Apr 28, 06
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7th place SWEEP over 2nd place ??
CBC ranked us fuckin 16th out of all 16 playoff teams ...
DALLAS was # 1 - now WhuT!! Last edited by stimulant j; Apr 28, 06 at 12:34 AM. 
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Apr 28, 06
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Power Rankings: The Sweet Sixteen
By Chris Iorfida, CBC Sports Online WebPosted Thurs., Apr. 20, 2006 With the regular season on ice, handicapping the playoff race is no mere task of listing the top 16 teams in order. Some teams have pedigree despite regular season disappointment, while others have the classic look of overachievers. Some could carry hot streaks over into the second season, while others may have peaked too soon. Follow the progress throughout the playoffs as CBC Sports Online ranks the teams each round. 1. -- Dallas Stars Yes, Detroit beat them near season's end, but the Stars outplayed them and won two of the previous three head-to-heads. Plenty of depth, speed and Cup experience, and didn't lose more than three consecutive games all season. 2. -- Detroit Red Wings Why aren't the Presidents' winners No. 1? Weaker division than Dallas (they went 21-1-2 against Chicago, St. Louis, Columbus), and despite the fewest defeats in the league, had a tendency to lose games in pairs. Still, this team is stacked, well-coached with excellent special teams, skill and puck possession, and few positional weaknesses. 3. -- Ottawa Senators Not the late-season finish they desired, but the skaters are getting healthier. If Hasek never sees the ice, the concern here isn't Emery's ability, but his inordinate workload down the stretch. 4. -- Carolina Hurricanes Plenty of offence, veteran leadership on the back end and a goalie who seldom hits a bad patch. Have played plenty of high-scoring games, especially down the stretch; will they be able to adjust when things tighten up? 5. -- Calgary Flames A bit like Dallas, but with a more proven playoff goaltender and less secondary scoring. They have been an entirely different team, often bordering on mediocre, away from the Saddledome. 6. -- New Jersey Devils About the only team who wouldn't be intimidated facing a red-hot Devils squad with Brodeur would be the Islanders (who took 6 of 8 from NJ), but they're not in. Still, loss of Stevens and Niedermayer may be most acutely felt in the playoffs, and will the diminutive Gomez-Gionta combo have the same room to roam? 7. -- San Jose Sharks The chic pick to upset the applecart in the West and much of the same group that went to the conference final in '04. Marleau and the emergence of Bernier are vital in case top line is held in check. But who will star in net? 8. -- Buffalo Sabres Among the best on both the power-play and penalty kill. Nine players with at least 18 goals. The question is whether they'll play like they deserve to be the best or just be happy to win a round after years of missing the playoffs. 9. -- Philadelphia Flyers Injuries and inconsistency this season could actually prepare them well for the up-and-down ride that is the playoffs. Have added quite a few new faces to a core group that has made a few extended post-season runs. Hitchcock hasn't lost in first round since his first NHL season. 10. -- New York Rangers Ice cold down the stretch but Lundqvist is back and the Rangers have played Jersey tough this season. The team has been a wonderful surprise story but don't figure to have the grit necessary for four consecutive series wins. 11. -- Tampa Bay Lightning Usually just being the defending Stanley Cup champs bumps a team up a few spots come playoff time even if they've played below expectations, and we won't make an exception for a team this talented. Wildly inconsistent goaltending, though, and Ottawa has been a nemesis. 12. -- Anaheim Mighty Ducks Anaheim won a series of games in the last weeks mostly versus the conference's lesser lights, but this is a team playing with enthusiasm and confidence. And any team with Niedermayer and Giguere is a formidable foe. 13. -- Nashville Predators Among the league's worst at allowing shots on goal, the injury to Vokoun has forced the team to cut down the totals in front of backup Chris Mason. Still, regardless of the goalie this team has the look of just being a year away from major contention. 14. -- Edmonton Oilers An eighth-place seeding doesn't bode well, but a league-high 26 games decided after regulation suggests this team isn't likely to be blown out by anyone. Home-ice play and goaltending will determine their fate. 15 -- Montreal Canadiens The Canadiens post-Olympic success has been admirable, but 12 of 16 wins came against non-qualifying teams. And unfortunately for the Habs, Boston didn't qualify. It's been nearly a decade since the Habs won a playoff round against a team not named the Bruins. 16. -- Colorado Avalanche Sure, there are seven players with Cup rings, but there are questions with goaltending, the power play, and of late, secondary scoring up front. Right now, there is nothing about this team that suggests it will go deep into the playoffs
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