Running 2007 NHL regular season thread

NHL.com has a season preview with more notes than anything, but here's something that stood out a bit:

Rules Changes

There are four rules changes, effective the start of the 2007-08 season.

Rule 24 -- Gross Misconduct: The term “Gross Misconduct” was eliminated from the rule book. Any act that would have been assessed a Gross Misconduct penalty will receive a Game Misconduct penalty. Accumulated Game Misconduct penalties can lead to fines or suspension.

Rule 25 -- Penalty Shot: A player may be awarded a penalty shot if he is fouled on a clear breakaway outside his defensive zone (i.e., anywhere in the neutral zone or in the attacking zone). Previously, a penalty shot was awarded only when the player on a clear breakaway was fouled on the attacking side of the center line.

Rule 56 -- Interference: Referees were given discretion to assess a major penalty and a game misconduct when an injury results from an act of interference. Previously, only a minor penalty could be assessed for interference.

Rule 76 -- Face-offs: All face-offs must be conducted at one of the nine face-off dots painted on the rink. Previously, there had been instances, such as when a puck left the playing surface, which caused the face-off to occur on unmarked ice, parallel to the dot nearest the place where the puck departed.

 

Those rules, with the exact same wording, are in the OHL rule book this year. It's a little weird to see so many faceoffs at centre ice. The OHL has also changed the legal stick curve from a half inch to three quarters. Wouldn't be surprised if this is an NHL thing too.

 

T-minus ten minutes until the season starts!

Whoo hoo!

 

Oh baby...oh baby...oh baby...whoo hoo!

So, I just flipped my TV to channel 431, scrolling through the sports package channels and what do I find? Kings. Ducks. London, England.

Oh baby, am I deliriously happy.

It's hockey season.

Game on, motherfuckers. Game fucking on.

 

You know what would be fun? Being able to watch the opening game of the NHL season.

Thanks a lot Versus. I love freaking duck hunting.

 

Awesome. The British chick is fucking up the Star Spangled Banner.

 

Tomorrow's game is on Versus.

 

If you're going to show one, how about the season opener?

 

Well, that would make too much sense.

 

Y'all jealous?

 

Sod this, I'm going to watch Manchester United.

 

Players off the ice and back to the rooms since the lights haven't come up yet.