Could be the Jackets vs the Hawks.

Ryan Johnasen is a nice player.
- RickJ

Still a few more road games left and if they get there the Jackets deserve it.

Coyotes Edge Hawks 3-2 in Shootout - Possible 1st round opponent? http://hockeyindependent....m/blog/al-cimaglia/51059/ …

Turnover by Pavelski and Johansen SNIPES past Niemi with :90 ticks left in reg...Bjacks are DANGEROUS
- philco28

Jackets only have two games left...Wings still have 4...and Minni is falling like crazy they could be #8 or out...that'd look great for Leopold who signed Parise and Suter for all that coin and then cried poor during the lockout.

David vs Goliath...think we can handle 'em but would be HARD FOUGHT...they HUNGRY
- philco28

A Blue Jackets/Hawks series could look a lot like the Predators/Hawks series during the '10 Cup run.

A Blue Jackets/Hawks series could look a lot like the Predators/Hawks series during the '10 Cup run.
- EKolb13

Great great comparison.

Great great comparison.
- mrpaulish

Thanks Matt...I do what I can.

Jackets only have two games left...Wings still have 4...and Minni is falling like crazy they could be #8 or out...that'd look great for Leopold who signed Parise and Suter for all that coin and then cried poor during the lockout.
- DK002

Karma can be a beotch...

Not to forget the Flyers trying to grab Weber from Nashville.....Philly has had a rough go too.

Coyotes Edge Hawks 3-2 in Shootout - Possible 1st round opponent? http://hockeyindependent....m/blog/al-cimaglia/51059/ …

Could be the Jackets vs the Hawks.

Ryan Johnasen is a nice player.
- RickJ

It really could be. They might even catch minny for 7th. Minny is dropping fast. Tied with minny now with minny having a game in hand, though. Who knows how columbus will respond in playoffs. Not a lot of playoff experience. I don't see Bob keeping up his pace

Still a few more road games left and if they get there the Jackets deserve it.

Coyotes Edge Hawks 3-2 in Shootout - Possible 1st round opponent? http://hockeyindependent....m/blog/al-cimaglia/51059/ …
- Al

Gotta like the effort the Jackets are putting in every night. Not much talent but lots of guts and goaltending. As long as the Coyotes don't make it I'm a happy guy. Only thing better would be relegation like in British soccer - Coyotes, Predators and Devils relegated to the ECHL, never to be seen again.

Gotta like the effort the Jackets are putting in every night. Not much talent but lots of guts and goaltending. As long as the Coyotes don't make it I'm a happy guy. Only thing better would be relegation like in British soccer - Coyotes, Predators and Devils relegated to the ECHL, never to be seen again.
- RickJ

Jackets are well coached....They play a strong structure and now they have gotten some goal tending.

That said unless a rash of injuries the Hawks should be able to beat them in five games.....Which would go a long way toward another Cup run.

Coyotes Edge Hawks 3-2 in Shootout - Possible 1st round opponent? http://hockeyindependent....m/blog/al-cimaglia/51059/ …

A Blue Jackets/Hawks series could look a lot like the Predators/Hawks series during the '10 Cup run.
- EKolb13

Good parallel EK...that series was too tight for comfort...hope a series vs CBJ wouldn't be as tight

Jackets only have two games left...Wings still have 4...and Minni is falling like crazy they could be #8 or out...that'd look great for Leopold who signed Parise and Suter for all that coin and then cried poor during the lockout.
- DK002

Sounds great to me. Leopold is a Bettman stooge.

It really could be. They might even catch minny for 7th. Minny is dropping fast. Tied with minny now with minny having a game in hand, though. Who knows how columbus will respond in playoffs. Not a lot of playoff experience. I don't see Bob keeping up his pace
- tomcat24

If Minny misses it would be 4 teams from the Central, 3 from the Pacific and whatever that group of stiffs the Canucks play with.

A Blue Jackets/Hawks series could look a lot like the Predators/Hawks series during the '10 Cup run.
- EKolb13

Yeah it would. I think it could look like last year, too. They work hard and I can see our forwards folding under heavy pressure. If they can stop our forwards, it can be a long, hard series. They might be more physical than Nashville, too

Yeah it would. I think it could look like last year, too. They work hard and I can see our forwards folding under heavy pressure. If they can stop our forwards, it can be a long, hard series. They might be more physical than Nashville, too
- tomcat24

The Jackets have been under a lot of pressure for a long time...

If Hawks win 1st two at home they can win in 5.

Coyotes Edge Hawks 3-2 in Shootout - Possible 1st round opponent? http://hockeyindependent....m/blog/al-cimaglia/51059/ …

If Minny misses it would be 4 teams from the Central, 3 from the Pacific and whatever that group of stiffs the Canucks play with.
- RickJ

Jackets are well coached....They play a strong structure and now they have gotten some goal tending.

That said unless a rash of injuries the Hawks should be able to beat them in five games.....Which would go a long way toward another Cup run.

Coyotes Edge Hawks 3-2 in Shootout - Possible 1st round opponent? http://hockeyindependent....m/blog/al-cimaglia/51059/ …
- Al

I really thought Hawks would beat coyotes in 5 or 6 last year. But this hawk team is a lot better and more consistent than last year's team

The Jackets have been under a lot of pressure for a long time...

If Hawks win 1st two at home they can win in 5.

Coyotes Edge Hawks 3-2 in Shootout - Possible 1st round opponent? http://hockeyindependent....m/blog/al-cimaglia/51059/ …
- Al

Yeah you're right. But Hawks really need to come out strong at home. As we all know they play better on road. Keeping it simple. They can't give Columbus any confidence by losing at home.

I really thought Hawks would beat coyotes in 5 or 6 last year. But this hawk team is a lot better and more consistent than last year's team
- tomcat24

I wrote it last yr....No excuses allowed for Hawks in their series with Coyotes...

But Toews in LaLa land, Hossa knocked out and Mike Smith playing like Glenn Hall and Terry Sawchuk combined, did make a difference....

Coyotes Edge Hawks 3-2 in Shootout - Possible 1st round opponent? http://hockeyindependent....m/blog/al-cimaglia/51059/ …

If Minny misses it would be 4 teams from the Central, 3 from the Pacific and whatever that group of stiffs the Canucks play with.
- RickJ

Unfortunately it doesn't look like LA can catch anaheim for 2nd. I would like to see us get Minny. Columbus get Anaheim. LA get St. Louis and San Jose get Vancouver. Or maybe Vancouver get St. Louis and LA get San Jose.

I wrote it last yr....No excuses allowed for Hawks in their series with Coyotes...

But Toews in LaLa land, Hossa knocked out and Mike Smith playing like Glenn Hall and Terry Sawchuk combined, did make a difference....

Coyotes Edge Hawks 3-2 in Shootout - Possible 1st round opponent? http://hockeyindependent....m/blog/al-cimaglia/51059/ …
- Al

Yeah that did make a big difference. So did Shaw getting suspended. Even though this team has an amazing record and wins all these close games, I still wish they would put away some teams. The regular season is a different beast. There is so much riding on Every playoff game. So much pressure.

I wrote it last yr....No excuses allowed for Hawks in their series with Coyotes...

But Toews in LaLa land, Hossa knocked out and Mike Smith playing like Glenn Hall and Terry Sawchuk combined, did make a difference....

Coyotes Edge Hawks 3-2 in Shootout - Possible 1st round opponent? http://hockeyindependent....m/blog/al-cimaglia/51059/ …
- Al

When you think about it, this team pretty much added a whole first line vs. last season for the playoffs. Combine that with the improvement from the depth guys, this team is much deeper and more consistent

- EKolb13

Things are going to be a lot harder for the Canucks with the California teams involved, no more president's trophies for them

Things are going to be a lot harder for the Canucks with the California teams involved, no more president's trophies for them
- rollpards19

I know it. I can't wait for the tools in Esplen's thread to start bellyaching over that.

I know it. I can't wait for the tools in Esplen's thread to start bellyaching over that.
- EKolb13

Bellyaching? That's one way to put it.

Bellyaching? That's one way to put it.
- Ogilthorpe2

We'll have to keep plenty of this on hand for the Nucks fans next season.