The Unofficial Jaromir Jagr site A.K.A Fredrik's JJS, Mark Chorney on TUJJS

With about 4 games in the regular season left for each NHL team, most are getting ready for their run in the "second season", and the rest are just biding their time. I have had the pleasure of being able to watch one of the better teams in the league play really well recently, the Edmonton Oilers. The had team record 9 game winning streak recently. But there is another team on the streaking forefront. And they are starting to streak at just the right time. They are the Pittsburgh Penguins. They just won their fifth straight game by overcoming a third period 3-1 deficit to win 5-3. Is this going to be a sing of playoff things to come? Who knows only time will tell, but we can sure hope so.

We should be very happy that Pittsburgh has a shot at finishing in fifth spot in the Eastern conference. The way the standings look if this happens they will play their playoff (ritualistic almost) rivals, the Washington Capitals. People do not expect Pittsburgh to beat the Caps. But let's look at this for a second. How many years was Pittsburgh not supposed to beat Washington? Last year they beat them with ease. They could have swept them, but won the series 4 games to one. And they are supposed to be worried about playing Washington? Just because they are playing good hockey. That was until trade deadline, talk about a drop off the hockey map. But they still do have a good team. But Pittsburgh has pretty well the same team that they had last years playoffs. The only additions are Johan Hedberg (who is playing great between the pipes right now), and (trumpet sounds to announce him) mighty Mario. And who should be scared now? C'mon, Kovalev, Straka, Lemiuex, Lang (great season), and Jagr. If I was Kolzig, I would be telling the rest of my team to just to try to keep the goals and shots down. If they can.

And there is still another opponent that they could face in the playoffs. The New Jersey Devils. Uh oh. They have be playing amazing hockey recently. But...... Remember two years ago when the Pens were not supposed to be in the playoffs and they made it? Their opponent was Jersey. New Jersey was up 3 games to 1. And what happened? As I think back to memory lane, it is such a nice trip, because they beat the Devils 4 games to 3. And Jagr stepped it up and carried the team past the Devils to advance to the second round. And he did this while having his recurring groin injury. Which, in case you did not know, is caused by the fact that he has a flat left foot. It creates more pressure in that area, so if he gets hit or pushed the wrong way at the wrong time.

Buffalo could also be an opponent sometime down the road. But they should be easy to beat, because all they do is rid the coatails of Dominik Hasek. They do not really have anybody that can score besides Miroslav Satan. And all that you have to do is starting bumping Hasek and he gets really irate and gets off of his game.

The Pens will not have to deal with the Toronto Maple Leafs because they might not even make the playoffs. They have been playing like they absolutely do not care recently. They have only won two game sin their last 12. That is a team that wants to go far in the playoffs. If they have not pulled themselves out of their funk by now, they never will.

There is only one team that I would be worried about playing. The Flyers. Those "Broadstreet Bullies" from just down the road in Pennsylvania. They have a pretty good goalie in Roman Cechmanek. He is playing well right now, but the playoffs are a totally different story. The BIG reason why I am worried about the Flyers is their size. The could crash and bang with the best of them because of this, and in the playoffs that helps a lot. However, in last years big dance the Pens should have beat then in 4 straight games. The won the first two games and then last their third in thrilling but heartbreaking quadruple overtime loss. They ended up loseing the series in six games. This year if they face them? Only when and if this happens will we know.

Either way what ever happens this post-season looks like it will be very, very,very entertaining. Great playoff rivalries that will get to continue this year, great players and great goalies.

And because of this information, I am going to give my fearless prediction. I am going to and have already in about 4 pools, take the Pittsburgh Penguins as the team to hoist the "Holy Grail" in May.
That's my story and I'm sticking to it!