The Atlantic: Toughest Division In Hockey

Throughout the last decade or so, the Devils have been very successful in winning what has been a challenging division many years.  While the Atlantic has always been tough (thank goodness for eight playoff teams), it might just reach its peak this season, with five teams looking for a playoff spot.  Rivalries are bound to intensify, and inter-division games should become even more important (and exciting as well).

Last year, we could have probably given the Atlantic division the exact same hype.  The Flyers were the defending Eastern Conference Champions; the Penguins were a year removed from a Stanley Cup win; the Rangers were a point from a playoff berth the year before; the Islanders looked to be a young team on the rise; and lastly (but certainly not least), the reigning Atlantic champion Devils had resigned Ilya Kovalchuk and were looking for a long run in the playoffs.

However, things simply didn’t pan out in 2010-2011; the Atlantic (barely) had three playoff teams last season, none of which won a game past the first round.  Philly, while having a better regular season than they did the previous year, was swept in the second round by Boston after major struggles in their own zone plagued them all year.  The problem was much simpler for the Pens: after Crosby and Malkin went down, they somehow managed to land a four seed in the East, but proceeded to lose to the Lightning in the first round in (an exciting) seven games.  The Rags ended up making the playoffs, but only could beat the Capitals once after getting the help they needed on the last day of the regular season.  The Isles youth was supposed to get better; unfortunately, no one told them, and they actually ended up digressing.  And finally, the Devils had a season no one could have seen coming, with an historically bad first half they could not put behind them in ultimately missing the playoffs for the first time this millenium.

But now, its a new season.  The Penguins have Crosby and Malkin back to go along with a stacked group of forwards.  The Flyers have completely retooled, trading Mike Richards and Jeff Carter to improve in other areas after acquiring goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov from the Coyotes.  The Rangers look to improve their standing in the East; landing Brad Richards should certainly give them a large boost.  After drafting Ryan Strome, the Isles have improved a very young (and talented) roster, and will look to crack a playoff spot for the first time in five seasons.  And the Devils will look to build on an incredibly great second half last year, in which the team completely turned their play around and was one of the best in the game.

In terms of what we have to worry about, the Devils will play 24 inter-division games.  Against the arch-rival Rangers, expect a little less in-game fierceness (Sean Avery may not be a Ranger after his arrest this morning); oddly enough, the first Devs-Rags matchup at (the newly renovated) MSG is well into the season, on February 7th (with another matchup to come later in the month at the Garden).   The Flyers’ changes this offseason should bring a style similar to the one the Devils have displayed throughout the past few years; Philly now has a quality goaltender, to go along with a fairly strong group of defensemen, that will provide a huge boost in their own zone.  Look for very competitive games between the two rivals this season.  Perhaps the most exciting team to play inside the division has been the Penguins in the past; this year, we will see two balanced teams on the ice when the Devs and Pens meet, to go along with much star power in Crosby, Malkin, Parise and Kovalchuk (as well as many younger, exciting skaters).  Finally, things will be much the same against the Isles in 2011-2012; they will always be pesky, and if the Devils are off their game behind their own blue line, the Islanders will surely take advantage.

Like I said, these games (making up just under one-third of the season) should be even more exciting and important this season (and in the future) as all have playoff hopes, and will need to bring out their best when they face teams with the same aspirations.  While the Rangers and Flyers rivalries are like no other, all four of these teams will obviously never show any remorse; victories against them will mean a little extra throughout the year (and any other year, for that matter).  While I do expect (at least) four of these teams to be among the eight best in the East (the Islanders will have a shot as well), the order of finish in the Atlantic will be a highly debatable topic in the coming months and throughout the season.  Be sure to voice your opinion on this in the comments.  I will be sure to analyze each of these teams further before the season begins on Pucks and Pitchforks.

-Drew