Doggy

This is pretty competitive. If Columbus doesn't get their s*** together I might have to add them to this thread. So far, these 5 teams are a collective 5-1 against teams that aren't fighting for a playoff spot. They're really stepping it up big time. No matter what, we're gonna have a pretty difficult first round if you ask me.

Equal games played out of the 5 and now the entire Central division is currently in the playoffs. It'll be amazing if this actually happens.

Last year we got 54 wins in the regular season. Either your stats are way off, or Detroit got 15 wins in the last 7 games of the season somehow. Sorry bro, ya missed something somewhere.

Did anyone see Comeau's hit on Coburn?

Huge win by the Oil in Anaheim. They now have 6 straight home games.

Fedorov deserves the Norris more than Green.

Lol. Let me guess. You saw this coming? You little liar.

Okay you win. I'm now rooting against him.

http://www.nhl.com/ice/standings.htm?seaso...09&type=CON Down the bottom.

God post Grypho, thanks for the summation. Although I think the four games to be played between Det/Nas and SJ/Ana will say more about their sentiments towards each other than the previous four games does.

3 goal per game... we better.

That's amazing eva. 133lbs right? How tall are you? You mustn't have an ounce of fat on ya.

I was just about to ask if this was the case. I don't believe Detroit has been on top at all (with a better or equal pt%).

DYB, I can't remember if I've ever disagreed with you. Your a great poster and IMO pretty much always spot on. But your assessment of these goalies seems extremely skewed to me. As Marcus said, you apply explanations and excuses for Mason's numbers that don't seem to apply to anyone else. Hitchcock uses a defensive style? So what are Minnesota, Boston, Florida, Anaheim and Nashville? The '85 Oilers? Minnesota - I shouldn't even need to explain this. Along with NJ they have for years been the most defensive (and boring) team in the league and every single goalie to be lucky enough to enter their crease has had good numbers. Boston - great offense, no doubt but they're built around their D. Besides, who wouldn't enjoy sitting behind Chara and Wideman. I know Fernandez does: M. Fernandez - 14-6-3, 2.39GAA, .915SV%, 1 SO Florida - their GM is Jacques Martin. Nathan Horton is their highest paid forward. Their D is considerably better than their offense. Their backup goalie is Craig Anderson. I think we can all agree he's no Vezina candidate... but Vokoun is?? I must be missing something: Anderson - 13-6-5, 2.72GAA, .925SV%, 3 SO Vokoun - 23-22-6, 2.49GAA, .925SV%, 6 SO Anaheim - a team that won their Cup from their blueline. A blueline that is fundamentally the same today. Their top 2 Dmen are Pronger and Niedermayer. The BJ's top 2 is Commodore and Backman. I'm not sure how Giguere being horrible this season makes Hiller the next Sawchuk. No way in hell has he outperformed Mason, the suggestion is completely absurd and shouldn't need to be argued. Nashville - another defense-first team (as are most these days). Nashville needs to be. They cannot succeed without concenrating on being defensively sound like the Sens a few years ago. Rinne's been excellent this year though, I have no intention of taking anything away from him. Another thing to note is not only Columbus turnaround from last season, but their turnaround this Mason's debut. They were 4-6-2 to start the season. Mason then started his first game after the tandem of Norreena and Leclaire wasn't working and Steve Mason is right now 31-17-4. Although, I'm not sure if that includes tonight's win over the Flames, it probably doesn't. The only goalie IMO that has a sniff at Mason for the Vezina is Thomas. I can't imagine how anyone than those two could possibly pick it up.

Mason just got his tenth shutout of the season over Calgary. All Hitchcock right?

Sharks are stunned.

How could you miss that? Seriously? That's tough to miss if you try. Who was that? Fiddler? What a joke!

You're just a barrel of laughs tonight.

Morbid.

I didn't know Datsyuk's mama posted on LGW.

Those rankings are just based on stats. It's like giving someone a trophy based on their fantasy score.

This. I think it's pretty valid hype when a 21-year old rookie carries a pretty average team into the playoffs right off the bat with nine shutouts. I think he's been the most valuable player to his team in the league. That's arguable, but the fact that it's even arguable says enough about what an amazing season this 21-year old goalie is having.

With Mason - playoffs.... easily. Without - no chance, just like last year. This is the same a last year's Hart winner, Ovechkin. Except his team didn't make it easily.

I leave with 5 mins to go pretty sure the Hawks can put a bow on this little number and SJ instantly scores two goals?? WTF??? I hope the Preds can stitch up the Sharks in reg. tomorrow and give Detroit top spot. Lol. Damn, you're pigheaded. Fine, Sharks have it easy.

I'm actually about to pick up some Indian food. So hungry!