[Closed] NHL Hockey has begun (the annual attempt at a thread)

These men appear to be trying to play Lacrosse on ice.

It will never catch on.

Sabres can not be as bad as the last two years, draft pick Eichel has done really well in preseason. Fingers crossed for a good season.

Montreal for cup anyone but Boston

Lovely to see Lucics Kings get hammered first game 😆

Saxonrider where do you watch your games?

Canucks here.

If there was a way to catch up with games at a sensible hour here in the UK, I'd love to join in, but as it is....

Edit: Canucks/Capitals fan here: Caps, because I lived in DC for a number of years as a kid; the Canucks because Vancouver/BC is my spiritual home.

Holding my breath slightly for an improvement on last season for the Avs. A win against the Wild tonight would erase some doubts, but not sure enough's been done over the summer to get the D right to properly push for that playoff spot.

Saxonrider where do you watch your games?

TBH, I tried to do everything above board by subscribing to the NHL's own service, but they only stream to certain devices (none of which I have), AND will not overlap with Premier Sports here in the UK. This means that if PS is carrying a game, GCL will not.

I found another service, however, which I assume operates in a shady area of the law (insofar as it is based elsewhere in Europe), that streams all NHL, AHL, WHL, QMJHL, and OHL games both live and on-demand. As a result, I have been paying for and using them for the last year. They are excellent.

Anyone else on here interested or even excited?

Sorry - tried to like it, struggling to care. There's only room for so many sports at greater than passing level of interest 🙂

It could be because I don't understand it very well, or it could be because I don't care if Montreal or Winnipeg win.

I shall be following the Flames. As living in Calgary means that if you don't then you're considered a little strange. However after last nights opening night drubbing by Vancouver I can see that it's going to be a long season (and not in a good way).

I can see that it's going to be a long season (and not in a good way).

Perhaps, but stay loyal. Having grown up in Winnipeg means that I have never really been able to boast a championship team, but the Jets' successes, when they come, are all the sweeter for it.

Having lived in Newcastle in the 90's I'm well conditioned to being loyal to a team with high expectations and generally inadequate performance tempered by occasional bursts of brilliance.

Newcastle (another team I love - even though I am not a natural football supporter), is the Winnipeg of football. It's funny you should have mentioned them. 😀

First ever coaches challenge in the Leafs Canadiens game, upheld due to interference with keeper.

Another good rule change.

Flames/Oilers fan here although I like to see any Canadian team win over a US one. I'll be recording most games this season on Premier but won't have time to watch them all!

Love hockey me & I've come to the conclusion that anyone who doesn't like it has either never been skating or went & couldn't manage without hanging on to the boards!

Very true. When I tell a Canadian "I can't skate" what they hear is "I can't skate backwards at 30kph or stop on a dime" - not I really can't let go of the boards.

Nothing to add other than when I was in Canada this year I was amused by "Hockey Night" being trumpeted on TV. From where I was sitting, every night was hockey night, in fact, it seemed to be wall-to-wall hockey 24/7.

Well the Sabres lost to the Sens 😥 Eichel scored his first NHL goal, can one man save the team?

Well the Sabres lost to the Sens. Eichel scored his first NHL goal, can one man save the team?

Maybe not, but it is good for the Sabres to have someone to be excited about. Eventually they will get a break and move out of the basement.

And what's up Evander Kane? Didn't he join Buffalo from Winnipeg toward the end of last year?

Yep Kane is on the roster

A win last night over the Blue Jackets woohoo, small beer I know but a win is a win

Boston 0 and 3 ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha

My mate was at the Rangers/Blue Jackets game on Saturday at MSG.
He says he's 'done with footy'. The whole spectacle of the occasion was just spectacular!
I'm watching last nights Montreal/Ottawa game ATM.

Rangers at MSG.

It's a shame that more games are not aired on free tv over here. I was hoping BT Sport might show some, but they just seem to show that dull game which involves men running around kick a ball about.

I'm watching last nights Montreal/Ottawa game ATM.

I liked the result! How are you watching?

Used to watch it when channel 5 showed it and played it and roller hockey whilst at uni but haven't watched it much since it got binned from channel 5. If I could get a cheap/free way to watch it on demand then I'd definitely start watching it again.

Was always a fan of the Devils myself though.

I liked the result! How are you watching?

I just enjoy the scraps. More sports should adopt such an approach...

NHL.com has good highlights, which we tend to watch in the mornings after every game, as we eat our porridge.

I see the latest stuff from the Flames, Oil & Rangers on FB as they come. I was a hockey nut from a young age as my uncle played for GB when he was 16 & did ok with Durham Wasps. I was a regular skater at Durham & played a bit of rec hockey. Saw Calgary v Phoenix & The Oil v Colorado when I was there in March 2000. Watching football makes me despair. ( & go to sleep)

Jets on their way to the playoff's this year again. Just hope they can maintain that great start 🙂

never miss an opportunity to post this...

GO PENS!!

Go Canucks Go!

3 for 1 at the moment. Disapointed to lose the reverse to the Flames the other day 🙁

@esselgruntfuttock

I watched the wasps as a very small child and followed them (sort of depending on your view point) to Newcastle and through all the name changes and mishaps there.

Really miss watching live stuff in the UK.

I watched the Wasps 1st when I was 14, which was 1970! Had a few years with a passing interest then got back in 1982 ish. Saw some blinding games against the likes of Murrayfield Racers, Dundee Rockets, Fife Flyers, Whitley Warriors, Nottingham Panthers, Streatham Redskins...the guys were 'amateurs' but their passion for the game was outstanding.
Saw Calgary & Edmonton in 2000 which brought my insight into the game to a whole new level.
I read about some 'survey' in North America with a load of kids that played PeeWee & Junior hockey, asking what they wanted in life in general, & about 99% said, 'to win the Stanley Cup'
Pity my nearest team is miles away, either Sheffield or Hull!

I am very fortunate to have the Cardiff Devils play about 2 miles from my house. That said, it will very nice when the new arena is finished and the can play in something other than a vinyl tent again!

That said, it will very nice when the new arena is finished and the can play in something other than a vinyl tent again!

In the early years of WW2 Durham ice rink was actually a tent. Canadian airmen based in the North East of England wanted somewhere to play hockey when they weren't bombing the crap out of Germany. A bloke called 'Icy' Smith had an ice making plant on the banks of the river Wear in Durham & he decided to capitalise on the issue, so he built an ice rink (the fact that his plant was hydro electric powered by the river probably helped) so he built a giant marquee over an ice surface, the roof being held up by 2 massive poles. (not Poles) for years these poles acted like extra defencemen cos if you hit them, you stopped dead!
Some pretty decent players were around Durham back then in case your'e interested...The Kraut Line.

http://bruins.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=447439

Here endeth the history lesson

Sabres lose again 😥 Jaromir Jagr scored twice 😯 he has to be 80 yrs old, he is a freak of nature, truly amazing player.

A friend is in Montreal and saw the Canadiens win, he is a fanatic, he is German and is in 7th heaven right now. Franchise record for them 5 - 0 at the start of a season.

Carey Price is a fantastic keeper.

Sabres lose again Jaromir Jagr scored twice he has to be 80 yrs old, he is a freak of nature, truly amazing player.

I hate it when teams go on multi-year losing streaks. I may have my favourites (e.g. Winnipeg, Montreal, Toronto), but I still like others to do well. Except Tampa. I flipping HATE Tampa.

Carey Price is a fantastic keeper.

Isn't he? The Canadiens have such an incredible history of brilliant goalies: Ken Dryden; Patrick Roy; Jose Theodore; Carey Price.

Canadiens on fire so far, just shut out St Louis to be the only unbeaten team this season

Canadiens on fire so far

Unlike my lot, inappropriately called the 'Flames'!

Didn't think I'd find a second flames supporter (I use the term loosely in my case) on STW. Kari Ramo apparently placed on waivers following last nights dismal showing...

It's gonna get hotter where Ramo's going...

http://flames.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=784307

& I wonder If Babcock's thinking 'why did I do this?'

I don't claim to know much about NHL, but my cousin won something like 4 Stanley Cups. Not bad for a Glaswegian (Steve Smith)

I don't claim to know much about NHL, but my cousin won something like 4 Stanley Cups. Not bad for a Glaswegian (Steve Smith)

It was 'only' 3 *coughs*

Steve Smith was/is very well known in Edmonton & according to Wikiwhotsit he's now a coach for Carolina.

There hasn't been many UK players who've 'made it' in the NHL, Steve Smith, Steve Thomas (Stockport) & Owen Nolan (Belfast) are the only ones that come to mind without Google.

Edit, there's loads more that I didn't know about!

The UK connection is interesting. We so often think about rugby/cricket and how they connect us with Australia and NZ, but the Canadians that invented hockey were primarily Scottish, and it was inevitable that the game should have flowed back to Scotland at least.

In fact, when you look at the founding dates of some of the Scottish teams in the British Super League, they aren't that much younger than the Montreal Canadiens.

I last saw Steve in 94 I think during a Blackhawks v Canadians series at Wembley. He gave a me a signed stick after the match which now hangs on my sons bedroom wall.
Previous to that I saw him play in LA back in 87 whilst playing for the Oilers. He introduced me to Gretsky after the match, a great memory. I was taller than him aged 10!

I remember playing NHL 95 on the mega drive against my friends after school, and I always used to win the fist fights with Steves character. Seems he was quite a tough nut 🙂

He told me that when he was drafted from Glasgow aged 18, he was a skinny streak at 6'4", they essentially locked him in a gym and fed him all sorts for a year and he turned out a BSH.

And the early season form has gone with 3 losses in a row

Thrashed by the Habs, we need a keeper

HV won though which is good, Jokipojat tknight.

Ooh Sabres picking up a bit, Eichel has got 4 goals so far. Good to see some progress.

Sabres win again 😆

Good to see ex Sabres doing well, Thomas Vanek scored a couple of good ones last night.

Finally an Avs win!

Eichel looks like he's going to be a beast Pigface. Certainly got stronger wrists than McDavid 😛

Smashed that powerplay goal yesterday didn't he. He seems to be enjoying Buffalo and the fans love him 😆

Another win for the Sabres, now above the hated bruins, it wont last but celebrate when you can 😆

Also my little team in Finland came back from 4-1 down with 10 minutes to go, to draw 5-5 and then win on penalties, they were rocking in Joensuu 😆

I cannot believe how quickly the Jets are sinking. I love them, but they lead me on a roller coaster every year! Even in their old incarnation they were the same.

Rasmus Ristolainen scores a hat trick and the Sabres still lose 🙁 not the worst team so far this year so making progress 😆

Montreal have lost 4 on the bounce and still lead the Eastern division, incredible.

somewhat of a tangent

but if anybody fancies playing floorball (sort of non-ice ice hockey)

we're - http://www.burghfield-floorball.co.uk/ (just S of Reading, M4 J12/11, Berks)

other teams are available:
http://www.sports-clubs.net/Sport/Clubs.aspx?SportID=185&Sport=Floorball%20(Floor%20Hockey)

@towzer: I already play here in Cardiff, but would second your tangent as a worthwhile one.

@Pigface: I am pleased to see the Sabres climbing the ranks. They deserve a break or ten after years of being at the bottom. Same with the Oilers and even - dare I say it - the Bluejackets. I genuinely feel bad for teams that can't seem to find the forumla year-in year-out.

Except for Tampa. I am always happy when they don't win. 😈

How about dem flames 8) Eight in a row at home.

Saxon Rider I think it is safe to say Ryan Miller kept us punching above our weight, when he left it went very wrong, getting rid of Lindy was also stupid. Miller was a divisive figure, I think he was a fantastic keeper, others don't.

I really don't like teams that play ice hockey in warm places, any of the Florida teams, the Sharks and now my most hated team after the Bruins the Kings, all because of Lucic 😡

I really don't like teams that play ice hockey in warm places

This x infinity.

The whole Bettman-led expansion in that regard has been an unmitigated disaster. Bettman has to be hockey's Sepp Blatter. I mean, are kids in Tampa excitedly getting out of bed on Saturdays to play road hockey under the palm trees? No. Of course not. So how can/why should they have a professional team?

Ridiculous.

How about dem flames Eight in a row at home.

Makes a bloody change!

The whole Bettman-led expansion in that regard has been an unmitigated disaster. Bettman has to be hockey's Sepp Blatter. I mean, are kids in Tampa excitedly getting out of bed on Saturdays to play road hockey under the palm trees? No. Of course not. So how can/why should they have a professional team?

The bloke's a slimeball, can't stand the way he waves his arms about & spouts off when he hands The Cup over.

Yeah baby beat the Kings 😆

How do you guys watch the games? Do you stay up till midnight and stream it from somewhere?

The Flames are (almost) alight!

How do you guys watch the games? Do you stay up till midnight and stream it from somewhere?

Premier Sports unfortunately.

NHL game center is pretty good value for money although you do get the odd blackout if premier sports is showing the game which can be annoying.
Still for aprox 75 quid you get to watch the entire season plus a game vault of classic games going back to the late 50's. Oh and im a Pens fan glad to see mike johnston going and hoping sullivan can whip the team into shape.

NHL game center is pretty good value for money although you do get the odd blackout if premier sports is showing the game which can be annoying.
Still for aprox 75 quid you get to watch the entire season plus a game vault of classic games going back to the late 50's. Oh and im a Pens fan glad to see mike johnston going and hoping sullivan can whip the team into shape.

I only really have time to watch what I've recorded on Premier (& not even all of that) but If I had more time I'd take a look at Game Centre.

Right up until the other day, I was using hockeystreams.com. It was nothing short of amazing, in that with a premier account, you get access to every single league broadcast in North America, including every NHL game - both live and on-demand.

The problem is that, although I had signed up for automatic renewal, it did not renew automatically, and now I can't renew.

I don't know what's happening over there, but if you [i]can[/i] sign up, it is well worth it. Its streaming rates are much higher than Game Center Live, and the access you get is unparalleled by any other service.

Now, if only I could get my renewal sorted... 🙁

Sabres shut out the ducks, GYSOT

Help me out here! I'm agonising over the loss of hockeystreams.com, and am looking for a new way of watching.

Is Premier Sports my only option? If so, how happy are any of you with them?

Beat the Boston Shitbagscumbagjizzgargling****wits 😆 Jack scored twice on his first game at his birthplace, brilliant

HV won as well so a good nights hockey..

Is Premier Sports my only option? If so, how happy are any of you with them?

I'm happy enough with the coverage except It's only available on Sky AFAIK.

Went to the Canucks - Hurricanes game on Wednesday. A win for the Canucks, but a very average performance. Lack had a good game for the Hurricanes on his return to Vancouver.

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Ovechkin scores 500th goal and then 501st, fantastic achievement, best current player in NHL IMO

Ovechkin scores 500th goal and then 501st, fantastic achievement, best current player in NHL IMO

Ovechkin is an amazing player, and it is a pleasure watching him.

I just wish he had never said anything about being a supporter of Putin's Russia, though, as it took some of the shine away.

Woohoo go Sabres, humping Washington 😆 didn't see that happening, HV win and Jokipojat score a point, good weekend of hockey.

Going for 5 wins in a row, this is heady stuff for the Sabres 😆

Ok so didnt make 5 in a row, no great surprise.

Anyone see Lucic lose his head against the Coyotes on Saturday 😆 ejected and then had a tantrum, King Goon a total bell end who is just a 100% cockwomble. Should be having a rest after that one.

http://ftw.usatoday.com/2016/01/nhl-hit-ref-dennis-wideman-calgary-flames-suspension

Some talk about a ban for life, looks deliberate to me.

That looks like it should be career-ending. As the article says, if it was a result of concussion, that's one thing; if, however, it was entirely deliberate - which it certainly appears to be - he should be suspended for good.

Just had the most amazing weekend of hockey in Finland.

Saxon have you seen this? 😆

😆 😆 Bruins humped by the Kings

Sabres humped in Florida, Jagr scores again but things are looking up for Buffalo, Kane wins a 3 round fight as well.

Woohoo Sabres get past Montreal