Two games hosted by the Czech Republic in the books with Nashville winning both games over the Sharks.  Tonight, the NHL season begins on this side of the pond.  Three of the top four picks in the 2022 draft make the opening night roster: Slafkovsky, Nemec, and Wright.  Calgary and Florida made the blockbuster trade of the summer and possibly the most important trade in years while Columbus picked up Johnny Gaudreau in free agency.

Predictions:

Eastern Conference:

Metropolitan:

1. Carolina - Modern day NJ Devils from the late 90's/early 2000's
2. NY Rangers
3. Pittsburgh - It is hard to bet against Crosby/Malkin/Letang until they give you a reason
4. Columbus - Well rounded group of forwards headlined by Gaudreau and Laine, Kent Johnson (2021 5th overall pick) starting his first full NHL season, and a bunch of two way forwards.  Defense and goaltending makes this team a question mark.
5. Washington - Backstrom/Wilson/Hagelin injuries
6. NY Islanders - Disappointing season last year.  Did nothing to improve the roster.  Trotz 2.0 is behind the bench.  If the Islanders make the playoffs, Sorokin will be a Vezina/Hart contender.  
7. New Jersey 
8. Philadelphia

Atlantic:

1. Tampa Bay
2. Toronto
3. Florida
4. Buffalo (WC1) - Stacked roster with young talent.  I'm hoping this is the year for them to overcome other veteran teams (Boston, Washington) and make some serious noise in the league. 
5. Ottawa (WC2) - Probably the most improved team on paper.  They got Debrincat for nothing.
6. Boston
7. Detroit
8. Montreal

Western Conference:

Central:

1. Colorado
2. Minnesota
3. St. Louis
4. Dallas (WC1)
5. Nashville
6. Winnipeg
7. Arizona
8. Chicago

Pacific:

1. Edmonton
2. Calgary
3. Vancouver
4. Anaheim (WC2) - Sort of like my Buffalo pick of the Western Conference.  Banking on some young talent to overcome veteran teams of the West.  The additions of Strome and Vatrano makes this a well balanced roster and takes some pressure of the young ones.
5. Vegas
6. LA Kings
7. Seattle
8. San Jose

SCF: Carolina vs. Colorado

Winner: Colorado

I wonder how Tampa Bay will respond this season. The Sharks are rebuilding. I hope they give meta a reason to be optimistic about the future. I know the Rangers will be a factor in the east. All hail, king Igor.

Rangers were great tonight, dominated Tampa from wire to wire. Against any other goalie than Vasy that would have been a thumping. Kakko had a nice performance drawing some penalties, Jones had a few really promising contributions defensively, and Mika was obviously top-notch. The only downside was the injury to Kravtsov (Hedman being a dirty bitch) I just get the feeling that it's never going to come together for him.

Refs and ESPN still suck ass. LGR.

The Blue and White start their season tonight. Anyone here think that this might finally be the year Toronto advances to Round Two?

Oct 12, 2022 22:41:18 GMT CM Punk'd said:

The Blue and White start their season tonight. Anyone here think that this might finally be the year Toronto advances to Round Two?

No 😂

The Leafs could trade Justin Holl for a bag of potatoes and I'm confident if they gave the bag of potatoes a stick and just sat it on the blue line it would stop more forwards on a dump and chase than Justin Holl would.

My predictions:

Metro

1. Carolina
2. NY Rangers
3. Pittsburgh
4. Washington - Wild Card #2
5. Columbus
6. NY Islanders
7. New Jersey
8. Philadelphia

Atlantic

1. Toronto - President's Trophy winner
2. Tampa Bay
3. Boston
4. Florida - Wild Card #1
5. Detroit
6. Ottawa
7. Montreal
8. Buffalo

Central

1. Colorado
2. Minnesota
3. Nashville
4. Dallas - Wild Card #1
5. St. Louis
6. Winnipeg
7. Chicago
8. Arizona

Pacific

1. Calgary
2. Edmonton
3. Los Angeles
4. Vegas - Wild Card #2
5. Vancouver
6. Anaheim
7. Seattle
8. San Jose - 1st overall pick in 2023

SCF: Toronto vs. Edmonton - Matthews vs. McDavid

Winner: Toronto

As soon as the Habs take the lead, Toronto ties it back up.

Oct 13, 2022 1:31:20 GMT RT said:

The Leafs could trade Justin Holl for a bag of potatoes and I'm confident if they gave the bag of potatoes a stick and just sat it on the blue line it would stop more forwards on a dump and chase than Justin Holl would.

Maybe trade Muzzin for a bag of carrots? :lol:

Oct 13, 2022 1:57:38 GMT @admin said:

Oct 13, 2022 1:31:20 GMT RT said:

The Leafs could trade Justin Holl for a bag of potatoes and I'm confident if they gave the bag of potatoes a stick and just sat it on the blue line it would stop more forwards on a dump and chase than Justin Holl would.

Maybe trade Muzzin for a bag of carrots?

They had a few decent months together a year and a half ago and for some reason that has convinced Dubas and Keefe that they're still good together. I don't get it. They've been a liability for a year now.

I know it's only the first game but I will overreact accordingly.

Also I feel a little better now because the Oilers are being caved in by Vancouver and are already down 2-0 in less than 5 mins. Jack Campbell looks like a scared puppy.

Oh, Canucks power play now. 

I'm disappointed by the outcome of the Canucks/Oilers game, Van City blowing a two-goal lead to Edmonton.

I was hoping they'd start the regular season with a win.

Only one game, but what was so different with the NY Rangers in game one of the regular season against Tampa was that they dominated and were in control of the entire game. Shesterkin and the Rangers defense had a relatively easy night. Only goal allowed was on a Tampa 5 on 3 for a full two minutes. Kreider could have had a goal or two if it was not for Vasilevskiy.

Rangers doubled them in shots, and through two periods the Rangers had as many powerplay shots on goal to Tampa's overall shots on goal. Rangers powerplay is dominant dare I say better than last year. They have the puck in the offensive zone for two minutes every powerplay opportunity. They have four or five different ways to get a shot on goal. Constant puck movement especially side to side opens up the shooting lanes and makes it harder the goalie to make a save while going from side to side.

Auston Matthews only on pace for 41 goals this year what a bum.

Early signs looking very positive for 'this is the year for Kakko and Lafreniere' - think they've found the ideal combinations for the top 6. Rangers look real good, beat the breaks off two good teams in a row to start off, could be a very fun season.

Anyone notice the digital ads on the boards during the games? I think it is awful, tough to keep track of the game, what you watch from home is not what is really going on in the arena, reminds me of covid with the fake audience. Give an inch and they take a mile.

Digital ads are atrocious.

Zappy and @admin you both owe me a dollar for losing our bet. I always knew the Jets would beat the Rangers.

Oct 14, 2022 15:20:40 GMT Zappy said:

Anyone notice the digital ads on the boards during the games? I think it is awful, and tough to keep track of the game, what you watch from home is not what is really going on in the arena, reminds me of covid with the fake audience. Give an inch and they take a mile.

That sounds AWFUL!!!!!!!!!!

Fun 2nd period of the Sens/Leaf's game.

Oct 15, 2022 22:22:11 GMT Foos said:

Digital ads are atrocious.

Zappy and @admin you both owe me a dollar for losing our bet. I always knew the Jets would beat the Rangers.

Hellebuyck was fantastic. One of the top goalies in the league.

Leafs lost on one of the dumbest fucking calls I’ve ever seen. This league blows ass man. I hate it.

Oct 18, 2022 1:52:55 GMT RT said:

Leafs lost on one of the dumbest fucking calls I’ve ever seen. This league blows ass man. I hate it.

Seems like every league is trying to out-refball the other.

Yeah that was totally stupid, anyone could tell that wasn't a pass. Even the ref announcing the overturn knew that it was dumb.

Oct 13, 2022 14:59:28 GMT Zappy said:

Rangers powerplay is dominant dare I say better than last year. They have the puck in the offensive zone for two minutes every powerplay opportunity. They have four or five different ways to get a shot on goal. Constant puck movement especially side to side opens up the shooting lanes and makes it harder the goalie to make a save while going from side to side.

The addition of Trocheck definitely seems to have taken them to an even higher level, they are almost automatic at the moment. Mika and Panarin have started absolutely on fire.

Oct 18, 2022 2:19:15 GMT CM Punk'd said:

Oct 18, 2022 1:52:55 GMT RT said:

Leafs lost on one of the dumbest fucking calls I’ve ever seen. This league blows ass man. I hate it.

Seems like every league is trying to out-refball the other.

The worst part was what @admin said. Even the ref knew it was bullshit but got overruled.

Rielly bats the puck towards the ice, it hits Keller’s skate and clearly redirects in the replay, then after it goes IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION OF MARNER, he grabs the puck and sends it in. How the FUCK is that enough to overturn the call on the ice!?

Wrong thread.

Go Rangers.

The script goes the Leafs way for once.

Nick Robertson scores in his first game of the year to put the Buds up 2-1. Kerfoot gets a penalty for puck over glass despite the fact the puck hit a Dallas players stick. Then a PP goal is waved off, only for the review to lead to a bullshit reversal and Dallas ties it. Wide open 3rd period, Jason Robertson almost wins the game, but it goes to OT.

Last minute of OT, Nick Robertson strips Jamie Benn (who almost injured Auston Matthews earlier in the game with a shitty cross check), takes it in himself, dumps to Matthews who gives it right back, scores. Game over on Nick's 2nd goal.

What a game. Fuck yeah.

Leafs are all over the Jets so naturally they’re down 1-0.

Hellebuyck is a cheat code. What the hell was that? 3 stops, 2 from his stomach on friggin Matthews.

This game would be 7-1 Toronto if Hellebuyck wasn’t in net

Oct 23, 2022 0:32:16 GMT RT said:

This game would be 7-1 Toronto if Hellebuyck wasn’t in net

I can settle for 3-1.