| Scott Essman. 23rd April, 2008 - 11:12 am
 The Anaheim Ducks didn't necessarily lose in the first round of the 2008 NHL playoffs, failing to come close to repeating as league champions because they weren't good enough. In fact, this Ducks' team was on par with last year's elite team. Instead, they ran into a loaded Dallas Stars' team, one of many who are now up to the task of potentially winning a Stanley Cup.
Last year's Ducks closely resembled this year's Ducks with perhaps a bit more age on some elder players. But they were infused with great new talent to balance the veterans who might be a step slower. No, the reason that the Ducks lost is equal to the reasons that other good hockey teams have lost in this opening round: parity.
Among the remaining teams, nearly all of them are possible Cup champs come May/June. Certainly, Detroit, Pittsburgh, Montreal, and, yes, Dallas should be strongly considered as heirs to the throne, but so are the winners of the Philadelphia, San Jose, and the NY Rangers.
All showed strength and versatility in their opening round, all of which were hard fought. When the Rangers dispatched an again-mighty Devils' team, few predicted the outcome. All games were closely challenged. Even the Colorado Avalanche, perennial winners, were underdogs in their series before dispatching with the favored Minnesota Wild.
Hockey analysts and longtime observers can make predictions from here on out, but the truth is that nearly every team is a possible victor in the remaining series. After the Ducks fall to Dallas, seemingly anything is possible. |
