Northwest Division Champs
NHL Western Conference Standings for 2008-2009
Congrats to our NuckleHeads for winning the NW Division. I was very leary about starting Luongo in this game, but thankfully he and everybody else seemed to come away unscathed. And it seems that it required a shutout performance from Luongo to win this game. Luongo and the boys have now gone 7+ periods without allowing a goal, I think they are playoff ready. Bring it on!
However, before we start celebrating too much, it must be pointed out that we may end up playing Anaheim in the first round if they get the 6th seed and if there is any team in the league that we don’t want to play right now it is definitely the Ducks of Anaheim.
UPDATE: Phoenix beat Anaheim in a shootout 5-4 so we will be playing the Columbus Blue Jackets. Phew. Not that we are guaranteed to win against them, but the Ducks have been very hot lately and they play a very tough and dirty game with a lot of offensive skill.
UPDATE REDUX: I don’t know about you but I did not see the Blues getting the 6th seed and playing us in the first round. But when Columbus lost their last game and the Ducks lost their final game in overtime it left the door open for St Louis to jump up two spots with a victory over the Avs in their final game. I am glad we don’t have to play the nasty Ducks in the first round (them and SJ should put on a good show) but we haven’t faired all that well over the past few years against the Blues, including a 2-2 record this past year. However, I would be very suprised if we lost this series if Luongo is on form and the D plays solidly, we should win in 5 games, 6 if they get really lucky. Bring on the playoffs!
Two NHL gripes though. Why the Avs felt the need to play boring, tight, defensive hockey when they have nothing but the fun of the game to play for I don’t know. Loosen up man, entertain your fans. And Gary, enough of the matinée games, hockey is meant to be played on Saturday night not Saturday afternoon, stop pandering to people who don’t care about hockey and appease those who do care.
