HFNHL Red Wings
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With only 4 games left the Wings final playoff position and potential first round opponent is yet undecided. Here is a quick review of Detroits three possible first round opponents.
Wings vs. Sharks
Although this would require the Wings moving into the 3rd overall spot in the West that possibility is growing with the Wings a mere one point back of the Ducks and with 2 games in hand.
The Sharks remain the scariest of the three teams with their high tempo offence. There are some chinks in the Sharks defence that the Red Wings would look to exploit but Detroit is not a team built for shootouts with teams high powered offences like San Jose.
Probablity of success against the Sharks = 40%
Wings vs. Blue Jackets
There is no question that the Jackets have been the hottest team of late. Since the aquisition of Brodeur around the All-Star break the Jackets have been red hot with the best record in the Western Conference even surpassing the Blues for second half performance.
Despite the Jackets success GM Niece is confident his team can handle Columbus' offence and given enough opportunity will overcome the 'Brodeur' factor.
Probability of success against the Jackets = 70%
Wings vs. Ducks
Every year the Ducks in some way or form influence the Red Wings final playoff position but ironically the two teams have never met in the play-offs. This year looks equally unlikely but not impossible. Should the Jackets somehow leap frog both the Wings and Ducks only then would these two teams meet.
The Ducks have an interesting but delicately balanced team. GM Gledhill has finally found effective line combinations but in a series where linematching would come in to play is there any other possible combination?
The Wings and Ducks share many similarities in their team philosophy and so a series between these two rivals could come down to who gets the most favourable bounces.
Probability of success against the Ducks = 50%
Wings vs. Sharks
Although this would require the Wings moving into the 3rd overall spot in the West that possibility is growing with the Wings a mere one point back of the Ducks and with 2 games in hand.
The Sharks remain the scariest of the three teams with their high tempo offence. There are some chinks in the Sharks defence that the Red Wings would look to exploit but Detroit is not a team built for shootouts with teams high powered offences like San Jose.
Probablity of success against the Sharks = 40%
Wings vs. Blue Jackets
There is no question that the Jackets have been the hottest team of late. Since the aquisition of Brodeur around the All-Star break the Jackets have been red hot with the best record in the Western Conference even surpassing the Blues for second half performance.
Despite the Jackets success GM Niece is confident his team can handle Columbus' offence and given enough opportunity will overcome the 'Brodeur' factor.
Probability of success against the Jackets = 70%
Wings vs. Ducks
Every year the Ducks in some way or form influence the Red Wings final playoff position but ironically the two teams have never met in the play-offs. This year looks equally unlikely but not impossible. Should the Jackets somehow leap frog both the Wings and Ducks only then would these two teams meet.
The Ducks have an interesting but delicately balanced team. GM Gledhill has finally found effective line combinations but in a series where linematching would come in to play is there any other possible combination?
The Wings and Ducks share many similarities in their team philosophy and so a series between these two rivals could come down to who gets the most favourable bounces.
Probability of success against the Ducks = 50%