NHL Playoffs 2011: Eastern Conference Teams with No Chance at the Cup
When we take a look at the Eastern Conference teams, we see some really mature and legendary names. Franchises like New York Rangers, Boston Bruins, Pittsburgh Penguins and Montreal Canadiens are some of the few that ring a bell almost immediately in a person’s
head when talked about.
The main thing about the Eastern Division is that it surely has disappointed its fans this season as compared to their rival conference, the West, there is hardly a team that is able to compete with anyone on the other side.
Teams who are out of postseason contention in the Western Conference have more points than teams in the East who are in the playoffs.
This does not always imply that the West will take Lord Stanley’s Cup this year.
In ice-hockey, always the unexpected should be expected, but even after giving this statement, there are still a few teams that are nearly incapable of doing anything shocking in the playoffs this time around.
Pittsburgh Penguins
Pittsburgh Penguins is without a doubt one of the greatest teams in the National Hockey League (NHL), but its performance this season has been utterly below par. Other than a few exceptions that hold them at the fourth place, Penguins would have been below
seventh place if Buffalo Sabres won this season.
Penguins might be able to handle pressure really well, especially in the first and second rounds of the playoffs and they might even make it to the conference finals, but it is very hard to imagine them winning.
Steeltown (Pittsburgh) is missing both of its legendary players, Sidney Crosby and Evegeni Malkin.
Crosby has been out since January due to concussion related problems and Malkin is out for sure until next season because of a torn ACL. Without them, the remaining roster just does not have what it takes to win the cup.
Buffalo Sabres
Under the ownership of Terry Pegula, Buffalo Sabres has reenergised and become a whole new team.
It managed to reach the playoffs this time after suffering below the border for a major part of the season, but making the postseason is one thing and winning it is another.
Sabres’ goalie, Ryan Miller, is its only real hope at an attempt right now.
Without him, it truly is nothing for now since it is missing both offensive attackers, Derek Roy and Jordan Leopold, who are to stay out for the remaining year.
Without the two attackers, Buffalo is left with just a defensive end and no shot callers.
Buffalo is close to achieving its goals, but it will still take them getting used to and preparing for a better season next time.
New York Rangers
In its conquest for the first Stanley Cup since 1994, New York Rangers has become a lot like the Basketball team, “Chicago Bulls,” that has yet to win a championship after the retirement of its legendary player, Michael Jordan.
New York Rangers faced the same issue after Wayne Gretzky left the game, as Chicago Bulls did in the absence of Magic Jordan.
When comparing the top eight teams’ stats in the Eastern Conference, Rangers is last in the field of scoring, but in its favour, it has never let a team recover after taking a lead in the second period this season.
New York needs to continue to dominate early in the game but still their goalie, Henrik Lundqvist, can do only so much until and unless the offence steps up its game up a notch or two.
Without a serious two-player offensive strategy, it will lead them out of players, quicker than they would get in.
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