Dec 31 2011
Nobody is the overwhelming favorite to win the 2004 Stanley Cup. Which makes every team a favorite. After all, if the Mighty Ducks can come within 60 minutes of lifting the Stanley Cup last June, who would bet the mortgage against this year’s Islanders? You might scoff at the notion. Mike Milbury’s Islanders? No way! But consider for a moment:
Would you bet the mortgage?
Even if such visions do not come to pass, and no team emerges as this year’s version of the unlikely beast from Anaheim, the 2004 Stanley Cup race remains impossible to handicap. In fact, it is much easier to find reasons why each playoff contender should collapse like a soggy soufflé.
Detroit Red Wings: Nobody was stopping pucks in late March. Curtis Joseph and Manny Legace were shredded for four goals each in an embarrassing 8-6 loss to Anaheim. In the next game, Joseph re-injured his ankle and Legace was lit up five times by the Sharks.
Tampa Bay Lightning: Plenty of speed and bundles of goals in Tampa. Which is a good thing, because the goalies have occasional stretches when they can’t stop a beach ball. Coach John Tortorella is quick to remind the press of this, when he isn’t busy chewing up Vincent Lecavalier.
Philadelphia Flyers: At the rate the players are being mowed down, the Flyers will last one playoff round before they have to forfeit for lack of available bodies.
Boston Bruins: In Boston, it used to be the Joe Thornton line and not much else. Now there are other weapons, like the spectacular rookie goaltender, Andrew Raycroft. Check the playoff records of rookie goaltenders and pack your dreams away, Bruins' fans.
Toronto Maple Leafs: The Leafs defense looks so bad on some nights, it’s hard to believe they didn’t plan it that way. All hope rests with goaltender Ed Belfour and his chronically bad back.
Colorado Avalanche: The Selanne-Kariya package deal is a bust; Aebischer is no better than a dozen other goalies; the top six can’t carry a team every night.
San Jose: Peaked early. Suddenly giving up loads of scoring chances.
Dallas Stars: How much depth can a team have if it adds Shane Corson and Valeri Bure? Mike Modano creates as many scoring chances for the opposition as he does for himself.
Ottawa Senators: The Senators have all the tools: speed, skill, experience, size, strength…. So how come they look like crap on so many nights?
New Jersey Devils: Without Scott Stevens, the defending champs are just another bunch of pluggers. Not a very big bunch, either. And when he returns from his concussion, will they be getting the real Scott Stevens?
Vancouver Canucks: Can’t score and can’t win since the Bertuzzi fiasco sent them into a tailspin. Was Markus Naslund suspended too? Or did he disappear on his own?
Montreal Canadiens: The Canadiens? Be serious.
Calgary Flames: Smother Jarome Iginla and the other Flames will tumble like dominoes.
New York Islanders: They get progressively worse with each Milbury trade. Wouldn’t be in the playoffs if the Sabres had put up a marginally better fight.
Edmonton Oilers: A spectacular charge has launched them back into the race. If the Oilers can make the playoffs, the inevitable letdown will likely begin with the first game of the opening round.
Nashville Predators: The Predators? Be serious.
St. Louis Blues: Just think of this team as “Rangers West.”
Los Angeles Kings: Fading, fading, fading…
So there you have it, sports fans! No matter which colors you bleed, you haven't got a chance! Disappointment and dashed hopes await! Enjoy!
