2012/13 NHL Season

Well the 2012/13 NHL Season is in limbo with a lockout now in place

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=641628

And the NHL's response to fans: http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=641584

Not good, not good at all.

The lockout is continuing. Following on from the cancelation of the entire pre-season, the regular season has now been cancelled to 24 October.

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=642812&cmpid=fb

These lockouts in the US are based on greed from both sides. Can understand the owners wanting to have profitable business models and the players wanting to be looked after as well.

I never know which side to follow in these issues. I do lean towards the owners (as long as they are reasonable) as without them, there is no league for the players to participate in.

Players don't like to be thought of as employees but they must realise these owners are not going to run at huge losses for them.

If you are a good enough player, you will be rewarded appropriately.

Hope the lockout ends soon as I am hoping to see an NHL match in March when in NY next year.

To me its the best live sport to watch. AFL & basketball are good but there is something primal about the hockey that takes it to another level.

Another week has been wiped off the NHL season

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=643820

How intereting is it that US sport is so affected by player boycotts.

Something that has never occurred to my knowledge in any mainstream Australian sport.

I mean we just couldn't comprehend the occurrence of such a thing, but is seemingly commonplace in the American sport psyche.

I think it reflects on the cultural aspect of what sport means to us Aussies, as opposed to the business of US sport, where teams get shipped off to other cities at the drop of a hat (read better offer).

I gotta say, I struggle big time with these sorts of concepts and often wonder, is it about the sport anymore?

The AFL bit by bit draws closer to this ethos, in my opinion and the whole rationalisation put forward by the AFL for its version of the game's progression, just doesn't wash with me.

I guess at the end of the day, I am interested in the AFL comp, but certainly not passionate about it.

I cannot get passionate about teams or comps where contrivances dominate what should be a level playing field.

OK, rant over.

Another month wiped

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=644323

Half of December and the All Star weekend now gone

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=646209&navid=DL|NHL|home

Getting closer to no season at all - all of December now gone

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=647344&navid=nhl:topheads

First two weeks of January gone, I reckon the next call will be season gone

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=648084&cmpid=fb

The NHL and NHLPA have finally reached an agreement, and it looks like a severely truncated NHL season will now go ahead

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=649086&navid=nhl:topheads

The NHL is officially back - 48 games in 99 days (plus Playoffs)

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=649886&navid=nhl:topheads

Looks like Fox Sports are going to be showing some 'local feeds' of NHL matches this season.

Today they've shown the Phoenix v Dallas match using the Phoenix local feed - can't remember the last time Fox Sports used a non NBC feed (except the odd time NBC has picked up a local feed themselves) for the NHL?

Blink and you missed it - the NHL regular season is nearly done.

Pittsburgh have been been the side of the Eastern Conference, clinching the Eastern Conference on the back of a 15 game winning streak mid-season. They also have not lost a game in Overtime or Shootout all season.

This year the playoffs look like it will have quite a Northeast division flair with Boston, Montreal and Toronto already guaranteed Playoffs action, and Ottawa in the box seat to take one of the past two playoff spots in the Eastern Conference, which could leave Buffalo as the sole Northeast side not to make the playoffs. This will be Toronto's first Postseason action since 2004!

The Southeast Division is going to have a very quiet postseason with the likelihood that Washington will be sole Southeast representative in the playoffs. Winnipeg can mathematically still make Playoffs but would need to rely on Ottawa and/or the New York Rangers to lose both their matches and Winnipeg to win their remaining game to end their time in the Eastern Conference in the Playoffs. Carolina, Tampa Bay, and Florida look like they won't just take the last three spots in the Southeast Division, but also the last three spots in the Eastern Conference.

The Atlantic Division has had a bit of a changing of the guard. While Pittsburgh have risen to the top of the Conference this year, hoping to avoid another first round Playoff exit, the New York Islanders have secured their first Playoff spot since 2007. The Rangers look set to join the Islander and Penguins in postseason action from the Atlantic Division, while New Jersey won't be returning to the playoffs, let alone the Stanley Cup final. That leaves Philadelphia, whose form isn't that far off some of the poorer Southeast sides.

And now for the Western Conference

It's been the Chicago Blackhawks show in the Western Conference, not having a regulation loss for the first 24 (or thereabouts) matches. St Louis will also be joining Chicago as a Central Division finalist, with one of Columbus and Detroit almost certain to join them. Which one of Columbus or Detroit will end their time in the Western Conference in the Playoffs? Nashville have known for some time they will be watching the playoffs from the stands.

The Northwest Conference has been the weakest division in the Western Conference. Vancouver has clinched the division, and Minnesota set to join Vancouver, but then there's daylight between Minnesota and the hapless Calgary, Edmonton and Colorado.

The Pacific Division's Anaheim have been the side that's gotten closest to Chicago - and will take the 2nd seed going into the playoffs with some daylight between them and the Blackhawks. Los Angeles will get the chance to defend their Stanley Cup title, and this time won't have to do it from 8th seed. San Jose will be the third side from the Pacific Division heading to the playoffs, leaving a distant Dallas and Phoenix to return to the slumber they were suddenly awaken from in January.

Apologies here I been busy elsewhere Bruce. The AIHL season has begun with the Adelaide Adrenaline with 1 win and 1 loss.

And it's the Chicago Blackhawks who are the Stanley Cup Champions, clinching their series against Boston 4-2.