Monday, April 17, 2006
Momentum watch
Boy, there's a lot I want to get to by Friday, and I barely know where to start, so how about this. As part of the ongoing series, here's the standings for the "4th Quarter" of the season. I know throwing out the last two games is a bit capricious, but most of the 81st/82nd games of the season involve at least one team for whom the result is unimportant, so there you go. Anyway, The East:
And, The West:
Detroit's 35 points in the 4th quarter is the best quarter by any NHL team this season. If the Leafs had had a merely poor 3rd quarter, they'd be in the playoffs. Offseason moves are a total wildcard, but the early favourite for a breakout team next season has to be the Blue Jackets. Give the credit to Joe Thornton for the Sharks' surge if you like (Joementum!), but their 4th quarter was WAAAY better than their previous 40 games, when Joe was also in the lineup. Related: be careful about handing a 1st-round victory to the Sharks too quickly. You'll note that Nashville had 26 points over the 4th quarter; what you may not know is that in their last dozen box scores, only one features Tomas Vokoun as the Winning Goaltender. There's ample reason to dismiss the Preds' Cup prospects, but they are not a Bad Team.
And, The West:
Detroit's 35 points in the 4th quarter is the best quarter by any NHL team this season. If the Leafs had had a merely poor 3rd quarter, they'd be in the playoffs. Offseason moves are a total wildcard, but the early favourite for a breakout team next season has to be the Blue Jackets. Give the credit to Joe Thornton for the Sharks' surge if you like (Joementum!), but their 4th quarter was WAAAY better than their previous 40 games, when Joe was also in the lineup. Related: be careful about handing a 1st-round victory to the Sharks too quickly. You'll note that Nashville had 26 points over the 4th quarter; what you may not know is that in their last dozen box scores, only one features Tomas Vokoun as the Winning Goaltender. There's ample reason to dismiss the Preds' Cup prospects, but they are not a Bad Team.
# posted by Matt @ 12:31 pm 
Comments:
Interesting note for Detroits strong 4th quarter. 14 of their 20 games were against non-playoff opponents, and 9 of them were against St. Louis/Chicago/Columbis. I won't take anything away from them, though. The Oil will be hard pressed to get through them.
Yeah, Calgary never had a quarter where they were much better but they were slightly better all year. That was your point, right?
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Interesting note for Detroits strong 4th quarter. 14 of their 20 games were against non-playoff opponents, and 9 of them were against St. Louis/Chicago/Columbis. I won't take anything away from them, though. The Oil will be hard pressed to get through them.
# posted by 
: April 17, 2006 1:47 pm
: April 17, 2006 1:47 pm Yeah, Calgary never had a quarter where they were much better but they were slightly better all year. That was your point, right?
# posted by : April 17, 2006 5:47 pm
: April 17, 2006 5:47 pm 
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