RMBoner Stabone
10-03-2005, 01:21 PM
The burning question: Is this the end of the line for New Jersey? For more than a decade, the Devils have been the model of success in the NHL, icing a consistently strong team without breaking the bank or pillaging The farm system. But, the salary cap era, combined with the aging of many key players in the Devils' run of success have conspired to deal New Jersey a serious blow. The defection of Niedermayer, a player who could cover up a host of weaknesses all by himself, could well prove to be a death knell for this franchise's goal of consistently competing for the Stanley Cup, which has called the Meadowlands home three times since 1995.
The prediction: The Devils still have too much talent to fall out of contention so rapidly. GM Lou Lamoriello is among the shrewdest managers in the game and will find a way to make New Jersey difficult to beat by the Olympic Break. Second in Atlantic, sixth in East, advance to Eastern Conference semifinals.
http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/story/4919122
They have us 6th. in the conference and in the Final four.
chara
10-03-2005, 01:46 PM
Some credibility issues with this article:
Count the number of teams that get to the Eastern Conference semifinals:
Philly (eventual Stanley Cup Winner)
Tampa (get to the Conference finals)
Ottawa
Philly
NJ
That's 5, one too many. Nice try Foxsports...next time assign hockey people to cover hockey...
They have us 6th. in the conference and in the Final four.
Eastern conference semifinals isn't the final four. It's the final 8. (Conference finals = final 4, cup final = final 2).
Basically, they have us winning a first round upset against the third seed then bowing out in the second round.
chara
10-03-2005, 02:05 PM
Eastern conference semifinals isn't the final four. It's the final 8. (Conference finals = final 4, cup final = final 2).
Basically, they have us winning a first round upset against the third seed then bowing out in the second round.
Yes, that 3rd seed happens to be Boston who also appears as a conference semi-finalist...looks like the reporter is both a Bruins and Devils fan and couldn't make up his mind...
To clarify, according to the article:
Eastern Confernence
Stanley Cup finalist - Philly
Conference finalists - Philly & Tampa
Conference semi-finalists (the round before): Philly, Tampa, Ott, NJ, Bos
Ist Round losers: Tor, NYI, PIT
The article screws up the West as well:
Western Confernence
Stanley Cup finalist - San Jose
Conference finalists - San Jose & Calgary
Cnference semi-finalists - San Jose, Calgary, Detroit, Nash, Van, Col
Ist Round losers: EDM, Dallas
greatwhite101*
10-03-2005, 02:15 PM
If team like Leafs, Boston or even Habs will somehow take Ottawa out of playoffs Philly will have a HUGE opportunity. Looks like Ottawa is a team to beat in the East. Scoring machine with great defense Hasek has Flyers #.. IMO we better not play them at all in playoffs.
my 5 cents
John Flyers Fan
10-03-2005, 02:22 PM
If team like Leafs, Boston or even Habs will somehow take Ottawa out of playoffs Philly will have a HUGE opportunity. Looks like Ottawa is a team to beat in the East. Scoring machine with great defense Hasek has Flyers #.. IMO we better not play them at all in playoffs.
my 5 cents
We've actually had pretty good success with Hasek, and that was the in his prime Hasek.
Ottawa is certainly the team that concerns me the most, but Hasek isn't the reason why.
RMBoner Stabone
10-04-2005, 01:52 PM
Eastern conference semifinals isn't the final four. It's the final 8. (Conference finals = final 4, cup final = final 2).
Basically, they have us winning a first round upset against the third seed then bowing out in the second round.
Poops! I meant we would be on the final four teams to play in the Eastern Conference Playoffs. Any whoot, All remains to be seen.