PHL 9 A YEAR OF FIRSTS

PHL 9 has been a year of surprises....well for the Americans anyways. Never before have the Americans finished above the .400 level in win percentage. Feat accomplished. Never before have the Americans made the playoffs. Feat accomplished. Never before have the Americans won their division. Feat accomplished. A little too soon and premature in the Americans grand plan for respectability. But we will definitively accept it. Not to mention team records set this season as feeble as they might appear.
In PHL 7, the Americans expansion year, Brooklyn was lapped by the entire league and fell across the finish line playing a woeful .119 hockey and finishing dead last. Obviously no playoff spot. PHL 8 saw Brooklyn accumulate a 34 point improvement in the standings (which was great), but with a winning percentage below.400 the Americans, gasping for air, stumbled to a second last overall finish. Once again no playoff spot.
Believe it or not the Americans have an invitation to the PHL 9 grand ball this season with a top seed in their division and their dance card punched by the owner less Barons. This is all new to the Americans, players and management. The playoff jitters will be there. Will there be a quick first round exit? Is there that much of a difference in the game from the regular season to the playoffs? Does Brooklyn have to experience losing to learn how to win on this stage? Most American players competed in the PHL 8 farm final (and lost it), is there that much of a difference in the hype and gamesmanship? If Brooklyn does get upset will the choke lable be applied to them? Absolutely! On all counts.
But we are ecstatic to be apart of it. No matter what happens.
Suds O'Shea........American beat writer.

Can we end the regular season with a strong finish

With just four games remaining in the regular season, can the Wolverines finish strong?
The Wolverines will play a quad header on the last day of the season. If the can produce two wins and earn just 5 of a possible 8 pints, they will leapfrog over the Tigers and finish out the season in 3RD place in the Pacific Division.

PACIFIC Division


GP W L T GF GA PTS PCT LAST 10 STREAK
MAJORS 79 44 29 6 307 245 94 .595 6-4-0 2G winning
OIL KINGS 80 43 33 4 315 273 90 .563 7-3-0 2G losing
TIGERS 80 31 41 8 259 284 70 .438 4-5-1 2G winning
WOLVERINES 76 30 41 5 241 293 65 .428 1-7-2 4G winless
SPIRIT 77 27 40 10 239 293 64 .416 1-7-2 6G winless

The standings show the Wolverines are winless in their last four games, but in the last two games they have earned 2 points. Lets take a peek and see how their chances are at finishing 3RD.

Their 1ST game is at home, as they host the Grizzlies. The results of this should be a win, but these are the type of teams that have nothing to lose and will come out ready to play for pride. I'll call this game tie.

The final 3 will be road games. A double header with the Blades, and then on to play the Spirit. The Blades who have made it into the playoffs with just 20 wins, just might be out played by the Wolverines. Even being out played, the Blades will come away with 1win.

So, it comes down to the final game to see if the Wolverines can finish strong. Now we wait and see what happens

Cupp A Joe

Blackhawks Press Release

The Blackhawks have 1 game left to there season. There is a lot of things that need to be accomplished before the season ends. Erik Staal needing his one assist still to keep his 9 pa. Laliberte needing 10 shots and to keep his shooting% up to stay at 9/9. Will this all happen?? Blackhawks are almost below .500 what happened to this team? Blackhawks are sitting 4th overall in the league as of now. Makes it easier for them in the waiver.

The Oil Kings season is over. After acquiring steve mason the whole season was turned around. They almost exceeded that .600 win mark again. Look for both the Blackhawks and Oil kings to come out firing in the play offs.

Pete "Almighty" Rose

Jets vs Flames

Playoff race..Jets vs Flames
Even though the Oilers haven't clinched, they need only win one of their
last four games to do so. Count the Oilers in unless they fall flat on their
face and break their collective nose.
Flames 74 pts 2 games left max..78 pts
against Oilers…..record…..Flames 3-1….scores 5-1, 6-3, 4-3, 3-5
Flames outscore Oilers 18-12
against Blue Jackets…record..Flames..1-1…scores 5-3, 2-4
Scoring tied at 7 goals each
Jets 74 pts 3 games left max 80 pts
against Canucks….record….Jets....0-4…scores 1-7, 1-6, 1-4, 0-1
Canucks outscore Jets 18-3
against Leafs…record…Jets…2-0…scores…7-4, 3-2
Jets outscore Leafs 10-6
against Oilers..record…Jets…2-2…scores..2-3, 3-2, 4-5, 3-2
scoring tied at 12-12
Give each of them a win and a tie based on past performance and this
ends up in a tie.
What is the tie-breaker in this event??
Jets vs Flames
Jets record…..3-2 against the Flames
Ergo:
Count on seeing the Jets in the playoff picture.
Bob
Jets/Bobcats GM

Looking forward to the post season

As the end of regular season nears, the Blue Jackets are looking forward to playing in the post season. It's been a rough year with the loss of Forsberg and a couple of other players, not to mention the departure of GM Colston.

Now that GM Colston is back, does he sit back and let Coach Don Cherry finish running the season or will he jump into the mix and try to upset the Mighty Leafs?

I sat down with both GM Colston and coach Cherry today in a rare interview to see if the two of them are on the same page as the Jackets head into the playoffs.


Cupp A Joe: Welcome back Mr. Colston. Are you back for good, or is this a temporary stay of execution?

GM Colston: Welcome back, what are you talking about Cupp? I really never left, I just needed to take a step back and rejuvenate myself.

Cupp A Joe: Speaking of taking a step back, how about those Bruins?

GM Colston: That was a low blow Cupp, even for you. Is that some kind of news story? I did predict them to finish last in their Division as I recall. So much for their GM being smarter.

Cupp A Joe: How did you predict the Norris to end up sir?

GM Colston: I pretty much hit that prediction dead nuts balls accurate.

1Leafs
2Red Wings
3BlackHawks
4Blue Jackets
5Blues

The only difference is the Hawks will finish 2nd and the Wings will finish 3rd.

Cupp A Joe: Were you really worried about how this years teams would finish?

GM Colston: I consulted coach Cherry on that matter Cupp. He had told me that there was no way in Hell the Jackets would make the post season in his opinion. Sure after losing Forsberg and the other guys, I knew things were bad in Columbus.

I made a couple of terrible deals, I wasan't sure how the guys would react. Coach Cherry deserves a pat on the back for what he has accomplished this season.

Cupp A Joe: Coach Cherry, do you have any comments about the fall of the Bruins?

Coach Cherry: We have a team named Bruins in the PHL?

Cupp A Joe: You may get some hate mail after that statement sir.

Coach Cherry: Everyone grab a 6 pack and shut the hell up! I'm glad to have GM Colston returning to run the day to day operations of the Jackets. Bring on those whining bitches that call themselves the Leafs.

Cupp A Joe: So the Jackets are ready for the Leafs, coach?

Coach Cherry: Not sure about that, I just hate not being able to show off my suits. This is not live television Cupp, and everyone knows how great I dress.

Cupp A Joe: Ok then, any predictions for round one?

Coach Cherry: Jackets pulling off an upset over the Leafs in 6!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


There you have hockey fans. Not sure what coach Cherry was smoking, but pass it my way.


Cupp A Joe

Whalers PR

Sorry I haven't spoken up lately but I have been a bit busy working with this team.

Our GM, Mr Gagne, is a complete genius in my humble opinion. To be able to acquire Afiny at the deadline is an amazing coup. Then with this recent schelaking of the terrible "BOOINS" and Afiny picking up 3 points on 4 shots and quite possibly putting the last nail in their playoff coffin is nothing short of FANTASTIC.

I would love to gush further on the tremendous attributes of our fantastic GM, Mr Paul Gagne, but unfortunately we still have some work to do and I will get back to ya all in the playoffs, I'm sure of it.

From the desk of
Whalers Coach
Pat Quinn

Don't let the facts get in the way of a good rant, Dougie Slack!

Doug the Slug is very quick to point out that first place teams in other divisions wouldn't even be fourth in the Adams. Alas, my compadre is accurate on that fact. Too bad he doesn't check em all...We will just deal with the Patrick Division leading Flyers. Though we would be in tough, standing wise, let's look at the record. What's that? Are you serious? The Flyers are 7-6-2 against the Adams?.....True! Now break it down...500 vs the Sabres (1-1-1), took the season series against the Habs (2-1-0) and undefeated against the Whale (2-0-1).

What does that leave? Yes Virginia, we lost to the Nords and the Bruins (both 1-2-0). The silver lining, our win against the Bruins was an ass kicking 11-4! What's that? OH! RIGHT! They are not making the playoffs. That makes the Quebec Nordiques our only nemesis in the Adams.....BRING ON THE PLAYOFFS!

Opportunity Knocks

Now Dougie Mac. You must think carefully through that drunken haze. After being abandoned, the good ship Blue Jackets has actually played better with no one at the helm. No one has claimed salvage rights on her (all ships are defined as female, seems to make sense here) so wouldn't you jump at the opportunity. You can always sink the Blue Jackets again later if she springs more leaks.

The Product(cal) Son has Returned???

Dougie Mac here in Beantown....DRUNK & PISSED!!!

The Bruins are all but eliminated from the playoffs, and my boy GMAC is looking like he may be fired!!!

To compound this, the lowly Whalers; who are SURE to be swept in four; are running their mouths?!?!?! Sluggie??? That the best you got GAG-ne???

Now I am hearing that Warren “G” Colst-EN, is making a return??? How does that GUY get re-hired??? Better yet, how does he SHOW HIS FACE??? He single handidly destroyed a franchise??? Then he disappears to become a candle and greeting card mogul, and now he's back??? For what??? Jackets are the worst franchise in the LEAGUE!!!

At least the Blues have futures??? Bruins must be SALIVATING at the opportunity to use that 1st round pick next year.....WELCOME BACK!!!!

I, Douglas MacLean, Jack Adams finalist, hockey insider, and all around NICE GUY, cannot get a job!!! What has this world come to??? SERIOUSLY.....no SERIOUSLY!!!

The Bruins are still set, this is simply a speed bump....GMAC is the man!!!

Whalers PR

Well the end of the world must be near and it's still 2 years until 2012.

The so called terrible Whalers not only beat the "strong" Nords but actually shut them out. WHAT!!! Yes I said SHUT THEM OUT. Like I have said in the past when everyone thought I was off my rocker, we are for real and are gunning for the cup.

We as an organization can't wait to see the lowly Booins fall out of the playoffs and STAY OUT!!

Everyone keep looking over your shoulders the Whalers are in high gear and ready to steamroll the competition.

From the desk of
Paul Gagne
Whalers GM