The official NHL thread

[Aerosmith87]

Wooooooooooooo! Go Flyers!!!

Last year I was taunting you, but this year I'm right next to ya, bud.

[WOLF]

Odds for the last spot:

Minnesota - 90.4%
Detroit - 78%
Columbus - 30%

Would love to see Minny miss the playoffs after their spending spree last off-season.

If its Habs/Leafs in the first round, Canada is going to be shut down for two weeks (except for Vancouver).

[Mazerati]

if Lehtonen plays against Detroit on saturday and Dallas's head is in the game i can easily see them upsetting Detroit at home

[NeverSurrender]

Way to blow it, islanders.

[chungasrevenge]

Odds for the last spot:

Minnesota - 90.4%
Detroit - 78%
Columbus - 30%

Would love to see Minny miss the playoffs after their spending spree last off-season.

If its Habs/Leafs in the first round, Canada is going to be shut down for two weeks (except for Vancouver).

Habs/Leafs would be fun.

B's/Senators play their makeup game on Sunday. We probably won't know until then who wins the division unless the Habs lose at Toronto and B's win at Washington. Julien is supposedly resting Chara, Bergeron and others in Washington.

[WOLF]

Odds for the last spot:

Minnesota - 90.4%
Detroit - 78%
Columbus - 30%

Would love to see Minny miss the playoffs after their spending spree last off-season.

If its Habs/Leafs in the first round, Canada is going to be shut down for two weeks (except for Vancouver).

Habs/Leafs would be fun.

B's/Senators play their makeup game on Sunday. We probably won't know until then who wins the division unless the Habs lose at Toronto and B's win at Washington. Julien is supposedly resting Chara, Bergeron and others in Washington.

Pretty sure the Habs will be resting Price, Markov, Gorges or Bouillon, and Prust Saturday. You can't pick your poison, really, so might as well get healthy. 2nd can get you the Rangers; Lundqvist stands on his head, and you're out; 4th can get you the Leafs and they can physically beat you up. Islanders are a Cinderella story; Sens are pumped by the return of Karlsson. Too many possibilities - 2nd or 4th barely makes a difference - except that you avoid Pittsburgh in the 2nd round (if they win).

[Mazerati]

haha Edmonton leads Minnesota 6-0 in the 3rd..what a way to choke at home in a very important game...if Columbus beats Nashville tommorow they'll get in the playoffs if either Detroit or Minnesota lose

[WOLF]

If ever there was an arguement for expanding the use of video replay in hockey, and other sports, this is it:

http://www.rds.ca/vid%C3%A9os/la-contro ... s-1.614502

It's in French, but you will get the gyst of it. In OT, a linesman blew an obvious offside call, resulting in the winning goal for Baie-Comeau over Blainville-Boisbriand in the QMJHL. This is in game 5, of a 2-2 series, in a hotly contested league semi-final. I can't imagine if this happened in the NHL.

Both goalies, for both teams, were suspended, so it was the battle of the third stringers...except for the fact that Blainville-Boisbriand's guy got hurt and they had to go to their 4th string goalie, a Junior College kid who had never played Major Junior Hockey. He was brilliant and it's a shame he got jobbed.

Check out the reaction of ex-NHL'er Joel Bouchard, asst. coach/GM of the Armada, after the game. Again, its French, but you'll get his mannerisms.

Ridiculous a play like this can't be overturned. I feel bad for the kids.

[WOLF]

All 16 playoff teams set. Matchups hinge on the SJ/LA game just getting underway, and tomorrow's Boston/Ottawa game.

Ottawa win (OT/SO or regulation):
1.) Pittsburgh
2.) Montreal
3.) Washington
4.) Boston
5.) Toronto
6.) NY Rangers
7.) Ottawa
8.) NY Islanders

Boston win (regulation):
1.) Pittsburgh
2.) Boston
3.) Washington
4.) Montreal
5.) Toronto
6.) NY Rangers
7.) NY Islanders
8.) Ottawa

Boston win (OT/SO):
1.) Pittsburgh
2.) Boston
3.) Washington
4.) Montreal
5.) Toronto
6.) NY Rangers
7.) Ottawa
8.) NY Islanders

LA win:
1.) Chicago
2.) Anaheim
3.) Vancouver
4.) St-Louis
5.) LA
6.) SJ
7.) Detroit
8.) Minnesota

SJ win:
1.) Chicago
2.) Anaheim
3.) Vancouver
4.) St-Louis
5.) SJ
6.) LA
7.) Detroit
8.) Minnesota

[chungasrevenge]

Julien is playing all the starters tonight. Rumor that Boston and Ottawa series will start a day later on account of them having to makeup the bombing game today. Islanders, Habs or Leafs might get an extra day off.

[chungasrevenge]

Julien is playing all the starters tonight. Rumor that Boston and Ottawa series will start a day later on account of them having to makeup the bombing game today. Islanders, Habs or Leafs might get an extra day off.

EDIT: I can't delete this second post on account of providing a link to pirated software?

[Tymaster]

Last night was the most alive I've ever seen the 'Wide for hockey. Too bad it was all for not.

[chungasrevenge]

Last night was the most alive I've ever seen the 'Wide for hockey. Too bad it was all for not.

They brought some interest back to the team and with the move to the east next year they should see an increase in revenue. At least the games will start at a decent time. And they should be good.

Local beat writer for the Bruins is saying Thursday and Saturday for games 1 and 2. Thanks, Mr. Jacobs.

[Kid-Wicked]

hawks in 5
penguins in 6
ducks in 5
habs in 7
canucks in 7
rangers in 7
blues in 7
bruins in 4

[pieceofme]

Hawks in 5
Penguins in 6
Red Wings in 5
Ottawa in 6
Canucks in 6
Capitals in 7
LA in 6
Bruins in 5

[pieceofme]

Oh, and if Edmonton get the first pick in this draft some heads are going to roll!

[chungasrevenge]

Penguins 5
Ottawa 7
Capitals 6
Bruins 6

Chicago 5
Anaheim 6
Vancouver 6
St. Louis 7

Penguins over Bruins 6
Capitals over Ottawa 6

Chicago over St Louis 6
Vancouver over Anaheim 6

Penguins over Capitals 6
Chicago over Vancouver 5

Chicago over Penguins in 7

[WOLF]

Penguins in 5
Habs in 7
Rangers in 6
Bruins in 5

Hawks in 5
Red Wings in 6
San Jose in 6
St-Louis in 7

[alecjonsludge]

Penguins in 6
Habs in 7
NYR in 6
Bruins in 5

Blackhawks in 5
Detroit in 7
San Jose in 6
St.Louis in 7

Wonder if Burkie has a sludge account? :

http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/nhl/sto ... wsuit.html

[pieceofme]

Hawks in 5 (Like both teams, but will be going for the wild)
Penguins in 6 (Islanders)
Red Wings in 5 (Ducks)
Ottawa in 6 (Ottawa)
Canucks in 6 (Canucks)
Capitals in 7 (Meh I guess Rangers but I don't care for either of these teams)
LA in 6 (Blues)
Bruins in 5 (Hate both teams so just hoping for loads of injuries)

And here is who I want to win those series (in brackets)

[pieceofme]

I'm the only one thus who thinks LA will get through the first round. I mean I hope they don't because I like the Blues and hate the Kings, but the Kings look strong. Again.

[Mazerati]

Hawks in 5
Pittsburgh in 4
Ducks in 5
Ottawa in 7 (upset special)
Vancouver in 6
Rangers in 5
LA Kings in 5
Toronto in 7


Stanley Cup
LA Kings in 7 over the NY Rangers

[EatTheGlass]

I'm the only one thus who thinks LA will get through the first round. I mean I hope they don't because I like the Blues and hate the Kings, but the Kings look strong. Again.

Oh, your not the only one. GO KINGS!

[pieceofme]

Hawks in 5
Pittsburgh in 4
Ducks in 5
Ottawa in 7 (upset special)
Vancouver in 6
Rangers in 5
LA Kings in 5
Toronto in 7


Stanley Cup
LA Kings in 7 over the NY Rangers

Out of your predictions, the Toronto one would be the upset special.

[Mazerati]

Hawks in 5
Pittsburgh in 4
Ducks in 5
Ottawa in 7 (upset special)
Vancouver in 6
Rangers in 5
LA Kings in 5
Toronto in 7


Stanley Cup
LA Kings in 7 over the NY Rangers

Out of your predictions, the Toronto one would be the upset special.

that's true i probably should have put (best bet) instead lol

[pieceofme]

I also predict it will not be a Chicago vs Pittsburgh final. Could 'experts' and 'analysts' be any more predictable.

[pieceofme]

Man the Panthers just can't catch a break this year

Although, this is possibly the best year to be moved down the draft considering the talent available.

So who would be better/who is going to be better - Drouin or MacKinnon?

[EatTheGlass]

I also predict it will not be a Chicago vs Pittsburgh final. Could 'experts' and 'analysts' be any more predictable.

Yah, show me one 'expert' from last season that had predicted a LAK/NJD final.

[alecjonsludge]

Man the Panthers just can't catch a break this year

Although, this is possibly the best year to be moved down the draft considering the talent available.

So who would be better/who is going to be better - Drouin or MacKinnon?

MacKinnon. Drouin is no scrub by any means, but he seems to be soft on the puck somewhat. He lost quite a few 1 on 1 puck battles in the Moosehead games I watched this season and wasn't overly found of helping out in the defensive end.Mackinnon is the more complete player,IMO.

[chungasrevenge]

I put money on the Bruins, Blues and Islanders based on the odds at the start of the year. My god if the Islanders can pull off a miracle I'm driving to the Island and drinks are on me.

The Wild up by one. I'm off the Chicago bandwagon.