The most exciting time of the year for any NHL fan has finally arrived! The playoff picture is finally clear and it's filled with some great first round (and potential late round) matchups. Let's get right down to my fearless predictions:
Series Facts: Game 1 (April 10 @Montreal. 7 p.m. ET. TV: CBC, RDS); Game 2 (April 12 @Montreal. 7 p.m. ET. TV: CBC, VS.); Game 3 (April 13 @Boston. 7 p.m. ET. TV: CBC, RDS); Game 4 (April 15 @Boston. 7 p.m. ET. TV: CBC, RDS).
About Montreal: The Canadiens (47-25-10) boast a high scoring offense that registered 257 goals and a 3.09 GFA this season, good for first in the league. They'll rely on right wing Alexei Kovalev (35 goals, 84 points), who became Montreal's first 35-goal scorer since 1995-96, when Pierre Turgeon and Vincent Damphousse tied for the team lead with 38 apiece.
About Boston: The Bruins (41-29-12) will lean heavily on veteran goalie Tim Thomas, who has gone 4-1-1 in his last six starts and owns a 28-19-6 record in 55 starts this season. Thomas' .921 SV% is the fifth highest in the league and he'll need to be sharp with Marc Savard (78 points) nursing a sore back.
Comment: This matchup has the most history of any this season: the Bruins and Habs are bitter rivals dating back to the good old Original Six days. That rivalry hasn't died down any this year, and you can expect some bad blood to spill over. The Habs are just too good offensively to be held down by a (playoff) untested Tim Thomas. The big question marks for the Canadiens, however, are their injury status.Their captain, Saku Koivu, and defensive stalwart Mike Komisarek are questionable at best for the first round. Boston has even bigger problems, however, as they will likely be without both Chuck Kobasew and Marc Savard.
Prediction: Montreal in six games.
No. 2 Pittsburgh vs No. 7 Ottawa
Series Facts: Game 1 (April 9 @Pittsburgh. 7 p.m. ET. TV: VS., CBC); Game 2 (April 11 @Pittsburgh. 7 p.m. ET. TV: CBC, RDS); Game 3 (April 14 @Ottawa. 7 p.m. ET. TV: CBC, RDS); Game 4 (April 16 @Ottawa. 7 p.m. ET. TV: CBC, RDS).
About Pittsburgh: The Penguins (47-27-8) are just 2-7 against the Senators dating back to the 2007 playoffs. They were outscored 36-23 in those games. On the plus side, after battling injury all season, young standout Sidney Crosby (72 points in 53 games) is healthy and raring to go.
About Ottawa: The Senators (43-31-8) possess three players that topped 80 points this season (Jason Spezza, Daniel Alfredsson, Dany Heatley). They'll have to step up because goaltenders Martin Gerber and Ray Emery (11-16-4 since Jan. 31) are both big question marks.
Comment: We'll likely see more goals in this series than any other. Both teams suffer from the same symptoms: offenses that can't stop scoring and goaltenders who are allergic to saves. The trio of Penguins trio of Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Marian Hossa rivals (if not surpasses) Ottawa's Dany Heatley, Jason Spezza and Daniel Alfredsson as the most feared group of players on any given team. I expect by the end of this series that the goaltending situation in Ottawa gets sorted out and stabilizes itself (in the form of a calm and collected Martin Gerber).
Prediction: Ottawa in seven games.
No. 3 Washington vs No. 6 Philadelphia
Series Facts: Game 1 (April 11 @Washington. 7 p.m. ET. TV: VS., TSN); Game 2 (April 13 @Washington. 2 p.m. ET. TV: NBC, TSN); Game 3 (April 15 @Philadelphia. 7 p.m. ET. TV: VS., TSN); Game 4 (April 17 @Philadelphia. 7 p.m. ET. TV: VS., TSN).
About Washington: The Capitals (43-31-8) probably own the MVP in Alexander Ovechkin. He led the NHL with 65 goals and 112 points, virtually carrying the Caps to the playoffs.
About Philadelphia: If the Flyers (42-29-11) want to compete against the Capitals they'll need to stay out of the penalty box. They finished third in the league with 1,471 PIM and will need to stay out of the box if they hope to slow down the Capitals offense.
Comment: Division rivals and a kid by the name of Alexander Ovechkin will make this the most watched series of the first round. The Capitals star left wing, Alexander the Great, has turned into an across-the-board fan favorite with his record-breaking 65 goals for a left winger and will be cheered on by everyone that isn't a Flyers fan. Even though the Caps have home ice advantage they will still be the underdogs in this one. Philly has a grittier team with more depth, but don't count out the Capitals. Ovechkin can single handedly turn a game in his favour. Both goalies have a lot to prove in the playoffs, and I expect Capitals goalie Cristobal Huet to give an effort worthy of a new contract. Even still, defensemen Brian Pothier's likely absence from the blue line will make his job harder.
Prediction: Washington in six games.
No. 4 New Jersey vs No. 5 New York
Series Facts: Game 1 (April 9 @New Jersey. 7 p.m. ET. TV: TSN); Game 2 (April 11 @New Jersey. 7 p.m. ET. TV: TSN); Game 3 (April 13 @New York. 7 p.m. ET. TV: VS., TSN); Game 4 (April 16 @New York. 7 p.m. ET. TV: VS., TSN).
About New Jersey: The Devils (46-29-7) have one of the most accomplished goalies in NHL history, Martin Brodeur, manning the net. Good thing too, because they rank 27th in the league with just 198 goals and a 2.37 GFA.
About New York: The Rangers (42-27-13), much like the Devils, rely on defense and good goaltending to win. The ageless Jaromir Jagr, who scored five goals and eight points in his last five games, leads the Rangers attack in his 17th season, while goalie Henrik Lundqvist (10 shutouts) stands in the net.
Comment: Two of the world's premiere goalies will go up against some lackluster offense in this one. Both teams have the talent to score goals (New Jersey's Brian Gionta and Zach Parise, New York's Jaromir Jagr and Brendan Shanahan), but both teams have rarely harnessed that talent this season. Look for Devils goalie Marty Brodeur to put on his usual playoff show. The Rangers man in the net, Henrik Lundqvist, won't back down from the challenge. It will come down to goaltending and whether or not New York's high-paid, underperforming offense brings it in the post season.
Prediction: New Jersey in five games.
Series Facts: Game 1 (April 10 @Detroit. 7 p.m. ET. TV: VS.); Game 2 (April 12 @Detroit. 2 p.m. ET. TV: NBC); Game 3 (April 14 @Nashville. TBA. TV: VS.); Game 4 (April 16 @Nashville. TBA. TV: VS.).
About Detroit: The Red Wings (54-21-7) were among the league leaders in both offensive and defensive efficiency, and the goaltending platoon of Dominic Hasek and Chris Osgood yielded surprisingly strong results — a league leading 2.16 GAA and nine shutouts.
About Nashville: The Predators (41-32-9) are 3-3-2 against Detroit this season, which is more success than most teams have had against the Red Wings. Key for Nashville will be the play in the net, where both Dan Ellis (23-10-3) and Chris Mason (18-22-6) have split time.
Comment: It's hard to argue with the best team in the NHL, but there's been a stigma surrounding Detroit. They dominate during the regular season but are easily bounced from the playoffs. Will standout goalie Dominik Hasek be healthy? Or will Chris Osgood get the starts for the Wings? Will Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg prove they can be reliable playoff contributors? These questions likely won't matter because Nashville's goaltending is too weak to compete. Unless their talented offense goes bonkers and can put up four goals a night on the stingiest team in the league, the Predators won't get far.
Prediction: Detroit in four games.
No. 2 San Jose vs No. 7 Calgary
Series Facts: Game 1 (April 9 @San Jose. 10 p.m. ET. TV: VS., CBC); Game 2 (April 10 @San Jose. 10 p.m. ET. TV: CBC); Game 3 (April 13 @Calgary. 10 p.m. ET. TV: VS., CBC); Game 4 (April 15 @Calgary. 10 p.m. ET. TV: CBC).
About San Jose: The Sharks (49-23-10) have dropped three of four meetings to the Flames this season. The bad blood goes back to 2004 when Calgary denied the Sharks a trip to the Stanley Cup finals. Will anyone other than captain Joe Thornton (29 goals, 67 assists) step up?
About Calgary: The Flames (42-30-10) own the dubious distinction of tying for fourth this with 10 overtime losses. This type of play has defined their season; only Jarome Iginla (50 goals, 98 points) and standout defensemen Dion Phaneuf have played with any real fire.
Comment: The Sharks are always picked by experts as the team to "go all the way" and they're playing their best hockey at the right time. They've heated up as of late and boast a well balanced squad with one of the most underrated goalies in Evgeni Nabokov. They'll have to stop relying on center Joe Thornton as a crutch, however, as his playoff productivity is merely average. Calgary only has two locks for playoff contributions (Jarome Iginla and Miikka Kiprusoff) and must get big performances out of Kristian Huselius and Alex Tanguay if they want to advance.
Prediction: Calgary in seven games.
No. 3 Minnesota vs No. 6 Colorado
Series Facts: Game 1 (April 9 @Minnesota. 9 p.m. ET. TV: TBA); Game 2 (April 11 @Minnesota. 9 p.m. ET. TV: VS.); Game 3 (April 14 @Colorado. 10 p.m. ET. TV: VS.); Game 4 (April 15 @Colorado. 10 p.m. ET. TV: VS.).
About Minnesota: Strong defensive play helped the Wild (44-28-10) to the eighth best GAA in the league with a 2.52. Of more concern should be the offense, which placed 18th in goals (220) and 17th in GAA with a 2.64.
About Colorado: The Avalanche (44-31-7) gained a late season boost when veteran center Peter Forsberg came out of retirement for one last shot at the Stanley Cup. Forsberg, who has 12 points in his last 5 games, was huge down the stretch and will balance an already potent attack.
Comment: Two potential dark horses meet up in this series. Minnesota flies below the radar every season and are made up of proven playoff contributors in Brian Rolston and Marian Gaborik. However, we don't know how Niklas Backstrom will do in the playoffs (although the forecast calls for clear skies). Colorado is a team that has the veteran leadership and a great young core of offense that can get the job done. Between Peter Forsberg, Joe Sakic, Paul Stastny and Ryan Smythe, I don't know who'll be a better contributor. Maybe it'll be Jose Theodore who has really returned to form this past month.
Prediction: Colorado in six games.
No. 4 Anaheim vs No. 6 Dallas
Series Facts: Game 1 (April 10 @Minnesota. 10 p.m. ET. TV: VS., TSN); Game 2 (April 12 @Minnesota. 10 p.m. ET. TV: VS., TSN); Game 3 (April 15 @Colorado. 8:30 p.m. ET. TV: TSN); Game 4 (April 17 @Colorado. 8:30 p.m. ET. TV: TSN).
About Anaheim: The Ducks (47-27-8) ranked 28th in the league with a 2.36 GFA.They balanced this lack of offense by limiting opponent to just a 2.20 goals per game, good for second in the league. As good as goalie Jean-Sebastien Giguere is, someone other than Ryan Getzlaf will have to step up and provide offense.
About Dallas: The Stars (45-30-7) are another hot defensive team. Marty Turco (32-21-6) has been fantastic down the stretch and Mike Ribeiro had another lights out season with 83 points. Still, Mike Richards never really panned out, and the offense is a big question mark.
Comment: The defending Stanley Cup champions, the Anaheim Ducks, have made few changes from last season. If anything, they've actually improved with the acquisitions of Todd Bertuzzi and Matthieu Schneider. On top of that, Ryan Getzlaf has progressed leaps and bounds from last year's terrific performance and they've got the second best playoff goaltender (behind Marty Brodeur, of course) in Jean Sebastian Giguere. Dallas, however, still hasn't been able to get their act together offensively. The acquisition of Brad Richards hasn't gone as smoothly as they'd hope and there isn't much else for them to rely on. There are a lot of injury concerns for the Stars, which is hardly inspiring. Marty Turco will have a great series, but it'll still end badly for him.
Prediction: Anaheim in five games.
J.P. Del Monte is UPDATE! National Hockey League editor.
EASTERN CONFERENCE
No. 1 Montreal vs No. 8 BostonSeries Facts: Game 1 (April 10 @Montreal. 7 p.m. ET. TV: CBC, RDS); Game 2 (April 12 @Montreal. 7 p.m. ET. TV: CBC, VS.); Game 3 (April 13 @Boston. 7 p.m. ET. TV: CBC, RDS); Game 4 (April 15 @Boston. 7 p.m. ET. TV: CBC, RDS).
About Montreal: The Canadiens (47-25-10) boast a high scoring offense that registered 257 goals and a 3.09 GFA this season, good for first in the league. They'll rely on right wing Alexei Kovalev (35 goals, 84 points), who became Montreal's first 35-goal scorer since 1995-96, when Pierre Turgeon and Vincent Damphousse tied for the team lead with 38 apiece.
About Boston: The Bruins (41-29-12) will lean heavily on veteran goalie Tim Thomas, who has gone 4-1-1 in his last six starts and owns a 28-19-6 record in 55 starts this season. Thomas' .921 SV% is the fifth highest in the league and he'll need to be sharp with Marc Savard (78 points) nursing a sore back.
Comment: This matchup has the most history of any this season: the Bruins and Habs are bitter rivals dating back to the good old Original Six days. That rivalry hasn't died down any this year, and you can expect some bad blood to spill over. The Habs are just too good offensively to be held down by a (playoff) untested Tim Thomas. The big question marks for the Canadiens, however, are their injury status.Their captain, Saku Koivu, and defensive stalwart Mike Komisarek are questionable at best for the first round. Boston has even bigger problems, however, as they will likely be without both Chuck Kobasew and Marc Savard.
Prediction: Montreal in six games.
No. 2 Pittsburgh vs No. 7 Ottawa
Series Facts: Game 1 (April 9 @Pittsburgh. 7 p.m. ET. TV: VS., CBC); Game 2 (April 11 @Pittsburgh. 7 p.m. ET. TV: CBC, RDS); Game 3 (April 14 @Ottawa. 7 p.m. ET. TV: CBC, RDS); Game 4 (April 16 @Ottawa. 7 p.m. ET. TV: CBC, RDS).
About Pittsburgh: The Penguins (47-27-8) are just 2-7 against the Senators dating back to the 2007 playoffs. They were outscored 36-23 in those games. On the plus side, after battling injury all season, young standout Sidney Crosby (72 points in 53 games) is healthy and raring to go.
About Ottawa: The Senators (43-31-8) possess three players that topped 80 points this season (Jason Spezza, Daniel Alfredsson, Dany Heatley). They'll have to step up because goaltenders Martin Gerber and Ray Emery (11-16-4 since Jan. 31) are both big question marks.
Comment: We'll likely see more goals in this series than any other. Both teams suffer from the same symptoms: offenses that can't stop scoring and goaltenders who are allergic to saves. The trio of Penguins trio of Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Marian Hossa rivals (if not surpasses) Ottawa's Dany Heatley, Jason Spezza and Daniel Alfredsson as the most feared group of players on any given team. I expect by the end of this series that the goaltending situation in Ottawa gets sorted out and stabilizes itself (in the form of a calm and collected Martin Gerber).
Prediction: Ottawa in seven games.
No. 3 Washington vs No. 6 Philadelphia
Series Facts: Game 1 (April 11 @Washington. 7 p.m. ET. TV: VS., TSN); Game 2 (April 13 @Washington. 2 p.m. ET. TV: NBC, TSN); Game 3 (April 15 @Philadelphia. 7 p.m. ET. TV: VS., TSN); Game 4 (April 17 @Philadelphia. 7 p.m. ET. TV: VS., TSN).
About Washington: The Capitals (43-31-8) probably own the MVP in Alexander Ovechkin. He led the NHL with 65 goals and 112 points, virtually carrying the Caps to the playoffs.
About Philadelphia: If the Flyers (42-29-11) want to compete against the Capitals they'll need to stay out of the penalty box. They finished third in the league with 1,471 PIM and will need to stay out of the box if they hope to slow down the Capitals offense.
Comment: Division rivals and a kid by the name of Alexander Ovechkin will make this the most watched series of the first round. The Capitals star left wing, Alexander the Great, has turned into an across-the-board fan favorite with his record-breaking 65 goals for a left winger and will be cheered on by everyone that isn't a Flyers fan. Even though the Caps have home ice advantage they will still be the underdogs in this one. Philly has a grittier team with more depth, but don't count out the Capitals. Ovechkin can single handedly turn a game in his favour. Both goalies have a lot to prove in the playoffs, and I expect Capitals goalie Cristobal Huet to give an effort worthy of a new contract. Even still, defensemen Brian Pothier's likely absence from the blue line will make his job harder.
Prediction: Washington in six games.
No. 4 New Jersey vs No. 5 New York
Series Facts: Game 1 (April 9 @New Jersey. 7 p.m. ET. TV: TSN); Game 2 (April 11 @New Jersey. 7 p.m. ET. TV: TSN); Game 3 (April 13 @New York. 7 p.m. ET. TV: VS., TSN); Game 4 (April 16 @New York. 7 p.m. ET. TV: VS., TSN).
About New Jersey: The Devils (46-29-7) have one of the most accomplished goalies in NHL history, Martin Brodeur, manning the net. Good thing too, because they rank 27th in the league with just 198 goals and a 2.37 GFA.
About New York: The Rangers (42-27-13), much like the Devils, rely on defense and good goaltending to win. The ageless Jaromir Jagr, who scored five goals and eight points in his last five games, leads the Rangers attack in his 17th season, while goalie Henrik Lundqvist (10 shutouts) stands in the net.
Comment: Two of the world's premiere goalies will go up against some lackluster offense in this one. Both teams have the talent to score goals (New Jersey's Brian Gionta and Zach Parise, New York's Jaromir Jagr and Brendan Shanahan), but both teams have rarely harnessed that talent this season. Look for Devils goalie Marty Brodeur to put on his usual playoff show. The Rangers man in the net, Henrik Lundqvist, won't back down from the challenge. It will come down to goaltending and whether or not New York's high-paid, underperforming offense brings it in the post season.
Prediction: New Jersey in five games.
WESTERN CONFERENCE
No. 1 Detroit vs No. 8 NashvilleSeries Facts: Game 1 (April 10 @Detroit. 7 p.m. ET. TV: VS.); Game 2 (April 12 @Detroit. 2 p.m. ET. TV: NBC); Game 3 (April 14 @Nashville. TBA. TV: VS.); Game 4 (April 16 @Nashville. TBA. TV: VS.).
About Detroit: The Red Wings (54-21-7) were among the league leaders in both offensive and defensive efficiency, and the goaltending platoon of Dominic Hasek and Chris Osgood yielded surprisingly strong results — a league leading 2.16 GAA and nine shutouts.
About Nashville: The Predators (41-32-9) are 3-3-2 against Detroit this season, which is more success than most teams have had against the Red Wings. Key for Nashville will be the play in the net, where both Dan Ellis (23-10-3) and Chris Mason (18-22-6) have split time.
Comment: It's hard to argue with the best team in the NHL, but there's been a stigma surrounding Detroit. They dominate during the regular season but are easily bounced from the playoffs. Will standout goalie Dominik Hasek be healthy? Or will Chris Osgood get the starts for the Wings? Will Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg prove they can be reliable playoff contributors? These questions likely won't matter because Nashville's goaltending is too weak to compete. Unless their talented offense goes bonkers and can put up four goals a night on the stingiest team in the league, the Predators won't get far.
Prediction: Detroit in four games.
No. 2 San Jose vs No. 7 Calgary
Series Facts: Game 1 (April 9 @San Jose. 10 p.m. ET. TV: VS., CBC); Game 2 (April 10 @San Jose. 10 p.m. ET. TV: CBC); Game 3 (April 13 @Calgary. 10 p.m. ET. TV: VS., CBC); Game 4 (April 15 @Calgary. 10 p.m. ET. TV: CBC).
About San Jose: The Sharks (49-23-10) have dropped three of four meetings to the Flames this season. The bad blood goes back to 2004 when Calgary denied the Sharks a trip to the Stanley Cup finals. Will anyone other than captain Joe Thornton (29 goals, 67 assists) step up?
About Calgary: The Flames (42-30-10) own the dubious distinction of tying for fourth this with 10 overtime losses. This type of play has defined their season; only Jarome Iginla (50 goals, 98 points) and standout defensemen Dion Phaneuf have played with any real fire.
Comment: The Sharks are always picked by experts as the team to "go all the way" and they're playing their best hockey at the right time. They've heated up as of late and boast a well balanced squad with one of the most underrated goalies in Evgeni Nabokov. They'll have to stop relying on center Joe Thornton as a crutch, however, as his playoff productivity is merely average. Calgary only has two locks for playoff contributions (Jarome Iginla and Miikka Kiprusoff) and must get big performances out of Kristian Huselius and Alex Tanguay if they want to advance.
Prediction: Calgary in seven games.
No. 3 Minnesota vs No. 6 Colorado
Series Facts: Game 1 (April 9 @Minnesota. 9 p.m. ET. TV: TBA); Game 2 (April 11 @Minnesota. 9 p.m. ET. TV: VS.); Game 3 (April 14 @Colorado. 10 p.m. ET. TV: VS.); Game 4 (April 15 @Colorado. 10 p.m. ET. TV: VS.).
About Minnesota: Strong defensive play helped the Wild (44-28-10) to the eighth best GAA in the league with a 2.52. Of more concern should be the offense, which placed 18th in goals (220) and 17th in GAA with a 2.64.
About Colorado: The Avalanche (44-31-7) gained a late season boost when veteran center Peter Forsberg came out of retirement for one last shot at the Stanley Cup. Forsberg, who has 12 points in his last 5 games, was huge down the stretch and will balance an already potent attack.
Comment: Two potential dark horses meet up in this series. Minnesota flies below the radar every season and are made up of proven playoff contributors in Brian Rolston and Marian Gaborik. However, we don't know how Niklas Backstrom will do in the playoffs (although the forecast calls for clear skies). Colorado is a team that has the veteran leadership and a great young core of offense that can get the job done. Between Peter Forsberg, Joe Sakic, Paul Stastny and Ryan Smythe, I don't know who'll be a better contributor. Maybe it'll be Jose Theodore who has really returned to form this past month.
Prediction: Colorado in six games.
No. 4 Anaheim vs No. 6 Dallas
Series Facts: Game 1 (April 10 @Minnesota. 10 p.m. ET. TV: VS., TSN); Game 2 (April 12 @Minnesota. 10 p.m. ET. TV: VS., TSN); Game 3 (April 15 @Colorado. 8:30 p.m. ET. TV: TSN); Game 4 (April 17 @Colorado. 8:30 p.m. ET. TV: TSN).
About Anaheim: The Ducks (47-27-8) ranked 28th in the league with a 2.36 GFA.They balanced this lack of offense by limiting opponent to just a 2.20 goals per game, good for second in the league. As good as goalie Jean-Sebastien Giguere is, someone other than Ryan Getzlaf will have to step up and provide offense.
About Dallas: The Stars (45-30-7) are another hot defensive team. Marty Turco (32-21-6) has been fantastic down the stretch and Mike Ribeiro had another lights out season with 83 points. Still, Mike Richards never really panned out, and the offense is a big question mark.
Comment: The defending Stanley Cup champions, the Anaheim Ducks, have made few changes from last season. If anything, they've actually improved with the acquisitions of Todd Bertuzzi and Matthieu Schneider. On top of that, Ryan Getzlaf has progressed leaps and bounds from last year's terrific performance and they've got the second best playoff goaltender (behind Marty Brodeur, of course) in Jean Sebastian Giguere. Dallas, however, still hasn't been able to get their act together offensively. The acquisition of Brad Richards hasn't gone as smoothly as they'd hope and there isn't much else for them to rely on. There are a lot of injury concerns for the Stars, which is hardly inspiring. Marty Turco will have a great series, but it'll still end badly for him.
Prediction: Anaheim in five games.
PLAYOFF LOCKS
Comment: The key to a successful pool is picking players from teams you think will advance well into the playoffs. If you want to make sure your boys at least make it to the second round, you can't do any better than the Anaheim Ducks and Detroit Red Wings. Detroit should have no problem ousting Nashville, and the defending champion Ducks are still the favorite to repeat. The East is a different story. There is no dominant team assured of advancing. A playoff-winning team is 100 percent dependant on goaltending, and aside from New Jersey and New York no other team has proven, quality goaltenders.
DARK HORSES
Comment: These are teams that are slipping under everyone's radar and should be viewed as serious threats, especially if they can squeeze into the second round. In the West, it's the Colorado Avalanche with their veteran leadership and a reliable goalie in Jose Theodore, who is begining to resemble the incredibly talented stopper from a few years ago. In the East, it's the Ottawa Senators. At the beginning of the season the Sens were the favorites to repeat in the finals but faltered badly after the All Star break. They barely held onto their playoff position but are just too loaded with offensive talent to not be taken seriously. If either Ray Emery or Martin Gerber (the more likely candidate) can get into a rhythm, I would be scared of this team.
J.P. Del Monte is UPDATE! National Hockey League editor.