If you've been reading my work for awhile, you know that I usually don't like to dwell on the past. I'd much rather focus on the present or the future and what the hockey gods have in store for us in this year's playoffs, but I've been asked enough to comment on the teams that have been eliminated so far that it only makes sense to write about why I think these teams lost...
New Jersey Devils: They're a one dimensional team. They showed some really great offensive talent this year, especially with Zach Parise really coming into his own and Travis Zajac close behind him (two products of the University of North Dakota). Throw in Ilya Kovalchuck at the deadline and you should be able to muster more than nine goals in five games. That said, the Devils are a product of their defensive systems with Martin Brodeur as their cornerstone and while he might be a Veznia Trophy finalist this year, he wasn't quite the Marty we know and love (or hate) allowing Philadelphia an average of three goals a game. Of course, New Jersey's special teams issues didn't help matters as they allowed 10 power play goals. (If you aren't paying attention that's one more goal than the Devils had in total) So...to wrap up, no offense, poor special teams and sub par defense. That's why the New Jersey Devils lost to Philadelphia in five games.
Colorado Avalanche: They are a team of the future, not the present. Quite evident when your top four scorers in the postseason have a combined experience of eight years in the NHL including two rookies. Not sure I can attribute this solely to their youth as it's a problem that has been recurring throughout the year, but for whatever reason the Avalanche lack the killer instinct to close out a win. I call it the step-on-their-throats-and-break-their-necks mentality that successful team always have. No matter how many goals you lead by, you always have to be looking for more and the Avalanche see a one goal lead and they slip into a defensive mode that usually gets them into trouble, especially against talented teams. What's a shame is that they were totally in this series - won the first game in the last minute of regulation, lost in OT, won in OT, lost in OT - but they didn't know how to close out a win and unfortunately for them San Jose did. The good news is that they'll be better next year from the experience, but that's why the Colorado Avalanche lost to San Jose in six games.
Ottawa Senators: They are terrible defensively. Let's be serious...they averaged three goals a game against Marc Andre Fleury. Offense was not their problem! They just couldn't get the puck out of their own zone and got stuck down low way too many times and Pittsburgh made them pay. They were solid on special teams and took advantage of their opportunities. They crashed the crease and scored gritty goals. They got contributions from unexpected sources like Chris Neil, Peter Regin and Jarkko Ruutu, but their inability to clear the crease of both bodies and pucks in front of Brian Elliott was their downfall. I applaud them for their triple OT victory in Game 5 to stay alive and force a Game 6 back on their turf, but then to blow a 3-0 lead and lose in overtime...AT HOME is just further proof of their defensive struggles. That's why the Ottawa Senators lost to Pittsburgh in six games.
Los Angeles Kings: They relied too much on their defense to generate offense. Don't get me wrong, they are a tough club to play against because of their ability to move the puck up ice, send in bombs from the blueline and especially run their highly effective power play, but if your defense is running the offense, your forwards better be doing something defensively. In the early games, gritty guys like Dustin Brown and Jarret Stoll could keep up with Vancouver's waves of offensive talent, but by Games 5 & 6 they were just too much to handle. As good as the Kings were on the power play, Vancouver was even even better 5-on-5 which is a dangerous mismatch. That's why the Los Angeles Kings lost to Vancouver in six games.
Buffalo Sabres: I hate to say it, but the Sabres were soft. They didn't even come close to matching Boston's physical, gritty style of play. No one wanted to go to the dirty areas. No one went to the net to jump on rebounds and make Tuukka Rask uncomfortable. No one wanted to work for the goals. They were more than happy to shoot from the perimeter and allow Boston to either block it or give Rask the time and space to see it. On the flip side, Boston was doing just that to Ryan Miller all night long. I know he's a tremendous goaltender and think he is quite deserving of his individual accolades this year, but he can only do so much!! He faced nearly 40 shots a game and many of them from in close and through traffic. Losing Thomas Vanek for three games certainly didn't help, but where was Tim Connolly? Derek Roy? There was zero offensive support because they weren't willing to do the work and that's why the Buffalo Sabres lost to Boston in six games.
Nashville Predators: They had this series in their grasp and let it slip right through their fingers. Much like Colorado, they lack the step-on-thier-throat mentality. They've got the gumption to fight back when they're down and generated a lot of offense from their top tier guys which was a nice change from the regular season, but this series was lost in the last minute of Game 5. I have no idea why Martin Erat was on the ice in that situation over someone who is a better defensive player. I understand that they were technically on the power play, but there was no doubt Chicago would pull the goalie and attack that zone with everything they possibly could. Nashville needed to slam the door defensively and they didn't get it done as Pat Kane scored in the final minute to tie it up and force overtime. Being without Denis Grebeskov and Patric Hornqvist for four games was a big loss and definitely effected their offensive attack especially on the power play, but they weren't done in by an anemic offense. They just couldn't ramp up their game when they needed to earn the win and that's why the Nashville Predators lost to Chicago in six games.
Phoenix Coyotes: They are inconsistent. They had everything needed to defeat Detroit, but they couldn't put all the pieces together on a consistent basis as this series went back and forth like a tennis match. Some people are citing the impact of Shane Doan out of the lineup due to injury and while I agree to an extent because he was the glue that kept this team focused throughout the year despite all the distractions, I think this series showed the mental, physical and emotional toll a grueling seven game series can take on a team. They had many offensive weapons and had contributions from everyone. They matched up well with the Red Wings in regards to speed, size and strength. They had great goaltending from Ilya Bryzgalov as well, but as a whole...when it was good it was really good, but when it was bad...it was really bad. That's why the Phoenix Coyotes lost to Detroit in seven games.
Washington Capitals: They didn't play as a team. It was kind of like every man/line for themselves. Too many guys trying to do it all. Here's a prime example for you...Game 1 Alex Ovechkin doesn't get a shot on net. No big deal if the Caps win...but they lost and he bears the brunt of it for the lack of offensive production. In response, he starts Game 2 with a bang...literally! He gave two thunderous checks along the boards and one in the crease on the very first shift if only to remind the Canadiens that he's still there and because he's too busy running around, the Candiens end up with the puck, skate down the ice and score. Granted they ran into a ridiculously hot goalie in Jaroslav Halak, but in general guys like Mike Green and Alexander Semin abandoned the team game and tried to fix things on their own...it didn't work and had a disastrous effect on the power play. They had to rely on their muckers and grinders like Mike Knuble, Eric Fehr and Brooks Laich in the clutch and that's not what got them the President's Trophy as the best team in the regular season. There was no cohesive chemistry, no unity on a consistent basis. That's why the Washington Capitals lost to Montreal in seven games.
Julie
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