Running 2007 NHL regular season thread

That's very possible. Has their really been that much talk about him and the Hart tho? Especially in the era of high goal scorers like Ovechkin and Malkin.

 

They'd have to beat Minnesota by something like 23 goals.

 

The Hurricanes are the first team in NHL history to win the Cup, then miss the playoffs the next two seasons. Six teams missed the playoffs the season after winning the Cup, but all made the playoffs the second season: Detroit in 1937; Chicago in 1938; Toronto in 1945 and 1967; Montreal in 1969; and New Jersey in 1995.

Ugh.

 

What is the status of Jim Rutherford in Carolina?

It is going to be interesting to see what the Canes do this offseason. They have $25 million tied up on Staal, Cole, Brind'Amour, Whitney, Williams, Cullen and Walker at forward, another $7.6 million on defense with Kaberle, Wallin, Corvo and Tanabe, and $2.5 million on Ward. Canes have to resign Samsonov, Ruutu, LaRose, Eaves, Gleason, Seidenberg, and find a backup goalie.

 

I think Michael Leighton isn't a bad option for the Canes' backup goalie, but there probably are better options out there. He had a stellar season in the AHL. Too bad Tanabe is signed.

 

Mod - NHL is supposed to announce the playoff schedule tomorrow from what I was told.

 

Games begin Wednesday-Thursday. Usually there is a day off between games (but not always).

So most likely Game 2s will be Friday-Saturday (possibly Sunday, depending on TV).

 

The thing that concerns me about the Caps in the playoffs is they had to be next to perfect over the last few months just to get in. They may have already hit their peak.

But it's sure going to be nice having playoff hockey in the nation's capital again. At least I've seen Ovie play live this year. It makes falling backward in my chair after the game worth it. 8)

 

Nilce piece by Boswell in today's Post on the Caps' amazing season.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/06/AR2008040600041.html

If Caps meet the Sens, I will be a traitor and cheer for the Caps.

Caps in five.

 

For the board's hockey people:

Do you want a new playoff thread or do you just want to use this thread as the hockey catch-all?