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Post by UberCranky on Oct 2, 2014 22:45:49 GMT -5
Time to pretend that we are super-intelligent bipedalist and predict where the Hab's will land in the standings....and if you are really bold, how far they will make it into the playoffs.
Since I qualify as a bipedel and not so smart, I think this may be the year that we go into the finals. From the pre-season, it appears we have more depth then in any team from the last 25 years. Sure, we can upgrade defense and offense, but realistically, given the $$$ constraints, we are as good as any team in the east and a step behind LA in the west.
Be brave! Be bold! Be naked and run through the poison ivy! What do you think? How many points? How far are we going to go?
(Whoever wins, there is a prize this year, just like last year! Winner buys the beers!)
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Post by seventeen on Oct 2, 2014 23:09:12 GMT -5
I think they'll get near to 109 points. Probably a few more than last year. Better balance, a better face-off guy and penalty killer, another year's development from Galchy and Gally and Eller, no Murray, no Cube (fingers crossed, take off 5 points if he makes the team), more depth everywhere. Gotta have more points than last year, but not much more. We're not a juggernaut yet.
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Post by flowerpower on Oct 3, 2014 5:47:41 GMT -5
I voted for 95-99. Those who believe that the Habs will be a powerhouse this year could be disappointed. If Carey Price doesn't stand on his head like he did last year, we might have to fight for a playoff spot untill the very last weekend of the season. In 2013-14, Price easily stole at least 5 games where we played like crap but still won. Without those 10 points, we may very well have been out of the playoffs. The Habs' biggest weakness is their so so head coach with his lack of confidence in his young players.
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Post by BadCompany on Oct 3, 2014 6:53:37 GMT -5
I'm all over the place this year.
* On the one hand we have more depth than we've hand in a long, long time. But on the other hand it's pretty unproven depth, in guys like Sekac and Thomas.
* We're relying on guys who have been very enigmatic to play like they played during the playoffs, and not like they played all last year. Like Eller, Bourque and Beaulieu. Let's face it, those guys were pretty mediocre for most of the season until they got hot at the right time. Can they maintain that over a full season?
* Defense could be a strength... or a disappointing weakness. Will Subban try to do too much to justify his contract? How will his relationship with Therrien be? Will Markov lose another step? Will Emelin rebound on his natural side? What about Gilbert? He's expected to play top four minutes, which he did for a bad team last year in Florida. But before that he was bad enough to be bought out by Minnesota. Weaver? How about the rookies?
* Offense is still very much a one-trick pony in Max Pacioretty, surrounded by a bunch of little dogs doing smaller tricks. Can Parenteau replace the swagger Vanek brought to the offense down the stretch? I'm not a fan of his and fear he will be the next Briere whipping-boy. How about Galchenyuk? Will he take the next step? Will our Mighty Mites excel, or wilter? Where will the goals come from? Committee, or will somebody emerge to form a dual threat with Pacioretty?
* We were relatively injury-free last year, at least when it came to core players. Until the Conference Finals anyways. Can we survive losing Price for 20 regular season games? Subban? Pacioretty? Knock on wood.
I think we are a dangerous playoff team. A very dangerous playoff team, and with Price and Subban we are a threat to go to the Finals. There is no team in the East that I do not think we can take in a seven game series, though there are a few that I also think could take us. We also have a GM who seems to do his homework before deadline day, so that's an extra weapon in our arsenal for the Second Season. But the regular season? I predict a small step back, and say 95-97 points, perhaps 5th or 6th in the Conference.
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Post by Boston_Habs on Oct 3, 2014 8:32:35 GMT -5
But the regular season? I predict a small step back, and say 95-97 points, perhaps 5th or 6th in the Conference. Grrrr. That's what has been nagging me as well. I think Berg did a decent job over the summer in tweaking the roster, and shifting things around on D, and overall I think we have a pretty deep and balanced roster....But I'm still left with the concern that we were simply an AWFUL offensive team last year. I've repeated the stats ad nauseum, but it wasn't until the Vanek acquisition that things changed and now Vanek is gone. I laid out the path to 240 goals and if we can hit that mark then I honestly believe we are easily a 100-point team and possibly a 1st place team in the East. But like you said, there are a lot of "ifs". Can Eller become a 20-goal guy? Can Bourque rebound? Can Galchenyuk assert himself more consistently? Can Parenteau produce? Then you worry about guys taking a step back. It's really hard to score 40 in the NHL these days and Patches is a very streaky guy. What if he regresses to 30 goals? I'm pretty confident in the D. I think Markov and Subban will be fine and Emelin should be better a full season removed from his knee injury. I like the Gilbert pickup and Beaulieu looks like he's ready to be a real contributor. This could be a real strength of the Habs this season. Therrien has a pretty good team to work with here as long as he doesn't f^ck it up. He needs to let them play to their strengths which is to play a fast game, quick transitions, controlled zone entries, more puck possession, less dump and chase, and solid team defense. Really, just get out the way and don't mess with them. I wish I trusted our coach more. The talent is there for success, so why not go all in? Assuming reasonable health, I say 50 wins, 110 points and 1st place in the East. I sense a bit of a slide coming in Boston this year, but Tampa is going to be tough. The division will come down to the wire.
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Post by Polarice on Oct 3, 2014 8:38:53 GMT -5
I have us at the top of the conference.....maybe the East.
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Post by BadCompany on Oct 3, 2014 9:30:03 GMT -5
Grrrr. That's what has been nagging me as well. I think Berg did a decent job over the summer in tweaking the roster, and shifting things around on D, and overall I think we have a pretty deep and balanced roster....But I'm still left with the concern that we were simply an AWFUL offensive team last year. I've repeated the stats ad nauseum, but it wasn't until the Vanek acquisition that things changed and now Vanek is gone. I laid out the path to 240 goals and if we can hit that mark then I honestly believe we are easily a 100-point team and possibly a 1st place team in the East. But like you said, there are a lot of "ifs". Can Eller become a 20-goal guy? Can Bourque rebound? Can Galchenyuk assert himself more consistently? Can Parenteau produce? Then you worry about guys taking a step back. It's really hard to score 40 in the NHL these days and Patches is a very streaky guy. What if he regresses to 30 goals? I'm pretty confident in the D. I think Markov and Subban will be fine and Emelin should be better a full season removed from his knee injury. I like the Gilbert pickup and Beaulieu looks like he's ready to be a real contributor. This could be a real strength of the Habs this season. Therrien has a pretty good team to work with here as long as he doesn't f^ck it up. He needs to let them play to their strengths which is to play a fast game, quick transitions, controlled zone entries, more puck possession, less dump and chase, and solid team defense. Really, just get out the way and don't mess with them. I wish I trusted our coach more. The talent is there for success, so why not go all in? Assuming reasonable health, I say 50 wins, 110 points and 1st place in the East. I sense a bit of a slide coming in Boston this year, but Tampa is going to be tough. The division will come down to the wire. While I'm cautiously predicting a 5th or 6th place finish I still like this team, and the direction it is heading in. We are an extremely dangerous playoff team, and as good a bet as any to come out of the East when all is said and done. I'm just not sure we're a dominant regular season team. Too many "ifs" for my liking. Compare us to say some of those teams out West, like LA or Chicago, or even St. Louis and you'll see that they don't have as many "well if this guy plays..." as we do. They just seem to have proven NHL stars up and down the lineup, whereas we have a whole bunch of "could be stars". I think we need at least one more true, bonafide offensive star, and at least one more legitimate top 4 defenseman. Give us that and we are a top regular season team, AND a contender. Now it's entirely possible that those two things are already on the roster, perhaps in the form of Galchenyuk, or Gilbert, or Beaulieu or what have you. But that's not proven yet. Hence my hesitation. But the fact that we have players who are very real possibilities to fill these positions, and the depth to make a move to get those players if need be, speaks volumes to where we are as an organization. We're getting very close, if you ask me.
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Post by Boston_Habs on Oct 3, 2014 9:47:38 GMT -5
I think that's right. It's the variability that makes me less confident in the prediction than say Chicago, Pittsburgh, St. Louis, and Boston. Those teams will do well for all the reasons you mentioned. The Habs COULD do that well if everything breaks our way, but there are way more "ifs" in our case as compared to the perennial contenders. We need to reduce the number of "ifs" if we want to be part of that group.
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Post by frozone on Oct 3, 2014 12:03:14 GMT -5
It's true that there are a lot of unproven "ifs" surrounding the team, but when it's all said and done, I think we will fall right around the same mark as last year. 100 pts, I'm predicting.
I've often thought that MT has been holding this team back, but I do have to acknowledge that he seemed to grow somewhat in last year's playoffs. I hope he hasn't forgotten the Tampa series... he should cling to that series as a model for how this team should play. I think he has a better idea of how to piece together his lineups and I think we will see less line juggling this year. The pre-season kinda hints to that fact - he has his preferred pairings and trios... and they make sense for the most part.
Yes, we've lossed veteran leadership and we may not be as sharp defensively as last year. But we'll have improved puck mobility and I think offense should increase because of that. Not to mention, I think our depth will create some internal competition and we should get relatively strong effort and hopefully better production.
Even if our point total regresses in 2014-15, I think our team is on the upswing, thanks mostly to MB.
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Post by Doc Holliday on Oct 3, 2014 12:27:23 GMT -5
I'm with BC. I see too many question marks right now. Galchenyuk still not playing center, on a line that is typically more defensive... I don't see him "exploding" in that role... The Plekanec/Gallagher chemistry didn't jump in my face either...
Sekac will need some time to digest the transition to the NHL, we'll need patience but the coach doesn't strike me as a patient guy... Parenteau doesn't inspire me one bit.
Is Eller going to be the main defensive center?
The D looks somewhat good on paper, but Emelin, Markov, Gilbert are far from having impressive camps...
All in all we have some nice elements throughout the lineup but I'm not sure how well they truly complement each other.
I see us taking what could be a necessary small step back.
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Post by habsask on Oct 3, 2014 16:32:53 GMT -5
I voted 90 - 94.
I don't want to throw cold water on the optimism.
I just want to see them do better again before I am convinced that they are in fact better and getting to the point of being a contender.
Still some unknowns - Sekac, which is the real Bourque, which is the real Eller, how Parenteau & Gilbert will fit in, and how the depth players will perform when the injuries inevitably occur.
Also will the PP improve? Essential for them to increase their Goals For (remember that problem?)and up their points total.
Finally how will they perform against the Western clubs many of which are big and skilled? That could tell us a lot.
Please throw only small stones.....
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Post by Disgruntled70sHab on Oct 3, 2014 16:58:12 GMT -5
Finally how will they perform against the Western clubs many of which are big and skilled? That could tell us a lot. Please throw only small stones..... This has been the measuring stick for me for a few years now ... it doesn't matter how well we do against the eastern conference, it's the west that actually tells us where we stand in the big picture ... don't know where the goals Vanek scored for us will come from but I still have big expectations for this team ... I don't know if we're good enough to take the conference; Tampa Bay may have something to say about that ... and, yes, I see Boston as possibly dropping to third place (seeing a totally distraught Lucic last year was a reflection of the shell shock I saw in many B's fans last year) ... I think we can take the Bruins in the playoffs again, but at the same time they're capable of taking us out as well ... if TB has Ben Bishop for the playoffs they're going to be extremely tough to knock off ... yet, for the first time in a long time I feel really good about our team ... I honestly believe Bergevin is one player away from taking it to the next level ... Prediction: 100-109 ... Conference Final (that's my expectation, too) ... Cheers.
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Post by GNick99 on Oct 3, 2014 18:57:01 GMT -5
Every year this time there are ifs. Overall, good team but not very good team. Slight increase from last season...102pts. They got a few bugs to iron out on defense and need to add top scorer at deadline/or Galchenyuk matures to get past 2nd round of playoffs. Entertaining team to watch this season
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Post by franko on Oct 3, 2014 19:13:54 GMT -5
I'm at 102 but no justification for it . . . just a feeling in my bones.
then again, rheumatism can strike at any age.
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Post by Douper on Oct 4, 2014 9:49:40 GMT -5
108pts 2nd in the conference, 1st in the division
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Post by Disgruntled70sHab on Oct 4, 2014 10:37:36 GMT -5
I'm with BC. I see too many question marks right now. Galchenyuk still not playing center, on a line that is typically more defensive... I don't see him "exploding" in that role... The Plekanec/Gallagher chemistry didn't jump in my face either... Sekac will need some time to digest the transition to the NHL, we'll need patience but the coach doesn't strike me as a patient guy... Parenteau doesn't inspire me one bit. Is Eller going to be the main defensive center? The D looks somewhat good on paper, but Emelin, Markov, Gilbert are far from having impressive camps... All in all we have some nice elements throughout the lineup but I'm not sure how well they truly complement each other. I see us taking what could be a necessary small step back. What I like about Bergevin is that he's a realist ... he understood that our team overachieved last year (as did the Rangers) and there has to be work done to make le Club a true contender ... I saw Galchenyuk last night and I wondered whether or not he read your post beforehand (just a figure of speech buds) because I thought he was the best Hab on the ice ... I took Sekac with my second-last pick of the fantasy draft because I think he'll be a 25-goal guy ... he may start out slow, but I'm hoping all he'll need is to score a couple to break the ice ... the defence corps has been playing very well in the preseason ... I think that step back you referred to might occur at the start of the season while the team is meshing and if Therrien decides to juggle the lines, like he did last year, that process might take a bit longer ... all that said, Doc, I'm still expecting great things from our team this year ... we're bigger, a little bit older (check out 2013/14 with 2014/15) and more talented than we were last year ... that doesn't make us a team just yet, but the core is there ... I'm thinking it might take some work at the beginning of the season but once they find their stride, I'm expecting great things ... first things first, put the Bruins in their place in the conference ... 3rd place that is ... Cheers.
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Post by Doc Holliday on Oct 4, 2014 12:29:17 GMT -5
Agree Dis...
Sekac would probably eventually be a nice complement to Pleks and Gally... ...just like Gallagher is, IMO, a much better complement to the Pax/DD line than Parenteau... who right now looks like a guy having a whale of a time just skating around and throughly enjoying having nothing to do but just being there with arguably one of the best offensive duo of the NHL.
A few words on Tinordi. I really feel for the guy. It seems he can't win... yesterday the guy played a very disciplined game, solid on his own end, 4 hits (highest total of HABS)... and yet he's receiving all sorts of critics for not taking revenge on Sens players... Yet if the guy would have played on the edge and taken roughing penalties in such a close game he would have been crucified for it (see Ryan White)… I really hope we keep Tinordi in the NHL this season. He needs to stop feeling he’s walking on a wire, he needs to adjust to NHL speed, he needs to regain confidence in his game, he needs to learn to play NHL situations and clock, he needs to hang around NHL veterans and coaches… …to me Tinner has nothing more to learn in the AHL aside from beating himself for not “making it” and feeling more and more nervous everytime he’ll be called…
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Post by christrpn on Oct 5, 2014 10:36:55 GMT -5
Well, once again I'll be the optimist and say 120+ points. Might not happen, but if it does, then I lookk like a genius.
Have a great season everyone, even if you can't watch the whole thing.... I'll try to give analysis of the games but it won't be live because I record the game to watch later in the evening, but I'll be able to dissect any part you would like to know.
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Post by christrpn on Oct 5, 2014 10:43:10 GMT -5
Agree Dis... Sekac would probably eventually be a nice complement to Pleks and Gally... ...just like Gallagher is, IMO, a much better complement to the Pax/DD line than Parenteau... who right now looks like a guy having a whale of a time just skating around and throughly enjoying having nothing to do but just being there with arguably one of the best offensive duo of the NHL. A few words on Tinordi. I really feel for the guy. It seems he can't win... yesterday the guy played a very disciplined game, solid on his own end, 4 hits (highest total of HABS)... and yet he's receiving all sorts of critics for not taking revenge on Sens players... Yet if the guy would have played on the edge and taken roughing penalties in such a close game he would have been crucified for it (see Ryan White)… I really hope we keep Tinordi in the NHL this season. He needs to stop feeling he’s walking on a wire, he needs to adjust to NHL speed, he needs to regain confidence in his game, he needs to learn to play NHL situations and clock, he needs to hang around NHL veterans and coaches… …to me Tinner has nothing more to learn in the AHL aside from beating himself for not “making it” and feeling more and more nervous everytime he’ll be called… Love the reference to White. I agree completely. Tinordi offers something to Habs that no one else does. Not even Prust. Prust defended Subban yes, but the message wasn't really sent. I believe Tinordi might have fared better given his strength and arm length. White was always the first to defend his teammates, an act for which he was crucified. After the Laraque debacle, fans demanded someone who would make players pay. White might not have won many, but I still can't find a situation where Boychuk and Cambell ran around taking liberties while White was dressed. He may have has his faults, but that part of his game will be missed in this dressing room, that is unless Prust becomes that player.
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Post by HFTO on Oct 5, 2014 15:51:06 GMT -5
Not convinced just yet ....good we are ...alright we will be but think it'll be tight unless the aforementioned above can take the next step and with so many questions, that can be a lot to ask in one season where everyone is looking to knock you off. I expect a tad step back with hopes MB makes a move to make them better still. Playoffs spot is all they need.....96-98pts
HFTO
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Post by duster on Oct 6, 2014 3:27:37 GMT -5
The main reason we made it into the playoffs last year was Carey Price and relatively few injuries. The team hasn't improved a lot over the summer and they have the same coach so 95 to 98 points is entirely realistic. As Price goes, so does the team.
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Post by HABSINFL on Oct 6, 2014 11:02:25 GMT -5
My gut feel and nothing else,102 points and a conference championship.
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Post by seventeen on Oct 7, 2014 22:36:39 GMT -5
Since we're predicting, here's Eric Engels' predictions: www.hockeybuzz.com/blog.php?blogger_id=82Could this be a Stanley Cup Season for Montreal? Predictions... October 7, 2014,
Eric Engels
It's that time of year, and on the eve of the Canadiens' 106th hockey season, it's time for some predictions about this edition. Before we go there, let's revisit last year, shall we.
a) P.K. Subban will lead the Habs in scoring. He finished second, behind Max Pacioretty, with 53 points.
b) Pacioretty will score more than 30 goals. 39 is well over 30
c) Price will record more than 30 wins for the second time of his career. You bet your sweet bippy he did. 34 to be precise, and he added another 11 points in the standings with OT and shootout losses.
d) David Desharnais will score at least 55 points (there's a bolder one). It was bold, and it was so close to being accurate despite a 19-game catastrophe, over which Desharnais couldn't muster more than a single assist. He finished with 52, on a near point per game pace after his fall hibernation.
e) Alex Galchenyuk will score at least 55 points. I guess this one was a year premature.
f) Daniel Briere will score at least 50 points (BOLD). Or, he'll score exactly half that amount. This wasn't bold, it was stupid.
g) At least six Habs will score 20 goals or more (boldest). Congratulations to Pacioretty and Plekanec who managed to do this. Brendan Gallagher had 19, Brian Gionta had 18. Does Thomas Vanek count? Nah... he scored six with the Habs. Hey, Desharnais had 16, which is amazing, considering he never shoots the puck.
h) Andrei Markov will finish top 3 in powerplay points. No he won't. He'll finish 35th, with 21 powerplay points.
i) The Habs will make the playoffs. DING! DING! DING!
I was 33%... Damn Desharnais.
Here are the predictions for this season:
1) 35... That's the number of goals Max Pacioretty will have.
2) 37... Carey Price will have at least that many wins this season.
3) Number 1...as in Number 1 in the Atlantic Division. That's where the Habs will finish.
4) 50...Is the minimum number of points a healthy Alex Galchenyuk will score this season.
5) Top 8...Is where the 19th ranked powerplay in last year's NHL will finish this year.
6) Four... I swear I'm getting it right this time; the number of 20-goal scorers on the Habs this year. I'll say Pacioretty, Plekanec, Gallagher and Galchenyuk are hitting that mark.
7) More than 10, more than 55... Goals and points for P.K. Subban.
8) +... In all but one of his seasons, Tom Gilbert has been a minus player. He finishes as a plus for only the second time in his career, proving how useless this stat is. After playing with the bad Oilers, the bad Wild and the bad Panthers, he's on a good Montreal Canadiens team.
9) 19... That's how many goals P.A. Parenteau's going to score this season. Here's one Canadiens' fans should hope I'm wrong about.
10) 50+...Wins for the Canadiens. That would be something, wouldn't it?
Bonus: Call me crazy (I'm expecting many of you to call me crazy as soon as you read this), I had/have the same Stanley Cup prediction as Pierre LeBrun. I've got Montreal against Chicago.
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Post by Bobs_HABit on Oct 7, 2014 23:09:50 GMT -5
I went with 90 to 94. I see a small step back with growing pains, 93-95 area but I still love the overall direction of the team. I backed this up with a small under bet (96.5 pts) on the habs. On a side note,I still see all this love for the B's and I don't get it. I jumped on their win total and took the under 51.5.
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Post by Habs_fan_in_LA on Oct 8, 2014 16:35:41 GMT -5
104 that's a good season!
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Post by Dschens on Oct 8, 2014 17:16:50 GMT -5
101 points, 2nd in our division, but who cares, we have to win our divison in the playoffs.
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Post by CentreHice on Apr 12, 2015 8:23:40 GMT -5
The talent is there for success, so why not go all in? Assuming reasonable health, I say 50 wins, 110 points and 1st place in the East. I sense a bit of a slide coming in Boston this year, but Tampa is going to be tough. The division will come down to the wire. Buying a lottery ticket soon? If you had predicted an Ottawa Senderella finish, I'd be first to sign up on your new BH Better Bettor site. Only the Rangers got in your way. Did you see Price having to put in a Vezina, Hart, Jennings year in order to get there? 108pts 2nd in the conference, 1st in the division So close! I think they'll get near to 109 points. Probably a few more than last year. Better balance, a better face-off guy and penalty killer, another year's development from Galchy and Gally and Eller, no Murray, no Cube (fingers crossed, take off 5 points if he makes the team), more depth everywhere. Gotta have more points than last year, but not much more. We're not a juggernaut yet. Another close one.
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Post by GNick99 on Apr 12, 2015 9:28:14 GMT -5
108pts 2nd in the conference, 1st in the division That's a pretty good call!
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Post by Boston_Habs on Apr 12, 2015 10:32:59 GMT -5
I say 50 wins, 110 points and 1st place in the East. I don't mean to brag or anything but did I nail that or what?
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Post by seventeen on Apr 12, 2015 11:38:35 GMT -5
Yeah, well I bombed out the year before, so let's see if you can do it 2 years in a row. Perfection is demanded.
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