All five Central teams could make the playoffs
by Christy on Mar 30, 2009 10:53 PM CDT
in News
4 comments
In the past, we could always count on the Detroit Red Wings to represent the Central Division come the postseason. Sometimes we'd see the Chicago Blackhawks or Nashville Predators make it in, but they usually wouldn't stay around for too long. That will all change this season because as of March 30th, all five Central Division teams would make the playoffs if they were to start today.
No. 1 San Jose Sharks vs. No. 8 St. Louis Blues
No. 2 Detroit Red Wings vs. No. 7 Nashville Predators
No. 3 Calgary Flames vs. No. 6 Columbus Blue Jackets
No. 4 Chicago Blackhawks vs. No. 5 Vancouver Canucks
Obviously this can all change before the postseason actually begins, but for the past couple days the entire Central has been represented in the top eight seeds. Pretty impressive for a division that was considered the vastly inferior Western Conference division just a couple seasons ago. And as On The Forecheck points out, the media is taking notice including Sports Illustrated and The Hockey News.
FYI- The Wings are 14-5-1 against Central Division opponents this year. How does that compare to the other divisions? Detroit is 11-3-5 versus the Northwest, 13-5-2 against the Pacific, 2-3-0 when facing the Northeast, 5-1-0 over the Southeast, and 4-1-1 against Atlantic foes.
So that brings us to WIM's new featured poll - how many of the Central Divison teams do you see making it into the postseason this year? As much as I'd like to see all five, I'm going with four. I couldn't tell you if it'll be STL or NSH in that last spot because it's just too tight in the standings to make a for sure call just yet.
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You know what's amazing?
Just a year or two ago, I was lamenting on the fact that the Wings played in the NHL’s easiest division, and that’s why they were one of the best teams. I mean, who wouldn’t want to play the Blues, Blackhawks, Preds and Jackets multiple times a year?
Unreal how things change. It’s good for the NHL, for sure.
A Toronto sports blog, where we unequivocally and unapologetically support the home team...
PLAYOFFS!!!!1
by eyebleaf on Mar 30, 2009 11:56 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Yeah it really is.
Everyone gave the Wings grief because they thought we were in the easy division — not anymore!
by Christy on Mar 31, 2009 8:05 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Mirtle makes a good post stating why this likely won’t happen. I didn’t realize how much inter-divisional play still remained for all the Central teams. Would be cool to see, but unlikely.
http://www.fromtherink.com/2009/3/31/816124/measuring-the-central-divi
by IAmJoe on Mar 31, 2009 2:21 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
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