NHL Season 2014 - 15

[Parrothead]

The season kicked off last night. Some things haven't changed, Leafs lost to Montreal in the closing minutes of the game, final score Habs 4 - Buds 3. The 48th Highlanders piped in the season, as they have for many years. Ceremonial puck drop was done by Mark Kennedy (Ted "Teeder's" son), Darryl Sittler and Johnny Bower. These players are the first to feature in a sculpture "Legends Row" outside the ACC. When completed, it will feature many Leafs greats through team history, on one bench. More players will be added each year, until 2017.

Last week I purchased a set of six stamps at the post office, featuring canadian D-men from the "original six" era. The set of six stamps include:

Tim Horton - Toronto Maple Leafs
Doug Harvey - Montreal Canadiens
Bobby Orr - Boston Bruins
Harry Howell - New York Rangers
Pierre Pilote - Chicago Blackhawks
Red Kelly - Detroit Red Wings

[geonuc]

The season kicked off last night. Some things haven't changed, Leafs lost to Montreal in the closing minutes of the game, final score Habs 4 - Buds 3. The 48th Highlanders piped in the season, as they have for many years. Ceremonial puck drop was done by Mark Kennedy (Ted "Teeder's" son), Darryl Sittler and Johnny Bower. These players are the first to feature in a sculpture "Legends Row" outside the ACC. When completed, it will feature many Leafs greats through team history, on one bench. More players will be added each year, until 2017.

Last week I purchased a set of six stamps at the post office, featuring canadian D-men from the "original six" era. The set of six stamps include:

Tim Horton - Toronto Maple Leafs
Doug Harvey - Montreal Canadiens
Bobby Orr - Boston Bruins
Harry Howell - New York Rangers
Pierre Pilote - Chicago Blackhawks
Red Kelly - Detroit Red Wings

I only recognize one name. I'm sure you can guess which.

[Rommie]

Is it bad that until now I didn't know Tim Horton was a hockey player too?

[Thumper]

Well he's gotta be known for something other than making exceptionally bad donuts and bagels, right?

[Swift]

Is it bad that until now I didn't know Tim Horton was a hockey player too?

Image of the Tim Horton stamp:

[Parrothead]

The doughnut chain is celebrating it's 50th anniversary this year. There is a franchise at the end of my street, so I do pick up some doughnuts/tim-bits on occasion.

Tim Horton died in a car accident on the QEW, early 70's. IIRC, he was a Sabre at the time and was returning home after a game in Buffalo.

LOL, I see Red Kelly as a Red Wing on the stamp, but think of him as a member of the Leafs.

Leafs face the Pens tonight.

These are the Canada Post stamps

[Parrothead]

The annual Hall of Fame game is this weekend. This year's inductees (announced last June) include: players - Dominik Hasek, Peter Forsberg, Mike Modano and Rob Blake. Bill McCreary will be inducted as an official and Pat Burns will be inducted posthumously in the builders category. Burns won 3 Jack Adams awards, one while coaching in Montreal, Toronto and Boston. Finally got a Stanley Cup victory, as coach, while coaching New Jersey.

[SciFiFisher]

Have you ever wondered why hockey isn't as big a sport as soccer?

[brite]

Have you ever wondered why hockey isn't as big a sport as soccer?

[Sigma_Orionis]

Ahhhh! A Gibss slap!, I think you meant to say "You aren't helping Superman"

[SciFiFisher]

Ahhhh! A Gibss slap!, I think you meant to say "You aren't helping Superman"

It's implied.

[Sigma_Orionis]

This bout of unsupervised posting was brought to you by Mystery Pictures! If we make a good picture it's a Mystery!

[Parrothead]

RIP Pat Quinn, former player, coach and GM passed away yesterday.

[Parrothead]

Leafs parted way with coach Randy Carlyle, this week. Too bad, he made due with what was handed to him. I suspect the interim coaches will remain through the end of the season, then see who is available.

Unfortunately the team is streaky, currently again on a downward skid, hopefully that will change tonight against Columbus (sorry Thumper ).

[Parrothead]

RIP J-P Parise. Played for a number of NHL teams, my memory is Game 8 of the 72 Summit Series, his game misconduct a couple of minutes in. After another of many phantom calls made by the refs, he skated at one with stick up, turned away at the last minute.

[Thumper]

Leafs parted way with coach Randy Carlyle, this week. Too bad, he made due with what was handed to him. I suspect the interim coaches will remain through the end of the season, then see who is available.

Unfortunately the team is streaky, currently again on a downward skid, hopefully that will change tonight against Columbus (sorry Thumper ).

The Jackets are an excellent team to break a losing streak on.

[Parrothead]

Yeah, the Leafs broke their losing against them, then went on continuing to lose. They are 1-12-1 in their last 14 games, coaching obviously wasn't the problem. I haven't watched much of the Leafs lately, seems they aren't even trying, so I just watch other games that are airing, if they catch my interest.

[Thumper]

So the Jackets were mathematically eliminated from the playoffs back around Thanksgiving. So now they're on a terror. Something like winning 10 of the last 12 games. Maybe they should have played a little more like this earlier in the season. Trounced the Leafs last night in their second to last home game. I don't know if the Leafs are in the playoffs but I doubt they cared much about the game. Tomorrow in their last home game, the Jackets play the cellar-dweller Sabres who will try their best to lose, have the worst record in the NHL, and get the first draft pick. Now that's good hockey...
I was finally able to unload my tickets to Friday's game as I'll be attending a very nice high school choir concert instead. Meanwhile, golf season starts next week for the boys, as it usually does.

[pumpkinpi]

Similar story for the Wild, except they started playing well early enough to make the playoffs. (Best record since the All-Star break yet it took until the last three games for them to clinch.)

Do you have season tickets? How are the ticket prices there? It's ridiculous here--$70 to $80 to start. MrPi and Buster went to a game this year with free tickets from work, but otherwise we'd much rather spend a few dollars to support our high school teams.

[Thumper]

I rejoined a season ticket group with a guy here at work. I get 5 games. We have a "draft" before the season and try to pick games we want to/can go to. Unfortunately, The Kid's schedule screwed us over. I was only able to make it to one game. Got sick right before one and we ate those tickets. Sold mine for a loss to tomorrow's game but at least someone gets to go.

Our tickets cost $40 a seat, first row upper bowl. Really great seats. Others can get ridiculously expensive, but they don't usually sell out anymore and you can get scalpers out front for not too much. I thought it would be fun to get back in the group because I enjoyed the two games I took my Dad to last year. But the logistics of which 2 of the 3 of us will go, busy schedules, dinner, traffic, late night out, and of course abysmally bad hockey on most occasions dampen the experience. But I already had to commit to next year, so here's hoping it's better.

IIRC the Wild, CBJ, and Nashville all joined the league about the same time. You guys have both had successes, while CBJ have been pretty much constant cellar-dwellers save for last year. We don't have much HS hockey around here but do have OSU and those tickets aren't bad. Didn't make a game this year. But I think I echo your sentiment with Football and Basketball: I'd much rather go to a HS game or college before I'd ever consider paying to go to an NFL or NBA game.

[Parrothead]

I stopped watching hockey some time ago. Watching the Leafs was just too painful. Some house-cleaning is going on. My pick for winning the Cup is St. Louis, provided they get past the Wild, in the first round (it should be a close one).

Cheers!

[Thumper]

I thought it was clear that hockey ended last weekend.

[SciFiFisher]

I thought it was clear that hockey ended last weekend.

Yes, but the post season analysis still has to happen.

[Thumper]

Is it too early to start pre season hype for the 2015-2016 season?
Seeing as I already had to shell out my cash for the tickets...

[Parrothead]

Well, St Louis is singing the Blues after Minnesota went all Wild over them.

I did enjoy that series, Chicago and Nashville, Habs vs Sens and Penguins Rangers.

Shanahan has his work cut out for him, re-tooling, re-building the Leafs. A fourth overall draft pick helps, somewhat.