EASTERN CONFERENCE Div Points WESTERN CONFERENCE Div Points Montreal Canadiens (N) 109 Colorado Avalanche (C) 99 Carolina Hurricanes (A) 104 Anaheim Mighty Ducks (P) 93 New York Rangers (N) 99 Phoenix Coyotes (C) 93 Buffalo Sabres (N) 93 San Jose Sharks (P) 84 Boston Bruins (N) 78 Vancover Canucks (P) 71 Ottawa Senators (N) 63 Calgary Flames (P) 70 Florida Panthers (A) 62 Edmonton Oilers (C) 68 Washington Capitals (A) 61 Chicago Blackhawks (C) 60
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Philadelphia Flyers - New Jersey Devils New Jersey won New York Rangers in the first round in five games. In the second round they met Pittsburgh Penguins, which had gotten a first round bye after finishing second in the Eastern Conference. All the games were very tight but afterall Devils were able to win the series from a team, which played a better regular season. The same time Mario Lemieux played his last game in the NHL. Philadelphia controlled the regular season and they started their playoffs on the second round against Washington. The first two games went 3-0 and 4-0 to Flyers but when the games went to Washington, things weren't that easy, they did win both games but the first game at D.C went to overtime and the second one ended 2-1. They weren't that dominating on the road. If the Colorado-Edmonton series show some good goaltending, this series offer some great goaltending. Dominik Hasek and Martin Brodeur have both showed what they can do. But if both of them look great, they both have good defensive players in front of them. Of course they are among the best goalies at the moment but both teams are also known for their good defense. As for defenders, Devils are missinga good two-way defender while Flyers have Paul Coffey. But Devils' trap system needs just some good defensive defenders, who they have and Flyers don't have so many. Devils' defense led by Scott Stevens is the key to this series, Flyers are strong in all the positions including attackers. Devils have to find a way to stop LeClair and co. if they want to win the series. Flyers have strong defense corps also but their defensive game is built around Hasek. You can see the difference in these two teams defensive play. For Flyers' low GAA people thank Hasek as for Devils' low GAA people thank their good defense. LeClair, Lindros, Ciccarelli and Bure at Philadelphia. Holik, Mogilny, Sheppard and Granato at New Jersey. Which one of these two groups would you take? I believe the upper one. Those guys at Philadelphia are true goal scorers but surprise, Philadelphia has four 20 goal scorers while New Jersey has six. And a quick look at the both teams two best goal scorers shows that Lindros and LeClair scored 34 per cent of Philadelphia's goals while Holik and Mogilny scored only 23 per cent of New Jersey's goals. All this shows how important LeClair and Lindros are for Philly's offense while New Jersey has more depth. Both teams are in an interesting situation with the attackers' defensive play; both teams have many good defensive attackers but neither of teams have defensively solid attackers, almoust everyone is poor or good defensively but not many fall between those two. Here's again something which works for New Jersey. They have defensively better attackers led by Brent Sutter and Kelly Miller... An interesting series coming up in here also. All the games will be ending 3-2 or so. Many would say Philadelphia will sweep New Jersey straight in four but they won't. If they'll even win the series. There's something in New Jersey which makes me feel they'd win the series. Philadelphia does have the best names in the league but is it enough? It's really hard to say but I go with Devils. The series will be even more exciting if the owners decide to play head to head.
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Colorado Avalanche - Edmonton Oilers Oilers have played strong series against Dallas and Detroit. They swept Dallas straight in four games but against Detroit they were very close to being dropped out as the seventh game went to overtime. But they made it and if they're able to beat Dallas and Detroit, they can cause big trouble for the Avalanche. Avalanche earned a first round bye and started their playoff campaign against St.Louis Blues. The series went on to seven games in which the Avalanche were able to get a 3-4 win. It was even a bit surprising the Avalanche needed all the seven games. Blues do have a very good team but still, if Colorado is looking to win the series, they'll have to play better. The series can be won by the goalies' play. Both teams have great playoff goalies in Curtis Joseph and Patrick Roy. Roy seemed to be better at the regular season and is one of the best goalies ever. But Curtis Joseph has also shown what he can do to keep his team in the game. Both teams have good defensemen, some offensive minded and some who can take care of their own end. Adam Foote and Sylvain Lefebre are both strong players at their own end while Luke Richardson and Bryan Marchment are both capable doing it for Edmonton. The offensive defensemen are important in the fast end to end rushes. Colorado's Sandish Ozolinsh is one of the bests at it. With Rob Blake (who's a great two way defender) Colorado has two very good offensive defensemen. Edmonton has to offer especially Boris Mironov who's also very good in both ends and then they have guys like Dan McGillis and Bryan McCabe who are both good but not that flashy. Both teams have a 40 goal scorer in Ryan Smyth and Adam Deadmarsh. They are in very important roles trying to lead their teams' attack. But both of them can be shut down (atlest they'll get some extra attention), after them Edmonton has four other 20 goal scorers and Colorado three. Valeri Kamensky, Joe Sakic, Peter Forsberg and Claude Lemieux sound and are great players all. Claude Lemieux especially has been awesome in the playoffs, he has the real will to win. Edmonton might not have such great names but "Vinnie" Damphousse, Doug Weight, Andrei Kovalenko and Derek King are all strong players who you can't forget. In order to win the series, you'll have to have some good defensive attackers also. Colorado has Forsberg, Keane, LaCroix and Yelle but Edmonton has two very good defensive players in Rob Zamuner and Kelly Buchberger and also Draper, Murray and Marchant. Edmonton should take the benefit out of it's good defensive attackers. They'll be in a key position as this series comes down to all little things. I believe that Edmonton Oilers will win the series but it won't be easy. As a team they look like a bit better than Colorado and they have more depth but Colorado has some very good players who can turn things upside down in no time. This series will end in six games.
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updated May 28th 1998