NHL Jeff's Stanley Cup Final Prediction and Analysis

Click here for the full Round 4 Schedule.

NHL Jeff's take on the Final Match-Up:
Stanley Cup Finals

(1) Detroit Red Wings vs.(2) Pittsburgh Penguins

Regular Season Series: None

DET Key Players: N. Lidstrom, P. Datsyuk, H. Zetterberg, C. Osgood (G), J. Franzen (pending injury status), B. Rafalski

PIT Key Players: S. Crosby, E. Malkin, M. A. Fleury (G), S. Gonchar, H. Gill, M. Hossa, J. Staal

Well, there is no way I am predicting against my favorite team in the Stanley Cup Finals. I really do think they can win, but I would probably have a much harder time picking with such a great match-up if I wasn't partial to one of the teams. It's great, for the first time in years, to see two teams in the final that many actually consider to be the two best in the game (as opposed to a "Cindarella" low seed, i.e. Edmonton in '06).

Both of these teams have incredible offensive depth. Zetterberg and Datsyuk have done every bit as much as Crosby and Malkin if not more. All have produced offensively, while Malkin may be the only one that doesn't stack up defensively (but comes close). Then there's the ridiculous support each of these teams has for its stars. Pittsburgh has an on-fire Hossa (11 points in last 6 games), a heating up (4 goals last series) Staal, who is one of the best defensive forwards in the league, and likely a future Selke candidate, not to mention Malone, Dupuis, Sykora, etc. The Wings have nearly as, if not as, much offensive depth though, with the likes of Franzen (if he's back from injury), Hudler, Filppula, and Holmstrom to name a few. So, basically these teams can score, but I'm betting on more of that coming from the Penguins due to what is, in my opinion, a little more depth, and the incredible chemistry they've shown throughout this post season so far. Oh, and while we're talking about forwards, both of these teams also feature great grind lines that can also chip in a few goals. Talbot, Ruutu, Kennedy (sometimes...), and Hall have impressed me the most on Pittsburgh's side (Gary Roberts' status luckily hasn't hampered the team). Draper, Drake, Cleary, and McCarty, among others, have been great for Detroit, stunting opponents' offense while also scoring occasionally. Every shift of this series should be entertaining.

Now, what seems to be the real kicker--defense. I was thinking about the disparity, on paper, between the two D-corps, but the Pens' D-men have played surprisingly well throughout the playoffs, and guys that you wouldn’t expect to make timely plays have been doing so. Detroit has a star-studded blueline that includes the best defenseman in the league in Lidstrom. If the Wings are to take the series, it will need to come with a Conn-Smythe-worthy effort from their captain (looking to be the first European to win a cup as captain). Don't forget that they also have Rafalski, Kronwall, and Chelios, among others, who have mostly been very solid. Kronwall has spent a lot of time injured in his young career, but his holding it together so far for the Wings has been a pleasant surprise and he has consistently been one of the best players on the ice. This defense is great, and has enough guys to keep a good d-man on Crosby and Malkin at all-times, so the Pens depth guys may have to come up pretty big. Throughout the playoffs so far, in 17 games, the Wings have gotten 37 points from defensemen, while the Pens, in 14 games, have gotten only 25. So, look for Detroit's D to produce a little more offense than that of the Penguins. The regular Penguins defensive stalwarts, namely Gonchar and Whitney, have been strong, but the rest of the D has been surprisingly solid as well. Hal Gill, a player I normally speak terribly of (see previous post about witnessing his first game as a Pen), has actually been a huge asset to Pittsburgh throughout the playoffs, shutting down some of the league's most skilled players. Letang and Orpik, and Scuderi have also been doing a great job maintaining Coach Therrien's system to ensure that not much gets back to Marc-Andre Fleury. Obviously, the Wings still have the edge when it comes to individual defensemen, but, when you look at how each team's D plays as a unit, I think it may be a little closer than it first seems…

Saving the most important thing for last--goaltending. Detroit's Chris Osgood has the experience and the Cups, and he has been more than stellar since he took over for Dominik Hasek in the first round. Marc-Andre Fleury has been absolutely spectacular for Pittsburgh since returning late in the season from an ankle injury. Neither of these goalies get enough credit because of the great team's in front of them. It can be argued that they don't deserve it as much because of that, but that really isn't true. It is harder to stay sharp for most goaltenders when they don't see many shots, and both of the guys have made huge saves when they've needed to, even if they haven't had to make 40 stops a game. I realize I may seem hypocritical in what I am preparing to write because I do acknowledge that Osgood is underrated and doesn't get enough credit, but I really think Fleury will be the difference in this series. His consistency has been unwavering since he has been back, and he just looks so damn solid and systematic. No longer does he flop around and make every save look spectacular. It seems that he is always in position and always square to the shooter, making the hardest saves look routine. This will finally be a series where Fleury will have to be noticed because he will have one of the best offenses in the league up against him, and I think he will finally prove himself. If the Pens win, the way I see it, the Conn Smythe is still up for grabs by these few people (save a crazy performance by another player in the final): Crosby, Malkin, Fleury, and Hossa. I am a little biased because Sid is my favorite player, but I think it'll be a tight race between Crosby and Fleury, and Fleury will absolutely have to be in the running if Pittsburgh is to win. (if the Wings win, it will have to be Datsyuk, Zetterberg, Lidstrom, or Osgood).

I will not be surprised if the Red Wings win this series, but I will be disappointed. Lidstrom, Rafalski, and Kronwall may be able to shut down Crosby, Malkin, and Hossa, but the Pens depth guys have the ability to step up. Pittsburgh's defensemen are going to hav eto play as one very solid unit to keep the Detroit offense at bay. If Pittsburgh can't at least take one of the first two games, which are in Detroit, it may really hurt their confidence considering their youth and inexperience, but this team just seems too together to let that happen. Both of these teams are great ones that played so remarkably on the path to the final, and I hope that, no matter who wins, both teams play a great series.

Sorry if the analysis seems biased, although it is....

Prediction: Penguins in 6.

Conference Finals Prediction Results

A quick look back at round 3's winners:

Eastern Conference Results
Pittsburgh vs. Philadelphia
Prediction: Penguins in 7
Outcome: Penguins in 5

"I expect the Penguins to come out on top in this series. I went with 7 games because I believe the Pens will need to win it in Pittsburgh, and a 5-game series for a rivalry like this is a stretch."

So, I thought the Pens would win it in 5 or 7, but decided to go with 7 because of the rivalry. Guess I should have gone with 5...


Western Conference Results
Detroit vs. Dallas
Prediction: Detroit in 6
Outcome: Detroit in 6


NHL Jeff's 2008 Playoff Record: 10-4

NHL Jeff's Round 3 Previews and Predictions

Click here for full Round 3 schedule.

NHL Jeff's take on the 3rd Round Match-Ups:
Eastern Conference Finals

(2) Pittsburgh Penguins vs. (6) Philadelphia Flyers

Regular Season Series: PHI 5-3

PIT Key Players: S. Crosby, E. Malkin, M. A. Fleury (G), S. Gonchar, H. Gill, M. Hossa, G. Roberts

PHI Key Players: M. Biron (G), M. Richards, D. Briere, R. Umberger, K. Timonen, B. Coburn, V. Prospal

Despite this series being really hard to predict, I'm sure you all know which way I'll lean, considering my allegiance to the Penguins. I truly do think they will win this series, but I doubt I would be able to predict against them if I thought otherwise. This should be a rough, action-packed series considering the intense in-state rivalry between these two division foes. Some people are saying that Martin Biron has been better than Marc-Andre Fleury, which is just a blatant lie. Fleury has had some great games and has sparkling numbers. What makes them say this is that, Biron has had to steal some games, especially against the Habs, and has to make many spectacular saves, while Fleury has had to steal maybe only one game because the team in front of him has been much better than the team in front of Biron. Also, since coming back from injury, Fleury has really strengthened his positioning, and now makes even the toughest saves look routine. Unlike early in his career, Fleury is rarely out of position, where as Biron is at times, which causes more of his saves to seem of the incredible variety.

Timonen, Coburn, and Hatcher have been strong anchoring the Flyers' D. All of the Pens' D-men have been very good, with Gonchar leading the way. Hal Gill, a player I usually speak very negatively about, has been surprisingly useful during the playoffs. I was very displeased when the Penguins acquired him, and this displeasure continued as I watched him during the regular season, but his play throughout the playoffs has been quite good. To score, the Rangers were focusing on the less aggressive Pens' defensemen, but the Flyers should have less trouble with the tough guys considering their group of bashing forwards. Hatcher and Richards, among others, are sure to work to aggravate Crosby and Malkin, but other than in game 4 of the last series, Pittsburgh has been good about keeping their cool.

As for the forwards, Briere's 14 points in 12 games are no match for Crosby's and Malkin's same total in only 9 games. The forwards on both teams are playing great at the moment and providing their teams with a lot of depth. R.J. Umberger, a player with 13 goals in the regular season, notched 8 goals during the series against Montreal. The Pittsburgh native scored 6 of his 13 regular season goals against the Penguins, so don't expect him to cool off. Crosby is my favorite player, but prepare yourself, I am going to criticize him: despite his 2 assists in the final game of round 2, Crosby did not look to be skating with all of his effort, something I have NEVER seen from him. It is possible that he was trying to keep his emotions in check after losing it once or twice in game 4, but this surely isn't the way to do it. Hopefully he is not injured, and assuming he's not, look for that effort to return in this series. Malkin has been incredible as usual and the best player on the ice, and it is great to see that Hossa has finally turned it on, he was the MVP of the series clinching game 5.

Some analysts have called for a break down of the goaltenders and a high-scoring series. I am thinking that will happen in at least two games, but that Fleury and Biron will remain very strong for the remainder. As I said, I expect the Penguins to come out on top in this series. I went with 7 games because I believe the Pens will need to win it in Pittsburgh, and a 5-game series for a rivalry like this is a stretch.

Prediction: Penguins in 7.


Western Conference Finals

(1) Detroit Red Wings vs. (5) Dallas Stars

Regular Season Series: DET 4-0

DET Key Players: N. Lidstrom, P. Datsyuk, H. Zetterberg, C. Osgood (G), J. Franzen, B. Rafalski

DAL Key Players: M. Turco (G), B. Morrow, S. Zubov, M. Ribeiro, B. Richards, S. Robidas, M. Modano, J. Lehtinen

I had to really think about this one for a while prior to making my prediction. The Stars have been playing so well recently, and the Wings have been consistently good all season, so, what to do? Marty Turco has been playing like THE goalie of the playoffs, and normally if a year has "that goalie," he makes it to the finals (i.e. Giguere in '03, Kiprussoff in '04), but I have come to the conclusion that Detroit's fire power will be too much even for Turco and the Stars. If Franzen's line weren't playing so well, and they only had to stop Datsyuk and Zetterberg for the most part, I'd give the Stars a much longer look. When we compare goaltending, obviously Turco is on top, but Osgood is more than solid and led the league in GAA this season. Plus, it is very likely that the Stars' D-men will give up many more quality opportunities than the Wings' loaded blueline. So, unless Turco finds a way to stop what I expect to be an overwhelming amount of quality opportunities, I can't give the Stars an edge there.

Now, we all know which team is on top on the defensive end. Yes, Zubov, Robidas, and company were great against the Sharks, but the Wings have the best defenseman in the world in Nicklas Lidstrom, not to mention Rafalski, Kronwall, Chelios, Stuart, etc. For the forwards, Morrow has been incredible for Dallas in all aspects of his game. He has scored (7 goals), hit (leads the playoffs with 66), has been a key element during the most important times of the games (2 game winners in the previous series, including the series clincher in 4OT), and he has been an all-around great leader. Ribeiro and playoff-tested Richards have also been huge, while the commitments from veterans Modano and Lehtinen can;t be overlooked. The problem with all of that is, I imagine the Wings' defensive depth will be up for the task of taking on each and every one of those players. On the other hand, when you look at Detroit's balanced attack, compared to the lesser depth on the Stars' back-end, the edge has to go to the guys in red. Not only has Franzen been playing the best hockey of his career, but also Datsyuk and Zetterberg haven't let up one bit and are carrying more than their fair share of the weight. With guys like Hudler, Holmstrom, and Samuelsson also contributing, not to mention the good offensive output from Detroit's D, I really can't bet against them, no matter how much I'd like to see Turco take this.

On another note, the Red Wings are my least favorite team, so it's hard for me to write positively about them. While one side of me wants to cheer for Turco and the Stars, the other side of me wants to cheer for what would be best for the league as a whole, which, in my opinion, would be a Wings-Pens final. The Red Wings are known to have fans all around the US, while the Penguins have been the league's most talked about team since Crosby's arrival. I imagine the TV ratings and attention paid to a Wings-Pens final would be the best in some time. That doesn't mean I'll be cheering for Detroit, but as long as they don't end up winning the Cup...I won't be upset to see them playing for it against my Penguins.

Prediction: Wings in 6.

Round 2 Series Prediction Results

A quick look back at round 2's winners:

Eastern Conference Results
Montreal vs. Philadelphia
Prediction: Canadiens in 6.
Outcome: Flyers in 5.
Martin Biron and R.J. Umberger stole this series for the Flyers, while Habs' goaltender Carey Price got rattled.

Pittsburgh Native R.J. Umberger

will look to continue his scoring
ways against his hometown team

Pittsburgh vs. NY Rangers
Prediction: Penguins in 7.
Outcome: Penguins in 5.

Western Conference Results
Detroit vs. Colorado
Prediction: Detroit in 6
Outcome: Detroit in 4

San Jose vs. Dallas
Prediction: Sharks in 6
Outcome: Stars in 6

This series WILL be a goaltender's duel [...] I was thinking about predicting seven games, but I see the goalie of whichever team has the 3-2 lead taking advantage of it and taking the series.

Looks like I was right about that, Marty Turco definitely won game 6 for the Stars, I just picked the wrong goallie to steal game 6...


NHL Jeff's 2008 Playoff Record: 8-4

NHL Jeff's Round 2 Previews and Predictions

Jordan Staal and the Pens will have a tough match-up against Lundqvist's Rangers

As usual, the first round was full of surprises and disappointments...now the winners move on and the losers head to the golf course.

Click here for full Round 2 schedule.

NHL Jeff's take on the 2nd Round Match-Ups:
Eastern Conference Semifinals

(1) Montreal Canadiens vs. (6) Philadelphia Flyers

Regular Season Series: MTL 4-0

MTL Key Players: C. Price (G), A. Kovalev, S. Koivu, A. Markov, M. Komisarek, S. Kostitsyn, A. Kostitsyn

PHI Key Players: M. Richards, D. Briere, M. Biron (G), K. Timonen, B. Coburn, J. Smith, V. Prospal

Philadelphia played well in a long, tough series against the Capitals. Their grit and aggressive style should serve them well against Montreal, but it doesn't make up for what they are lacking. By no means did Martin Biron steal any of the Flyers' 4 wins in the previous round. Yes, he did have a 24-save shutout, but he was not consistent, and in order to go deep into the playoffs, a team must have a goaltender capable of stealing a few games. Despite what Philly's style will do to help them, the Canadiens' high-powered offense, especially on the powerplay (which I think will come back to life after struggling against Boston), will likely be too much for Biron and his D to handle. If the Flyers can stay out of the box (something they're not known for), look for their(slim) chances in this series to go up a notch. On the other side, despite having 2 games in which he allowed 5 goals, Carey Price was excellent in round 1 for the Habs. His 4 wins included two shutouts, and considering his history, he likely isn't satisfied. Look for Price to be on top of his game and help to propel the Canadiens to the conference final.

Prediction: Canadiens in 6.

(2) Pittsburgh Penguins vs. (5) New York Rangers

Regular Season Series: NYR 5-3

PIT Key Players: S. Crosby, E. Malkin, M. A. Fleury (G), S. Gonchar, R. Whitney, M. Hossa, G. Roberts

NYR Key Players: H. Lundqvist (G), J. Jagr, S. Gomez, S. Avery, C. Drury, M. Rozsival, D. Girardi

This is going to be one heck of a series. Being that the Pens are my favorite team, it's tough not to go with them....Both of these teams were great in the first round and should match up well. The Pens and Rangers each got great goaltending from Fleury and Lundqvist respectively. Gomez and Jagr stepped up their games for the playoffs, while the Pens hot-shots all played to their potential. Sean Avery was also a key in the Rangers' 1st round win, using his usual antics to get under the Devils' skin. Look for his top targets Fleury, Crosby, and Malkin (although he'll have to keep an eye out over his shoulder for big Georges Laraque). The pens should try to avoid going along with Avery's games, but should they not be successful, I imagine this will merely open the door for guys like Jordan Staal and Ryan Malone to step up and contribute some more. The incredible goaltending likely to be seen in this series could lead to a goaltenders' duel, or each team's loaded offense could make this a series full of goals. I imagine each goaltender will steal a game or two, with the one stealing the extra game likely being a member of the series winner. The Penguins looked very together in the first round, and, assuming they haven't lost their momentum from being overly-rested, they will be a good match for a Rangers team lacking defensive depth and often cohesion. So, I'm sticking with my guns:

Prediction: Pens in 7.


Western Conference Semifinals

(1) Detroit Red Wings vs. (6) Colorado Avalanche

Regular Season Series: DET 4-0

DET Key Players: N. Lidstrom, P. Datsyuk, H. Zetterberg, C. Osgood (G), B. Rafalski

COL Key Players: J. Theodore (G), J. Sakic, P. Forsberg, P. Stastny, M. Hejduk, A. Foote, S. Hannan, J. Liles

The only way I see the Avs (despite their being one of my favorite teams) winning this series is if Jose Theodore is able to steal at least 2 games. Paul Stastny must also improve his playoff play, as he was basically invisible in the first round. Colorado put a lot of physical pressure on the Wild, especially on the likes of star Marian Gaborik. They will need to this this against the Wings as well, but the problem with that is that the Wings have much more offensive depth than the Wild, so it will be hard to give the harsh treatment to all of their scorers. Osgood should remain in net for the Wings, as he was solid once inserted in place of Dominik Hasek. Once the Avs get some confidence, they're tough, so Detroit will have to win early, but if the Wings play their normal calm, collected game, they should take this series.

Prediction: Wings in 6 (but, as an Avs fan, I hope I'm wrong!).

(2) San Jose Sharks vs. (5) Dallas Stars

Regular Season Series: Tie 4-4

SJ Key Players: E. Nabokov (G), J. Thornton, B. Campbell, P. Marleau, J. Cheechoo, M.E. Vlasic, C. Ehrhoff, M. Grier

DAL Key Players: M. Turco (G), S. Zubov (pending injury status), B. Richards, M. Ribeiro, M. Modano, B. Morrow, J. Lehtinen, S. Robidas

Part of me says Marty Turco and the resurgent Dallas offense will take this series, but the other part says the Sharks will finally do what they've been projected to do and make it all the way to the finals....What a tough draw for San Jose. Obviously, it's tough for Dallas too, but I have to feel for a team with such high expectations. I also feel for Marty Turco though. He's finally starting to get rid of those playoff demons, and I wouldn't be surprised to see him be "the goalie" of this year's playoffs and carry his team. The Sharks are just too good though to think they can bow out in the 2nd round this year. They've finally been playing as a group, albeit somewhat inconsistently. But, I think after their scare last round with the Flames, they'll be up for the challenge that is Marty Turco, Brad Richards, and the Stars. What am I doing though? Certainly not forgetting Vezina trophy candidate Evgeni Nabokov. This series WILL be a goaltender's duel. My money is on Nabby, but what a formidable match-up it is. I was thinking about predicting seven games, but I see the goalie of whichever team has the 3-2 lead taking advantage of it and taking the series. Now....who will have that lead? My feeling (maybe?):

Prediction: Sharks in 6.

Round 1 Series and Prediction Results

Marty Turco's superb goaltending has finally
paid some playoff dividends for the Stars.

A quick look back at round 1's winners:

Eastern Conference Results
Montreal vs. Boston
Prediction: Canadiens in 5.
Outcome: Canadiens in 7.
The Habs got ahead of themselves after going up 3-1 and let the bruins come back to tie it. Lucky for Montreal fans, Guy Carbonneau got his players' heads on straight again for game 7, leading to a 5-0 victory.

Pittsburgh vs. Ottawa
Prediction: Penguins in 6.
Outcome: Penguins in 4.

Washington vs. Philadelphia
Prediction: Capitals in 7
Outcome: Flyers in 7
Just as tough of a series as I predicted. One goal obviously would have sent the series the other way...

New Jersey vs. NY Rangers
Prediction: Rangers in 7
Outcome: Rangers in 5
Sean Avery's frustrating of Marty Brodeur certainly didn't help the unusually inconsistent netminder.

Western Conference Results
Detroit vs. Nashville
Prediction: Detroit in 5
Outcome: Detroit in 6

San Jose vs. Calgary
Prediction: Sharks in 6
Outcome: Sharks in 7

Minnesota vs. Colorado
Prediction: Avalanche in 7
Outcome: Avalanche in 6

Anaheim vs. Dallas
Prediction: Ducks in 6
Outcome: Stars in 6
The Ducks surely were not those of last year's playoffs...Marty Turco was determined to take a series for the first time in 5 years, and the Stars offensive boost at the deadline certainly helped.


NHL Jeff's Record: 6-2 (0 wins with exact game counts)

The Best Time of the Year: NHL Playoff Time!

It's been a long break, but NHLNow.com is back for the most exciting season of the year: NHL Playoff Season. The battle for Lord Stanley's Cup is on, and with the depth in this year's playoffs, it seems to be any of the 16 playoff contenders' to lose. For each round of the Playoffs, NHL Jeff will analyze every match-up and follow with his prediction of the winner and in how many games.

Can Giggy and the Ducks repeat?

NHL Jeff's 2007 Playoff Prediction Record:
10-5 (4 wins with exact game counts)

NHLNow.com: The one stop for all of the Stanley Cup Playoff info you need!

Click here for full Round 1 schedule

NHL Jeff's take on the 1st Round Match-Ups:
Eastern Conference Quarterfinals

(1)Montreal Canadiens vs. (8) Boston Bruins

Regular Season Series: MTL 8-0
MTL Key Players: S. Koivu, C. Price (G), A. Kovalev, A. Markov, M. Komisarek
BOS Key Players: T. Thomas (G), Z. Chara, M. Savard, M. Sturm

Alright, I live in Boston and get to watch the Bruins live quite frequently. They just don't match up well against the Habs. I am not going to say they have no chance, but saying they do have one may be a stretch...I tend to agree when people say that season series doesn't really mean much come playoff time, but this Montreal team absolutely dominated the Bruins during many of their games and came out on top every time. The Bruins are likely upset about that and will be out to prove something in this great original-six rivalry. Habs Captain Saku Koivu has been battling a foot injury and is questionable for the start of the series. Montreal is a team that really feeds off of its captain, and if Koivu can't come back, they could run into some trouble, although I'm not sure it'd be enough trouble to lose the series. Also worrisome for Montreal is the status of defenseman Mike Komisarek. He is a huge, underrated asset on the Canadiens' blueline and if he isn't back, there will be a noticeable hole that someone will need to step up and fill. Carey Price will obviously need to be huge in goal, and given his history (WJC champion, AHL Calder Cup Champ last year), he can definitely step it up in high-pressure times--he shouldn't provide any worries. Now, for the Bruins, they'll need to stick to their defensive game and not get rattled when the going gets tough. Despite their defensive game, the Bruins surprisingly have struggled on the penalty kill, and that won't serve them well against Montreal's powerplay. Tim Thomas will have to be consistent in giving the amazing effort he is capable of. He has outright stolen some games for the B's this year, but been mediocre in others. Zdeno Chara will have to be the usual force on the blueline, but the most important thing for Boston will be where they are usually lacking--offense. If Marc Savard can't make his way back onto the ice from a back injury, I don't think the Bruins will be able to compete much at all offensively against a Montreal team that has a lot of firepower (MTL outscored BOS 39-16 in their 8 games this season). If Patrice Bergeron can return from an October concussion, that should provide a little boost, but don't expect him to immediately be his flashy self again. Marco Sturm will need to step up his offensive game as well, but the Bruins don't really seem to have enough secondary scoring to make this a good series.

Prediction: Canadiens in 5.

(2) Pittsburgh Penguins vs. (7) Ottawa Senators

Regular Season Series: OTT 3-1

PIT Key Players: S. Crosby, E. Malkin, M. A. Fleury (G), S. Gonchar, R. Whitney, M. Hossa, G. Roberts

OTT Key Players: D. Alfredsson (pending injury status), D. Heatley, M. Gerber (G), R. Emery (G), J. Spezza, W. Redden, A. Volchenkov

I am biased. I am a huge Pens fan, but either way, it's tough to pick against them in this one considering the current state of the Ottawa Senators. After roaring out of the gate following their Stanley Cup Final loss, the Senators have been pretty much terrible in the second half. Many attribute this to the antics of goaltender Ray Emery, injuries, and lack of motivation. No matter what it is, they are a complete mess. I do realize that some teams have previously gone into the playoffs in that state and done a complete 180 once they've gotten there, but due to the doubtful status of captain Daniel Alfredsson and Mike Fisher due to injury, I don't see that happening for this team. I listed Emery as a key player because, despite the fact that Gerber is expected to get most of the playing time, if Emery can maintain a positive attitude on the bench and in the locker room, I think it can help the Sens a lot. Now, on the flip side, the Pittsburgh Penguins have been playing some great hockey. Not even a long-term injury to captain and NHL star Sidney Crosby could keep them out of the running for the Eastern Conference title (they just missed it and finished 2nd to Montreal). Crosby's injury lit a fire under Evgeni Malkin, which led to him being the league's second leading-scorer. M.A. Fleury was down too, but Ty Conklin held the fort superbly, and now that Fleury is back, he is playing the best hockey of his career with great poise and confidence. Gonchar has been lighting it up from the blueline, and the Penguins defensive core has been getting stronger on the back-end all season. Ryan Whitney has been a bit inconsistent lately, but I imagine the former Boston University Terrier will step it up for the playoffs this season. After losing to the Sens in a tough 4-1 series last year, I don't think Crosby and the Pens will accept further disappointment. So, with Crosby back and Fleury playing strong between the pipes, look for the Pens to take this series over the struggling Sens.

Prediction: Pens in 6.

(3) Washington Capitals vs. (6) Philadelphia Flyers

Regular Season Series: TIE 2-2

WSH Key Players: A. Ovechkin, C. Huet (G), M. Green, A. Semin, N. Backstrom, T. Poti

PHI Key Players: M. Richards, D. Briere, M. Biron (G), K. Timonen, B. Coburn, J. Smith

OVECHKIN, Ovechkin, Ovechkin! Wow! Did he ever lead the charge into the playoffs for the Caps?! This team is way too amped to lose. Washington's depth, although in my opinion not enough for a deep playoff run, is underestimated. Cristobal Huet has been incredible in goal, while obviously Alex Ovechkin has led the way on the scoresheet. Ovechkin is not the only one on the scoresheet though, as rookie Nicklas Backstrom has been piling up the points. Alex Semin has an icredible speed and skill, and his wrist shot is nearly unbelievable. Mike Green has turned into a star on the blueline this season, and former Boston University Terrier (had to plug my school) Tom Poti is the veteran anchoring the rest of the defensive core. Considering the crowds at the last few games of the season, the home-ice advantage shoudl truly be that for the Caps. If any two can take this team through a playoff round, it's Head Coach Bruce Boudreau and Ovechkin. Now that my Caps rant is over, let's get on to their formidable opponent, the Philadelphia Flyers. I do believe that Washington will win, but I didn't say it would be easy. This Philadelphia team boasts a star-studded roster with plenty of grit. Simon Gagne has been out most of the season, but they've still found a way to win. Daniel Briere boosted his offense to an extra degree down the stretch, and this will be a huge asset to the Flyers should he be able to keep it up. Mike Richards has been giant for them this season at both ends of the ice, if they were to win the Cup, I'd expect his name to be engraved next on the Conn Smythe Trophy. Their defense, anchored by Kimmo Timonen, Braydon Coburn, and captain Jason Smith, is also very strong, but not strong enough to stymie Ovechkin to the necessary degree. Lastly, Martin Biron's inconsistency and lack of playoff experience has to be a worry. Had it only been the lack of playoff experience, I would be less worried for Philly, but Biron has been very streaky this season, and they'll have to hope for one of the hot streaks if they want to beat the high-powered Caps. Should be a long, tough, exciting series.

Prediction: Caps in 7.

Update 4/9/08, 3:30pm:
I've been really thinking about this series. More and more I keep thinking that this Caps team is so much like last year's Penguins team in that they are doing well going into the playoffs, everyone is hyped up about them, but they're so young and even more inexperienced. I wouldn't be surprised to see the Flyers takes this one, although I am not changing my prediction.

(4) New Jersey Devils vs. (5) New York Rangers

Regular Season Series: NYR 7-1

NJ Key Players: M. Brodeur (G), Z. Parise, P. Elias, P. Martin, M. Mottau, B. Salvador, J. Madden, J. Langenbrunner,

NYR Key Players: H. Lundqvist (G), J. Jagr, S. Gomez, C. Drury, M. Rozsival, D. Girardi

Can't bet against, suspect offense, holes on D.
It's pretty hard to bet against Martin Brodeur and someone with his pedigree, especially when he is still playing like the best goaltender in the world. The problem is, the defense in front of him has so many holes and is so inexperienced, that it's tough to think that even Marty could hold up throughout the playoffs behind them. Paul Martin, Mike Mottau, Bryce Slavador and the rest of the Devils' D are going to have a lot of work to do, even on a Rangers team that has been surprisingly sub-par on offense this season. Head Coach Brent Sutter has been working wonders and putting his own influences on the traditional Lou Lamoriello, Devils system, but we'll have to see if that is enough in the playoffs. Zach Parise has been the only top offensive player not really underachieving for Jersey, so if they are looking to win, they'll need a boost of offense form Patrik Elias, and superb leadership from playoff-tested captain Jamie Langenbrunner. On the Rangers' side, they've also got a star goalie. Lundqvist is no Brodeur, but he definitely has been one of the top-5 goalies in the league this season (10 shutouts!). He will be looking to carry the main load and prove to Marty Brodeur that he was wrong when he criticized him earlier this year. Michael Rozsival will have to be exceptional on the back-end while also quarterbacking the powerplay for New York. Jaromir Jagr has been stepping up his offense at the right time--finally, and Scott Gomez, who will be looking to prove something to his former team, gained some consistency as the year went along. One thing that can't be overlooked is the "Chris-Drury-Factor." Drury (a college star at Boston University where he won the Hobey Baker Award and a National Championship) is the ultimate winner. He has won at every level and is one of the most clutch players to ever take the ice. He can be counted on for a game-winning-goal when his team most needs it, which is why the Rangers can't be looked past throughout the playoffs, even when playing Brodeur. Overall, one of the few times the Devils seem to play exciting hockey as of late is when playing their rival Rangers, so this should a close, interesting series, but I'm going with fellow Terrier Chris Drury.

Prediction: NYR in 7.


Western Conference Quarterfinals

(1) Detroit Red Wings vs. (8) Nashville Predators

Regular Season Series: DET 5-3

DET Key Players: N. Lidstrom, P. Datsyuk, H. Zetterberg, D. Hasek (G), B. Rafalski

NSH Key Players: J. Arnott, J. Dumont, D. Ellis (G) (or C. Mason?), D. Hamhuis, M. Zidlicky, A. Radulov

I imagine this will be a short write-up. Luckily, I am not a huge fan of either of these teams and shouldn't do as much rambling as in the previous series' write-ups. Plain and simple, the Red Wings are a much better team than the Predators. They are both incredibly well coached (Mike Babcock for Detroit, Barry Trotz for Nashville), so I don't really think Trotz will be able to push the Preds over Detroit. The Red Wings have the best defenseman in the league in Lidstrom, and two of the best offensive weapons in Datsyuk and Zetterberg, who play on separate lines and have plenty of support. Rafalski and Lidstrom can do it all on defense and have plenty of depth below them with players like Kronwall and Chelios (who provides great veteran leadership). Hasek has looked good recently between the pipes, but should he get injured or falter, Chris Osgood was amazing this season and will easily take over. Nashville has only one good scoring line (Dumont-Arnott-Radulov) and lacks depth on D (Hamhuis and Zidlicky are there biggest names?). Dan Ellis has been a surprise in goal and should hold up fine, and either way he has Chris Mason behind him, should he need the help. If the Predators hope to have a chance in this series, one of the goaltenders will have to steal a few games for them. Trotz has done an incredible job getting a depleted team in a tough situation into the playoffs, but don't expect his first ever series win in this one. I don't forsee a long run for this Red Wings team that, despite their league-leading record, has showed incredible inconsistency, but this round should be theirs to lose.

Prediction: Wings in 5.

(2) San Jose Sharks vs. (7) Calgary Flames

Regular Season Series: CGY 3-1

SJ Key Players: E. Nabokov (G), J. Thornton, B. Campbell, P. Marleau, J. Cheechoo, M.E. Vlasic, C. Ehrhoff, M. Grier

CGY Key Players: J. Iginla, M. Kiprusoff (G), D. Phaneuf, R. Regehr, D. Langkow, K. Huselius

The Sharks are the team to beat in this year's playoffs, especially considering their big run down the stretch. Big stretch runs don't always translate into playoff success, but this team just looks too complete not to keep going. Barring drastic changes, I see them in the final. That's too bad for the Flames because they are a tough team that goes on spurts of great offense and spurts of great defense. The only way the Flames win this is if Kiprusoff steals the show in goal. Nabokov is too strong for even the likes of Jarome Iginla to ruin. Thornton, Campbell, and Nabokov will all be in the running for the Conn Smythe by the time these playoffs are over (boy will I look dumb if they lose this series). The Sharks ability to match up physically with the Flames and their extra firepower should win this series for them. I have to add in some props to great penalty-killing and defensive play of the Sharks' winger, Mike Grier, a former Boston University Terrier. So, the Sharks should take it, though it may be tougher than some are predicting , and this should be one of the most exciting series of the first round.

Prediction: Sharks in 6.

(3) Minnesota Wild vs. (6) Colorado Avalanche

Regular Season Series: MIN 5-3

MIN Key Players: N. Backstrom (G), M. Gaborik, B. Rolston, K. Johnsson, P. Demitra, P. Bouchard, B. Burns

COL Key Players: J. Theodore (G), J. Sakic, P. Forsberg, P. Stastny, M. Hejduk, A. Foote, S. Hannan, J. Liles

Another biased one for me....I've been a big Avs fan ever since Patrick Roy was traded there in their first year in Denver. Despite the bias, I feel that this team has really come together, especially once key players like Joe Sakic, Ryan Smyth, and Paul Stastny returned from injury. Peter Forsberg will either be huge for them or be invisible if his foot acts up, we'll see. Jose Theodore has been playing well in net finally this season, and is actually a decent match against Niklas Backstrom now. Adam Foote's return added the much-needed stay-at-home presence on the Colorado blueline. The Avs have much more offensive depth than Minnesota. Gaborik is there biggest weapon, and Bouchard, Rolston, and Demitra really don't provide sufficient scoring depth. The key will be to see if the Wild's strong defensive play all around will be enough to stymie the Colorado firepower. Brent Burns leads the way for the D, along with Kim Johnsson, and they will definitely need to eat up a ton of minutes to have a chance. I'm thinking Theodore surprises us a little and is the MVP of the series.

Prediction: Avs in 7.

(4) Anaheim Ducks vs. (5) Dallas Stars

Regular Season Series: DAL 5-3

ANA Key Players: C. Pronger, S. Niedermayer, R. Getzlaf, T. Selanne, J.S. Giguere (G), C. Perry, M. Schneider, F. Beauchemin, T. Bertuzzi, D. Weight

DAL Key Players: M. Turco (G), S. Zubov (pending injury status), B. Richards, M. Ribeiro, M. Modano, B. Morrow, P. Boucher, S. Robidas

I really do feel bad for Marty Turco. The man deserves to win a playoff series. He had 3 shutouts in round one last year against the Canucks and STILL DIDN'T WIN! The team couldn't win a game when he let in even ONE goal. Poor guy. If he can manage to play that well again, then yes, the Stars will win the series. Their offense has been better this season with Ribeiro playing better and the deadline acquisition of former Conn Smythe winner Brad Richards is huge. If Sergei Zubov can't return from injury, Boucher and Robidas will have to be incredible on the back-end. Anaheim's offense has lost some of its luster form the Cup run, but Getzlaf and Selanne (and Perry pending injury status) have the ability to increase their productivity. Anaheim's defense is second to none with the insane line-up of Niedermayer, Pronger, Schneider, and Beauchemin among others. Giguere is a playoff goalie and they will be all set in net. I think Anaheim's defense and goaltending will make up for a possible lack of offense and they will take this series.

Prediction: Ducks in 6.

Hossa Hurt in 1st Game with Pens

Alright, so the Pittsburgh Penguins give up their team's heart and soul (Colby Armstrong), a lower-end, but gifted, center (Erik Christiensen), a top prospect (Angelo Esposito), and a 1st round pick in a very deep draft for....Pascal Dupuis--and 10 minutes of play from superstar Marian Hossa.

Unfortuanately, I witnessed live the Pens' 5-1 defeat at the hands of the Boston Bruins tonight. Hossa skated hard during his first shift, but that was about it. I believe it was early in the second when he went off with a "slight MCL sprain." The Pens were just plain flat (other than newcomer Dupuis). They weren't going for loose pucks and just didn't have any jump. I think losing Armstrong has really hurt team chemistry and has led to them losing their energy. I don't think people realize how important he was to this team. At a game I went to in Pittsburgh earlier this season (a 4-3 OT loss to the Rangers), Armstrong was a healthy scratch and it was obvious that something just wasn't right or normal with the Pens players.

A friend of mine told me that on the NY Islanders' broadcast of the Pens-Isles game the day of the trade deadline, they said that all of the Pittsburgh players planned a prank to play on Armstrong where they packed up all of his stuff to make him think he'd been traded...turns out he was and he was crushed. None of the players ever thought that a guy who could be considered their heart and soul would be shipped out.

To add to the bad news for the Pens, their flat play in the first and beginning of the second led to a few shoddy goals that got Ty Conklin pulled. M.A. Fleury didn't look bad for his first game back. It should be a good battle for number 1, I just feel bad for Dany Sabourin, who has been a great, reliable back-up all season and is now relegated to the number 3 position. At least he's a great insurance policy...

Jarkko Ruutu and Milan Lucic had a decent scrap, but way too much grabbing onto jerseys. Ruutu probably only got in one or two good punches after yanking Lucic's helmet, while Lucic got in some great punches and jabs. There was no take-down, but I'd probably call Lucic the winner. A video of the fight is below.

Lastly, Hal Gill is absolutely HORRENDOUS! I have no clue how he could be worth a 2nd and 5th round pick (especially in a good draft). I would struggle with the idea of giving up a 7th round pick for a man that can barely skate. Yeah, he's big, but he doesn't hit much and his lack of foot-speed caused at least one of the goals this evening.

If you have any questions about the game tonight, leave them in the comments please.

Deadline Deals

• Anaheim sends Brandon Bochenski to Nashville for future considerations
  

• Tampa Bay sends Jan Hlavac to Nashville for a 3rd round pick
  

• Atlanta sends Alexander Giroux to Washington for Joe Motzko

• Los Angeles sends J.S. Aubin to Anaheim for 7th round pick
  

• NY Islanders send Chris Simon to Minnesota for 6th round pick
  

• Los Angeles sends Brad Stuart to Detroit for 2nd and 4th round picks
  

• NY Islanders send Marc-Andre Bergeron to Anaheim for 3rd round pick
  

• Toronto sends Chad Kilger to Florida for 3rd round pick
  

• Phoenix sends David LeNeveu, Josh Gratton, and Frederick Sjorstrom to NY Rangers for Marcel Hossa and Al Montoya
  

• Atlanta sends Marian Hossa and Pascal Dupuis to Pittsburgh for Angelo Esposito, Erik Christiensen, Colby Armstrong, and a potential 1st round pick
• Ok, so the Pens are my favorite team, and at first I was ecstatic...then I saw what the Pens are giving up.
• The Pens lose a great prospect in Esposito, but I'm fine with that, but they also lose one of the best shootout guys in the league and one of the best locker room guys who is Sidney Crosby's best friend. I am not totally sure what the conditions are for this 1st round pick, but considering how deep this draft is, the only condition worth giving that away would be a Stanely Cup win.
• P.S. There is basically no way the Penguins will r-sign Hossa after this season as they need to extend Malkin and Staal. They are just taking the risk and going for it all this year.
• Note: My sources close to the league tell me that Atlanta was ready to pick between offers from Ottawa and Montreal, but Fred Shero (Pittsburgh's GM) came in at the last minute with this deal.
  

• St. Louis sends Christian Backman to NY Rangers for 4th round pick
  

• Toronto sends Hall Gill to Pittsburgh for 2nd and 5th round picks
• Pens got fleeced here
• Gill is a big defenseman, but his lack of mobility makes him nearly useless in the "new" NHL
  

• Vancouver sends Matt Cooke to Washington for Matt Pettinger
  

• San Jose sends Rob Davison to NY Islanders for a 7th round pick
  

• Columbus sends Sergei Fedorov to Washington for Theo Ruth
  

• Columbus sends Adam Foote to Colorado for conditional draft pick
  

• Chicago sends Martin Lapointe to Ottawa for 6th round pick
  

• Chicago sends Tuomo Ruutu to Carolina for Andrew Ladd
  

• Florida sends Ruslan Salei to Colorado for Karlis Skrastins and 3rd round pick
  

• Montreal sends Cristobal Huet to Washington for 2nd round pick
  

• Tampa Bay sends Brad Richards and Johan Holmqvist to Dallas for Mike Smith, Jussi Jokinen, and Jeff Halpern
• Great trade for both teams, and I may be in the minority here, but I think Tampa Bay is the winner!

• Buffalo sends Brian Campbell and 7th round pick to San Jose for Steve Bernier and a 1st round pick
• Good deal for both teams.
  
• This may hurt the Sabres' chances for this year, but it helps them for the future.
• The Sharks needed a good puck-moving defenseman and they got him. They need to make a run now and Campbell will definitely help with that.

• Toronto sends Wade Belak to Florida for a 5th round pick

• St. Louis sends Bryce Salvador to New Jersey for Cam Janssen
  
• Nothing big, but at least SOMETHING has finally happened.
• NJ was looking for another solid d-man and they get that in Bryce Salvador while not having to give up much.
• The Blues get some added toughness they've needed since losing Dallas Drake

• 
  

No Sundin, No Tanguay, How Much is Left...?

Alright, so we're just at 24 hours before the trade deadline as I write this, and in the past two weeks there have been 3 trades, one of which can be deemed significant. I'm afraid Devils GM Lou Lamoriello may have been right when he suggested that he, "didn’t get a sense that there’s going to be an active market at the trade deadline."

Mats Sundin has decided not to waive his no-trade clause, a move that I can respect. It is his contractual right and by no means can he be blamed for exercising that right, despite what some fans and media may say. I do think that it would have been good for the franchise for him to do so, but if he can't play passionately for another team, they may not even want him.

Calgary GM Darryl Sutter made it clear today that he likes his team and will not be dealing winger Alex Tanguay. I think this is a smart choice. I wonder if this also means that he will be hanging on to Daymond Langkow and Kristain Huselius, both pending UFAs this summer. I understand that teams don't want to lose players to unrestricted free-agency, but when you are playing well, as the Flames are, and have the chance to be genuine playoff contenders (which is the reason behind all of this dealing, isn't it?) then why not hang on to your team, maintain chemistry, and go for it? I doubt either player will be moved, with Huselius being the more likely candidate.

So, with two big fish off the market, how much will really happen on deadline day? I agree with Lamoriello and don't think this year's deadline day will be as active as the past two (25 trades last year). Don't get me wrong, there are still some big names that will likely be on the move, but the overall activity will be nearly stagnant unless one big trade happens early to set off the rest.

The big names that I see moving are Marian Hossa (definitely), Brad Richards (likely), and Bryan McCabe (possibly), but beyond that there seems to be mostly speculation. If the Hossa deal happens today or very early tomorrow morning, I think it will open up the market for teams that were waiting to take a stab at him. But, if Waddell doesn't finish that trade until the last minute, I don't expect too much tweaking to go on between other teams. I think Toronto interim GM Cliff Fletcher will end up being forced to move some younger players signed beyond this year, like Alex Steen and Nik Antropov, as McCabe was the only one of Sundin, Tomas Kaberle, Pavel Kubina, and Darcy Tucker, to even consider waiving his NTC.

I see the Sabres hanging on to Brian Campbell for the stretch drive and another playof push, as GM Darcy Regier usually dismisses the future when things are going well. If they have been having as much trouble as has been reported in signing Campbell, it would be wise to obtain something for him now as opposed to losing him after the season (Drury, Briere, cough!). If Campbell isn't moved, I see Regeir giving him a contract above market value some time between the end of the season and July 1 to ensure that he does not lose another UFA (mostly for the fans).

There is continued speculation that veteran LA defenseman Rob Blake will be moved, but he has stated that he has decided not to waive his NTC. Plus, he was recently out of the lineup with a stress fracture. The only way I see a deal going through is if it is to the Ducks (which I am not sure the Kings would deal with) or possibly the Sharks.

Players that have been speculated about that I don't see moving:
Michael Ryder, MTL
-The chemistry in Montreal is too good right now, and Ryder is just finding his game

Dan Boyle, TB
-Despite recent reports that new ownership has changed their mind and would like both Ricahrds and Boyle to be moved, I see GM Jay Feaster realizing how important Boyle is and getting him signed to a new deal after dealing Richards and freeing up some cap space

Antoinne Vermette
-Unless he is part of a deal for Hossa, don't expect GM Bryan Murray to deal this young, inexpensive gem

Ray Emery or Martin Gerber, Ott
-Not many GMs will want either of their contacts or Emery's attitude

Jarrett Stoll, EDM
-Too important to Oilers' future

Jaromir Jagr, NYR
-Sather wants to hang on to the aging veteran who doesn't mesh with his new centers when he should really be finding wingers that can play with Drury and Gomez

Glen Murray, BOS
-The Bruins and their fans love Glen Murray and hope his goal-scoring comes in handy for the playoff push

Border Players--only moving for the right deal or if someone will take them...
Olli Jokinen, FL
-Jokinen claims he doesn't want to go and GM Jacques Martin has given mixed responses. If the rumored Stars deal is real, I see him going there, or if some other team puts together a huge package he'll be on the way, but anything less than a prospect robbing won't due

Sergei Fedorov, DET
-the aging center still provides great two-way play, and would be an asset to almost any team's 3rd or 4th line, but his moving will depend on Gm Scott Howson's asking price

Patrick Marleau, SJ
-He'll only be moving if it is for a player of Hossa or Richards caliber, the Sharks need to be good now

John-Michael Liles, COL
-Liles' puck-moving abilities haven't been up to par this year and rumors have been flying around throughout the season, but he'll be staying put is GM Francois Giguere can't get another relatively solid d-man plus more in return

Other likely movers if there are takers: Vaclav Prospal, TB; Ladislav Nagy, Brad Stuart, LA; Dwayne Roloson, EDM; Marek Malik, NYR

So, I realize with my suggestion of an under-active trade market, I could be made a fool of if tomorrow is the biggest deadline day in history or something, but that's OK. I hope that does happen for the sake of enjoying the day and to listen to some facts instead of just speculation.

Peter Forsberg just signed with one of my two favorite team's the Colorado Avalanche. I swear I was planning to put at the end of my post that he could surprise us and come back, but I forgot to add it after I couldn't find the article I'd planned on referencing...darn!

MVP: What does it mean and who should it be?

I know it has been a while since my last post (college can get busy...and lazy), but I felt the need to post about something that has been irking me. Who should get the Hart Trophy? And by who, at least for this part of the post, I don't mean which player, I mean how should it be determined. There needs to be a set definition for this. The real question is, should it be given to the player that would be most valuable to any team (i.e. the best overall player) or the player most valuable to the success of the team that he is on. I think it should be the latter. If necessary, although it may be a stretch, to appease some people, there could be an alternate trophy for best all-around player. Actually, that is who the Lester B. Pearson Award should be given to ("outstanding player in the regular season as judged by the members of the NHLPA").

While this need for a definition seems to come up in my mind annually, sparking it this year was discussion of Nicklas Lidstrom being the top Hart Trophy candidate. As some of you know, I am an Avs fan and therefore hate the Wings, but I will concede that Nicklas Lidstrom is probably THE best hockey player in the world. He is incredibly consistent and makes difficult plays look easy. He doesn't always get the praise he deserves because he isn't flashy and is, from what I've watched and read, a pretty down-to-Earth guy. If you took Lidstrom off of Detroit's roster they would probably not be at the top of the league, but would likely still be in playoff contention. So, if they did give out a trophy for the best all-around player, he would likely get my vote, but he would not get my vote for the Hart Trophy.

The most valuable player to his team's success could be a few people, but my top two picks would be the Caps' Alex Ovechkin and the Canucks' Roberto Luongo. Ovechkin plays the game with as much passion as I've ever seen anyone play with. It's clear that he is out there to play his hardest at all times. Look at him after he scores a goal, you'll get it (especially an OT winner...) Without the ridiculous, yes, absolutely ridiculous play of Ovechkin, the Capitals would not only be out of playoff contention, but would likely be dead last in the league. I am not saying that there aren't some other contributing players, but when you watch some of the Caps' wins, it's pretty obvious. For example, last night's two-goal performance by Ovechkin that included the OT winner in a game in which Washington had been trailing 2-0 (and Ovechkin's first goal sparked the comeback). I remember another game earlier in the season in which Ovie scored the tying goal in the dying seconds of the 3rd period only to go on and get the OT winner. Also, his 45 goals are nearly 30% of Washington's goals for this season, not to mention the second leading goal scorer on the team is defenseman Mike Green with 14. If that is not most valuable, I don't know what is.

My inclusion of Luongo is partly an extension from last year when he really deserved the award just as much as Sidney Crosby. He was almost the sole reason the virtually goalless Canucks made it into the playoffs. While his game hasn't been as incredible as least season, Luongo is still providing the solid goaltending Vancouver needs to make a playoff push.

I am going to throw in a curve ball here as well and include Boston Bruins goaltender Tim Thomas as an example of extremely valuable. Living in Boston, I get to attend quite a few Bruins games, and I am telling you that this team would be nowhere without a goaltender as solid as Thomas has been for the B's. Despite improved team-defense, the B's still allow a barrage of shots on Thomas nightly, and it seems he stands on his head in every win and loss to give the Bruins a chance.

As I stated earlier, if the criteria for the Hart Trophy is deemed to be "most valuable to one's team," then the best way to determine that is to imagine that team without that player and where they would be in the standings. So, while Nicklas Lidstrom probably gets the Pearson Award award, I absolutely don't see how, on a team like the Wings, he could be deemed any more valuable to his team than Alexander Ovechkin is to the Caps.

Just for fun, I am going to give my MVP picks for each team. I am making the decision based on which player's removal from the team would make that team the worst (if that makes sense...) Feel free to dispute them in the comments:

Anaheim: Scott Niedermayer
While his return may have been disputed, his affect on the Ducks can't be

Atlanta: Ilya Kovalchuk

Boston: Tim Thomas

Buffalo: Brian Campbell

Calgary: Jarome Iginla

Carolina: Rod Brind'Amour

Chicago: Patrick Sharp
5 GWG, leads team in +/-, seems to play well when no one else does

Colorado: Paul Stastny
Although the team hasn't played as poorly as expected since losing him, it'll be tough to make the playoffs

Columbus: Rick Nash

Dallas: Mike Ribeiro
Stars would only have Morrow's scoring without this guy

Detroit: Nicklas Lidstrom

Edmonton: Shawn Horcoff
Might become obvious now that he's out for the season

Florida: Tomas Vokoun

Los Angeles: Alexander Frolov
While his point production may be below expectations, he's one of the few guys on the team that shows up on the scoresheet and his own end of the ice

Minnesota: Marian Gaborik

Montreal: Alex Kovalev
His increased confidence and two-way play this year has been invaluable to Habs

Nashville: Jason Arnott

New Jersey: Martin Brodeur

NY Islanders: Rick DiPietro

NY Rangers: Henrik Lundqvist

Ottawa: Dany Heatley
Argument could be made for Alfredsson, but the Sens have really hurt while Heater's been out

Philadelphia: Mike Richards

Phoenix: Ilja Bryzgalov
Proof: Look at the improvement of this team since he arrived

Pittsburgh: Evgeni Malkin (since Sid's injury, Crosby prior though)
Malkin has really stepped up his game since Sidney Crosby got hurt; Pens would be lost without both of them

San Jose: Evgeni Nabokov/Joe Thornton (couldn't decide)

St. Louis: Brad Boyes
Lighting it up and 3rd on the team in +/-

Tampa Bay: Vincent Lecavalier

Toronto: Mats Sundin

Vancouver: Roberto Luongo

Washington: Alexander Ovechkin


My next post (and there really will be another one prior to the trade deadline) will be about possible trades and what a few teams should be looking for.