Gretzky in the bag?

[Cheese]

Maybe not 100% but very close to a wrap!!! With 12-14 games left per team I think we can safely say that as it sits right now only the Islanders and perhaps the Canadiens have a shot at moving into the top 8. Certainly the top 4 teams, and maybe the top 6 have cemented a spot in the playoffs….but not a final position.

The Gretzky will see teams shuffling spots in the 2-8 slots. Will home ice matter? To a team like the Panthers maybe not….but they are sitting firmly in home ice position as of today (Feb 22, 06). Does that suggest an early upset? 5th place to 9th place in the Gretzky Conference will be a juggle to the final day of the season with only 5 points separating the teams and the Canadiens holding on only 5 points out of 8th. I think that the Canadiens chances are almost slim to none…with slim holding the highest chance at this point….but stranger things have happened!

The Thrashers, Bruins, Panthers and Pens seem to be on cruise control….that may hurt all of them early in the playoffs.

Below the standings I have copied the teams final Matchups to see who has the toughest road…and who might have an easier time. Head to Head matchups within the Gretzky Conference may be the determining factor!

GRETZKY Conference

xTHRASHERS 74 53 18 3 0 109
BRUINS 72 44 23 5 3 96
PANTHERS 73 43 27 3 3 92
PENGUINS 74 41 25 7 0 89
RANGERS 72 39 28 7 0 85
SENATORS 73 39 28 5 1 84
SABRES 73 37 31 5 4 83
HURRICANES 74 38 32 4 2 82

ISLANDERS 74 32 30 12 4 80
CANADIENS 73 33 32 8 3 77

LEAFS 73 27 41 5 5 64
FLYERS 73 26 42 5 1 58
DEVILS 74 23 43 8 3 57
CAPITALS 74 23 43 8 1 55
NORDIQUE 73 19 45 9 2 49
LIGHTNING 74 18 52 4 3 43

Ranger Matchups

Team W L T Left (GF-GA)
CANADIENS 0- 1- 0 ( 1) ( 1- 2)
CAPITALS 2- 0- 0 ( 2) ( 9- 2)
DUCKS 2- 2- 0 ( 1) (11-15)
FLAMES 1- 1- 0 ( 1) ( 7- 8)
ISLANDERS 0- 1- 1 ( 2) ( 4- 5)
KINGS 1- 1- 0 ( 1) ( 6- 4)
OILERS 0- 1- 1 ( 1) ( 4- 7)
SABRES 0- 1- 0 ( 1) ( 1- 2)
SHARKS 0- 1- 0 ( 2) ( 4- 5)

Rangers have 8 games out of their last 12 against non-playoff teams.

Senator Matchups

Team W L T Left (GF-GA)
BLUES 2- 0- 0 ( 1) ( 7- 1)
BRUINS 1- 1- 0 ( 2) ( 4- 7)
FLYERS 0- 1- 0 ( 1) ( 2- 4)
HURRICANES 1- 1- 0 ( 2) ( 5- 4)
ISLANDERS 1- 0- 0 ( 1) ( 4- 2)
JACKETS 1- 1- 0 ( 1) (10-10)
LEAFS 1- 2- 0 ( 1) (18-14)
LIGHTNING 1- 0- 0 ( 1) ( 7- 1)
PANTHERS 0- 0- 1 ( 1) ( 1- 1)
SABRES 2- 0- 1 ( 1) (10- 6)
WILD 2- 0- 0 ( 1) ( 8- 1)
WINGS 0- 2- 0 ( 1) ( 3- 6)

Senators have 6 games out of their last 14 against non-playoff teams.

Sabre Matchups

Team W L T Left (GF-GA)
BRUINS 0- 2- 0 ( 2) ( 4-10)
CANADIENS 2- 1- 0 ( 1) (12- 6)
JETS 0- 0- 0 ( 2) ( 0- 0)
LEAFS 3- 0- 0 ( 1) (11- 7)
NORDIQUE 1- 1- 0 ( 2) ( 5- 4)
PANTHERS 0- 1- 0 ( 1) ( 4- 5)
RANGERS 1- 0- 0 ( 1) ( 2- 1)
SENATORS 0- 2- 1 ( 1) ( 6-10)
WINGS 1- 0- 0 ( 2) ( 3- 1)

Sabres have 4 games out of their last 13 against non-playoff teams.

Hurricane Matchups

Team W L T Left (GF-GA)
AVALANCHE 1- 0- 0 ( 2) ( 5- 2)
CANADIENS 0- 2- 0 ( 2) ( 2-13)
FLAMES 0- 0- 1 ( 1) ( 2- 2)
HAWKS 1- 0- 0 ( 2) ( 5- 4)
PENGUINS 1- 1- 0 ( 2) ( 4- 5)
SENATORS 1- 1- 0 ( 2) ( 4- 5)
WILD 0- 2- 0 ( 1) ( 4- 8)

Hurricanes have 6 games out of their last 12 against non-playoff teams.



Islander Matchups

Team W L T Left (GF-GA)
BRUINS 1- 0- 0 ( 1) ( 3- 2)
DUCKS 2- 0- 0 ( 1) ( 8- 5)
FLAMES 2- 0- 0 ( 1) ( 9- 5)
FLYERS 1- 0- 2 ( 1) (16- 8)
JETS 1- 0- 0 ( 2) ( 4- 3)
KINGS 0- 3- 2 ( 1) (13-17)
PANTHERS 2- 1- 0 ( 1) (10- 6)
PENGUINS 0- 1- 0 ( 1) ( 2- 3)
RANGERS 1- 0- 1 ( 2) ( 5- 4)
SENATORS 0- 1- 0 ( 1) ( 2- 4)

Islanders have 2 games out of their last 12 against non-playoff teams.

Canadiens Matchups

Team W L T Left (GF-GA)
BLUES 1- 1- 0 ( 1) ( 8- 5)
BRUINS 1- 2- 0 ( 1) ( 9- 9)
CAPITALS 1- 0- 0 ( 1) ( 5- 3)
FLYERS 1- 0- 0 ( 1) ( 5- 4)
HURRICANES 2- 0- 0 ( 2) (13- 2)
JETS 1- 0- 0 ( 1) ( 5- 4)
LIGHTNING 1- 0- 0 ( 1) ( 3- 1)
OILERS 0- 1- 0 ( 1) ( 0- 1)
RANGERS 1- 0- 0 ( 1) ( 2- 1)
SABRES 1- 2- 0 ( 1) ( 6-12)
WILD 1- 1- 0 ( 1) ( 9- 4)
WINGS 1- 0- 1 ( 1) ( 8- 5)

Canadiens have 4 games out of their last 13 against non-playoff teams.

[Mango]

This conference seems more cut and dry than the Howe. Nonetheless, it should also have an interesting finish.

Another solid write up Cheese!

[HelloHockeyFans]

This will be two seasons in a row it has come down to the last game for my Islanders.

Things are close, and of our last 12 games, only three are against teams we have a losing record against this season.

Should be quite the finish. Not ever a good idea, but it's looking like the Islanders' post season chances will rely more on how other teams do.

[Flickered Flame]

Isles Suck!

[Radically Red]

Solid work cheese...

[Goffie]

Very intresting...good work Cheese!!

[HelloHockeyFans]

Originally Posted by Flickered Flame

Isles Suck!

[Rink Rat]

Gretz Play-off predictions.... Feb 22 (dont bet on it)

First Round


( 8 ) Sabres @ ( 1 ) Thrashers

Thrash won the season series two games to zero, outscoring the Sabres 10 – 3. First game the Thrash shut out the Sabres 6 –0. The second meeting only a week ago was much closer. If the last game has any indication on how this series would play out, it will be much closer than meets the eye. Game 1135 the final game between the two clubs, the Sabres kept the Thrash to only 20 shots and stayed out of the penalty box as the Thrash where 0 for 0 on the PP. It was a 4 – 3 victory for the Thrash. If the Sabres would like to see a game five, they will need to do the same; play good defense and stay out of the box.

Prediction: Trash in four games


( 7 ) Rangers @ ( 2 ) Bruins



Bruins won the season series two games to zero. Outscoring the Rangers 9 – 5. Including a 5 – 2 last night in Boston. This would be a very interesting series as the Rangers play good defense and can score with the best. Although the Rangers would need a spectacular performance Roloson to attempt to dethrone the Champs.

Prediction: Bruins in five games

( 6 ) Hurricanes @ ( 3 ) Panthers

Panthers and Canes split the season series one game each, Canes won three to one in Florida, Panthers won six – three in Carolina. It would appear both teams enjoy playing on the road; both teams can score with the likes of Ovechkin, Nash, Satan and Richards. It could come down to Nabokov vs. Aebischer. Either way this would be a very good series.

Prediction: Canes in seven games

( 5 ) Penguins @ ( 4 ) Senators

Sens are a strong team who is going to give any team they play a hard time. This would be a very good match up for us to watch. The Pens are the most improved team this year and would like to make some noise I am sure. The Sens with the acquisition of big Joe Thornton makes them very dangerous. The Senators won the season series three games to one. It would appear TheOdore will be missing come game time and that only hurts the Pens chances, as the Sens boast a good tender of their own.

Prediction: Sens in six games


Second Round



( 6 ) Hurricanes @ ( 1 ) Thrash

Canes are in tough here; The Canes will look to their young all star goaltender Aebischer for the series of his life. Thrash at the top of almost every CPHL stat that counts, and a GM known for getting there. The two clubs split the season series with a win apiece, with both teams winning on the road. It’s hard to imagine the Thrash out in the second round, but very possible here. And predictions would be no fun to take he Thrash

Prediction: Canes in six games

( 4 ) Senators @ ( 2 ) Bruins

Now this would be awesome, two teams that could go all the way. The SIM seems to like that Bruin logo. Both teams split the season series so far one game apiece, with two more good games on tap. Both teams sport a solid offense and a very strong defense. The Bruins ended the Sens trip last year in the semi-finals, and will do it again but this time in the quarters, but it will take all seven games with an OT or two to do it. This would be an awesome series …… Ohhhhh I cant wait!

Prediction: Bruins in six games

Gretzky Finals


( 6 ) Hurricanes @ ( 2 ) Bruins

So we have the Canes going through the Panthers, Thrashers and now Bruins. Wow! whom ever does get to the gretz finals, hats off to you, you had to go through some very tough teams. The Bruins can’t go to the finals four years in a row ….can they? No way the Canes will chop them down. Oh ya the season series between the Canes and bruins is tied at two games apiece, with the Bruins outscoring the Canes 15 – 14.

Prediction to represent the Gretz Conferense: Canes

Stanley Cup?



Hurricanes Vs. Oilers (of course)



Well there you have it ……. Predictions from a rink rat

Anyway you slice it…….. it’s going to be a great battle, and good luck to all the Gretz teams. You are going to need it…… that’s one tough conference.