T-Ruff

I think the Globe Trotters were booked for the Hawks arena so they had to bump them back. Go Sens, Devils, Avs & Preds I'd love to see the Sens win but the Pens will take it in all likelihood. Devils should be able to get the split at home after not finding their offense in game 1. I think the Preds are being really underestimated vs the Hawks, and I think they will win game 1. The Sharks are in a terrible position tonight with all the pressure they have, and the fans not letting them have an easy time either. As much as I'd love to see them get down early and then buckle, I think they'll get the lead and not look back earning the split and then going on the road where they will feel more comfortable.

SJS/COL: 4-1 CHI/NSH: 4-3 VAN/LAK: 4-2 PHX/DET: 4-2 WAS/MTL: 4-1 NJD/PHI: 4-2 BUF/BOS: 4-2 PIT/OTT: 4-3 WC Champion: Detroit EC Champion: New Jersey SCF Champion: Detroit I can never pick against them

Really solid

I'd bet on Kesler to win and if I had to pick runner ups: M. Richards & Datsyuk

Drew Doughty Mike Richards Ryan Miller Steve Stamkos Tyler Myers

I love the Flyers and hate the Rangers... I also dislike the Bruins but not as much as the Rangers... So I'll be cheering for the Rangers to miss the playoffs, but the problem with Philly is that they will probably get nowhere anyway. But still rather see them in

Surprised at the results here... Halak is the better goalie right now but Price is the future. I'd be shocked if they traded Price in the offseason. I'd like to see Halak land in Philadelphia.

Chicago isn't going past the 2nd round if that IMO, regardless of who they play 1st round

Friday: Chicago @ New Jersey Montreal @ Philadelphia NY Rangers @ Tampa Bay San Jose @ Minnesota Edmonton @ Dallas Calgary @ Colorado Vancouver @ Anaheim Saturday: Atlanta @ Pittsburgh Ottawa @ NY Islanders Nashville @ Detroit Boston @ Toronto Buffalo @ Montreal New Jersey @ Carolina NY Rangers @ Florida Washington @ Columbus Dallas @ St Louis Edmonton @ Phoenix Anaheim @ Los Angeles Sunday: Detroit @ Philadelphia Calgary @ Chicago San Jose @ Colorado Minnesota @ Vancouver x2

If I'm not mistaken +1300 means 1300/100... so you bet $100 you'll win $1300 + get your 100$ back so in decimal form its 14.00 Those are real good odds lol As far as what it means, being lower means you're more favoured... On one site Detroit is +800, Pittsburgh, SJ, and Chicago are +500 and Washington is the favourite at +400. The Ducks, Blues and Lightning, who can technically still make the playoffs, are +50000 right now.

rofl.. it would be great to get a pic with him someday

It's the fact that he can tell you when every player in the league was drafted and by whom, where every player in the NHL grew up, who every team's obscure people are (trainers, scouts, doctors, whatever), what every teams lines are off the top of his head, etc... And this extends who knows how far into the past as well. Nobody else demonstrates such a vast encompassing knowledge bank. All you have to do is put aside personal predispositions and listen to the things he says to be able to see this and appreciate it. As a result he probably does watch more games and have more experience than most analysts, announcers, and former pro players and coaches. On TSN Tradecentre Pierre corrected Pang on a comment about the Capitals lines and who plays centre, they got into a mini debate on TV that Duthie had to break up and change the topic. Pierre was right. He also goes on the radio with Team1200 in Ottawa often, they used to always play a game where they would bring up some obscure player and ask Pierre about him and what he is doing now to try to stump him. Needless to say, they couldn't.

I came back here hoping someone would have posted the results so I wouldn't have to watch the video again. Alas, I'll do it: Best Player -> Ovechkin 64% Best Franchise -> Detroit 60% Win Cup -> Chicago 32% Smartest Coach -> Babcock 22% Last coach want to play for -> Tortorella 18% Dirtiest Player - Pronger 22% Hottest Spouse - Fisher 48%

Regardless of your opinion on his personality, there is no denying that he's probably the most knowledgeable person in the game today. McGuire biased? He's just a fan of everyone ... as McGuire fan in Canada I see a lot of his games by TSN (and a few by NBC) I've never found him to be biased towards or against certain teams... He just gives props to great plays which might come across as biased towards the team that is making more of them I think...

Zetterberg Datsyuk Franzen Weber

Stuart Flip Datyuk Zidlicky

Friday: Ottawa @ Buffalo Minnesota @ Detroit Anaheim @ Edmonton Saturday: Calgary @ Boston Philadelphia @ Pittsburgh Tampa Bay @ Buffalo NY Rangers @ Toronto New Jersey @ Montreal Florida @ Ottawa Atlanta @ Carolina NY Islanders @ Columbus Detroit @ Nashville Colorado @ Phoenix x2 Vancouver @ San Jose Dallas @ Los Angeles Sunday: Calgary @ Washington Toronto @ Pittsburgh Edmonton @ St Louis New Jersey @ Philadelphia

I'd nominate Tippet, Trotz, and Sacco... but it's in the bag for Tippet without a doubt, what a phenomenal job he's done

EDIT: ^^ Nice post TheOctopusKid, nice to see someone else realizing the over-done Bettman hate I'll preface this by saying that I certainly think someone else could do a better job than Bettman has, but I am always annoyed by every single little thing being blamed on him "should have never had a lock out" - It turned out that was necessary sacrifice in order to get a salary cap and keep the league from completely going bankrupt. Yes it was one of the worst years ever, but it was worth it as there was also a nice side-effect of getting the improved product we see on the ice today. Saying he should have got the cap earlier is a weak point, it was done as soon as possible (end of the CBA, would have been hard to predict that it would be required for the future in 1994), and turned out to require a lockout, you can't count both against him. Discipline is a joke and there's no consistency Agreed, and that's Colin Campbell's responsibility, not Bettman's. "TV Deal" The deal that ESPN offered the NHL post-lockout was a complete slap in the face to the NHL, and coming from a network that had a reputation for not valuing the NHL at all. OLN turned Versus offered them a much better deal, and many speculate that the NHL will be back on ESPN soon, and naturally with a much better offer as a result. Had they not gone to Versus and created a little bit of a competitor for ESPN, ESPN could have continued to low-ball the NHL. Versus' TV presentation has been getting better all the time as well, of course it was crappy in the beginning but thats part of the growing pains. aside: If you have a beef with the in-game interviews on the bench (which I have seen complaints about before), consider the fact that they are actually done during the commercial breaks and then played when the game is back on. "Bad markets" This is a valid point, but its not one that could have been easily foreseen. Phoenix had one of the highest populations in the US... and look at them now, they might end up ok after all. His blocking of Jim Balsillie can't be counted against him because, as much as I'd love to see him get a team (and think it is inevitable), he didn't play by the rules and pissed off all the other owners (Gary's bosses) I'd also ask you to clarify how the All-Star game has become a travesty, and how they are alienating their core while chasing fringe fans? Glowing Puck - Gimmick that was implemented by FOX when they won the rights to broadcast games, it was indeed a dumb idea, but it was FOX's dumb idea. It's not around anymore and only lasted 2 years... weak point. (In fact 7 out of 10 newcomers to the game liked the glowing puck as it made it easier to follow the game, but now with HD TV following the puck is not an issue for newcomers to the game) Conference re-alignment is a good thing, much easier to understand trapezoid - Has had the desired effect to a limited degree, and there is talks of getting rid of it anyway Unbalanced schedules - an ill advised idea that was quickly remedied and now everyone plays everyone every year ever since last season Instigator rule - agreed, bad idea, but recall that rule changes are decided upon by the board of governors, Bettman's bosses. It's not like it (or the trapezoid for that matter) was his idea and his alone. Any mention of not going to the Olympics is simply posturing for the next CBA. That way the NHL will be able to "give in" on that issue, which is good business sense. I personally see no way that NHL players don't go to the Olympics, it makes too much sense. Well if you're going to knock him for the trapezoid and instigator rule, then you're also giving him credit for the delayed offside, elimination of two-line pass violations, and also the new blindside headshot rule going into effect tonight. Salary cap for much improved long-term stability and less separation between the top and bottom teams, putting a greater emphasis on good management and good drafting and devleopment. As a result of the lockout the game we see today is more of an emphasis on skill, as obstruction is less tolerated but the playoffs are still a bit looser and result in great battles. There are also no more ties, as the shootout has simultaneously eliminated them as well as added a new exciting aspect to the game. Another credit you can give is that there is still no shootouts in the playoffs or serious talk of it. The extra point system is not ideal of course, but if you're paying attention to the discourse around the hockey world, a revised point system can't be far off. The NHL is getting better all the time and IMO it doesn't matter if Bettman is at the (darren) helm or someone else, but the owners love Gary so get used to it, it's not so bad

I saw it live, and have to admit my first thought was it was one of the best I've seen. It was just so fast and so smooth, looked amazing in real time, not as impressive in seeing it the 2nd time though, but still a sweet move

People ragging on Bettman, that's refreshing People just blame him for everything that goes wrong in their opinion, when in actual fact he's been quite good for the league overall.

Damn I think I missed a game lol was leading at one point Datsyuk Zetterberg Stuart Backes

Awesome, might be more inclined to get it next year

Friday: Minnesota @ Columbus San Jose @ Calgary Detroit @ Edmonton x2 NY Islanders @ Anaheim Saturday: Carolina @ Pittsburgh Ottawa @ Dallas Montreal @ Toronto St Louis @ New Jersey Philadelphia @ Atlanta Buffalo @ Florida Washington @ Tampa Bay Columbus @ Nashville Chicago @ Phoenix Detroit @ Vancouver NY Islanders @ Los Angeles Sunday: NY Rangers @ Boston Calgary @ Minnesota Buffalo @ Carolina Tampa Bay @ Florida Nashville @ St Louis Atlanta @ Philadelphia Phoenix @ Dallas San Jose @ Edmonton Colorado @ Anaheim

Datsyuk Stuart Zetterberg Gilbert