Boston
Ottawa
Tampa Bay
Montreal
Detroit
Florida
Ottawa
Buffalo
Toronto

Boston
Ottawa
Tampa Bay
Montreal
Detroit
Florida
Ottawa
Buffalo
Toronto
- walshyleafsfan

is Ottawa icing 2 teams?

is Ottawa icing 2 teams?
- DoubleDown

Talk about depth !

is Ottawa icing 2 teams?
- DoubleDown

Yes.

The lower of the Ottawa teams is the backup one that beat the Leafs 1st team last night in a shootout.

Yeah like Boston always destroyes Mtl...
- soad_live

Not always. But you can't tell me The Habs have been the better franchise recently.

Not always. But you can't tell me The Habs have been the better franchise recently.
- blacksheep1

Last year MTL won the regular season matchups 3-1

Then eliminated Boston.

http://canadiens.nhl.com/...?season=20132014&team=BOS

I think Boston, Montreal and Tampa will all be battling for first in this division. Caveats to each winning in my opinion:

Boston is getting older and can be beaten with speed and break out passing - something that the Habs and Tampa both possess. Boston is also dealing with cap issues and unsigned players at the moment and I dont see how that is going to clear itself up at the moment.

Montreal is better than last year talent wise, especially on offense, but they are also without some solid leadership and the crazy PK time and shot blocking of Georges. The biggest liability here is consistent production from youth. A fan so I am obviously biased, but Montreal will own this division within the next 2 years.

Tampa is probably the most well rounded of the 3 and has the highest probability of taking 1st in the division this season; I think their biggest weakness is probably Bishop and he isnt that bad.

I think Boston, Montreal and Tampa will all be battling for first in this division. Caveats to each winning in my opinion:

Boston is getting older and can be beaten with speed and break out passing - something that the Habs and Tampa both possess. Boston is also dealing with cap issues and unsigned players at the moment and I dont see how that is going to clear itself up at the moment.

Montreal is better than last year talent wise, especially on offense, but they are also without some solid leadership and the crazy PK time and shot blocking of Georges. The biggest liability here is consistent production from youth. A fan so I am obviously biased, but Montreal will own this division within the next 2 years.

Tampa is probably the most well rounded of the 3 and has the highest probability of taking 1st in the division this season; I think their biggest weakness is probably Bishop and he isnt that bad.
- nords21

Nah, hes pretty damned good buddy

Buffalo, Florida, Leafs, Sens....all in one division. Ouch!

Must be nice for the Habs, Bruins and Lightning who have to play these teams numerous times.....talk about inflating point totals....

Still, Bruins will top this motley division....but Tampa is team on the rise.
- hawk35

Going into games thinking you're getting "easy" points is a great way to lose to a overall lesser opponent.

As bad as Buffalo was last season, they still took 2 out of 5 games from the best team in the East, Boston.

So what you are saying is that a team (like the Habs) would have a hard time making the playoffs if their #1 goalie gets injured ?


Talk about hockey knowledge here !!!


Tampa got swept without Bishop...
Boston Withou Rask would also struggle.
And so on...
- WaterBoy

I'm not saying IN the playoffs, saying to get there...Some teams can handle loosing their #1 goalie, some can't like the habs...and tampa or boston don't have a history of their #1 goalie being injured often (3 times) like price has the past 2 years!

Ah yes, Detroit and their chronically injured superstars.
- BINGO!

and yet never miss the playoffs!

I'm not saying IN the playoffs, saying to get there...Some teams can handle loosing their #1 goalie, some can't like the habs...and tampa or boston don't have a history of their #1 goalie being injured often (3 times) like price has the past 2 years!
- Raven33

I'm also talking about regular season games.

Take any top contending team and remove their starting goalie... most of them will have a hard time making the playoffs.

Also.. Bishop had a huge injury.

Boston
Tampa Bay
Montreal
Detroit
Florida
Toronto
Ottawa
Buffalo

I have agree with you Michael about the top 3.

I'm also talking about regular season games.

Take any top contending team and remove their starting goalie... most of them will have a hard time making the playoffs.

Also.. Bishop had a huge injury.
- WaterBoy

Certainly hurt the Leafs when they had to turn to Reimer.

Last year MTL won the regular season matchups 3-1

Then eliminated Boston.

http://canadiens.nhl.com/...?season=20132014&team=BOS
- WaterBoy

Boston's 2 ECF championships and SC say hello.

I'm also talking about regular season games.

Take any top contending team and remove their starting goalie... most of them will have a hard time making the playoffs.

Also.. Bishop had a huge injury.
- WaterBoy

It's a good thing the habs had a cushion before price return injured from the olympics as that's how they lost ground to tampa...any longer and they might have lost a playoffs spot! 3-4 more wins turned into losses would equal to be on the outs...
Anyways..you're blowing this out of proportions on my initial 1-line comment saying that they can't overplay Price (i'd keep him under 60 games) for at least a year and see if he gets injured again or not...

Certainly hurt the Leafs when they had to turn to Reimer.
- walshyleafsfan

and for some teams it didn't! Like Kings, Ducks, Wild to name a few...
Even let them discover talent that for some of them will replace their starter... even as early as this year for the Ducks and probably soon enough for the Wild...

Boston's 2 ECF championships and SC say hello.
- blacksheep1

Boston eliminated last year says Yo !

and aren't we talking about the regular season ?

If so... numbers don't lie.

and for some teams it didn't! Like Kings, Ducks, Wild to name a few...
Even let them discover talent that for some of them will replace their starter... even as early as this year for the Ducks and probably soon enough for the Wild...
- Raven33

True

If the Leafs don't collapse in game 7 they beat the Bruins and advance. If they don't collapse at the end of last year they cruise into the playoffs. That team got deeper up front and on the blueline. I'm well aware that they are the punching bag of the league at any cost but if they can figure out how not to collapse they are a competitive team.
- Tim Chiasson

If the Leafs don't suck they won't suck

It's a good thing the habs had a cushion before price return injured from the olympics as that's how they lost ground to tampa...any longer and they might have lost a playoffs spot! 3-4 more wins turned into losses would equal to be on the outs...
Anyways..you're blowing this out of proportions on my initial 1-line comment saying that they can't overplay Price (i'd keep him under 60 games) for at least a year and see if he gets injured again or not...
- Raven33

Love how you're biased here....


MTL without PRICE = NO PLAYOFFS !

WTF is Tampa without Bishop ?

If the Leafs don't suck they won't suck
- Allforhim12

Insightful.

and yet never miss the playoffs!
- Raven33

they squeaked in last year and got blown out of the rink.

Love how you're biased here....


MTL without PRICE = NO PLAYOFFS !

WTF is Tampa without Bishop ?
- WaterBoy

http://dropyourgloves.com...aspx?League=1&Season=2013

they squeaked in last year and got blown out of the rink.
- DoubleDown

So? I never talked about what happens after you make the playoffs, just about making it in the first place! There's always at least an upset every year in the playoffs so what matters is making it into the playoffs and then who knows!
I was rooting for the wings to miss the playoffs last year so i'm far from being biased here...but unfortunately (for me I guess! lol), they keep making them every year for over 2 decades so they deserve that credit at the very least...