jeff@dciem.UUCP (Jeff Richardson) (04/13/84)
Wow! Are we ever getting some great hockey. In particular, the first
Montreal-Boston game and the last Islanders-Rangers games are probably
the best I've seen all year. I guess that's not saying much when you've
been watching the Maple Loafs all season, but they were great games.
I thought the Rangers deserved to win and I didn't think the tying goal
was above the shoulder (based on the replay from behind the net, which is
the best angle I saw), but the Islanders are the type of team that, just
when you think you've got them down, they'll get up and kill you. It's
definitely a championship quality (our football Argonauts have it too)
and it's very exciting to watch, especially if you're on their side, and
very frustrating if you're against them. I think that quality is an
intangible that will keep the Oilers from beating the Islanders because
the Oilers played 75% of their games against teams with losing records
and should have an easy time getting to the final, so they won't be used
to being down and apparently out or playing against good teams. They
were first overall in the regular season mainly because they (Gretzky in
particular) are better than any of the other top teams at getting up for
games against lousy teams, but when they play the Islanders or other top
teams, they (Gretzky in particular) don't come through when it really
counts. Anyway, we'll worry about that later. Let's get to the predictions.
My first round predictions weren't too bad. I picked Detroit but I think
that series was so close it could have gone either way. I don't know
anybody who picked Montreal, so maybe saying the Bruins would have trouble
but still win, which is what I said, is closer than most people. Here's
what I say about this round:
ADAMS: I don't think the style Montreal used against Boston will work as
well against Quebec, because the Nordiques are a better skating team and
they have more players who can score, so they can't be shut down as easily.
Quebec in 6 or less.
NORRIS: The North Stars should be the better team, but they haven't proven
themselves yet. They have lots of talent but not much heart, especially
since they traded away Bobby Smith. Stars in 6 if they continue the way
they've been going, less if some of their scorers finally get hot.
PATRICK: This is the biggie. The Capitals will have the advantage in the
early games because the Rangers took a lot out of the Islanders while the
Caps watched, but the Islanders' experience and better offence will win
out in the end, which will be the sixth game.
SMYTHE: The Alberta rivalry should motivate the Flames enough to win one
game, but the Oilers' offence is too good to lose more than once, especially
since Fuhr has been playing well too.
Jeff Richardson
DCIEM, Torontojimph@ihuxv.UUCP (Jim Hendricks) (04/20/84)
I just have one response to an article which made a reference to Wayne (the Great) Gretzky not coming through when it really counts. Wayne Gretzky is by far the best player in hockey today and, probably the best hockey player of all time. (Gordie Howe was awesome) Just because the Isles shut Gretzky down doesn't mean he doesn't come through in the big ones - it means the whole Edmonton team didn't play well. No player can go one on five in any sport. Gretzky really proved himself early this year when every team the Oilers played put a great defenseman on Gretzky alone, ignoring everybody else. What effect did it have on Gretzky? He was still a scoring machine! When he got hurt, the Oilers started getting, not beat, but killed. As soon as he came back, they immediately started winning again, and big. His record speaks for itself!