Phoenix Coyotes (46-23-6)
9:00 ET… TV: Local Networks

Players to watch:
COL- Peter Mueller
PHX- Lee Stempniak

Projected Goaltenders:
COL- Craig Anderson (09/10 stats: 36-21-6, 2.53 GAA)
PHX- Ilya Bryzgalov (09/10 stats: 39-19-5, 2.29 GAA)

Game Thoughts:
Colorado has been inconsistent lately, and the ‘Yotes can clinch a playoff spot while at home. Sorry, Colorado… Dave Tippett and company are going to get the job done in front of the home faithful.
Prediction: Coyotes 3, Avalanche 2
---
Dallas Stars (32-28-14) @ Los Angeles Kings (42-25-6)
10:30 ET… TV: Local Networks

Players to watch:
DAL- Brad Richards
LA- Drew Doughty

Projected Goaltenders:
DAL- Kari Lehtonen (09/10 stats: 3-2-0, 3.16 GAA)
LA- Jonathan Quick (09/10 stats: 39-22-4, 2.51 GAA)

Game Thoughts:
The Stars don’t have much to play for here, and the Kings need points to climb up the standings. After 2 losses, it’s a recipe for a victory for L.A.
Prediction: Kings 4, Stars 2

The rest of tonight’s predictions:
Blue Jackets over Islanders

You can follow the Red Light District on Twitter @RLDhockey!
Don’t forget about our radio show at 1:00 ET this Tuesday!

Friday Night Fights

The best fights of the week...

Welcome to the playoffs, Chicago!

With 99 points as of this writing, the Chicago Blackhawks will be heading into the Stanley Cup Playoffs. How far they will go remains to be seen. If last night's warning signs, an 8-3 spanking from the Columbus Blue Jackets, do not wake this team up well, will it be one and done for Chicago? Even with the embarrassment from last night's contest, the Hawks clinched a playoff birth (thanks to Calgary's loss).

Current record-

46-20-7, 99 points (2nd in West)

When they clinched a playoff spot-

March 25th

The amazing stretch-

November 9 through January 7 (23-5-1)

Since the Olympic break came to an end, the Blackhawks have been unable to play .500 hockey. Throughout the month of March, they have five wins and seven losses. In their last ten games played they have posted a record of 4-4-2.

Signs of a playoff team beginning to fall apart? The United Center faithful sure hope not. Last year, the young 'Hawks were able to gain a valuable learning experience. For many, it was their first trip to the Stanley Cup Playoffs. This season's young 'Hawks club are expected to be better prepared.

After last year's playoffs ended for Chicago, the team knew something was needed. Even with the cap issues that they are currently facing, they were able to sign sniper Marian Hossa to a 12-year deal for big-time money.

The first issue at hand, will the 'Curse of Hossa' affect the Blackhawks? In 2008, he was a member of the Pittsburgh Penguins and then in 2009 the Detroit Red Wings. Both teams were part of the Stanley Cup Finals and both teams lost during the year Hossa spent with them.

Aside from the Hossa voodoo, the injuries to Brian Campbell and newly acquired Kim Johnsson have taken quite a toll on the 'Hawks. Two members of the team's blue-line are out with injuries and even though Campbell may not be worth the money he makes, his play has been solid.

The losses are devastating. The pairings have not been the same since both defensemen went down to injury and the lack of defensive pressure has shown. Even with Brent Seabrook back in the line up, one wonders if the injury he sustained during the game against Anaheim still lingers.

On a team that has five players with 20 goals or more and five others in double digits, offensive output will not be an issue come playoffs. The biggest concern within the organization comes from the issues in goal.

Cristobal Huet has not performed well this season. Antti Niemi has shown flashes of brilliance however, but has also shown his inexperience and youth.

The question surrounding the Hawks is how far will they advance when the playoffs start? Unless Huet and/or Niemi can step up their game, it looks as if the Hawks will be on their way to an early exit from the 'second season'.

Huet's numbers are suddenly raising eyebrows. He boasts a 2.50 goals against average and his save percentage is more of an issue at .895. For Niemi, 2.22 goals against and a .912 save percentage will give Coach Q something to ponder. For now, barring injury or a total collapse in his game, expect to see Niemi take a stranglehold of the number one position.

The coaches will keep their eyes on the young Finnish goalie, but I have a feeling he will shine while building confidence in his game.

Looking past the goaltending, the advantages to this team come from the names sewn onto the backs of the sweaters. Dave Bolland, Troy Brouwer, Kris Versteeg, Duncan Keith, Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane and even Andrew Laad have provided the Hawks with plenty of offense. Not to mention, most, if not all, are defensively responsible.

The Hawks have the option of being the number one seed in the Conference. Of course, that has the making of an upset if the Detroit Red Wings stay locked in the eighth seed. But, for the Hawks - like the other fifteen teams who are going to be playing in the playoffs - it's a new season. Anything is possible.

Welcome to the playoffs, San Jose!

Current record-
45-19-10, 100 points (1st in West)
When they clinched a playoff spot-
March 25th
The stretch that lifted them-
December 17 through January 23 (16-2-1)

Everything’s now alright in the Sharks’ world! After losing five in a row in unimpressive fashion, Todd McLellan’s crew has bounced back with a pair of convincing wins to punch their ticket to the postseason (officially). It was inevitable, but it’s good to see this team back on track after a stretch that had everyone panicking.

After an amazing 117-point season a year ago, somebody forgot to tell them that the playoffs had started… resulting in an early exit to rival Anaheim. If they had drawn Columbus or St. Louis in the first round, it may have been a different story. Instead, they faced the Ducks, and the rest is history.

San Jose hasn’t had the same regular season they did last year, which may be a good thing. They won’t have the pressure of having to back up the Presidents’ Trophy, and everyone will be expecting them to check-out early again. With Dany Heatley on board for his first postseason in the Bay Area, they’ve added a game-changer that has quality playoff experience. In the end, if they win it all, he could be the difference.

Now they have to go out and rid those playoff demons. As easy as it sounds, the Sharks make it difficult on themselves to beat a team not named Nashville in the playoffs. Since the lockout, this team is 1-4 in series against any other team than the Preds (the one win came vs. Calgary in 7 games in 2008). I’m sure they’d like to face the Preds again in the first round this spring!

If they wish to achieve their goal of winning the Cup, though, Evgeni Nabokov will have to be better in the clutch. I’ll go as far as saying he’s been good enough to win most games in the playoffs (aside from last year). He has just given up untimely goals that proved to be costly.

Looking at past postseasons, Game 4 vs. Detroit in 2007 sticks out like a sore thumb. Up 2-1 in the game (and the series), ‘Nabby’ surrendered a soft goal to Robert Lang late in regulation (33 seconds to be exact) that tied the game. They went on to lose in overtime, and the series in 6 games. In 2008, he was very mediocre in the first two games against the Stars (both losses).

It is obvious that the Sharks possess enough skill and talent to take home Lord Stanley. If they played out the playoffs on paper, San Jose may win more than half of the time. The problem is they can’t finish the job on the ice… and you know it’s in their heads. If this team can get past the first or second round, they may be able to get the monkey off their back and go win the Cup. As we know, though, that’s much easier said than done when it comes to the Team Teal.