Labatt Blue Hockey Chase for the Cup 1998/99 Playoffs

        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

Eastern Conference

-vs-   Capitals win series 4-3

-vs-   Devils win series 4-1

-vs-   Flyers win series 4-0

-vs-   Devils win series 4-2

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.

-vs-

Western Conference

-vs-   Oilers win series 4-0

-vs-   Blues win series 4-2

-vs-   Avalanche win series 4-2

-vs-   Oilers win series 4-2

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.

-vs-   Colorado leads series 2-1

-vs-   Philadelphia up 4-2

updated May 28th 1998