http://hockeytraderumors.com/article2605.h...order=0&thold=0
MantaRay PR's for games ending 2/22/03.
With an emphasis on playoff aspirations and picking the bones of the non-playoff teams carcass.
Manta Match up:
STARS vs SENS Thursday, Feb 27th
Cliffnotes:
Top ten:
-Sens ascend again
-Strong team effort finds Leafs higher
-St. Louis singing the Blues
Middle of the Pack:
-Snow season good for Isles
-Bruins still hibernating
-Caps allow Lighting opportunity for playoffs
Bottom of the Barrel:
-Rangers and Pred's contending or pretending?
-Jackets and Flames finished
-Sabres still claim the dishonor of #30
1 (2) Ottawa Senators:
MantaMatch-up victors over Dev's. Sens (3-1) ensconced as top dog in East and 10-7-1 against the West. Lalime for Vezina? 3 shut-outs (leader) in last 6 games!!!
2 (1) Dallas Stars:
Stars (0-0-2) fall slightly; Tugnutt getting in grove in absence of Turco. PP drought ends at 33. Matvichuk returns to line-up.
3 (3) New Jersey Devils:
Devs (1-1-1) are the only team in the NHL without consecutive regulation losses , but fatigue and injuries abounding; #2 D-man White out 2 weeks. Selke candidate Madden has 15G's.
4 (4) Vancouver Canucks:
Canucks (3-0) just keeps winning! 7-0-2 in last 9 and even Trevor Linden is scoring 12 points in 10 games. Who would have though that Marek Malik WAS the answer! Vancouver is 31-12-3 since trade.
5 (6) Detroit Red Wings:
Wings (2-1) coming around. Have scored 29 goals in last 6 games, but have given up 15. Datsyuk 6pts in last 4 games. Yzerman to return this week. Avery part of package to Yotes for Numminen?
6 (8) Toronto Maple Leafs:
Leafs (3-0) have a 5 game winning streak and are 8-1 in Feb. Roberts 3G-2A in 4 games back.
Hate to say it but Pat Quinn finally has all the pieces to make it to the Finals. Will trade wreck current chemistry?
7 (5) St.Louis Blues:
Ice cold Blues (1-2) continue to lose and are 2-4 the last two weeks. Injuries to Weight & Ruscinsky hurting, but Demitra is still red hot 6G-7A in last 8 games. Goaltending becoming an issue: Osgood to Blues in next two weeks?
8 (7) Philadelphia Flyers:
Flyers (1-1-1) starting to score 15 goals in last 5 games after draught. Cechmanek has been even more brilliant (.954 sv %) of late. Gagne & Leclair still on IR so is Iginla the right acquisition?
9 (10) Colorado Avalanche:
Av's (2-1) still climbing thanks to the legendary Patrick Roy. Teams 14 point streak ends vs Isles. Forsberg line the hottest line in the game. Sakic possibly to return Tuesday.
10 (9) Minnesota Wild:
Wild (0-1) lost their only game this week, but are in the midst of a 3 game losing streak. Wild needs scoring: they have scored 2 goals or less in 13 of their last 14 games.
11 (14) New York Islanders:
Isles (2-0-1) beat up on Av's last night. Play of Garth Snow (7-3-1) making Osgood expendable. Alexei Yashin listed as the most over-rated hockey player in the New York area.
12 (13) Anaheim Mighty Ducks:
Ducks (1-1-1) embark on a 5-2-1 tear, including victory over Stars then go about losing to sad sacks (Preds & Ranger$)? Team has to learn not to take teams too lightly, they aren't that good yet. Of Petr Sykora's 23 goals-13 are on the PP and is a -11 player. Anaheim has to do more at even strength to be a legit threat.
13 (11) Boston Bruins:
The B's (0-3) are on a 5 game losing streak and falling fast. Currently #8 in the East. Barely recognizable as the best team in the league for the first three months of the season. Hackett has allowed 3 or more goals in his last 7 starts. Defense has not provided support for Hackett, but is on the way: O'Donnell could be ready this week. Gill out 4 more weeks.
14 (12) Washington Capitals:
Caps (0-3) have lost 4 of last 5 games and are keeping the falling Lightning in the playoff race. Kolzig playing horrible allowing 14 goals in his last 3 games. Have to rebound against Sabres and Canes this week or jeopardize playoff spot in the South Least Division.
15 (15) Edmonton Oilers:
Oilers (0-3) have lost 5 in a row and could lose playoff spot. Salo (2-5) has struggled in February: 3.26 GAA, a .883 save %. Comrie MIA since return.
16 (18) Tampa Bay Lightning:
After a horrible two month slide, the Bolts (2-0-1) are back on track and have gone unbeaten in 5. Khabibulin slump ends with the return of Stan Neckar. Brad Richards is 6th in NHL with 43 assists.
17 (16) Chicago Blackhawks:
Hawks (0-2) blewing opportunites for the #8 playoff seed with continous poor play. Put up or shut-up week: against Dallas (#2) and Flyers (#7) twice. Only Steve Sullivan-2G-6A in last 3 games-comes to play. Thibault is getting worn out: 4-12-2 in his last 18 and Karpovtsev's fractured cheekbone will not help.
18 (17) Los Angeles Kings:
Kings (2-1) have 6 players on IR, yet have played well of late going 4-2; LA could sneak into playoffs with Edmonton faultering. Kill the Palffy rumors: 7G-6A in last 9. Team can't afford to trade him
