The Carolina Hurricanes play at the Washington Capitals tonight. They trail Washington by a point in the Southeast Division standings.
The Hurricanes need to pick up the pace or they're going to find themselves sitting out of the playoffs for the second straight year -- and they won the Stanley Cup in 2006 for crying out loud.
Currently, the Hurricanes have 56 points. Good grief, the fourth-place teams in the Atlantic and Northeast Divisions have more points than that.
If the NHL playoffs began today, the Eastern Conference seeds would look like this:
1. Ottawa (leads Northeast Division) 70 points
2. Philadelphia (leads Atlantic Division) 65
3. Washington (leads Southeast Division) 57
4. Montreal 67
5. Pittsburgh 65
6. New Jersey 64
7. N.Y. Rangers 60
8. Boston 59
On the outside looking in: Buffalo 57, Carolina 56, Atlanta 56, Florida 55, N.Y. Islanders 54, Toronto 53, Tampa Bay 51.
Friday, February 8, 2008
Thursday, January 31, 2008
A match truly worth watching
Fans came in droves to Lake Norman High School on Wednesday to see Lake Norman and Mooresville wrestle for the North Piedmont 3A championship.
It was worth the price of admission. It’s doubtful you could have found better entertainment, and judging by the turnout, those in attendance sensed a special battle.
Mooresville prevailed 38-27 to clinch its third consecutive NPC title and deny Lake Norman from obtaining the program’s first.
The Blue Devils did it in front of a near-capacity crowd. Wrestling may get overlooked at times in the sports world, but not Wednesday, that's for sure. The atmosphere was raucous.
“I’ve never seen anything like this,” said Mooresville coach Ben Watson, who could be seen urging the Blue Devils contingent to get loud during crucial moments in the match.
Wrestlers from both teams worked hard to earn the right to tussle for the NPC crown in the regular-season finale. They deserved that kind of support.
It was worth the price of admission. It’s doubtful you could have found better entertainment, and judging by the turnout, those in attendance sensed a special battle.
Mooresville prevailed 38-27 to clinch its third consecutive NPC title and deny Lake Norman from obtaining the program’s first.
The Blue Devils did it in front of a near-capacity crowd. Wrestling may get overlooked at times in the sports world, but not Wednesday, that's for sure. The atmosphere was raucous.
“I’ve never seen anything like this,” said Mooresville coach Ben Watson, who could be seen urging the Blue Devils contingent to get loud during crucial moments in the match.
Wrestlers from both teams worked hard to earn the right to tussle for the NPC crown in the regular-season finale. They deserved that kind of support.
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
If the basketball playoffs started today ...
The N.C. High School Athletic Association state basketball playoffs are still a little more than a month away, but it's not too early to take a look at what potentially lies ahead for some of Iredell's teams.
Six of the North Piedmont Conference's 10 teams (boys and girls) automatically qualify for the playoffs. The crazy thing is that only the conference champions will play home games in the first round.
That's right.
The No. 2 seeds have to travel to the Catawba Valley Conference's No. 2 seeds due to seeding priority. Barring any upsets, seeds 2 through 6 from the NPC won't get to enjoy a homecourt advantage at all in the playoffs. That doesn't seem fair to Nos. 2 and 3, but that's the reality.
Anyway, the following is a look at first-round matchups for Iredell teams IF the playoffs started today. (And I think there's a good chance most of them will shake out this way in the end):
BOYS
Mooresville (9-5, 7-3 NPC) would be the No. 4 seed from the NPC. This is exactly where the Blue Devils want to be in mid-February. They would play the top 3A team from the split 2A/3A Southwestern Conference. Right now that's R-S Central. The Hilltoppers are 6-8.
Lake Norman (10-4, 6-4 NPC) would be the No. 5 seed from the NPC. This is not where the Wildcats want to be come playoff time. In order to advance to the second round of the playoffs, Lake Norman would have to beat the South Piedmont Conference champion. Folks, that's going to be Concord, the top-ranked 3A team in the state. The Spiders are undefeated right now.
Statesville (6-9, 3-7 NPC) would be the No. 6 seed from the NPC. Good luck. You get the Mid-Piedmont Conference champion in the first round. Right now that's ninth-ranked Ragsdale. The Tigers just took over the top spot in the MPC by beating fifth-ranked Trinity.
OUTSIDE LOOKING IN: North Iredell (2-8 NPC) and West Iredell (2-8 NPC) have a shot to overtake Statesville for the last playoff spot, but fifth place seems highly unlikely at this point.
GIRLS
Statesville (14-1, 10-0 NPC) would be the No. 1 seed from the NPC. The Greyhounds, ranked sixth in the state in 3A, would host the Mid-Piedmont Conference No. 4 seed in the first round. That most likely will be Trinity of Southwestern Randolph. Neither team is tearing it up. But the MPC does have two solid teams at the top in Ragsdale and Southeast Guilford, so Trinity and SWR would be battle tested. If it wins, Statesville would host a second-round game as well.
Lake Norman (11-4, 7-3 NPC) would be the No. 3 seed from the NPC. The Wildcats would travel to Asheville in the first round to take on the Mountain Athletic Conference champion T.C. Roberson. The Rams are 13-1 and ranked No. 5 in 3A.
North Iredell (8-5, 6-4 NPC) would be the No. 4 seed from the NPC. The Raiders would travel to Kings Mountain to take on the Mountaineers. Of all the possibilities for the Raiders -- minus missing the playoffs -- this would be the ideal scenario. As the No. 3 or No. 5 seed, North would be guaranteed a tougher first-round games.
OUTSIDE LOOKING IN: Mooresville (3-7 NPC) and West Iredell (1-9 NPC). Playoffs are a long shot for these two.
Six of the North Piedmont Conference's 10 teams (boys and girls) automatically qualify for the playoffs. The crazy thing is that only the conference champions will play home games in the first round.
That's right.
The No. 2 seeds have to travel to the Catawba Valley Conference's No. 2 seeds due to seeding priority. Barring any upsets, seeds 2 through 6 from the NPC won't get to enjoy a homecourt advantage at all in the playoffs. That doesn't seem fair to Nos. 2 and 3, but that's the reality.
Anyway, the following is a look at first-round matchups for Iredell teams IF the playoffs started today. (And I think there's a good chance most of them will shake out this way in the end):
BOYS
Mooresville (9-5, 7-3 NPC) would be the No. 4 seed from the NPC. This is exactly where the Blue Devils want to be in mid-February. They would play the top 3A team from the split 2A/3A Southwestern Conference. Right now that's R-S Central. The Hilltoppers are 6-8.
Lake Norman (10-4, 6-4 NPC) would be the No. 5 seed from the NPC. This is not where the Wildcats want to be come playoff time. In order to advance to the second round of the playoffs, Lake Norman would have to beat the South Piedmont Conference champion. Folks, that's going to be Concord, the top-ranked 3A team in the state. The Spiders are undefeated right now.
Statesville (6-9, 3-7 NPC) would be the No. 6 seed from the NPC. Good luck. You get the Mid-Piedmont Conference champion in the first round. Right now that's ninth-ranked Ragsdale. The Tigers just took over the top spot in the MPC by beating fifth-ranked Trinity.
OUTSIDE LOOKING IN: North Iredell (2-8 NPC) and West Iredell (2-8 NPC) have a shot to overtake Statesville for the last playoff spot, but fifth place seems highly unlikely at this point.
GIRLS
Statesville (14-1, 10-0 NPC) would be the No. 1 seed from the NPC. The Greyhounds, ranked sixth in the state in 3A, would host the Mid-Piedmont Conference No. 4 seed in the first round. That most likely will be Trinity of Southwestern Randolph. Neither team is tearing it up. But the MPC does have two solid teams at the top in Ragsdale and Southeast Guilford, so Trinity and SWR would be battle tested. If it wins, Statesville would host a second-round game as well.
Lake Norman (11-4, 7-3 NPC) would be the No. 3 seed from the NPC. The Wildcats would travel to Asheville in the first round to take on the Mountain Athletic Conference champion T.C. Roberson. The Rams are 13-1 and ranked No. 5 in 3A.
North Iredell (8-5, 6-4 NPC) would be the No. 4 seed from the NPC. The Raiders would travel to Kings Mountain to take on the Mountaineers. Of all the possibilities for the Raiders -- minus missing the playoffs -- this would be the ideal scenario. As the No. 3 or No. 5 seed, North would be guaranteed a tougher first-round games.
OUTSIDE LOOKING IN: Mooresville (3-7 NPC) and West Iredell (1-9 NPC). Playoffs are a long shot for these two.
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Vikings knocking on the door
South Iredell's girls basketball team got a sniff of the win column Tuesday night, but not even Tish McCombs' 20 points were enough for the Vikings to taste victory.
Lincolnton outscored South 11-4 in the fourth quarter to win 38-36.
So close.
It might be discouraging that the Vikings -- losers of 15 straight dating back to last year -- had breakthrough in their crosshairs and let it get away. However, it's got to be encouraging that they're drawing closer to the target.
This is a team that lost 77-2 to Lake Norman in its fourth game of the season.
I'm going to roll the dice here and say South's girls (0-13, 0-4 Southern Piedmont 1A-2A) will not finish winless like they did during the 2004-05 season.
At the very least, I like the Vikings to beat Lincolnton when it comes to Barium Springs on Jan. 29.
Lincolnton outscored South 11-4 in the fourth quarter to win 38-36.
So close.
It might be discouraging that the Vikings -- losers of 15 straight dating back to last year -- had breakthrough in their crosshairs and let it get away. However, it's got to be encouraging that they're drawing closer to the target.
This is a team that lost 77-2 to Lake Norman in its fourth game of the season.
I'm going to roll the dice here and say South's girls (0-13, 0-4 Southern Piedmont 1A-2A) will not finish winless like they did during the 2004-05 season.
At the very least, I like the Vikings to beat Lincolnton when it comes to Barium Springs on Jan. 29.
Friday, December 21, 2007
R&L Holiday Classic approaches
The R&L Holiday Classic tips off at West Iredell High School on Wednesday, the day after Christmas.
The Classic is one of the few times folks around Iredell County can observe other intriguing county matchups, in addition to watching the team they swear their allegiance to. That is part of the reason why the tournament is one of my favorite things to cover for the newspaper.
In addition, it's often some of the best basketball played here during the course of the season.
Predictions for this year's Classic:
1.) There will be two overtime games, with one outcome being decided at the final buzzer.
2. ) Lake Norman's boys will win the championship for the first time since the program began in 2002.
3. ) Statesville's girls will three-peat as Classic champs for the second time in school history. The Greyhounds, tournament champs in 2005 and '06, won three consecutive titles from 1999-2001.
The Classic is one of the few times folks around Iredell County can observe other intriguing county matchups, in addition to watching the team they swear their allegiance to. That is part of the reason why the tournament is one of my favorite things to cover for the newspaper.
In addition, it's often some of the best basketball played here during the course of the season.
Predictions for this year's Classic:
1.) There will be two overtime games, with one outcome being decided at the final buzzer.
2. ) Lake Norman's boys will win the championship for the first time since the program began in 2002.
3. ) Statesville's girls will three-peat as Classic champs for the second time in school history. The Greyhounds, tournament champs in 2005 and '06, won three consecutive titles from 1999-2001.
Saturday, December 8, 2007
ASU a team of destiny?
Appalachian State will play for its third consecutive national championship Friday.
The Mountaineers' final opponent of the 2007 season will be Delaware (11-3).
What a weird coincidence that the Blue Hens sport the same colors and helmet design as the Michigan Wolverines, the team ASU (12-2) upset in Ann Arbor, Mich., to kick off its march to Chattanooga, Tenn.
Maybe that's a sign. I hope so.
The Mountaineers' final opponent of the 2007 season will be Delaware (11-3).
What a weird coincidence that the Blue Hens sport the same colors and helmet design as the Michigan Wolverines, the team ASU (12-2) upset in Ann Arbor, Mich., to kick off its march to Chattanooga, Tenn.
Maybe that's a sign. I hope so.
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
Reflecting on showdown
Our high school basketball game of the week didn't exactly live up to its billing.
Statesville's girls basketball team prevailed 49-38 over Lake Norman on Tuesday, despite numerous poor decisions with the basketball. The Greyhounds turned the ball over 32 times.
The saving grace for Statesville was its ability to dominate the glass. The Greyhounds' 34 rebounds doubled that of the Wildcats.
Having Keyrra Gillespie didn't hurt either.
Gillespie came off the bench -- she was sick and missed practice the day before -- and provided an instant spark with her presence. Statesville began the second quarter on a 14-2 run to take a 20-15 lead.
Lake Norman had bright spots, too, but I think the Wildcats missed an opportunity in the first quarter. With Gillespie sitting on the bench that period, Statesville turned the ball over nine times. Yet the Wildcats only led 13-6 at the end of the quarter.
Had the Wildcats pressed the Greyhounds' other ballhandlers, Lake Norman may have built an insurmountable lead, even with Gillespie checking back into the game after the first eight minutes were in the books.
On the whole, I think Statesville and Lake Norman will be better the next time they meet. (It was unfortunate that the two top teams in the North Piedmont 3A last year had to play in the league opener).
But Tuesday's game should be encouraging for other conference championship hopefuls, like North Iredell.
I think the door is open for a third team -- maybe even a fourth -- to challenge Lake Norman or Statesville this season in the NPC. I don't believe it will be a two-horse race for the conference title like it was last year, when the Greyhounds went undefeated in conference play, and Lake Norman lost twice (both times to Statesville).
Statesville's girls basketball team prevailed 49-38 over Lake Norman on Tuesday, despite numerous poor decisions with the basketball. The Greyhounds turned the ball over 32 times.
The saving grace for Statesville was its ability to dominate the glass. The Greyhounds' 34 rebounds doubled that of the Wildcats.
Having Keyrra Gillespie didn't hurt either.
Gillespie came off the bench -- she was sick and missed practice the day before -- and provided an instant spark with her presence. Statesville began the second quarter on a 14-2 run to take a 20-15 lead.
Lake Norman had bright spots, too, but I think the Wildcats missed an opportunity in the first quarter. With Gillespie sitting on the bench that period, Statesville turned the ball over nine times. Yet the Wildcats only led 13-6 at the end of the quarter.
Had the Wildcats pressed the Greyhounds' other ballhandlers, Lake Norman may have built an insurmountable lead, even with Gillespie checking back into the game after the first eight minutes were in the books.
On the whole, I think Statesville and Lake Norman will be better the next time they meet. (It was unfortunate that the two top teams in the North Piedmont 3A last year had to play in the league opener).
But Tuesday's game should be encouraging for other conference championship hopefuls, like North Iredell.
I think the door is open for a third team -- maybe even a fourth -- to challenge Lake Norman or Statesville this season in the NPC. I don't believe it will be a two-horse race for the conference title like it was last year, when the Greyhounds went undefeated in conference play, and Lake Norman lost twice (both times to Statesville).
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