any series thoughts
- Thread starter gjn23
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Bob McKenzie of the sportsnetwork up here in canada gives his thoughts:
McKenzie: Breaking down Conference Finals
5/18/2006
I'm highly conflicted on Oilers/Ducks series. First off there is the rest vs. the rust factor. I don't like the fact that the Mighty Ducks have been off for the better part of a week and that the Edmonton Oilers are coming in on an emotional high after knocking off the San Jose Sharks. I think the rust factor is going to hurt the Ducks initially and I predict the Oilers will win?Game 1. After that, though, I think the rest factor starts to take over.
If the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim can reduce the Calgary Flames defence into a blubbering mess after a seven-game series, I suspect that the fatigue factor will kick in at some point for the Oilers. I will go with the Ducks in this series because the rest factor will ultimately be more important than the rust factor.
The Carolina Hurricanes to me look like a team of destiny, but when I look at the Buffalo Sabres and the way they roll four lines and six or seven defencemen and the way Ryan Miller has played, I've got to with the Buffalo Sabres in this one.
I think we're looking at two long series on both sides and I'll give Buffalo a little edge over Carolina.
McKenzie: Breaking down Conference Finals
5/18/2006
I'm highly conflicted on Oilers/Ducks series. First off there is the rest vs. the rust factor. I don't like the fact that the Mighty Ducks have been off for the better part of a week and that the Edmonton Oilers are coming in on an emotional high after knocking off the San Jose Sharks. I think the rust factor is going to hurt the Ducks initially and I predict the Oilers will win?Game 1. After that, though, I think the rest factor starts to take over.
If the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim can reduce the Calgary Flames defence into a blubbering mess after a seven-game series, I suspect that the fatigue factor will kick in at some point for the Oilers. I will go with the Ducks in this series because the rest factor will ultimately be more important than the rust factor.
The Carolina Hurricanes to me look like a team of destiny, but when I look at the Buffalo Sabres and the way they roll four lines and six or seven defencemen and the way Ryan Miller has played, I've got to with the Buffalo Sabres in this one.
I think we're looking at two long series on both sides and I'll give Buffalo a little edge over Carolina.
Jacques Demers, a two-time NHL coach of the year and won the Stanley Cup with the Montreal Canadiens in 1993 gives his thoughts also:
From what I've seen in the playoffs so far, the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim have been the best team.
They're not a great offensive team, but they crash the net with intensity and they make things happen. In the offensive zone, they're always moving. The keys to the team are Scott Niedermayer and Teemu Selanne, but they have some young kids in Joffrey Lupul, Dustin Penner and Chris Kunitz. No one really knew these guys coming into the playoffs, but all of a sudden, wow. Their play has made the Mighty Ducks a better team.
The one problem the Mighty Ducks have, heading into the start of the Western Conference final Friday night against the Edmonton Oilers, is that they have had a long layoff. They finished their sweep of the Colorado Avalanche more than a week ago. Niedermayer, 32, and Selanne, 35, probably welcomed the rest. But often that long of a rest can work against you.
Edmonton, in the meantime, enters the series with a lot of good momentum. They've come back from a 2-0 deficit against the San Jose Sharks and won four in a row. Their goaltender Dwayne Roloson is playing the best hockey of his career. Ryan Smyth, the heart and soul of the team, is playing well. Even though they just had one full day off between series, they did get a two-day break earlier between Games 5 and 6.
I think what impresses me the most about the Oilers is that Kevin Lowe, their general manager, is not afraid to make trades. When he got Roloson for a first-round pick, a lot of people said, "Whoa." But it turned out to be a heck of a trade. The deal to get Jaroslav Spacek turned out to be a great trade, as did the one involving Sergei Samsonov. Those kinds of moves motivate your players because they know he's doing everything he can to make the team better. And now it's paying off.
His offseason moves paid off, too. Chris Pronger, acquired from the St. Louis Blues, has had some injury problems in recent years, but he has been phenomenal in the playoffs. Michael Peca, acquired from the New York Islanders, was the best player on the ice in Wednesday night's clincher. Peca had only a so-so regular season, but now he is playing the same way that he did with Buffalo when the Sabres went to the Stanley Cup Finals in 1999.
The Oilers are a team that keeps coming at you. They're in your face. They're physical. They play good defense when they need to. And I'll tell you one thing, Selanne is going to have Pronger in his face all throughout this series, no question about that.
Anaheim is going to continue to have to be patient, as they have throughout the playoffs. They need to keep following coach Randy Carlyle's system. They will have to keep crashing the net.
Will the long layoff hurt them? Only time will tell, but I can tell you it will be one heck of a series. And I believe that Edmonton will win in seven games.
In the East, you have two teams that most people didn't see getting this far. They have two coach of the year candidates in Buffalo's Lindy Ruff and Carolina's Peter Laviolette.
They also have two very good general managers. Buffalo's Darcy Regier and Carolina's Jim Rutherford are quiet and low-key as they go about their jobs. But they know what it takes to build a hockey club in the new NHL. Rutherford brought in Doug Weight and Mark Recchi. It took them a little while to get it going, but Rutherford knew it would be good for the team chemistry.
With two young guys in net, Cam Ward and Ryan Miller, it's great for the game. These guys are going to be challenging each other every game.
I think it's Buffalo's year. The big question for the Sabres is whether injured Tim Connolly will be available to play. Even so, I think it's going to be Buffalo in seven. And just like in the West, the Eastern Conference final will be one heck of a series. Not many people know these teams because they're in small markets, but they'll soon find out how good they are.
From what I've seen in the playoffs so far, the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim have been the best team.
They're not a great offensive team, but they crash the net with intensity and they make things happen. In the offensive zone, they're always moving. The keys to the team are Scott Niedermayer and Teemu Selanne, but they have some young kids in Joffrey Lupul, Dustin Penner and Chris Kunitz. No one really knew these guys coming into the playoffs, but all of a sudden, wow. Their play has made the Mighty Ducks a better team.
The one problem the Mighty Ducks have, heading into the start of the Western Conference final Friday night against the Edmonton Oilers, is that they have had a long layoff. They finished their sweep of the Colorado Avalanche more than a week ago. Niedermayer, 32, and Selanne, 35, probably welcomed the rest. But often that long of a rest can work against you.
Edmonton, in the meantime, enters the series with a lot of good momentum. They've come back from a 2-0 deficit against the San Jose Sharks and won four in a row. Their goaltender Dwayne Roloson is playing the best hockey of his career. Ryan Smyth, the heart and soul of the team, is playing well. Even though they just had one full day off between series, they did get a two-day break earlier between Games 5 and 6.
I think what impresses me the most about the Oilers is that Kevin Lowe, their general manager, is not afraid to make trades. When he got Roloson for a first-round pick, a lot of people said, "Whoa." But it turned out to be a heck of a trade. The deal to get Jaroslav Spacek turned out to be a great trade, as did the one involving Sergei Samsonov. Those kinds of moves motivate your players because they know he's doing everything he can to make the team better. And now it's paying off.
His offseason moves paid off, too. Chris Pronger, acquired from the St. Louis Blues, has had some injury problems in recent years, but he has been phenomenal in the playoffs. Michael Peca, acquired from the New York Islanders, was the best player on the ice in Wednesday night's clincher. Peca had only a so-so regular season, but now he is playing the same way that he did with Buffalo when the Sabres went to the Stanley Cup Finals in 1999.
The Oilers are a team that keeps coming at you. They're in your face. They're physical. They play good defense when they need to. And I'll tell you one thing, Selanne is going to have Pronger in his face all throughout this series, no question about that.
Anaheim is going to continue to have to be patient, as they have throughout the playoffs. They need to keep following coach Randy Carlyle's system. They will have to keep crashing the net.
Will the long layoff hurt them? Only time will tell, but I can tell you it will be one heck of a series. And I believe that Edmonton will win in seven games.
In the East, you have two teams that most people didn't see getting this far. They have two coach of the year candidates in Buffalo's Lindy Ruff and Carolina's Peter Laviolette.
They also have two very good general managers. Buffalo's Darcy Regier and Carolina's Jim Rutherford are quiet and low-key as they go about their jobs. But they know what it takes to build a hockey club in the new NHL. Rutherford brought in Doug Weight and Mark Recchi. It took them a little while to get it going, but Rutherford knew it would be good for the team chemistry.
With two young guys in net, Cam Ward and Ryan Miller, it's great for the game. These guys are going to be challenging each other every game.
I think it's Buffalo's year. The big question for the Sabres is whether injured Tim Connolly will be available to play. Even so, I think it's going to be Buffalo in seven. And just like in the West, the Eastern Conference final will be one heck of a series. Not many people know these teams because they're in small markets, but they'll soon find out how good they are.
I like Edmonton to beat Anaheim in 6 or 7. They have such momentum right now, and remember - they took care of Detroit pretty nicely!!
I also like Buffalo to beat Carolina in 5 or 6. Any team that can beat Ottawa in 5 games is going to win the Stanley cup in my opinion.
It should be some great hockey. Enjoy!!
I also like Buffalo to beat Carolina in 5 or 6. Any team that can beat Ottawa in 5 games is going to win the Stanley cup in my opinion.
It should be some great hockey. Enjoy!!
