Central Division Preview

Eleven bloggers who cover each team in the Central Division have gotten together to present our readers and NHL fans in general with a preview of the division. The preview kicks off today with an overview of how the preview will work. So today we are presenting you with an overview of each blog that will participate in the preview and the dates you can expect to read our coverage on each team in the division.

Without further ado here is the overview of each blogger:

Chicago Blackhawks

Chris - The Third Man In [thethirdmanin.com]

Chris will preview the Hawks in their second year under head coach Denis Savard. The Third Man In has covered the Hawks since March 2007.

Columbus Blue Jackets

Bethany - Bethany's Hockey Rants [bethanym85.blogspot.com]

Bethany will preview the Jackets as second year coach Ken Hitchcock will attempt to lead Columbus to their first playoff berth in team history. Bethany will also provide a preview for the St. Louis Blues. Her hockey rants has been up and running since January 2007.

Drew - End of the Bench [endofbench.wordpress.com]

Drew is part of the triumverate of Blue Jacket bloggers who will preview Columbus. He's covered the Blue Jackets as well as the larger sports scene at End of the Bench since February 2006.

Sarah - Neutral Zone Trap [neutralzonetrap.wordpress.com]

Sarah's coverage of the Blue Jackets, soccer, and...library book sales has been up and running since February 2007.

Detroit Red Wings

Bill - Abel to Yzerman [kuklaskorner.com/index.php/a2y]

Bill has provided his unique sarcastic takes Mike Babcock's squad over at the emperor's website since November 2006.

Christy - Behind the Jersey [behindthejersey.com]

A Red Wings intern and #1 Steve Yzerman fan, Christy has covered the Red Wings since November 2003.

John & Steve - Gloveside [gloveside.net]

The crazy band of northern Michigan bloggers provide coverage on - and write haikus about - Detroit's hockey team. They will also provide coverage of the Red Wings' training camp in Traverse City.

Dave - Gorilla Crouch [gorillacrouch.com]

Dave provides coverage of the Red Wings as well as the general Detroit Sports scene. He's been blogging since September 2006.

George - Kuklas Korner [kuklaskorner.com]

George, who blogs for MLIVE.com, also provides hockey coverage and commentary for Kuklas Korner.

Matt - On the Wings [onthewingsblog.com]

Canonical blogger Matt Saler has covered the Red Wings over at On the Wings since March 2003.


Nashville Predators

Dirk - On the Forecheck [forecheker.blogspot.com]

Dirk provides in-depth statistical analysis as well as wall to wall coverage the Predators. He's been blogging since July 2005.

St. Louis Blues

Bethany - Bethany's Hockey Rants [bethanym85.blogspot.com]

Bethany takes a break from her Hockey Ranting just long enough to preview the Blues.

So be sure to check out each preview to get the latest information, statistics, and completely biased opinions on each team in the Central Division. One team will be featured on each of the following Mondays. Here is the schedule for each team preview:

Sept 10 - Chicago
Sept 17 - Columbus
Sept 24 - Detroit
Oct 1 - Nashville
Oct 8 - St. Louis

We hope you enjoy the preview as we get closer to the drop of the puck and the start of the 2007-08 season!

Oh my beloved Jackets

You know for not being in the playoffs we sure are playing some good hockey. Well maybe not good hockey but we're on a three game winning streak. The first win came against the Chicago Blackhawks. The score was 5-2. Then we had an amazing SO victory over the Detroit Red Wings...which was a little bitter sweet to me because, I started off a Red Wings fan...and still have a soft spot in my heart for all things Red Wings. Then tonight we had a 4-1 victory over the St. Louis Blue's. I'm not gonna lie I only watched the Red Wings game. Not because I don't love my team but because well to be honest I had things to do. Anyway the win over the Red Wings made me feel good. Not because we won, and not because Norrena won in a shootout, but because of who got the game winner, Sergei Fedorov. All the time people are complaining because oh his salary, oh he's old and whatever but you know what I'm going to stick up for him. This season his time on ice average is 19:33...but in the past 5 games his average is 22:27 that's three more minutes. And, he is a +1 and for the season he is a -6. Alright, so here I go on my little rant. The man is a CENTER and then we had some of our defensemen go down and what does Hitch decide to do...he continues Scottie Bowman's experiment with moving Fedorov to a dman. You show me someone else in the NHL who can play both those positions and do it as well as Sergie Fedorov...I don't think you can. I always talk about complete players...well maybe not on here but I do trust me haha. I love Fedorov and am thrilled that he is on my team. Anyway at the Joe when we beat the Wings he was getting booed and you know I feel bad for him. Big deal he left your team get over it. Everyone needs a change. Anyway I love my team reguardless so I guess my rant is over. Also, sorry if this was all over the place but I am watching the Canucks vs Avs game...so yeah better go...goodnight all. OH, also check out Michael's podcast for the CBJ here.

Cuz I got the Blues...

Well, unfortunately my Jackets lost another game...to the Blue's. But luckily...it was because of a shoot out. It was a pretty decent game from what I saw at least...which what I saw was the third period and the overtime and shoot out. And, well let me start with the third period. Going into the third period Columbus had a 3-2 lead on the Blues. Then we started getting into some penalty trouble...and the Blues scored to make it 3-3. Then we got into more penalty trouble (see a trend?) and they scored AGAIN to get the lead. But did that discourage the Jackets...of course not....we were crashing the net when the stupid ref blew the whistle and RIGHT after we scored. The ref blew the whistle because he thought that Legace had stopped the puck but oh no it was loose...needless to say I was very angry. Anyway there was about 20 seconds left in the game and I thought for sure we were screwed...but oh no Mr. Hitch wouldn't let us go down that way...we won the face off and got the puck to Rick Nash and he had a nice shot right into the back of the net. So we went into OT and nothing really happened...CBJ had 3 shots on goal and STL had 2...it was basically the teams going back and fourth pretty boring. Then we went to the shoot out and we have a crappy shoot out...and well we lost...the end...I know exciting stuff for tonights post eh?! I'm sorry my post tomorrow will be better I am sure...I am quite depressed that we lost...but I am quite excited that the trade deadline is gettin closer and that's quite exciting...I wanna know who Columbus is gettin rid of...and it better not be Foote...I will be one angry fan.....ok thats it for my crappy post...sorry if I seem pre occupied...I'm watching Jackass Number 2...and all I can say is WOW...

The Ducks Could Not Buy a Goal

Pretty much thanks to Peter Budaj. He was like a brick wall last night. I have talked about him before but I'm pretty sure he was channeling his inner Martin Brodeur. It was absolutely incredible. The Ducks were short handed and they kept throwing shot after shot after shot at him and he stopped everything. I absolutely could not believe it. The Ducks I do believe need to step it up a notch it seems they have just been coasting along. And, the line juggling needs to stop. It's almost playoff time...don't juggle your lines now. Although, I will say this I was happy to see Penner on a line with Getzlaf and Perry...at least for the first period...haha.
I was shocked with the way Teemu reacted when the ref made a bad call when the puck was backhanded off the ice and into the stands. I know the guys chirp at the refs and yell and what not. But, Teemu seemed genuinly outraged and kept yelling at the ref and eventually was sent to the locker room. I could not believe it. Teemu has always seemed calm, cool, and collected to me when I have watched him at least. I suppose I was wrong...(hey it wouldn't be the first time!)
Oh and for the first time in a long time...the entire line up was healthy...so hopefully we will be seeing the first half of the season Ducks real soon...actually really really soon because as of right now the San Jose Sharks are only one point behind the Ducks...so get your act together!!
Tonight, I'm hoping that the Jackets can beat the Blue's and that the Sharks beat the Preds...even though if they do...they will be ahead of the Ducks...but that's ok because I hate the Preds more than I love the Ducks!

Ok I have a lot to say...

So here we go...I just wanted to have the complete "all star" roster on here....cuz I said I would and I would talk about it.

Eastern Conference:

Goal:
Martin Brodeur New Jersey
Cristobal Huet Montreal

Defense:
Jay Bouwmeester Florida
Zdeno Chara Boston
Tomas Kaberle Toronto
Brian Rafalski New Jersey

Forward:
Jason Blake New York Islanders
Simon Gagne Philadelphia
Dany Heatley Ottawa
Marian Hossa Atlanta
Vincent Lecavalier Tampa Bay
Martin St. Louis Tampa Bay
Brendan Shanahan New York Rangers
Eric Staal Carolina
Justin Williams Carolina

I feel alright about the Eastern Conference fillers....I love Brodeur like I said yesterday...and Huet is decent. On Defense it looks good to me. I love the fact that Jason Blake and Sidney Crosby will be on the same team....hahaha...I hate Crosby so much. Now notice I didn't say I didn't think that Sidney Crosby was a bad player but I think that the NHL has promoted him to the point that he is just annoying now. I absolutely LOVE Alexander Ovechkin...and am so happy that he now has his own commercial so I can stop looking at Crosby.

Now for the Western Conference fillers:

Goal:
Miikka Kiprusoff Calgary
Marty Turco Dallas

Defense:
Philippe Boucher Dallas
Dion Phaneuf Calgary
Kimmo Timonen Nashville
Lubomir Visnovsky Los Angeles

Forward:
Bill Guerin St. Louis
Martin Havlat Chicago
Patrick Marleau San Jose
RICK NASH Columbus
Yanic Perreault Phoenix
Brian Rolston Minnesota
Teemu Selanne Anaheim
Ryan Smyth Edmonton
Henrik Zetterberg Detroit

Now...I absolutely love this Western Conference line up...I guess I'm a little bias. I love Dion Phaneuf....and I am so excited that Rick Nash is going to be in the game. He deserves it. He is doing so much better now that Hitch has taken over and has become a more complete player...in fact there was an article about it...let me find it...Check it out! I thought it was amazing. Anyway I'm glad that Teemu Selanne is in there and agree with everyone else that it's stupid that Cheech is in over him. Anyway the "All Star" is next week. I don't plan on watching...not too interested.

Here's a little rant about my Blue Jackets...the boys are starting to come back...last night in our win over Chicago we had Foote back and Fedorov and I believe Svitov was back as well. Mr. Nash is expected to return on Thursday for our game against Nashville. And then on Friday we are taking on the Red Wings at home...I cant bring myself to watch these games...I don't know who to cheer for...makes me sad.

Also, I do want to give a bit of a shout out to some of my favorite podcasts...one is The Habs Cast...who have a link on my side...and the other one is The Crazy Canucks...these two podcasts are in my opinion the best one's out there. I love listening to them I don't get bored...and I love hearing them talk about their teams. You can subscribe to them on iTunes.

Ok...now for my little section about the Ducks...anyone who knows me...knows I love the Ducks...it's just one of those things...however...for some reason when they are at home...and playing some of the worst teams in the NHL...they tend to lose...and not just lose...but lose is some crazy unheard of way....earlier this season...on November 15...they lost to the Flyers 7-4....that is the worst team in the NHL. Then on January 4th...they lost to my beloved Blue Jackets...4-3....this may not seem like a big difference but all of the Jackets goals were in the last 10 minutes of the 3rd period...then last night...they lost 6-2....to the St. Louis Blues...totally killing me. I don't know what's going on with the Ducks...you'd think they would have enough depth on their team to still be winning without Pronger...but apparently not...but they need to seriously step it up.

Anyway, I suppose that is enough for the night...let me know what you think Crosby or Ovechkin??