Metropolitan Divison final predictions
By Zack Astran, Sports Editor //
There once was a time when the Metro Division was looked upon as the weakest of the four divisions in hockey.
This season, the Metro Division has taken a complete 180 degree turn and features some of the best and most consistent teams in hockey.
Here are my predictions for how the top 5 spots will finish the season:
1. Pittsburgh Penguins
The Penguins have always been at the top of the division year in and year out. Last season they won the division with ease, but failed to reach the Eastern Conference Finals yet again, even with such high expectations. This lead to the firing of the GM and head coach Dan Bylsma.
It may feel like a down season for Sidney Crosby, but Sid the Kid still is fifth in the league in points (19 goals, 39 assists). The Penguins are in the position that are in largely due to the fact that Marc-Andre Fluery is having a career season (26-11-6, 2.19 GAA, .924 Save %).
This season with a new GM and a new head coach, the Penguins sit tied for second place in the Metro (32-25-9- 73 points), only two points behind the New York Islanders. By seasons end, I have Fluery and the Pittsburgh Penguins topping the Islanders to finish in first place for the second straight year.
2. New York Islanders
What a surprise. There are few words to describe how the Islanders have played this season. Last season, the New York Islanders finished DEAD LAST in the Metro Division (34-37-11- 79 points).
During the offseason, the Islanders added Jaroslav Halak, Mikhail Grabovski and Johnny Boychuk. These three acquisitions have propelled the Islanders from last, to first place this season.
Halak currently sits in second place in wins for a goaltender (31, two behind Pekka Rinne) and has shured up all of the goaltending issues that the Islanders have had for the last couple of years. Grabovski adds a unique speed to the Islanders offense, but the most important acquisition arguably is Johnny Boychuk. Coming over from the Boston Bruins, Boychuk has sured problems on the defensive end for the Islanders. Night in and night out he plays against teams top lines.
By seasons end, I have the Islanders in second place in the Metro, only a couple of points behind the Pittsburgh Penguins for first place.
3. Washington Capitals
If it wasn’t for the New York Islanders, the Capitals would be the surprise of the Metro Division. The addition of Barry Trotz has proved to pay huge dividends. His commitment to detail on the offensive and defensive end have given the Caps an entirely new identity from previous seasons.
Alex Ovechkin is arguably having one of this best all around seasons while leading the league in goals (36 goals, 21 assists, +11 rating). Coming off a four point effort a night ago against the Ducks, Alex Ovechkin and the Caps have solidified themselves as a serious contender.
I have the Capitals finishing in third place in the Metro Division only because of the injury to Henrik Lundqvist of the New York Rangers. His injury will hurt the Rangers one way or another in the long term.
4. New York Rangers
The New York Rangers, after starting off slow again this season, have played incredibly well over the course of the last two months.
The acquisition of Dan Boyle helps the already loaded defense. The most important player on the Rangers has to be Rick Nash who is having his best season as a member of the Rangers (35 goals, 20 assist). Rangers fans have been waiting for Rick Nash to come around like this for the past two seasons.
Although the Rangers currently sit tied for second in the Metro Division, I do not see them finishing in the top three come seasons end. Whenever a team loses one of the best goaltenders in the league for a significant amount of time, it has to come around to bite eventually. Although Cam Talbot is a proven backup, I don’t think that he can carry this team the way they need him to.
I have them finishing in fourth place, three points behind the Washington Capitals for third place in the division.
5. Philadelphia Flyers
It has surely been an up and down season for the Flyers this season. After a brutal start, the Flyers have actually turned things around as of late.
They currently sit very far back in the Metro Division (12 points back of the fourth place Caps), but have played better in recent weeks. They currently sit five points back of the Boston Bruins for second place in the wild card, but I can’t bet on this team making the playoffs, especially after Steve Mason went down with an injury.
Outside of Claude Giroux, Jakub Voracek and Wayne Simmons, the Flyers have really struggled in almost every aspect of the game.
The Flyers will now have to rely on Ray Emery as the starting goaltender for the next couple of weeks, and I don’t see that turning out well for the Flyers. I have them missing the final wild card spot by seven points and finishing fifth in the Metro Division.