Sports Fans Missing Out On The Best NHL Playoffs In Years

We’re in the midst of the best professional sports postseason in years and the vast majority of sports fans are missing it.

Some have wasted their time watching the mind-numbing action of spring baseball, some still await pro football players and owners to stop arguing over $900 million, and some have inexplicably chosen to watch the NBA Playoffs over hockey.

My question is why? Consider:

• The NHL recently concluded a whirlwind stretch with overtime in 15 of 16 nights from April 19^th through May 4^th. The NBA hasn’t had consecutive nights with OT in its postseason. In total, the NHL Playoffs have featured 20 overtime games thus far, the NBA, four.

• With the Detroit Red Wings come-from-behind win last night, we’ll see the fifth Game Seven of the NHL Playoffs tomorrow night; the NBA Playoffs have had none.

• Detroit was down three games to none and forced a Game Seven, the second team to accomplish that feat this postseason and third in two years. No NBA team has ever done that.

• Much has been made of the miraculous play of Rajon Rondo Sunday night when he dislocated his elbow only to return to action moments later. Ask hockey players if they’re impressed. In the first round, Washington Capitals defenseman Mike Green attempted to block a two pound piece of frozen rubber with his face after missing the second half of the season with a concussion. And he plays for a notoriously soft playoff team.

• The big off-court moral issue in the NBA this week came when LeBron James deemed a reporter’s question “retarded.” Sean Avery of the New York Rangers just released a PSA supporting marriage equality.

• The big villain and title favorite in the NBA is the Miami Heat, which imported stars LeBron James and Chris Bosh this summer to vault itself into title contention. In the NHL, all five remaining teams are reliant on homegrown talent that has played together for years.

• The NHL Playoffs have seen dazzling individual plays like David Legwand’s goal from behind the net, Ryan Kesler’s solo rush, and Nicklas Lidstrom’s lacrosse-style puck swat out of mid-air. NBA games are constantly stopped as players like Paul Pierce goad opponents into cheap fouls so they can score uncontested points from the free throw line.

The full support of the Worldwide Leader might capture the attention of America’s sports fans, but that’s not forthcoming. Those of us lucky enough to recognize how wonderful the NHL Playoffs have been will agree that there’s no way to put magic into words. You have to experience it firsthand to recognize it, and Game Seven Thursday night between the San Jose Sharks and Detroit Red Wings is a good place to start.

Once Again The Flyers Failed To Acquire A Reliable Goalie And It Cost Them

The position of Philadelphia Flyers’ netminder has been a revolving door for over a decade, yet the team still hasn’t learned its lesson.

In last night’s Game Three loss to the Boston Bruins, Brian Boucher surrendered two goals in the first 1:03 of the game and the Flyers went on to lose 5-1 to push Philadelphia to the brink of elimination.

It was the sixth time in 10 playoff games that the Flyers switched goalies mid-game, and the inconsistency of Brian Boucher and Sergei Bobrovsky will likely force Philadelphia out of the playoffs early once again.

You’d think that by know the Flyers would have recognized that applying temporary bandages to a gushing wound doesn’t work, but this is nothing new. The Flyers have made the playoffs in 14 of the last 15 seasons, but they’ve had nine different starting goalies in the postseason during that timeframe.

This year Philadelphia relied on an erratic Russian rookie and a career journeyman backup to guide the team through the playoffs, and it cost them.

One instance of misguided faith by an organization in a player can be excused, but year after year the Flyers have entrusted inadequate men with the most important position on the ice.

Last year, the Flyers’ answer in net at the start of the season was a disgraced ex-NHLer that had experienced a brief revival in Russia. Philadelphia brought Ray Emery, the troubled ex-Ottawa Senator back to North America where he promptly succumbed to injury. The Flyers replaced Emery with Boucher and Michael Leighton, who had already been cast off by four teams. The duo split time and Leighton did an admirable job in the playoffs and guided the Flyers through the Stanley Cup Finals, but in retrospect his success may have been the worst thing for the Flyers because it reinforced the club’s notion that goaltending is overrated.

It’s true that in today’s NHL teams are investing less money in goaltending than ever before.

Many teams have enjoyed enormous success without having a big name in net, but the Flyers are clearly an exception to the rule. They’ve trotted out a seemingly endless list of unproven rookies, over the hill veterans, and unreliable foreigners, and have for years declined to acquire a legitimate star in goal.

Philly hasn’t exactly been shy about spending money on mercenaries during that time either. The Flyers have brought in high-priced players like Kimmo Timonen, Chris Pronger, Daniel Briere, Andrej Meszaros, and Scott Hartnell in recent years, and yet, the Flyers continue to neglect their own net.

Philadelphia’s refusal to acquire a top-flight goalie long ago became inexcusable. With the Washington Capitals’ eliminated, the Eastern Conference could have been the Flyers’ to lose this year and they could easily have won a Stanley Cup or two during the last decade. But the organization’s unwillingness to solidify the position has cost the Flyers repeatedly.

With some creative financial maneuvering this summer, Philadelphia will have another chance to remedy their only issue when Ilya Bryzgalov and Tomas Vokoun become unrestricted free agents. But if we’ve learned anything in recent years, it’s that Philly stubbornly refuses to admit its weakness. So there’s a strong chance next year’s absurdly deep Flyers’ squad will meet the same fate as this year’s, an early playoff exit thanks to inexplicable personnel decisions.

The 2011 Stanley Cup Playoffs Are Missing Just One Thing -- Sidney Crosby

So far, the 2011 Stanley Cup Playoffs have been darn close to perfect.

In round one, four Game Seven’s were needed to determine a series victor. There have been nine consecutive nights with overtime playoff hockey. And yet, something is missing.

With the NFL’s popularity waning and an NBA lockout looming ahead, this is a huge chance for the NHL to pick up steam. But without its poster boy, that’s not going to happen.

Sidney Crosby is sorely missed.

And not just be Versus, which has put out night after night of good broadcasts, but by the game itself.

Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals stand a very good chance of beating the Tampa Bay Lightning in the Conference Semi-finals, but even if Ovechkin leads the Caps to the Cup this year, it will be tainted.

Ovie had clearly taken a back seat to Crosby, and without going through Sid’s Penguins, “The Great 8” will not have overcome his greatest nemesis. It will be like the asterisk that now is attached to the steroid-infused Boston Red Sox 2004 World Champion club.

It’s not AO’s fault, but most experts would agree that if Crosby and Evgeni Malkin were participating in these playoffs, Pittsburgh would never have loss to Tampa Bay and would be considered the favorite to come out of the Eastern Conference.

Crosby had clearly surpassed Ovechkin coming into the season – with an Olympic Gold medal, a Stanley Cup ring, and another Finals appearance, it wasn’t even debatable anymore. Then, Crosby got off to a jaw-dropping start that saw him post 66 points in 41 games.

Ovechkin’s Capitals beat the Penguins in Sid’s last healthy game of the season, but neither had much impact on the game.

The stage should have been set for a rematch in the Eastern Conference Finals, a chance for Ovie to vault himself back towards Crosby’s level. But No. 87 never arrived to save Pittsburgh in the Quarterfinals and so Ovechkin will miss his chance.

AO and the Capitals certainly have the most personal rivalry with Crosby and the Penguins, but anyone that wins the Cup this year will have also done so without facing the league’s best player, and perhaps its best team.

Like the 1994 NBA Playoffs without Michael Jordan, Crosby’s absence for the Penguins must be noted in the annals of hockey history.

It’s his time at the throne and anybody so lucky to win a title in the King’s absence should thank the Hockey Gods for showing mercy.

How Three Free Agent Signings In 2007 Have Shaped The Eastern Conference

In the last four seasons, one of them has 51 goals and 174 assists, the next has 62 goals and 99 assists, and the last has 102 goals and 116 assists.

The first has eight goals and 26 assists in 42 playoff games, the second has four goals and four assists in 21 playoff games, and the last has 28 goals and 29 assists in 53 playoff games.

They are now a center for the Montreal Canadiens, the captain of the New York Rangers, and an alternate captain of the Philadelphia Flyers.

Their journeys over the last four years, however, have been far different.

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Entering the summer of 2007, Scott Gomez, Chris Drury, and Daniel Briere were the top forwards available in free agency.

Gomez had served as one of the lone offensive threats of the New Jersey Devils for the better part of a decade. Despite a system that crippled the offensive numbers of many, Gomez had four straight seasons of 40+ assists. He’d scored a career high of 33 goals in 2005-2006, and though he dipped to just 13 goals and 47 assists in 2006-2007, many thought he’d taken the next step.

Drury was a co-captain of the Buffalo Sabres and had established a reputation as one of the most clutch players in the league. He had 17 goals and 14 assists during the previous two playoffs including a game-tying goal with 7.7 seconds left in regulation of Game Five in the Eastern Conference Semi-finals against the New York Rangers. Drury’s postseason experience was the stuff of legend, but he’d also potted 37 goals in 2006-2007, seven more than his previous career high of 30.

Briere arrived in Buffalo a year before Drury and had carved out a solid career as an offensive player after a slow start to his NHL career with Phoenix. Drury was “Captain Clutch” at the time, but Briere had improved constantly and was still just 29-years-old. Drury scored more big goals than fellow co-captain Briere, but Daniel had added 11 goals and 23 assists during the past two playoffs for Buffalo himself.

The Philadelphia Flyers had finished dead last in the Eastern Conference in 2006-2007 and were in desperate need of an infusion of talent. Prior to the start of the free agency period, the Flyers traded for Scott Hartnell and Kimmo Timonen and signed both to long-term deals. On July 1, the Flyers signed Briere to an eight-year, $52 million deal.

Later that day, Drury and Gomez signed with the New York Rangers for five-years, $32.25 million and seven-years, $51.5 million, respectively. The duo was expected to join with Jaromir Jagr, Brendan Shanahan, and Martin Straka to form a potent offense and turn the Rangers into Stanley Cup contenders.

In 2007-2008, the Rangers finished fifth in the Eastern Conference, their highest placing since 1997-1998. The Rangers cruised by Gomez’s old team, the New Jersey Devils, in the first round of the playoffs and were eliminated by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the Semi-finals. Gomez and Drury finished No. 2 and No. 3 on the team in scoring behind Jagr.

Briere posted 72 points for the Flyers as Philadelphia climbed all the way up to sixth in the East. The Flyers beat Washington and Montreal en route to the Conference Finals where they, too, fell to the Penguins. Briere notched nine goals and seven assists in 17 playoff games.

Jagr, Straka, and Shanahan all left the Rangers in the offseason, and Drury and Gomez were entrusted with carrying the load in 2008-2009. The Rangers managed a seventh place finish in the East, but Gomez’s production slipped to 16 goals and 42 assists and Drury managed just 22 goals and 34 assists. The Rangers were dismissed from the playoffs in seven games by the Washington Capitals in the first round.

Briere fought off injuries all season but still scored 25 points in 29 games. Philadelphia once again ran into the Penguins in the playoffs, and once again Pittsburgh sent the Flyers packing, this time in the first round.

In the summer of 2009, the Rangers recognized that they needed to add an elite goal scorer to replace Jagr. Gomez had underwhelmed during his time in New York, and his enormous contract loomed over the team. Rangers GM Glen Sather dumped Gomez on the Montreal Canadiens and picked up Chris Higgins and a prospect named Ryan McDonagh in the process. Sather quickly made use of his cap savings, and signed Slovakian winger Marian Gaborik to a fat free agent deal the very next day.

The Flyers had established themselves as a growing Eastern Conference powerhouse. Mike Richards and Jeff Carter continued to improve, and the Flyers also had prospects Claude Giroux and James Van Riemsdyk on the horizon. During the offseason, the Flyers acquired hulking defenseman Chris Pronger from the Anaheim Ducks.

Gaborik notched 42 goals in his first season with the Rangers, but the club failed to make the playoffs. New York’s window had closed when Jagr left, and although the team still had plenty of high-priced talent, it was clearly in a transition period. Drury scored just 14 goals and 18 assists and it was obvious that his career was on the down-swing.

In Gomez’s first season with the Canadiens, he tallied 12 goals and 47 assists for the eventual eighth seed. His numbers were basically identical to his previous season with New York, but Montreal had hoped for much more.

The Flyers were expected to cruise through the regular season, but Philadelphia got off to an awful start and needed a shootout win over the Rangers on the last day of the regular season to squeak into the playoffs as the seventh seed. From there, the Flyers went on to upset the Devils, Bruins, and Gomez’s Canadiens en route to the Stanley Cup Finals where the Flyers fell to the Chicago Blackhawks in six games. Briere was magic in the playoffs and scored 12 goals and 18 assists, many of them coming with the game on the line.

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Fast forward to the present day, and the three are at very different points in their careers. Drury went goal-less in his first 23 games of the season as he struggled to fight through nagging injuries. He needed until the final game of the year to surpass Henrik Lundqvist’s four points, but then Drury scored his biggest goal as a Ranger against the New Jersey Devils to help New York reach the postseason.

Canadiens fans were not impressed with Gomez in his first year with the club, and grew even more frustrated this season. The Alaskan center still has three more expensive seasons on his contract and managed just seven goals and 31 assists this season.

Briere was second on the Flyers in scoring with 34 goals and 34 assists. Once again, he’s been huge in the playoffs and added his sixth goal of the first round in last night’s elimination of his old team, the Buffalo Sabres.

Three signings have shaped the Eastern Conference over the last four years. Neither Drury nor Gomez lived up to expectations with the Rangers, and it’s a good bet that New York will buy out the final year of Drury’s contract this summer. The Rangers did acquire a stud young defenseman for Gomez in McDonagh, a player that Montreal would love to still have. Gomez’s deal is crippling for the Canadiens and one can only wonder how the top-pairing of P.K. Subban and McDonagh would have faired over the next decade.

Then there’s Briere. There’s been no better playoff performer in the league than the diminutive forward over the last few years. He always seems to be in exactly the right place at the right time for Philadelphia, and the Flyers appear poised for a deep playoff run once again with Briere an early candidate for the Conn Smythe.

On the one hand, the Rangers were forced to rebuild once the Drury and Gomez deals failed. On the other, they could have had a player like Briere.

Anyone Can Have Fun And Succeed At Fantasy Sports - A Sad But True Tale

I have a confession. My girlfriend just beat me (and eight other male friends) at fantasy hockey.

Maybe I should be proud of her accomplishment and pleased that she took an interest in one of my favorite hobbies this year, but I’m not that mature. I’m a 10-year fantasy hockey veteran that has secured multiple championships, and I just lost to a (albeit very pretty) girl.

My competitiveness has blinded me to the positives of her accomplishment, and now I’m up at nights contemplating where it all went wrong.

Thanks to me, she’s been planted in front of at least 100 Rangers games since the start of our relationship. I’ve got her in agreement that Henrik Lundqvist literally cannot be beaten in the shootout, that Marian Gaborik is a lazy S.O.B., and that Brandon Dubinsky is an MVP in waiting. But in general, the depth of her current hockey knowledge is shallower than a frat guy at a happy hour.

To my delight, she agreed to participate in a league with some of my friends and teammates, provided I give her a moderate amount of help. I quickly convinced her that after my team dragged hers all over the “ice,” she’d owe me a…favor.

It didn’t turn out that way. Despite my still standing belief that I had the best team in the league, somehow it was my significant other that went on an improbable playoff run from the six-seed and won the title.

There’s only one good thing I’ve taken from this ordeal. My girlfriend’s victory will be my go to argument from now on when someone says that fantasy sports are for dorks and that casual fans shouldn’t waste their time. Anyone can play, and anyone can win.

That’s not to take anything away from my boo; as a fantasy rookie she guided her squad through the bumps and bruises of the regular season and pulled off a string of stunning upsets in the postseason that would have impressed Shaka Smart. But with just a little guidance, everyone has a chance to do the same thing.

The basic principles of fantasy sports are simple. For the preseason draft you can use any one of 6,432,019 guides on sports Web sites. Once the season starts all you want to do is add the guys whose numbers keep climbing and get rid of the ones who don’t.

Sorry to all the “experts” out there, but that’s really it. Find guys trending upward and get them on your roster while getting rid of dead weight.

Of course, it’s a little more fun when you actually know what you’re talking about. I have “my guys” that I must retain year after year, and I know which players I like and dislike in real life. My encyclopedic knowledge of NHL stats gives me an advantage, but it doesn’t always translate to victory

As my girlfriend will readily tell you, it’s pretty easy to get hooked on fantasy sports. Most red-blooded Americans are fierce competitors and no matter how nerdy they think fantasy sports are, they understand the concept of winning and losing.

If you’re a casual sports fan, or if you’re dating one and you haven’t played the biggest internet craze of the century, I highly suggest you sign up. Fantasy sports are not going away anytime soon, and you may find that mini weekly victories are quite fun to wake up to on Monday mornings.

As for me, I’m going to give serious thought to retiring from my friends and teammates league. I just don’t know if I can stomach playing with those dorks again.

Here's How NHL Eastern Conference Playoff Teams Did Against Each Other During The Regular Season, And Why It Doesn't Matter For The Playoffs

With just three days left in the regular season, not a single Eastern Conference playoff matchup is set in stone. What happens in the season’s final days will determine who finishes first in the conference and who misses out on the postseason all together.

Most of us are guilty of looking ahead and debating which potential opponent would be the best and worst draw for our team. One of the most frequently cited bits of information is how a team has done against its potential opponents during the regular season. Below, I compiled a list of how each potential Eastern Conference playoff team performed against potential playoff foes during the regular season.

Some interesting tidbits:

• The conference leading Washington Capitals could face any of Montreal, Buffalo, Carolina, or New York in the first round. Washington is 11-0-3 against the first three, but just 1-2-1 against the Rangers.

• If you watched “24/7” you got the distinct impression that Washington was the underdog in the Caps rivalry with the Pittsburgh Penguins. This season, Alex Ovechkin’s crew went 3-0-1 against Pittsburgh.

• If Carolina sneaks into the playoffs, the Hurricanes won’t be thrilled about any of their potential matchups. They have a losing record against all of the East’s top four seeds, a combined 4-12-2.

• Boston vs. Montreal looks like a likely matchup, and it would be a great one. The bad blood between the two teams culminating in Zdeno Chara’s hit on Max Pacioretty is palpable, and the teams have played each other very tough during the regular season.

• The Flyers may be giving their fans panic attacks as the season wears down, but the Philly faithful might be comforted to know that their team has a winning record against Montreal, Buffalo, New York and Carolina.Philly had better not lose hold of the division to Pittsburgh though; the Flyers went just 1-3-0 against TampaBay.

• Pittsburgh, on the other hand, would love to snatch the lead from Philly and draw a first round matchup with the Buffalo Sabres. The Penguins went 4-0-0 against Buffalo, but just 13-17-2 against the East’s other playoff teams.

• Boston isn’t afraid of any of the East’s big dogs, as the Bruins have a winning record against the first, second, fourth, and fifth seeds. However, Boston is just 8-9-3 against the sixth, seventh, eighth, and ninth seeds, one of which the Bruins will face in the first round.

• If the Rangers do make the playoffs, their first round opponent might not be thrilled. New York is 12-7-1 against the top four seeds in the East, but just 4-10-2 against the fifth, sixth, seventh, and ninth seeds.

• The Canadiens shocked the world during the playoffs last year, but their playoff foes from a year ago, all of whom they could meet again, didn’t take them lightly during the regular season this year. Montreal went 1-3-0 against Philadelphia and Washington, but the Canadiens did go 3-1-0 against the Penguins.

• In 2010, the sixth seeded Boston Bruins upset the third seeded Buffalo Sabres in the first round 4-2. Buffalowent 4-1-1 against Boston this season, so this potential three-six matchup could be particularly intriguing.

• A potential matchup between the Capitals and Flyers down the line could feature lots of bonus hockey, all four games between the two this season were decided by overtime or shootout.

But does the regular season matter? If the 2010 season is any indication, not really. In the first round of the 2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs, the team that won the regular season matchup was 2-1, with Pittsburgh splitting its regular season with Ottawa. The Canadiens beat Pittsburgh in the Conference Semi-finals despite losing their regular season series to the Penguins, but the Flyers beat the Bruins after winning the regular season series between the two.Philadelphia and Montreal split their regular season series, but the Flyers came out on top in the Conference Finals.

In other words, it’s not a bad idea to take note of how your team did against potential playoff foes, but it may not mean as much as you think.

Washington

Against Philadelphia 2-0-2

Nov. 7 vs. Flyers, W 3-2 OT

Nov. 20 vs. Flyers L 5-4 SO

Jan 18. @ Flyers L 3-2 OT

Mar. 22 @ Flyers W 5-4 SO

Against Boston 1-3-0

Oct. 19 vs. Bruins L 3-1

Oct 21 @ Bruins L 4-1

Nov. 5 vs. Bruins W 5-3

Dec 18. @ Bruins L 3-2

Against Pittsburgh 3-0-1

Dec. 23 vs. Penguins L 3-2 SO

Jan. 1 @ Penguins W 3-1

Feb. 6 vs. Penguins W 3-0

Feb. 21 @ Penguins W 1-0

Against Tampa Bay 4-1-1

Nov. 11 vs. Lightning W 6-3

Nov. 26 vs. Lightning W 6-0

Jan. 4 vs. Lightning L 1-0 OT

Jan. 12 @ Lightning L 3-0

Feb 4. @ Lightning W 5-2

Mar. 7 @ Lightning W 2-1 SO

Against Montreal 3-0-1

Dec. 28 vs. Canadiens W 3-0

Feb. 1 vs. Canadiens L 3-2 SO

Mar. 15 @ Canadiens W 4-2

Mar. 26 @ Canadiens W 2-0

Against Buffalo 3-0-1

Nov. 13 @ Sabres L 3-2 OT

Nov. 17 vs. Sabres W 4-2

Feb. 20 @ Sabres W 2-1

Apr. 2 vs. Sabres W 5-4 OT

Against New York 1-2-1

Nov. 9 @ Rangers W 5-3

Dec. 12 @ Rangers L 7-0

Jan. 24 vs. Rangers L 2-1 SO

Feb. 25 vs. Rangers L 6-0

Against Carolina 5-0-1

Oct. 27 @ Hurricanes W 3-0

Nov. 24 @ Hurricanes W 3-2

Nov. 28 vs. Hurricanes W 3-2 SO

Dec. 26 @ Hurricanes W 3-2

Mar. 11 vs. Hurricanes W 2-1

Mar. 29 vs. Hurricanes L 3-2 SO

Philadelphia

Against Washington 2-0-2

Nov. 7 @ Capitals, L 3-2 OT

Nov. 20 @ Capitals W 5-4 SO

Jan 18. vs. Capitals W 3-2 OT

Mar. 22 vs. Capitals L 5-4 SO

Against Boston 1-3-0

Dec. 1 vs. Bruins L 3-0

Dec. 11 @ Bruins W 2-1 OT

Jan. 13 @ Bruins L 7-5

Mar. 27 vs. Bruins L 2-1

Against Pittsburgh 4-1-1

Oct. 7 @ Penguins W 3-2

Oct. 16 vs. Penguins L 5-1

Oct. 29 @ Penguins W 3-2

Dec. 14 vs. Penguins W 3-2

Mar. 24 vs. Penguins L 2-1 SO

Mar. 29 @ Penguins W 5-2

Against Tampa Bay 1-3-0

Oct. 14 vs. Lightning L 3-2

Nov. 18 vs. Lightening L 8-7

Feb. 1 @ Lightning L 4-0

Feb. 15 @ Lightning W 4-3 SO

Against Montreal 3-1-0

Nov. 16 @ Canadiens L 3-0

Nov. 22 vs. Canadiens W 3-2

Dec. 15 @ Canadiens W 5-3

Jan. 25 vs. Canadiens W 5-2

Against Buffalo 2-1-0

Oct. 26 vs. Sabres W 6-3

Jan. 11 @ Sabres W 5-2

Mar. 5 vs. Sabres L 5-3

Apr. 8 @ Sabres

Against New York 4-1-1

Nov. 4 vs. Rangers W 4-1

Dec. 18 vs. Rangers W 4-1

Jan. 16 @ Rangers W 3-2

Feb. 20 @ Rangers W 4-2

Mar. 6 @ Rangers L 6-0

Apr. 3 vs. Rangers L 3-2 SO

Against Carolina 3-1-0

Nov. 1 vs. Hurricanes W 3-2

Nov. 11 @ Hurricanes W 8-1

Feb. 10 vs. Hurricanes W 2-1

Feb. 18 @ Hurricanes L 3-2

Boston

Against Washington 3-1-0

Oct. 19 @ Capitals W 3-1

Oct 21 vs. Capitals W 4-1

Nov. 5 @ Capitals L 5-3

Dec 18. vs. Capitals W 3-2

Against Philadelphia 3-0-1

Dec. 1 @ Flyers W 3-0

Dec. 11 vs. Flyers L 2-1 OT

Jan. 13 vs. Flyers W 7-5

Mar. 27 @ Flyers W 2-1

Against Pittsburgh 2-1-1

Nov. 10 @ Penguins W 7-4

Jan. 10 @ Penguins W 4-2

Jan. 15 vs. Penguins L 3-2

Mar. 5 vs. Penguins L 3-2 OT

Against Tampa Bay 3-1-0

Nov. 22 @ Lightning L 3-1

Dec. 2 vs. Lightning W 8-1

Dec. 28 @ Lightning W 4-3

Mar. 3 vs. Lightning W 2-1

Against Montreal 2-3-1

Nov. 11 vs. Canadiens L 3-1

Dec. 16 @ Canadiens L 4-3

Jan. 8 @ Canadiens L 3-2 OT

Feb. 9 vs. Canadiens W 8-6

Mar. 8 @ Canadiens L 4-1

Mar. 24 vs. Canadiens W 7-0

Against Buffalo 2-2-2

Nov. 3 @ Sabres W 5-2

Dec. 7 vs. Sabres W 3-2 OT

Dec. 15 @ Sabres L 3-2

Jan. 1 @ Sabres L 7-6 SO

Jan 20 vs. Sabres L 4-2

Mar. 10 vs. Sabres L 4-3 OT

Against New York 1-3-0

Oct. 23 vs. Rangers L 3-2

Nov. 17 @ Rangers W 3-2

Mar. 26 vs. Rangers L 1-0

Apr. 4 @ Rangers L 5-3

Against Carolina 3-1-0

Nov. 26 vs. Hurricanes L 3-0

Jan. 17 vs. Hurricanes W 7-0

Jan. 18 @ Hurricanes W 3-2

Feb. 1 @ Hurricanes W 3-2

Pittsburgh

Against Washington 1-3-0

Dec. 23 @ Capitals W 3-2 SO

Jan. 1 vs. Capitals L 3-1

Feb. 6 @ Capitals L 3-0

Feb. 21 vs. Capitals L 1-0

Against Philadelphia 2-4-0

Oct. 7 vs. Flyers L 3-2

Oct. 16 @ Flyers W 5-1

Oct. 29 vs. Flyers L 3-2

Dec. 14 @ Flyers L 3-2

Mar. 24 @ Flyers W 2-1 SO

Mar. 29 vs. Flyers L 5-2

Against Boston 2-2-0

Nov. 10 vs. Bruins L 7-4

Jan. 10 vs. Bruins L 4-2

Jan. 15 @ Bruins W 3-2

Mar. 5 @ Bruins W 3-2 OT

Against Tampa Bay 2-2-0

Oct. 27 @ Lightning L 5-3

Nov. 12 vs. Lightning W 5-1

Jan. 5 vs. Lightning W 8-1

Mar. 31 @ Lightning L 2-1

Against Montreal 1-2-1

Oct. 9 vs. Canadiens L 3-2

Jan. 6 @ Canadiens L 2-1 SO

Jan. 12 @ Canadiens W 5-2

Mar. 12 vs. Canadiens L 3-0

Against Buffalo 4-0-0

Nov. 24 @ Sabres W 1-0

Dec. 11 @ Sabres W 5-2

Feb. 4 vs. Sabres W 3-2

Mar. 8 vs. Sabres W 3-1

Against New York 2-3-1

Nov. 15 vs. Rangers L 3-2 OT

Nov. 29 @ Rangers W 3-1

Dec. 15 vs. Rangers L 4-1

Feb. 1 @ Rangers W 4-3 SO

Feb 13 @ Rangers L 5-3

Mar. 20 vs. Rangers L 5-2

Against Carolina 3-1-0

Oct. 30 @ Hurricanes W 3-0

Nov. 19 vs. Hurricanes W 5-4 SO

Jan. 22 vs. Hurricanes W 3-2

Feb. 25 @ Hurricanes L 4-1

Tampa Bay

Against Washington 2-3-1

Nov. 11 @ Capitals L 6-3

Nov. 26 @ Capitals L 6-0

Jan. 4 @ Capitals W 1-0 OT

Jan. 12 vs. Capitals W 3-0

Feb 4. vs. Capitals L 5-2

Mar. 7 vs. Capitals L 2-1 SO

Against Philadelphia 3-0-1

Oct. 14 @ Flyers W 3-2

Nov. 18 @ Flyers W 8-7

Feb. 1 vs. Flyers W 4-0

Feb. 15 vs. Flyers L 4-3 SO

Against Boston 1-3-0

Nov. 22 vs. Bruins W 3-1

Dec. 2 @ Bruins L 8-1

Dec. 28 vs. Bruins L 4-3

Mar. 3 @ Bruins L 2-1

Against Pittsburgh 2-2-0

Oct. 27 vs. Penguins W 5-3

Nov. 12 @ Penguins L 5-1

Jan. 5 @ Penguins L 8-1

Mar. 31 vs. Penguins W 2-1

Against Montreal 2-1-1

Oct. 13 @ Canadiens W 4-3 OT

Dec. 30 vs. Canadiens W 4-1

Mar. 5 vs. Canadiens L 4-2

Mar. 17 @ Canadiens L 3-2 SO

Against Buffalo 2-2-0

Nov. 20 @ Sabres W 2-1

Dec. 18 vs. Sabres W 3-1

Feb. 8 vs. Sabres L 7-4

Apr. 5 @ Sabres L 4-2

Against New York 4-0-0

Nov. 24 vs. Rangers W 5-3

Dec. 23 @ Rangers W 4-3 SO

Jan. 1 vs. Rangers W 2-1 OT

Feb 27. @ Rangers W 2-1

Against Carolina 3-2-0

Dec. 20 vs. Hurricanes W 5-1

Jan. 15 @ Hurricanes L 6-4

Feb. 12 vs. Hurricanes W 4-3 OT

Mar. 25 vs. Hurricanes L 4-3

Mar. 26 @ Hurricanes W 4-2

Apr. 9 @ Hurricanes

Montreal

Against Washington 1-3-0

Dec. 28 @ Capitals L 3-0

Feb. 1 @ Capitals W 3-2 SO

Mar. 15 vs. Capitals L 4-2

Mar. 26 vs. Capitals L 2-0

Against Philadelphia 1-3-0

Nov. 16 vs. Flyers W 3-0

Nov. 22 @ Flyers L 3-2

Dec. 15 vs. Flyers L 5-3

Jan. 25 @ Flyers L 5-2

Against Boston 4-2-0

Nov. 11 @ Bruins W 3-1

Dec. 16 vs. Bruins W 4-3

Jan. 8 vs. Bruins W 3-2 OT

Feb. 9 @ Bruins L 8-6

Mar. 8 vs. Bruins W 4-1

Mar. 24 @ Bruins L 7-0

Against Pittsburgh 3-1-0

Oct. 9 @ Penguins W 3-2

Jan. 6 vs. Penguins W 2-1 SO

Jan. 12 vs. Penguins L 5-2

Mar. 12 @ Penguins W 3-0

Against Tampa Bay 2-1-1

Oct. 13 vs. Lightning L 4-3 OT

Dec. 30 @ Lightning L 4-1

Mar. 5 @ Lightning W 4-2

Mar. 17 vs. Lightning W 3-2 SO

Against Buffalo 3-1-2

Oct. 15 @ Sabres W 2-1

Nov. 5 @ Sabres W 3-2

Nov. 27 vs. Sabres W 3-1

Jan. 18 @ Sabres L 2-1 OT

Feb. 15 vs. Sabres L 3-2 SO

Mar. 22 vs. Sabres L 2-0

Against New York 3-1-0

Jan. 11 @ Rangers W 2-1

Jan. 15 vs. Rangers W 3-2

Feb. 5 vs. Rangers W 2-0

Mar. 18 @ Rangers L 6-3

Against Carolina 3-1-0

Nov. 13 vs. Hurricanes W 7-2

Dec. 23 @ Hurricanes W 3-2

Feb. 26 vs. Hurricanes W 4-3

Mar. 30 @ Hurricanes L 6-2

Buffalo

Against Washington 1-2-1

Nov. 13 vs. Capitals W 3-2 OT

Nov. 17 @ Capitals L 4-2

Feb. 20 vs. Capitals L 2-1

Apr. 2 @ Capitals L 5-4 OT

Against Philadelphia 1-2-0

Oct. 26 @ Flyers L 6-3

Jan. 11 vs. Flyers L 5-2

Mar. 5 @ Flyers W 5-3

Apr. 8 vs. Flyers

Against Boston 4-1-1

Nov. 3 vs. Bruins L 5-2

Dec. 7 @ Bruins L 3-2 OT

Dec. 15 vs. Bruins W 3-2

Jan. 1 vs. Bruins W 7-6 SO

Jan 20 @ Bruins W 4-2

Mar. 10 @ Bruins W 4-3 OT

Against Pittsburgh 0-4-0

Nov. 24 vs. Penguins L 1-0

Dec. 11 vs. Penguins L 5-2

Feb. 4 @ Penguins L 3-2

Mar. 8 @ Penguins L 3-1

Against Tampa Bay 2-2-0

Nov. 20 vs. Lightning L 2-1

Dec. 18 @ Lightning L 3-1

Feb. 8 @ Lightning W 7-4

Apr. 5 vs. Lightning W 4-2

Against Montreal 3-3-0

Oct. 15 vs. Canadiens L 2-1

Nov. 5 vs. Canadiens L 3-2

Nov. 27 @ Canadiens L 3-1

Jan. 18 vs. Canadiens W 2-1 OT

Feb. 15 @ Canadiens W 3-2 SO

Mar. 22 @ Canadiens W 2-0

Against New York 3-1-0

Jan. 11 @ Rangers W 2-1

Jan. 15 vs. Rangers W 3-2

Feb. 5 vs. Rangers W 2-0

Mar. 18 @ Rangers L 6-3

Against Carolina 3-1-0

Nov. 13 vs. Hurricanes W 7-2

Dec. 23 @ Hurricanes W 3-2

Feb. 26 vs. Hurricanes W 4-3

Mar. 30 @ Hurricanes L 6-2

New York

Against Washington 3-1-0

Nov. 9 vs. Capitals L 5-3

Dec. 12 vs. Capitals W 7-0

Jan. 24 @ Capitals W 2-1 SO

Feb. 25 @ Capitals W 6-0

Against Philadelphia 2-4-0

Nov. 4 @ Flyers L 4-1

Dec. 18 @ Flyers L 4-1

Jan. 16 vs. Flyers L 3-2

Feb. 20 vs. Flyers L 4-2

Mar. 6 vs. Flyers W 6-0

Apr. 3 @ Flyers W 3-2 SO

Against Boston 3-1-0

Oct. 23 @ Bruins W 3-2

Nov. 17 vs. Bruins L 3-2

Mar. 26 @ Bruins W 1-0

Apr. 4 vs. Bruins W 5-3

Against Pittsburgh 4-1-1

Nov. 15 @ Penguins W 3-2 OT

Nov. 29 vs. Penguins L 3-1

Dec. 15 @ Penguins W 4-1

Feb. 1 vs. Penguins L 4-3 SO

Feb 13 vs. Penguins W 5-3

Mar. 20 @ Penguins W 5-2

Against Tampa Bay 0-2-2

Nov. 24 @ Lightning L 5-3

Dec. 23 vs. Lightning L 4-3 SO

Jan. 1 @ Lightning L 2-1 OT

Feb 27. vs. Lightning L 2-1

Against Montreal 1-3-0

Jan. 11 vs. Canadiens L 2-1

Jan. 15 @ Canadiens L 3-2

Feb. 5 @ Canadiens L 2-0

Mar. 18 vs. Canadiens W 6-3

Against Buffalo 1-3-0

Jan. 11 vs. Sabres L 2-1

Jan. 15 @ Sabres L 3-2

Feb. 5 @ Sabres L 2-0

Mar. 18 vs. Sabres W 6-3

Against Carolina 2-2-0

Oct. 29 vs. Hurricanes L 4-3

Jan. 5 vs. Hurricanes W 2-1 OT

Jan. 20 @ Hurricanes L 4-1

Feb. 22 @ Hurricanes W 4-3 SO

Carolina

Against Washington 1-4-1

Oct. 27 vs. Capitals L 3-0

Nov. 24 vs. Capitals L 3-2

Nov. 28 @ Capitals L 3-2 SO

Dec. 26 vs. Capitals L 3-2

Mar. 11 @ Capitals L 2-1

Mar. 29 @ Capitals W 3-2 SO

Against Philadelphia 1-3-0

Nov. 1 @ Flyers L 3-2

Nov. 11 vs. Flyers L 8-1

Feb. 10 @ Flyers L 2-1

Feb. 18 vs. Flyers W 3-2

Against Boston 1-3-0

Nov. 26 @ Bruins W 3-0

Jan. 17 @ Bruins L 7-0

Jan. 18 vs. Bruins L 3-2

Feb. 1 vs. Bruins L 3-2

Against Pittsburgh 1-2-1

Oct. 30 vs. Penguins L 3-0

Nov. 19 @ Penguins L 5-4 SO

Jan. 22 @ Penguins L 3-2

Feb. 25 vs. Penguins W 4-1

Against Tampa Bay 2-2-1

Dec. 20 @ Lightning L 5-1

Jan. 15 vs. Lightning W 6-4

Feb. 12 @ Lightning L 4-3 OT

Mar. 25 @ Lightning W 4-3

Mar. 26 vs. Lightning L 4-2

Apr. 9 vs. Lightning

Against Montreal 1-3-0

Nov. 13 @ Canadiens L 7-2

Dec. 23 vs. Canadiens L 3-2

Feb. 26 @ Canadiens L 4-3

Mar. 30 vs. Canadiens W 6-2

Against Buffalo 1-3-0

Nov. 13 @ Sabres L 7-2

Dec. 23 vs. Sabres L 3-2

Feb. 26 @ Sabres L 4-3

Mar. 30 vs. Sabres W 6-2

Against New York 2-0-2

Oct. 29 @ Rangers W 4-3

Jan. 5 @ Rangers L 2-1 OT

Jan. 20 vs. Rangers W 4-1

Feb. 22 vs. Rangers L 4-3 SO

Required Reading: NHL + Winter Olympics

Must read for today: The hilarious hockey blog DownGoesBrown weighs the pros and cons of the NHL's participation in the Winter Olympics. Check it out here.

Pro: Having NHL players in the Olympics offers the league a rare opportunity to finally spend some time talking about Sidney Crosby and Alexander Ovechkin.