The 92nd NHL marathon begins todayThe puck will drop in Helinski,Finland in the game between the Carolina Hurricanes and the Minnesota Wild.But we all know the official season starts in North America.This is the sixth season of the Salary cap era.
Besides the Helinski game,eight teams will be in action tonight.Two of the league's oldest franchises will meet in Toronto.The Montreal Canadiens and the Toronto Maple Leafs will face off at the Air Canada Centre at 7 pm.The game will be broadcasted on the CBC and RDS for the french viewers in Quebec.As always, the expectations will be high for the storied franchise from Montreal,espacially after the surprising playoff run last spring.As for the Toronto team,its an ever lasting building process since the end of the lockout five years ago.After the Montreal-Toronto game,the CBC will head west for the battle of Alberta,between the Edmonton Oilers and the Calgary Flames.It should be an entertaining evening of hockey.
In the last few days,the experts,pundits and bloggers have made their predictions on the upcoming season.The late great coach of the Montreal Canadiens,Toe Blake, once said that predictions are for gypsies.I will follow that and more go on the lines of a possible scenario for each conference.I believe we really get a better picture of a season in January,which is the season's midpoint.
In the Eastern conference.Last season,the Capitals,Devils,Sabres and Penguins finished in the top four.I think the Penguins,Capitals and Sabres will be there again.So a dog fight could occur for positions four to eight.The teams that will be hunting for the spots are : Boston,Ottawa,Montreal,New Jersey,Philadelphia,Tampa Bay,Rangers and Carolina.It should make for some entertaining hockey.Like last year,we may have to wait til the last weekend of the season to find out who the last team or teams to make the playoffs.
In the last few days,the experts,pundits and bloggers have made their predictions on the upcoming season.The late great coach of the Montreal Canadiens,Toe Blake, once said that predictions are for gypsies.I will follow that and more go on the lines of a possible scenario for each conference.I believe we really get a better picture of a season in January,which is the season's midpoint.
In the Eastern conference.Last season,the Capitals,Devils,Sabres and Penguins finished in the top four.I think the Penguins,Capitals and Sabres will be there again.So a dog fight could occur for positions four to eight.The teams that will be hunting for the spots are : Boston,Ottawa,Montreal,New Jersey,Philadelphia,Tampa Bay,Rangers and Carolina.It should make for some entertaining hockey.Like last year,we may have to wait til the last weekend of the season to find out who the last team or teams to make the playoffs.
In the Western conference.Last season,San Jose,Vancouver,Chicago and Phoenix finished in the top four.This season,Detroit will take back it's place in the top four and join San Jose,Vancouver and Chicago.I think Los Angeles has a good chance at sewing up fifth place.So contrary to the Eastern conference,only three playoff spots are up for grabs in the West.Phoenix,St-Louis,Nashville,Colorado,Anaheim and Calgary will be fighting for those spots.
As I mentionned earlier,we should have a better idea of the possible playoff pictures once the season hits midpoint.Other than staying healthy, and being consistant ip front, on defense and in goal,is there a formula in making the playoffs ? Yes, having good home and away records.In the eight teams that made it to the playoffs in the West,none of them where below 22 wins at home,while in the East,all but two teams reached that mark.Boston and Montreal had 18 and 20. Out of the eight teams with playoff spots in the East,only four won 21 games and more.Two of the teams below that mark had losing records going in to the first round.Ottawa and Philadelphia.In the West,three teams finished below the 21 win mark,Vancouver had a losing record.
Its was harder to make the playoffs in the West than in the East.Colorado made it with 95 points,while Montreal snuck in with 7 less points at 88.The first seven teams in the West had 100+ points going in to the playoffs to the four from the East.
We should be in for a good end entertaining season,folks.
The San Jose Sharks have named Joe Thornton as their captain.DanBoyle will be wearing one of the A's as will former captain, Patrick Marleau.During the regular season,he will be good.His leadership will surely be tested come playoffs.Just like in Washington,the Sharks fans want a cup.The Sharks finally made for the conference finals last spring,but lost in four games to eventual cup champions,Chicago. Can he lead them down the path to glory ? We will find out next spring.
In its season preview show,TSN has predicted that the Detroit Red Wings will win the 2011 Stanley Cup.Here is quote by Bob McKenzie '' Everything old is new again.Zetterberg and Datsyuk are playing together, Franzen and Filppula are healthy, happy, and productive, and maybe it's a last hurrah for Nicklas Lidstrom." His collegue on the panel,Pierre Mcguire agreed with McKenzie. McGuire then added "They're just too much, well coached, rested, and angry with what happened to them last year in the San Jose series."
Coaches on the hot seat was also on TSN's season preview.Darren Drager listed the following : Todd Richards in Minnesota,Marc Crawford in Dallas,Ron Wilson in Toronto,Randy Carlyle in Anaheim,Alain Vigneault in Vancouver and Bruce Boudreau in Washington.I will add, Claude Julien in that group also.
That's all for now,enjoy the season.
As I mentionned earlier,we should have a better idea of the possible playoff pictures once the season hits midpoint.Other than staying healthy, and being consistant ip front, on defense and in goal,is there a formula in making the playoffs ? Yes, having good home and away records.In the eight teams that made it to the playoffs in the West,none of them where below 22 wins at home,while in the East,all but two teams reached that mark.Boston and Montreal had 18 and 20. Out of the eight teams with playoff spots in the East,only four won 21 games and more.Two of the teams below that mark had losing records going in to the first round.Ottawa and Philadelphia.In the West,three teams finished below the 21 win mark,Vancouver had a losing record.
Its was harder to make the playoffs in the West than in the East.Colorado made it with 95 points,while Montreal snuck in with 7 less points at 88.The first seven teams in the West had 100+ points going in to the playoffs to the four from the East.
We should be in for a good end entertaining season,folks.
Around the League
The San Jose Sharks have named Joe Thornton as their captain.DanBoyle will be wearing one of the A's as will former captain, Patrick Marleau.During the regular season,he will be good.His leadership will surely be tested come playoffs.Just like in Washington,the Sharks fans want a cup.The Sharks finally made for the conference finals last spring,but lost in four games to eventual cup champions,Chicago. Can he lead them down the path to glory ? We will find out next spring.
In its season preview show,TSN has predicted that the Detroit Red Wings will win the 2011 Stanley Cup.Here is quote by Bob McKenzie '' Everything old is new again.Zetterberg and Datsyuk are playing together, Franzen and Filppula are healthy, happy, and productive, and maybe it's a last hurrah for Nicklas Lidstrom." His collegue on the panel,Pierre Mcguire agreed with McKenzie. McGuire then added "They're just too much, well coached, rested, and angry with what happened to them last year in the San Jose series."
Coaches on the hot seat was also on TSN's season preview.Darren Drager listed the following : Todd Richards in Minnesota,Marc Crawford in Dallas,Ron Wilson in Toronto,Randy Carlyle in Anaheim,Alain Vigneault in Vancouver and Bruce Boudreau in Washington.I will add, Claude Julien in that group also.
That's all for now,enjoy the season.
