Honestly, the Detroit Red Wings have it made their in a division with St. Louis, Chicago, Columbus who they play 8 times each in the regular season and their only tough divisional opponent is nashville...Does anybody else think Dallas should be in first, yes, no. Why or Why not
129793
You make a very good point about Detroit being in a weak division, but in the end you have to win those games against lighter opponents, and Detroit did most of the time this season. \n\nThe Western conference is going to be a dogfight. Anaheim is dangerous and has a goalie with good playoff experience, Calgary has Kiprusoff, Dallas has been just great this year, and San Jose has the best first line in hockey right now. Whoever wins this conference isn't going to do it easily.
65617
Fantastic! I finally found a fellow Sabres fan in YA. Where have you been? I've been posting in a desert here. The Buffalo Sabres are the surprise team of the NHL this season (along with the Carolina Hurricanes) and I'd love to think they can win it all... But there is the dread Buffalo curse ("NO GOAL" vs Dallas in the 1999 Stanley Cup final and of course the Bills' 4 straight Super Bowl defeats in the '90s), so try not to get your hopes up too high. Whatever happens, we have the best young goaltender in the league (Ryan Miller) and a club that works hard and plays like a team. We have as good a chance as any of the favourites. Let's Go Buffalo!
175109
the wings for many reasons.  zetterberg and datsyuk will light up the lamp.  yzerman and fischer should be motivation enough to win the cup.  what i mean by that is it might be yzerman's last year and use the loss of fischer to play at their best.  GO WINGS!!!!  BRING IT!!!!  they will bring the cup to hockeytown.
626034
Hi there.\n\nLegace will not come back.  Ken Holland, GM of the Red Wings, confirmed this.  He's not back.\n\nIMO, he is gone due to 1st round exit.\n\nThe Wings have a history of doing this, impatience, most recently CuJo.  I remember that when CuJo and the Wings lost in the playoffs, his team only scored like 12 goals in front of him.  Clearly not his fault.\n\nFurthermore, Legace had a great season and doesn't deserve to leave.\n\nI hope that the Leafs sign him -- they need a starter.\n\nAnyway -- I want to address someone's post on here.  Detroit, is not a good team.  Their record, is obviously not indicative of how good of a team they are -- it just shows that they're in a bad division.  Out of 24 games played with St. Louis, Columbus and Chicago,  Detroit won 21.  They also went into OT at least two times with them, and lost.  That's 44 of their 124 points, bringing them down to 80 (obviously they wouldn't have lost all 21 wins).
358071
I am going to say what I've said all season. Detroit has been on cruise control for SO LONG because of the lack of competition, that they've forgotten what they need to do when it comes to "gassing" out games against better teams. Personally, I think the Pistons are one of the most over hyped teams in the league, and for one reason only: Lack of competition. They have beaten who? The Bucks?! The Cavaliers (and even THAT isn't decided yet)?! The competition in the East is hardly there, and playing teams lesser than you doesn't make you better. You need teams that can play on your level to decide if you're truly the best--and Detroit has yet to do that. Can Detroit change this? Absolutely! But now with Cleveland revamped and recharged, this series is a WHOLE nother' ball game...!
448062
I'm with you.  Let's demand some variety.  This started way back when Tom Landry was coaching Dallas and they were the class of the League.  No longer true.
416873
You and me are both worried. Really worried. We've lost Strahan, Umenyiora (I know I spelled that wrong...), Madison, Toomer, Arrington, Petitgout. The list keeps going on and on and on. If we were healthy, I wouldn't be so worried. I'm worried that they're playing on Monday night and they're playing away.\n\nIt's going to be a really rough game for us tonight. Do I think we can win? I am hoping, praying, begging, pleading so. We need this win. With Dallas' win yesterday, we need to keep that one game distance with them, or else our playoff hopes are done for this season. \n\nHere's hoping that the G-men take it all the way. Go Giants!
218351
Great question!  My heart says Dallas since I live in Texas and am a Spurs, rather than a Mavericks fan, but if the Spurs don't take it then I would love to see Avery Johnson (former Spurs' point guard) win it as a coach.\n\nHaving said that, I think the Pistons are almost a lock this year and the Mavericks are a dark horse, at best.  The Spurs will give the Pistons a run for their money and might even take it provided Timmy Duncan and Ginobili stay healthy throughout the playoff run.\n\nAs for the NHL, I don't follow that as closely as I do the NBA.  But as far as I can tell, the Red Wings and Stars appear pretty evenly matched.  But NHL playoff hockey is sometimes difficult to predict.  A goalie can make or break a run at the Stanley Cup.
60740
I dont think so because then half of the teams would be in the playoffs, it needs to be only the elite teams. However, i think we should have a second leauge alltogether.  Not nfl europe, arena football, or xfl but a second NFL.  Sorta like minor leauge but better.  It would take place during the offseason of NFL1.  It would do that well at first, but once people started to get to know the teams and players it would be great.  If people do good in NFL2 they could get drafted over to 1.  And if people suck in 1 they could go to 2 (not europe or arena leauge).  This would mean year round football!!!
5596
It's going to be tough with milwaukee and cleveland this year.  If they do you better hope they don't face Detroit in the first round. They have gotten blown out in both games so far.
326714
well it starts with a good gm which the lions lack. they lack a reason to play well.  they don't have any good players besides their kicker. they also can't play as a team to win any games. their coach is too soft on them.  the pistons play hard in the regular season and go pretty far in the playoffs.  they have a good coach who is not too soft on them.  the wings are near the end of being on top in the west.  they have a good owner who spends money on star players.  they do well in the regular season but have fallen in the last couple years in the early part of the playoffs.  the tigers got a coach who will push them to play better.  i won't say they are going to the world series or win the wild card but they improved and i think it's wonderful.  as far as the shock they are pretty good.   i am from the detroit area and love almost all of these teams but the lions.  i am not a fan of football but root for them when i can.
16637
Do the Flyers have a chance? This question has been asked about the Flyers for the past several years, and of the question marks that keep appearing time and time again, only a few have been addressed. The key to all of it is their goaltending. They just don't have a 'stud' goalie that can take them into the late rounds.\n\nComing out of the east, Ottawa just looks too strong, and all the pieces seem to be in place. However, just like the Flyers, how many times has it looked like they would run away with it, only to flop early. I wouldn't be suprised to see Carolina or the Rangers go compete for the cup. Those two teams seem to have positioned themselves perfectly after the lockout.\n\nAs for the West, it really could be anybody. If I were to bet, I think another dog could make it, such as Nashville or LA.... but that's just my opionion.....
100947
There is no doubt. Tom Renny is in the running for the Jack Adams Award (best coach), Hank is in the running for the Calder Trophy(rookie), and Jagr is almost a shoo-in for the Hart and Art Ross trophies. As for the person who said "D", I dont think we have the best offensive defense, but they are excellent in their own zone. And with Jagr, you dont really need the D to contribute much. The only thing that can be held against them is experience. And youre very right, I cant wait until the Carolina game.
164007
The Oilers for sure, they are not an 8th place team. They have just as good a chance as any, especially if they knock off Detroit. Then everyone will jump on the bandwagon.
17582
I would say it's highly unlikely, for the same reason Toronto (despite all their offseason moves) will have trouble reaching the post-season. When you play 38 games a year against two tough divisional foes (St Louis and Houston), it's an uphill battle. Plus, they haven't really added any talent to rotation other than Howry, a career .500 pitcher.
377236
I'm thinking a 10-6 is needed for wildcard in the NFC...the Packers have a super SUPER easy schedule...and 9-7 is not too far fetched if their defense can show up every once in a while...I just don't think they can make the playoffs...however it would be fun to see Favre in the playoffs for his last season eh?
149028
They would just work the schedules - You are also assuming they would all have home court/ice advantage - the games are spread out enough. It's also happened in Boston or Phoenix, I think - I'm sure somewhere else - where they played a hockey game during the day, then they just lay the basketball floor over the ice surface and play a night basketball game. The same scheduling conflicts occur all regular season, you know - the leagues just work together.