The Red Wings, Canadiens, Stars, Sharks, and Penguins comprise our top five teams. Where do the Leafs, Rangers, Kings, and the other 22 teams of the NHL rank?
The 2008-09 NHL season will kick off on Oct. 4 when the Rangers and Lightning do battle in Prague, and the Penguins and Senators face off in Stockholm, which means you have just a few weeks left to prepare for your fantasy draft.
“It isn’t tennis, I can tell you that much!” xxclaimed one local observer who, out of embarrassment, wished to remain anonymous. “They both just kinda…push the ball over the net, you know?"
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By Christopher Reina
10. Canucks 2-Ducks 1, 2OT, Game 2
With the Ducks coming in as the favorites, the Canucks stole Game 2 to take home ice advantage in a double-overtime thriller. Jeff Cowan scored with an assist from Trevor Linden to send the club back to Vancouver with all the momentum and very little of what was to come.
9. Sabres 3-Rangers 2, Game 2
The Sabres came into their Conference Semifinal match-up against their in-state rival Rangers as heavy favorites, but the Blueshirts nearly stole the home ice advantage in Game 2.
Martin Straka and Paul Mara got the Rangers out ahead of Buffalo 2-1 heading into the 3rd period, but possible future-Ranger Chris Drury scored a tying goal almost immediately in the final period.
This was Henrik Lundqvist’s most disappointing performance, giving up three goals on just 18 shots.
8. Devils 3-Senators 2, 2OT, Game 2
The great Dany Heatley tied the score at two with 27 seconds remaining in regulation to send the game into overtime. With the Senators already the winners of Game 1, the Devils needed Game 2 in order to have any shot at staying in the series. After a gritty first overtime, Jamie Langenbrunner scored just minutes into the second session.
7. Ducks 3-Canucks 2, OT, Game 4
In what became a fast series, Game 4 was the one that got away from the great Roberto Luongo. Vancouver took a 2-0 lead into the third period, but Chris Pronger scored one early and Teemu Selanne scored the game tying goal.
It didn’t take long for the Ducks to take complete control of the series when Travis Moen scored his third goal of the playoffs.
6. Rangers 2-Sabres 1, Game 3
In another game with great performances by Lundqvist and Ryan Miller, the Rangers got an overtime goal from Michal Rozsival to bring the series to 2-1.
5. Ducks 2-Canucks 1, 2OT, Game 5
Vancouver was on the wall trailing 3-1 in the series and 1-0 in the game, but Alex Burrows third period goal forced overtime. The first session wasn’t enough and Scott Niedermayer scored an unassisted goal to give the Ducks the win and the series.
4. Red Wings 3-Sharks 2, Game 2
In what became a theme of this series, the Red Wings received two third period goals to help the club bounce back from an early 2-0 deficeit.
3. Rangers 2-Sabres 1, Game 4
Lundqvist barely managed to stop a Daniel Briere shot with just seconds remaining in the Rangers’ 2-1 victory at Madison Square Garden. Officials examined the controversial shot for several minutes before ruling that the evidence was inconclusive so the call on the ice stood.
If Briere’s goal would have counted, goals by Jaromir Jagr and Brendan Shanahan that put the Rangers out ahead 2-0 would have been for naught.
2. Red Wings 3-Sharks 2, OT Game 4
The Sharks were just 34 seconds away from taking a 3-1 series lead, but Robert Lang beat Nabokov to send the game into overtime.
San Jose was deflated and with Mathieu Schneider’s goal in overtime, Detroit evened the series and didn’t lose again.
1. Sabres 2-Rangers 1, OT, Game 5
Lundqvist was just eight seconds from a shutout which would have sent the Rangers back to Manhattan with a 3-2 series lead, but once again Drury hit a big shot to send the game into overtime.
The heartbreak was with the Rangers and the momentum with the Sabres, as Maxim Afinogenov scored a power play goal just 4:39 into the overtime session.
Suddenly, the Sabres looked like near locks to advance to the Conference Finals, which they did on Sunday in Game 6.
