http://espn.go.com/


WOOHOO!!!

I miss watching my Sharks play!

I cant wait for the new season, I bet the Canadiens are pretty stoked too.

Hockey!!!!! I missed it!! I was wondering where it went. thats totally awesome, The RED WINGS better be ready, since they're the hometeam players. C'mon hockey season!!!!

Sweet stuff.. I can't wait until it comes back. I'm the biggest freak when it comes to hockey. I have to watch it by myself. lol

The NHL and NHLPA pissed me off so much that I don't really care for it now. :( I do miss hockey but I don't know if it will ever be the same. I just hope Bettman and Goodenow are gone soon. We don't need them anyways near hockey.

Ahh *screams of delight* YAY!!!!! Of course due to timezones the games are on at all funny times for me XD but never mind...

Go Canadians!!!!! My *cough* half-home team *cough*

amy

Go Canadians!!!!! My *cough* half-home team *cough*

amy

Never expected someone from to UK to be a Habs fan :)

This should make most of Canada happy. 8)

Gooooooooooooooooooal!

YAY! Hockey's back! I missed it so much.:D this just made my day that muhc better. My only problem now is my family... they all prefer basketball to hockey and unfortunately the games seem to always be at the same time so I hardly ever get to see them. :(

This strike has given the sport a major blow at least here in the States. It's already the #4 major sport here. It's good that they're getting back on the ice, but I think for now at least, it's going to be met with complete apathy.

This strike has given the sport a major blow at least here in the States. It's already the #4 major sport here. It's good that they're getting back on the ice, but I think for now at least, it's going to be met with complete apathy.
Not over here in San Jose, Ca.

We're starving for some hockey.

Man, I missed hockey so much this year. I was watching the Sports Reporters on ESPN this weekend and they said even if it comes back, there won't be a TV contract :( . So, I guess it could be a while before I see any games, unless I go to Columbus.

Bob

HOCKEY GOOD! Yes, Canada has missed the NHL quite a bit, and will likely welcome the game back with open arms... And Yes, the game in the States will likely be met with mostly a resounding "meh", especially with no tv contract... However, one thing can be said about the States especially, and that is, when it comes to sports advertising, they are the kings and will probably be going on a major "Come back and see the new and improved product" campaign... Once the games get back into the swing of things, people have a short memory, so i think they'll come back sooner than most think... I am very interested now to see all the roster moves that will come as a result of all this... I've heard some teams right now only have as few as 5 players total on their roster that are signed to a contract... The moves should be rampant, plus the draft looks interesting too... Who will get Crosby? We shall see... I can't wait... :D

I'm pretty sure I'll get to see Sharks games on tv. Our local FSN(Fox Sports Net) Bay Area will pick them up. We'll sell out all year and have great ratings on tv also.

I'm not worried. :D

... Who will get Crosby? We shall see...
Yea, that's gonna be interesting. Every team will have a chance at him.

Gooooooooooooooooooal!

Thats soccer. We say: He shoots, he scores!:cool:

GO LEAFERS!!!

I can't wait for the season to start! I've missed my Chicago Blackhawks!

Unfortunately, stupid Bill Wirtz hasn't died yet, so the Hawks' home games won't be on TV in my area. :mad:

I can't wait for the season to start! I've missed my Chicago Blackhawks!
I went to see the Sharks play the Blackhawks 2 years ago, Kyle McClaren put a wicked check on one of the Blackhawks and knocked him to the ice. As soon as he did that, I stood up and yelled "Blackhawk down!!"

Unfortunately, stupid Bill Wirtz hasn't died yet, so the Hawks' home games won't be on TV in my area. :mad:
I just learned that our local cable sports station(FSN) will be airing 70 games. :p


I absalutely love that they have done away with ties, and it will be settled with a 5 min OT, then a shootout. Plus, no more redline. I dig that too. It will totally fit the Sharks style of play.

It's coming back?! Dammit!

It's coming back?! Dammit!
pfft.

go watch people kick a ball up and down a field or something.

RATIFIED!! At least on the players side, but honestly, i don't see how the owners wouldn't ratify the deal tomorrow. After that, the lottery in the afternoon and we'll see who gets Crosby. I can't help crossing my fingers and hoping the Rangers get him. Lord knows they need the help to get a descent team together again.

Rangers? You want to waste all that talent in a team already overtalented but where players get so much money that they don't care to play!?! They have one of the most talented team on paper, but on the ice they don't produce. Crosby can't carry a team on his back. Him going into a small market team might help get more fans to the game. Anyways we'll see tomorrow afternoon where he goes.

Rangers overtalented? i don't know about that. If they were, they'd be doing much better. I think the Rangers have always been overpriced. And to place Crosby in a small market, i don't think that would increase the interest in the game at all. A marque player like him needs to be in a big market. He could become the face of hockey very easily and become a figure like Shaq for Basketball, Rodriguez for Baseball, Favre for Football... Now i realize those aren't necessarily the top players of those respective games (largely caz i don't know exactly, don't follow those sports as much) but when you mention those names in the States, you know what sport is being refered to. Put Crosby in a place like Florida, Atlanta, Carolina, Columbus etc, no one besides the most ardent hockey fan will know who Crosby is. Put him in a big market like New York, Chicago, Toronto, or Los Angeles and watch out.

Maybe I went a little far with the overtalented stuff, but they have the talent to win games, they don't have the heart to actually do it.

Crosby could be an attraction in smaller market if he's marketed well. Even after a season or two people will hear about him more and might want to see him.

MN Wild!!!!!!


20 character

I can't wait for the season to start! I've missed my Chicago Blackhawks!

Unfortunately, stupid Bill Wirtz hasn't died yet, so the Hawks' home games won't be on TV in my area. :mad:
I can't wait until they come back either! I love going to their games. I can't wait to start watching them again.

It sucks that you can't see them on TV.:(

It's coming back?! Dammit!
My thoughts exactly! I was getting quite used to the idea of keeping the cup in Tampa for good!;)

The Rangers suck for how big their payroll is.


And Crosby is coming to the Sharks!!!!! tcha!!! :D

about damn time hockey is back!!! get to watch the caps and devils play again. i don't care what the deal is im just glad to have hockey back.

For everyone that wants to watch the press conference and the lottery TSN is webcasting it here (http://www.tsn.ca/audio_video/cybercast/live.asx) The press conference starts at 4 but the show is already on the air.

damn penguins!

A Shark would totally kill a penguin.

LOL i concur, a shark WOULD totally kill a penguin... a fight between the respective mascots would be funny...

sucks that the Penguins got the pick though... granted it'll be interesting to see Crosby and Lemieux together... 'Course i don't like the idea of them playing my Rangers 6 times next year... Plus too, Pitts has had 2 first overall picks in the last 3 drafts now...

Now that the lottery is over, i don't really care about the rest of the draft... The buyout phase starts tomorrow and that should be a flurry of activity i think... I hope the Rangers buyout Holik... He's useless for what he's being paid... I wish they'd buyout Jagr too, but that ain't gonna happen caz the Caps are paying most of his salary anyway and he's still a steal for what the Rangers are paying him... guess only time will tell...

Sharkie would mop a penguin mascot up. :p

yea, Lemieux & Crosby on the ice together should be interesting. I'm lookin forward to seein' this kid play. Have you seen him play at all?


The cap wont effect the Sharks at all. We dont have any superstars that get paid a shitload. Just a bunch of great players that fly under the radar. We have the same team that made it to the WCF last season, so I am totally stoked for this season.

Count me in as one STOKED, hockey starved L.A. Kings fan!

I think Crosby in Pittsburgh will be a good thing for the game in general. Pittsburgh is a good sports city and if Sidney had gone to Detroit, Dallas, or the Rangers I'd have probably boycotted the NHL altogether and chalk it up as rigged. That being said I think the single fact that Anaheim DIDN'T get the first overall pick is the best thing that could ever happen to the NHL, as I think the Ducks' franchise is a disgrace to the league.

I will be interested to see who gets bought out and who changes teams via free agency now! With all the rule changes (boo on them for messing with goalie's equipment AGAIN and limiting their puckhandling!) and players on new teams the NHL is going to look very different. I'm a fan of the goaltender dominated NHL of the 90s/2000s but the goalies are still the best athletes in the game so I don't expect to see a dramatic rise in scoring. The shootout will make the game more exciting though, as will the elimination of the two-line pass.

I am just so happy that the game is back. If the fans are apathetic towards the NHL, maybe it's because there are no drug dealers, wife beaters, steroid abusers and ingrate contract-holdouts are rare. Nothing against the other major 3 sports but I've always loved hockey because of the absence of all the reality TV type bullsh*t drama that you see in other sports. We have no crybaby cancers like Terell Owens, no convicted murderers like Ray Lewis, no overpaid steriod junkies like Jason Giambi and no dope smoking 'Gangstas'. There's an integrity and respect for the game in hockey that's missing for the most part in other sports. If sports fans don't want to watch a great game with unparalleled athletic skill, tradition (the Stanley Cup is the oldest professional sports trophy in North America), and players who respect and appreciate their own fans, they are the ones missing out.

Here's to bringing the NHL back with even more fire than before.

Yeah, i have seen Crosby play a little bit and he does look pretty damn good for a 17 year old. He'll step right into the NHL, there doesn't even seem to be any question of it. Another thing to consider for the Penguins is this. They've had 3 of the top 4 picks from the last 3 drafts now. They'll have Crosby from this one. They have Malkin who went 2nd overall in the last draft, and they have Fleury who went 1st overall the year before that. So, if this team, with Lemieux playing another year likely, can't do something this season, they may as well just pack up shop in Pittsburgh, and move to Winnipeg... Because you know that a team coming back to Winnipeg would be seen as the second coming and Crosby would be seen as Jesus with Fleury and Malkin as his disciples... ;)

Count me in as one STOKED, hockey starved L.A. Kings fan!
::boos the Kings:: :p

I think Crosby in Pittsburgh will be a good thing for the game in general. Pittsburgh is a good sports city and if Sidney had gone to Detroit, Dallas, or the Rangers I'd have probably boycotted the NHL altogether and chalk it up as rigged. That being said I think the single fact that Anaheim DIDN'T get the first overall pick is the best thing that could ever happen to the NHL, as I think the Ducks' franchise is a disgrace to the league
I suppose Pitt is a good team for him to go to. Not to mainstream, but not a shit team.

LOL, why do you hate the Ducks?? Flying V!!!!!!!!!! beeehotch!!! LOL




I will be interested to see who gets bought out and who changes teams via free agency now! With all the rule changes (boo on them for messing with goalie's equipment AGAIN and limiting their puckhandling!) and players on new teams the NHL is going to look very different. I'm a fan of the goaltender dominated NHL of the 90s/2000s but the goalies are still the best athletes in the game so I don't expect to see a dramatic rise in scoring. The shootout will make the game more exciting though, as will the elimination of the two-line pass.
I'm on board with all the rule changes. I like that the goalies won't look like they weigh 400 lbs. :p Of course the shootout is going to add SO much more excitement, I love it. If I remember correctly, my Sharks had about 10 ties in the first 20 or so games of last season. So I'm glad to see those thrown out the door. And the red line being eliminated should make the Sharks the fastest team in league. wOOt!

I am just so happy that the game is back. If the fans are apathetic towards the NHL, maybe it's because there are no drug dealers, wife beaters, steroid abusers and ingrate contract-holdouts are rare. Nothing against the other major 3 sports but I've always loved hockey because of the absence of all the reality TV type bullsh*t drama that you see in other sports. We have no crybaby cancers like Terell Owens, no convicted murderers like Ray Lewis, no overpaid steriod junkies like Jason Giambi and no dope smoking 'Gangstas'. There's an integrity and respect for the game in hockey that's missing for the most part in other sports. If sports fans don't want to watch a great game with unparalleled athletic skill, tradition (the Stanley Cup is the oldest professional sports trophy in North America), and players who respect and appreciate their own fans, they are the ones missing out. Here's to bringing the NHL back with even more fire than before.
AMEN to all that brudda!



YAY for hockey!

Me and the guys at work were watching the webcast yesterday. Everytime a team was picked and it wasn't the habs we started to cheer lol The fifth pick is a really nice one for us. I'm sure Gainey is gonna make the most of it.

I can only imagine Croby and Lemieux playing together. I'm so buying tickets for when the penguins are in town.

Im not a big fan of Hockey but I'm glad its back. I like waching the fights that goes on on ice and all the teeth on the floor and I hear that they are changing some rules so that there will be more goals scored.

John LeClair and Tony Amonte are the first casualites of the new buyout clause...

I guess the Flyers are finally gonna start rebuilding with young guys instead of old ones. I wonder if the Leafs are gonna do the same...

I guess the Flyers are finally gonna start rebuilding with young guys instead of old ones. I wonder if the Leafs are gonna do the same...

Rumor has it the Leafs are going to buy out a few players themselves.

You know, i can't say im overly surprised at Leclair being bought out, but i am a little at Amonte... However, i'm even more surprised that no one else has been bought out since! What's goin' on? I was totally expecting several teams to dump some excess salaries and so far, nothing! I REALLY REALLY hope the Rangers cut Holik loose. As for the Leafs, they have a lot of aging guys on their roster, it maybe a good time for them to start trimming away too. Nolan with his new injury sounds like the first victim of it, but i guess only time will tell... I just don't get the delay...

You know, i can't say im overly surprised at Leclair being bought out, but i am a little at Amonte... However, i'm even more surprised that no one else has been bought out since! What's goin' on? I was totally expecting several teams to dump some excess salaries and so far, nothing! I REALLY REALLY hope the Rangers cut Holik loose. As for the Leafs, they have a lot of aging guys on their roster, it maybe a good time for them to start trimming away too. Nolan with his new injury sounds like the first victim of it, but i guess only time will tell... I just don't get the delay...

Nolan was one of the Leafs' buyout rumors I'd heard so far. The teams have a week to get it done so I'm guessing they are crunching numbers. I think free agenct starts after the draft as well. I just hope Dave Taylor is already on the phone with Ziggy Palffy's agent getting a deal done before it becomes a free-for-all because I'm certain there are plenty of teams that would love to have his services. I'm excited about the amount of cap room the Kings have to sign FA's, this could be a good team! Rumor has it that Cechmanek is history and they will go with Garon (who is going to be a stud in net, c'mon, does Montreal ever draft bad goaltenders?) and sign another veteran to tutor him in net. As long as the defense dosen't get any worse and we can add a clutch scorer or two (and you know some will be available at bargain prices with the new economic landscape of the NHL), the Kings will be in good shape to contend for the Western Conference title.

Nolan was one of the Leafs' buyout rumors I'd heard so far. The teams have a week to get it done so I'm guessing they are crunching numbers. I think free agenct starts after the draft as well. I just hope Dave Taylor is already on the phone with Ziggy Palffy's agent getting a deal done before it becomes a free-for-all because I'm certain there are plenty of teams that would love to have his services.
I had the pleasure of seeing Nolan play alot while he was a Shark. Any team would be lucky to have him.

Nolan is injured and actually fighting over with the Leafs since the injury is related to the game. News here (http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story.asp?ID=131061&hubName=), so it could cost the Leafs a lot of money!

Rumors has Khabibulin signing with the Coyotes.


Garon is a good goaltender, he just needs more ice time and wasn't getting any in Montreal. I still wish they would of kept him and get rid of Theodore this season. Now we have an injured Huet and a Theodore that chokes under pressure :(

Detroit today vut ties with Derian Hatcher, Ray Whitney and Darren McCarty, and Colorado has announced they intend to resign Joe Sakic and Rob Blake.

It appears the wheels are turning ladies and gentlemen.

(And I'm still waiting with baded breath for the Kings to announce that Ziggy Palffy has been resigned!)

Brisebois is out of Montreal. He was getting old but he was still an experience defensemen and a leader, same can be said with Quintal that was traded last year. Hopefully someone will be able to step up and take the spot. If only they would get rid of Rivet.

yep, Jeremy i think you're right about the number crunching thing holding up the buyouts... It's good to see that there was some action today though... It will be really interesting to see where some of these big name, high cost, free agents end up this year or if they even manage to sign at all. Khabibulin in Phoenix would be cool to see. Back with the old Jets organization. Plus, there is a rumor that if Modano doesn't sign with the Stars, he'd be interested in going to play with Hull in Phoenix. So the Coyotes could be something to watch, 'specially if Gretzky coaches... Interesting year ahead, that's for damn sure... :D

The 05' schedule has been released. http://www.nhl.com/schedules/index.html

The Sharks only have 3 games at home in October.:mad:

I'm still waiting until they release ticket prices and ticket packages. I wanted to get one last year, so I might get one this year. Like a 6 games package or something like that.

I'm still waiting until they release ticket prices and ticket packages. I wanted to get one last year, so I might get one this year. Like a 6 games package or something like that.
The Sharks wasted no time with that.

They cut season ticket prices by 10%.

And for single tickets:
In general, the price of less-expensive tickets in the upper bowl is being reduced at a higher rate than the pricier ones in the lower bowl. The cheapest ticket drops from $18 to $15, for example, while the most expensive, for seats along the glass, goes from $108 to $105.

Kings cut ticket prices too...I'm smelling Coyote blood at Staples on October 6th...very nice :)

They cut the prices everywhere, but didn't announce the prices in Montreal :(

It begins today! The start of free agency and the start of new look teams everywhere. HUGE list of big names are available and starting noon (ET) the teams are free to talk to 'em all. The question isn't who will sign with who (though that is always interesting), but how much will they sign for? As a result, with the new cap system in place, i see most teams, wanting to sign players, but being very cautious about it too. I think it will come down to whether or not a player wants to play for a specific team, more than who is willing to pay them the money. Oh, who am i kidding? It'll still come down to who is willing to pay the most, in a league limited by who has the cap room. Should be interesting in any case.

So, we got alot of signing action goin' on.

Pronger goes to the Oilers.

Nasland returning to Vancouver.

Skoula goes to Stars.

Flames sign Tony Amonte and Darren McCarty.

Columbus signs Adam Foote.

Flyers sign Derian Hatcher, Mike Rathje and Chris Therien.

Rathje leavin' the Sharks kills me.:( He's been here forever. He gave us some great seasons, and will be missed by Shark fans.

wow, ok, thanks Dude, i was wondering if everyone else who follows this thread had fallen off the face of the earth...

Forsberg to Philly

Iggy resigns in Calgary

Gonchar to Pitts

Leetch to Boston

Peca to Edmonton

This is fantastic stuff to watch... Can practically sit in front of the 'puter and wait for the next big signing to pop up... they're happening that fast! :D

Holy crap, Philly could be unstoppable this season.

Kings got Demitra and a good young goalie prospect in LaBarbera. Now just re-sign Ziggy already!

This is going to be a different NHL come the fall!

HELL YEAH!

I so can't wait for the puck to drop for a new season. It's been far too long since I've seen the Flames in action, and I can't wait to see Iginla and company take the ice once again. Not only have we re-signed Iginla, and more recently Kiprusoff, but we also signed some fairly big names in Hatcher, McCarty, and Hamrlik more recently, along with getting Amonte. It should be an exciting season.

Go Flames....
2006 Stanley Cup Champions

The free agency season isn't totally over but most of it is. I'm looking forward to see who got better this year. Should be interesting. Am I the only one thinking that the Eastern conference got pretty much all the big free agency players?

Am I the only one thinking that the Eastern conference got pretty much all the big free agency players?

I totally agree. Just look at the Flyers at one example. They got Forsberg, one big name right there, as well as a few others. Of course, they lost Roenick but honestly, I hate the guy anyways so it doesn't matter. I'm just glad the Flames didn't pick him up. Lindros signed with the Leafs, which is supposed to make up for them losing Roberts and Nieuwendyk to the Panthers. Finally, Crosby going to the Penguins was also big. I'm sure I'm forgetting alot of other guys, but I think the Eastern Conference teams did get the bigger players, I agree.

That's why I'm saying that the Penguins will win the Cup this year. Think about it....How cool would it be to see Crosby win a Stanley Cup in his first season in the NHL?

I'm really excited for the new season. A year deprived of what I love isn't fun.

I know I shouldn't expect the exact same team every year, but I'm really sad that the Flames let go/traded a lot of my favourite players. But it's nice to see some new faces.

Go Flames! ;)

I'm so pumped for the fall! I've been so Leaf-deprived for sooooo long. I can't wait to see the Leafs in action! I hope Belfour will be able to shine for us again!

W00t! W00t! Go Leafs Go!!!!

Belfour is finish :P I really hope my friends and I can go to the October 8th game against Montreal so we can boo the Leafs :D

Flyers do have Forsberg but they lost a few talented players too. Forsberg doesn't really fit into the more physical style of the Flyers. I don't see them passing the second round of the playoff.

I'll be going to at least 10 games this year. My dad and I are buying a 10 game pack, so we'll see plenty of hockey this year :) We've decided on most of the games we want to see, we're still thinking about the last one. We're gonna go to see Philly, Tampa, Pittsburgh, Anaheim, Los Angeles, Dallas, New Jersey, Boston, Atlanta. We need to decide between Toronto and Ottawa. It's most likely gonna be Ottawa but we still have time to decide ;)

It's almost October BABAY!!!!!!!

I can't wait to plop my ass on the couch, crack a beer, and watch the puck drop for the first Sharks game. I will be so happy!!

Amen brother man! The excitement is building, training camps are underway, the preseason sked is just a couple of days away... Oh yeah, good stuff. :D

Amen brother man! The excitement is building, training camps are underway, the preseason sked is just a couple of days away... Oh yeah, good stuff. :D
Yup, Sharks first pre-season game was yesterday. We beat the kings 4-3. :cool:

Flames return to the 'Dome tonight for the first time since the 2004 finals....WOOOOOO!

Thus far this pre-season, we haven't won but then again, we've only played two games. We'll get our first win of the pre-season tonight in front of the Sea of Red, baby! This could also mark the first rematch from the finals between Kiprusoff and Khabibulin, that is if both get the start. It's going to be awesome but unfortunately, I won't be going. I'm hoping to go to Friday's game against the Oilers. Hey, it's the Battle of Alberta, so that would definately be a good game to go to. I'm just counting the days until October 5th, when the real season begins.

FUCK THE FLAMES!!!!! :p

Oct 29 you come to the Shark tank. Cant wait for that rematch of the WCF.

Yeah, going to the Shark Tank to watch the Flames burn the Sharks sounds like a novel idea.

Actually, we're going to be ready to blow the roof off the 'Dome on November 23rd. The Flames will make the Sharks wish they hadn't shown up. :p

Hockey is awesome it is about time it comes back!!! Bowling is coming back too!!! Something I can play and win at lol!!!

Heeey, the Flames are going to remind the Sharks why they were the Western Conference Champions. :p

Btw, they won their exhibition game (vs. Chicago) last night! I wish I could have seen Kobasew break the glass. That's always fun.

Come on Dallas!!!!!!!

I'm really excited about the new season. It would certainly be an understatement to say ive missed it lol.

Because of the gap it is hard to predict anything really all the big guns will be out to prove they are still at the top and that will make for an extremely exciting season.

Roll on October 9th is it?

Come on Dallas!!!!!!!

I'm really excited about the new season. It would certainly be an understatement to say ive missed it lol.

Because of the gap it is hard to predict anything really all the big guns will be out to prove they are still at the top and that will make for an extremely exciting season.

Roll on October 9th is it?

October 5th, I believe.

October 5th, I believe.

you believe correctly... ;)

Flames won for the second straight game by beating the Oilers 3-0. :D It's only pre-season, and already the Sea of Red is happening at some bars. It's like the 2004 playoffs all over again....

Well, maybe not exactly the same.

At any rate, on something non-NHL related, I'm going to the Hitmen's home opener on Sunday against the Rebels. This will be my first year as a season ticket holder, and I can't wait. Season ticket holders for the Hitmen also get their choice of one Flames game to attend. The choices we have include the November 23rd game against the Sharks, and two games against the Wild. I'm probably going to end up picking the game against the Sharks, if tickets are still available, only because we'll be playing the team we beat in the conference finals. :p

I'm probably going to end up picking the game against the Sharks, if tickets are still available, only because we'll be playing the team we beat in the conference finals. :p
Live in the NOW dude!! That was SO last season!!!!! pffffffft!!! :p :cool:

Meh you won't be playing them in the conference finals this year anyway Dallas will make sure of that ;)

Meh you won't be playing them in the conference finals this year anyway Dallas will make sure of that ;)
We pretty much have the same exact team that brought us the Pacific division title, and a run @ the cup. Only now, with the new rule changes, we're gonna be one of the fastest teams in the league. And smoke all of youuuuu!!

No division title for you!!!!

Yeah, I'm using this thread to post about the Hitmen as well.

Anyways, the home opener was earlier this afternoon, which the Hitmen won 5-1 after beating their rivals from just an hour and a half away the Red Deer Rebels. Pogge played awesome, as did the entire team I thought. We're 2-0 so far, and I'm going to predict right now that the Hitmen are going to do well. I say they'll go as far as the third round.

Since I'm now on the topic of junior teams, does anyone else go to many junior hockey games, or have season tickets like I do? I think the action is just as good as the NHL, maybe a little bit better.

I use to go often when I played hockey and when we had a team. They movied the Titans away a few years ago :( I have tickets for 10 Canadiens game this season, so I'll have plenty of hockey :D

I saw my first game last night on TV. I liked what I saw about the new rules. There is a lot of penalities, but I guess the players will be more careful when the season starts. The Habs seems to have a strong team this year. The first 2 lines hasn't change, and the addition of Bonk will only help. On the defense side it hasn't change much besides the lost of Brisebois. I'm looking forward to what they do during the season.

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story.asp?ID=137657&hubName=nhl

Thoughts and such?

It sucks that he's only 22 and he was forced to retire due to injuries. I remember watching him play with the Kootenay Ice whenever they came to town, and he was an awesome goaltender. He could have been just as awesome in the NHL but alas, the injuries caught up to him.

I think I also remember reading on the Flames message board that Adam Deadmarsh had to retire because of post concussion syndrome. Here's the article right here:

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story.asp?ID=137657&hubName=nhl

It really sucks when NHL players, or any pro sports players for that matter are forced to retire due to injuries. It especially sucks, in the case of Blackburn, if they're still young.

Yeah I have to agree with you Jason. I am actually a Rangers fan (don't hit me!) and to see a guy like Blackburn have to hang 'em up for something like that, especially so early in his career, it's just sad. I thought he had huge potential and he could have gone far. Rangers used him too early, I think. However, I still remember watching him get his first and only shutout vs. Calgary a couple of years ago. Stellar performance.

As for Deadmarsh, that's too bad too. He was a good competitor who threw his body around pretty good. I never really liked him because he was such a pest, but I can't help thinking back on this one fight he had with Ed Jovanovski a few years ago. They were goin' at each other pretty good, and the Jovo just caught him with this wicked upper cut outta nowhere and Deadmarsh dropped like a sack of potatoes. I think he got a concussion out of that fight actually and I guess it eventually led him to where he is now.

On that note, can't wait for the season to start.

Flames beat the Oilers tonight 5-0 in their last pre-season home game. This makes us unbeaten on home ice during the pre-season, so hopefully that success will continue into the regular season. Kipper got the shutout. :D

Got my car flag ready, my jersey ready and yeah, I'm pumped about the start of the regular season on Wednesday.

Sharks are undefeated. Home & away. :cool:

pittsburgh may not go too far beyond the first round, but with lemieux, palffy, thibault, crosby, recchi, leclair, and gonchar they will kill in every game--provided everyone stays healthy :rolleyes: .

You know what? As impressed as I am with Pitts improvement over the offseason with all their pickups, I'm still not convinced that they'll make the playoffs. The have offense, that is beyond doubt. However, they lack a solid defense and consistent good goaltending. Whenever they run across a team that shuts them down offensively, they'll be in trouble.

On a side note, I am very happy with the progress my Rangers are making. I don't have high hopes for this season (still expect them to finish bottom 5 in the league) but they look a lot younger and faster now. The youth movement that they've FINALLY taken, should pay off in few seasons if not sooner.

The penguins have Gonchar and Tanstrom on defense but nothing else. If Thibault can stay healthy and proves that is he a good goaltender then they will get far. They have the offense for it.

I hope Thibault does a good job since I have him in my 3 hockey pools ;)

Jocelyn Thibault has always been a pretty good goaltender who's been dogged by consitency problems. If he can eliminate some of the lows he's had in Montreal and Chicago, he might just spell what the Pens need.

Meanwhile, I'll be paying special attention to Matieu Garon in Los Angeles, as the Kings have declined to sign a veteran backup thus far. I wish they'd grab a cheap vet like a Trevor Kidd, Steve Sheilds type just for insurance and some tutelage.

Garon is a good goalie but never had much chance to show it in Montreal. I'm glad the Kings didn't resign Checkmanek.

Yeah Cechmanek always mqade me a little nervous, though he did look pretty good when he was on. He turned out to be a bad reclaimation project though. There's a pretty fiar number of guys who were starters or co #1's in the NHL who are unsigned and out of jobs right now, I wonder if that's because GMs don't feel they'll adjust to the new NHL? The highest profile of these guys would be Byron Dafoe, who is healthy and teamless right now.

Being a Canadian, I should not say this....but I am not a big fan of hockey. Like I don't hate it or anything, but I do not think I would ever count down days to a game like I do with soccer! :p
And I work at Sport Mart, and we have crazy hockey sales and stuff, so everytime someone comes into the store to buy hockey stuff Im like....:rolleyes:

HOly Shite!! Only 4 hours till till the puck drops for the first Sharks game!!!@1

I'm totally geeked!!

Less then 3 hours for me :D

Due to work, I won't be able to watch the first Flames game of the season. :(

Oh well, we'll still beat the Wild's ass in their own building.

GO FLAMES! :D

Can't you bring at least a radio to listen to the game?

2 hours and 51 minutes 'til the Leafs begin the ass-kicking of the Sens!!! Yay I can't fucking wait! It's been sooo long.:D

GO LEAFS GO!!!

Perhaps it's just me, but the majority of the people posting on this list are either Canadian (god bless you for sharing this wonderful sport) or Californians. I too live near San Jose and I've had many nights while heading to the rink to play my own game thinking to myself I wonder where California rates in he greater hockey fandome? Question answered! GAME ON!

BTW I'm heading to a friends house for twin tivo's action from dish and cable!

First Blackhawks game of the season is going on now! *spazzes* We're losing 3-1 right at the moment, though...

And as if that's not bad enough, I can't even watch the game, cause Dollar Bill Wirtz still won't play home games on Chicago-area TVs. Idiot.

Ahhhh, most satisfying... Thank God Hockey is back... :D

I can't believe my Rangers won!!! Came from behind to score 4 unanswered goals to beat the FLYERS!?!? Wow! Wouldn't have expected that. I hope to have more such pleasant surprises as the season progresses...

How about those Stars though? Down 4-0 after 1 period and come all the way back to win 5-4... Most impressive comeback... Lots of good stuff out there and not everything going as predicted, which is always nice too... Flames lose, first shootout (Sens win!), first shutout (Luongo, Wow), Ovechkin scores his first two goals, and Crosby gets his first point as his team gets crushed by the Devils... All around a helluva return to the NHL!!!!

I can't believe my Rangers won!!! Came from behind to score 4 unanswered goals to beat the FLYERS!?!? Wow! Wouldn't have expected that. I hope to have more such pleasant surprises as the season progresses...

Yay Rangers! I happen to think they have a good chance of getting into the playoffs this year. They've been mediocre for simply too long.

Can't you bring at least a radio to listen to the game?

We actually had the game on two of our stereos, so it was all good. Well, except for the score. :(

Meh, I wasn't actually watching the game, that's why they lost. It will be a different story when my Flames play the Blue Jackets on Friday. My prediction is 5-2 for the guys in red.

Oh yeah, and what does everyone else think of the high scoring? Me, I love it. :D

Man, that shootout in the Ottawa/Toronto game was pimp. Made for great entertainment/excitement.

No more stupidass ties! Thank God. What a great new rule.

Yay Rangers! I happen to think they have a good chance of getting into the playoffs this year. They've been mediocre for simply too long.
They've got a hell of a goaltender in Kevin Weekes. He's always been one of those guys who's been either red hot or ont he cold side. When he's hot though, he's dominant, if he estalishes some consitency in NY, the Rangers might be able to compete with their Long Island based rivals for the "best team in NY" title.

And BAD BAD BAD on my Kings for blowing a 4 goal lead to Dallas, but good for Jeremy Roenick for scoring a pair of goals in his Kings debut. It's a long season folks, tonight is hardly the benchmark.

And BAD BAD BAD on my Kings for blowing a 4 goal lead to Dallas, but good for Jeremy Roenick for scoring a pair of goals in his Kings debut. It's a long season folks, tonight is hardly the benchmark.
Indeed. My Sharks took a loss also. The Preds scored a really weak goal with with 4 minutes left in a tie game. I gotta give it up to Nashville though, they're gonna have a great team. They matched our speed, and the Sharks hadnt played anyone that fast in the pre-season at all.

It's a long season folks, tonight is hardly the benchmark.

Oh for sure. In my case though, for someone who cheers for a team that will be lucky to win 30 games this year, you can hardly blame me for being a little bit stoked when my team wins on opening night, and against the supposed challengers for the Cup. ;)

Hate to say it boys...but Tampa is keeping that Cup here! ;)

So, the Flames won last night over the Blue Jackets 3-1, in what I thought was a good game. The Flames need to work on their powerplay more, though, because they had the chances, but they couldn't score at all on the PP. Oh well, we still won, so that's all that count. We face the Wings tomorrow, in a rematch of the conference semi-finals from 2004. It should be no problem for us to roast the Wings.

Oh yeah, and I'm so happy because they just opened up the playoff zone in the Saddledome, so I might have a chance after all at getting some tickets to the home opener on Thursday. It's high up in the Saddledome, and it's a section that was opened during the 2004 playoffs. So, I'm hoping I'll be at that game. :D

yeeeeeeaaaaaaaa!!!! I'm goin to the Sharks/Blackhawks game tonight!!!!

The game has been sold out, but they released a few tickets online today @ noon and I was one of the lucky ones who snagged a few!

I'm friggin stoked!!!!

That's cool! I'm going to my first game on Tuesday. Nothing like a Bruins vs Habs game to start things up ;)

I'm pleased with the start Dallas have made. Ok they lost a game but have won the other 4 including 2 tough road games against Calgary and Edmonton. Modano seems to be on brilliant form and Jokinen looks like he will be a great asset. Hopefully they will keep it up all the way

I've been wondering that for a while, but what happened to Pat Quinn's face? Did he get a puck in the face or something?

ShapeShifter - I am verrry jealous; you get to see my Blackhawks. :(

Have fun at the game! Don't take this the wrong way, but... I HOPE WE KICK YOUR BUTT!

:p

I've been wondering that for a while, but what happened to Pat Quinn's face? Did he get a puck in the face or something?

Actually two. He got smacked in the face on two different occasions within one week of each other I believe. Both happened during games when he was behind the bench. He looks pretty banged up.

Poor guy. I saw him last week with only one eye banged up but now both. He needs to put a visor one soon lol

ShapeShifter - I am verrry jealous; you get to see my Blackhawks. :(

Have fun at the game! Don't take this the wrong way, but... I HOPE WE KICK YOUR BUTT!
:p

HAHAHA! Sharks 4-3!!

fanfuckingtabulous game!

HAHAHA! Sharks 4-3!!

fanfuckingtabulous game!

I know, I know... I wasn't too disappointed, though; I actually thought it was a pretty good game, regardless. Except for our 5,687,492 penalties. :rolleyes:

I know, I know... I wasn't too disappointed, though; I actually thought it was a pretty good game, regardless. Except for our 5,687,492 penalties. :rolleyes:
Oh it was a great game. You shoulda been there. :p ;)

Kipper was on fire last night. 3-0 shutout against the Oilers, which finally snaps our losing streak and hopefully gets us back on the winning side of things. In watching the game, it looked like the Flames were finally playing like the Flames from the '04 playoffs, Kiprusoff especially. He made some big saves, including a huge one when the Flames were down two men in the second.

Next up is Gretzky's team tomorrow night, which we'll hand them a good ol' fashioned ass whipping. :D

The flames better wake up soon. I have Kiprusoff, Iginla and Amonte in my hockey pools. So I need them to make points and get wins ;)

Hey Jason, RedRoster!???? How'd you like that game last night!!?!?!? bahahahabahbaha!!!

Seriously though, that was one of the most entertaing games I've watched in a while. Especially because the Sharks were down 2-0 with four in a half minutes left in the game, tied it, then won the shootout. :D

You guys have 3 more times this season to get some revenge....



Yay Nils!!

I didn't watch the game since it wasn't on TV here. I was checking the score on nhl.com and was quite happy to see 2-0 with 4 minutes left. I wasn't so happy when I saw the final score later on :(

The Habs got spanked by the Rangers last night. Hopefully we'll do better on Monday.

That's the 3rd consecutive game we have scored with less than 25 seconds left to either tie or win the game. All ended in Shark victories. :D

I wasn't able to watch the Flames/Sharks game last night, since I was at the Hitmen game, which the Hitmen won :D , then went out to Fright Fest. However, when I heard that we were up 2-0 in the third, I thought for sure the Flames had the game won. Those damn Sharks had to come back and spoil what would have been Kiprusoff's second shutout of the season. :( I was heading home, listening to the game during the OT and the shootout. Disappointing, but we still got a point nevertheless.

November 23rd will be a different story, though. :D

The Habs got spanked by the Rangers last night. Hopefully we'll do better on Monday.

Yeah, I watched most of that game on the french CBC channel. So nice to see my Rangers winning for a change. Lundquist is one helluva goalie. Jagr playing well again. Rest of the Rangers actually hussling out there and playing hard. It's weird to see. lol

As for the Flames. Man, are they off to a rough start. Good to see the Sharks are still finding ways to win without Nabokov...

The fights are definitely the best :D Our team isn't that great but I love going to see the games anyway... besides, hockey turns me on.

I'm happy as my LA Kings are currently atop the Pacific Division. How about Jason LaBarbera in goal? That guy's looking like quite an accquisition!

Two in a row. :D

Yep, Flames won 2-1 over the Blue Jackets, albeit the winning goal went off the back of Nilson. Oh well, a win is a win, and I'm one happy fan. Now, we have to get ready for back to back home games against the Canucks starting on Saturday.

Sharks are on a 4 game win streak right now. We beat the Preds in OT last night. :D

Two in a row. :D
Yay! :D I'm glad the Flames won. The whole game was kind of a mess.. til the last period.

Make it five in a row for the Flames. :D

I'll admit, though, I was a bit worried after the Coyotes scored in the last minute off the bad bounce with Sauve out of the net, but the guys in black came through and picked up their fifth win in a row. The Flames are on fire right now, and this winning streak will continue this Saturday when we beat the Avs.

I felt sorry for Sauve when that puck went in though.. that's bad luck.

I felt even sorrier for that poor kid who decided to fight with Iginla. lol! I was like, now you're asking for it.

Not too sure who else is watching the Flames/Avalanche game, but the Flames are up 4-0 after the first period. :D

So, unless the Flames totally fall apart during the next two periods, and allow the Avalanche to come back and win, I think maybe we could be seeing the Flames extend their winning streak to six games. It's still early, though, and in this new NHL the Avalanche coming from behind and winning is still possible. Hopefully when I post in this thread after the game, I'm celebrating another Flames win. :D

uyhdrsuihfuiwadyfuipwefyasdupigh;!@!@!!!!!


^that means I'm going to the Sharks/Coyotes game tonight. :cool:

So, unless the Flames totally fall apart during the next two periods...
Dude, you spoke too soon. I went to that game and and it was like watching three different games.

Too bad the Flames' streak ended at 8 games. And to Chicago, of all teams. They're actually doing pretty well.. they're on 6 game winning streak now? They beat Edmonton last night.

Avs vs. Flames tomorrow!

fuck. sharks came back down 3-1 in the 3rd to force OT. we lost it in the shootout. http://www.showmypro.com/smilies/evil.gif

As much as I LOATHE Detroit, let's hope Jiri Fischer is OK after his collapse on the bench last night.

And, My L.A. Kings are set to run away with the Pacific Division with the league's dynamic goaltending duo of Matieu Garon and Jason Labarbera, and most exciting line of Alexander Frovol, Pavol Demitra, and Craig Conroy :)

And, My L.A. Kings are set to run away with the Pacific Division with the league's dynamic goaltending duo of Matieu Garon and Jason Labarbera, and most exciting line of Alexander Frovol, Pavol Demitra, and Craig Conroy :)
Don't get ahead of yourself buddy. The season is still rather young. ;)

As much as I LOATHE Detroit, let's hope Jiri Fischer is OK after his collapse on the bench last night.
I heard about that. I think they said that he was "responsive" and breathing on his own now (that was last night, hopefully he's much better today). That must have been freaky to see.

Joe Thornton is now a San Jose Shark!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

In the biggest move in Shark history, we traded Marco Sturm, Wayne Priemeau, and Brad Stuart and aquired Joe Thornton, the long time Boston Bruin. I am extremely pleased with the trade, but at the same time very saddened. Sturm and Stuart have been Sharks their whole whole career, and it has been a joy to watch them grow into great players over these many seasons.

But I'm thrilled about Thornton and cant wait to watch him play on a consistent basis.


http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=2242875&campaign=rss&source=ESPNHeadlines

I'm still trying to understand why Boston didn't ask for more. I mean you trade a star player, first center of the team and the guy that was your future against well 3 average guys. If Marleau was in that trade it would of made things more fair. I wonder how many trades like that we're gonna see....


Well I don't think the Habs will will soon :( With Kovalev out, Markov suspended, Komisarek out because his mother died, Koivu out with a groin injury we don't have much talent on the ice :( Actually there's a lot of talent on the ice, they just don't score!! We have the Sabres again tonight and LA on Saturday. I'm looking forward to seeing the Kings live. At least we have a week off after that. We only play the Ducks the next Saturday, another game that I'm going.

I'm still trying to understand why Boston didn't ask for more. I mean you trade a star player, first center of the team and the guy that was your future against well 3 average guys. If Marleau was in that trade it would of made things more fair. I wonder how many trades like that we're gonna see....
Well Stuart is very good defensemen and will be the best defensemen on the Bruins. Something they sorely need. And I wouldnt calll Sturm average at all, I have watched him play his whole career. He's had a slow start this season, but he is an above average player. Primeau is a gritty player, and can produce.
but I do agree we got the better of the deal. :)

I'm still trying to understand why Boston didn't ask for more. I mean you trade a star player, first center of the team and the guy that was your future against well 3 average guys. If Marleau was in that trade it would of made things more fair. I wonder how many trades like that we're gonna see....


Well I don't think the Habs will will soon :( With Kovalev out, Markov suspended, Komisarek out because his mother died, Koivu out with a groin injury we don't have much talent on the ice :( Actually there's a lot of talent on the ice, they just don't score!! We have the Sabres again tonight and LA on Saturday. I'm looking forward to seeing the Kings live. At least we have a week off after that. We only play the Ducks the next Saturday, another game that I'm going.

The Habs/Kings game will be Garon's return to Montreal, unless Andy Murray does something utterly stupid like start LaBarbera, who has struggled in two important conference games in the last week. Garon looks to be emerging as the number one after some early consistency problems. Man, he sure is a fun goalie to watch play! La Barbera on the other hand, has looked extremely shaky after starting out red-hot. Murray has a history of doing stupid things with his goalies though, i.e. playing Potvin every night while he was playing atrocious in LA and sitting Storr or Huet when they were in the midst of a hot streak, so who knows.

Garon is a good goalie, but there wasn't any space for him in Montreal. I'm glad he found a place in LA.

Since we're talking trades, the Flames traded Steve Montador and Dustin Johner to the Panthers for Kristian Huselius. I'll be able to see how this new guy works out tonight when we face the Penguins. Speaking of that game, this will be the first time everyone will get to see Phanuef go up against Crosby. One of the main reasons I'm looking forward to this game, and to see my Flames roast the Penguins.

Joe Thornton is the effing man. Since we acquired him, he has posted 12 points (two goals, 10 assists) in 5 games. We have also gone undefeated, winning all 5 of those games. In each of those games we have scored at least 5 goals. He was named the NHL's player of the week this week, and Patty Marleau got that nod last week. :)

Me likes my new look Sharks. :D

The Sharks look good but they have some catching up to do now.

The Habs needs Kovalev and Koivu back so bad. It sucks to see that the other guys didn't step up while they were gone :(

Agreed. But there is plently of season left. As long as we play like we have been, I'm not worried. We had a very similar start 2 years ago, and made it to the WCF.

um. where the fuck are the hockey fans at?

Playoffs will be starting Friday. Did your team make it?

Mine did. The Sharks climbed from 10 place to 5th place in 12 days. They're playing Nashville in the first round. With Voukoun out, I think we should win the series. The thing that scares me the most about them is their speed and their offensive power. Vesa is going to have to continue his strong play.

Also, yesterday Cheechoo had his 5th hat trick of the season. He now has 56 goals putting him 2 goals above Jagr for the Rocket Richard trophy. Thornton also had a goal and 2 assists. That moves him 3 points above Jagr for most total points. Can you say MVP? Of course Jagr will still win it though, he does have that New York jersey on. :rolleyes:

Hopefully we can end the season Monday with a nine game winning streak going into the playoffs!

GO SHARKS!

The Habs still need 1 point or hope that the Trashers loose. I hope we make it, but we're not helping ourselves right now :( I hope Carolina wins the conference so we can face Ottawa instead of them.

This thread is just oozing testosterone.

*lays trap, waits* =X

But yeah, those um... Sharks... are really going to make a run for the Stanley this year.

Yeah, I was looking for this thread yesterday and I only made it to page two and gave up.

Anyways, Flames are in the playoffs again, so I'm happy. :D Everyone in Calgary is bringing their Flames car flags out again, which is what I did a week ago when they clinched the playoff spot. Playoff fever has once again hit Calgary. I'm thinking we might face the Avalanche in the first round, which would definately make for a good first round match. I'd rather face the Mighty Ducks, but a Flames/Avalanche series would be good to see. At any rate, I'm hoping we can pull off another amazing playoff run but I just have this gut feeling we'll probably be out after the first round, maybe the second round at the most.

GO FLAMES!

We'll either be facing Philly or Jersey. I'm not liking the prospects of either right now because we just recently lost to Philly and Jersey beat the crap out of Philly today. The Rangers, while they've been decent, could have been so much better, but they've really lost the cohesiveness that they had after the Olympic break.

So if the Rangers win the division, we're fucked.
If we lose the division, we're still fucked.

I just hope that Kevin Weekes and Henrik Lundqvist can handle their business when the playoffs start. If they do that, I can see Stanley Cup potential.

canadian will win this year sorry

@ Chris: Who do you think should win the Hart trophy? Thornton or Jagr?

You being a Ranger fan, I'm interested what you think on the subject.

@ Chris: Who do you think should win the Hart trophy? Thornton or Jagr?

You being a Ranger fan, I'm interested what you think on the subject.

Well, after being a statwhore...I honestly have to say that Thornton wins.

Thornton had been struggling earlier in the year by his standards, until after he got traded to the contending Sharks on November 30th.

Since then, he's racked up 92 points in just 57 games.

It's taken Cheechoo 81 games to get 93.

Jagr has done consistently well all season, but the Sharks made the right move at the right time.

Thornton would win MVP at this point.

Thornton pretty much turned the team around, without him I doubt they would be that high in the standings. Jagr had a good team to start with, and having Lundqvist in net helped the team a lot.

Thornton also plays defence. Something Jagr lacks.

I have feeling Jagr will still end up winning it though. If he does, it will be another conformation of the east coast bias that exists.

Sooooooooooo, the playoff matchups are finally set up! The first games start Friday. I can't wait, playoff hockey is ze best.

lets have a look and make some predictions for the 1st round!!


1st round
Detroit - Edmonton - Edmonton in 6 (more of *hope* pick)
Dallas - Colorado - Dallas in 7
Calgary - Anaheim - Calgary in 5
Nashville - San Jose - San Jose in 6

Ottawa - Tampa Bay - Ottawa in 5
Carolina - Montreal - Carolina in 6
New Jersey - New York Rangers - New Jersey in 5
Buffalo - Philadelphia - Buffalo in 7




Also, here's the latest power rankings (http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/feature/?fid=548&hubname=) according to TSN. Sharks are ranked #4. :D

Oh and Cheecho won the Rocket Richard trophy, while Thornton took the Art Ross trophy. haha @ Jagr. :p



*salivates until PO*

I'm still pissed that I couldn't get tickets this morning for at least one Montreal game.

Eastern Conference
Ottawa Senators vs Tampa Bay Lightening - Ottawa in 5
Carolina Hurricanes vs Montreal Canadiens - Montreal in 6
New Jersey Devils vs New York Rangers - NJ in 6
Buffalo Sabres vs Philadelphia Flyers - Sabres in 5

Western Conference
Detroit Red Wings vs Edmonton Oilers - Edmonton in 7
Dallas Stars vs Colorado Avalanche - Dallas in 5
Calgary Flames vs Anaheim Mighty Ducks - Calgary in 6
Nashville Predators vs San Jose Sharks - San Jose in 5

Eastern Conference

Ottawa Senators vs. Tampa Bay Lightning
Senators in 5

Carolina Hurricanes vs. Montreal Canadiens
Hurricanes in 6

New Jersey Devils vs. New York Rangers
Devils in 7

Buffalo Sabres vs. Philadelphia Flyers
Flyers in 6

Western Conference

Detroit Red Wings vs. Edmonton Oilers
Oilers in 7 (if the Flames face the Red Wings at all in the playoffs, I really don't like our chances)

Dallas Stars vs. Colorado Avalanche
Stars in 6

Calgary Flames vs. Anaheim Mighty Ducks
Flames in 5

Nashville Predators vs. San Jose Sharks
Sharks in 7

Detroit Red Wings vs. Edmonton Oilers
Oilers in 7 (if the Flames face the Red Wings at all in the playoffs, I really don't like our chances)
I think everybody is hoping the oilers can knock off the wings. :p Nobody wants to play them, they're just to damn good. If the Sharks and Wings win in the first round we're gonna get them in the second. gah.

I'm hoping for a calgary/san jose WCF again. With a different outcome of course. ;)

well, I hope you all have enjoyed the playoffs as much as I have so far. I'm not sure if Chris has though :p ,the Rangers don't look so good. Sorry bro.

The Sharks faultered in game 1 and fell behind 3-1. We did mount a comeback and tie it only to lose in the end though. But in games 2 & 3 we completely dominated the Preds in all areas.
We're up 2-1 in the series with home ice advantage. I'm very confident we'll move to the next round.

@Redrooster: The Habs are lookin damn good!!! You must be stoked!

I am, I never expected them to win both games. I mean they beat us badly all season, so this was quite unexpected.

I'm happy to see the Oilers leading the serie, they need to teach those Red Wings a lesson. ;) What the hell is wrong with the Stars? They can't win it seems, it's only Theodore in front of the net. I'm gonna start thinking that the TSN monkey was right when it picked the Avs to win that serie.

The curse of the mullet(Barry Melrose) has struck the Stars & Canes. He picked them to be in the finals. :p

I'm hoping the Avs, Oilers, and Ducks all win their series. That would give the Sharks the highest seed going into the 2nd round. :p :D

Sharks win the series 4-1 and roll onto the next round! \m/ Patrick Marleau was easliy the MVP of the series, netting 7 goals(tops in PO).

We will either play Calgary, Anaheim, Edmonton or Colorado in round 2. We will definitley not be playing Detroit no matter what happens. :D

E d m o n t o n!!!!!!!!!!!!!

;)

One Alberta team move on to the second round, that being the Oilers. All the Flames have to do is get past the Ducks, hopefully tonight, and we'll see the Battle of Alberta in the playoffs for the first time in 15 years.

If there's a battle of Alberta it won't be a pretty serie but I'm not gonna miss the games!

Now if only the Habs could find the spark they had the first 2 games and win again.

That 3rd period of the oils/wings game was quite a thriller! Right on Edmonton! AND HAHA @ DETROIT!!!
We knocked them out as an 8 seed in 94 too!! :p :D

Well, I saw this coming. 3-0 Flames lost and honestly, I'm not that disappointed overall. I had a feeling we were going to lose tonight, so maybe that's why. Also, we had a good regular season, so I'm proud of that.

The Flames just didnt play with urgency. They had a great regular season though.

So Sharks get the Oilers. Should be a great series, alot of speed with these two teams.

And now that I've found out Barry Merose picked the oilers to win.........Sharks in three. :p

Somebody owes me some pictures.
;)

Somebody owes me some pictures.
;)
oh and looks who comes out of the woodworks. :rolleyes:

where was your ass when you were down 2-0?

i didnt get no pictars, you get no pictars.


sharks in 6, you h0.



;)

[edit] OH SNAP!!! I'm going to game 5 tomorrow night!!!!
http://smilies.vidahost.com/ups/razor_wind/utongueani.gifhttp://smilies.vidahost.com/ups/razor_wind/utongueani.gif

That's bad news for the oil. The Sharks went 8-0 when I attended games this season!!! :p

Hey, hey, hey... What's with the name calling?
I'll be out of town until Thursday, but I'll make sure to keep updated for when I get back.

And I want my pictures.
;)

Hey, hey, hey... What's with the name calling?
Sorry muh dear, but these are the playoffs. ;)
And I want my pictures.
;)
ME TOO!




In other hockey news, Ottawa has been eliminated by Buffalo.

How about them Sabres? :) Usually, I'm not into hockey, but they really got me excited about it now that they are winning again. I'm hoping they'll go all the way.

That's bad news for the oil. The Sharks went 8-0 when I attended games this season!!! :p

You forgot one thing, the playoff is another season. Previous stats don't mean shit ;) :p

I'm actually happy to see that the Sens choked in the playoff yet again.

You forgot one thing, the playoff is another season. Previous stats don't mean shit ;) :p

The only thing worse than losing that game was watching them lose it live. :(

MUST. FORCE. GAME. SEVEN.

The only thing worse than losing that game was watching them lose it live. :(

MUST. FORCE. GAME. SEVEN.


http://forums.site5.com/images/smilies/lol.gif

http://forums.site5.com/images/smilies/lol.gif
Kiss my ass bandwagon fan.

Kiss my ass bandwagon fan.


Hey, I'm pretty much going for anybody who you don't like at this point. :p

Blow me . please

Blow me . please


Eh. I would but that would make me even more a ...bandwagon fan.
I don't want to contract anything from the bandwagon knob, thanks.

Uh. That was kind of a compliment and in insult all in one.
Eh whatever.

Anyway, your team sucks.

;)

I'm not sure wether to call you a bitch or feel flattered.
:)

ugh. your gay team just won game one.

and when I say "gay team", I mean every player is literally a fag. They probly suck eachother off before each game. pfft. that's why you guys won. :rolleyes: ;)

I'm not sure wether to call you a bitch or feel flattered.
:)

ugh. your gay team just won game one.

and when I say "gay team", I mean every player is literally a fag. They probly suck eachother off before each game. pfft. that's why you guys won. :rolleyes: ;)


Pfft. Time for the childish insults just because your team rim jobs each other night.
..And sucks at hockey.

Pfft. Time for the childish insults just because your team rim jobs each other night.
YUP! :D


..And sucks at hockey.
Teams that suck don't make it to the playoffs, let alone the second round. hmmph.

We'll be back, bitch. <3

All of the above was hot. ^^^

:OOO

All of the above was hot. ^^^

:OOO


He calls me mean names. Go beat him up. :(

*cries*

no wait, don't... i know he's tearing himself apart inside right now as it is...

;)

Shapeshifter~ Sorry bout the Sharks. They had a great season and even though they got out in the 2nd Round they are still a very tough, talented, young, skilled team. I was rooting for them against the Oilers as I am still bitter about my Wings exit in the first round.

Anywho..I don't get why you two are cussing at each other? If he or she is really a bandwagon fan and just says stuff to piss you off then ignore it.

shut up you love it.




GO SHARKS!

Anywho..I don't get why you two are cussing at each other? If he or she is really a bandwagon fan and just says stuff to piss you off then ignore it.

Um, how about you mind your own fucking business?
Actually, we're pretty good friends on this board, and we say things just to bug each other. Jokingly, like...not serious. Like ...sarcasm?

Stay out of it.

Mike, I want my pictures.
I want you to write my name on your chest and braodcast it for all the world to see. Do ittt

Um, how about you mind your own fucking business?
Actually, we're pretty good friends on this board, and we say things just to bug each other. Jokingly, like...not serious. Like ...sarcasm?

Stay out of it.

Mike, I want my pictures.
I want you to write my name on your chest and braodcast it for all the world to see. Do ittt


Oh wow. No need to be an ass about it. How the hell am I suppose to know if you guys are being sarcastic or not? Whatever.

Hey guys, I hate to piss on your parade, but this is pretty much becoming a conversation between Apryl and Mike. A rather vulgar one at that.

http://evboard.com/faq.php?faq=gen_rules#faq_be_kind
http://evboard.com/faq.php?faq=gen_rules#faq_content

LOOKIT. YOU MADE ME REFER YOU TO THE FACK.

Please tone it down. You too RockGoddess30. Got an issue that needs a tissue? Report the post. Thank youuu.

Okay, but I just gotta say, I may have been drinking a bit too much vodka, but I seem to recall Edmonton winning yet again last night.

We're so close.


Got an issue that needs a tissue?

/me hands Mike a tissue.

haha.<3

Damn Oilers. :mad:

Okay, so I'll admit they have been impressing me quite a bit during these playoffs, but I'll still never cheer for them. As much as it sucks to say this, it looks like the Oilers are headed to the finals. I'm not worried at all, because the Hurricanes will finish off the Sabres in six, and then finish off the Oilers four straight.

/me hands Mike a tissue.

haha.<3
It only took me 2 days to get over it. So I've not needed a tissue for quite a while now thank you very much. ;)
I actually couldnt be more thrilled with the future of the Sharks. This just wasnt our year.

The unthinkable just happened.

The Oilers are going to the finals. :(

Meh, they'll get blown out at the hands of the Hurricanes or the Sabres, preferably the Hurricanes but I don't care, in the finals. Hopefully the Oilers fans are celebrating huge tonight because the Oilers won't win the big shiny grey prize. :)

I'll give the Oilers credit, though, they played pretty good. The Ducks, though, just didn't play as good as they did in the first round, and the second round, so I say that's apart of the reason for the Oilers winning this series.

I'm pumped that the Oilers won. Since my team (toronto) didnt even make the playoffs, i at least wanted a fellow canadian team in the final! I hope Carolina beats Buffalo just cause i want my hometown boy Eric Staal to get to the final.:D

This game is intense. Overtime. The whole city is going Crazy... It's worse than when I was living in Calgary a few years back, lol.

the oil are going to lose, apryl.

i feel bad for your city. it's gonna get trashed.

:p

I wouldn't be so sure....

EDMONTON!!!!!!!!

that was a sweet shot by pisani.

your city is still gonna get trashed though. :p

For sure lol. We have a big strip here called Whyte Ave... There's been about 35 000 people there everytime we've played, and even more when we've won. People have been given jail time for breaking store/bar windows, lighting phone booths on fire, beating cops up, etc. There's literally about 1 cop per meter on that street. My boyfriend works down there, and he just hates it lol. I'm going to go down there really soon.

Anyway, that was a really sweet shot. Both teams played really well.

What a great game! Lots of scoring, some great hits, Oilers winning in OT... couldn't have been better.

I'm really pulling for the Oilers, but I wouldn't be terribly disappointed if the 'Canes won, especially if they win it in game 7. They'll be in NC for game 7, and it's always more fun when a team wins at home.

That game was crazy. 4/0 haha. All I can hear is people screaming outside. Monday is going to be insane.

I really think we're gonna take it, though.


<3 Pisani

I wouldn't count the Canes out of it, but things aren't looking good for them. I'm really surprise that Cole played tonight and wasn't that bad. Go Oilers bring the cup back to Canada where it belongs :D

I wouldn't count the Canes out of it, but things aren't looking good for them. I'm really surprise that Cole played tonight and wasn't that bad. Go Oilers bring the cup back to Canada where it belongs :D

For sure. I saw a sign that said "Hockey Is Canada's Game." It was really cool.
I definately think we're going to win.

After tonight's game, I pretty sure Edmonton's gonna win! I hope so anyway! I gotta go for the Canadian team. anyway, i was surprised that Cole played considering he was just cleared by doctors like yesterday.

ps- GO OILERS!!!....BRING IT HOME!!:D

Edmonton looked tough tonight, but back in Carolina, and I'm sure their fans are going to be loud, it will be much tougher.

But with as well as the Oilers played tonight, Monday night's game is going to be a good one.

Oilers are going to win the Cup on Monday, I just have that feeling. :( Meh, RAW>seeing the Oilers hoist the Stanley Cup.

Actually, if the Oilers do manage to win the Cup, I'll be happy for them. I mean, they'd be the first Canadian team to win it since 1993, so I've got to be happy for that being from Canada myself and all. We actually had last night's game playing on our TVs at work and honestly, it didn't look like the Hurricanes showed up at all. That's why I think the Oilers will probably win on Monday, unless we see a totally different Hurricanes team, which I hope so. I don't want to see the Oilers hoist the Cup but if they do, congrats, and the Flames are coming for the Cup next year. :D

I really hope we do well tonight, though I'm quite sure that we will. Too bad the game isn't here... I would have loved to go.

The city is going CRAZY.

i still hope edmontom loses...but even more so i just wanna a good game 7, even if the oilers do win.

...Shitty, lol.

*cries*

Yes, no Stanley Cup for the Oilers. :D

Meh, good job to the Hurricanes, they were the better team tonight. I'll be honest, I really thought the Oilers were going to win tonight, but I guess they really didn't start playing good until the third. I was watching RAW, so I only saw the first period. Yeah, I'm a little bit disappointed that the Cup won't be coming to Canada this year, but I didn't really want to see the Oilers win.

I was hoping the Oilers would win, but I'm pretty happy with tonight's turnout. All my disappointment went away when I saw Brind'Amour lift the Cup! I was also really excited for Cam Ward - he definitely deserved to win the Cup and be MVP.

Jumbo Joe BABY!!!

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a332/michaelch/thorton_hart_194x270.jpg

He will bring us Lord Stanley next year. *nod*

So the big news this weekend is that Pronger wants to be traded from Edmonton. Aparrently his reason is personal.

I definitely wouldn't mind seeing him in teal. :)

I wonder where's he's gonna end up. This week and part of next week will be fun. A lot of signing needs to be done and then it's free agent time :D

I heard Toronto is a possibility...but who knows. I'm sure it won't be a team in the Western conference though.

oh yea, this week should be very interesting. I'm waiting to see what's gonna happen with Toskala & Nabby. One of them is going(prolly Nabby), and I'm sure we'll get a good deal. Martin St. Louis would be nice. A front line of Cheechoo/Thornton/St. Louis.....:eek:
*That* would be way boss...

I expect Pronger to go back to the States, I doubt he wants to stay in Canada. I think his personal reason was mostly about having to live up north.

I'm still wondering what's gonna happen with the goalies in Montreal. Huet is an unrestricted free agents while Abischer is restricted. Abischer wants to be #1 but Huet should be #1. Signing them both would be nice but expensive. I'm sure Abischer could help another team.

Here's an article from the Newspaper here today.

Maybe Peter Pocklington can temporarily cede his title of Most Hated Man in Oiler History – to Chris Pronger.

The infamous ex-Oilers owner vilified by fans after trading Wayne Gretzky to California says he can sympathize with Oiler brass shocked by Pronger’s recent request to be traded.

“I don’t know Mr. Pronger personally, but I’m sorry to hear he’d like to leave Edmonton,” Pocklington told the Sun Sunday from his California home.

“I’m sorry for Oiler fans, especially for (general manager) Kevin Lowe and (head coach) Craig MacTavish. I know how they must feel.”

Sources suggest Pronger’s wife has been unhappy in Edmonton following the family’s move from St. Louis, Missouri.

“(That speculation) reminds me of a particular player I traded who’s wife had similar sentiments,” Pocklington said, stopping just short of uttering the Great One’s name.

Debate continues in Edmonton over whether it was Pocklington or Gretzky who initiated the 1998 deal that saw Number 99 traded to the Los Angeles Kings.

Pocklington was burned in effigy outside the former Northlands Coliseum following the trade, which rocked the NHL.

The unhappy-wife rumours behind Pronger’s “personal reasons” for requesting a trade mirror the Gretzky ordeal.

An aspiring actress, Gretzky’s wife Janet Jones may have pushed for the L.A. move to further her career in California.

Whether fans like it or not, Pocklington said, married hockey players have to make tough decisions.

“I imagine they fall in love with their wives before they fall in love with a city. Some men would tell their wives to be quiet. Others will choose to listen, and put their family first.”

And don’t forget, he added – hockey is big business. Players won’t always honour contracts.

Likewise, general managers will sometimes trade contract players, he said.

“It goes both ways. It’s the nature of capitalism.”

Rumours Edmonton life has left his family wanting are also rampant in Pronger’s former Missouri stomping grounds.

“Word here is that they were not overwhelmed by life in Edmonton,” said Scott Warmann, sports director with KTRS ‘The Big 550’ talk radio in St. Louis.

“It’s a shame for Oiler fans, we know. People here were pissed when we traded him to Edmonton (in August). He’s one of the top defencemen in the NHL.”

Warmann said filling Pronger’s spot on the blue line will be a formidable task, if he’s traded.

“We could tell as soon as the Blues lost him that we took a lot of what Pronger did for granted. He can make (break-out) passes like no one else, and his reach is amazing.”

Because of that talent, Pronger could be one of the best bartering chips in the league, Warmann offered.

“But personally, I don’t think you can ever really replace a guy like that. No matter how much cash you free up or who you get in return, Pronger will likely be the top defender up for grabs this summer.”