SAINT PAUL, Minn.- The NHL’s Northwest division is not known for high scoring, high-flying hockey. Games between the bitter rivals are generally low scoring affairs with tight defense and goaltender duels.
Last season, the division title was decided by just three points, and there was a mere ten point difference between the division champion Minnesota Wild and the last place Vancouver Canucks. Most preseason predictions felt that the division was to be close yet again, unless a challenger steps up in the final half of the season, it may not be so. Current standings have the Calgary Flames (60 points) atop the division, with the proverbial accelerator to the floor. They lead by nine points over the Edmonton Oilers (51 points) and the Canucks (51 points), while the Wild (49 points) and Colorado Avalanche (47 points) seem more apt to fight to stay out of the cellar than make a run for the title. Here is a look at what the teams have done to get where they are, and what they will need to do in the final stretch to ensure a post season run. Calgary Flames The Flames have done very little different this year, playing their brand of hard nosed hockey that has given rivals fits for years. Led by captain Jerome Iginla, season wins leader Miikka Kipprusof, and Norris trophy candidate Dion Phaneuf, the Flames have a veteran squad, and added more grit by trading for Mike Cammalleri at the draft last June. The Saddledome has once again proven to be an intimidating place for opponents to play, and the Flames have turned that intimidation into a 17-5-3 home record. They also own an impressive 9-4-1 record against division rivals. The Flames are a true representative for the northwest division, as the have twice as many wins (28) as losses (14), yet carry only a plus 8 goal differential. In order to take their current lead through to the end of the season, the Flames will need to do what every team in the NHL will be doing in the stretch, lock down the defense, and play a tighter checking game. The Flames have the ability to win both low scoring and high scoring games. The Flames will need to continue to do so if they intend on winning the division. The Northwest division has a way of eating teams alive with even the slightest slip, so the Flames will need to keep a close eye on performance and correct any deviation quickly. Edmonton Oilers While the Flames are veteran team, the Oilers are a young squad. Captain Ethan Moreau leads a group of young stars such as Ales Hemsky, Lubomir Visnovsky, Eric Cole, and Dustin Penner in a different style of game than the Northwest is used to. While they have tough guys Zack Stortini and Sheldon Souray, the team relies more on an offensive style of play than the rest of the division. After trading Mathieu Garon to the Penguins, the Oilers are relying on 39-year-old goaltender in Dwayne Roloson between the pipes. While the Oilers do not dominate the division in any statistical category, they are consistently above the fold in nearly all that matter. They own a 24-19-3 record, with an 11-8-3 home record and 13-11-0 on the road. They are even at 6-6-1 against the Northwest, and carry a negative 2 goal differential. This infers that they have found ways to win, but have not found ways to win big. With the youth movement in Edmonton improving and gaining experience, the Flames need to watch over their shoulder for the rest of the season. Picked by many experts to win the division this season, the Oilers have the ability, and should they hit a winning streak, could easily overtake the Flames for the division. To do so, the Oilers need to find a way to give Roloson more support offensively and defensively. The more open style the Oilers play does not generally meet with success down the stretch in the NHL, so look for the situation to tighten up. Vancouver Canucks With a last place finish in the division, and a new General Manager at the helm, it could only be expected that things would be shaken up in Vancouver. A $10 million a year contract was offered to Mats Sundin, only to have him wait until late December to accept the offer. Pavol Demitra was brought in as a free agent as well. Add these two to the already potent scoring ability of the Sedin twins, and Vancouver has got to be excited about the possibilities. Gone, however, are the days of Marcus Naslund and Trevor Linden. Unfortunately for them, the team seems to have floundered rather than run away with the division. Currently tied for second, and only 4 points out of last, with a 22-19-7 record, the Canucks have not lived up to the expectation. Demitra and Roberto Luongo have been hurt after starting out hot, and Sundin has yet to get up to speed after missing the first three months of the season. They do not enjoy much of a home ice advantage with an 11-10-3 record at GM Place, and are even up with 137 goals for and against. They have shown signs of life, sitting at 8-4-2 against the Northwest. For the Canucks to win the division, they will need to get healthy, and Mats Sundin is going to have to find the ways of old. The Flames are not an easy team to catch, and with a zero goal differential, the Canucks have not shown much offensive flare, nor defensive prowess. If they can find their identity, and find ways to continue to win against the division and the games best teams, they still have as good a chance as any to take the division. Minnesota Wild Coming off of their first ever division title, expectations were high in Minnesota coming into this season. The Wild let leaders and veterans go such as Brian Rolston, Keith Carney, and Pavol Demitra. They brought in a youth movement with James Sheppard, Benoit Pouliot, and Colton Gilles. They pinned their hopes on Marian Gaborik to lead the team in scoring, while veterans Owen Nolan and Andrew Brunette to take the leadership role. The Wild’s defensive style of play and superb goaltending to help them win the close games, however, the train has derailed in Saint Paul, despite Doug Risebrough’s latest blog pleading the case to the contrary. Scoring is down, the young guys are not contributing, and the only part of the plan seemingly still in place is the goaltending of Niklas Backstrom. The Wild currently sit in fourth place, eleven points out of the division lead, and only two points out of last place. The Wild are just on the outside of the playoff bubble in the conference. After a hot start and with a horrible month of December, the Wild have a 23-20-3 record, with a slight advantage on home ice at 13-9-3. Their record against the Northwest is a paltry 3-5-1, though they do enjoy a plus 10 goal differential; do more likely to the teams strong defensive play rather than for their offensive skill. To have any chance of taking the division by storm, the Wild will need to find a way to score. Quite simply put, they are terrible offensively, and there is little help available within the organization. While defense wins championships, offense wins games. The veterans have indeed taken leadership, as has Mikko Koivu, who has shed his big brother’s shadow for good. Niklas Backstrom has proven his worthiness, being named to the NHL All-Star game. Hockey games, however cannot be won by goaltenders and leadership alone, they must be won with goals. To have a chance, the young players must step up and find a way to contribute. Colorado Avalanche To say the Avalanche have run into a bit of bad luck this season would be a gross misstatement. With no major off season moves, the Avalanche put its faith in veteran Joe Sakic, young star Paul Stasny, and the goaltending tandem of Andrew Raycroft and Peter Budaj. The wheels fell off when Sakic began having trouble with his back, and was ordered off the ice to rest and heal. While off the ice, Sakic injured his hand in what can only be described as a strange incident with a snow blower. After the hand injury, Sakic underwent back surgery, removing him for the rest of the season. Meanwhile, Stasny had taken Sakic’s place as the top center on the team, but is out for at least another 2-4 weeks after blocking a shot and breaking his arm. The goaltending duo has been less than stellar, and the Avalanche has fallen to the bottom of the division. Holding position in the cellar of the Northwest division is never an insult. The division is one of the toughest in the game. However, with the teams two leading scorers out, and no one willing to carry the torch, the Avs have fallen to 23-23-1 on the season, 14-10-0 at home, and 6-8-0 in division play. They suffer from a negative 9 goal differential, due greatly to the loss of the only two true scorers on the roster. For the Avs to come back and take the division would become one of the greatest comeback stories in the history of the NHL. Sakic is gone for the year, Stasny will not return in time to stage this comeback, and the goaltending situation looks less and less able to handle the work load. There are rumors of another Peter Forsberg return on the horizon, but it is doubtful that even Foppa can save this season for the Avalanche. What Happens Now The future of the division is not likely to be much different than the past. The race will likely come down to the last week or two of the season, as it has every season in recent memory. The teams will duke it out, splitting series and bruising each other’s bodies and egos along the way. When all is said and done, it is likely that two or three teams will make the playoffs out of the Northwest. Barring any major injuries, look for the Flames to lead the division the rest of the season. The Canucks just don’t look to have the chemistry in place to make a run, unless Sundin can really turn on the jets, but he better do it fast. The Oilers and the Wild seem more likely to push their way into the playoffs. The Oilers have the talent, and the Wild have Jacques Lemaire. The Avalanche will simply need to be content with playing out the season, and hoping next season goes better. The author can be reached at bryan.reynolds@prohockeynews.com
You must be logged in to post a comment.