[OT-NHL] The Annual NHL Playoffs Thread: 2003

[Knightfall]

-- Dallas will beat Edmonton in five. I don't care how close these matchups have been in the past. Those deadline trades hurt the Oilers too much to keep this series.

Everyone keeps saying that Edmonton got shafted on the deadline deals. Well, here's how the new boys have done since coming to the Oilers on deadline day:

New Oliers
Player GP G A TP PIM +/- PP SH GW GT Shots Pct
Cross 11 2 3 5 8 3 1 0 1 0 11 18.18
Dvorak 12 4 4 8 14 -3 1 0 0 1 32 12.5
Isbister 13 3 2 5 9 0 0 0 1 0 29 10.34

Compare that with what the Rangers and the islanders got:

New Rangers
Player GP G A TP PIM +/- PP SH GW GT Shots Pct
Carter 11 1 4 5 6 0 0 0 0 0 17 5.8
Pisa 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 3 0

New Islanders
Player GP G A TP PIM +/- PP SH GW GT Shots Pct
Niinimaa 13 1 5 6 14 -2 1 0 0 0 11 9.09

 

[Quickbeam]

Knightfall:
I hope that the deals pay off for Edmonton in the long run. But numbers to date aside, I just don't see any of those players providing the playoff spark Carter and Niinimaa are capable of. But I'll be plenty happy if I'm proven wrong.

 

[Knightfall]

Knightfall:
I hope that the deals pay off for Edmonton in the long run. But numbers to date aside, I just don't see any of those players providing the playoff spark Carter and Niinimaa are capable of. But I'll be plenty happy if I'm proven wrong.

Quickbeam, losing those two great players was hard emotionally on the boys, for sure, but they seem to have handled it well down the stretch. They were 7-2-0-1 in their last 10 games and Ales Hemsky was named the NHL Rookie of the Month, for March, with 3 goals and 13 assists.

We still have outstanding leadership from the likes of Todd Marchant, Georges Laraque, Ryan Smyth, Ethan Moreau, and Jason Smith. Mike Comrie, while still young, leads/plays like a veteran and Dvorak will fill the net in the much faster Western Conference. Plus, everyone is getting healthy at the right time - namely Smyth, Mike York and Comrie.

Note that Edmonton is one of the most solid teams on left wing with Smyth, York, Moreau, Isbister and Jason Chimera.

The defense is lead by Smith and Eric Brewer, who was selected to the Western Conference All-Star Team. Add to this Cross' excellent plus rating when in the lineup and add to this Alexei Semenov, Scott Ferguson and Marc-Andre Bergeron for amazing depth and you have one of the toughest defenses in the league.

Steve Staios has thrived in the Oilers' environment, reaching career highs in assists and total points this season. Plus, he brings a lot positive attitude to the team.

Tommy Salo has been solid for years and is the anchor of the team. Backup Jussi Markkanen has played very well in 20-odd games.

The Oilers could surprise a lot of people this year. Dallas... here we come again (and again and again and again).

KF72

 

[EarthsShadow]

I said that about the Wings cuz I don't like them, but like last year if they beat the Avs in the playoffs then I usually vote for them to win the Stanley Cup. The Wings are a good team, heck, this year there are four teams in the Western over 100 points, and one below at 99, so its really tight this year.

Probably the tighest its ever been.

Eastern side, Ottawa all the way, they deserve it.

In the Western side, it will be either Stars, Wings, or Avalanche. If any of the others make it, I will be very surprised because these three teams are so dominating.

 

[EarthsShadow]

Earth,

You are entitled to your opinions. I just like to see the Flyers win before I get to my third generation.

LOL I hope they win before you get to your third generation also, just not over the Avalanche. If the Flyers make it and they play the Stars or Wings you can bet I will be hoping against hope that the Flyers win over them.

It's better to hope than not hope at all.

 

[Tom Cashel]

I hope that the deals pay off for Edmonton in the long run. But numbers to date aside, I just don't see any of those players providing the playoff spark Carter and Niinimaa are capable of. But I'll be plenty happy if I'm proven wrong.

Keep an eye on Dvorak...that guy is fast. Really fast.

 

[Quickbeam]

Kfall:
I hope your team's core of good players, youthful enthusiasm, and Salo's solid netminding do carry them past the Stars. Don't take my doubts as an indication that I'm rooting against the Oilers...I just don't possess an Edmonton fan's faith in the team .

EarthsShadow:
Fair enough -- you don't like the Wings. I'm sure you aren't alone in that regard. I just wanted to make sure that you weren't implying that Detroit plays a boring brand of hockey. Overwhelming at times, yes. Boring, no .

Tom C:
I'll be watching as many of the players in as many of the series as I can, not just Dvorak!! And as for players to keep an eye on, I suggest you all watch Pavel Datysuk of my beloved DRW. That guy is an absolute witch, making plays that seem impossible on a nightly basis!!

The playoffs start tonight, and once again I say GO WINGS!!!

 

[Paragon]

Props to the oilers for coming into our barn and taking a game. Excuses could be made but the fact is Edmonton came to play and we didn't.
But I do predict the Turk puts up a shut out in game 2.
believe it.

Paragon

 

[PowerWordDumb]

Leafs all the way!

Go Leafs Go!

But before all the Leafs-Haters jump down my throat (Ottawa, I'm looking in your direction...), realize that I'm also cheering for all the other Canadian teams to go far. If it comes down to any head-to-head matchup I'll cheer for the Leafs, but if say an Ottawa-Vancouver final came about I wouldn't be too sad at all.

Sad the Leafs got knocked out, but happy as could be for two hard-working, high-skilled Canadian teams to get to the promised land.

As for the "Sens, they deserve it" people... nope, sorry. You deserve NOTHING in the playoffs. The playoffs are all about what you can make happen for yourself - as good as Ottawa is, they've still got to do it when it counts. If this year is the year, great! I'll be happy for them. But I won't declare they deserve anything just because of a good season.

 

[Knightfall]

Props to the oilers for coming into our barn and taking a game. Excuses could be made but the fact is Edmonton came to play and we didn't.
But I do predict the Turk puts up a shut out in game 2.
believe it.

We'll see. Turek's good, but it's also his first ever NHL playoffs. I suspect he'll play just as good in game two - he didn't blow chuncks in game one, IMO. The oliers were simply the more dominant team through the second and thrid period, if not the first.

It is going to be one of those series. To close to call. After all, 20 of the 28 previous Oilers vs. Stars playoff games were decided by one goal, including when Dallas was the Minnisota North Stars.

Cheers!

KF72