NHL Playoff Races Heat Up
Anthony O'Hagan
Issue date: 2/7/08 Section: Sports
The second half of the NHL season has begun and it's also that time of year when the playoff races intensify, which is true for this year more than ever since the playoff races are extremely tight.
In the East, Ottawa is in first place while the Bruins are eighth yet they are only separated by nine points. The Thrashers and Islanders are currently on the outside looking in but they are only three points out of it.
The Rangers, who many picked to win the Stanley Cup have played inconsistent
hockey all season. They struggled scoring, having once lost back-to-back games, 1-0. However, they are surging, winning five of their last six games and are now in the seventh seed. They have won three straight games, all on the road, against playoff caliber teams, including their rally from three goals down to beat Montreal 5-3.
The Penguins are in good playoff position, yet they are frustrated for losing young star Sidney Crosby to a high ankle injury for two months. They could fade out of the playoff race.
"The Penguins need Crosby back," says James Farr, supervisor at the Utica College help desk.
Meanwhile, in the West, Detroit is separating itself from the rest of the competition as not only the top team in the conference, but in the league. Dallas, who is in second place in the conference, trails Detroit by 17 points. Ottawa, who has the second most amount of points in the league, trails Detroit by 16 points. However, people criticize Detroit since, despite being an elite team, they always choke in the early rounds of the playoffs.
UC hockey player Aaron Jeffrey, who is a native of Michigan thinks this year will be Detroit's year.
"We are much deeper this year," he proudly said. "We have the best goaltending in the league."
Just like the Pioneers hockey squad, the Red Wings operate on a two-goaltender rotation. Hasek and Osgood have each played the same amount of games and have great records and stats to show for it. It could very well be Detroit's year.
In the East, Ottawa is in first place while the Bruins are eighth yet they are only separated by nine points. The Thrashers and Islanders are currently on the outside looking in but they are only three points out of it.
The Rangers, who many picked to win the Stanley Cup have played inconsistent
hockey all season. They struggled scoring, having once lost back-to-back games, 1-0. However, they are surging, winning five of their last six games and are now in the seventh seed. They have won three straight games, all on the road, against playoff caliber teams, including their rally from three goals down to beat Montreal 5-3.
The Penguins are in good playoff position, yet they are frustrated for losing young star Sidney Crosby to a high ankle injury for two months. They could fade out of the playoff race.
"The Penguins need Crosby back," says James Farr, supervisor at the Utica College help desk.
Meanwhile, in the West, Detroit is separating itself from the rest of the competition as not only the top team in the conference, but in the league. Dallas, who is in second place in the conference, trails Detroit by 17 points. Ottawa, who has the second most amount of points in the league, trails Detroit by 16 points. However, people criticize Detroit since, despite being an elite team, they always choke in the early rounds of the playoffs.
UC hockey player Aaron Jeffrey, who is a native of Michigan thinks this year will be Detroit's year.
"We are much deeper this year," he proudly said. "We have the best goaltending in the league."
Just like the Pioneers hockey squad, the Red Wings operate on a two-goaltender rotation. Hasek and Osgood have each played the same amount of games and have great records and stats to show for it. It could very well be Detroit's year.
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