NHL Playoffs Hitting Full Swing: Likely Suspects in Contention for Stanley Cup

Chicago Blackhawks Stanley Cup Trophy

One of the wonderful things about professional ice hockey is the even quality spread out across the NHL. 9 different teams have won the last 9 Stanley Cup titles. However, the 2013 NHL Playoffs look to be altering the trend a little bit. 8 teams are currently playing for the Cup and of those teams, 5 have won the Stanley Cup in the last five years, showing that a consistent quality team is the most likely to win it all. Also, it shows that we will probably see a recent champion win a second Stanley Cup title and gain prominence as an emerging dynasty in professional hockey.

 

The teams that look most favored to lift the cup are the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Chicago Blackhawks, the Los Angeles Kings, the Detroit Red Wings, and the Boston Bruins. Each team is a recent winner and knows the thrill and the hard work that must go into claiming the Stanley Cup.

The Chicago Blackhawks were the regular season’s best team and will expect to make a deep run in the playoffs. Having won the 2010 Stanley Cup after a Patrick Kane overtime goal in game 7, this team is now more mature and just as talented as their previous championship side.

 

Facing the Blackhawks are the 2008 champions, the Detroit Red Wings. A usual contender for the title, the Red Wings thrive with Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg, two experienced veterans who led the team to that championship. Although their regular season wasn’t as dominant, the Red Wings and Blackhawks are currently tied in what could be a thrilling Conference Semifinals matchup.

The other heavyweight favorite for the Stanley Cup is the Pittsburgh Penguins, who won it all in 2009. Behind the ever-talented Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, the Penguins were the best team in the Eastern Conference and currently hold a 2-1 advantage over the Ottawa Senators. Although Crosby hasn’t quite been the dominant figure in ice hockey that people suspected after his first championship, another victory would surely be a step in the right direction.

 

The Boston Bruins won the Stanley Cup in 2011 but had a pretty marginal 2013. With more of a team effort, the Bruins don’t rely on just several stars, and have been catapulted to a hot postseason following a dramatic game 7 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Bruins now sit 2-0 up on the New York Rangers and could be spurred on to another Cup with most of the same players from the 2011 team. That was a tight year though, and with the Blackhawks and Penguins more dominant this season, the talent gap could prove to be too high.

 

One last contender to examine is the reigning champion Los Angeles Kings, who are currently up 2-1 in their series with the San Jose Sharks. Seeded 8^th last year, they stunned everyone with a dramatic postseason run to the Stanley Cup, and the Kings may just do it again this year. They showed that dreams can become a reality! Could they do it again?

 

It’s doubtful. Because of the lopsided results in the regular season, I feel that this Stanley Cup will be contested between the Penguins and Blackhawks. But ice hockey is a tricky sport, and with game 7 playoff matches a common theme this year, perhaps a lower-seeded team can pull an upset. Let’s see how the rest of the NHL Playoffs shape up!

 

No matter which NHL team ends up with the Stanley Cup this year, AAA Sports Memorabilia will have a great selection of sports collectibles commemorating the accomplishment. We specialize in authentic autographed sports memorabilia and officially licensed sports collectibles. No matter what you are looking for, we probably have it. Our autographs are obtained through private signings with the athletes and are guaranteed for life to be authentic. We have been helping collectors since 2006 with their collecting needs and will continue to do so for years to come.

NHL Season Drawing to a Close: Who Will Win Stanley Cup?

Tony Esposito Signed Blackhawks Logo Hockey Puck

It seems a long time has passed since we last heard about the National Hockey League’s annoying lockout that basically cut the NHL season in half, but after three months, our mini-NHL regular season is coming to a close and the NHL Playoffs lie ahead on the horizon. With 16 teams emerging from the league, who among the hopefuls will earn the right to lift the Stanley Cup come summer?

For me, two teams have stood out above the rest of the NHL and will emerge in the playoffs as the best teams. Meeting in the Stanley Cup Finals will surely be the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Chicago Blackhawks. The only two teams that have more than 30 wins this season, they should do well in the post-season and have the best players from around the league.

 

The Pittsburgh Penguins are led by Sydney Crosby, the once-in-a-generation type of player, who has already won a Stanley Cup and an Olympic Gold Medal with his country, Canada. Crosby currently leads the entire NHL in points with 56. Although his 15 goals this year aren’t all too impressive, Crosby’s 41 assists is for second in the league and signifies his skills as a distributer and teammate. Clearly the league’s best player and still young at 25, Crosby would love another Stanley Cup and another championship to his legacy.

 

But the Penguins are a deep team behind their captain. Chris Kunitz is 6th in the NHL in points and has 21 goals. Pascal Dupuis has 20 goals, making the Penguins a very difficult team to defend against from all over the ice rink.

 The Chicago Blackhawks are a team based more around their depth of impact players, but also have two stars near the top in statistical categories. Patrick Kane is a rising star in the NHL and has the 4th highest number of points with 51. Only 24, he has also experienced personal glory when he scored the overtime Stanley Cup clinching goal for the Blackhawks in 2010.

 

Jonathan Toews is also proving to be a young hero for the Blackhawks, and also stands tall with 46 points on the season. The young offensive tandem for Chicago is a powerful combination, and the pair should have a delightful postseason. The Blackhawks are clearly well prepared for the future with these two sensational guys.

 

Both of these teams have already clinched the best records in their respective conferences and have the history and players to rightly be dubbed favorites for the Stanley Cup Finals. But who will win it all?

 

That is the glorious question of the occasion. Both teams have nearly identical records, with 34 wins and 10 losses. However, only 5 of the Blackhawks’ losses have come in regulation, with 5 coming in overtime after draws. All 10 Penguins’ losses have been in regulation. In fact, they have won all 5 of their overtime games. Chicago has a solid 11-5 overtime record, showing their worth as well.

 

However, due to the perfection of the Penguins in clutch, overtime matches, and their fewer overtime appearances in general showing they take care of business by regulation, I will give them the edge for the Stanley Cup. Additionally, although both teams are laced with young talent, Sydney Crosby is the most special player of them all this year and will lead the Penguins to glory. I predict a thrilling 7 game series between the two teams, with Crosby setting up Pascal Dupuis for the vital championship-winning goal with under a minute left in game 7. Should be a fun NHL Playoffs indeed!

 

A great selection of NHL autographed memorabilia can be found at AAA Sports Memorabilia. We also carry non-autographed officially licensed sports collectibles for the NHL with new products added daily.

Early NHL Standings as Hockey Season begins to Take Shape

Boston Bruins Signature Rink

After many hours of frustration, speculation, and general sadness throughout the ice hockey world during the painful strike that occurred in recent months, the NHL has returned and ice hockey is being played again. The season has now reached a point of roughly 15 games for most teams, and this provides a decent starting point to look towards which teams will be competing for the Stanley Cup finals this summer. Through the early goings of this NHL season, the most serious contenders appear to be the Chicago Blackhawks, the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Vancouver Canucks, the Boston Bruins and the Anaheim Ducks. Let’s see whom of these early darlings will go on to great success.

 

The team currently looking the most dominant is the Chicago Blackhawks. Their team is led by the sensational right winger, Patrick Kane. Kane is 4^th in the NHL with 21 points, and has helped the Blackhawks to an impressive 12-0-3 start. Having not lost a single game during regulation time, this team looks destined for greatness. The Blackhawks also won a Stanley Cup in 2010, with Kane providing a dramatic overtime goal to win the cup in the famous game 6.

 

The Blackhawks will have an early-season test tonight facing the Vancouver Canucks. Harboring a mighty defence with a veteran goalie in Roberto Luongo, the Canucks have proved tough to break down for opposing teams. With an 8-3-3 record they are the best team in the Northwest and will be a tough nut to crack for any high-scoring team.

 

Also impressive in the Western Conference of the NHL is the Anaheim Ducks, who have marched on to a solid 11-2-1 record. With the 4^th highest amount of goals in the NHL, the Ducks are in free-flowing form and are led by right-winger Teemu Selanne, a player from Finland who is still performing at the age of 42. Defying all logic and reason, this hot start from the Anaheim Ducks could lead to an incredible run. The Ducks last won the Stanley Cup in 2007, but Selanne would love another to cap off his career in style.

 

One team from the Eastern Conference that looks powerful is the Pittsburgh Penguins, led by the once-in-a-generation type of player Sidney Crosby. Although injuries have been detrimental to Crosby in recent seasons, he has played great thus far this year, and is 2^nd in the NHL in points. If he can just stay healthy, the Penguins will contend.

 

Another team to look out for is the Boston Bruins. With a 9-2-2 record, the Bruins aren’t built around stellar statistics or superstar players. The Bruins simply play and win as a team. They also have shown great determination in achieving a 94% penalty kill percentage. With their backs to the wall, they are a team that doesn’t give in, and their impressive start bodes well.

 

So how does the current NHL season look to pan out? It is far too early to make any clear predictions, but I do have a belief in “Sid the Kid” and fully suspect that the Pittsburgh Penguins have the best shot of lifting the Stanley Cup trophy at season’s end.

 

No matter which team you are rooting for to make it to the Stanley Cup, AAA Sports Memorabilia has a collectible for your team. We specialize in authentic autographed sports memorabilia and also have non-autographed officially licensed sports collectibles. All of our autographs are obtained through private signings with the athletes and are guaranteed for life to be authentic.