***Official 2013/2014 NHL Regular Season Thread*** (2 Viewers)

[JaxBill]

What's up with Don Cherry wearing the conservative suit/tie?

 

[Brady Marino]

Blues are not playing teh good hockies right now.

Oh go back to your airplane blogs.

 

[JaxBill]

PHILADELPHIA – Michael Raffl has been one of those sneaky good additions for the Philadelphia Flyers. And now, he’s going to be here for a while longer.

Raffl inked a two-year extension with the Flyers Saturday. His cap hit will be $1.1 million and he will be a member of the Flyers through the 2015-16 season.

Raffl, 25, has made a solid impression on the Flyers with his versatility to play anywhere in the lineup as well as his two-way ability.

 

[Dickie Dunn]

Wow, Penn St just beat Michigan in double OT in the Big10 quarters. Huge upset. For some reason Penn St has played Michigan tough all year.

http://www.uscho.com/rankings/pairwise-rankings/d-i-men/

That shows them as tied for 16th in pairwise rankings? Doesn't look good for them.

I'm hoping Vermont sneaks in.

Friend of mine works for College Hockey News and has been crunching the numbers all week. He says it looks like Vermont (and Providence) get in as long as Lowell doesn't blow the 3-0 lead against UNH.

 

[Patriotsfatboy1]

Wow, Penn St just beat Michigan in double OT in the Big10 quarters. Huge upset. For some reason Penn St has played Michigan tough all year.

http://www.uscho.com/rankings/pairwise-rankings/d-i-men/That shows them as tied for 16th in pairwise rankings? Doesn't look good for them.

I'm hoping Vermont sneaks in.

Friend of mine works for College Hockey News and has been crunching the numbers all week. He says it looks like Vermont (and Providence) get in as long as Lowell doesn't blow the 3-0 lead against UNH.

Make that a 4-0 lead for Lowell.

 

[Christo]

Blues are not playing teh good hockies right now.

Oh go back to your airplane blogs.

The people there don't like the Blues either.

 

[ditka311]

Blues are not playing teh good hockies right now.

 

[Brady Marino]

Blues are not playing teh good hockies right now.

Oh go back to your airplane blogs.

The people there don't like the Blues either.

 

[Bill Brasky]

Stajan scores on a penalty shot and salutes his son who just passed. Nice moment.

 

[Bill Brasky]

Wow, Penn St just beat Michigan in double OT in the Big10 quarters. Huge upset. For some reason Penn St has played Michigan tough all year.

http://www.uscho.com/rankings/pairwise-rankings/d-i-men/That shows them as tied for 16th in pairwise rankings? Doesn't look good for them.

I'm hoping Vermont sneaks in.

Friend of mine works for College Hockey News and has been crunching the numbers all week. He says it looks like Vermont (and Providence) get in as long as Lowell doesn't blow the 3-0 lead against UNH.

Wisconsin battling back probably helped someone get in since Ohio St probably won't.

 

[Raider Nation]

12 straight for the Ruins.

 

[Bill Brasky]

THANK YOU BOSTON!

 

[Aaron Rudnicki]

I can't stop betting Rangers futures. Flyers looking impressive though.

Bs are a machine but no value there.

 

[Aaron Rudnicki]

Oilers are still terrible, btw

 

[Doctor Detroit]

Oilers are still terrible, btw

Utterly horrific.

 

[Aaron Rudnicki]

Oilers are still terrible, btw

Utterly horrific.

Losing to the Sabres and then 8-1 to the Flames?When do we start seriously considering relegation here?

 

[Raider Nation]

Getting ugly

 

[Doctor Detroit]

Sharks can't beat the Capitals? Neither can the Ducks? :finger:

 

[northern exposure]

Getting ugly

Unfortunately that is getting to be old news around here. That is the third time this season a fan has thrown an Oilers jersey onto the ice. Not the second time, as stated in the link.I'm surprised there hasn't been more fans with paper bags over their heads at the games.

 

[fred_1_15301]

If anybody is still confused on how the playoffs work this season, no worries. The people at the PGH post gazette have them completely wrong in today's newspaper.

Top 3 in each division and then the next two highest point totals regardless of division get the wildcard. What's so difficult?

It's Pittsburgh, they're still trying to figure out offsides and icing, cut them some slack.

burn!!!!

 

[tom22406]

Sharks can't beat the Capitals? Neither can the Ducks? :finger:

Caps are a very strange team right now.Getting 5 points out of 6 on the California trip even though they got out played for most of the last 2 games was nothing short of weird.Puck luck last night was insane with both goals off of deflections by a Sharks defender past Niemi.With that said,I will take that any day of the week and I believe I heard no team from the East was able to pull off 5 of 6 points on that trip and the Caps have actually been decent against the West this year while struggling against a weak East.

Kings and Bruins next up @ home for them so at the least they need 3 points to keep hope alive they can vault past 2 of the 3 they are fighting for a spot.

 

[Billy Bats]

Sharks can't beat the Capitals? Neither can the Ducks? :finger:

No worries, percentages still in your favor. Would be hysterical to see the Leafs miss the playoffs.

http://www.sportsclubstats.com/NHL/Eastern.html

 

[Billy Bats]

If anybody is still confused on how the playoffs work this season, no worries. The people at the PGH post gazette have them completely wrong in today's newspaper.

Top 3 in each division and then the next two highest point totals regardless of division get the wildcard. What's so difficult?

It's Pittsburgh, they're still trying to figure out offsides and icing, cut them some slack.

burn!!!!

That was a good one, right?!

 

[Bill Brasky]

NCAA Tourney field set:

West Regional (St. Paul, Minn.)

1. Minnesota vs. 16. Robert Morris, 8. Notre Dame vs. 9. St. Cloud State

Northeast Regional (Worcester, Mass.)

2. Boston College vs. 15. Denver, 7. Mass.-Lowell vs. 10. Minnesota State

East Regional (Bridgeport, Conn.)

3. Union vs. 13. Vermont, 6. Quinnipiac vs. 11. Providence

Midwest Regional (Cincinnati)

4. Wisconsin vs. 14. North Dakota, 5. Ferris State vs. 12. Colgate

 

[Aaron Rudnicki]

Man, Union is on a tear.

 

[Bill Brasky]

looks like Michigan missed by a sliver. lol, I'm sure Penn State is laughing after beating them 3 times this year and ending their season.

here is where I would rip the pairwise for 3 ECAC teams getting in, but then of course last year happened so I'll shut up now. I do think Union looks legit this year. solid team.

Northeast looks really tough. BC going to have a tough time getting out of there alive.

Hockey East getting 5 teams in seems a tad ridiculous considering everyone was middling all year outside of BC.

would have liked to see Ohio St get in who is a solid team once they figured out their net. Miami too since they can be dangerous now that they were playing much better, they didn't deserve it though after being brutal most of the year.

 

[Billy Bats]

Man, Union is on a tear.

It's all because of future Norris candidate, Shayne Gostisbehere.

 

[bicycle_seat_sniffer]

can teams still use the amnesty thing next off season?

 

[ffldrew]

looks like Michigan missed by a sliver. lol, I'm sure Penn State is laughing after beating them 3 times this year and ending their season.

here is where I would rip the pairwise for 3 ECAC teams getting in, but then of course last year happened so I'll shut up now. I do think Union looks legit this year. solid team.

Northeast looks really tough. BC going to have a tough time getting out of there alive.

Hockey East getting 5 teams in seems a tad ridiculous considering everyone was middling all year outside of BC.

would have liked to see Ohio St get in who is a solid team once they figured out their net. Miami too since they can be dangerous now that they were playing much better, they didn't deserve it though after being brutal most of the year.

First off Miami was missing Blake Coleman most all of the season - once he gets back they become the team everyone thought they would be. Guy is a great player.

This year was wild with the changes in conferences and scheduling out of conference games to help pairwise was tough for some teams. The pairwise is too much of a circle jerk - and that is what gets the ECAC/Hockey East teams higher rankings - because once one or two teams get strong the rest become strong with just one upset of the strong team - and then you pad your record against the patsies - meanwhile in the NCHC everyone beat everyone week in and out and there was no breakout team. Also scheduling is easier across ECAC and Hockey East with the easier travel schedule. No way North Dakota should have got in by a sliver - they are a good team playing in a really balanced conference. And that becomes a big issue around 10-20 in pairwise - there is a small difference in there. Back in the early days of pairwise the quality difference between 10 and 20 was huge. Today it's nothing and that is where eyeballs need to come into play. Also NCHC needs to invite a few patsies back in the league - like Mankato.

Union has a pretty good path to the final 4 - and we will see if St. Cloud has enough for the Gophers. Would like to see a RMU pull off a Holy Cross in St. Paul.

Union, Mass Lowell, Gophers and North Dakota would be my guess at the final 4.

I think Mass Lowell may get it - their goalie Conner Hellebuyck is nearly NHL ready. Last years experience will help also.

 

[Billy Bats]

can teams still use the amnesty thing next off season?

This summer is the last time they can use the buyouts without affecting their future cap.

 

[Foosball God]

can teams still use the amnesty thing next off season?

This summer is the last time they can use the buyouts without affecting their future cap.

And those buyouts were only for existing contracts I believe, they can't be used on new contracts that were signed after the collective bargaining agreement was signed.

 

[ItsOnlytheRiver]

The Blues may never score an even strength goal again.

 

[Hawks64]

The Blues may never score an even strength goal again.

Breaks my heart

 

[bicycle_seat_sniffer]

can teams still use the amnesty thing next off season?

This summer is the last time they can use the buyouts without affecting their future cap.

And those buyouts were only for existing contracts I believe, they can't be used on new contracts that were signed after the collective bargaining agreement was signed.

damn so a no-go on dumping Weiss then

 

[Doctor Detroit]

Two more for Nyquist, guy is on fire.

 

[ditka311]

The Blues may never score an even strength goal again.

Breaks my heart

Pretty sure they will run the other teams' top players to make up for it.

 

[Aaron Rudnicki]

Sabres on fire!

 

[ItsOnlytheRiver]

The Blues may never score an even strength goal again.

Breaks my heart

Pretty sure they will run the other teams' top players to make up for it.

Oooook...

Anyway my reverse jinx worked even though what they scored on was basically a PP.

My next fearless prediction: Chicago will dominate the Preds tonight.

 

[Christo]

The Blues may never score an even strength goal again.

Breaks my heart

Pretty sure they will run the other teams' top players to make up for it.

Oooook...

Anyway my reverse jinx worked even though what they scored on was basically a PP.

My next fearless prediction: Chicago will dominate the Preds tonight.

They are. Everywhere but the scoreboard.

 

[Hawks64]

The Blues may never score an even strength goal again.

Breaks my heart

Pretty sure they will run the other teams' top players to make up for it.

Oooook...

Anyway my reverse jinx worked even though what they scored on was basically a PP.

My next fearless prediction: Chicago will dominate the Preds tonight.

They are. Everywhere but the scoreboard.

Except the scoreboard is what counts. Rinne will stop everything from the outside, no one in front of the net = no goals. Pretty simple.

 

[Raider Nation]

Unreal job by the Wild defense. Wings have 11 SOG at home with 13 minutes left.

 

[Raider Nation]

The Blues may never score an even strength goal again.

Breaks my heart

Pretty sure they will run the other teams' top players to make up for it.

Oooook...

Anyway my reverse jinx worked even though what they scored on was basically a PP.

My next fearless prediction: Chicago will dominate the Preds tonight.

They are. Everywhere but the scoreboard.

Except the scoreboard is what counts. Rinne will stop everything from the outside, no one in front of the net = no goals. Pretty simple.

Zero energy in that building tonight. Not that the Hawks gave them much to cheer about.

 

[Raider Nation]

BOOM! 3-3, Wild/Wings.

 

[BobbyLayne]

BOOM! 3-3, Wild/Wings.

Heck of a play by Tatar.

Babcock dressed something like 11 guys tonight who were in Grand Rapids last year.

 

[Bill Brasky]

Huge win, take down the Detroit Nyquists. Big 3rd period, great look from Brodin in OT. Needed that win badly. Wings capitalized on every breakdown they had and Bryz can't come up with any big stops. Big battle back on the road from a desperate team.

 

[Bill Brasky]

And thank goodness that didnt get to the shootout, even though the Wings struggle, Bryz struggles more. Plus they've lost 3 of their last 4 in the shootout I believe in addition to being the only team to lose a 2-0 lead in the shootout all season last time out.

 

[Raider Nation]

And thank goodness that didnt get to the shootout, even though the Wings struggle, Bryz struggles more. Plus they've lost 3 of their last 4 in the shootout I believe in addition to being the only team to lose a 2-0 lead in the shootout all season last time out.

https://twitter.com/mnwild/status/447917847566905344/photo/1

Reminds me of the early Devils color scheme.

 

[Doctor Detroit]

Huge win, take down the Detroit Nyquists. Big 3rd period, great look from Brodin in OT. Needed that win badly. Wings capitalized on every breakdown they had and Bryz can't come up with any big stops. Big battle back on the road from a desperate team.

Getting three points out of a home and home is fine. Wings now the #1 wild card in east with two games in hand on Toronto, one on the Capitals and one and two more ROW respectively. Columbus is two points back but has played the same number of games, and have three more ROW than the Wings.

This week is huge, @Columbus, home to Montreal, @Toronto, and home to Tampa. They need five points for sure, and two out of Columbus/Toronto minimum.

 

[Bill Brasky]

Huge win, take down the Detroit Nyquists. Big 3rd period, great look from Brodin in OT. Needed that win badly. Wings capitalized on every breakdown they had and Bryz can't come up with any big stops. Big battle back on the road from a desperate team.

Getting three points out of a home and home is fine. Wings now the #1 wild card in east with two games in hand on Toronto, one on the Capitals and one and two more ROW respectively. Columbus is two points back but has played the same number of games, and have three more ROW than the Wings. This week is huge, @Columbus, home to Montreal, @Toronto, and home to Tampa. They need five points for sure, and two out of Columbus/Toronto minimum.

3 was big. Wild needed a sweep with their upcoming schedule but got some help from Boston. Not getting 2 tonight would have been a disaster though.

 

[Bill Brasky]

looks like Michigan missed by a sliver. lol, I'm sure Penn State is laughing after beating them 3 times this year and ending their season.

here is where I would rip the pairwise for 3 ECAC teams getting in, but then of course last year happened so I'll shut up now. I do think Union looks legit this year. solid team.

Northeast looks really tough. BC going to have a tough time getting out of there alive.

Hockey East getting 5 teams in seems a tad ridiculous considering everyone was middling all year outside of BC.

would have liked to see Ohio St get in who is a solid team once they figured out their net. Miami too since they can be dangerous now that they were playing much better, they didn't deserve it though after being brutal most of the year.

First off Miami was missing Blake Coleman most all of the season - once he gets back they become the team everyone thought they would be. Guy is a great player.

This year was wild with the changes in conferences and scheduling out of conference games to help pairwise was tough for some teams. The pairwise is too much of a circle jerk - and that is what gets the ECAC/Hockey East teams higher rankings - because once one or two teams get strong the rest become strong with just one upset of the strong team - and then you pad your record against the patsies - meanwhile in the NCHC everyone beat everyone week in and out and there was no breakout team. Also scheduling is easier across ECAC and Hockey East with the easier travel schedule. No way North Dakota should have got in by a sliver - they are a good team playing in a really balanced conference. And that becomes a big issue around 10-20 in pairwise - there is a small difference in there. Back in the early days of pairwise the quality difference between 10 and 20 was huge. Today it's nothing and that is where eyeballs need to come into play. Also NCHC needs to invite a few patsies back in the league - like Mankato.

Union has a pretty good path to the final 4 - and we will see if St. Cloud has enough for the Gophers. Would like to see a RMU pull off a Holy Cross in St. Paul.

Union, Mass Lowell, Gophers and North Dakota would be my guess at the final 4.

I think Mass Lowell may get it - their goalie Conner Hellebuyck is nearly NHL ready. Last years experience will help also.

Miami struggled with Colman in the lineup too. He only missed 11 games and he's one guy. They were a big disapointment this year but were playing solid down the stretch. I think they could have made noise if they got the auto bid. Your DU team almost blew it to them late too. That was a frantic last 2 min. Gophers losing to Robert Morris would be even worse of an upset than Holy Cross. Won't happen, no matter how hard Lucia tries.

Lowell doesn't impress me much outside of Hellebuyck. Of course that's all they might need because he's unconscious right now.