NHL playoff hopefuls and their key players-NHL Part Two
The right squad balance is essential for all the teams who are in the race for the playoffs of the National Hockey League (NHL) to make sure they remain on the course until very end and avoid the possibility of meltdown at any stage.
This is something to have happened to the Colorado Avalanche,
a year earlier, and to avoid it happening again, the team has strengthened the squad at certain positions.
Like other teams, Avalanche have traded some of its players in exchange for better ones, hoping to help their chances of making it to the second round of the league.
The Colorado Avalanche will be much dependent on the contribution from the
goaltender, Semyon Varlamov.
He was taken on the board as a result of a trade deal with the Caps in last summer, and since then he has proved his metal at the team.
The Dallas Stars are another team who expect the netminder,
Kari Lehtonen, to be in his best form. Lehtonen has remained very effective protecting the net throughout the season, and has allowed fewer goals as compared to some of their competitors.
Joe Nieuwendyk, the general manager, has shown faith in
Lehtonen and left the team’s roster unchanged.
Stars with 19 more games to play this season have so far remained on the course to playoff. They are the team, which most likely to be consistent on the opportunity of playing the post-regular season.
The Toronto Maple Leafs are too aiming for the playoffs this year. If they make it to the round, it will be for the first time for them since their last berth in 2004.
In the pursuit, the team has decided to bet on the old horses, meaning they did not trade for any of their players.
A strong offence is key to their victories, and the player who matters the most is the
forward, Phil Kessel.
Kessel has scored 31 goals in 62 games, and he will need to improve the run to help his side make it to the postseason.
Earlier, the GM, Brian Burke, spoke of the team’s ability of reaching to playoffs and that
Kessel along with other players will be key to their performance for rest of the season.
Joffrey Lupul, who is the second leading scorer from the team, is equally important for the team’s offence line.
It is not clear if Lupul will be hundred per cent on his fitness as he lately was seen wearing a soft cast on his wrist, which has cast doubts over his fitness.
None of the team officials has said anything around the injury of the player, and the situation has led to beliefs that he will be available without any interruption.
The Philadelphia Flyers, are leading the contentions for playoffs, and the goaltender,
Ilya Bryzgalov, will be key to fulfilling of their ambitions.
Flyers are concerned about his recent form. It is very rare for the player to see his goal saving ratio above the level of 900 since October 2011.
His poor performance stands probably the only or leading factor behind Flyers rating slump. They are the team well capable of reaching and retaining top position on the East Conference table, but have come down to rank at fifth.
This has not affected their chances for the playoffs but it could be a possibility if the netminder persistently fails in front of the net.
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