Franchise history regarding post-season play
The Gretzky Conference:
Bruins:
Play-off appearances: 3
2003 – Stanley Cup Champs
2004 – Stanley Cup Finals
2005 – Stanley Cup Champs
Again the champs are the team to beat. Play –off appearances speak for themselves.
Habs:
Play-off appearances:
2005 – Habs won the first series beating the Rangers 4 games to one. Then bowing out to the Sens in a 7th game.
Habs sit 5 points out, and have two teams to leapfrog. Can it be done…. sure can with thirteen games left. Its going to be a tough fight from the six – ten teams in the gretz. Can Esche carry the Habs to the promise land? After missing the play-offs the first two seasons, and tasting victory last year. I am sure there is a lot of pressure in Hab land to make the playoffs, where anything can happen.
Capitals:
Play-off appearances: 2
2004 – Lost first round to the Rangers in five games
2005 – Lost first round to the Thrash in four games
With one play-off win under their belt, and the Caps as spectators in this years dance. The fans in Washington are getting restless. Although with a few young superstars in the waiting the future may be bright in Washington.
Devils:
Play-off appearances: 1
2003 – Lost first round to the Canes in seven games
The Devils missed the play offs the past two years, make it three. Tickets are getting hard to sell in the swamp.
Flyers:
Play-off appearances: 1
2004 – Lost in the first round to the Sabres in five games
The Flyers, strangers to the play off picture will watch from the side once again. Noops seems to have the franchise rolling in the right direction, so maybe we shall see the Flyers in the near future.
Hurricanes:
Play-off appearances: 2
2003 – Defeated the Devils in the first round. Lost to the Panthers in five games in the second round
2005 – Lost in the first round to the Bruins in five games
The Canes are in a dogfight in that Gretz pack of six teams. The Canes hold their own fate as they currently hold one of those spots. I look to the Canes to play spoilers in this years play offs and have the team to do it, with a mix of play off players and goal scorers. It will be a tough road, but the Canes play well on the road.
Islanders:
Play-off appearances: 1
2004 – Lost in the first round to the Thrashers in seven games
Islanders missed the play offs on the last day of the year last season by a tie going to a tie breaker with the Caps. This year is shaping up to be the same fait. Can the Isles get that extra point this year.. There are a lot of good teams they have to catch… the race is on!!
Leafs:
Play-off appearances: 3
2003 – Defeated the Thrash in the first round in six games. Lost to the Bruins in the second round in five games
2004 – Lost in the first round to the Bruins in six games
2005 - Lost in the first round to the Senators in five games
Leafs will miss the play offs for the first time in CPHL history. A sad day for leaf fans but they have a good team and should re enter the picture next season.
Lightning:
Play-off appearances: 0
Make that four straight years with out the Lightning in the show. And in a very tough conference, it may be a few years before the Lightning make their noise. Droopy will get that franchise there, just not this year.
Nords:
Play-off appearances: 0
I guess the Jets killed the saying “well they are an expansion team”. Nords are making huge strides, maybe next year.
Panthers:
Play-off appearances: 1
2003 – Swept the Pens in the first round. Defeated the Canes in the second round in five games. Lost to the bruins in the third round in six games.
Panthers have not made the show sense 2003. They have an awesome club over there and should case some havoc this year. Panther fans are excited! Good job MJK.
Pens:
Play-off appearances: 1
2003 – Swept by the Panthers in the first round
Like the Panthers it’s the Pens first appearance sense 2003. And like the Panthers they have a team that could carry them far. Pens fans are also excited.. Good job Goffie:
Rangers:
Play-off appearances: 2
2004 – Defeated the Caps in the first round in five games. Lost to the Bruins in seven games in round two
2005 – Lost in the first round to the Habs in five games.
The Rangers are in. After the quick exit last year, at the hands of the Habs. You know the Rangers will be coming to play. Can they do damage in a tough conference……. I think so ……… cant wait to find out!
Sabres:
Play-off appearances: 2
2003 – Swept in the first round by the Bruins.
2004 – Defeated the Flyers in the first round in five games. Lost to the Thrash in the second round.
The Sabres are holding a spot and look to have a good grip on it. It seems sense they entered the play offs two years ago. The Sabres find a way to improve. It will take some good hockey to make it through the Gretz, but the Sabres have a team to do it.
Sens:
Play-off appearances: 1
2005 – Defeated the Leafs in the first round. Defeated the Habs in the second round. Lost to the Bruins in six games in the third round.
The Sens faired very well in the play offs last year and look to improve on that this year. The Sens are for real and have to be one of the favorites to go the distance this year.
Thrashers:
Play-off appearances: 3
2003 – Lost in the first round to the Leafs in seven games
2004 – Defeated the Islanders in the first round. defeated the Sabres in the second round. Lost to the Bruins in the third round
2005 – Swept the Caps in the first round, and got swept by the Bruins in the second round.
The Thrash have to be the favorite going into this years play offs….. but a tough road going through the Gretz…. No easy games there. Not many weaknesses in the Thrash Armour
Whooo this is going to be tough race to the finish, with lots of very close play off match ups…. Ohhhh lets get it going!.
Post season history - Gretz
