12/22/24
October 04, 2005
Finally! Game on, eh? : "Canadians get their beloved hockey back tomorrow." In honour of the return, NHL Power Rankings and Stanley Cup win odds, for all argumentation and (legal!) betting needs.
Go Rangers! We want Kessel! And for my money, the Leafs are ranked in the right spot. I think the Ducks are too low and the Canes too high.
posted by 86 at 12:08 PM on October 04, 2005
I like the Sharks' odds. Put me down for 50$. How does this betting thing work?
posted by qbert72 at 12:42 PM on October 04, 2005
Related: Chat with Doc Emerick tonight at OLN's Website. 9pm Eastern time.
posted by NoMich at 12:53 PM on October 04, 2005
I really, really enjoy Scott Cullen's power rankings. There's no subjective crap about grit and intangibles: Note: Power Rankings are produced using a formula that takes into account a compilation of individual player grades based on statistical production. More importantly, the team grades intend to take into account which players are in the lineup to replace those who are out due to injury or suspension and aim to reflect which team would win a seven-game series on a neutral rink. That said, these rankings border on arbitrary because they're based on sixteen-month-old statistics. Things will shuffle quite a bit in the first couple weeks.
posted by DrJohnEvans at 12:54 PM on October 04, 2005
If you read ESPNs rankings, SI rankings and TSNs rankings you can quickly come to the conclusion that no one has any idea what they'r talking about. We all know Philly, Tampa Bay, Calgary and Ottawa (always a pre-season pick) all look good. The Bruins look good too (but better than Philly or the Champs!?!). The rest of it is such a crapshoot. I've Nashville slotted at 5 and 19. I mean, gimme a break. Totally meaningless and without merit. Leafs are better than 16. Like 14.
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 01:31 PM on October 04, 2005
I've said it before: If anyone says they are absolutely positive about who is going to be in the Stanley Cup finals, then you be absolutely sure that they are absolutely lying. With the time off, player movement, new rules and new players, it's almost impossible to figure out who is going to be the "best" team. If someone said "Pick two teams for the Stanley Cup finals or die!", I'd go with Vancouver and Ottawa. Vancouver because they have the best intact line from 18 months ago (Bertuzzi, Morrison, Naslund) and a good defensive corps. Ottawa because they have lots of great scorers (Heatley, Spezza, Alfredsson, Havlat) and I think a rested Hasek could be a dangerous Hasek. And also because I don't think they'll face Toronto in the playoffs.
posted by grum@work at 01:49 PM on October 04, 2005
The ONLY sure bet to be in the Cup Finals would be the refs....Looking back, how many #1 seeds have one it in the last 20 years or so? Probably not a whole lot....(just a guess...I am SURE someone has the stats out there)
posted by sinisterfoot at 02:02 PM on October 04, 2005
I love hockey stats. Many years ago my Hartford Whalers traded Ron Francis to Pittsburgh for that great assist man John Cullen. What they failed to realize is that he got most of those assists by passing off to Mario Limeux (pardon my French). I think I'll write a song - "Take Those Stats and Shove Them".
posted by drevl at 02:27 PM on October 04, 2005
As long as I can get a close came 7 in the Cup Finals, (thank you Tampa/Calgary-04, New Jersey/Anaheim-03, Colorado/New Jersey-01, Rangers/Canucks & Rangers/Devils 94), (F@#% You Bettman for Stars/Sabres 99 & F-You Devils for 95), I will be happy. Maybe even Cup Game 7 OT!!??, (super sweet!). Go Wings! Game On.
posted by RedStrike at 03:53 PM on October 04, 2005
Nice work for the Sharks! I hope they can exceed expectations. I'm just happy to have some winter sports this year that don't make me want to go out and hold up a 7-11 or put $5000 rims on a $2000 car. (i.e. basketball)
posted by fenriq at 05:33 PM on October 04, 2005
I'm just happy to have some winter sports this year that don't make me want to go out and hold up a 7-11 or put $5000 rims on a $2000 car. Curling does that to you too? (i.e. basketball) Oh, nevermind.
posted by grum@work at 07:08 PM on October 04, 2005
I've been trying to avoid the curling myself, at least until my parole runs out. Can't afford any more slip-ups, don't you know.
posted by chicobangs at 10:53 PM on October 04, 2005
Also, I am really surprised at how geeked I am for this season. NHL Hockey: I have blue balls for this game(tm)!
posted by chicobangs at 09:45 AM on October 05, 2005
Drop the puck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I like Ottawa (obvs.), Boston, and Atlanta in the East...SJ, Nashville, Calgary in the West. This year predictions mean nothing. Nobody has any idea what's going to happen, and I like it that way. Hopefully the obstruction crackdown sticks in some form. I liked what I saw in the preseason (minus all the penalties). When I hear that Hockey Night In Canada music, my blood's gonna start pumping....until I realize, as always, that they're showing a Leafs game. Then, drinking. Yay hockey!
posted by Succa at 10:18 AM on October 05, 2005
Nobody has any idea what's going to happen, and I like it that way. Me too. I'm gonna hold out hope that the Rangers will win the cup this year. That hope will probably last until 15 minutes after the puck is dropped tonight.
posted by drevl at 12:10 PM on October 05, 2005
While I'm not going to make the Rangers a Cup pick, what I saw of them this preseason looked like it had potential. They played and competed, unlike the last X years, so that's a start. And there's some good younger guys on there.
posted by mkn at 12:50 PM on October 05, 2005
Prucha and Tootin' are going to be excellent NHL players.
posted by garfield at 01:34 PM on October 05, 2005
grum, how do you do that humming notation again? *duh*duh-duh*duh-duh*duh*duh-duh*duh-duh*duh*duh-duh*duh-duh*DUH*duh-duh-duh-duh*Duh-DUH*duh-duh-duh-duh*Duh-duh-DUH*
posted by garfield at 01:56 PM on October 05, 2005
number of NHL related shirts seen on a brief walk to the library: 1 Canucks jersey (white) 1 Canucks retro shirt (blue hockey stick/rink logo) 1 Leafs jersey (blue) 1 Flames Kirpusoff tshirt worn by a young woman who might not have been wearing it on the Red Mile in June 04. and it is like 27C here (ie those long sleeved hockey jerseys - you gotta be trying to say something there cause it sure ain't the weather for that). the people, they are pumped.
posted by gspm at 02:54 PM on October 05, 2005
The Bruins Jersey is no longer on the dartboard. It's nice to be wearing it again after so much time. I'm excited and proud to once again pretend that I'm a part of this storied franchise.
posted by Samsonov14 at 05:41 PM on October 05, 2005
Sammy, wanna be phony-line-mates?
posted by yerfatma at 06:09 PM on October 05, 2005
Music for the return. Hey, that's my website. I wish I had access to more hockey music when I wrote that post but I was at work.
posted by jasonspaceman at 07:45 PM on October 05, 2005
Sorry, I couldn't remember which member it was. And I am unwilling to do any lifting.
posted by yerfatma at 08:12 PM on October 05, 2005
I just get excited even knowing that someone out there reads it.
posted by jasonspaceman at 08:49 PM on October 05, 2005
Was listening to the Leafs game on the NHL.com radio feed (Leafs feed) and... it cut out (and couldn't be restarted) at 10:45 just after the OT ended. Wandered over to the mojo radio site to pick up the native online radio and eventually connected right as the first shooter (Alfredsson) went in and scored. so, i guess the NHL.com radio feeds are on some sort of timer? don't see why it would suddenly end at a nice round time like 10:45 when the came hadn't ended. that said, who cares, hockey is back. and thankfully the NHL provides FREEEEEEE online radio feeds (for both home and away sides for every game) unlike say the NBA or MLB (dunno about NFL but I assume no).
posted by gspm at 09:55 PM on October 05, 2005
FUCKING SHOOTOUT BULLSHIT. Also, what the hell happened to Philly? I guess I was right about the Rangers more than I thought I'd be. Crosby looked good, but Brodeur stole the game from the Pens in the 1st. Ovechkin looked good on a crappy team vs. another crappy team. omg hockey is back I'm so excited and stuff.
posted by mkn at 10:04 PM on October 05, 2005
FUCKING SHOOTOUT BULLSHIT. Amen. I was cautiously optimistic, but the shootout is boring and anticlimactic. Maybe I'll grow to like it. Who knows?
posted by fabulon7 at 07:52 AM on October 06, 2005
Amen. I was cautiously optimistic, but the shootout is boring and anticlimactic. But is it MORE anticlimactic than a tie? Im not a fan of the shootout, never have been, but I'm glad that ties are gone.
posted by Snake Man at 09:04 AM on October 06, 2005
Hey, I'm a Leaf fan through and through, and I have to admit that I liked the shootout. Of course, I would have liked it more if the Leafs had even made an attempt that Hasek would have to touch. Allison fumbles the puck on a deke and Lindros put it over the net. Ugh. But for about 20 seconds there (Lindros scoring), I thought it was going to be a dream ending to the game. And you know what's really nice? Hockey highlights in the rotation on the sports channel news updates.
posted by grum@work at 09:31 AM on October 06, 2005
One more thing: If you get the chance to watch a hockey game in HD format, you'll NEVER want to watch a game with a regular signal again. /camps out in front of Sony 50" Grand Vega LCD rear projection HDTV
posted by grum@work at 09:35 AM on October 06, 2005
The shootout is alright. I hadn't really paid too close attention to the implementation of the rule but it seems they have only solved the "no ties, fans get some closure" aspect of the games but now tie games are worth 3 pts in the standings and a regulation win is only 2. So the Leafs could *lose* every single game in a shootout all season and still finish with 82 pts or whatever. I think they need to consider 3pts for a win if they are going to do this. Team wins should be worth more than a win from an individual skills competition. AND I'd like to see Lindros score on Hasek during a shootout when I'm paying attention (cough Nagano cough).
posted by gspm at 10:14 AM on October 06, 2005
(after Ott v Toronto version 2) AND AND I'd like to see Lindros score on Hasek during a shootout when I'm paying attention (cough Nagano cough).
posted by gspm at 09:17 PM on October 10, 2005
And just like in other years, there seems to be an anti-Leaf bias in TSN's power rankings. Just sayin'