Chase for the Cup 1998

All the series were the best of seven with the games being played HHAAHAH.
Congratulations to the Philadelphia Flyers who have won the 
Labatt Ice Cup for the 1997-98 season


        EASTERN CONFERENCE   Div Points                    WESTERN CONFERENCE   Div Points
        Philadelphia Flyers  (N)  130                      Colorado Avalanche   (P)  107
        New Jersey Devils    (N)  110                      Edmonton Oilers      (P)  102
        Pittsburgh Penguins  (A)   92                      Detroit Red Wings    (C)  102
        Washington Capitals  (N)   88                      Vancouver Canucks    (P)   79
        Buffalo Sabres       (A)   84                      St Louis Blues       (P)   79
        New York Rangers     (A)   82                      Dallas Stars         (C)   79


Eastern Conference


First Round of Playoffs
Sabres -vs-   Capitals Capitals win series 4-3
Game 1. 2-4 WASHINGTON 1-0 Washington
Game 2. 5-2 Buffalo 1-1 Buffalo
Game 3. 5-3 Washington 2-1 Washington
Game 4. 2-5 BUFFALO 2-2 Buffalo
Game 5. 4-1 Buffalo 3-2 Buffalo
Game 6. 5-2 Washington 3-3 Tie
Game 7. 2-1 WASHINGTON 4-3 Washington
 		Rangers -vs-   Devils Devils win series 4-1
Game 1. 1-5 NEW JERSEY 1-0 New Jersey
Game 2. 1-2 NEW JERSEY 2-0 New Jersey
Game 3. 1-3 New Jersey 3-0 New Jersey
Game 4. 6-3 NEW YORK 1-3 New York
Game 5. 1-3 New Jersey 4-1 New Jersey

Second Round of Playoffs
Capitals -vs-   Flyers Flyers win series 4-0
Game 1. 3-0 PHILADELPHIA 1-0 Philadelphia
Game 2. 4-0 PHILADELPHIA 2-0 Philadelphia Game 3. 4-5 Philadelphia (OT) 3-0 Philadelphia Game 4. 1-2 Philadelphia 4-0 Philadelphia
 		Devils -vs-   Penguins Devils win series 4-2
Game 1. 1-0 PITTSBURGH 0-1 Pittsburgh
Game 2. 5-4 PITTSBURGH(OT) 0-2 Pittsburgh
Game 3. 3-2 NEW JERSEY 2-1 New Jersey
Game 4. 5-3 NEW JERSEY 2-2 Tie
Game 5. 3-4 New Jersey 3-2 New Jersey
Game 6. 5-2 NEW JERSEY 4-2 New Jersey

Eastern Conference Finals



Philadelphia Flyers - New Jersey Devils

New Jersey won New York Rangers in the first round in five games. In the second round they met 
Pittsburgh Penguins, which had gotten a first round bye after finishing second in the Eastern 
Conference. All the games were very tight but afterall Devils were able to win the series from 
a team, which played a better regular season. The same time Mario Lemieux played his last game 
in the NHL. Philadelphia controlled the regular season and they started their playoffs on the 
second round against Washington. The first two games went 3-0 and 4-0 to Flyers but when the 
games went to Washington, things weren't that easy, they did win both games but the first game 
at D.C went to overtime and the second one ended 2-1. They weren't that dominating on the road.

If the Colorado-Edmonton series show some good goaltending, this series offer some great goaltending. Dominik Hasek and Martin Brodeur have both showed what they can do. But if both of them look great, they both have good defensive players in front of them. Of course they are among the best goalies at the moment but both teams are also known for their good defense.

As for defenders, Devils are missing a good two-way defender while Flyers have Paul Coffey. But Devils' trap system needs just some good defensive defenders, who they have and Flyers don't have so many. Devils' defense led by Scott Stevens is the key to this series, Flyers are strong in all the positions including attackers. Devils have to find a way to stop LeClair and co. if they want to win the series. Flyers have strong defense corps also but their defensive game is built around Hasek.

You can see the difference in these two teams defensive play. For Flyers' low GAA people thank Hasek as for Devils' low GAA people thank their good defense.

LeClair, Lindros, Ciccarelli and Bure at Philadelphia. Holik, Mogilny, Sheppard and Granato at New Jersey.

Which one of these two groups would you take? I believe the upper one. Those guys at Philadelphia are true goal scorers but surprise, Philadelphia has four 20 goal scorers while New Jersey has six. And a quick look at the both teams two best goal scorers shows that
Lindros and LeClair scored 34 per cent of Philadelphia's goals while Holik and Mogilny scored only 23 per cent of New Jersey's goals. All this shows how important LeClair and Lindros are for Philly's offense while New Jersey has more depth. Both teams are in an interesting situation with the attackers' defensive play; both teams have many good defensive attackers
but neither of teams have defensively solid attackers, almost everyone is poor or good defensively but not many fall between those two. Here's again something which works for New Jersey. They have defensively better attackers led by Brent Sutter and Kelly Miller... 

An interesting series coming up in here also. All the games will be ending 3-2 or so. Many would say Philadelphia will sweep New Jersey straight in four but they won't. If they'll even win the series. There's something in New Jersey which makes me feel they'd win the series. Philadelphia does have the best names in the league but is it enough? It's really hard to say but I go with Devils.

The series will be even more exciting if the owners decide to play head to head.
Devils -vs-   Flyers Flyers win series 4-2
Game 1. 1-5 New Jersey 0-1 New Jersey
Game 2. 4-3 PHILADELPHIA 1-1 Tie
Game 3. 1-0 NEW JERSEY 1-2 New Jersey
Game 4. 2-1 Philadelphia 2-2 Tie
Game 5. 3-1 PHILADELPHIA 3-2 Philadelphia
Game 6. 6-3 NEW JERSEY 3-3 Tie
Game 7. 4-2 PHILADELPHIA 4-3 Philadelphia

Western Conference


First Round of Playoffs
Stars -vs-   Oilers Oilers win series 4-0
Game 1. 2-4 EDMONTON 1-0 Edmonton
Game 2. 1-3 EDMONTON 2-0 Edmonton
Game 3. 2-1 Edmonton 3-0 Edmonton
Game 4. 5-1 Edmonton 4-0 Edmonton
 		Blues -vs-   Canucks Blues win series 4-2
Game 1. 2-1 St Louis 1-0 St Louis
Game 2. 2-4 Vancouver 1-1 VANCOUVER
Game 3. 2-0 St Louis 2-1 ST LOUIS
Game 4. 1-2 Vancouver (2OT) 2-2 Vancouver
Game 5. 7-1 St Louis 3-2 ST LOUIS
Game 6. 6-4 St Louis 4-2 St Louis

Second Round of Playoffs
Blues -vs-   Avalanche Avalanche win series 4-2
Game 1. 3-4 St Louis (2OT) 1-0 St Louis
Game 2. 3-1 COLORADO 1-1 Tie
Game 3. 2-3 Colorado (1OT) 2-1 Colorado
Game 4. 2-4 ST LOUIS 2-2 Tie
Game 5. 5-2 COLORADO 3-2 Colorado
Game 6. 3-4 Colorado 3-4 Colorado
 		Oilers -vs-   Red Wings Oilers win series 4-2
Game 1. 2-3 Edmonton (OT) 1-0 Edmonton
Game 2. 3-2 DETROIT 1-1 Tie
Game 3. 5-1 EDMONTON 2-1 Edmonton
Game 4. 3-2 EDMONTON (2OT) 3-1 Edmonton
Game 5. 5-2 DETROIT 3-2 Edmonton
Game 6. 3-2 EDMONTON (OT) 4-3 Edmonton

Western Conference Finals


 
Colorado Avalanche - Edmonton Oilers

Oilers have played strong series against Dallas and Detroit. They swept Dallas straight in four 
games but against Detroit they were very close to being dropped out as the seventh game went to 
overtime. But they made it and if they're able to beat Dallas and Detroit, they can cause big 
trouble for the Avalanche.

Avalanche earned a first round bye and started their playoff campaign against St.Louis Blues. 
The series went on to seven games in which the Avalanche were able to get a 3-4 win. It was even
a bit surprising the Avalanche needed all the seven games. Blues do have a very good team but 
still, if Colorado is looking to win the series, they'll have to play better.

The series can be won by the goalies' play. Both teams have great playoff goalies in Curtis 
Joseph and Patrick Roy. Roy seemed to be better at the regular season and is one of the best 
goalies ever. But Curtis Joseph has also shown what he can do to keep his team in the game.

Both teams have good defensemen, some offensive minded and some who can take care of their own 
end. Adam Foote and Sylvain Lefebre are both strong players at their own end while Luke 
Richardson and Bryan Marchment are both capable doing it for Edmonton. The offensive defensemen 
are important in the fast end to end rushes. Colorado's Sandish Ozolinsh is one of the bests at 
it. With Rob Blake (who's a great two way defender) Colorado has two very good offensive 
defensemen. Edmonton has to offer especially Boris Mironov who's also very good in both ends and
then they have guys like Dan McGillis and Bryan McCabe who are both good but not that flashy.

Both teams have a 40 goal scorer in Ryan Smyth and Adam Deadmarsh. They are in very important 
roles trying to lead their teams' attack. But both of them can be shut down (atlest they'll get 
some extra attention), after them Edmonton has four other 20 goal scorers and Colorado three.
Valeri Kamensky, Joe Sakic, Peter Forsberg and Claude Lemieux sound and are great players all. 
Claude Lemieux especially has been awesome in the playoffs, he has the real will to win.
Edmonton might not have such great names but "Vinnie" Damphousse, Doug Weight, Andrei Kovalenko 
and Derek King are all strong players who 
you can't forget.

In order to win the series, you'll have to have some good defensive attackers also. Colorado has
Forsberg, Keane, LaCroix and Yelle but Edmonton has two very good defensive players in Rob 
Zamuner and Kelly Buchberger and also Draper, Murray and Marchant. Edmonton should take the 
benefit out of it's good defensive attackers. They'll be in a key position as this series comes 
down to all little things.

I believe that Edmonton Oilers will win the series but it won't be easy. As a team they look 
like a bit better than Colorado and they have more depth but Colorado has some very good
players who can turn things upside down in no time.

This series will end in six games.
Oilers -vs-   Avalanche Colorado wins series 4-2
Game 1. 5-1 COLORADO 1-0 Colorado
Game 2. 3-1 COLORADO 2-0 Colorado
Game 3. 5-1 EDMONTON 2-1 Colorado
Game 4. 6-3 EDMONTON 2-2 Tie
Game 5. 2-5 Edmonton 3-2 Edmonton
Game 6. 1-3 EDMONTON 4-2 Edmonton

Labatt Ice Cup Challenge Championship
Oilers -vs-   Flyers Philadelphia wins 4-2
Game 1. 6-1 PHILADELPHIA 1-0 Philadelphia
Game 2. 7-2 PHILADELPHIA 2-0 Philadelphia
Game 3. 4-2 EDMONTON 2-1 Philadelphia
Game 4. 2-1 EDMONTON 2-2 Tie
Game 5. 3-0 PHILADELPHIA 3-2 Philadelphia
Game 6. 1-6 Philadelphia 4-2 Philadelphia

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