There's nothing like a Game 7, but the area where the NHL excels over every other sport is when a Game 7 goes into overtime. I love it when the clock becomes meaningless except to tell everyone when it's time to take a short break. The idea that the next shot taken could be the one that gives a team the championship is like nothing else in sports. There is no greater explosion of emotion than when a OT winner hits the back of the net to give a team the Stanley Cup. A Game 7 overtime game winning goal is automatically placed into the history books and likely will be seen constantly by hockey fans for years. Every player on the ice tonight wants to be that guy who scores a Game 7 OT goal. They've been dreaming about it all their lives. Hell, I dream about it, and I don't even play the game.

So please, Boston and Vancouver, let's take this thing into OT tonight. And if possible, make sure the winner is a sure thing. The last thing I want is a video review of the biggest goal of the season.

Salary cap will again go up:

Good for the Canadiens

But I'm wondering if the League is doing itself any favors. According to the story, revenues continue to rise despite two franchises in dire straits. (Insert Phoenix Money for Nothing joke here)

With a cap of up to $63.5M next year, how are teams like the Avs supposed to round up enough two-way contracts to make it to the cap floor?

I guess I'm also wondering if the league is already starting to break into haves and have nots simply because most teams can't commit the resources to stay at or near the cap. Have the gains of the lockout for small-market teams already been wiped away? 

Worst. List. Ever?

Really? No. 7?

The fact that the top two and three of the top 10 played for the Avs at one point makes me think this article was written in Detroit. And I really think they are reaching on Gordie Howe. I know he was scrappy and took liberties on the ice, but I guess I hadn't heard the word "dirty" thrown around much. And referencing  a Gordie Howe Hat Trick seems silly.

The field is set and there are a ton of great matchups in the first round, but I'm curious to see who you guys like to go all the way this year.

Vegas odds as of 4/11/11:

Vancouver Canucks 3/1   
Washington Capitals 11/2   
San Jose Sharks 15/2   
Philadelphia Flyers 8/1   
Boston Bruins 9/1   
Detroit Red Wings 10/1   
Pittsburgh Penguins 10/1   
Anaheim Ducks 20/1   
Tampa Bay Lightning 20/1   
Chicago Blackhawks 25/1   
Buffalo Sabres 28/1   
Los Angeles Kings 28/1   
Montreal Canadiens 30/1   
Nashville Predators 30/1   
Phoenix Coyotes 30/1   
New York Rangers 35/1  

Personally, if I had an extra $50 lying around, I'd put it on Phoenix, Nashville or Buffalo to win it all, given these odds.

I absolutely hate the idea of tanking, but I understand that future success in this league depends on it. Therefore, I suggest changing the system to reward success instead of failure by changing the draft order.

Under the Dixomatic Plan, the draft order for playoff teams would remain exactly the same. The difference comes for the non-playoff teams. The first overall pick shall be awarded to the team with the most points that does not make the playoffs. After that would be the second-best team and down the line, leaving the worst team in the league with the No. 14 pick in the draft. After that would be playoff teams in the order chosen by the existing system.

There will be no more tanking because the teams that fight until the end receive the next best thing to making the playoffs. And no team would choose a No. 1 pick over a playoff appearance and shot at the Cup because a run like Philly made last season is not a rare thing. Nor would a playoff-contending team risk losing on purpose when other teams will be on their heals for that top pick. For example, last year's top pick would have gone to a head-to-head tiebreaker between Anaheim and Calgary. Had either team forgone a playoff run for Tyler Hall, the other team would have swooped in and taken the top pick.

For fans, this system makes more sense. For example, this season the Colorado Avalanche would now be in a position where they need to win to improve their draft position instead of lose. Isn't that kind of the point of sports? To win? We pay the ticket price to see winning, not losing, so reward teams for giving their best and playing their best players to the end. Also, don't we all feel a little shame at the thought of a loss being a good thing?

Pros: Teams play to win every night. Teams are always looking to improve and get better, even in last week of the season. Every game counts. A No. 1 pick is an awesome consolation prize for a team that just missed the big show. No winning for losing. Fans get more value from late-season tickets. Creates its own playoff atmosphere even if the actual playoffs are out of reach.

Cons: Really bad teams don't get that "Cavalry" feeling when getting a high pick the next season. Far fewer Ovetchkin and Crosby stories of rags to riches thanks to one player. 

To bring it home: If it were the 06-07 season, the Avs would have had the No. 1 pick. If it were 08-09, they would have had the 12th pick instead of Duchene, who turned out to be Calvin de Haan.

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Let's go ahead and eliminate the big names from all the trophy races and make some predictions on who will surprise everyone to win the end-of-season awards for 2010-11. Names are based on the odds from Vegas, who as we all know, are the real experts in sports.

1. Hart (Not eligible: Ovechkin, Crosby, H.Sedin)

2. Art Ross (Not eligible: Ovechkin, Crosby, H.Sedin)

3. Vezina (Not eligible: Miller, Brodeur, Luongo)

4. Calder (Not eligible: Hall, Carlson, Subban)

5. Rocket Richard (Not eligible: Ovechkin, Crosby, Stamkos)

6. Selke (Not eligible: Datsyuk, Staal, Kesler)

7. Norris (Not eligible: Doughty, Chara, Green)

8. Stanley Cup (Not eligible: Penguins, Blackhawks, Capitals) 

Last year I was able to hear a 15-minute interview with Mike Haynes every Tuesday morning on AM 1510 on my way to work. It was the only specific time I knew I could count on some Avs talk being on the radio. This year, I have no idea what's going on. Would any of you have any knowledge of other radio-based Avs shows or specific times set aside to talk with Avs' personalities during the season?

The fact that Mark Rycroft doesn't have an hour set aside every day to talk about hockey is a crime that needs to be dealt with.

Here's Yahoo's review

Five appearances for the Avs.

Ottawa, Florida and Edmonton were shut out. Still very heavy for the east coast, but much better than last year for us western teams.

Other thoughts: Canucks and Predators fans can't be happy, and what the hell is up with putting the Wild on NINE times? One of them is against New Jersey, which I hear is being billed as "free alarm clock" night.

Seriously, I haven't heard of anything this silly since tying Avs and Nuggets tickets together. From the official Avs' site:

Special Avalanche "Avaholic" season ticket promotion:
If you buy full season tickets anywhere in the arena you can buy the same number of full season tickets in the lower level (sections 112, 114, 110, 116) for only $1,010/seat (usually $3,740/seat) or the upper level for $505/seat.

For example, with this ticket special you could get four full season tickets (two upper level and two lower level) for only $4,044/seat total. The regular total cost of getting two upper and two lower season tickets would be $9,504/seat (savings of over 50%).

Here's how I read this: You like spending money on the Avs? Well, spend some more money for two extra tickets nowhere near your two other seats for just half price! Family of four? What better way to enjoy the game than by splitting up the family. Taking friends to the game? You can always meet up in the concourse!

Coming later this season, the Special Avaholic Randum Number Generator Season Ticket promotion: Buy any season ticket at regular price, and get a second season ticket -- located randomly throughout the building -- for 50% off! That a potential savings of $450/seat, or $18,450 a season!

I also like this statement, "The regular total cost of getting two upper and two lower season tickets would be $9,504/seat" -- Essentially this statement means they admit to an average ticket price for the Pepsi Center of $58 each.

Perhaps corporations may take advantage of this, but I can't see any "Avaholics" thinking this is a good idea.

In a perfect world, the NHL would be the only game in town on July 1, 2011, after reading this gem from the NBA players union chief: Lockout time

The NFL may also be out for the 2011-12 season, as has been discussed in a few threads on MHH before. The key to that is the $500M the NFL owners will earn from TV deals without their teams playing a single down if they lock out the players.

Meanwhile, while this all looks great for the NHL, the worst news that could possibly happen comes down the pipe. Donald Fehr, the mastermind of the death of the 1994 World Series and likely the largest nail in the Montreal Expos' coffin, is getting involved in the NHL's own labor negotiations. Fehr is merciless, heartless and evil, making him the perfect union boss. If the NHL is expecting to lower the salary cap (or make any adjustments, for that matter) this is the one roadblock they didn't want to see. I'm curious what many of you think will happen with the NHL's labor negotiations and if the league with a 100% accuracy rate when shooting itself in the foot would have the stupidity to do it again.

Stan Kroenke is so cheap, instead of a fire alarm at the Pepsi Center, they hang Jiffy Pop from the ceiling.

Stan Kroenke is so cheap, when players ask for a contract extension, he prints the old one on bigger paper.

Stan Kroenke is so cheap, the Pepsi Center zambonis have been replaced by retarded kids who lick the ice.

Stan Kroenke is so cheap, the next captain of the Avs is going to wear the ¢.

Stan Kroenke is so cheap, penalty box visitors are going to have to pay a toll to get out.

Stan Kroenke is so cheap, the fourth line of the Avs is now called the "Soup Line."

Stan Kroenke is so cheap, Fan Appreciation Night will be limited to just one fan.

Stan Kroenke is so cheap, the Pepsi Center will be renamed because of Stan felt he was ripped off because he had to pay for a Pepsi Free.

Stan Kroenke is so cheap, he tips less than Steve Buscemi.

Stan Kroenke is so cheap, he had birds arrested for stealing rice thrown at his child's wedding.

Stan Kroenke is so cheap, you can find all hats "donated" after a hat trick on eBay for $15.99 each.

...

If you've been paying attention, you know that the goal keeper for team USA is Tim Howard. I don't know about the rest of you, but it seems obvious to me that this man is the secret identity of all-world hockey goaltender Jimmie Howard. While I don't know how he was able to change his height and skin color, there's no denying what force is at work in net for the USA. Perhaps Howard was upset at being denied a chance to perform on the world stage of the Olympics and chose this as his next venue to share with us the wonders of his work.

Perhaps you guys can help me out. See, I've been a fan of this game called "basketball" for a very long time. I know, most of you haven't heard of it; it's quite the niche sport.

Anyway, there's a development in the league that I follow, the NBA, in which a very good player may have played his last game in his current city and may be moving to another city this offseason.

It's this reason that I come to you for help.

See, I havent' been able to find a single article, blog, TV show, radio show, Tweet or newsletter about any of this information. It's like there's a media blackout on the subject. I know that basketball isn't very popular, but I'm just surprised that there is so little information to be found about this situation, or the NBA playoffs in general.

But what do I find instead? Hockey.

Hockey. Hockey. Hockey.

ESPN? Hockey.

CNN? Hockey.

Al Jazera? Hockey.

I'm getting sick and tired of seeing back-to-back-to-back commentary shows dedicate entire hour blocks to talking about nothing but Sydney Crosby vs. Alex Ovechkin. All I want is a little information about a guy named Lebron, but all I get is "blah blah blah Pavelski blah blah blah Halak."

If any of you guys can help me find some information on this, I would greatly appreciate it because the mainstream media has really dropped the ball on this.

Once again, as has happened every year since the inception of hockey, the glorious Detroit Red Wings have emerged victorious in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.This season was a very memorable run as the Wings had to overcome incredible adversity to repeat as champions for the 104th year in a row.

At the conclusion of Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Finals, all-world center Pavel Datsyuk was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy for being the playoff MVP. Datsyuk broke his previous playoff record of 99 goals by scoring an even 100 this year, as well as being a plus-120 and creating a turnover on every shift. All of this while playing without a left eye, which he lost while stopping a bank robbery and saving 20 lives before the playoffs started.
Datsyuk beat out the early favorite for the Conn Smythe, His Highness Jimmy Howard, who had a slightly less successful postseason than regular season. His postseason GAA of 0.00 was stellar, but was still not as good as his –0.75 GAA from the regular season. Rookie Howard’s 16 shutouts tied his own record, set during one of his earlier rookie seasons, but were one shy of the 17 shutouts he promised a special fan early in the playoffs. He made the promise of the 17th shutout after talking to 10-year-old Timmy Landers, who was dying of brain cancer. While it’s not known whether it was Jimmy Howard’s promise or just his presence in the room that cured Timmy’s cancer, what is known is that for the first time in history, Jimmy Howard told a lie, which apparently didn’t sit well with the Conn Smythe judges.

This year’s tournament was an exciting brand of hockey, and although the opposing teams are far too inconsequential to even mention or remember, what will be remembered is the heart and courage shown by fan favorite and living saint Sir Todd Bertuzzi. Although Bertuzzi had been hobbled during the postseason tournament due to donating a kidney to a sick woman who he had never met, he was able to score 60 goals and foil a terrorist plot to blow up Joe Louis Arena, which has never had an empty seat for a Wings game. Bertuzzi’s highlight-reel goals, each of which was dedicated to a different orphaned child, thrilled the crowd and will be shown on permanent loop on CBC for the next year.

To emerge victorious this season, the Wings had to tackle adversity that no other team had to deal with. Injuries played a prominent role in the Wings inability to top last year’s pace of 17 goals per game. In fact, it wasn’t known until after the playoffs were over and the Cup was raised that international celebrity and supermodel Dan Cleary had played the entire last two rounds of the playoffs dead, with only a defibrillator in his uniform to keep him going.
“Dan’s will to win the Cup was greater than his will to live,” said Red Wings coach Mike Babcock, who donated his season’s salary to a battered women’s shelter. “Dan showed during these playoffs that the heart of a champion doesn’t need to be beating to be successful.”

Another hardship the Wings had to deal with that no other team had to face was the obvious biased refereeing in favor of the Wings’ opponents. In Game 3 of the Wings second-round series, they had to kill off a whopping two power plays. As always, the Wings’ penalty killers were up to the task, but the fact that these penalties were even called were a shock to the players, fans and decent God-fearing human beings everywhere. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman conducted an immediate investigation into the penalties, and it was determined that the referee who made the call was not only in error, but was the grandson of a man who was acquitted of being a communist in 1954. The referee was fired from the league and shortly after died in a solo boating accident.

With the Wings’ players names once again placed on the Stanley Cup after what is being called the “The Infinitypeat,” the only question remaining is how many of these beloved and future Hall-of-Fame players will be back next year for another Cup victory. Captain Nicklas Lidstrom, who immediately went to donate his time at a homeless shelter after the Cup victory, is an unrestricted free agent, which according to the NHL’s new rules means that he can sign with the Red Wings for any amount he requests and not have it count against the salary cap. In all likelihood he will return, because he doesn’t age or require sleep, but only time will tell which Red Wings players will be putting their names on the Lord Stanley’s Cup next year.

The Avs website is doing a Play of the Year segment.

Many good plays

Personally, I don't know how you can top RR's OT winner, but there's some good stuff there. And now, I must fill out the word requirement so that I can publish this. First off, I'd like to talk about these damn fast drivers and all these damned kids on my lawn. Back in my day, we all drove at 55 mph and lawns were free of lousy snot-nosed punks who dont' know the value of a dollar ...

Has anyone else noticed the almost cowardly way that predictions are being handled this year by the MSM Web site personnel?

I almost want to say that there is a AP Style on how to pick a Stanley Cup winner:

1. Pick the Wings: Failing to pick the Wings will result in a backlash of hate mail from the most "sensitive" sports fans outside of the Professional Crying League. Not only will you have your hockey judgment questioned for not being fully aware of the postseason magic of Darren Helm, but you also may lose a pet if you leave them outside your house.

2. Pick the larger East Coast market: The next best bet to avoid hate mail is to go with the larger population, hence eliminating the greatest number of respondents. New York is already out of the playoffs, therefore Boston and Philly now take on that mantle of being the teams to beat.

3. Go with the past winner: You can't go wrong with picking Pittsburgh because you can repeatedly type "experience" to fill out that required word count.

4. Pick against the team with the bad reputation: This mostly goes for general sports writers, columnists trolls who haven't watched a game all year but have no qualms bringing up the Sharks' past playoff failures or the Coyotes' lack of ownership or the Nashville coach's lack of a neck. (No offense Barry, just sayin' you probably don't own too many scarves.)

5. Add in a special section to predict an upset: Too cowardly to pick Los Angeles to win it all? Call them the most likely to upset everyone. That way, you get to have two predictions but only man up for one of them, while allowing yourself the ability to quote your cowardly upset pick next year by referring to that prediction. You may think you're being creative with your predictions, but mostly it just proves that even you don't believe the crap you are spewing and will therefore acknowledge that fact by picking a separate team, despite the fact that there's no reason for us to believe your reasoning for your second team any more than your first, other than you wanting a preemptive mulligan on your picks.

As we know, the Olympics has wiped out the All-Star game for this year, which is fine by me since All-Star games are so out of style these days. (Really? The Pro Bowl without players from the two teams that made the Super Bowl?) Odds are that Anderson would be the only Avs player selected anyway. However, one thing that we will miss will be the Young Stars game, which very well could have been billed as the Avs vs. the World. I can't remember if they only played rookies or if it was rookies vs. sophomores, but it still would have been an Avs-centric affair.

I just read that Team USA will be announced at the conclusion of the Winter Classic.

If there's one thing we can count on from the NHL, it's that they will always miss the mark with marketing.

It was a great idea to do the announcement of Team USA during the most popular hockey event of the year. It would have been a great idea if they had planned ahead with the schedule so members of Team USA could be introduced during intermission of the game wearing full Team USA gear in front of the largest live audience to see a game this year. That could have generated a lot of energy for USA hockey, the Olympics, and been a great way to reward the players who made the team, not to mention sell some Team USA jerseys.

But instead, I'm sure we'll just get Mike Milbury reading off a list, followed by Pierre McGuire telling us how great it is that Mike Richards made the team ... all of this contingent on the game not going to overtime and being cut short in favor of a Snuggie infomercial.