| | There's a fair amount of pressure this week, but it all seems to be on teams. Philly and New Jersey are great, but can they shake off past disappointments? In Boston, it may be unfair, but Pat Burns could be the fall guy. And, for mercy's sake, let's hope Atlanta wins this week.
Medium pressure: Flyers-Devils
There are a lot of similarities between the Philadelphia Flyers and the New Jersey Devils, and either team can win the Eastern Conference. They are even more alike in terms of their question marks rather than the makeup of their teams.
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MEDIUM: SENATORS
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Because owner Rod Bryden extended his deadline, there's obviously hope that the Senators will sell enough season tickets to keep them in Ottawa. No one who follows the NHL wants to see them move. The fight to remain in Ottawa has, in a way, made it even tougher on the team. It's like the Winnipeg Jets all over again. The Jets players talked about how difficult it was to concentrate and play hockey in that atmosphere. How could it not be?
The players like living and playing in Ottawa. It's a good team in a city that loves its team. The players know they are on the verge of contending for the Cup, but the situation concerning their future just won't go away. When the deadline approaches, everyone hopes Bryden will say that the team generated enough support to stay in Ottawa. Hopefully, that news could reenergize the players. As well as they have soldiered on, it's had an effect on them over the last month or so. The Senators, also affected by injuries, lost some of their starch. Hopefully, they can regain their edge because they are an excellent team that could be a factor in the playoffs. |
There always seems to be some big question mark floating around in Philadelphia. People are still talking about the goaltending situation and whether or not there will be a move or a blockbuster deal. John Vanbiesbrouck has only played in four of the last 10 games, adding to the speculation. The last few years, the Flyers' defense has been criticized for not being good enough in their own zone against quick teams. How do they feel about their defensive weaknesses and their goaltending? Is it affecting them, or will they just be positive and go after it?
The Flyers' biggest positive, however, is their phenomenal strength up front, where they have all the elements needed to win a championship. They have two big centers, Eric Lindros and Keith Primeau, who are skilled and tough to compete with. Mark Recchi is more a factor this year because he has been with the Flyers since the beginning of the season, as opposed to joining the team at the trade deadline. Recchi is great on and off the ice and means a huge amount to that club.
New Jersey has been steaming right along and has been consistently the best team all year long. The Devils lead the league in points, and nothing seems to affect them in an adverse way. But the Devils' demons will come out in April. If they finish the season as the points leaders, people will say they had a terrific season, but then the playoffs begin. The Devils are very aware of how they have performed in the playoffs the last few years.
Will the Devils face any adversity in which people will start to question them? The Devils certainly will hit adversity in the playoffs. But will they be able to regain themselves within a series and continue to win? That's what they have faced in the past. For the Flyers and Devils, it will come down to mental attitude and confidence as to which one comes out on top.
High pressure: Bruins
Pat Burns, one of the league's best coaches, has taken the chastisement from the Boston Bruins' ownership cordially and quietly in the press. But he continues to get closer and closer to becoming a scapegoat for the Bruins' problems. One recent poll in Boston showed that 64 percent believe it has been Burns' fault, but I don't agree.
After the Florida-Boston game the other night, I watched his postgame press conference on a monitor in the press box. As the Bruins coach was being grilled with questions, he said he has made changes after each game, especially when they lose. He said he didn't know what else to do, and reiterated that point in several different ways.
The effort hasn't been lacking, Burns said. They are not just going through the motions, and they are changing their attack. Burns and the players don't feel the Bruins have enough quality players to beat good teams, or maybe even make the playoffs.
Will they pull something off? The Bruins don't have a lot to work with. It's a tough situation, with Jason Allison being injured, and now Anson Carter is hurt. It's become evident that the Bruins are at a crossroads. It's a huge hockey town; Boston fans won't take it lightly if they go into the tank and don't make the playoffs.
High pressure: Thrashers
Columbus and Minnesota, the two new franchises entering the NHL next year, must be alarmed at what they are seeing in Atlanta, especially over the last two months.
Nashville did a nice job last year, winning a lot of games from the start. Over the last few years, new franchises in general have been able to make a good showing in the first year. But Atlanta has really struggled. The Thrashers haven't won a game since Jan. 14. When you go through an extended losing period, you really worry about how the young players will survive. How long will it take them or the team as a whole to recover? You feel bad for Atlanta. It's a tough growing pain right away.
Meanwhile, you have to take your hat off to the Nashville players and the management for doing such a nice job. They created a positive atmosphere for the players last year and continue to do so this year. That's not a knock on Atlanta; the Thrashers tried to copy the Predators' atmosphere, and it hasn't worked as well.
The Thrashers are trying everything. They have made some deals and shaken things up. They are doing the best they can to make things work. Beginning Tuesday in St. Louis, five of their next six games are on the road. That will probably help the Thrashers because there is no pressure. They will work on things like execution, goaltending and developing the young players. But it's tough to develop anybody on a steady diet of losing.
Brian Engblom is a hockey analyst for ESPN, and he played 11 seasons in the NHL. | |
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