Print and Go Back ESPN.com: Videogames [Print without images]

Sunday, September 30, 2007
Updated: October 3, 7:54 PM ET
 Sharks to win virtual Stanley Cup
The San Jose Sharks celebrate their Stanley Cup win in NHL 08.

The San Jose Sharks -- led by Conn Smythe Trophy Winner Joe Thornton -- will be the 2008 Stanley Cup winners, at least in the virtual world of EA Sports' NHL 08 video game. In the 2007-08 season simulation, the Sharks beat the Prince of Wales Trophy-winning Pittsburgh Penguins by a score of 4-2 for the league title. The Sharks finished the regular season in fourth place in the Western Conference, while the Penguins held the same spot in the Eastern Conference. (Full playoff bracket)

In the West, the 2007 Stanley Cup winners Anaheim Ducks continued to dominate this year leading the way with 51 wins and 109 total points to take Pacific Division title and lead the pack into the playoffs. Colorado won the Northwest Division with 48 wins and 104 points holding off the 2nd place Vancouver Canucks who finished with 101 points. The Central Division winning Detroit Red Wings had only 100 points, 6th in the conference but with their division win, seeded themselves 3rd for the playoffs.

In the East, the NY Rangers with 52 wins and 113 points earned top spot led by Maurice Richard Trophy winner Jaromir Jagr who also led the league with 54 goals. Ottawa had yet another strong season with the big three of Jason Spezza, Dany Heatley, and Daniel Alfredsson contributing to their Northeast Division title. With 94 points and the Southeast Division title, Eric Staal and the Carolina Hurricanes round out the division leaders and the earned the third seed in the East.

Pittsburgh found it's way into the Eastern Conference finals with a series win over points and assists leader Martin St. Louis and the Tampa Bay Lightning in six games followed by a near sweep of the Hurricanes who downed the New Jersey Devils in their opening round in five games. Leading the way in season shots and power play goals, Sydney Crosby then turned it on against the league leading Rangers and upset the President Trophy winners in Game 7 in front of a stunned crowd at MSG to advance to the Stanley Cup Finals.

San Jose's road to the Stanley Cup began with a tough series win against the Vancouver Canucks in seven followed by yet another 7-game series knocking off the veteran Red Wings to earn their birth in the Western Conference finals against the Edmonton Oilers. The Oilers upset Joe Sakic and the Colorado Avalanche in seven games in the opening round and continued their uphill battle by defeating the defending champs in six games in front of the Oil faithful in Alberta. In the Conference Finals however, their Cinderella story would end as the Sharks would not be another upset victim taking the Clarence S Campbell Bowl and punching their ticket to the Cup finals.

NHL 08 PROJECTED SEASON RESULTS
WESTERN CONFERENCE
  Team W L OTL PTS W% Home Away
1 Anaheim Ducks 51 24 7 109 66.5 25-13-3 26-11-4
2 Colorado Avalanche 48 26 8 104 63.4 22-14-5 26-12-3
3 Detroit Red Wings 46 28 8 100 61.0 20-15-6 26-13-2
4 San Jose Sharks 43 22 17 103 62.8 23-10-8 20-12-9
5 Vancouver Canucks 47 28 7 101 61.6 21-16-4 26-12-3
6 Calgary Flames 46 27 9 101 61.6 23-15-3 23-12-6
7 Edmonton Oilers 42 31 9 93 56.7 16-20-5 26-11-4
8 Nashville Predators 36 28 18 90 54.9 17-16-8 19-12-10
9 St. Louis Blues 38 32 12 88 53.7 19-17-5 19-15-7
10 Los Angeles Kings 39 34 9 87 53.0 23-15-3 16-19-6
11 Minnesota Wild 37 32 13 87 53.0 18-19-4 19-13-9
12 Phoenix Coyotes 36 36 10 82 50.0 16-19-6 20-17-4
13 Chicago Blackhawks 32 36 14 78 47.6 16-20-5 16-16-9
14 Dallas Stars 32 37 13 77 47.0 15-20-6 17-17-7
15 Columbus Blue Jackets 31 36 15 77 47.0 14-17-10 17-19-5
EASTERN CONFERENCE
  Team W L OTL PTS W% Home Away
1 New York Rangers 52 21 9 113 68.9 27-8-6 25-13-3
2 Ottawa Senators 49 26 7 105 64.0 21-16-4 28-10-3
3 Carolina Hurricanes 44 32 6 94 57.3 25-12-4 19-20-2
4 Pittsburgh Penguins 50 23 9 109 66.5 27-10-4 23-13-5
5 Tampa Bay Lightning 49 24 9 107 65.2 25-12-4 24-12-5
6 New Jersey Devils 41 27 14 96 58.5 21-13-7 20-14-7
7 Toronto Maple Leafs 41 28 13 95 57.9 18-18-5 23-10-8
8 Buffalo Sabres 40 28 14 94 57.3 21-14-6 19-14-8
9 Atlanta Thrashers 39 28 15 93 56.7 19-13-9 20-15-6
10 Boston Bruins 40 32 10 90 54.9 21-16-4 19-16-6
11 New York Islanders 41 34 7 89 54.3 21-19-1 20-15-6
12 Montreal Canadiens 41 34 7 89 54.3 21-17-3 20-17-4
13 Philadelphia Flyers 35 28 19 89 54.3 20-13-8 15-15-11
14 Florida Panthers 34 33 15 83 50.6 17-15-9 17-18-6
15 Washington Capitals 30 45 7 67 40.9 17-20-4 13-25-3



ESPN.com: Help | PR Media Kit | Sales Media Kit | Corrections | Contact Us | Site Map | Mobile | ESPN Shop | Jobs at ESPN | Supplier Information
©2009 ESPN Internet Ventures. Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and Safety Information/Your California Privacy Rights are applicable to you. All rights reserved.