So I’ve found myself rooting more and more for Boston in the past few weeks and I feel awful about it. I try and take a neutral stance on things, as I do enjoy the game itself. But damn, those boys in Boston make it hard not to root for them. They are doing so well, it’s crazy! They have defiantly woken up from their “Stanley Cup Hangover”. With huge wins this past week over the New Jersey Devils (8-0), The Florida Panthers (6-1), and recently the Calgary Flames (9-0), it’s hard to say these guys are heading into 2012 in the right direction. The look like a team that is ready to fight for their title and not looking to give it up. As much I would like to experience another Boston win and experience another Stanley Cup game, I really would like to see an underdog team come and take the cup. I am looking forward to the Cup rematch on Saturday January 7, 2012 at 1pm in Boston again the Canucks and the Bruins. I am happy to see Cory Schneider starting in net for Vancouver, he could be their saving grace, and give them a fighting chance against the high scoring Bruins.
I had high hopes for Edmonton at the start of the season. They were playing so well and their “Kid Line” of Eberle, Hall, and Nugent-Hopkins has been on fire. Things seem to go downhill for the Oilers when a good portion of their blue line went down with injuries. They have proven to be able to come through these injuries, but now with Nugent-Hopkins out for the next 4-6 weeks with his tweaked shoulder, I can’t really foresee them making a huge come back to be in a cup race. I hope that I am wrong, because they have proven twice now that they can dominate a team like Chicago and win with incredible numbers.
Predictions at the beginning of the 2011-2012 season seem to be completely off. According to puckmeplease.com these where their predictions in September:
Now I have to say I highly disagree with the their choice of finale teams. No offence to the Capitals, but really they didn’t perform great in the pre-season or start of the regular season. I will be very impressed if they can get to the finals this season.
Your current standings have the New York Rangers top in the Atlantic Division, Boston Bruins top in the Northeast division, Florida Panthers top in the Southeast Division, Chicago Blackhawks top in the Central Division, Vancouver top in the Northwest Division, and finally San Jose Sharks top in the Pacific Division. I guess with Washington being second in the Southeast they could still pull of a miracle and jump up and take me by surprise, but I will not be holding my breath for that to happen.
Enough of my Washington bashing and pure disappointment in them.
I think there is a good chance that there could be a rematch form last season or the cup between the Bruins and the Canucks. Both are now playing great after a crummy start, and after all we haven’t seen back to back teams since the 2008 and 2009 runs with Detroit and Pittsburgh!
I would love to see Pittsburgh step up and be the winning team I know they are, but with injuries still plaguing them it’s hard to conceive that. Going to jump on the Sidney Crosby band wagon here and say that I hope he comes back soon, not only for his team’s sake, but for the sake of the game. He is a great player, and we are all missing out on great plays, and skill without him on the ice.
So I do plan on watching the Bruins Canucks game on Saturday, purely to see how these two teams face off. I will keep my neutral place on the game. I hope Schneider can prove that he is worth being a number one goaltender over Luongo. I think over the last few years Luongo has gotten cocky with his title and pay and that is messing up his game. Yes, there is chirping between teams and players but really to take it to the media and then make yourself look like a complete ass that is unnecessary. Keep it on the ice and let your talent do the talking not your empty words.
Review of Saturday’s game I hope will be up on Sunday.
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