The NHL’s oldest and most storied franchise has qualified for the 2008 Stanley cup playoffs. They did got their pass on Monday when beating the Ottawa Senators. The Canadiens are five wins away from matching the number of wins they had when they won the Stanley Cup fifteen years ago. In that season, teams played 84 games, the actual format of 82 was adopted in the 1995-96 season. It will be interesting to see if the Canadiens will start the playoffs in first, second or fourth in the East. With a first place or second place finish, the Habs could possibly meet either Boston or Philadelphia, two that have been manhandled by Les Glorieux all season.
For the Red Wings, up until a month ago, the season had just been routine, an another day at the office. As I write this, the Wings first place parking spot is not as safe, as the San Jose Sharks, are only 8 points out of first, and have a game in hand. The Detroit team has not missed playoffs since the 1989-90 season. They won three Stanley Cups during Scotty Bowman’s nine years as bench boss.
The Pittsburgh Penguins have made the playoffs for a second consecutive season since the end of the lock-out. Before last season’s appearance, they had missed them four consecutive seasons, not including the cancelled season. They are in a deep three way race to finish first in the Eastern conference with the Montreal Canadiens and the New Jersey Devils.
The San Jose Sharks with a surprising 10 game winning streak, is within striking range of first place with the Detroit Red Wings. Under the coaching of Ron Wilson the Sharks have not missed the playoffs, they made a good run in 2003-04 against the Calgary Flames. They have lost in the second round in previous two appearances. Could this be the year of the Shark ?
The Ottawa Senators, New Jersey Devils and the New York Rangers could very well get invitations to the playoffs in the next week or less, but most likely, as it has been since the end of the lock out, will be a tight race until April 6th, the final day of season. Invitations could as well go out to Anaheim, the cup champions, Dallas and Minnesota. Vancouver, Colorado, Nashville and Edmonton will most likely fight it out until the end for spots 5 thru 8 in the Western conference. It will most likely be the same in the East between the Rangers, Flyers, Bruins and the Capitals. These guys have less than two weeks to settle all, as the playoffs start April 9th.
