Home Theater Forum › Home Theater Forum › Other Diversions › After Hours Lounge › Hockey Talk: The Official NHL 2008-2009 Thread
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

Hockey Talk: The Official NHL 2008-2009 Thread - Page 7

post #181 of 646
4/4/09 at 8:30pm

Re: Hockey Talk: The Official NHL 2008-2009 Thread

^^^

From what I have read recently in this thread, this seems like a very wise choice.

Did anyone watch the Canadiens / Maple Leafs game tonight? When the Leafs scored on their first power play of the third period (making the score 4-1, Montreal), I held out some hope. But the way the Canadiens have been playing lately, it appears that they are going to make the playoffs, thus spoiling yet another postseason for me.

I was really happy to see the Bruins defeat New York, especially after their poor performance against them a few weeks ago. And a shutout, no less.

And the Blackhawks are in! That alone is a very good thing for hockey. No explanation is needed.

The Oilers / Canucks was the second featured game. It's currently 2-0 Edmonton, with about six minutes remaining in the second period.
Reply
post #182 of 646
4/9/09 at 8:40am

Re: Hockey Talk: The Official NHL 2008-2009 Thread

Not official yet, but Boston Herald has 2010 Winter Classic at Fenway:

Ice is nice at Fenway for Bruins


No opponent specified, but speculation is Habs or Rags.

Reply
post #183 of 646
4/9/09 at 8:48am

Re: Hockey Talk: The Official NHL 2008-2009 Thread

I suspected it would be either Fenway or the new Yankee Stadium in 2010.

BTW, the University of Michigan is trying to arrange an outdoor NCAA game for the Big House. There is the potential for over 100,000 fans for that one. They are already scheduled to play outdoors at the University of Wisconsin this coming season.
Reply
post #184 of 646
4/10/09 at 8:28am

Re: Hockey Talk: The Official NHL 2008-2009 Thread

Quote:
Originally Posted by Aaron Silverman
Are the playoffs going to be on Versus, or a real network? It suddenly strikes me that if the Bruins play the Panthers, I'll actually be able to watch the games.

Go Cats!!! (For now, anyway. )

Aaron, you will not need to worry about where to watch the Panthers in the playoffs. They were eliminated last night. The Rangers and Habs clinched the final two Eastern Conference spots.
Reply
post #185 of 646
4/10/09 at 1:47pm

Re: Hockey Talk: The Official NHL 2008-2009 Thread



Sigh. . .at least I'll be able to see every Red Sox-Rays game this season (previously I only got about half of 'em).
Reply
post #186 of 646
4/11/09 at 8:40pm

Re: Hockey Talk: The Official NHL 2008-2009 Thread

Aaron, Jeff,

Were either or both of you surprised that the Bruins didn't seem to care all that much about securing the best record in the NHL? I heard tonight that had they won their remaining two games, they might have done just that. I wonder what gives....
Reply
post #187 of 646
4/12/09 at 7:59am

Re: Hockey Talk: The Official NHL 2008-2009 Thread

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ockeghem
Aaron, Jeff,

Were either or both of you surprised that the Bruins didn't seem to care all that much about securing the best record in the NHL? I heard tonight that had they won their remaining two games, they might have done just that. I wonder what gives....

More concerned with preventing injuries and resting players. Frankly, outside of bitter rivals (i.e. Montreal), I don't think home ice has that much of an effect except in a game 7. Risking Chara or Thomas just to have home ice in the final series isn't worth it to me.
Reply
post #188 of 646
4/12/09 at 8:23am

Re: Hockey Talk: The Official NHL 2008-2009 Thread

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jeff Gatie
More concerned with preventing injuries and resting players. Frankly, outside of bitter rivals (i.e. Montreal), I don't think home ice has that much of an effect except in a game 7. Risking Chara or Thomas just to have home ice in the final series isn't worth it to me.
Jeff,

Yeah, those are definitely good points. And surprise -- we get the Canadiens in the first round. Man, when will the torture ever stop?
Reply
post #189 of 646
4/12/09 at 8:47am

Re: Hockey Talk: The Official NHL 2008-2009 Thread

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jeff Gatie
More concerned with preventing injuries and resting players. Frankly, outside of bitter rivals (i.e. Montreal), I don't think home ice has that much of an effect except in a game 7. Risking Chara or Thomas just to have home ice in the final series isn't worth it to me.


At least they let the Sabres end the season with a fun game for us to watch here in Buffalo. Sabres lost 11 combined games this year to the Islanders, Leafs and Senators. Thats 22 points. Sabres could have had the Presidents Trophy if they managed to get some wins against the worst teams in this years NHL.
Reply
post #190 of 646
4/13/09 at 1:44pm

Re: Hockey Talk: The Official NHL 2008-2009 Thread

The Bs only finished 1 point behind the Sharks, but I agree that I'd rather have the crew healthy and rested than gun for a trophy that would only have meaning if we happen to play the Sharks in the finals and go 7 games.

If we lose to les Habastards in the first round again, I'm swearing off hockey.

(Incidentally, did anyone catch the NCAA championship game? I watched a little bit but turned it off when BU got down 3-1 with under 4 minutes to go. I should've known that would be a mistake. . .)
Reply
post #191 of 646
4/13/09 at 2:20pm

Re: Hockey Talk: The Official NHL 2008-2009 Thread

Quote:
Originally Posted by Aaron Silverman
The Bs only finished 1 point behind the Sharks, but I agree that I'd rather have the crew healthy and rested than gun for a trophy that would only have meaning if we happen to play the Sharks in the finals and go 7 games.
Aaron,

Yeah, I suppose that home ice/court advantage isn't all that important, or not as important as it may be in other sports (basketball, for one).

Quote:
Originally Posted by Aaron Silverman
If we lose to les Habastards in the first round again, I'm swearing off hockey.
You'll swear off hockey when I say you'll swear off hockey -- and only then.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Aaron Silverman
(Incidentally, did anyone catch the NCAA championship game? I watched a little bit but turned it off when BU got down 3-1 with under 4 minutes to go. I should've known that would be a mistake. . .)
I watched a period or so, and the trophy presentation. I never doubted the outcome for a moment.
Reply
post #192 of 646
4/15/09 at 9:06am
Thread Starter 

Re: Hockey Talk: The Official NHL 2008-2009 Thread

The awesomeness begins tonight at 7:00!

I am in an interesting pool where you assign point values to each team, with 1 being the team you expect to win the least, and 16 the team you expect to win the most. Each time a team wins a postseason game, you get that many points. It's tricky because sometimes teams you assign a high value to end up sweeping teams in 4 games, so you don't get as many points as you thought you would.

Here are the points I assigned (sorry Habs fans).
16 Bruins
15 Sharks
14 Capitals
13 Redwings
12 Penguins
11 Canucks
10 Devils
9 Blackhawks
8 Flames
7 Hurricanes
6 Blues
5 Flyers
4 Bluejackets
3 Rangers
2 Ducks
1 Canadiens
Reply
post #193 of 646
4/15/09 at 9:16am

Re: Hockey Talk: The Official NHL 2008-2009 Thread

Here are mine. And I'm not sorry, Habs fans.

16 Bruins
15 Sharks
14 Capitals
13 Red Wings
12 Penguins
11 Canucks
10 Devils
9 Blackhawks
8 Flames
7 Hurricanes
6 Blues
5 Flyers
4 Bluejackets
3 Rangers
2 Ducks
0 Canadiens
Reply
post #194 of 646
4/15/09 at 9:26am

Re: Hockey Talk: The Official NHL 2008-2009 Thread

It's this time of year when I wish I had the New England (or any) sports channels that carry the Bruins games. TNT will give me ample NBA playoff games, and the BoSox and Patriots are on enough to satisfy me during the season. But the Bruins won't see as much airtime, I fear.

I would very much love to see Boston take the Cup. I was fourteen when they last won it. They are long overdue. Heck, I'd even trade the Celtics, Patriots, or Red Sox winning it all this year to see the Bruins win it. It would be neat to have all four Boston teams win their respective championships in the same decade.
Reply
post #195 of 646
4/15/09 at 1:55pm

Re: Hockey Talk: The Official NHL 2008-2009 Thread

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ockeghem
It's this time of year when I wish I had the New England (or any) sports channels that carry the Bruins games. TNT will give me ample NBA playoff games, and the BoSox and Patriots are on enough to satisfy me during the season. But the Bruins won't see as much airtime, I fear.

How close are you to the Detroit area, Scott? You should be able to get at least all the first round games against the Habs if you are nearby, since CBC will be carrying them out of Windsor.

I am in a similar type pool, Bob, except that you have to pick the winner of each series, with a confidence factor of 1-15 of who will advance (and you can only use each number once). Since the NHL does not have fixed brackets, it can be very tricky.

I have San Jose beating Carolina in the Finals. It did kill me to pick the Bruins over the Habs in the first round, as well as give it my highest confidence factor of 15. However, with Montreal's top two defensemen out (Markov and Schneider), I do not think they stand any chance against the Bruins.

Here at work we also have an annual playoff bet between four of us that we call "homers vs. haters". One of the guys -- a Leafs fan -- and I -- a Habs fan -- pick a team to win the Cup. We are the "haters". The two other guys get the Wings -- they are the "homers", of course. If one side wins, the other side has to by lunch. This year the haters have San Jose.
Reply
post #196 of 646
4/15/09 at 2:02pm

Re: Hockey Talk: The Official NHL 2008-2009 Thread

Let's go Pens!

Puck drops in less than 2 hours and I am ready to go!

R.
Reply
post #197 of 646
4/15/09 at 4:10pm

Re: Hockey Talk: The Official NHL 2008-2009 Thread

I miss Sabres playoff hockey. Its so depressing. 2 years in a row is too many.
Reply
post #198 of 646
4/15/09 at 4:41pm

Re: Hockey Talk: The Official NHL 2008-2009 Thread

Quote:
Originally Posted by Scott Merryfield
How close are you to the Detroit area, Scott? You should be able to get at least all the first round games against the Habs if you are nearby, since CBC will be carrying them out of Windsor.

I am in a similar type pool, Bob, except that you have to pick the winner of each series, with a confidence factor of 1-15 of who will advance (and you can only use each number once). Since the NHL does not have fixed brackets, it can be very tricky.

I have San Jose beating Carolina in the Finals. It did kill me to pick the Bruins over the Habs in the first round, as well as give it my highest confidence factor of 15. However, with Montreal's top two defensemen out (Markov and Schneider), I do not think they stand any chance against the Bruins.

Here at work we also have an annual playoff bet between four of us that we call "homers vs. haters". One of the guys -- a Leafs fan -- and I -- a Habs fan -- pick a team to win the Cup. We are the "haters". The two other guys get the Wings -- they are the "homers", of course. If one side wins, the other side has to by lunch. This year the haters have San Jose.
Scott,

I'm about three to three-and-a-half hours from Detroit (Big Rapids, MI). I do hope I can get some of the games!
Reply
post #199 of 646
4/15/09 at 8:48pm

Re: Hockey Talk: The Official NHL 2008-2009 Thread

Man, I miss getting CBC. I was just a kid, but my family loved it.

Watching Vancouver host St. Louis. It's been pretty entertaining, but I can't wait for the Wings game tomorrow night. I've got to make sure I leave work at a reasonable time so I can watch the whole game. The family is out of town. I think it'll be a night of pizza and hockey followed by a movie---this is the HTF after all. I'm happy just thinking about it. Now, Osgood...
Reply
post #200 of 646
4/15/09 at 8:49pm

Re: Hockey Talk: The Official NHL 2008-2009 Thread

Well, what a night. I didn't get any of the games, but I watched NHL on the Fly fairly regularly, and as a result saw many highlights during several of the games. I was rooting for the Nationals tonight, and I wished that the Flyers had at least made the game closer with the Penguins. But I like the Penguins, and think they will take that series.

I was switching between the NHL, NBA (Rockets - Mavericks), and MLB (Mets - Padres). I was almost beginning to think a pre-season Patriots game would be on as well.

The Blues - Canucks game is not televised either, but I will continue to catch highlights on the NHL Network. I'm thinking Vancouver in six games.
Reply
post #201 of 646
4/16/09 at 4:44am

Re: Hockey Talk: The Official NHL 2008-2009 Thread

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ockeghem
Well, what a night. I didn't get any of the games, but I watched NHL on the Fly fairly regularly, and as a result saw many highlights during several of the games. I was rooting for the Nationals tonight, and I wished that the Flyers had at least made the game closer with the Penguins. But I like the Penguins, and think they will take that series.

Who are the Nationals? There must have been some adult beverages being consumed last night.

I caught a little bit of the Flyers - Pens game on Versus-HD, but decided to watch a movie instead of the game. Tonight I hope to catch some of the Habs - Bruins game on CBC, though, after golf league (it's our opening round).
Reply
post #202 of 646
4/16/09 at 7:49am

Re: Hockey Talk: The Official NHL 2008-2009 Thread

I missed last night's game since I was not feeling well. But it looks like I did not miss anything, as the Flyers lost the 1st game.
Reply
post #203 of 646
4/16/09 at 8:40am
Thread Starter 

Re: Hockey Talk: The Official NHL 2008-2009 Thread

Can't complain about the Penguins win over the Flyers! What was especially gratifying was how physical the Pens were in the 2nd period. The end of the 3rd period was Philly at their thuggish worst. At one point there were 3 Flyers in the penalty box, and the refs turned a blind eye to several other penalties.

The Capitals better get their rears in gear.
Reply
post #204 of 646
4/16/09 at 9:49am

Re: Hockey Talk: The Official NHL 2008-2009 Thread

Quote:
Originally Posted by Scott Merryfield
Who are the Nationals? There must have been some adult beverages being consumed last night.
LOL! Sorry. I meant the Capitals. BTW, only water was consumed during the game.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Scott Merryfield
I caught a little bit of the Flyers - Pens game on Versus-HD, but decided to watch a movie instead of the game. Tonight I hope to catch some of the Habs - Bruins game on CBC, though, after golf league (it's our opening round).
Scott,

What exactly is Versus? I saw it referenced a few times last night. It must be a pay channel, yes?
Reply
post #205 of 646
4/16/09 at 10:27am

Re: Hockey Talk: The Official NHL 2008-2009 Thread

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ockeghem
Scott,

What exactly is Versus? I saw it referenced a few times last night. It must be a pay channel, yes?

I'm not Scott, but Versus used to be the Outdoor Life Network or something like that. They changed to Versus with hockey and some other programing shifts. It is not premium pay network, but not every cable network carries it. It is on our digital sports tier here so I guess I'm paying a tiny additional amount for it.
Reply
post #206 of 646
4/16/09 at 10:45am

Re: Hockey Talk: The Official NHL 2008-2009 Thread

Quote:
Originally Posted by DavidJ
I'm not Scott, but Versus used to be the Outdoor Life Network or something like that. They changed to Versus with hockey and some other programing shifts. It is not premium pay network, but not every cable network carries it. It is on our digital sports tier here so I guess I'm paying a tiny additional amount for it.
David,

Thanks a bunch! It's possible I have it and don't even know it. That would sure be a pleasant surprise.

Speaking of pleasant surprises, is it 'normal' for the MLB Network to be viewable these days? I don't think it's one of those 'free trial' months, but I've been getting it the past few nights.
Reply
post #207 of 646
4/16/09 at 10:52am

Re: Hockey Talk: The Official NHL 2008-2009 Thread

We have Cox Cable here and they just added the MLB network in the past few months. Here it is on the same tier as Versus and we also get HD versions of both. I believe that the MLB network went out and struck deals with several cable providers during the off-season.
Reply
post #208 of 646
4/16/09 at 11:03am

Re: Hockey Talk: The Official NHL 2008-2009 Thread

Quote:
Originally Posted by DavidJ
We have Cox Cable here and they just added the MLB network in the past few months. Here it is on the same tier as Versus and we also get HD versions of both. I believe that the MLB network went out and struck deals with several cable providers during the off-season.

It couldn't have been any other time but this past off season
as the mlb network didn't exist before then.

the mlb network on comcast is strangly not part of their sports tier
but it is on a tier that inlcudes all the Encore movie channels and the cartoon network.

Reply
post #209 of 646
4/16/09 at 11:05am

Re: Hockey Talk: The Official NHL 2008-2009 Thread

Quote:
Originally Posted by TonyD
It couldn't have been any other time but this past off season
as the mlb network didn't exist before then.

the mlb network on comcast is strangly not part of their sports tier
but it is on a tier that inlcudes all the Encore movie channels and the cartoon network.

I thought that was the case, but I didn't want to make any bold statements that were wrong. Somebody might've called me on it.
Reply
post #210 of 646
4/16/09 at 12:07pm

Re: Hockey Talk: The Official NHL 2008-2009 Thread

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ockeghem
Scott,

What exactly is Versus? I saw it referenced a few times last night. It must be a pay channel, yes?

As others have said, Versus in the former Outdoor Life Network (OLN). They won the bid for the U.S. NHL TV rights a couple of seasons ago. On our Comcast system, Versus is included with the standard cable package, and Versus-HD is included in the standard HD cable package. I believe Comcast does this because they own either part of or all of Versus.

On a slight tangent, this issue with Comcast ownership of Versus and that channel not being part of a special "sports" tier is the basis for the NFL's case against Comcast regarding the NFL Network, which looks like it will disappear from Comcast on May 1st when the league's current agreement with Comcast expires. Comcast wants to keep it on the sports tier, while the NFL is arguing that constitutes an unfair practice per FCC regulations. The FCC is hearing the case.
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: After Hours Lounge
Home Theater Forum › Home Theater Forum › Other Diversions › After Hours Lounge › Hockey Talk: The Official NHL 2008-2009 Thread