[net.sport.hockey] Out in the cold in Patrick Division

dube@csd2.UUCP (Tom Dube) (02/22/86)

Now that the Whalers have ended their 10 game winless streak, I can
release my breathe and look at the NHL standings.  Can you believe
it?  The Adams division didn't run away.  Despite all the losses, the
Whalers are only 3 points out of third place.

As a Hartford fan, I know the teams of the Adams division best, 
and I still think it remains the strongest in the league.  However,
I've been watching a lot of Rangers games lately (they get televised).
It seems that the followers of the Rangers, and yes, the Penguins have
have an awfully good argument these days.  One of those two teams will
not make the playoffs, and both of them are over the .500 mark.
(Meanwhile, Toronto is coasting to the playoffs at 16-36-6.)

From the top to the 5th spot, the Adams and Patrick divisions match
up almost identically.  The win-loss statistics in the Patrick are
a little bloated by the fact that these teams get to play the Devils.
Ah, those poor Devils. How can anyone be expected to play good hockey
in one of those ridiculous uniforms.

On top of the two divisions is the real quality of the league.
Flyers, Caps, Canadiens, Nordiques: does anyone doubt that one of
these four teams will play the Oilers for the cup?  There should be
some interesting games when these teams meet in the playoffs.
Then there are the Islanders and the Bruins. Sure, these teams have
fallen in recent years, but everyone still respects them as top-notch
opponents.  I wouldn't be too eager to face them in the playoffs
either.

Finally, there are the four teams which are fighting for playoff spots.
The league claims that the current playoff system creates excitement
in cities which are near the bottom of their division.  In this case
they're right.  As the season goes on, I hope the races remain close.
Even if Hartford and Pittsburgh are the losers, I would still rather
be heartbroken in March than eliminated in December.