Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version nyu B notes v1.5 12/10/84; site acf4.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!gamma!epsilon!zeta!sabre!petrus!bellcore!decvax!decwrl!pyramid!ut-sally!seismo!cmcl2!acf4!crnivani From: crnivani@acf4.UUCP (Carlo Cernivani) Newsgroups: net.sport.hockey Subject: Re: 2nd best team in NHL Message-ID: <6940001@acf4.UUCP> Date: Mon, 16-Dec-85 14:27:00 EST Article-I.D.: acf4.6940001 Posted: Mon Dec 16 14:27:00 1985 Date-Received: Wed, 18-Dec-85 05:07:49 EST References: <2418@yale.ARPA> Organization: New York University Lines: 53 The view from Section 309 at Madison Square Garden hasn't been the best in terms of seeing good hockey. Herb Brooks, Craig Patrick, and the boys have seen to that. It would be difficult to list the Ranger problems but we do get to see how the game should be played every now and then. The general feeling in my section is that after the Oilers you have a couple of teams on the second plateau. The Flyers are clearly there. Individually their talent is good, not great. Kerr, Propp, Howe, and Froese form a good core but the thing that makes the Flyers such a strong team is, what else, work and discipline. When they work within the framework of their system they're tough to beat. The Oilers, like the Stanley Cup Islander teams, can beat you any way you want to go. The Flyers on the other hand have to show up each night and execute to win. Obviously, they do that quite regularly. The Flyers should make the finals this year. The Calgary Flames have a strong team. They have a ton of size up front and can wear you down with a good checking game with plenty of physical play on the boards and around the net. They're probably still a couple of players away but they always give the Oilers a tough time. The Oilers are to the Flames what the Islanders have always been to the Rangers. The team to beat in the conference and the team that has/had the one big play, the one lucky bounce, the one roll player come through to beat you. The Flames, like the Rangers, rise to the occasion of the challange but are always *this* far away. Until they can get past the Oilers the Flames will have to wait. IF the Oilers faulter (*cough*), then look for the Flames to be there. The Washington Caps are a mystery to us. They have a strong defensive game. Langway comes to play every night. They're forwards (Carpenter, Gartner, etc.) are quick, move the puck well, and at times are quite explosive. It may just be a matter of time and a bit more experience in the playoffs but they still have to show they can do it in April. The Islanders were the obstacle, now it's the Flyers. They're our dark horse pick in the conference. After the Flyers, Flames, and Caps you have a mess of teams that are up and down. Bruins: the offense isn't there. Quebec: If they played everybody like they play Montreal they'd be someone to contend with. Winnipeg has been a major disappointment. What's they're story?? Before the year started I thought Chicago would rebound from last year and turn it around. Guess not. Then there's Buffalo. Defense, defense, defense. Bowman = zzzzzzzzzzzz. Last but not least, you gotta love the Red Wings. They're making the Ranger payroll look like a dime store operation. They're minor league affiliate must be serving champagne and caviar in between periods. Like we keep saying at the Garden, you can buy talent but you CAN't buy a winner. It's a good thing I didn't get started on the Rangers. I'd be typing for hours. Carlo A. Cernivani Usenet: ...!floyd!cmcl2!crnivani 251 Mercer Street New York, N.Y. 10012 (212) 460-7157 Arpa: Cernivani@NYU.ARPA ps. COME HOME JOEY MULLEN!