NHL Match Preview Roundup for Thursday March.17.2011
Come Thursday, there’ll be a number of exciting matchups for all fans across the borders. 22 Teams will go head-to-head in 11 contests, as the playoffs come closer and closer. Tensions are at peak levels and it’s not just playing well that counts anymore.
It’s all about winning, irrespective of how you do it.
The Western Conference is highly competitive at the moment, as Vancouver Canucks continue to move higher, teams in the bottom ranks of playoff contender ship fight it out to remain on top of each other.
While the top teams of the Western Division widen the gap, differentiating them from the lower ranked franchises, the Eastern Conference leaders are closing in on each other.
Washington is just below toppers, Philadelphia, by a point and has moved above Boston by 5, tying it with conference rivals, Detroit Red Wings, with 92 points.
Philadelphia Flyers vs. Atlanta Thrashers
Atlanta might be one of the lowest ranking team in the Eastern Conference, but certainly has thrashed Flyers real good when needed. They’ll meet in Atlanta for the third time this season, after Thrashers levelled the series, beating them by 5-4 in OT this
Saturday.
They led the match 3-0 after the first two periods, but Atlanta caught up quickly forcing overtime and gaining the match in those extra five minutes.
After a disturbing loss on Saturday night, coach, Peter Laviolette, shuffled the line-up around a bit, putting more centre players into the starting along with changing some defensemen.
It seemed to have paid off when they defeated Florida Panther in their next match on Tuesday.
Detroit Red Wings vs. Columbus Blue Jackets
Many won’t even consider evaluating such a match as Red Wings faces Columbus. It’s almost always a no brainer, almost always that is.
Detroit may have won four matches, but Columbus did win the fifth.
In their sixth meeting on Thursday, both teams will be looking to capture those precious two points as the Blue Jackets still have a slight chances of making it to the top eight and Detroit needs to move further away from San Jose to remain number two.
Darren Helm of the Red Wings and Blue Jackets’ Scottie Upshall have both scored four goals in their previous eight matchups so they’ll be key to each team’s success if they keep it up.
Colorado Avalanche vs. Calgary Flames
The Flames have started to dim once again, and at the worst time possible. It’s been an up and down roller coaster for them this season, having some great wins and then fall back down.
Colorado shouldn’t be much of a problem for them when they look to end their losing slump at the Scotiabank Saddledome at home. If they can win this one, they’ll end up regaining their lost playoff spot to the Anaheim Ducks.
"We have gotten away from our game to some degree," said Calgary coach Brent Sutter. "You can't play that way this time of year and think you're going to have success."
Reason for Calgary’s ability to overthrow Colorado is due to their five game losing streak; Colorado has showed poor performance all season and hasn’t done any better since. Sitting 14th in the Western Conference, reaching the playoffs isn’t in
the future prospects for the Avalanche anymore.
Calgary suffered a great loss when David Moss was injured during practise on Monday, but they still have great players like Jarome Iginla and Alex Tanguay to guide them to victory. The Avalanche are missing a number of offensive and defensive players, including
star player Milan Hejduk who are out indefinitely, really dampening the teams overall performance.
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