The true battle for the cup began Thursday night with the start of the NHL season. There is plenty of hype over who is the front runner for the Stanley Cup. Can the Penguins repeat? Are the Red Wings finally too old? Have the Sharks removed that chicken bone from their throat?
Thankfully, we have this year's edition of EA's NHL series was without a doubt the authority on simulation hockey this year (until it decided who would win the cup...) so I decided to let it help us figure out exactly who's going where this year in the NHL.
Check out the results of the 09-10 NHL season after the jump!
The results of this season were found through a full season simulation with roster moves off, minimal injuries and normal NHL rules in place for the regular season and playoffs with the idea that in an ideal world where injuries can't play an excuse and a blind-siding blockbuster trade midseason wouldn't shift the balance too far one way or the other. Hope you enjoy this possible outcome more than I do.
Z - Clinched Home Ice/Division Title
Y - Clinched Division Title
X - Clinched Playoff Berth
Regular Season Final Standings
Eastern Conference
1. Z* Ottawa 49-28-5 (103)
2. Y* Florida 45-25-12 (102)
3. Y* Philadelphia 44-31-7 (95)
4. X* Atlanta 48-29-5 (101)
5. X* Boston 45-29-8 (98)
6. X* NY Rangers 44-31-7 (95)
7. X* New Jersey 46-34-2 (94)
8. X* Pittsburgh 43-31-8 (94)
9. Carolina 40-36-6 (86)
10. Toronto 39-36-7 (85)
11. Washington 38-36-8 (84)
12. Tampa Bay 39-38-5 (83)
13. Buffalo 35-37-10 (80)
14. Montreal 33-42-10 (73)
15. NY Islanders 31-41-10 (72)
Western Conference
1. Z* Kings - 48-28-6 (102)
2. Y* Calgary 48-28-6 (102)
2. Y* Columbus 44-34-4 (92)
4. X* San Jose 48-31-3 (99)
5. X* Vancouver 45-30-7 (97)
6. X* Dallas 44-31-7 (95)
7. X* Edmonton 44-33-5 (93)
8. X* Chicago 41-31-10 (92)
9. Phoenix 41-34-7 (89)
10. Minnesota 38-38-6 (82)
11. Anaheim 38-40-4 (80)
12. St Louis 35-39-8 (78)
13. Detroit 35-40-7 (77)
14. Nashville 32-40-10 (74)
15. Colorado 30-45-7 (67)
Playoffs
Western Conference
1. LA Kings - 4
8. Chicago - 2
2. Calgary - 4
7. Edmonton - 1
3. Columbus - 4
6. Dallas - 1
4. San Jose - 0
5. Vancouver - 4
Semis
1. LA Kings - 4
5. Vancouver - 3
2. Calgary - 4
3. Columbus - 3
Conference Finals
1. LA Kings - 3
2. Calgary - 4
Eastern Conference
1. Ottawa - 2
8. Pittsburgh - 4
2. Florida - 4
7. New Jersey - 3
3. Philadelphia - 2
6. NY Rangers - 4
4. Atlanta - 4
5. Boston - 2
Semis
2. Florida - 0
8. Pittsburgh - 4
4. Atlanta - 4
6. NY Rangers - 2
Conference Finals
4. Atlanta - 3
8. Pittsburgh - 4
Stanley Cup Finals
Calgary - 2
Pittsburgh - 4
Ladies and gentlemen, your Stanley Cup Champions! The Pittsburgh Penguins
... damn
No NHL season is complete without an absolutely ludicrous amount of awards, so with great joy I present your awards winners for the 09-10 season!
Awards
Stanley Cup Champions - Pittsburgh Penguins
Presidents Trophy - Ottawa Senators
Clarence S. Campbell Bowl - Calgary Flames
Prince of Wales Trophy - Pittsburgh Penguins
Art Ross (Overall Pts. Leader) - Ilya Kovalchuk (Atlanta Thrashers)
Hart Memorial Trophy (MVP to a team's success) - Pascal LeClaire (Ottawa Senators)
James Norris Memorial Trophy (Defensive POTY) - Filip Kuba (Ottawa Senators)
Lady Byng Memorial Trophy (Sportsmanship Award) - Ilya Kovalchuk (Atlanta Thrashers)
Calder Memorial Trophy (ROTY) - Jeff Deslauriers (Edmonton Oilers)
Conn Smythe Trophy (MVP to team’s success in playoffs) - Marc-Andre Fleury (Pittsburgh Penguins)
Vezina Trophy (Best Goalie as voted by NHL GMs) - Pascal LeClaire (Ottawa Senators)
William M. Jennings Trophy (Goalie[s] with fewest goals scored against) - Nikolai Khabibulin (Edmonton Oilers)
Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy (Hockey Writers Award for “Why the Eff Not?”) - Andrew Cogliano (Edmonton Oilers)
Frank J Selke Trophy (Best Defensive Forward) - Vyacheslav Koslov (Atlanta Thrashers)
Lester B Pearson Award (Outstanding Player as voted by NHLPA) - Brenden Morrow (Dallas Stars)
Maruice “Rocket” Richard Trophy (Highest Goal Scorer) - Ilya Kovalchuk (Atlanta Thrashers)
*$&%ing Penguins...
