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From: lake@alberta.UUCP (Robert Lake)
Newsgroups: net.sport.hockey
Subject: Re: Re: New York Islanders
Message-ID: <464@alberta.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 29-Apr-85 13:42:38 EDT
Article-I.D.: alberta.464
Posted: Mon Apr 29 13:42:38 1985
Date-Received: Tue, 30-Apr-85 06:33:04 EDT
References: <4846@ucla-cs.ARPA> <459@alberta.UUCP> <5050@ucla-cs.ARPA>
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Organization: U. of Alberta, Edmonton, AB
Lines: 47

> Of course my predictions are colored by my favorite teams, but with a
> little logic thrown in. ...

I agree, a LITTLE logic was thrown in (but only a little). (:-))

>                      ... The Islanders are not a bunch of crotchety
> old men who can barely walk - there are 6 rookies on the team right

I can't attest to their walking ability, but their skating ability
lately has left much to be desired.

>                                             ... But I look at it this
> way - the Flyers are playing as well as they can (if not better), and
> quite frankly the Islanders haven't played very well.

I maintain the reason for this is that they are being outskated by the
Flyers.

Now that the Islanders have been eliminated, I would think it is time
for a general house-cleaning to occur with them, as they aren't going
to improve as long as they've got most of their veterans.  I know it is
difficult to dissassemble a former dynasty, but I think the Islander
management will have to look very closely at the likes of Gillies, Nystrom,
Persson, Bourne, Kallur, Potvin, and yes, even Trottier (oops, did I
just name the entire team? (:-)).  The way I see it, either you have
a former dynasty, or you have a Stanley Cup competitor.  Maybe if they
got rid of Potvin and Smith I might begin to like the team again.

> As for Chicago vs the Oilers. Hands up anyone who believes the Hawks
> are really a .500 team? Ok, put your hand down Rob. This team had a

Thanks, my hand was getting quite tired.  I watched the game last night
and I can't see the Oilers having any problems against a team that can
blow a 4-0 lead AT HOME (!!!).  And this is with all their regular
players active.  Sorry Rick, I agree injuries did hurt them a lot, but
they still aren't playing hockey worth much more than the approximate
.500 record they displayed during the regular season.  If they manage
to get past Minnesota (which is not at all certain right now) I think
the Oilers will sweep the series against them.

> ... (assuming they don't get hit with the tradional pre-Oiler injury
> jinx) 

Pre-Oiler injury jinx?  Granted the Jets were missing Hawerchuk, but
who were the Kings missing?
					Robert Lake (alberta!lake)
					University of Alberta