Comments on: Favorites, Darkhorses, and Longshots: Who Are Your Best Bets?

By: Ari

Ari — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 16:29:14 +0000

I think Calgary’s D is too banged up to make a run.

By: david

david — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 03:45:37 +0000

Can I push?? hehe

If they have a healthy 2nd and 3rd line then I think Calgary is deep and tough enough to make it. If not then I would go with Pittsburgh.

By: Bob Roberts

Bob Roberts — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 22:58:03 +0000

Re: Car/Pit I’ll go with Pit.

No ties for David either, right?

By: Bob Roberts

Bob Roberts — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 22:56:07 +0000

Re: Det/SJ — I don’t think either of these teams will win the West which means they can’t win the Cup (we are picking the Cup winner here, right?), but I don’t think any of the other 3 “Faves” will either, so my answer has to be “None of the above” if the question is “Who do you think is the best bet out of these four categories?”

By: goon

goon — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 22:44:21 +0000

Wild aren’t even going to make it and I would take the Devils off the favorites list because they have played horrible as of late.

By: david

david — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 22:03:36 +0000

No gurantees of course. But the stat seems to indicate that for the past ten years the teams in cruise control, winning 5 or 6 of the last 10 in a season stand a good chance to win the Cup. Does this mean that the Canes can’t win, of course not. Although Ward might be feeling some fatigue having played like 30 games in a row.

If forced to pick I’d say;

Favorites: Detroit
2nd Tier: Calgary or Pittsburgh
Avoid: Anaheim
Longshots: St. Louis

By: Ari

Ari — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 21:30:09 +0000

David,

Do you think those numbers are significant? I don’t know?
The best teams in the league may have already clinched their division/playoff position, and are easing up as they heal and get ready for the post-season.

I don’t think the Canes’ strong play will be a detriment going into the post-season, but it may not have that much of a strong effect.

Bob,

Come on – no ties – especially between Detroit and San Jose. Who would win that potential Conference finals match-up?

By: Bob Roberts

Bob Roberts — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 20:10:36 +0000

Faves — Det/SJ (tie)

2nd Tier — Car/Pit (tie)

Avoid — Ana

Longshots — StL

Best bet — meaning who’s most likely to win the Cup? — Det/SJ.

But I don’t think either of those two will, even though they’re the faves.

By: david

david — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 20:01:58 +0000

So as of right now;

East:
Boston – 70%
Washington – 60%
New Jersey – 30%
Philadelphia – 60%
Carolina – 90%
Pittsburgh – 70%
Montreal – 50%
NYR – 50%

West:
San Jose – 70%
Detroit – 60%
Calgary – 40%
Chicago – 70%
Vancouver – 50%
Columbus – 50%
Anaheim – 80%
St. Louis – 70%

By: david

david — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 19:54:59 +0000

Only thing going against the Canes might be their momentum. Last ten years of Stanley Cup Winners and their play over the last 10 games heading into the playoffs. Team | WN% - Last 10 | WN%-Season | Difference 1997-98 Red Wings | 60% | 54% | +6% 2007-08 Red Wings | 70% | 66% | +4% 1998-99 Stars | 60% | 62% | -2% 2000-01 Avalanche | 60% | 63% | -3% 1999-00 Devils | 50% | 55% | -5% 2003-04 Lightning | 50% | 56% | -6% 2006-07 Ducks | 50% | 59% | -9% 2005-06 Hurricanes | 50% | 63% | -13% 2002-03 Devils | 40% | 56% | -16% 2001-02 Red Wings | 10% | 62% | -52% Average | 50% | 58% | -8%