I was going to post my NHL preview two weeks ago when the season started but I came down with a bad cold so I decided to take it easy for a few days and naturally I watched as much hockey as possible. This is what I have noticed so far:


---The Calgary Flames and Boston Bruins began the season in China in preparation for the NHL taking part in the 2022 Olympics

---The Edmonton Oilers and New Jersey Devils played their first 2 games in Germany, home of Oilers star Leon Draisatl

---The Washington Capitals, coming off the most extreme case of the Stanley Cup hangover that I've ever seen, will defend their title without Tom Wilson, who was suspended for the first 20 games for an illegal and vicious hit that he delivered in the pre-season.

---So far, the NHL's hottest team, and also quickly becoming one of the most fun to watch, is the Toronto Maple Leafs. My guys are already 6-1 after 7 games and at one point had the top 4 scorers in the league. The Leafs are led by John Tavares, who signed the largest free-agent contract in NHL history and has thus far proven to be worth every dollar. He is helped by US-born phenom Auston Matthews and the always exciting Mitch Marner. The Leafs are already Canada's most watched team (much to the dismay of certain parts of Canada) and this season they and the other Canadian teams will get a little more exposure in the US as well. More on that below.

---Another team to keep an eye on this season, as well as my pick to win the Stanley Cup in 2019, is the San Jose Sharks. They made the 2nd biggest move in the off-season when they acquired former All-Star and Norris Trophy winner Erik Karlsson in a trade from Ottawa. He should fit in nicely there along with another great defenseman in Brent Burns. It won't be easy for them since the West is loaded with tough teams like Nashville, Winnipeg, Anaheim, Colorado, and the unpredictable and surprising Vegas Golden Knights. Can they pull off another season like last year's stunning debut? It's highly unlikely but (pardon the pun) I wouldn't bet against them. They should provide some interesting comparisons when Seattle is expected to join the NHL in about 3 years from now.


Now for the fun part. The TV schedule:


CANADA


National:

Sportsnet

Wednesday - Wednesday Night Hockey
Saturday - Hockey Night In Canada (also on CBC)
Sunday - Hometown Hockey

Regional:

Mid-week games

Toronto: Games split between TSN (https://www.tsn.ca/toronto-maple-leafs-2018-19-regional-broadcast-schedule-1.572246) and Sportsnet (https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/sportsnet-announces-2018-19-maple-leafs-broadcast-schedule/)

TSN: Montreal (https://www.tsn.ca/montreal-canadiens-2018-19-regional-broadcast-schedule-1.838018) Winnipeg (https://www.tsn.ca/winnipeg-jets-2018-19-regional-broadcast-schedule-1.78584), and Ottawa (https://www.tsn.ca/ottawa-senators-2018-19-regional-broadcast-schedule-1.78008)

Sportsnet: Edmonton (https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/sportsnet-releases-2018-19-edmonton-oilers-broadcast-schedule/), Calgary (https://www.nhl.com/flames/news/sportsnet-to-broadcast-40-flames-games/c-454743#schedule), and Vancouver (https://theprovince.com/sports/hockey/nhl/vancouver-canucks/canucks-2018-19-tv-schedule-released-expect-as-much-cheese-as-ever)


USA

The good news for US fans is that there will be more games to see this year on both NBC and NBC Sports Network with more teams to focus on instead of the usual half dozen that are shown all the time. NBC has scrapped its Wed. night Rivalry Nights in order to do this which I feel is a good idea. The matchups were good but those 8:00 pm Eastern games had to go. Between them, NBC and NBCSN will carry a record number 109 regular season NHL season. An early highlight will come next week on Oct. 24 when, in a welcome change, NBCSN will spotlight 2 Canadian teams as the Toronto Maple Leafs will visit the Winnipeg Jets in what should be a fun game between 2 of the NHL's youngest and most exciting teams. The full schedule can be seen below:

US National Schedule - NBC and NBCSN (http://www.sportsmediawatch.com/nhl-tv-schedule-nbc-nbcsn-dates-times/)

This should be The Columbus Blue Jackets Season...or they may wind-up in a slump for a few years if they lose key players through Free Agency.

The late Bob Johnson, US coaching legend who won a Stanley Cup with the Calgary Flames, always loved to say that every day was a great day for hockey. In his memory, I like to believe that this week is a great week for hockey. Last night the Oilers and Penguins showcased the two best players in the game today in Connor McDavid and Sidney Crosby. Crosby showed that he is not ready to concede his crown to McDavid just yet as he led the Penguins to a 6-5 win by scoring an absolutely brilliant goal in OT.

Tonight we may get an encore performance from two other young superstars going head to head: Toronto's Auston Matthews facing Winnipeg's Patrick Laine in what Canadian media types are touting as a preview of the Stanley Cup final between the Leafs and Jets in Winnipeg. The game has become so anticipated that it will be carried on NBC Sports Network in the US which would mark the first time that two Canadian teams will be featured on a US network in prime time. The two teams will face each other in a rematch in Toronto on Saturday night.

I'm really hoping the Leafs can at least get a split in the two games. It will give the Jets and their dumb fans something to think about in the spring.

It was not a very good October for the St. Louis Blues so far because they are 2-4-3 right now before Tonight’s game vs the Chicago Blackhawks. If the Blues dont win tonight then I think they’ll see a beginning of a much need turnaround for them during the months of November, December, January & Feburary.

Islanders off to a somewhat surprising start despite being screwed over by pajama boy.

Islanders off to a somewhat surprising start despite being screwed over by pajama boy.


Get over it, already. They were a bad team for a long time and it wasn't because of JT. I would have done the same thing.

Get over it, already. They were a bad team for a long time and it wasn't because of JT. I would have done the same thing.

U5TqIdff_DQ

Nashville Predators have been impressive, they’re look to be poised to win This Year’s Stanley Cup in much favorable mood.

You are all way off! If you want to know where the Cup might be headed, I'll just give you a little musical clue. It's all in the name: :lol:


And the winner is.... (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2VAtRF4US8k)


James Brown, eat your heart out!!

Yesterday, the NHL made it official! The city of Seattle, home of Frasier Crane, and known for its bad coffee brands and even worse rock groups, has been awarded a new expansion team and will become the league's 32nd franchise:

The NHL in Seattle (https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/everything-need-know-seattle-nhl-expansion-team/)

The team will begin play in the 2011-12 season where they will hope to duplicate the stunning success of the Vegas Golden Knights. To make room for their entry, the NHL has moved the perennially awful Arizona Coyotes from the Pacific to the Central Division, giving all 4 divisions 8 teams each. The team has not announced a new nickname yet but they will have a group of 13 to choose from before making a final decision.

For you history buffs, the NHL was formed in 1917, the same year that the Seattle Metropolitans became the first US team to win the Stanley Cup, which was then a challenge trophy, meaning that any team could challenge the defending champions to a winner take all playoff series. A century later, the new Seattle team will be challenging the best players and teams in the world, including the Vancouver Canucks, with whom they should have a great rivalry.


https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/15/Seattle_Metropolitans.jpg/305px-Seattle_Metropolitans.jpg

I still like hockey but nowhere NEAR as much as I used to. Don't you feel the game has significantly changed without fighting?

I'm NOT saying I only watched for the fights but the scoring was MUCH higher in the 80s and 90s too with Gretzky & Lemieux getting around 200 points and 70 to 90 goals!

Jan. 18th and the Islanders are in first place in the Metro :eek:

Jan. 18th and the Islanders are in first place in the Metro :eek:

Youre right Opus, I have a feeling that they(New York Islanders) on the brink of going to the playoffs if they do keep this up between now & early April.

The Reason how the St. Louis Blues are now 3rd place of Central Division of the Western Conference because they won most of the games in recent weeks.

The Reason how the St. Louis Blues are now 3rd place of Central Division of the Western Conference because they won most of the games in recent weeks.

But for half a CENTURY now they have a habit of collapsing somewhere on the path to Lord Stanley's Cup.

Even some fans call them the "Chicago Cubs of hockey"! :lol:

Youre right Opus, I have a feeling that they(New York Islanders) on the brink of going to the playoffs if they do keep this up between now & early April.

Mission Accomplished :)

Isles didn't look so hot last night! :lol::lol::lol::lol:


The Maple Leafs were able to clinch a playoff spot and a date with the Big Bad Bruins by beating the New York Islanders 2-1 thanks to (who else?) John Tavares ---who finally shut up their stupid fans after their disgusting and unbearable treatment of their former captain during the Leafs' last visit and more of the same last night--- by scoring the game winning goal and sending the Leafs on their way.

So the next week should be rather quiet and meaningless with only a couple of playoff spots still to be settled. The Stanley Cup playoffs will begin next Wednesday April 10 with a few series being moved to Thursday. I will have full details with all the matchups and schedules ready on Monday.

Isles didn't look so hot last night! :lol::lol::lol::lol:




Can't win 'em all. For proof, just Google the last time the Leafs won the Cup. I hear it's been awhile :wave:

excited for the playoffs and the draft lottery Monday night - I'm really hoping the Canucks beat the 5% odds and win so the can put the Hughes brothers together

With the 2019 NHL Playoff field set. St Louis Blues should go perfectly overcoming the odds to win their first ever Stanley Cup but we'll see how they survive each round first.

excited for the playoffs and the draft lottery Monday night - I'm really hoping the Canucks beat the 5% odds and win so the can put the Hughes brothers together

When the season started the Islanders were projected to be among the front runners in the “Lose for Hughes” sweepstakes, but they screwed that up by being good. Except for their power play. That’s still really bad.