Philadelphia, PA (SportsNetwork.
Jonas Gustavsson Red Wings Jersey .com) -
Thankfully, there will be no labor disputes or Winter Olympics disrupting NHL
action this season, as the league tries to get back to normal in 2014-15. After
suffering through a lockout-shortened 2012-13 campaign, the NHL saw last season
halted for nearly a month while the league went on hiatus for the Sochi
Olympics. However, no such interruptions are expected this season and hockey
fans will even get to see the return of the NHL All-Star Game, an event that
hasnt been held since January of 2012. Dynasty is a word being thrown around
quite a bit these days thanks to the recent success experienced in Chicago and
Los Angeles, a pair of franchises with two Cup victories over the past several
seasons. Neither team is worthy of the dynasty label yet, but the race is on to
see if either club can add to its title haul in 2015. The Blackhawks won their
second Cup title in four seasons in the spring of 2013 and the Kings made it two
championships in three years back in June. The clubs battled in the Western
Conference finals in last seasons playoffs and theres a good chance that both
the West crown and the Cup could go through Chicago or L.A. yet again. The
realignment plan instituted at the start of the last season has set the West up
as the stronger of the two conferences, with the East lagging far behind. In
addition to Chicago and L.A., Anaheim, Colorado, Minnesota, St. Louis and San
Jose also have legitimate Cup dreams, but theres a solid chance theyll need to
upset either the Blackhawks or Kings in order to reach the promised land. The
top contender in the East, meanwhile, is the Boston Bruins, who won last seasons
Presidents Trophy before getting knocked out in the second round by Montreal.
The defending conference champion New York Rangers also figure to be among the
Easts top teams, while the Canadiens, Pittsburgh Penguins and Tampa Bay
Lightning also could be in the mix at seasons end. Odds are the 2015 champion
will come from the West. If that happens it would mark the conferences fifth
title since 2010, with only the 2010-11 Bruins claiming a Cup for the East so
far during the stretch. Once again the top three clubs from each of the leagues
four divisions will earn automatic bids to the playoffs, while wild card spots
account for the remaining two postseason spots in each conference. The second-
and third-place teams from each division will meet in the first round of the
playoffs. The remaining opening-round series will feature one matchup between
the division winner with the most points against the wild card with the lowest
point total and another featuring the other division winner and wild card
representative. Without further ado, its time to make predictions on which teams
are bound for the playoffs. Here it goes: EASTERN CONFERENCE ATLANTIC Boston
Bruins (champion) Tampa Bay Lightning (automatic bid) Montreal Canadiens
(automatic bid) METROPOLITAN Pittsburgh Penguins (champion) New York Rangers
(automatic bid) Columbus Blue Jackets (automatic bid) WILD CARDS New Jersey
Devils New York Islanders EASTERN CONFERENCE CHAMPION: Boston Heading into the
2014 playoffs, the Bruins were billed as the only East team with a real chance
of beating one of the Wests elite clubs in the Cup Finals. However, Claude
Juliens club didnt get the chance to test its mettle against the representatives
from the NHLs power conference as Boston fell in seven games to the rival
Montreal Canadiens in the East semifinals. The Habs downed Boston with speed in
the playoffs before the Rangers beat Montreal at its own game in the conference
finals. Both clubs obviously have the skaters to take down the Bruins again, but
Boston shouldnt be counted out due to one shaky postseason performance. The
Bruins, after all, have shown the ability to rebound from poor playoff
appearances in recent years under Julien and it could be time for them to prove
it again. Boston won the Stanley Cup in 2011 just one year removed from a
monumental 0-3 collapse against Philadelphia in the 2010 playoffs. Then after
getting bounced by Washington in the first round of the 2012 playoffs, the Bs
went on to face the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2013 Cup Finals before ultimately
falling in six games. Juliens system, which puts an emphasis on responsible team
defense, is the major reason Boston is still a threat. Steady on-ice leaders
like star defenseman Zdeno Chara and versatile centerman Patrice Bergeron make
sure the team sticks to the plan, and having reigning Vezina Trophy winner
Tuukka Rask between the pipes doesnt hurt either. The Bruins may not be able to
stop the trend of Western Conference dominance in the end, but a return to the
Cup Finals is well within Bostons reach. WESTERN CONFERENCE CENTRAL St. Louis
Blues (champion) Chicago Blackhawks (automatic bid) Minnesota Wild (automatic
bid) PACIFIC Anaheim Ducks (champion) Los Angeles Kings (automatic bid) San Jose
Sharks (automatic bid) WILD CARDS Colorado Avalanche Dallas Stars WESTERN
CONFERENCE/STANLEY CUP CHAMPION: Chicago Blackhawks No team has been able to
claim consecutive Cups since Detroit pulled off the repeat in 1997 and 98, but
the Kings are a serious threat to supplant the Red Wings as the most recent
back-to-back champions. Of course, the Blackhawks figure to be the biggest
obstacle standing in the way of a second straight L.A. title. Chicago not only
pushed the Kings to the limit in last springs classic Western Conference finals
battle, it also carried a 4-3 edge into the third period of Game 7 before L.A.
rallied for a 5-4 OT victory in the Windy City. The Blackhawks and Kings are
similar in many ways. They boast two of the NHLs deepest rosters with star
players littered throughout and both clubs are used to dominating the opposition
when it comes to puck possession. Chicago seems to own a slight edge in overall
defensive depth, but Kings blueliner Drew Doughty appeared to be the biggest
difference maker during last years playoff battle. L.A. goaltender Jonathan
Quick also is a better regarded goaltender than Chicagos Corey Crawford, but
both players have proven themselves capable of anchoring a Cup-winning team.
When two teams match up this closely with one another, intangible factors can
often tip the balance in one clubs favor. What L.A. did in last years playoffs
was amazing, but the Kings did receive their share of puck luck along the way
and theres a good chance it could run out in 2015. Darryl Sutters resilient club
deserves credit for rallying from down 3-0 to beat San Jose in Round 1 last
spring and coming back from a 3-2 deficit to eliminate Anaheim in the conference
semis before outlasting Chicago, but a few bounces the other way easily could
have ended L.A.s title hopes prematurely. After the Kings magical run to the Cup
in 2014, it isnt crazy to think the Blackhawks will have luck on their side this
time. One thing is clear: as hockey fans, wed all be lucky to see another
Western Conference battle between Chicago and L.A. The race to claim a dynasty
is on, and in 2014-15 it could be Chicagos turn to take another lap with Lord
Stanleys Cup.
Mike Green Red Wings Jersey Authentic . The
pair ended pointless droughts when they each scored two goals in a 6-4 victory
over the Winnipeg Jets that halted a two-game losing skid for the Stars
(15-11-5).
Teemu Pulkkinen Red Wings Jersey Authentic .
The Swede became the first golfer to win the PGA Tours FedEx Cup and European
Tours Race to Dubai in the same season. "It is still taking a little time to
sink in what Ive achieved this week as was the case when I won the FedEx Cup but
then it just kept getting better and better as the days went on and I am sure
this will be the same," he said.HAMILTON, Ont. -- After 10 seasons with the
Hamilton Tiger-Cats, offensive lineman Marwan Hage announced his retirement
Monday rather than accept a spot with the expansion Ottawa Redblacks. The former
CFL all-star dressed for 141 regular-season games and six playoff games over his
career. "I am incredibly thankful to have the chance to play 10 years in the
Canadian Football League," Hage said in a release. "My career has provided me
with a lifetime full of memories and relationships that I will cherish for the
rest of my life." The 32-year-old centre was left unprotected in the Ottawa
expansion draft. Hage was born in Lebanon but grew up in Montreal. He was
selected by Hamilton with tthe 14th overall pick in the 2004 CFL Draft and was a
CFL all-star in 2010 and a two-time East Division all-star (07, 10).
Gordie Howe Red Wings Jersey Authentic. Hage
was presented with the CFLs Tom Pate Memorial Award in 2009 in recognition of
his philanthropic efforts in Hamilton. He was also named to the all-time Ticats
team in 2012. "Marwan has been a true professional and an exceptional
representative of the Tiger-Cats since his arrival in Hamilton," said team
president Scott Mitchell. "He has been a tremendous presence on the field, in
the locker-room and in our community. "We look forward to working with Marwan
for years to come and congratulate him on an outstanding playing career."
Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys China Cheap Jerseys From China Cheap NFL Jerseys Authentic Wholesale Jerseys China Cheap NFL Jerseys China NFL Cheap Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys ' ' '
The Wall