It's time!

It's finally arrived, ladies and gentlemen, it's time for the 2007-08 NHL season! (excluding those two games in London on the weekend... come on we all know no one counted those) Four games are slated to open the season tonight, in what looks to be one of the most exciting and tight seasons in recent memory.

Here's a short preview of tonight's games:

Anaheim Ducks vs. Detroit Red Wings
The Ducks already have a regular season win under their belts, but does that mean they come into this game hot, or cold, three nights out of their cross-atlantic road trip? I'm sure there's no more jet lag, but one team you don't want to face after a trip like that is the Red Wings. Most experts are predicting the Wings to finish 1st overall AGAIN this season. The Ducks probably aren't and won't be that far behind though. Either way, this is an explosive way to start the season, pitting the top two teams in the west against each other, as well as playoff rivals.
Prediction: Red Wings 3-1, goals from Holmstrom (2), Lidstrom and Pronger.

Montreal Canadiens vs. Carolina Hurricanes
Another set of former playoff rivals square off here, with an added twist. Both these teams missed the playoffs last year, and are out to prove that it won't happen again. The Hurricanes look very similar to the team that missed the playoffs last year, while the Habs look fresher, younger and fairly hungry. Cristobal Huet faces a ton of pressure with Carey Price breathing down his neck, Alex Kovalev has something to prove to everyone and a bunch of rookies and young players want to prove their worth to this team. Although the Hurricanes have had a good record in recent years against the Habs, I'm going to make the homer pick and say that the Habs might want it a little more tonight.
Prediction: Habs 5-4, goals from Grabovski, Kovalev, Plekanec, Ryder (2), Staal (3), Williams.

Ottawa Senators vs. Toronto Maple Leafs
Most would hope that the nights of blowout wins are all but done in the NHL, but here's to hoping they're not, just for tonight. The Leafs have gotten a lot stronger this year, but the Senators are still one of the top teams in the east.
Prediction: Senators 7-3, goals from Alfredsson (3), Heatley (2), Redden, Vermette, Blake, Tucker, Kilger.

Dallas Stars vs. Colorado Avalance
The Dallas Stars are at the bottom of most people's predictions, and haven't done much since last season to show people that they're a playoff team this year. The Avalance, on the other hand, have made changes so that they don't disappoint their fans again this season. Will they be enough to win this home opener vs. the stars? Personally I'm a Stars fan but things don't bode well for the former Stanley Cup champs this season.
Prediction: Avs 4-2, goals from Brunette (2), Sakic, Smyth, Lehtinen, Barnes.



Four games that should excite and delight fans all across the scene in the NHL tonight, we hope you enjoy them. Please note that these predictions were based on my opinion and were mostly pulled out of my behind. Watch me be dead wrong on all of them. It's all in good fun, anyway, no?

Enjoy the games everyone!

Giggy the Man in Anaheim's Future

This will be the first of my 30 overviews of the goaltending situation of every team in the NHL going into 07-08. I'll cover everything from the starting position, to prospects. So we start with Anaheim. Last year JS Giguere proved that he was the starter after entering the season in competition with Ilya Bryzgalov. Although Giguere may not be the most athletic goaltender in the league, he has experience that not many goaltenders have. He is very professional about his job and has a knack to come through in the clutch. Bryzgalov is nothing to sneeze at either. He played well when he did play last season, Giguere just outperformed him. That's not a bad thing for Ducks, it's a good kind of problem to have. Giguere received a long term contract from the Ducks, so look for Bryzgalov to find his way out of Anaheim sometime in 07-08 (He just hopes it's not Edmonton). The Ducks may wait until an injury, then teams will be more interested in him, thus the price goes up, and they can sell high. Bryzgalov deserves to be a starter, he is good enough, he is just not in the right situation as of now.

The Ducks signed prospect goaltender Jonas Hiller from Switzerland in the off-season, and he is ready to step in as a backup if Bryzgalov were to leave. As for the goaltenders on the bubble, they also signed a goalie by the name of Gerald Coleman who actually played a little bit for Tampa Bay and has some NHL experience. He will most likely be the AHL goalie for Portland. They also have a 20-year-old prospect by the name of JP Levasseur who played for the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies last season and saw plenty of shots. His goals against wasn't too good as a result, but this kid is good, ignore his stats. The Ducks are very well off in the goaltending position for years to come, Ducks fans have nothing to worry about.