Ending the drought
There was a good post on the HFBoards today that talked about the seven teams that haven't made the postseason since the lockout. They are:
Chicago
Columbus
Florida
Los Angeles
Phoenix
St. Louis
Toronto
Four years is an awful long time to go without the playoffs, and a few of these teams have been waiting longer than that.
The Panthers have one postseason appearance in the past 11 years, and none since 1999-00. Phoenix has missed five seasons in a row. And Columbus has never made it.
The Blackhawks seem to be the team with the best chance of turning things around next year, but the conference remains very tight. Does anyone else foresee these teams breaking the goose egg in 2008-09?
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by James Mirtle @ 2:39 PM
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7 comments
7 Comments:
1) Florida SHOULD make the post season. Looking at that roster they underachieved.
2) Perhaps the new coach will finally guide them to the next level. As washington found out the right guy behind the bench does make a difference!
If LA and Phoenix weren't in the hellish division they are in, I'd think one of them could turn it around next year. Tough to say at this point. Columbus will have to pony up just to maintain what they have, and Florida is due for either a saviour coach or a complete rebuild.
saskhab, remember the schedule changes next year. They'll play 6 times against division rivals instead of 8, with increased number of games against the other conference.
6 x 4 = 24 (division)
4 x 10 = 40 (conference, non-division)
15 x 1 = 15 (cross-conference)
24 + 40 + 15 = 79
add 3 more "selected opponent" games. (In Canada, those are games against the other Canadian teams in the other conference)
Compared with this year:
8 x 4 = 32 (division)
4 x 10 = 40 (conference)
10 x 1 = 10 (cross-conference)
If LA and Phoenix weren't in the hellish division they are in, I'd think one of them could turn it around next year.
I'm too lazy to look it up right now, but I was under the impression that the Phoenix Coyotes took more points out of Pacific games this year than any of their divisional rivals.
Now it seems their issue is winning outside the Pacific (though a year of Bryzgalov could really help).
Earl you are right, the Coyotes were 19-11-2 against the Pacific
Heh, actually I was wrong.
Ducks went 17-10-5 for more points, but the Yotes were right there with them.
The Leafs will make it next year. Of course ;)
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