CEDA highlights advancement of major projects and programs under Vision 2030    Saudi commitment to pragmatic solutions towards a greener future is reemphasized as SGI Forum set to kick off on Tuesday    Vietnam approves $67 billion high-speed railway linking Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City    Canadian news publishers sue OpenAI over alleged copyright infringement    Driving the future: How public transportation is transforming Saudi Arabia    Syrian government forces clash with insurgents in Aleppo    Poland fortifies eastern border with military project    Three crushed to death in Gaza bakery crowd amid worsening food crisis    Australia bans children under 16 from social media in groundbreaking legislation    Mahrez's strike secures Al-Ahli a narrow win over Al-Wehda    FIFA announces nominees for The Best FIFA Football Awards 2024    Riyadh Metro: An enduring legacy of King Salman's leadership and vision for Riyadh's future    Saudi Arabia's FIFA World Cup 2034 bid achieves highest evaluation score in history    Substitute Al-Othman leads Al-Qadsiah to a crucial victory against Al-Khaleej    Minister Al-Samaani inaugurates technical office to enhance judicial quality in Qassim    Saudi Arabia receives extradited citizen wanted for corruption crimes from Russia    K-Pop group NewJeans split from agency in mistreatment row    Culture minister visits Diriyah Art Futures    Best-selling novelist Barbara Taylor Bradford dies    Adele doesn't know when she'll perform again after tearful Vegas goodbye    Order vs. Morality: Lessons from New York's 1977 Blackout    India puts blockbuster Pakistani film on hold    The Vikings and the Islamic world    Filipino pilgrim's incredible evolution from an enemy of Islam to its staunch advocate    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



NHL powers facing newcomers
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 15 - 04 - 2015

ANAHEIM, California — The NHL's Western Conference has produced six of the last eight Stanley Cup champions, and it looks powerful again this season, though its recent hierarchy has gone through a bit of upheaval.
Half of the Western teams heading into the postseason this week missed the playoffs last year. These newcomers have all the momentum, as well, in a slate of unpredictable matchups with veteran squads.
Take the Anaheim Ducks, who have battled with Los Angeles and San Jose in the postseason for years. The Ducks comfortably won the Pacific Division again and held off St. Louis for the conference's top spot, yet they are the only California team left in the division against three Canadian clubs for a spot in the semifinals.
The Central Division is dominated by three mainstays with time running out on their title aspirations. Chicago has two recent Stanley Cup wins, while St. Louis has been on the brink of a playoff breakthrough for three frustrating seasons. Minnesota also is eager for overdue success in its third straight postseason.
They're joined by upstart Nashville, which has been among the NHL's biggest surprises in the Predators' first season under coach Peter Laviolette.
The eight-team West field features only three teams with previous NHL titles, and the Blackhawks are the only contender with multiple championships.
Nashville, Vancouver, Minnesota, Winnipeg and St. Louis — now in its 47th NHL season — have never raised the Stanley Cup. Calgary and Anaheim each have won it once.
The odds are on an unfamiliar title contender to emerge from the West, but it will have to earn it.
Here's a glance at each of the four series:
Ducks (51-24-7) vs. Jets (43-26-13)
Teemu Selanne retired a year too early. His Ducks have drawn a first-round matchup that will send them all the way to Winnipeg, where the Finnish Flash began his NHL career and is still beloved.
The Ducks that he left behind are deep, balanced and tough — and they're widely considered to be ripe for an upset by the surging Jets, who squeaked into the postseason for the first time since their NHL return nearly four years ago.
Winnipeg will rely on physical play to go after an early upset before getting the series back to its frenzied hometown, but the Ducks could be motivated by a league-wide lack of respect for their three straight years of excellence.
Canucks (48-29-5) vs. Flames (45-30-7)
This all-Canada matchup pits two Pacific Division surprises. Vancouver bounced back swiftly from last season's collapse, returning to the playoffs with a retooled roster under new coach Willie Desjardins. Calgary overcame the injury loss of captain Mark Giordano and persevered through a harrowing stretch run for its first postseason berth in five years.
The Flames appear to be an unbalanced team, but its top-end talent is scintillating. Rookie wing Johnny Gaudreau and second-year center Sean Monahan have teamed with Jiri Hudler to create one of the NHL's most dynamic lines.
The Canucks are still led by the Sedin twins, whose puck-possession skills and offensive flair are just as entrancing as they were a decade ago.
Blues (51-24-7) vs. Wild (46-28-8)
St. Louis' reward for a season of steady excellence is a nightmare first-round matchup with Minnesota, which has been arguably the NHL's most impressive team since mid-January.
Both teams are uniformly deep and balanced, and this series will match strengths on strengths when St. Louis' dominant power play goes against Minnesota's stellar penalty-killing units.
Predators (47-25-10) vs. Blackhawks (48-28-6)
Chicago was arguably the NHL's most consistent power in the previous half-decade, winning two titles and making five playoff appearances. With salary cap issues and age catching up to this roster, the Blackhawks might be down to their last shot at another Stanley Cup as currently constructed.
And if goal-scoring sensation Patrick Kane makes a return from a broken collarbone, the entire series could shift. Kane was cleared for contact in practice Monday, and coach Joel Quenneville expects him to play in the series. — AP


Clic here to read the story from its source.