2013: The NHL season that almost wasn't

Way too many. Good job diluting the product, Bettman.

 

Chicago is without question the best in the West, but:
-- L.A. has as much size as any team in the league.
-- Anaheim is 3-0 vs. Chicago his season, 2 regulation, 1 shootout.

 

I assumed he meant among the teams that they might face in the first round.

 

I would actually give the Blue Jackets a better chance than Detroit, if only because of Bobrovsky.

Also they have a grind it out style that usually plays well in the post season, but I still don't really give may teams a shot against Chicago. It will be Detroit, Columbus and Dallas and any of those three will likely be a five game series. I know there are enough games for it to happen, but I don't see St. Lousi or Minnesota dropping down into the No. 8 seed. Dallas will be burned out if they make it in, expending an extreme amount of energy just to get there. Detroit has the experience and some top end guys, but I still don't like their D -- missing out on Bouwmeester, etc at the deadline hurt badly -- and never have liked Howard.
But Columbus with Bobrovsky between the pipes and a strong defensive game led by Jack Johnson, might stand a chance at keeping it close enough to steal a couple of games.

 

Ah, I guess I read right over that.

 

Blackhawks are 4-0 against the Wings this year. Three of the four have gone to overtime (two in shootouts). The overtime games were low scoring (2-1, 2-1, 3-2). The fourth was 7-1 (when the Hawks scored three very early in the first period and cruised).

Blackhawks would probably still win a potential series in five, but those OT games show it could be a dangerous series.

 

Awful. I turned to the Jays game. They blew it in the 9th.

 

I didn't see this anywhere on here, but yeah, this was incredible to watch.

http://deadspin.com/watch-as-the-crowd-sings-the-national-anthem-at-the-bos-475324379

 

Couldn't watch that without getting goosebumps.

 

"Disaster" written all over it. The LA game and the Chicago game (in March) will be played in ankle-deep water.

 

They played outdoors in Vegas before, the ice will be bad but playable.

 

And this is even better. Both Boston and Sabres salute the crowd after the game .