Puck drop for the 2013-14 season - TONIGHT!

We've waited for months for this moment - tonight sees the puck drop on the 2013-14 season. The season where my beloved Vancouver Canucks finally win the Stanley Cup  

There are three games tonight:

Toronto Maple Leafs at Montreal Canadiens
Washington Capitals at Chicago Blackhawks
Winnipeg Jets at Edmonton Oilers

I don't care who wins any of those. It's just great to have NHL hockey back

I'll go home from work, play NHL 14 for a bit and then be up all night and head to work as the Oilers-Jets game comes to an end.

Is it because we knew the exact date that this has felt longer than the lockout?

Thank God it's back!!!

I think you're right Nick. Could be because I've blanked out last season entirely and it feels like it's been two years since hockey was here

Will be catching up with your excellent podcast tonight. Listened to four hours of v2 football podcasts last night (during the draft as well), so tonight you get my undivided attention.

Thank you kindly. I hate listening to myself, even during editing, but I think our Atlantic, Pacific and prediction shows are the best ones. Metropolitan and Central were kind of sloppy.

Leafs expected to sign Kessel to an extension worth $8m per year over 8 years sometime today. Makes me believe Phaneuf goes bye bye next summer with Bolland, McClement & Kulemin becoming UFAs and obviously Cody Franson will be after a pay rise.

Kessel for $8m is a joke. He's great and everything, but Stamkos got less than that and he's capable of 60 goals a season. I'd pay him $7.25m a season, with a promise to secure a similarly paid top line C for him to feed off of.

I'd love Bolland on the Canucks next season  

Here are the five things I want for my Canucks this season:

1. The Stanley Cup!
2. A stellar season for Roberto Luongo - 40 wins, 10 shutouts, a GAA of 1.4 and a SV% of 93%+.
3. A return to Selke form for Ryan Kesler - 30 goals, 30 assists, +/- of at least 20, zero PIMS.
4. A big season from our nearly men - David Booth, Jannik Hansen, Chris Higgins, Mike Santorelli - with at least one of the contributing 25 goals.
5. Chris Tanev to have a great season and start putting some points on the board.

Okay, so according to Darren Dreger, it's a done deal:

"The reported eight-year contract, which would start with the 2014-15 season, will have an average annual value of $8 million, and include a limited no-trade clause."

And Hal Gill continues his NHL career

Sorry guys, was away in London! Glad that the season is back :DI've been passing the time on my PS3 with NHL 14 haha!
Apparently, EA used NHL 14 to predict the winners of each division/trophy etc and this is the result -

Spoiler:

Tonights games are -

Maple Leafs vs. Flyers
Ducks vs. Avalanche
Sabres vs. Red Wings

I'm predicting all "home" wins as they contain some of my Fantasy players  

EA had Jonathan Drouin winning the Calder but he'll be spending the season back in the QMJHL with the Halifax Mooseheads.

Who'd have thought the Leafs would win their two opening games?

Looking forward to tonight. Revenge time for the Sharks sweeping us in the first round of the playoffs. More likely, we get beat 5-1, and Luongo gets chased

I've been listening to Sportsnet 590 all day. Apparently those two wins eradicate the remaining 80 and the Leafs have locked up a playoff spot!

It's hard waiting so long between games. Can't wait for Saturday.

Also, Roy getting tasty at the end of the Avs-Ducks last night  

Never liked Roy. He's like Tim Thomas, brash, only loved by his mother. And his behaviour was disgraceful last night, not the way an NHL coach should be conducting himself.

Okay, I called it, we lost 4-1 not 5-1, and Luongo didn't get chased. But 4 5-on-5 goals is a poor way for a Tortorella-coached side to start the season.

And typically, Garrison - my one guy to score in fantasy hockey so far - I benched

I cant believe we lost last night

I fell asleep at 4-1 so was shicked to see 5-4 loss when I woke up this morning

So erm...How about them Penguins? *cough*
Andre-Fleury with a great performance in goal with his 250th career victory and a cheeky behind the back save.
Great goals from Crosby, Kobasew and Adams. Next up - Sabres at the Consol Centre

Enjoyed the Calgary game last night. Debating whether to stay up for a 4th night in a row but have a 14 hour shift tomorrow and will probably fall asleep during the Habs-Flyers tomorrow night.

Stars Ryan Garbutt suspended for 5 games for a hit against the ducks

quite a bad hit actually. Luckily Penner checked out ok after being briefly KOd

These 5 game suspensions aren't enough for me. They should all be at least 8 games, and for the repeat offenders, 12+. 5 games will not eliminate head shots from the game.

John Scott should get about 15 games for that hit last night.

Some photos of the MSG renovations have been released. They've got a new multi screen display hanging above centre ice and two "sky" bridges that must obstruct the view of some upper bowl seats. One bridge apparently holds 335 seats and the other just 75 but has space for the media. You can see they've added tv screens to the side of the bridge so you can watch something happening in the arena you already paid around $100 to sit in.

They say managing to fit the bridges in with the shape of the ceiling and that they're secure and won't vibrate when fans jump around is a real feat of engineering. Or a cash grab to the real man.

I'd be majorly peed off if I was a season ticket holder in a seat that is now obstructed.

I'd hate to be along the back row. I'd rather be able to watch the action in front of me rather than on a TV!

Not related to Hockey, but how will that work for other events held at MSG, like Wrestling etc?

I hated MSG when I went there. Much preferred the Prudential Centre. Plus, Rags fans are abusive.

I suppose for events like wrestling it'd be the same as basketball. I think there really isn't too much difference in the seating plan for ring events and basketball courts. I always find things like that a bit interesting. Try and find a time lapse on youtube of MSG, or any hockey and basketball arena, being transformed from rink to court or vice versa.

I see Loui Eriksson has a concussion after that John Scott hit...shame he has no prior suspensions, I think a 5 gamer is coming his way as well.

It's a difficult one to call. It would be a good clean hit with a possibility (due to their heights) of contacting the head but for me it's the moment he raises his arm when he has absolutely no need to do that. If I was Shanahan I'd give him longer. 5 games for a square/shoulder hit to the head and more for anyone who needlessly raises their arm to head height.

Look at the replays. He has time to assess the situation and decide "Hey, I better lift my elbow into this guys jaw/face."

Yup, he could have charged him normally, but he made the deliberate decision to raise his arm, then leant in to ensure he got the head. Problem is, he has no priors, so in keeping with the recent Shanabans, I'd be amazed if it's more than 5. Kaleta got 10 because he's a repeat offender.

Premier Sports is showing at least one game live every night (Hockey Night in Canada, I think) plus highlights. It's on Virgin channel 551, not sure about Sky.
Didn't even know it existed until I channel-hopped to it the other night.

Premier Sports coverage is horrendous. I have Gamecenter.

Hockey Night in Canada is only on Saturdays and occasional Thursdays.

CFCNick wrote:Premier Sports coverage is horrendous. I have Gamecenter.

Hockey Night in Canada is only on Saturdays and occasional Thursdays.

Horrendous in what way? The commentary on the live matches? It's useful for having it on a larger screen whilst lying on a comfortable sofa.

JuliusHMarx wrote:

CFCNick wrote:Premier Sports coverage is horrendous. I have Gamecenter.

Hockey Night in Canada is only on Saturdays and occasional Thursdays.

Horrendous in what way? The commentary on the live matches? It's useful for having it on a larger screen whilst lying on a comfortable sofa.

It's not in HD. Sometimes they cut out of a game to something else for no reason. They lost their signal during the Stanley Cup final and the screen pixelated for everyone watching it. Plus for the value Gamecenter is superior.

I can live without HD - I used to watch Hockey Night in Canada on a small black and white TV back in the early 70s
Premier Sports has just popped up for free as part of my Virgin package, so I can't complain really. Most games are on too late to stay up for the whole thing anyway.
I'm not a great on-line viewer of anything - old-fashioned I guess.

The podcast mentioned above is back after a six week hiatus.

You can listen here http://betweenthepipespodcast.podomatic.com/entry/2013-11-12T16_22_21-08_00

Or search Between The Pipes on itunes.

Devils now occupy a playoff place 25% into the season. Take that naysayers! Lol

Ha I just seen the brawl at puck drop in the flames and canucks game

Insane scenes

Canucks coach is having an in person disciplinary hearing today.