Do you think that the Minnesota Wild will be in the Stanley Cup Playoffs? Why? What about the Detroit Red Wings
2007-03-03 09:28:41 · 17 answers · asked by Anonymous in Sports ➔ Hockey
Both in, both out fairly early in play-offs, And I am a Wings fan...
2007-03-03 10:44:51 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, the Wild should be in the Playoffs. They are currently seeded #7 and have an 11 point cushion from the #9 team which is Colorado. They have also gone 6-2 in their past 8 games so they aren't really slumping either. As for the Redwings, they are almost a lock to make the playoffs at this point. They have the 2nd best record in the league and have gone undefeated in their last 10 games! The western conference is pretty much set with the top 8 teams pretty much playoff bound. The only question now is which team will be which seed. Unless Colorado miraculously wins every game and one of the teams ranked 5 through 8 go into a major slump, i don't see any changes in the top 8.
2007-03-11 15:11:37 · answer #2 · answered by TDK 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Wild are in a pretty intense 3-way battle with Vancouver and Calgary for 1st in the Northwest. That race has been going for what seems like months now and there always only seems to be a point or two between them all. The Oilers and Avs have dropped out of the race almost completely. Mathematically the Avs have a slim slim shot but realistically the Wild will be in.. it's just a matter of where in the top 8 they will finish. I'd have to lean towards them finishing 2nd in the Northwest and probably 6th overall in the West.
The Red Wings will likely finish 2nd in the Central division and 4th overall in the West....exactly where they are placed now.
As far as how these teams will do in the playoffs... that's anyone's guess. I'd say Anaheim, Calgary, Detroit and Nashville are the big 4 in the West and realistically any of them could go to the Finals. Nashville likely is the favorite now that they have Forsberg on the team. As we have seen in previous years though... the playoffs are full of surprises (Calgary vs Tampa Bay and Edmonton vs Carolina) so any team in the playoffs from the West or East can go all the way with hard work, determination and some luck :)
On paper it looks like it should be a Nashville Vs Buffalo final.. but the game is played on the ice and not on paper so any predictions are really just guesses as so much can happen in the playoffs... hot streaks, hot/cold goalies, major injuries etc.
2007-03-04 17:18:33 · answer #3 · answered by nexttothemoon 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Even though I'm a Colorado Avalanche fan, I don't have any doubts about Minnesota making the playoffs. As far as Detroit is concerned, don't be. They choke every time when they are ranked number 1. The Avalanche, Dallas Stars, and even the 8th ranked Edmonton Oilers have knocked the Wings off early in the playoffs. Perhaps this has something to do with the fact that Detroit plays mostly bush-league teams over the course of the regular season. Other than Nashville, their division is like a group of pre-school children in a mud fight. Perhaps if the league went to a 2 division conference schedule, the true cream would rise to the top.
2007-03-04 00:12:32 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
I'd be shocked if the Wild miss the playoffs this year. Their team defense is so good that it doesn't seem to matter who is in goal. With Gaborik, Demitra and Rolston, they have just enough weapons to score enough to win, especially against weaker teams.
To make any sort of a run in the playoffs, they'll need Manny to get healthy, and for Gaborik and Demitra to stay healthy. Those are three big question marks. Minnesota hasn't been a very strong road team this year, so winning their division and getting a first round bye would definitely be huge for them.
Detroit looks like a solid also ran, but Hasek certainly could get hot, assuming he's healthy. I wouldn't want to have to rely on Osgood to carry the team. Detroit isn't the deepest team, so if Zetterberg's injury lingers it might be painful.
It's hard not to like Anaheim or Nashville to win the West. Both have depth at goalie, and deep rosters. Still, there's a lot more parity in the West, as opposed to the East which looks like Buffalo, New Jersey, Ottawa, surging Pittsburg and a bunch of also-rans.
2007-03-03 19:33:19 · answer #5 · answered by Tim S 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Honestly, it's almost always a coin-flip to see who wins the cup each year. Both teams that made it to the finals last year weren't anywhere close to being the predicted winners of the Cup when the post season started last year, and Edmonton almost ran away with it in the end when they were the 8th seed.
Once the playoffs start, I'll have a better idea, but right now, just about any team in the top 8 of their conferences are likeable contenders.
2007-03-06 12:34:08 · answer #6 · answered by The Wanderer 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Right now, the Wild are in 7th place, and 11 points ahead of 9th place Colorado. With the way Gaborik is playing, unless he gets hurt again, as well as Harding, an the Wild have to use thier 4th string goalie, I have no doubt they will make the playoffs. 3rd, 6th, 7th or 8th. As for Detroit, they are 23 points up on Colorado, and are close to clinching a playoff spot. Almost guarenteed they will make it.
2007-03-03 18:09:34 · answer #7 · answered by flamesfanjosh 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
They are almost a shoe in for the playoffs. They need to focus on winning their division. Last time I checked they were only two points back of the leader and in third place. Their division is still anyone's for the taking and having that home ice advantage in the first round would be a huge benefit to the Wild.
2007-03-03 20:15:55 · answer #8 · answered by msi_cord 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The eight teams that will make the playoffs in the west are pretty well set. There is a 10 point gap between 8th and 9th place teams in the standings.
The question for Minnesota is will they win the NW division and become the third seed, or will they settle for a 6th, 7th, or 8th seeding? I will pencil them in for the 3rd seed.
Detroit will catch the Predators and will be the number one team in the west.
2007-03-03 19:54:15 · answer #9 · answered by penticton_123 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes the wild will be there ...where they seed is up to there play the last 15 games... they go either #5-8...they are a good team... but not a great team...no doubt will be fun to watch in they playoffs... maybe a big upset in store for them...well see...
detroit will be in a s the #4 wont take nashville for the division....they are not fast enough...definetly experienced coach babcock will have them ready for the push.... they get the stars in the first round.
2007-03-05 13:31:38 · answer #10 · answered by angry_islander 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No.. The wild will not make it in.. The Red Wings have a chance
2007-03-07 22:11:42 · answer #11 · answered by BigWashSr 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋