April 17ty marks the end of the regular NHL season.   This means that the play-off spots are hotting up.   As usual in the Western Conference play-offs, the competition is extremely keen.   Three teams have already booked their places in the play-offs. They are Dallas, Detroit, and outsider Nashville, thus 5 position are still vacant with only 6 points keeping them apart.

DETROIT RED WINGS

Boring, boring – the Red Wings are again the top gun in the West.   They are getting long in the tooth, and Manny Legace is showing more leg, and less ace in his goal tending duties.   They still have the best figures in the league, and as always, they will be the punter’s favourite.

The Stars are menacingly shining at the moment.   Defensively they are strong.   Marty Turco is a net custodian of merit.   Their strength has been in the shoot-outs, heralded by Jussi Jokinen, but there are not shoot outs in the play-offs, as we all know.

The Stars have great experienced players like Bill Guerin, and Mike Mudano, and let’s hope they’ll shine.

The good news is that Paul Karya has come good, and is setting new records.   Thomas Vokoun is a top goal keeper, and the arrival of Mike Sillinger (ex St. Louis) has bolstered the side.   They will play the team who finishes fifth in the play-offs.

The Ducks have traded good players in Sandis Ozolinzh, Sergei Federov, and Petr Sykora, without real noticeable strength loss to the team.   If anything they appear a better team, they have dropped only one game out of the previous 10.   A play-off place could happen, and it must be noted that Teemu Selanne is playing awesome stuff, they could get in a play-off position.

The Sharks made a great trade when they lured Joe Thornton from the Boston Bruins.   Thornton’s arrival has them looking like a new team. Jon Cheechoo has scored 43 goals and counting, after being expected to score plus minus 25.   They are sadly lacking a top goal tender, but stand a good chance to get to the play-offs.

The Calgary flames are flickering, and fans are feeling threatened.  

Thanks to top goal tender, Mikka Kiprusoff , they still retain first place.

Currently, the defence has gone on holiday, and the offence are not exactly hotting up.   It is hoped that Jarome Iginla will flare up and get the flames burning red hot for the play-offs.

The Avalanche are blessed with solid veterans, like Joe Sakic, Alex Tanguay, and Rob Blake.   Offensively they are a threat, but lack solidity.   Rookie Mark Svatos was the team’s leading scorer, but unfortunately he got injured.

The goal tending trade of David Aebischer in exchange for Jose Theodore, who is injured, was inexplicable.   Their experience, however, should get them to the play-offs – but who knows after that?

Just making the dead line, the Oilers landed goal tender Dwayne Roloson, and Sergei Samonov, a forward.   Unfortunately they have only won 4 out of 10, and are holding on by a thread.   They had better re-inforce the thread, or else they “aint gonna make it”

VANCOUVER CANUCKS

The Canucks are in free fall without a parachute, losing 3 of their 10.   Their offence of Brendan Morrison, Markus Naslund, and Todd Bertuzzi.   They are suffering from Amnesia, and have forgotten where the net is.   Marc Crawford, the coach, is walking on thin ice.   If they can find themselves by the time the play-off’s occur, they might get past the first round.

Recently fired coach, Andy Murray, was a strange happening, considering, the Kings were in play-off contention.   Their goal tending leaves a lot to be desired, and the King’s throne is tottering.   They are only 1 point out, so there is still a faint hope.