All right NHL fans...It's time!!

[Onceuponalife]

Who will win the Stanley Cup this year? Now is the chance for you to make the case for your team.

The Sharks have a good chance at it yet again. Talk about a franchise with staying power!! Antti Niemi has started 31 games in a row and is on fire. Pavelski, Couture, Mitchell and Marleau are all hot. Couture is a legit candidate for the rookie trophy. They are currently tied with Detroit at #2 in the West. Their record since the all-star break is 18-4-3. Has any team done better in that time? I thought maybe Vancouver, but I just checked and they have gone 16-8 since then.

Also, all five teams in the Pacific division have a chance to make the playoffs. Unbelievable! Gotta be the best division in hockey right now...all the rest of the Sharks' games are intra-divisional which should prove to be a great warm-up for the playoffs.

[Upton]

1. Niemi needs a break...

he hasn't looked as sharp the last few games. And after playing 30 in a row, and now that Nitty is supposedly healthy again, I just don't understand why Niemi started again last night in the second of a back to back..

[JonLP24]

2. I'll be rooting for Phoenix

Can't wait for the playoffs.

[Forkboy]

3. Been saying the Canucks all year, so I'll stick with them.

[Onceuponalife]

4. A good bet

The Sedin Bros. line might be the hardest line to contain in hockey. Imagine if Ovechkin had a twin playing on his line...

[Forkboy]

5. The Sedin Brothers are just flat out sick.

Vancouver has all the pieces in place for a good run. They were close last year, but I felt it was Chicago's year. The Canucks seem a little grittier this year, which should help them in the playoffs. But it'll come down to Luongo, and whether or not he can finally win that big game. We'll see. Half the west looks poised to make a solid run.

[chollybocker]

6. Vancouver had such a great season.

But when's the last time a #1 team went on to win the Cup? (Probably the Red Wings in the early 90's? - too lazy to look it up.)

In the East, The Flyers and Bruins look tough to beat, but the Sabres and Caps probably had better 2nd halfs. Lots of good goalies: Thomas, Price, Miller, Lundqvist, Ward. The Bruins adding Tomas Kaberle to their blueline put them over the top.

Canucks vs Bruins in the finals.

[chollybocker]

8. I looked it up tonight.

Past 10 NHL seasons:

President's Trophy Winner / Stanley Cup Finalists

99-00 Blues / Devils over Stars
00-01 Avalanche / Avalanche over Devils
01-02 Wings / Wings over Pens
02-03 Senators / Devils over Ducks
03-04 Wings / Lighting over Flames
04-05 Lockout season
05-06 Wings / Hurricanes over Oilers
06-07 Sabres / Ducks over Senators
07-08 Wings / Wings over Pens
08-09 Sharks / Pens over Wings
09-10 Caps / Blackhawks over Flyers
10-11 Canucks / ???

[Forkboy]

10. Well, then, maybe the Bruins will win the Cup then!

[rpannier]

7. Hoping for the Sharks

Picking the Canucks

[madinmaryland]

9. The Hartford Whalers? Isn't Gordie Howe still playing for them??

[Forkboy]

11. I think he finally retired after 107 years in the league.

[madinmaryland]

13. I used to drive over to his restaurant/bar in Glastonbury, CT back in the

early 80's. Neat place. Didn't know much about hockey, but the place had some cool memorabilia. Though my memory is somewhat fuzzy!!

[Forkboy]

14. My memory from yesterday is fuzzy, so don't feel bad.

[chollybocker]

12. Gordie is alive and (hopefully) well,

he turns 83 in two days (3/31/28).

The Whalers are currently fighting for a playoff spot in Carolina.

[KamaAina]

15. Ah yes, hockey-mad Raleigh, N.C.

[LisaM]

16. The Wings!

Who else?

[Onceuponalife]

18. The Sharks have now pulled ahead of the Wings in the West!

Home ice would be sweet if they meet in the playoffs!

[Kingofalldems]

17. Will it be the year of the Capitals?

The Great 8 is now rested and ready.