Teams ready for post-season
 

Can Colorado repeat as WCHL champions, or will a new leader emerge?
 
With another season almost complete, the final 16 teams left to battle for the WCHL Cup have been set. All of the matchups are in place as well, minus two in the Western Conference, where the San Jose Sharks and Calgary Flames are still vying for first place. A point by San Jose in it's final game, or a loss of any kind by Calgary, will leave San Jose as the top seed for at least the first three rounds.
 
But the story this year won't be about teams like San Jose and Calgary, who have both won it all before. Rather, the recent trend of the WCHL seems to be which long overdue team will finally get their first title.
 
Perrenial powerhouses in Pittsburgh and Colorado finally overcame the last hurdle and claimed their first trophy in the past two years. Colorado did it in seven games over the New York Islanders, another team which has struggled mightily in the playoffs before finally going on their own run last year. Will we see another push this year?
 
"I damn well hope so," said Philadelphia Flyers GM Doug Van Strephen, who has seen his team post great regular seasons for several years, only to fall short in the playoffs. "It's frustrating watching your team struggle in the post-season, especially year after year. Hopefully this is the year."
 
If it is, it will have to start against another team who is also suffering from failed regular season expectations. The New York Rangers, who have constantly put up 100-plus point seasons in recent years, have also never claimed the WCHL's holy calice. The closest they came was in Season 12, losing in four straight to the Flames in the finals.
 
"That one stung worse than a june bug bite on your nipples," said New York Rangers GM Andrew Don, oddly rubbing his pectorals in a circular motion at the same time. "I view going through the playoffs like holding a winning lottery ticket and everyone knows about it. There's a huge payoff if you can cash it, but everyone wants to kill you on the way."
 

The Rangers-Flyers series figures to leave one team very disappointed following a season of high expectations.
 
Penguins GM Patrick Matthews recalls the relief he felt after winning it all in Season 13, eeking out a 4-3 series win in the finals over the surprising Detroit Red Wings.
 
"It was like being locked up in prison for 10 years with your window looking out on a Victoria Secrets photo shoot and then one day being let out and told 'Do what you want,' recalled Matthews. "I wrecked a lot of chicks that day. I mean wrecked them. They walk like are straddling barrels still. There is no rehab for that. I feel bad now, but I felt damn good then."
 
There is also the story of the after thoughts. The darkhorses. The Cinderella teams that most years find their way through the mess to pull off a few upset and go the distance. This year one of those teams hoping to pull it off is the Ottawa Senators.
 
"We aren't just happy to be here," said Senators GM Noel Harrison. "We want to boot(expletitive deleted) someone and (expletitive deleted) down their throats. We have a common goal to hate everyone on the opposing team, bang their wives and sisters and use their pets for target practice. I have (Patrick) Matthews' (Penguins GM) photo laminated to the inside of my toilet bowl so I can (expletetive deleted) on him daily. It's great motivation.
 

Ottawa has even gone as far as to hire Samuel L Jackson as a motivational speaker for their series against Pittsburgh.
 
Ottawa is hoping to best the Penguins in round one of the playoffs, the first time they have made the post-season.
 
In the West, the Columbus Blue Jackets are also in the post-season for the first time ever and will face either San Jose or Calgary.
 
"We don't care who we face. We want to play the best. You get good that way," explained Serge Niles, Blue Jackets GM. "Besides, they can't be that good. Calgary got upset easily the last two years and the last time San Jose won anything, Taylor Hall didn't have pubes."
 
Hall is expected to be the top pick in the 2010 WCHL Entry Draft, to which San Jose currently holds the top pick, pending the outcome of the lottery draft.
 
In just a few days the games will get going on what should be a great showdown of the upper crust of the WCHL. Will we see a repeat winner of the WCHL CUp for the first time since Season 7, or will a new champion be crowned? Soon, all will start to be revealed.
 

 
Who will capture the holy grail of hockey? Within one month, we should know.