Brian's Barometer


NHL
Scores
Schedule
Standings
Statistics
Transactions
Injuries
Players
Message Board
NHL.com
Minor Leagues
FEATURES
Power Rankings
Playoff Matchups
Daily Glance
NHL Insider
CLUBHOUSE


ESPN MALL
TeamStore
ESPN Auctions
SPORT SECTIONS
Tuesday, April 4
 
Some pressure to win, qualify
By Brian Engblom
Special to ESPN.com

The final week of the season. Expectations shift to the playoffs for some and the future for the teams left out. There'll be some coaches on the hot seat if their team doesn't make the postseason, and don't worry too much about Tampa Bay because they're heading in the right direction.

High Barometer
High pressure: Playoffs

  • If the Los Angeles Kings are going to have any success in the playoffs, one of their goalies needs to get hot. They have received inconsistent play in net from Stephane Fiset and Jamie Storr. A team's confidence begins in goal.

    HIGH: SUTTER BROTHERS
    At the very beginning, Calgary's Brian Sutter put himself on the edge. His contract this year was arranged with the thought that the Flames would make the playoffs. It will be interesting to see how the Flames assess his situation. You have to admire his guts; you play to win and make the playoffs.

    If San Jose doesn't make it the playoffs, Darryl Sutter's job could also be in danger. The same goes for Paul Maurice in Carolina. If teams don't make the final 16, the organizations must take a hard look to see if the right atmosphere exists, and it all starts with the coach.

  • In Phoenix, I'm not sure what is wrong with the Coyotes' defensive play, or their defensemen in particular. Their defense has struggled the last month. They don't move the puck like they did the first half of the season. The Coyotes have already secured a playoff spot, but if they don't raise their level of defensive play in a hurry, they may not win a playoff game.

  • In Carolina, it looks like Arturs Irbe is starting to come up with some big games for Carolina. The veteran goalie was the league's Player of the Week last week, an effort the Hurricanes needed if they were to have any chance of making the playoffs. Not only do the Hurricanes need Irbe to continue playing well in goal, but they also need someone like Ron Francis to step up and lead them offensively.

  • The Avalanche look even stronger than people thought. Ray Bourque has injected the team with confidence and enthusiasm, along with an attention to detail, one area people tend to overlook. The reason why he has played at a superstar level his entire career is that he has a great work ethic. Bourque can grind and work in the corners and do the little things. Before Bourque arrived, many Avalanche players turned their noses up at the details, and it has cost them games. But when Bourque leads by example, everybody shakes their head and decides that they must do the same things. That's one of the major differences in Colorado's play right now.

    Medium Barometer
    Medium pressure: Vancouver Canucks
    I would like to see Vancouver make the playoffs, just for all the things they have had to overcome. The team is having fun, and they should feel good about themselves if they can wade through the quagmire into the postseason. It may not be the same as winning the Stanley Cup, but the feeling might be a close second considering all the stuff they have worked through this season.

    Vancouver fans are tough and critical, but they should be happy with their young team because the Canucks made big strides. Mark Messier is enthusiastic about their prospects. For now, the Canucks are three points behind San Jose for the eighth spot in the Western Conference. They end the season Sunday against San Jose in a game that could propel them into the playoffs, but the Canucks have still have games Wednesday against Los Angeles and Friday against Edmonton. I wouldn't be surprised to see the Canucks pull it off.

    Medium Barometer
    Medium pressure: The Tampa Bay way
    General manager Rick Dudley deserves credit for the way he is rebuilding the Lightning. He is doing it slowly, and it appears to be a painful process. But he has shown a lot of moxie about putting the team together. Dudley reorganized the team from top to bottom.

    His cornerstone player, Vincent Lecavalier, is third in scoring among sophomore players with 63 points. He is behind Milan Hejduk and Chris Drury, but Lecavalier doesn't have teammates the caliber of Joe Sakic, Peter Forsberg or Ray Bourque. Lecavalier looks like he is an up-and-coming superstar, which is what they hoped for when they drafted him with the No. 1 overall pick.

    If the Lightning get a healthy goalie next year who can play at a high level, they will improve by 15 points. It will be fun to watch them next year. They have struggled with goaltending and keeping players healthy. Teams don't go anywhere in the NHL without goaltending. Dan Cloutier was initially deemed the long-term solution in net, but now the job is pretty much up for grabs. No one has established himself as the No. 1 goalie.

    Brian Engblom, who played 11 seasons in the NHL, is a hockey analyst for ESPN.






    •  ESPN Tools
    Email story
     
    Most sent
     
    Print story
     
    Daily email