Regular Season Recap

Surprises, shocks and horrors ... and even a little bit of fun! The 2006-07 NHL regular season was full of all of this and more.

I just won't be covering any of it here.


Let's look at the regular season standings, with Bumf picks in brackets:

EASTERN CONFERENCE

1. Buffalo Sabres (1)
2. New Jersey Devils (5)
3. Atlanta Thrashers (8)
4. Ottawa Senators (4)
5. Pittsburgh Penguins (12)
6. New York Rangers (7)
7. Tampa Bay Lightning (10)
8. New York Islanders (11)
9. Toronto Maple Leafs (13)
10. Montreal Canadiens (6)
11. Carolina Hurricanes (2)
12. Florida Panthers (15)
13. Boston Bruins (9)
14. Washington Capitals (14)
15. Philadelphia Flyers (3)


I missed the boat on most of these, but most especially between the two Pennsylvania squads. I don't think anyone was going to predict the absolute demise of the Flyers in such spectacular fashion, while I was pleasantly surprised by the upstart Pens. The Panthers also made a big move in the second half of the season while Carolina was a big disappointment.

WESTERN CONFERENCE

1. Detroit Red Wings (4)
2. Anaheim Ducks (5)
3. Vancouver Canucks (13)
4. Nashville Predators (1)
5. San Jose Sharks (2)
6. Dallas Stars (9)
7. Minnesota Wild (7)
8. Calgary Flames (3)
9. Colorado Avalanche (10)
10. St Louis Blues (14)
11. Columbus Blue Jackets (8)
12. Edmonton Oilers (11)
13. Chicago Blackhawks (12)
14. Los Angeles Kings (6)
15. Phoenix Coyotes (15)

Didn't call the Flames quite right, as the team was plenty of more inconsistent than I would have suspected. I called the top two in both the Pacific and Central Divisions, though in the wrong order. I thought Columbus would have done better but I can be forgiven for Andy Murray's terrific turn-around in St Louis (which might also have something to do with the awful call on the Kings.) The Oilers, Hawks and Coyotes played perfect to form.


My picks for the inidividual award winners (with previous picks in brackets):

HART: Sidney Crosby PIT (Crosby PIT)
ART ROSS: Crosby PIT (Crosby PIT)
RICHARD: Vincent Lecavalier TB (Erik Cole CAR ?????)
NORRIS: Nicklas Lidstrom DET (Scott Niedermayer ANA)
VEZINA: Roberto Luongo VAN (Miikka Kiprusoff CAL)
CALDER: Paul Stasny COL (Evgeni Malkin PIT)
SELKE: Daymond Langkow CAL (Stephane Yelle CAL)
BYNG: Martin St Louis TB (Daniel Alfredsson OTT)
MASTERTON: Joe Sakic COL (Eric Lindros DAL)
ADAMS: Barry Trotz NAS (Trotz NAS)
PEARSON: Crosby PIT (Crosby PIT)


1st Team All Stars

CENTRE: Crosby PIT
RIGHT WING: Dany Heatley OTT
LEFT WING: Thomas Vanek BUF
DEFENSE: Lidstrom DET
DEFENSE: Dan Boyle TB
GOAL: Luongo VAN

2nd Team All Stars

CENTRE: Joe Thornton SJ
RIGHT WING: Jarome Iginla CAL
LEFT WING: Daniel Sedin VAN
DEFENSE: Niedermayer ANA
DEFENSE: Chris Pronger ANA
GOAL: Martin Brodeur NJ