Are Matt Cullen and Carolina Hurricanes the favorites out East?
A glance around the NHL
The Carolina Hurricanes just keep on rolling after defeating the New York Rangers 5-3 and giving the Rangers a 6 game losing streak. Im not jumping off of the Rangers bandwagon but this shouldn’t be surprising. The Flyers and Devils keep on losing so Rangers still have a slight chance at winning the Atlantic Division. The Hurricanes with the win tonight set franchise records for Wins and Points. Mark Recchi has been non-existence since he has joined Carolina. Maybe Sidney was making him look so good lately.
Nashville shuts out the Canucks 5-0 and handing the Canucks their 5th straight loss. Nashville is a dangerous team but the Canucks are fading and wont get out of the first round.
The New York Islanders win a much needed game defeating the Devils 6-1. The Islanders have one 7 of 9 and don’t count them out just yet. As for the Devils: They have been a up and down team all year so they will bounce back from their recent slump.
Buffalo comes from behind and beats the Capitals 6-4. This is a team no one is going to want to play come playoff time. Their offense is lethal but the question mark on this team is how will young goaltender Ryan Miller perform in the Playoffs. Only time will tell.
Ottawa wins it’s 8th straight defeating the Lightning 4-3. Alfredson’s late goal with 6.6 seconds crushed the Lightning and may very well crush their playoff hopes.
Toronto Maple Leafs got a much needed win 5-4 against Boston. They are a team that has also been up and down all year, but the 6-8 seeds are still wide open.
MY Fab 5
1. Ottawa Senators
2. Dallas Stars
3. Detroit Redwings
4. Carolina Hurricanes
5. Buffalo Sabres.
Most overrated team in the Eastern Conference
1. Philadelphia Flyers – This team has many flaws. Offensively they have one line and thats about it. Even Petr Forsberg has lost a step. Watching him Sunday all he wants to do is pass. Defensively they are to slow and goaltending is a big issue. Robert Esche is not the answer. A first round exit is bound to happen
Most Overrated team in the Western Conference
1.Calgary Flames – I love this team. Great goaltending and defense but the offense is questionable. In the old NHL they are the favorites to win it all but with the playoffs going to be wide open style they are going to struggle to keep up with a team like Nashville and don’t have the depth on offense to compete with the Stars and Red Wings.
Steelers News
Chris Hope will not return to Pittsburgh. The Steelers just signed safety Ryan Clark so this spells the end to Hope’s days as a Steeler. Hope is likely to end up in Tennesee or San Francisco
