NHL: Second Half Preview
Jarrod Rogol
February 23, 2006
*Photo Alexander Ovechkin
The Olympics are now over and I am still trying to move past the huge upset of how my Canadians were shutout in its last three games in Turin. Good things however can come soon, as we enter the 2nd half of the NHL season.
Before the season began, I gave you my favorites to win each division and my favorites to hoist Lord Stanley?s Cup. Let me refresh your memories for the people who have forgotten how right have been up to this point.
* CAPS equals my choices back on October 5th, who are currently division leaders.
Western Conference
Central: DETROIT , Northwest: CALGARY , Pacific: DALLAS
Eastern Conference
Atlantic: Philadelphia , Northeast: OTTAWA , Southeast: Tampa Bay
So, after reviewing, four of the six teams I chose to be Division Champions at the end of the regular season, are currently leading. Philadelphia currently stands 2nd in the Atlantic with 33-15 and 75pts and Tampa Bay is currently 2nd in the Southeast with 32-22 and 68pts.
As I see it, the 2nd half of the 2006 NHL season will be about ?Sleeper Teams.? In the Eastern Conference, you have the Atlanta Thrashers still hanging in there even at 26-26. New Jersey is also very much in the race standing at 30-22, behind New York and Philadelphia.
The 2nd half will also bring a few players to keep an eye on. The first by far I think has to be the rookie who has really stolen the ice this season Washington?s Alexander Ovechkin, who currently sits eight in overall points one point behind Dany Heatley and march Savard. The great players are able to sustain great and consistent play the entire season, and it will be interesting to see if Ovechkin being a rookie will do this.
Next on the radar has to be another rookie Ryan Miller of Buffalo. Miller has a .923SV% with a record of 20-7-2. His 2.25GAA is seventh best in the NHL. The second half won?t start off sweet for Miller either has he will have to face the Thrashers, Maple Leafs, Bruins, and Lightning before he travels to Philadelphia on March 11.
On the defensive side one player really standout to me above all the others. The man who the Calgary Flames are building that defense around Dion Phaneuf. Of all the defensemen this season, I have been most impressed with Phaneuf. His ability to read the opposition, his ability to pass and not to mention the fact that he is tied for third amongst defensemen in goals. All of this makes him a key and a great asset in the NHL. Being on a defense with Jordan Leopold and Roman Hamrlik, it is easy to see why Phaneuf has yet to really get the respect he deserves.
Right now, I will stand by my picks to win their respective divisions and I will stand by my pick that we will see an all Canadian Stanley Cup Final between the Calgary Flames and the Ottawa Senators. Only time will tell how will win the divisions and reach Lord Stanley?s Cup.
Official Site: NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
The Olympics are now over and I am still trying to move past the huge upset of how my Canadians were shutout in its last three games in Turin. Good things however can come soon, as we enter the 2nd half of the NHL season.
Before the season began, I gave you my favorites to win each division and my favorites to hoist Lord Stanley?s Cup. Let me refresh your memories for the people who have forgotten how right have been up to this point.
* CAPS equals my choices back on October 5th, who are currently division leaders.
Western Conference
Central: DETROIT , Northwest: CALGARY , Pacific: DALLAS
Eastern Conference
Atlantic: Philadelphia , Northeast: OTTAWA , Southeast: Tampa Bay
So, after reviewing, four of the six teams I chose to be Division Champions at the end of the regular season, are currently leading. Philadelphia currently stands 2nd in the Atlantic with 33-15 and 75pts and Tampa Bay is currently 2nd in the Southeast with 32-22 and 68pts.
As I see it, the 2nd half of the 2006 NHL season will be about ?Sleeper Teams.? In the Eastern Conference, you have the Atlanta Thrashers still hanging in there even at 26-26. New Jersey is also very much in the race standing at 30-22, behind New York and Philadelphia.
The 2nd half will also bring a few players to keep an eye on. The first by far I think has to be the rookie who has really stolen the ice this season Washington?s Alexander Ovechkin, who currently sits eight in overall points one point behind Dany Heatley and march Savard. The great players are able to sustain great and consistent play the entire season, and it will be interesting to see if Ovechkin being a rookie will do this.
Next on the radar has to be another rookie Ryan Miller of Buffalo. Miller has a .923SV% with a record of 20-7-2. His 2.25GAA is seventh best in the NHL. The second half won?t start off sweet for Miller either has he will have to face the Thrashers, Maple Leafs, Bruins, and Lightning before he travels to Philadelphia on March 11.
On the defensive side one player really standout to me above all the others. The man who the Calgary Flames are building that defense around Dion Phaneuf. Of all the defensemen this season, I have been most impressed with Phaneuf. His ability to read the opposition, his ability to pass and not to mention the fact that he is tied for third amongst defensemen in goals. All of this makes him a key and a great asset in the NHL. Being on a defense with Jordan Leopold and Roman Hamrlik, it is easy to see why Phaneuf has yet to really get the respect he deserves.
Right now, I will stand by my picks to win their respective divisions and I will stand by my pick that we will see an all Canadian Stanley Cup Final between the Calgary Flames and the Ottawa Senators. Only time will tell how will win the divisions and reach Lord Stanley?s Cup.
Official Site: NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
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