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With a burgeoning group of young players, a bolstered blue line and a healthy goaltending tandem, the Islanders seem ready and willing to finally shed that pesky "rebuilding" tag that has followed them the past two seasons. 
Offensively, the Islanders have <a href="/topics/John_Tavares">John Tavares</a> coming off a 24-goal rookie campaign and <a href="/topics/Matt_Moulson">Matt Moulson</a> looking to prove his breakout 30-goal season was no fluke. 
Defensively, the team added gritty, offensive-minded <a href="/topics/James_Wisniewski">James Wisniewski</a> and veterans Mark Eaton and <a href="/topics/Mike_Mottau">Mike Mottau</a> to a stable of promising young defensemen that includes <a href="/topics/Jack_Hillen">Jack Hillen</a> and Andrew MacDonald. 
Returning in goal is last season's team MVP, <a href="/topics/Dwayne_Roloson">Dwayne Roloson</a>, and the injury-plagued <a href="/topics/Rick_Dipietro">Rick DiPietro</a>, whose training camp has gone off without a hitch. 
Poised to make that next step, however, the Islanders recently suffered sobering setbacks. They lost two of their top players - defenseman Mark <a href="/topics/Mark_Streit">Streit</a> and forward Kyle Okposo - to serious shoulder injuries. 
Both suffered the injuries during intrasquad scrimmages within the last week. Streit is expected to miss six months with a torn labrum, a torn rotator cuff and a dislocation of his left shoulder. Okposo suffered a torn labrum in his right shoulder and is not expected back until December. 
Streit and Okposo led the team in ice time, finished in the top three in scoring and served as alternate captains last season. 
"Those are big, substantial losses in leadership on and off the ice," said captain Doug <a href="/topics/Doug_Weight">Weight</a>, who has been sidelined with a groin/hip flexor injury this preseason. "It's hard to see guys go down like that. You could see the pain in Kyle's eyes when he got hurt and then with Mark being out too, it's been a tough couple of days for us." 
Despite the losses, Weight said the team must forge ahead. "It's up to us pull the rope a little tighter so we can put ourselves in a good position for when we get them back," said the 39-year-old veteran. 
The Islanders hope the silver lining to losing Streit and Okposo is the competition among players to fill the vacancies. 
Several young players - Nino Niederreiter, Matt Martin, Jesse Joensuu, Calvin de Haan, Travis Hamonic and Mark Katic - now have a chance to earn roster spots that otherwise might not have been available. 
General manager Garth Snow invited several veterans to camp for tryouts to fulfill the preseason roster requirement. <a href="/topics/Anders_Eriksson">Anders Eriksson</a> and Jed Ortmeyer have a chance to stick with the club. 
Snow said he hopes to see the team's supporting cast step up to the challenge. "This is a great opportunity for other players to win ice time," he said. 
Regardless of who makes the roster on opening night, the objective remains the same. Injuries or no injuries, the Islanders are sick of being stuck in the bottom of the standings, sick of packing their bags in April. Sick of "rebuilding." 
"We're sick of being mediocre," <a href="/topics/Rick_Dipietro">DiPietro</a> said. "It's time to take the bull by the horns. No excuses."

New York Islanders

SPISLESPRE03

Islanders want to shed 'rebuilding' label

Islanders forward John Tavares

First there was the lightning-quick kick save to stop Flyers forward <a href="/topics/Scott_Hartnell">Scott Hartnell</a> on a breakaway midway through the second period. Next came the flurry of stops that left him sprawling on his back minutes later. Then <a href="/topics/Dwayne_Roloson">Dwayne Roloson</a> robbed defenseman <a href="/topics/Braydon_Coburn">Braydon Coburn</a>, snatching his blistering snap shot out of mid-air. 
"I don't even know how he made some of those saves," teammate <a href="/topics/Matt_Moulson">Matt Moulson</a> said after the Islanders' preseason game in <a href="/topics/Philadelphia">Philadelphia</a> Wednesday night. 
At 40 years old, Roloson still is defying expectations. He's still showcasing that ability to make ridiculous, acrobatic saves, that nagging need to improve and that stubborn will to succeed. 
And <a href="/topics/Dwayne_Roloson">Dwayne Roloson</a> still is giving the Islanders the chance to win every night. 
"He's like a bottle of red wine," said Roloson's former goaltending coach in <a href="/topics/Edmonton">Edmonton</a>, Pete Peeters, who now works for the <a href="/topics/Anaheim_Ducks">Anaheim Ducks</a>. "He just gets better with age." 
Roloson restored strength and stability to the Islanders' goaltending position last season, finishing with a record of 23-18-7 (including a streak of seven wins in eight starts from Dec. 23 to Jan. 12). The Islanders have not divulged how they plan to use him now that <a href="/topics/Rick_Dipietro">Rick DiPietro</a> is healthy, but Roloson isn't worried about the details. 
"I can't control who plays and when,'' he said, "so I just worry about what I can control." 
Whether it's his offseason conditioning, his creasework or his pregame meal, Roloson is meticulous about everything he can control. On the ice, he plays angles and percentages, hunts the puck relentlessly and keeps his butterfly nice and tight. 
"He's 40 years old and he's still so good because he's so focused," Rob Schremp said. "He's almost obsessive about his routine and rhythm." 
The Islanders were lucky that Roloson found his rhythm early last season. With a new team and several young players in various stages of development, Roloson served as the backbone of a team struggling to find some consistency. 
"I think he played extremely well for us, especially at the beginning of the year when we were still trying to figure out our identity," Islanders goaltending coach <a href="/topics/Mike_Dunham">Mike Dunham</a> said. "For our young guys to know he's very stable back there, that gives them the confidence to execute our game plan and not worry about making mistakes." 
"It's so important to have good goaltending. You can't mask bad goaltending," coach Scott Gordon said. "Roli had a tremendous first half for us." 
Always the perfectionist, however, Roloson wants to improve upon last season's performance. 
"It was an OK season," he said. "I've never been a guy that's been too high or too low. Was it a great season? No. Was it a bad season? No. It was OK.'' 
He added, "There's always room for improvement. A great year would be winning the last game of the playoffs."

SPIFEAT03

At 40, Roloson can still save Islanders in net

Preseason schedule. The team drastically cut the travel time from last September. The split-squad games and cramped schedule hampered the team's ability to prepare and evaluate.
 
Uncertain future. Although owner <a href="/topics/Charles_Wang">Charles Wang</a> declared that the Islanders will stay on Long Island until the expiration of their lease in 2015, the team's destination after that is anyone's guess.
 
Offensive holes. The Islanders need more legitimate goal-scorers. The loss of Kyle Okposo will make this even more apparent.

News

SPITHREE03

What we like / don't like about the Islanders

Since last season's opening night, the Rangers have erased <a href="/topics/Wade_Redden">Wade Redden</a>, <a href="/topics/Ales_Kotalik">Ales Kotalik</a>, <a href="/topics/Donald_Brashear">Donald Brashear</a>, <a href="/topics/Aaron_Voros">Aaron Voros</a>, <a href="/topics/Chris_Higgins_%28footballer%29">Chris Higgins</a> and Steve Valiquette from the roster. And the last move in a New York jersey for <a href="/topics/Olli_Jokinen">Olli Jokinen</a> was his bizarre effort in the shootout finale against the Flyers that left coach John <a href="/topics/John_Tortorella">Tortorella</a> and Blueshirt fans incredulous and bitter. 
That part of the slate has been wiped clean as the Rangers gear up for their 85th anniversary season, which opens Friday in Buffalo. But whether the Rangers can celebrate with a return to the postseason after missing the party for the first time since the conclusion of the lockout in 2005 certainly is open for debate. 
What will it take? Here's a quick rundown:
There are plenty of "ifs," but each of the three key areas appears to have been upgraded, at least incrementally. 
In goal, <a href="/topics/Henrik_Lundqvist">Henrik Lundqvist</a> should be fresher. After 73 appearances plus his duty for the Swedish Olympic team last season, The King's knee was cranky and required offseason treatment. So in the first move of free agency July 1, the brass inked veteran backup <a href="/topics/Martin_Biron">Martin Biron</a>, who is expected to start between 15 and 20 games. 
On defense, the re-signing of restricted free agents Marc Staal and <a href="/topics/Dan_Girardi">Dan Girardi</a> locks in the top shutdown pair for years. Michael Del Zotto returns after a season in which he cracked the All-Rookie team. <a href="/topics/Michal_Rozsival">Michal Rozsival</a>'s body is wearing down, but when healthy, he's a solid minutes-eater.
Without Redden, 33, and his $6.5-million salary, which were assigned to the minors, the five, six and seven slots will be younger and presumably more productive. North Bellmore product <a href="/topics/Matt_Gilroy">Matt Gilroy</a> got stronger over the summer. <a href="/topics/Steve_Eminger">Steve Eminger</a> and youngsters Ryan McDonagh, Pavel Valentenko and Michael Sauer are battling down to the wire, although a couple could yet be cut.
Up front, the signing of left wing Alex Frolov, 28, a talented scorer who played seven years for the Kings, should take some of the offensive burden from star <a href="/topics/Marian_Gaborik">Marian Gaborik</a>, who registered 84 points. No center for that potentially dynamic duo has been determined; it could be Vinny Prospal, <a href="/topics/Erik_Christensen">Erik Christensen</a> or someone brought in from the outside. 
To be sure, the Rangers are counting on these players to improve their numbers from last season: Artem Anisimov, <a href="/topics/Ryan_Callahan">Ryan Callahan</a>, <a href="/topics/Brandon_Dubinsky">Brandon Dubinsky</a> and <a href="/topics/Sean_Avery">Sean Avery</a>. 
Impressive rookie center Derek Stepan, a <a href="/topics/Wisconsin">Wisconsin</a> Badger like McDonagh who left school early to turn pro, is expected to see time in both the <a href="/topics/National_Hockey_League">NHL</a> and AHL. <a href="/topics/Tim_Kennedy">Tim Kennedy</a>, a small, quick free agent, and tryout <a href="/topics/Ruslan_Fedotenko">Ruslan Fedotenko</a>, who played for Tortorella in <a href="/topics/Tampa">Tampa</a>, should add depth on the wings, along with returnee <a href="/topics/Brandon_Prust">Brandon Prust</a>.
Captain <a href="/topics/Chris_Drury">Chris Drury</a>, who missed the preseason games with a broken index finger, will provide his brand of leadership and two-way play. Derek Boogaard, a 6-8 deterrent, replaces <a href="/topics/Jody_Shelley">Jody Shelley</a>, who replaced <a href="/topics/Donald_Brashear">Brashear</a>.
Then there are the intangibles: In the Atlantic Division alone, the Flyers' offense is stronger, the Penguins' defense has been upgraded and the Devils start the season with late-season pickup <a href="/topics/Ilya_Kovalchuk">Ilya Kovalchuk</a>.
Finally, there is the mercurial Tortorella, who has said he feels more comfortable in his second full season here and believes his players are as well.
File that under "To Be Determined.''

New York Rangers

SPRPRE03

Rangers have clean slate, but plenty of 'ifs'

Rangers center Artem Anisimov

Amid the airborne rolls of used tape, the piles of equipment and the distinct aroma of an <a href="/topics/National_Hockey_League">NHL</a> locker room after a hard practice, it's not very often that one discusses British literature with a Russian player.
"I love <a href="/topics/John_Fowles">John Fowles</a> . . . I liked The Collector, The French Lieutenant's Woman, all his books, but . . . The Magus [Magician] is the best one," said soft-spoken Alex Frolov, who has settled in New York after playing in <a href="/topics/Los_Angeles">Los Angeles</a> for seven years. "I love history, mostly Russian and European." 
And Dostoevsky?
"Oh, my favorite," said Frolov, 28. "In Moscow, you read one or two of his books in school; I've read all of them."
Right now, Frolov is partway through a Russian novel about a librarian. 
Make no mistake: Frolov doesn't fit the stereotype of a bookworm. At 6-2, 215 pounds, the left wing - who joined the Rangers as a free agent during the summer - plays a puck-possession game by using his strength in the corners and in front of the net. 
After being drafted 20th overall in 2000 by Los Angeles, Frolov became the Kings' most prolific scorer with 168 goals, including two seasons of 30-plus goals and 381 points. 
Nor is his lifestyle monkish. In Southern <a href="/topics/California">California</a>, he lived in Manhattan Beach, the oceanfront community with a pro athlete on every street, roomed with <a href="/topics/Sean_Avery">Sean Avery</a> on the road and quickly named Nello on Madison Avenue and Bond Street Sushi as two of his go-to restaurants in Manhattan. 
"I'm not like a farmboy," he said with a grin. "I grew up in a beautiful city, and especially when you spend eight years in the U.S., you know what to expect, you know where to go."
Like other players of his generation, Frolov watched tapes of Russia's gold-medal runs in the 1972 and 1976 Winter Olympics. A major star of those teams, Alexander Yakushev, was the coach of his first pro team in Moscow. 
"He was pretty tall, about my size now," Frolov said, "and a left wing. When you're a kid, it's more about relying on your skills, but when you go pro, you have to adjust your game to play against physical opponents. That's what I learned. And in the U.S., you always have to use your body to play here." 
Before the 2000 entry draft, 24 teams interviewed him, but not the Kings. "I'm not 100 percent sure, but I don't think so," he said. "I was surprised when they picked me. I thought I was going higher, but there were trades and I dropped and all of a sudden, all the teams I thought would be going to take me had passed. I thought, 'Where am I going?' L.A. was a big change for me. No other Russians, I didn't speak English, a different culture. But you adjust." 
Last season, Frolov fell out of favor with Kings coach Terry Murray, who criticized his defensive lapses and bounced him off the power play and the No. 1 line. His numbers suffered. When he became available, the Rangers offered a one-year, $3-million deal that Frolov viewed as a fresh start. So far, so good. 
Skating with sniper <a href="/topics/Marian_Gaborik">Marian Gaborik</a> and on the power play, Frolov registered a goal and four assists in the first four preseason games. If the magic indeed is back, the Rangers may have found a best-seller.

SPRFEAT03

Bookworm Frolov can be best-seller for Rangers

Commitment to youth. Three rookies made the club last season. Next wave of Derek Stepan, Ryan McDonagh, <a href="/topics/Pavel_Valentenko">Pavel Valentenko</a>, Chris Kreider are keepers. 
 
Adding <a href="/topics/Martin_Biron">Martin Biron</a>. The veteran goalie eases the workload of <a href="/topics/Henrik_Lundqvist">Henrik Lundqvist</a>, who played 73 games. If Biron wins half his starts, it's a huge plus.
 
Signing Alex Frolov. <a href="/topics/Marian_Gaborik">Marian Gaborik</a>'s one-man army (42 goals) wasn't enough. If free agent Frolov rebounds, the Russian left wing could post 65 points.

SPRTHREE03

What we like / don't like about the Rangers

Storylines 
1. WHO WANTS IT? The top seed in the East hasn't won more than one round in each of the last three seasons, with the Caps last season becoming the first No. 1 East seed to lose in the opening round since 2002. The Caps and Penguins are again the class of the conference, but is it worthwhile to grab that top overall spot? 
2. SID VS. OVIE. <a href="/topics/Sidney_Crosby">Sidney Crosby</a> and <a href="/topics/Alexander_Ovechkin">Alex</a> <a href="/topics/Alexander_Ovechkin">Ovechkin</a> get to renew their rivalry on the grandest regular-season stage New Year's Day, with the Penguins and Capitals meeting in <a href="/topics/Heinz_Field">Heinz Field</a> in the Winter Classic. Neither could will his team to the <a href="/topics/Stanley_Cup">Stanley Cup</a> Finals last season, and <a href="/topics/Alexander_Ovechkin">Ovechkin</a> has to prove he can lead his team over the long haul still. 
3. A MESSY SUMMER IN NEWARK. <a href="/topics/Ilya_Kovalchuk">Ilya Kovalchuk</a> is indeed a Devil, but it took some wrangling with the <a href="/topics/National_Hockey_League">NHL</a> to approve the 15-year, $100-million deal, and <a href="/topics/New_Jersey_Devils">Devils</a> president <a href="/topics/Lou_Lamoriello">Lou Lamoriello</a> still has work to do to get under the salary cap. Throw in another first-round flameout by <a href="/topics/Martin_Brodeur">Martin Brodeur</a> in the spring, and it's a crucial season for the most consistent franchise in the East. 
4. RISING ABOVE THE MEDIOCRE. The playoff race in the East went down to the final shot of the final game, and then Flyers rode that wave all the way to the finals. There's still barely a difference in talent level between half a dozen teams in the East - the Senators, Flyers, Rangers, Thrashers, Canadiens, Hurricanes, Lightning and <a href="/topics/New_York_Islanders">Islanders</a> are still fairly even - so whoever can make the best run down the stretch could be the favorite to emerge from the conference. 
5. WITH THE FIRST PICK OF THE 2011 <a href="/topics/National_Hockey_League">NHL</a> DRAFT . . . The <a href="/topics/New_York_Islanders">Isles</a> suffered serious injury setbacks already, but they won't fall that far. The Leafs again do not own their first-round pick - the Bruins could reach the Finals and pick No. 1 - but they're lottery-bound, not headed straight for the basement. The Panthers, who have GM Dale Tallon trying to right a listing ship, are going to be in the battle for the first overall pick from start to ugly finish. 
Three of a kind 
BEST FORWARDS 
<a href="/topics/Sidney_Crosby">Sidney Crosby</a>, Penguins. Keeps improving his all-around game and leadership. 
<a href="/topics/Alexander_Ovechkin">Alex Ovechkin</a>, Capitals. Best pure skill, but is that enough for this team? 
<a href="/topics/Steven_Stamkos">Steven Stamkos</a>, Lightning. Could be only second 60-goal scorer since the 1990s. 
BEST DEFENSEMEN 
<a href="/topics/Zdeno_Ch%C3%A1ra">Zdeno Chara</a>, Bruins. Steady as ever, still as imposing as ever. 
<a href="/topics/Dion_Phaneuf">Dion Phaneuf</a>, Leafs. New captain could help turn around flagship franchise. 
<a href="/topics/Tyler_Myers">Tyler Myers</a>, Sabres. Rookie of the year winner hoping to avoid sophomore slump. 
BEST GOALTENDERS 
<a href="/topics/Ryan_Miller">Ryan Miller</a>, Sabres. No worries of Olympic hangover this season. 
<a href="/topics/Tuukka_Rask">Tuukka Rask</a>, Bruins. No. 1 job is all his, and deservedly so. 
<a href="/topics/Henrik_Lundqvist">Henrik Lundqvist</a>, Rangers. More time off may lead to better games down the stretch. 
TOP NEWCOMERS 
John Carlson, Capitals. Jumping into an already loaded team should help young defenseman. 
Tyler Seguin, Bruins. No. 2 overall pick gets <a href="/topics/Patrice_Bergeron">Patrice Bergeron</a> and <a href="/topics/Mark_Recchi">Mark Recchi</a> as first linemates. Not too shabby. 
P.K. Subban, Canadiens. Playoff experience should help future cornerstone defenseman. 
ON THE BRINK 
<a href="/topics/Fredrik_Modin">Fredrik Modin</a>, Thrashers. Cup-winner not healthy enough to impact improving team. 
<a href="/topics/Bryan_McCabe">Bryan McCabe</a>, Panthers. Mean-streak defenseman losing a step for a losing squad. 
<a href="/topics/Doug_Weight">Doug Weight</a>, <a href="/topics/New_York_Islanders">Islanders</a>. Terrific leader, but already injuries are nagging at him. 
Playoff picks 
EIGHT WHO ARE IN 
1. Penguins 
2. Capitals 
3. Sabres 
4. Bruins 
5. <a href="/topics/New_Jersey_Devils">Devils</a> 
6. Senators 
7. Rangers 
8. Flyers 
CONFERENCE FINAL 
Penguins over Sabres in seven games.

SPNHLWEBPRE03

In the East, Pens will outlast Caps, Sabres

Storylines 
1. WINDY CITY REPEAT? In a word: No. The Hawks still have the core of <a href="/topics/Jonathan_Toews">Jonathan Toews</a>, <a href="/topics/Patrick_Kane">Patrick Kane</a>, <a href="/topics/Duncan_Keith">Duncan Keith</a> and <a href="/topics/Brent_Seabrook">Brent Seabrook</a>, but a lot of the role players were dropped to avoid salary-cap hell. Dustin Byfuglien and <a href="/topics/Andrew_Ladd">Andrew Ladd</a> (Thrashers), <a href="/topics/Kris_Versteeg">Kris Versteeg</a> (Leafs) and Antti Niemi (Sharks) are all gone; <a href="/topics/Marty_Turco">Marty Turco</a> has come on to be the No. 1 goaltender, which is a serious downgrade. 
2. RETURN OF THE WINGS. Goaltender <a href="/topics/Jimmy_Howard">Jimmy Howard</a> is a year older and wiser and the most complete set of forwards in the league should make up for a slightly-too-old defense. Addition of hometown guy Mike Modano signifies the Wings are ready for one more serious run in the <a href="/topics/Nicklas_Lidstr%C3%B6m">Nicklas Lidstrom</a> era. 
3. SURPRISE! COYOTES STILL A MESS. <a href="/topics/Don_Maloney">Don Maloney</a> won exec of the year for putting together a winning team in Phoenix - though most of the credit should go to coach <a href="/topics/Dave_Tippett">Dave Tippett</a> - but the Coyotes are still in financial limbo and last season's success won't carry over either in the stands or on the ice. Too many good teams out West, and Ilya Bryzgalov has to prove last season wasn't an aberration. 
4. SHARKS' MAJOR CHANGE. Out went <a href="/topics/Evgeni_Nabokov">Evgeni Nabokov</a> to Russia, in came Niemi, a most unlikely <a href="/topics/Stanley_Cup">Stanley Cup</a>-winning goaltender. With fellow Finn Antero Niitymaki in goal, the Sharks' new duo should be solid behind the perennial West top seed. 
5. RACE TO THE BOTTOM . . . The Oilers, with <a href="/topics/Tom_Renney">Tom Renney</a> wisely taking over for out-of-touch <a href="/topics/Pat_Quinn">Pat Quinn</a>, won't make the playoffs, but they won't run away with the worst record again. The Wild has goaltending but little else; the Blue Jackets don't have enough of anything, despite a good young coach. The Flames, despite a world-class goaltender, are a mismatched collection of players, and it's time for the other team in Alberta to sink to the bottom. 
Three of a kind 
BEST FORWARDS 
<a href="/topics/Jonathan_Toews">Jonathan Toews</a>, Blackhawks. Not the most dynamic player on his squad, but simply the best all-round one. 
<a href="/topics/Pavel_Datsyuk">Pavel Datsyuk</a>, Wings. Best two-way player in the game. 
<a href="/topics/Ryan_Kesler">Ryan Kesler</a>, Canucks. Ready for a breakout year after Olympic success. 
BEST DEFENSEMEN 
<a href="/topics/Duncan_Keith">Duncan Keith</a>, Blackhawks. Norris Trophy win won't be his last. 
<a href="/topics/Drew_Doughty">Drew Doughty</a>, Kings. These guys will be 1-2 on this list for a long while. 
<a href="/topics/Shea_Weber">Shea Weber</a>, Predators. Big shot, big hitter, becoming a big-time player. 
BEST GOALTENDERS 
<a href="/topics/Jonathan_Quick">Jonathan Quick</a>, Kings. For all their young talent elsewhere, this guy is the key to making it all work. 
<a href="/topics/Roberto_Luongo">Roberto Luongo</a>, Canucks. Has to have a big postseason to keep his spot here. 
<a href="/topics/Miikka_Kiprusoff">Miikka Kiprusoff</a>, Flames. Will never be more on his own than this season. 
TOP NEWCOMERS 
<a href="/topics/Taylor_Hall">Taylor Hall</a>, Oilers.Hasn't been this much excitement in <a href="/topics/Edmonton">Edmonton</a> since a skinny kid donned No. 99. 
Magnus Paajarvi, Oilers. Could play Messier to <a href="/topics/Taylor_Hall">Hall</a>'s Gretzky in the great rebuild. 
<a href="/topics/Logan_Couture">Logan Couture</a>, Sharks. 2007 first-rounder ready for his <a href="/topics/National_Hockey_League">NHL</a> closeup. 
ON THE BRINK 
<a href="/topics/Jason_Blake">Jason Blake</a>, Ducks. Made a career of overcoming adversity, but he's winding down out west. 
<a href="/topics/Marty_Turco">Marty Turco</a>, Hawks. <a href="/topics/Chicago">Chicago</a> can't win with a 35-year-old two years past his expiration date. 
<a href="/topics/Olli_Jokinen">Olli Jokinen</a>, Flames. Ripped <a href="/topics/Calgary">Calgary</a> after he got to New York; return is inexplicable. 
Playoff picks 
EIGHT WHO ARE IN 
1. Canucks 
2. Red Wings 
3. Kings 
4. Sharks 
5. Hawks 
6. Predators 
7. Blues 
8. Avalanche 
CONFERENCE FINAL 
Canucks over Kings in six games. 
STANLEY CUP FINAL 
Penguins over Canucks in six games.

Out West, Hawks & Sharks will bow to Cancuks & Kings

2010-11 NHL preview: Isles, Rangers and more

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