Which Teams will not be making the Playoffs and Why -NHL Special Part 2
Toronto Maple Leafs
As surprising as it might sound, Toronto Maple Leafs will definitely not be making the 2012 National Hockey League (NHL) playoffs as one of the best teams in the league is unable to find that click in their matchups that may lead them to some wins.
If Toronto could manage to not do what they did back in February and have been doing up until now, the Maple Leafs would have surely been one of the leading teams in the Eastern Conference.
Losing back-to-back and winning just one in between has set them back in a major way, with them now being at the point of no return.
Maple Leafs ended off the month of February with six straight losses and are one for six in their matchups during March up until now, which should be more than enough to judge where they will be in less than a month’s time.
Despite having some big name players like Phil Kessel, Dion Phaneuf and a goalie like James Reimer, Toronto has been playing like a minor league team and they definitely do not deserve a spot on the prestigious playoffs roster.
Seeing some major changes in the line-up and even management should be expected during the offseason as they sit idle.
Anaheim Ducks
With Teemu Selanne on board for his potentially last season in the North American major league, the Anaheim Ducks were looking like a team that would go all out to get their veteran player his final Stanley Cup championship, but the situation has turned
out to be what was least expected.
An All-Star line-up consisting of players like Ryan Getzlaf, Bobby Ryan, Corey Perry, Jonas Hiller and not to mention Teemu Selanne, Anaheim should be winning matches like they were a piece of cake.
Instead, Ducks have become one of the lowest ranked teams in the league all of a sudden due to some major slumps and lose when their team seems to be just about ready to take the match.
They are three for seven in March and are not expected to get any better when it comes to taking on teams like the St. Louis Blues, San Jose Sharks and Boston Bruins in their upcoming contests.
Virtually looking at it, Anaheim has more than enough time grab that final playoff spot as the Ducks stand at the 12th spot with 75 points, 10 points behind tying eighth place Colorado Avalanche, but it should not be expected.
San Jose Sharks
This name might come as a surprise for most fans, but San Jose Sharks are not looking like a playoff team at all this 2011-2012 NHL regular season.
Having finished off the past two seasons back-to-back in the top ranks of the Western Conference and reaching the conference finals as well both times, San Jose seems to have finally lost that dedication that led them to giving it their all in every game.
It is not that San Jose is far behind the playoff line, but rather, Sharks are just a point or two away from the final playoff spot, but with teams like Calgary Flames and Los Angeles Kings right on their tail, it just seems too tough for them to handle.
Having the Sharks ousted from the playoffs just might be one of the biggest disappointments this season, but unfortunately, it seems to be a reality not far away.
To be continued in part 3...
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