European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 11, 2007, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Stars and stripes wednesday april 11 2007 sports Nowitzki scores 26 Points to help Mavericks lock up top playoff seed Page 39 eyes on the prize Buffalo Detroit begin nil playoffs As to seeded teams in conferences by Ira Podell the associated press one thing is certain a new team will skate with the Stanley cup this year and it could be a club from the East no one saw coming for the first time in the modern nil Era neither finalist from the previous season made it Back to the playoffs so with Champi on Carolina and Edmonton out of the picture the 16 remaining teams begin their Pursuit of the Crown the Southeast division provided the win ners on each Side of the season Long lockout Tampa Bay in 2004 and Carolina last year the lightning and hurricanes earned top seeds in the Eastern conference then beat up starts from the Bottom of the West sixth seeded Calgary got to game 7 against Tampa Bay and no 8 Edmonton repeated the feat versus the hurricanes if another Botto rung club makes a run dont be surprised if its a team closer to the at lactic Ocean instead of the Pacific every team is dangerous said 19yearold Sidney Crosby from the fifth seeded Pittsburgh penguins you Al ways look at teams that finish off Strong if s All about timing you dont have to look any farther than Long Island to see that the new York islanders appeared out of the playoff race following noncompetitive losses just Over a week ago to powerhouses Buffalo and Ottawa in the aftermath of goalie Rick Dipietroi concussion yet they bounced Back with four straight victories and eked into the playoffs ahead of Toronto and Montreal on the final Day of the season by beat ing new Jersey in a shootout now they have their sights set on to seeded Buffalo which earned 113 Points and had the Nils Best record for the first time in team history its All about Opportunity in this game said islanders for Ward Ryan Smyth acquired from Edmonton at the Trade deadline we didst quit and obviously i was an added extra piece to the Puzzle to help the organization get in that s All you can ask for As a player is to get in the rangers earned the no 6 seed on the strength of a 1334 surge and joined Pitts Burgh the islanders and second seeded new Jersey As Atlantic division teams to qualify Only Philadelphia which posted the leagues worst record was left out of the postseason party out West Detroit again is at the top the Central division winning red wings tied the sabres in Points a season after capturing the presidents trophy but failed to repeat be cause they fell three victories Short of the a Bresth High 53 now they Hope to avoid another first round flare out against Calgary after getting knocked out quickly last year by no 8 Edmonton the flames wrapped up the final berth in the West on the second Olast night of the season when Colorado comeback ended in a loss to Nash Ville if the red wings slip up Pacific Champi on Anaheim will be ready to step up no longer mighty the ducks Are in the playoffs for the first time As division champions their first test is the against seventh seeded Minne Sota wild and Star goalie Niklas Backstrom ifs a tossup said defens Eman Chris Pronger in his first season with Anaheim any team can get hot much like we did last year in Edmonton As the eighth seed the wild Hope Backstrom will Lead them deep into the postseason see nil on Page 35 Onan Pittsburgh at Ottawa Gamel 1 am thursday of extra Dallas at Vancouver game 1 4 am thursday of extra Buffalo goaltender Ryan Miller and the sabres Are the top seed in the Eastern conference after winning the presidents trophy for the Nils Best record the sabres open the playoffs at Home against the eight seeded new York islanders Lawrence padres Over giants pages