Official 2007-08 NHL Thread

[Jerry!]

Chicago handles Detroit 6-2, with their rookies leading the way again scoring 5 of the 6 goals. It's also the first time Detroit has lost 5 times to the same team in a season since 1990-91'.

 

[Shifty]

So far so good with the Blackhawks- Redwings game. Hawks up 5-2 going into the 3rd with their slim playoff hopes on the line.

I'd love to see Chicago make the 8th seed. So much better for the NHL if Chicago or Vancouver makes the playoffs than Nashville. They might actually have a chance against that team. St.Louis should put out a better effort so fingers crossed they defeat Nashville in regulation.

TSN has wall-to-wall Playoff Preview coverage on April 7, two days before the start of the NHL post-season, with a three-hour prime time lineup of 2008 Stanley Cup Playoffs preview shows, beginning at 7 p.m. ET. All four preview shows will also be available live on NHL Network and live/on-demand on TSN.ca.

Headlining TSN's lineup is live coverage of the Scotiabank NHL Draft Lottery Special at 8 p.m. ET, as NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly will be in-studio with the NHL on TSN broadcast team to reveal the results of the NHL Draft Lottery. Steven Stamkos, who is expected to go No. 1 overall in the Draft, will join the show live via satellite. This 30-minute TSN original production will also be carried live on Versus and online at NHL.com.

TSN's extensive Playoff Preview coverage also includes the third installment of McGuire's Monsters, the Fantasy Playoff Special, and the 90-minute NHL on TSN Playoff Preview Special with featured guest and resident prognosticating primate, Maggie the Monkey.

TSN has live coverage of the first three rounds of the 2008 Stanley Cup® Playoffs, which begins April 9. TSN will announce its post-season broadcast schedule on April 6, following the conclusion of the NHL regular season.

TSN's jam-packed Playoff Preview lineup is as follows:

McGuire's Monsters – April 7 at 7 p.m. ET
On TSN, TSN.ca and NHL Network
They are the consummate team players – hard charging, abrasive and fearless. In Pierre McGuire's words, they are "Monsters". Find out which 20 NHLers make up McGuire's third annual team of NHL Monsters as he, along with host Gino Reda, unveil the ultimate Monster roster for the 2007/08 campaign in this 30-minute show. McGuire will also reveal his Monster Performer of the Year. Will it be Calgary's bruising defenceman Dion Phaneuf, the Flames' all-star forward Jarome Iginla, or Washington Capitals' offensive powerhouse Alexander Ovechkin?

Fantasy Playoff Special – April 7 at 7:30 p.m. ET
On TSN, TSN.ca and NHL Network
Expect a lot of trash-talking as TSN's hockey gurus battle for bragging rights and get viewers in shape for playoff pools. James Duthie hosts the 30-minute show featuring a four-team playoff draft involving Hockey Insider Darren Dreger and analysts Dave Hodge, Mike Milbury and reigning Fantasy Playoff champion Keith Jones. Each will select a team consisting of six forwards, three defencemen and one goalie, for a total of 10 players. A single point will be awarded for each goal and assist, while goaltenders earn one point for each playoff victory and another for each shutout. Following the draft, the four participants will critique each others' squads.

Scotiabank NHL Draft Lottery Special – April 7 at 8 p.m. ET
Live on TSN, TSN.ca, NHL Network, Versus, NHL.com
James Duthie hosts the live, 30-minute event from the TSN Studios, marking the second time in the 13-year history of the conventional lottery the event will be televised, and the first time since 2005. Billed as the 'Stamkos Sweepstakes', the TSN original production features NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly, who will reveal the lottery results in reverse order, and representatives from each of the five teams who could win the No. 1 pick. Joining the show via satellite will be Steven Stamkos, the highly-touted Sarnia Sting centre and World Junior Championship gold medal winner. A live eye at the NHL's New York headquarters will capture the moment before the ping pong balls drop to determine the lottery winner. Hockey Insider Bob McKenzie will present his ranking of the Top 10 players eligible for the Draft while Mike Milbury will provide analysis before and after the lottery.

NHL on TSN Playoff Preview Special – April 7 at 8:30 p.m. ET
Live on TSN, TSN.ca, NHL Network
Hosted by James Duthie, the action-packed 90-minute live program contains in-depth analysis of each playoff series by the NHL on TSN panel of Hockey Insider Bob McKenzie and analysts Mike Milbury and Darren Pang, plus reports from all Canadian teams in the post-season. In addition, there will be predictions from the entire NHL on TSN broadcast team, including Maggie the Monkey. Hockey Insider Darren Dreger names the 16 players and coaches – one from each playoff team – who enter the post-season on the Hot Seat, Dave Hodge delivers a playoff edition of his popular Thumbs Up/Thumbs Down feature, and Pang breaks down the goaltending match-ups in each series in the Goalie Zone. There will also be a feature on 16-year NHL veteran and current Anaheim Ducks' defenceman Scott Niedermayer, who has won four Stanley Cups – the most of any active player.

In addition to televising the above four Playoff Preview shows on April 7, NHL Network will also produce a live, one-hour special on April 8 at 10 p.m. ET entitled NHL On The Fly: Playoff Preview. Host Dan Pollard will be in-studio alongside analysts Gary Green and Dave Reid to preview all eight playoff series and offer predictions for the first round and the Stanley Cup winner.

 

[Jerry!]

I'd love to see Chicago make the 8th seed. So much better for the NHL if Chicago or Vancouver makes the playoffs than Nashville. They might actually have a chance against that team. St.Louis should put out a better effort so fingers crossed they defeat Nashville in regulation.

Yup, for now it comes down to that game. And then if Nashville loses it comes down to the Hawks and Nashville for the final home game in Chicago. And if by impossible odds the Hawks manage to luck out and everything goes right, the stage is set for a nationally broadcast game on NBC in Detroit where the Hawks will have to win to beat the Wings again to make the playoffs. Lots of pressure for such a young team, the United Center was going crazy during tonight's game against Detroit.

 

[QueerMike]

10 days left in the season, no more than five games for any team - 'cept St. Louis has six. I'm still coming up with Detroit v. Pittsburgh in the Stanley Cup Finals.

After hearing that Detroit got THUMPED by the Blackhawks of all teams, I am now changing my pick for the Finals to San Jose v. Pittsburgh. Although, the Rangers are inching closer and closer to being my pick.

HERE'S HOW I'M VIEWING THE PLAYOFF TEAMS:

Eastern Conference

Contenders Montreal
Pittsburgh
New Jersey
New York

Pretenders Carolina/Washington
Philadelphia
Boston

Sleeper Ottawa

Western Conference
Contenders ​

San Jose
Anaheim
Detroit

Pretenders
Dallas
Calgary
Nashville/Vancouver

Sleeper
Colorado
Minnesota

 

[Jerry!]

The Blackhawks have a good team. They beat Detroit 5 times this year with a bunch of rookies and without their best player. The Red Wings struggle with them and St Louis for whatever reason.

 

[Immortalfire]

Sleeper
Colorado
Minnesota

Agreed, the Wild's championship isn't too far away.

 

[War Party]

First of all, I would like to say that the Flyers/Pens game was one of the most entertaining games of the year last night. But obviously, I'm not happy with its outcome since my Flyers lost. But I must say, the officiating was atrocious last night. For both teams. Hartnell took the butt-end of the stick from Gonchar to the face and he was called fo nothing. Hartnell was bleeding all over the place and it should of been a 4 min. penalty. Umberger took a stick to the face and was also bleeding as a result and there was no call. Hartnell took a run at Crosby to his head and there was no call. There was a scrum in front of the Flyers net and Hartnell gets called for charging, which he did, but another Flyer gets called for roughing with Crosby. But the problem with that is that Crosby didn't get called for the same, when he was also throwing punches. This led to the 5-3 powerplay in which the Pens tied the game. Yeah, this was a physical game from the start and things are going to happen. But these were so blatant and so obvious, but none of these things were addressed by the officials. I was disgusted with it last night. The refs dictated that game and that's not how it should go. And I'm reading on other hockey boards saying that Flyers had it coming and all this ****, and that they were gooning it up and they deserve it. But the truth is, the game has to be called fairly and both teams weren't getting equal pieces here. But it's ashame the Flyers have that reputation, mainly which occurred in the beginning of the year, but they have been pretty disciplined when it comes to suspensions. It's funny how Crosby himself was doing some cheap things and is let off the hook. It's funny how earlier in the year against the Flyers, Georges Laraque doesn't get suspended for taking a blatant dive at Biron. It's funny that Laraque doesn't get suspended for his head shot on Downie earlier in the year. And many people were saying Downie got what he deserves, but that's just not fair. A cheap shot is a cheap shot and if Downie payed the price for his, why didn't Laraque do the same. Same with Gonchar last night. The butt-end of his stick was blatantly thrown at Hartnell and the refs let it go. I know this is starting to sound like there is a conspiracy against the Flyers, because they don't play the "New NHL" style of hockey, but I don't believe that for a second but I do admit it's starting to become suspicious. But really, it's just poor officiating that's been happening all year throughout the league. This is by far the longest post I have ever made ont hese boards and that just shows you how angry I am about this.

 

[Showtime]

The Bruins are giving me a heart attack. They are going to get eliminated immediately.

 

[QueerMike]

Agreed, the Wild's championship isn't too far away.

The Wild were the only team I had trouble placing. Mainly because I can almost see them winning the whole f'n thing. They are the ONLY team I can see beating two of Anaheim, San Jose, and Detroit. I love Jacques Lemaire as a coach, especially in the playoffs, and their goaltending is great. No reason they can't win it. I ultimately listed them as 'sleepers' because I feel if they were to reach the Finals they would lose.

 

[QueerMike]

I recently changed cable service providers. I switched from Comcast to WOW!. I can't seem to find TSN anywhere. Does anyone know if WOW! carries TSN or if I have to call to activate it?

Err, not TSN but that channel the NHL has a contract with. What the hell is that called?

 

[Themanofbat]

Sleeper Ottawa

That is a real sleeper pick...

I'd be really surprised if they even make the playoffs...

 

[Shifty]

The Bruins are giving me a heart attack. They are going to get eliminated immediately.

Ottawa and Philly make stronger cases for teams not making the playoffs.

Half of Detroit's losses this season have come from divisional opponents. While the Central may be perceived as having weak teams they've played well against Detroit this year.

 

[Shifty]

I recently changed cable service providers. I switched from Comcast to WOW!. I can't seem to find TSN anywhere. Does anyone know if WOW! carries TSN or if I have to call to activate it?

Err, not TSN but that channel the NHL has a contract with. What the hell is that called?

Versus?

Might have to call, check their website if they carry it.

 

[Shifty]

I believe Comcast owns Versus and that not many providers carry it. Could be out of luck and have to settle for online to watch playoff games.

 

[QueerMike]

That is a real sleeper pick...

I'd be really surprised if they even make the playoffs...

LOL

Yeah, they started 16-2-0.

Since, they are 26-28-8.

And since the all-star break, 11-15-4.

If they miss the playoffs that will be downright embarrassing for the players, coaches, management, pwnership, and the fans.

 

[QueerMike]

Versus?

Might have to call, check their website if they carry it.

Isn't it also called OLN or something like that?

 

[Immortalfire]

Isn't it also called OLN or something like that?

Yah, Outdoor Life Network was their original name. But they've since become Versus.

 

[Shifty]

The Sens' play of late is embarrassing and they would have to make the Conference Finals to make up for this huge fall. 4th worst record in the league for the calendar year. But they're winning 7-1 against the Leafs with minutes to go. Alfie left injured.

Rangers shutout Islanders, clinch a playoff spot. They're last game could determine who gets 4th as they play the Devils. Plus I believe the Rangers have 7 wins against the Devils so facing them in the playoffs could be good.

Washington continues on a roll. No team in the league's history has been 14th/15th in their conference at the halfway point and managed to make the playoffs. Tonight they climb into 7th as they beat Tampa 4-1. Boston falls to 8th via the tiebreaker and Philly is out, for now.

And Buffalo who had been a dominant team the past two years after the lockout will finish 9th or 10th. Their GM has got to go.

 

[War Party]

I'm still furious over that Flyers/Pens game last night.

 

[NewYorkSpider]

It's a must win tomorrow for the Flyers. I can't believe this team was #1 in the Eastern Conference and now they may miss the playoffs.

 

[War Party]

It's a must win tomorrow for the Flyers. I can't believe this team was #1 in the Eastern Conference and now they may miss the playoffs.

Can you believe the officiating in that game last night?

 

[Jerry!]

Well it was fun while it lasted but the Blackhawks desperate surge to the playoffs ended tonight with St Louis getting beaten by the Predators. Despite that, they still made a statement this year that hockey is finally back in Chicago.

 

[NewYorkSpider]

Can you believe the officiating in that game last night?

The officials lost control of that game and made some horrible calls. After that, it went in favor of the Penguins. I've been talking to some of my friends and they think the NHL is having the officials call penalties on the Flyers so they lose. This way the Capitals and Ovechkin get in. I've never blamed officiating for fixing a game and I don't intend to here. Even if we get in to the 8th seed, it's not like we're gonna go far.

 

[kang604]

i

am

speechless.

 

[War Party]

Oh, I'm not blaming the officiating either. Like I said before, the officiating was terrible for both teams. But it all came down to special teams and the Pens won that battle. The Flyers had their chances in the thrid, but Fleury was stone solid in that period.