[Strutz]

Normally we start this thread in September/October. Since pretty much nothing is normal anymore here we are in January with the NHL starting up next Wednesday with a completely different format. The Canadian teams will be the North division and the US teams divided into West, East and Central divisions. Teams will only play against other teams in their own divisions to minimize travel.

This is going to be weird.

[Strutz]

Posted on the NHL website this morning...

$1:

The Dallas Stars are not expected to begin the 2020-21 NHL season as scheduled after six players and two staff members recently confirmed positive tests for COVID-19.

The NHL said in a statement Friday the Stars, who were originally scheduled to play their first game of the season against the Florida Panthers at BB&T Center on Jan. 14, likely would not likely play earlier than Jan. 19.

https://www.nhl.com/news/dallas-stars-p ... -320138416

[CDN_PATRIOT]

Strutz Strutz:

Normally we start this thread in September/October. Since pretty much nothing is normal anymore here we are in January with the NHL starting up next Wednesday with a completely different format. The Canadian teams will be the North division and the US teams divided into West, East and Central divisions. Teams will only play against other teams in their own divisions to minimize travel.

Don't agree with this format at all, and won't be watching. No effort was made to make this even remotely competitive.

Aside from no pre-season and no fans at the stadiums, the NFL didn't really change a thing. Injuries have been a bit of an issue, but the season has been pretty good. I'm praying that the 2021 MLB season starts on-time and without any hitches. I don't care if there's no fans, as long as the season (and the game) stays intact.

Still pissed off at CFL commissioner Randy Ambrosie for not even trying and outright costing us a whole season of CFL football. Yet another example of people in charge being reactive instead of proactive.

WE WANT SPORTS.

-J.

[Strutz]

So... is anyone watching NHL right now? I know the format is weird this season but I'm getting a kick out of this all-Canadian division.

I usually wait until the season is at least 10 games in before even looking at standings but with some teams having played as many as 11 and others playing only 6 at this point it's rather difficult to get a clear picture of where everyone is at. It might take a few weeks before all teams are at about the same level of games played.

We've been watching the Canucks games of course, and other games as well, mostly the other Canadian teams. I'm finding it funny that with the lack of fans in the buildings making noise, despite the recorded "fan noise" they play, that you can hear the exchanges between players. The play-by-play guys occasionally apologize (we are in Canada after all ) for any "foul language" that comes across the broadcasts.

I'm not taking this season too seriously but it is something to watch on TV and provides entertainment. I'd MUCH rather attend a game though.

[CDN_PATRIOT]

Strutz Strutz:

So... is anyone watching NHL right now?

I'm not. I can honestly say there is no interest right now on my part. Unless they go back to proper divisions and do things as per normal, I'm not going to bother.

I still maintain that if the NFL could do a season with minimal changes, any other major sports league should be able to do the same.

Strutz Strutz:

I'm not taking this season too seriously but it is something to watch on TV and provides entertainment.

Meh. I have AEW Wrestling once a week for entertainment, and it's almost time for MLB baseball to start (providing they don't screw everything up, either).

-J.

[Strutz]

Well the weird NHL season is done and now the playoffs have begun.

Edmonton-Winnipeg and Toronto-Montreal series should both be interesting.

$1:

Canadian clubs renew playoff hostilities as North Division prepares for puck drop

Edmonton clashes with Winnipeg for the first time in the playoffs since 1990, when Bill Ranford backstopped the Oilers to a Game 7 Smythe Division semifinal win over Teemu Selanne and the Jets.

Toronto and Montreal meet for the first time in a playoff series since 1979, when Guy Lafleur and Larry Robinson led the Canadiens to a 4-0 sweep over Darryl Sittler, Borje Salming and the Maple Leafs.

https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/nhl/nh ... -1.6030523

[Strutz]

$1:

Leafs' Tavares discharged from hospital, out 'indefinitely' after frightening collision

https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/nhl/nh ... -1.6035866

That was awful to watch. Hopefully he'll be ok.

[xerxes]

Strutz Strutz:

$1:

Leafs' Tavares discharged from hospital, out 'indefinitely' after frightening collision

https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/nhl/nh ... -1.6035866

That was awful to watch. Hopefully he'll be ok.

Agreed. Watching him unable to stand up after being frozen from the hit like that was horrible.

[raydan]

Nice to see Perry accepting the fight after that and not even trying to throw a punch... "OK, let's get this over with and move on".

I'm surprised that the Habs won that one, especially when all the experts predicted that the Leafs would win in 4.

[Strutz]

raydan raydan:

Nice to see Perry accepting the fight after that and not even trying to throw a punch... "OK, let's get this over with and move on".

I'm surprised that the Habs won that one, especially when all the experts predicted that the Leafs would win in 4.

I think it'll go 6 or 7 games and could go either way.

[Thanos]

Jets are moiderizing teh Oilers.

[Strutz]

Thanos Thanos:

Jets are moiderizing teh Oilers.

That was unreal! When it was 4-1 for Edmonton halfway in the 3rd it seemed done but sometimes you just never know and holy crap the Jets came back. I don't really care in this series who wins but I'll generally lean toward the underdog.

[Thanos]

As a Calgarian I'm used to the local team having a great season then blowing it entirely in the first round of the playoffs. So used to it in fact that when it happens I don't even get angry anymore, just more indifferent. If the Oilers were going to imitate a team they should have copied someone else instead of the Flames.

[Thanos]

Jets sweep Oilers, win in third OT in game four.

All that hard work wasted just to play four more games than the lousy Flames did.

[DrCaleb]

Three signs of Spring. Snow melts. Trees bud. Oilers implode.