The 07-08 National Hockey League thread

[kindm's]

how bout them new york hockey strangers!

limping in is better than not getting in at all

Devils v. Rangers 1st round should be nice

They were picked to win the East by TSN in October.

The Sabres fell victim to shitty uniforms and free angency.

If the Bruins win the next two games to pull a 1st round against pittsburg, I\'ll givem them a chance, if things stay as they are they will be uncermoniously swept out of the playoffs by the Habs.

And WTF is going on in Washington? They are on quiet a run.

I am telling you that CAPS team is fierce.  To see them live is amazing....

tonights game is huge for the caps. i hope nhl network carries it

[Wolfman]

^^^^^ Marco Sturm, 2008 NHL finals.

Congratulations Boston Bruins, 2007-2008 official playoff team.

[tyzack]

If ESPN had good hockey coverage, I\'d use their links, but they don\'t.

East:
Team GP W L OT PTS GF GA Home Away Conf. Last Ten Streak
1. Montreal *  82 47 25 10 104 262 222 22-13-6 25-12-4 44-20-8 8-1-1 3W  
2. Pittsburgh *  82 47 27 8 102 247 216 26-10-5 21-17-3 39-26-7 6-3-1 1L  
3. Washington *  82 43 31 8 94 242 231 23-15-3 20-16-5 37-28-7 9-1-0 7W  
4. New Jersey 82 46 29 7 99 206 197 25-14-2 21-15-5 39-26-7 4-5-1 1W  
5. NY Rangers 82 42 27 13 97 213 199 25-13-3 17-14-10 41-20-11 5-1-4 2L  
6. Philadelphia 82 42 29 11 95 248 233 21-14-6 21-15-5 37-24-11 7-2-1 2W  
7. Ottawa 82 43 31 8 94 261 247 22-15-4 21-16-4 39-28-5 3-6-1 1L  
8. Boston 82 41 29 12 94 212 222 21-16-4 20-13-8 35-25-12 4-2-4 1L  

West:
Team GP W L OT PTS GF GA Home Away Conf. Last Ten Streak
1. Detroit *  82 54 21 7 115 257 184 29-9-3 25-12-4 47-19-6 7-2-1 2W  
2. San Jose *  82 49 23 10 108 222 193 22-13-6 27-10-4 44-18-10 7-2-1 2L  
3. Minnesota *  82 44 28 10 98 223 218 25-11-5 19-17-5 40-24-8 6-2-2 1L  
4. Anaheim 82 47 27 8 102 205 191 28-9-4 19-18-4 39-25-8 8-2-0 3W  
5. Dallas 82 45 30 7 97 242 207 23-16-2 22-14-5 39-26-7 3-5-2 1W  
6. Colorado 82 44 31 7 95 231 219 27-12-2 17-19-5 36-29-7 5-4-1 2W  
7. Calgary 82 42 30 10 94 229 227 21-11-9 21-19-1 38-27-7 5-5-0 1W  
8. Nashville 82 41 32 9 91 230 229 23-14-4 18-18-5 36-28-8 6-3-1 1L  


I am going to be very conservative and say Detriot from the West and rather risky Washington from the east.

[Yoda]

East
Montreal over Boston
Pitt over Ottowa
Phili over Washington
NJ over rangers
Pitt wins the east

West
Detroit over Nashville
Calgary over San Jose
Colorado over Minnesota
Anaheim over Dallas

Detroit wins the west

Detroit wins the cup

[booztravlr]

Way to disappoint, Buffalo.


Montreal over Washington
San Jose over Anaheim

Montreal over San Jose

[leith]

Go Ducks!

[tyzack]

Go Ducks!

I cannot, in good conscience, cheer for a team which comes from a town in which there is no natrual ice against a team which comes from a town in which there is.

This does not apply only to the ducks, but a number of playoff teams like Dallas, San Jose and Nashville.

Washington is boarder-line.

[Yoda]

That comment makes absolutely no sense.  Are you telling me that there should be no teams playing where there is no natural ice.  That would eliminate 8-10 teams and continue to further alienate potential hockey fans.  It\'s bad enough that the playoffs and stanley cup finals are only on VS.  If we don\'t bring in more fans, the sport will continue to decline to a point where it only exists in Canada and Europe.  Now, I can\'t stand the way the NHL is since the strike, but I\'ll take hockey where and how I can get it, even if that means watching a team in california or florida or any other warmer climate.

[kindm's]

That comment makes absolutely no sense.  Are you telling me that there should be no teams playing where there is no natural ice.  That would eliminate 8-10 teams and continue to further alienate potential hockey fans.  It\'s bad enough that the playoffs and stanley cup finals are only on VS.  If we don\'t bring in more fans, the sport will continue to decline to a point where it only exists in Canada and Europe.  Now, I can\'t stand the way the NHL is since the strike, but I\'ll take hockey where and how I can get it, even if that means watching a team in california or florida or any other warmer climate.

All the Ranger games are on MSG as well as being covered by TSN in Canada and on VS.(when scheduled) I would imagine all the normal local outlets will carry their teams. It just means out of market games will be harder to watch for some. I am glad I will be able to watch some of the other series. Although it looks like the Bruins got hosed for coverage and I don\'t have NESN.

[BigMamaBlueberry]

I cannot, in good conscience, cheer for a team which comes from a town in which there is no natrual ice against a team which comes from a town in which there is.

I cannot, in good conscience, cheer for a team which is not an original six team

I\'m with Yoda, the more fans the the NHL can garner the better.  The strike hurt them a lot and I personally don\'t think Bettman\'s "kinder, gentler, parity packed" league is helping.

That said, GO RANGERS!!!

[tyzack]

I am not saying that I am not going to watch any of the western series; I watch pretty much all the hockey I can. I was saying that last year, for example, when it was ottowa vs anahiem in the finals, I cheered for ottowa, same with edmonton vs carolina and calgary vs tampa bay.

As for media coverage; NBC/VS (US), TSN/CBC (CAN) have national broadcasting rights, however those rights are given to local market outlets, such as NESN in Boston or MSG in NYC. However, the national broadcasts will trump local media coverage.

In the case of NESN, though, since that station is owned 80% by the Red Sox and 20% by the Bruins, normally the Red Sox will win out if there are conflicting games.

[SkyePrizm]

Being a Rangers fan at heart, I will cheer for them for as far as they go....

but also i will secretly be cheering for that Caps team.  I think right now they exhibit the hunger for the game.

[Yoda]

I\'ll be rooting for Devs all the way.  I don\'t think that they\'ll go too far this year, but I\'ll be at the game Wednesday as probably the only person wearing a Kansas City Scout sweater.  

But to another note, I do feel that the NHL is losing out big time by not having their playoff games broadcast on network tv or ESPN.  At the least, the finals should be on CBS, NBC, FOX or ABC.  Without the exposure, they will not bring in new fans.

[tyzack]

I\'ll be rooting for Devs all the way.  I don\'t think that they\'ll go too far this year, but I\'ll be at the game Wednesday as probably the only person wearing a Kansas City Scout sweater.  
But to another note, I do feel that the NHL is losing out big time by not having their playoff games broadcast on network tv or ESPN.  At the least, the finals should be on CBS, NBC, FOX or ABC.  Without the exposure, they will not bring in new fans.

Games 3-7 (if nessacry) of the Stanely Cup will be on NBC.

[Yoda]

All Stanley Cup Final games should be on NBC PERIOD! If friggin figure skating gets time on network TV, the finals should be on network TV.

Yes, I said Kansas City Scouts.  I alternate between KCS, Colorado Rockies and Devils (Christmas colors - I have both home and away for the red and black, but am still protesting the color changes) sweaters.