10+ games to go in the 2008-2009 regular season

[bednarz877 0]

it was talked about in between periods on vs. last night. i think they said it happened once in the 80's. the patrick division maybe, im nearly positive it has happened though.

[koivulchuk 1]

it was talked about in between periods on vs. last night. i think they said it happened once in the 80's. the patrick division maybe, im nearly positive it has happened though.

If it happened back then, there would have only been 4 teams though right? That would still have been quite a feat...but I guess there's only been 5 teams in each division since the last expansion. Was that 1999? Seems like Columbus, Nashville, and Atlanta are the newest expansion teams...Didn't Columbus come in by themselves in 2000 or something?

[dsjunior1388 81]

it was talked about in between periods on vs. last night. i think they said it happened once in the 80's. the patrick division maybe, im nearly positive it has happened though.

If it happened back then, there would have only been 4 teams though right? That would still have been quite a feat...but I guess there's only been 5 teams in each division since the last expansion. Was that 1999? Seems like Columbus, Nashville, and Atlanta are the newest expansion teams...Didn't Columbus come in by themselves in 2000 or something?

Nashville in 98-99

Atlanta 99-00

Columbus 00-01

Minnesota 00-01

[Fire0nIce228 1]

5 teams from one division have never all made it in the same year.

[ktang 34]

And, with Backes' 4-goal effort against the Wings, the Blues remain in 8th spot, pushing the Preds to 9th spot. The Ducks and Blues have been hot in the last 10 games.

In the East, the Panthers might still catch the Rangers.

[ktang 34]

I love this time of year; it's like having 1-game series with spoilers and Cinderella teams.

The Blues lost, so they are tied with the Preds in the West for 8th, and the Blues have 2 out-of-the-playoff-picture opponents left that can act as spoilers (Coyotes, Blue Jackets, and Avs).

The Panthers have finally caught up to the Rangers for a tie for 8th spot in the East. Flyers, Thrashers, and Capitals left for them. The Rangers have the Habs and the Flyers twice to finish the year.

And, the Canucks have made up ground on the Flames and they're fighting for the NW Division lead. They play tomorrow, then the Flames have a home-and-home with the Oilers to finish the regular season, while the Canucks finish with the Kings and Avs.

[ktang 34]

Too bad, the Panthers won tonight but les Habs clinched a playoff spot with an OT loss, and the Rangers clinched with a win.

In the West, Anaheim, St. Louis, and Nashville are all tied at 88 pts for spots 7-9. Nashville had another win over Detroit!

[furlanitalia 1]

It'll be neat to see what happens in the west. Never a huge canucks fan but always want the home team to come first in the division, hopefully make for a deep playoff run.

[PWBIII 0]

I can't believe the blues made it! So pumped

[ktang 34]

I can't believe the blues made it! So pumped

Not only that, they could finish as high as 6th place (they're in 7th at the moment). The Predators are out, but the Wild could still get in (who saw that coming after they lost Miko Koivu) and knock off the Ducks.

[koivulchuk 1]

I can't believe the blues made it! So pumped

Not only that, they could finish as high as 6th place (they're in 7th at the moment). The Predators are out, but the Wild could still get in (who saw that coming after they lost Miko Koivu) and knock off the Ducks.

That will NOT happen...I believe the Ducks only need one point in there last 2 games (one of them currently tied 1-1 after 2).

And the reason I can guarantee that? Because I want it to happen (Minnesota making it)...therefore it will not happen...that's the way it goes with me in sports.

The Ducks will get in...and that just sucks...2 reasons off the top of my head...

1) They're playing great lately (last 15 games or so...)

2) Chris Pronger has been successful at taking his team to the Cup Final lately...06 Oilers...07 Ducks...ok so not 08...but still...Ducks be scary right now...

They'll probably get in with at least a tie tonight...but stranger things have happened...Go Wild!

[furlanitalia 1]

Well, everything is settled now. Good to St Louis in, but not the ducks so I'm hoping they got knocked out. Heres to the Canucks clinching the Division Title!

[kakos26 0]

hoping the wings dont have anaheim in the 1st round, ill take st. louis all day

[furlanitalia 1]

I don't think it matters who the wings have in the first round, they'll win. Although and Anaheim upset might level the playing field for everyone else...

[bednarz877 0]

i wouldnt go so far as to say the wings are going to win the first round no problem. lately theyve been really shaky and their goaltending has been horrendous

[brettlynch11 0]

Wasn't sure where to post this...

Anyone watch the Wings / Hawks game tonight? Wings lost on a penalty shot goal with 20 seconds to go. Did the call seem weak to anyone else? I can't really say either way because I was there and obviously got upset with the crowd. Anyone have video?

[Ital79 0]

Wasn't sure where to post this...

Anyone watch the Wings / Hawks game tonight? Wings lost on a penalty shot goal with 20 seconds to go. Did the call seem weak to anyone else? I can't really say either way because I was there and obviously got upset with the crowd. Anyone have video?

It was a weak call b/c it's a weak rule. The Hawk forward was slightly hooked at his hand so in that sense, the ref made the right call as a rule was broken. This type of penalty is BS IMO but it has been called with consistency all year. You can't hook at the hands or higher no matter how slight it is. I've seen many calls on players who only get their stick in the general area of the other player's hand & get a 2min minor.

I've seen much-much worse calls. A few games ago, a Hawk D-man caught a forward with his head down and put a shoulder into him. Clean hit, 1-hand on the stick, no elbow-action...he got called for tripping. Officiating this year has sometimes looked bi-polar; but what can you do?

Personally, I wish refs would let that kinda stuff go and focus more on boarding/charging calls. But it is what it is...a kinder/gentler NHL with moronic officiating (sometimes at least).

[Chadd 916]

Wasn't sure where to post this...

Anyone watch the Wings / Hawks game tonight? Wings lost on a penalty shot goal with 20 seconds to go. Did the call seem weak to anyone else? I can't really say either way because I was there and obviously got upset with the crowd. Anyone have video?

It was a weak call b/c it's a weak rule. The Hawk forward was slightly hooked at his hand so in that sense, the ref made the right call as a rule was broken. This type of penalty is BS IMO but it has been called with consistency all year. You can't hook at the hands or higher no matter how slight it is. I've seen many calls on players who only get their stick in the general area of the other player's hand & get a 2min minor.

I've seen much-much worse calls. A few games ago, a Hawk D-man caught a forward with his head down and put a shoulder into him. Clean hit, 1-hand on the stick, no elbow-action...he got called for tripping. Officiating this year has sometimes looked bi-polar; but what can you do?

Personally, I wish refs would let that kinda stuff go and focus more on boarding/charging calls. But it is what it is...a kinder/gentler NHL with moronic officiating (sometimes at least).

Hooks take away scoring opportunities, stop calling them and scoring chances go down. The refs have also shown an unwillingness to call anything if they are supposed to use their discretion.

Disappointed to see Nashville miss out, but with so many "new" western teams getting in there just wasn't any room.

[brettlynch11 0]

Wasn't sure where to post this...

Anyone watch the Wings / Hawks game tonight? Wings lost on a penalty shot goal with 20 seconds to go. Did the call seem weak to anyone else? I can't really say either way because I was there and obviously got upset with the crowd. Anyone have video?

It was a weak call b/c it's a weak rule. The Hawk forward was slightly hooked at his hand so in that sense, the ref made the right call as a rule was broken. This type of penalty is BS IMO but it has been called with consistency all year. You can't hook at the hands or higher no matter how slight it is. I've seen many calls on players who only get their stick in the general area of the other player's hand & get a 2min minor.

I've seen much-much worse calls. A few games ago, a Hawk D-man caught a forward with his head down and put a shoulder into him. Clean hit, 1-hand on the stick, no elbow-action...he got called for tripping. Officiating this year has sometimes looked bi-polar; but what can you do?

Personally, I wish refs would let that kinda stuff go and focus more on boarding/charging calls. But it is what it is...a kinder/gentler NHL with moronic officiating (sometimes at least).

Hooks take away scoring opportunities, stop calling them and scoring chances go down. The refs have also shown an unwillingness to call anything if they are supposed to use their discretion.

Disappointed to see Nashville miss out, but with so many "new" western teams getting in there just wasn't any room.

Yeah see from the one replay they showed at JLA I couldn't see a hook... If there was a hook it was the right call. That's what the NHL wants.