NHL Eastern Conference Betting: League's poor relations not pulling their weight

NHL / Richard Douglas / 26 December 2009 / Leave a Comment

Martin Brodeur is one of the Eastern Conference's heroes

"The West is holding sway over the East on the ice at the moment. In fact, but for the Pittsburgh Penguins' pinching the trophy last season by winning the last two games against the Detroit Red Wings, the East would have just one Stanley Cup win since 2004."

The Eastern is by far the weaker conference of the two and it is unlikely to throw up the Stanley Cup says Richard Douglas

As the cradle of capitalism, you might think that the United States would also employ 'free market' principles in their sport. Surely you would expect 'small government' from the leading authorities, with teams left to carve out success based on hard work and talent.
That, as the saying goes, would create their field of dreams.

However what do we get? Firstly a draft system that, if anything, rewards the weakest teams with the best college players. Karl Marx himself probably summed up the concept most succinctly. "From each according to his ability, to each according to his need."

Secondly, the US operates a play-off system that can mean the best two teams do not contest the showpiece game.

For example in the NHL, the Eastern and Western Conference have to meet in the final.
But what if one side is stacked with the best teams and, in reality, the No 1 and No 6-ranked sides actually battle it off. Kind of goes against the ethos of sport doesn't it?

That is what we may have in 2010 because the West is holding sway over the East on the ice at the moment. In fact, but for the Pittsburgh Penguins' pinching the trophy last season by winning the last two games against the Detroit Red Wings, the East would have just one Stanley Cup win since 2004.

That situation is reflected in the current statistics too. If you combine the records of both Conferences right now, six of the bottom eight would be Eastern.

This does not apply to the New Jersey Devils, the team who lead that table and are [4.1] for their Conference crown. They have won nine out of their last 10 games and are frankly flying. Recently goaltender Martin Brodeur equalled the all-time NHL shut-out record by keeping the Buffalo Sabres ([3.7]) scoreless.

The Penguins ([3.35]) are right on their heels. The reigning champions are 7-2-1 in their last 10 games and showing all the strength and aggression that swept them to the title last term. And of course, at this point last season the Penguins were well out of the play-off picture. A Pittsburgh made up of the second half of last term and the first half of this will be hard to stop.
The Washington Capitals [(3.3]) and the Sabres belong in the same company, albeit a pace behind. But after that, what is there?

Indeed you could even argue that the paucity of high-calibre teams in the division is padding out their records anyway and, in the longer term, the lack of a Play-Off dogfight may mean some of them shrink when they meet the bigger teams down the stretch.

Starting from the bottom with the Carolina Hurricanes ([13.0]), Philadelphia Flyers ([9.0]) and New York Islanders ([10.0]). Well just forget them. They all look sunk. A combined record of 9-19-2 in their last 10 games is just not enough. Islanders defender Brendan Witt recently went over the top of a runaway People Carrier in a road accident.. "I'm a hockey player. I'm OK. No big deal," he said before playing in the next game. Brave it may be but made little difference to their losing run.

Meanwhile the bottom has fallen out of the Tampa Bay Lightning ([10.0]), who have lost 10 of 12 and sunk to 11th in the East. The Florida side have been shut out four times in that stretch.

Further up there is little more to be excited about until perhaps the New York Rangers ([9.0]). They have won their last three, the best run in the Conference apart from the Devils, and are starting to get some return on their massive outlay on Chris Drury's wages. The Centre has goals in his last two games.

Moving into the play-off positions, the Boston Bruins ([4.6]) were perhaps the team most likely to break that quartet at the top. However they are bang out of form. Before their recent win they had lost four and had dropped to the edge of the top eight. One of the problems is the offence. They urgently require Marc Savard to get going. The centre, who has just got a brand-new long-term contract, recently suffered a five-game scoreless streak.

While eight teams must qualify for the play-offs from the East, maybe only four will be there on merit and only a couple - New Jersey and Pittsburgh - could really be considered potential Stanley Cup winners.

And that is just not enough.
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