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Time for a show of hands. Who correctly predicted the NHL's "final four" before the playoffs began? Nobody? Well, that's not a surprise.
To say the least, the 2006 playoff race has been unpredictable. Highly-favored teams have fallen — swept, even — to their underdog opponents. The further the playoffs have progressed, the more of a guessing game it's become. It's refreshing for veteran hockey fans and exciting for those just tuning in ... or is it?
Though the outcomes have been shocking in some instances, it seems that many matchups in this year's playoff race have been very lopsided. One would think that a salary cap would create a tougher set of series bound to end in Game 7s, but for the most part, that hasn't been the case. Maybe the tables have been turned so that the more popular NHL franchises no longer hog the spotlight. Maybe it's an indication that the NHL is still muddling through changes after the Collective Bargaining Agreement. Or, maybe it's too soon to tell.
Is the new NHL more competitive, exciting, and fun to watch? Consider these moments from the playoffs thus far and make the call.
Edmonton Takes Detroit in Five
For a team that just barely squeaked into the playoffs, Edmonton sure made a statement in the Western Conference Quarterfinals. Stacked against the President's Trophy winners, the Edmonton Oilers were predicted to be squashed by the older, wiser, and more experienced Detroit Red Wings. That prediction couldn't have been any more wrong: Edmonton took everyone — even themselves — by surprise when they won the series in five games.
San Jose vs. Edmonton
These two hungry, eager, and very evenly-matched teams met for the most competitive series in the Stanley Cup run thus far. San Jose, who pushed their way into the playoffs in the last month of the regular season, was still thriving in their "get it done now" mentality.
Similarly, Edmonton was coming off of a similar state of mind after taking the Detroit Red Wings by storm. Ultimately, the Oilers had more energy and momentum on their side. Even LW Ville Nieminen of the Sharks, known for his grit, said, "The Edmonton Oilers were a littler bigger, a little stronger and a little more physical." But San Jose didn't hand them the series by any means, giving Edmonton a heck of a dogfight the whole way through.
New Jersey's Short Surge
Consistently regarded in favor with fans and critics, New Jersey is one of those teams that is always expected to achieve high. Never mind the fact that New Jersey nearly missed the playoffs altogether — that didn't matter when New Jersey easily defeated the New York Rangers, sans Jaromir Jagr, in round one. In the semifinals, however, Carolina showed the Devils who was boss, spanking them with a 6-0 shutout in Game 1, on Martin Brodeur's birthday, no less. Four games later, the Hurricanes closed the series on a strong note while the Devils were left to plan their tee times.
Colorado's Surprising Victory Over Dallas
The Colorado Avalanche played the quarterfinals as though the presentation of Lord Stanley would happen right after each game. They came out hungry and energetic, completely dominating the Dallas Stars. What ultimately won the five-game series, however, was the Avs' ability to score in overtime — three games were settled after regulation. A superb 50-save performance by Jose Theodore kept the Avalanche alive against the desperate Stars, and Andrew Brunette sealed the series 13:55 in overtime.
Anaheim's Sweep of Colorado
The tables were turned for the Avs in round two. After nearly sweeping the Stars, the Avs found themselves swept against Anaheim. The energy of the Avalanche offense found itself blanked against little-known G Ilya Bryzgalov, backup to Jean-Sebastian Giguere. In the meantime, Ducks RW Teemu Selanne skated all over his former teammates, while Jose Theodore struggled in the Avalanche net. The lopsidedness of this series shouldn't have occurred, but Colorado's uninspired play made it a quick one.
Buffalo's Appearance in the Eastern Finals
Since losing to Dallas in the 1999 Stanley Cup Finals, Buffalo has been aching for a comeback. This year, they got it. After a season of ups and downs, Buffalo's postseason seemed uncertain. A tidy victory over Philadelphia set the tone in round one, and a win over top-ranked Ottawa in round two raised a few eyebrows. Nevertheless, the Sabres entered the Eastern Conference Finals as underdogs against the Carolina Hurricanes. Now, with a series of injuries plaguing the Sabres' defense, the series is tied at two. This series could easily finish on an emotional Game 7, regardless of who wins.
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