2008–09 NHL season

All you want to know about 2008–09 NHL season

Current sport event
 This article documents a current NHL season.
Information may change as the event progresses.

The 2008–09 NHL season is the 91st season of the National Hockey League. It runs from October 4, 2008 through April 12, 2009, with the Stanley Cup Playoffs to follow, ending in June 2009. This is the first season since prior to the 2004–05 lockout in which every team will play each other at least once during the season, as opposed to the last three seasons where teams only played against two divisions in the other conference.[1] The Montreal Canadiens will host the 57th NHL All-Star Game at the Bell Centre on January 25, 2009, part of the Canadiens' 100th Anniversary celebration.[2]

Contents

League business

Increase in salary cap

National Hockey League announced that the regular season salary cap would be going up for the fourth straight season. The 2008-09 salary cap is being increased by $6,400,000(US) per team to bring the salary cap up to $56,700,000(US). The salary floor is at $40,700,000(US), which is higher than salary cap on 2005-06 season.

Rule changes

The NHL brought in a number of rule changes for the start of the 2008-09 NHL season aimed at increasing offence and safety. The first rule change was to Rule 76.2 on faceoffs. The first faceoff of a power play will now be in the defending zone of the team that committed the foul, regardless of where the play was stopped. The second rule dealt with the issue of safety while players are pursuing the puck on a potential icing call. Rule 81.1 states that, "Any contact between opposing players while pursuing the puck on an icing must be for the sole purpose of playing the puck and not for eliminating the opponent from playing the puck. Unnecessary or dangerous contact could result in penalties being assessed to the offending player." The third rule change also dealt with faceoff position: if a puck is shot off the goal frame, goal post or crossbar, the subsequent faceoff will remain in the end zone where the puck went out of play.[3] Another rule change prohibits TV commercials, and goaltender changes immediately after an icing call.

Season schedule

The 2008–2009 schedule returns to the pre-lockout schedule. The new schedule eliminates the three-year rotation where teams would only play teams in two of the three divisions of the opposite conference; instead the new schedule guarantees that each team plays every other team at least once. In the new schedule, each team will play their divisional rivals six times for a total of 24 games; they will play all other conference teams four times for a total of 40 games, and will play every team in the opposite conference at least once for a total of 15 games. To obtain a total of 82 games there are an additional three-wild card games; for the Canadian teams, the three-wild card games are composed of playing the three Canadian teams in the opposite conference an additional time.[4]

European openers

The 'regular season' started with four games to be played in Europe. The Ottawa Senators and the Pittsburgh Penguins played each other twice in Stockholm, Sweden and the New York Rangers and the Tampa Bay Lightning played each other twice in Prague, Czech Republic. These four teams also played some pre-season exhibition games in Europe. [5]

Other than the four overseas 'regular season' games starting October 4th, October 9th is the actual first day of regular season games as far as widespread continental North American broadcast from most providers, including pay per view hockey packages. Other teams still played preseason games between Oct. 4 and 6.

Winter Classic

Main article: 2009 NHL Winter Classic

Because of the success of the 2008 Winter Classic, another outdoor game will be held for the 2008–09 NHL season. While Yankee Stadium was considered an early favorite, in a game to be hosted by the Rangers, cold-weather issues involving the old stadium put that location out of the mix. Another site considered was Beaver Stadium at Penn State University, with that game to likely involve the Penguins and the Flyers.[6]

On May 29, 2008, TSN reported that the 2009 NHL Winter Classic will be held in Chicago, Illinois on January 1, 2009, played between the Chicago Blackhawks and defending champion Detroit Red Wings.[7] Soldier Field was considered an early candidate, however the NFL's Chicago Bears objected, citing a possible home game for the 2008 NFL Playoffs that weekend (January 3-4). It was decided that the game would be played at Wrigley Field, the North Side home of the Chicago Cubs, as confirmed by the Minneapolis Star-Tribune on July 6. Ten days afterward, the NHL confirmed the reports that the game would officially be held on New Year's Day.[8] Faceoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. EST (12 noon CST).

Trade deadline

The NHL and NHLPA agreed to move the trade deadline from Tuesday, March 3, 2009 to Wednesday, March 4, 2009. This was done mainly because the schedule has twelve games on March 3 and only two on March 4.[9].

Regular season

The first goal of the season was scored by Markus Naslund of the New York Rangers in Prague against the Tampa Bay Lightning.[10] On October 16, 2008, the Blackhawks fired head coach Denis Savard and replaced him with former Colorado Avalanche and St. Louis Blues head coach Joel Quenneville.[11] On Saturday, October 25, the NHL scheduled fifteen games—with all 30 teams playing—for the second time in league history.[12]

Standings

GP = Games Played, W = Wins, L = Losses, OTL = Overtime/Shootout Losses, GF = Goals For, GA = Goals Against, Pts = Points.

Eastern Conference

Atlantic Division GP W L OTL GF GA PTS
New York Rangers * 22 14 6 2 60 51 30
Pittsburgh Penguins 19 12 4 3 62 52 27
New Jersey Devils 19 10 7 2 54 51 22
Philadelphia Flyers 18 8 6 4 61 57 20
New York Islanders 19 7 10 2 48 61 16
Northeast Division GP W L OTL GF GA PTS
Boston Bruins 20 13 3 4 66 47 30
Montreal Canadiens 18 11 5 2 56 48 24
Buffalo Sabres 19 9 7 3 54 57 21
Toronto Maple Leafs 19 7 8 4 59 67 18
Ottawa Senators 19 6 9 4 44 50 16
Southeast Division GP W L OTL GF GA PTS
Washington Capitals 19 11 5 3 64 58 25
Carolina Hurricanes 20 11 7 2 56 58 24
Tampa Bay Lightning 19 6 7 6 43 54 18
Atlanta Thrashers 18 7 9 2 53 64 16
Florida Panthers 19 7 11 1 44 56 15

Western Conference

Central Division GP W L OTL GF GA PTS
Detroit Red Wings 18 13 2 3 68 55 29
Chicago Blackhawks 18 9 4 5 66 52 23
Nashville Predators 19 9 9 1 57 65 19
Columbus Blue Jackets 19 8 8 3 58 65 19
St. Louis Blues 17 7 8 2 53 57 16
Northwest Division GP W L OTL GF GA Pts
Vancouver Canucks 21 13 6 2 66 50 28
Minnesota Wild 17 11 5 1 44 34 23
Calgary Flames 20 11 8 1 57 63 23
Edmonton Oilers 20 9 9 2 53 62 20
Colorado Avalanche 18 8 10 0 45 53 16
Pacific Division GP W L OTL GF GA PTS
San Jose Sharks 20 16 3 1 73 49 33
Anaheim Ducks 21 10 8 3 63 67 23
Los Angeles Kings 18 8 8 2 47 47 18
Phoenix Coyotes 18 8 9 1 44 49 17
Dallas Stars 18 6 9 3 51 68 15

Conference standings

*-Denotes Division Leader

Eastern Conference GP W L OTL GF GA PTS
Boston Bruins * 20 13 3 4 66 47 30
New York Rangers * 22 14 6 2 60 51 30
Washington Capitals * 19 11 5 3 64 58 25
Pittsburgh Penguins 19 12 4 3 62 52 27
Montreal Canadiens 18 11 5 2 56 48 24
Carolina Hurricanes 20 11 7 2 56 58 24
New Jersey Devils 19 10 7 2 54 51 22
Buffalo Sabres 19 9 7 3 54 57 21
Philadelphia Flyers 18 8 6 4 61 57 20
Toronto Maple Leafs 19 7 8 4 59 67 18
Tampa Bay Lightning 19 6 7 6 43 54 18
Atlanta Thrashers 18 7 9 2 53 64 16
New York Islanders 19 7 10 2 48 61 16
Ottawa Senators 19 6 9 4 44 50 16
Florida Panthers 19 7 11 1 44 56 15

* – division leader

Western Conference GP W L OTL GF GA Pts
San Jose Sharks * 20 16 3 1 73 49 33
Detroit Red Wings * 18 13 2 3 68 55 29
Vancouver Canucks * 21 13 6 2 66 50 28
Minnesota Wild 17 11 5 1 44 34 23
Chicago Blackhawks 18 9 4 5 66 52 23
Calgary Flames 20 11 8 1 57 63 23
Anaheim Ducks 21 10 9 3 63 67 23
Edmonton Oilers 20 9 9 2 53 62 20
Nashville Predators 19 9 9 1 57 65 19
Columbus Blue Jackets 19 8 8 3 58 65 19
Los Angeles Kings 18 8 8 2 47 47 18
Phoenix Coyotes 18 8 9 1 44 49 17
St. Louis Blues 17 7 8 2 53 57 16
Colorado Avalanche 18 8 10 0 45 53 16
Dallas Stars 18 6 9 3 51 68 15

* – division leader

Tiebreaking procedures

Where two or more clubs are tied in points at the end of the regular season, the standing of the clubs is determined in the following order:

  1. The greater number of games won.
  2. The greater number of points earned in games between the tied clubs.
  3. The greater differential between goals for and against.

Scoring leaders

GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/– = Plus/Minus; PIM = Penalty Minutes

Player Team GP G A Pts +/– PIM
Flag of Russia Malkin, EvgeniEvgeni Malkin Pittsburgh Penguins 19 7 24 31 +5 12
Flag of Russia Semin, AlexanderAlexander Semin Washington Capitals 16 13 14 27 +17 12
Flag of Canada Crosby, SidneySidney Crosby Pittsburgh Penguins 19 7 18 25 +5 16
Flag of Canada Savard, MarcMarc Savard Boston Bruins 19 7 18 25 +12 30
Flag of the United States Kane, PatrickPatrick Kane Chicago Blackhawks 18 10 14 24 +4 8
Flag of Canada Getzlaf, RyanRyan Getzlaf Anaheim Ducks 19 8 16 24 +4 31
Flag of Canada Iginla, JaromeJarome Iginla Calgary Flames 20 11 12 23 +1 18
Flag of Slovakia Hossa, MarianMarian Hossa Detroit Red Wings 18 10 13 23 +8 16
Flag of Russia Ovechkin, AlexanderAlexander Ovechkin Washington Capitals 17 8 15 23 +14 18
Flag of Canada Perry, CoreyCorey Perry Anaheim Ducks 20 6 17 23 +5 33
All statistics as of: 17:33, 21 November 2008 (UTC)

Leading goaltenders

GP = Games Played; TOI = Time On Ice (minutes); W = Wins; L = Losses; OT = Overtime/Shootout Losses; GA = Goals Against; SO = Shutouts; Sv% = Save Percentage; GAA = Goals Against Average

Player Team GP TOI W L OT GA SO Sv% GAA
Flag of the United States Thomas, TimTim Thomas Boston Bruins 12 740:07 7 2 3 22 2 .944 1.78
Flag of Canada Boucher, BrianBrian Boucher San Jose Sharks 8 481:20 6 1 1 15 2 .930 1.87
Flag of Sweden Ersberg, ErikErik Ersberg Los Angeles Kings 10 551:09 5 3 1 18 0 .909 1.96
Flag of Finland Backstrom, NiklasNiklas Backstrom Minnesota Wild 16 933:43 11 4 1 31 2 .933 1.99
Flag of the United States Anderson, CraigCraig Anderson Florida Panthers 7 345:39 3 1 1 12 1 .940 2.08
Flag of Canada Auld, AlexAlex Auld Ottawa Senators 13 794:17 5 5 3 28 0 .925 2.12
Flag of Sweden Lundqvist, HenrikHenrik Lundqvist New York Rangers 19 1,117:27 12 5 2 40 0 .923 2.15
Flag of Canada Brodeur, MartinMartin Brodeur New Jersey Devils 10 582:57 6 2 2 21 2 .916 2.16
Flag of Canada Luongo, RobertoRoberto Luongo Vancouver Canucks 18 1,071:09 11 5 2 39 5 .928 2.18
Flag of the United States Johnson, BrentBrent Johnson Washington Capitals 9 478:02 5 2 2 18 0 .928 2.26
All statistics as of: 17:33, 21 November 2008 (UTC)


See also

References

  1. ^ NHL teams will play each other at least once per season
  2. ^ Montreal to host '09 All-Star Game
  3. ^ rule changes
  4. ^ Canadian Press (2007-11-29). "NHL owners finally approve schedule change; Nashville sale approved". The Hockey News. Retrieved on 2009-10-11.
  5. ^ NHL's European plans finalized
  6. ^ Staple, Arthur (2008-05-17). "Going, going, gone?", Newsday. Retrieved on 18 May 2008. 
  7. ^ "Blackhawks to host next season's Winter Classic". TSN (2008-05-29). Retrieved on 2008-05-29.
  8. ^ "Blackhawks, Red Wings meet in the great outdoors". NHL.com (2008-07-16). Retrieved on 2008-07-26.
  9. ^ "NHL moves trade deadline back one day", TSN.ca. Retrieved on 28 October 2008. 
  10. ^ "Markus Naslund scores the first goal of the 08/09 season - Canucks Board". Forum.canucks.com. Retrieved on 2008-10-21.
  11. ^ "Blackhawks fire Savard after four games". TSN.ca (October 16, 2008). Retrieved on 2008-10-16.
  12. ^ "30 teams, 15 games in 15 cities -- One night", NHL.com (2008-10-23). Retrieved on 23 October 2008. 
 
NHL seasons

2004–05 | 2005–06 | 2006–07 | 2007–08 | 2008–09 | 2009–10 | 2010–11 | 2011–12 | 2012–13
v • d • e
National Hockey League
Eastern Conference Western Conference
Atlantic Northeast Southeast Central Northwest Pacific
New Jersey Devils Boston Bruins Atlanta Thrashers Chicago Blackhawks Calgary Flames Anaheim Ducks
New York Islanders Buffalo Sabres Carolina Hurricanes Columbus Blue Jackets Colorado Avalanche Dallas Stars
New York Rangers Montreal Canadiens Florida Panthers Detroit Red Wings Edmonton Oilers Los Angeles Kings
Philadelphia Flyers Ottawa Senators Tampa Bay Lightning Nashville Predators Minnesota Wild Phoenix Coyotes
Pittsburgh Penguins Toronto Maple Leafs Washington Capitals St. Louis Blues Vancouver Canucks San Jose Sharks
Seasons (structure) · Stanley Cup (Playoffs–Champions) · Presidents' Trophy · All-Star Game · Draft · Players (Association) · All-Star Teams · Awards
History · Timeline · Defunct teams · NHA · Original Six · 1967 Expansion · WHA · Streaks · Droughts · Hall of Fame (members) · Rivalries · Arenas · Rules · Violence
Category · Portal
v • d • e
2008–09 NHL season by team
See also
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008%E2%80%9309_NHL_season"

No comments have been added.



Your name:

City:

Country:

Your comments:

Security check *
(Please enter the number into adjoining box)

 

  • Ads

           
eXTReMe Tracker