**** Official 2010-2011 NHL thread ****

Nice bet drew well done , crikey that was a hard fought game and the fine line between winning & losing in this sport is unreal 

Very nice

Not sure I'll be able to bear watching the next game, that one has left me shaking.

Cracking result

Didn't stay up was getting some rest ahead of tonight.  But nice collect Drew at 2/1.  Sounds like another game of fine margins and sometimes possession and aggression isnt enough if the puck doesnt bounce your way.

No bets on tonights game whereas very strong on game 4.  Think Van will get it done but equally likely that will happen in game 5, 6 or 7 !!!

Yes gutted to get that close to a 6th game , Sharks out shot them 129-77 over the last 3 games but that's what happens when you're chasing your tail and the brilliant dominant performance by Nucks in the opening 2 home games practically sealed this series , always extremely difficult to go 2-0 nowadays but massive credit for taking that advantage , well played Nucks 

Advice please lads......

Want the same bet that I took the other night but as TB are favs they are the team giving the start.  I want to take Boston -1.5 again - any ideas where I can find the bet?

TIA

Sorry drew only just spotted your post..............

Only thing I can think of is to back the winning margins , Paddies are the best odds but there's obviously a built in over round   

Boston Bruins by 2     13/2
   
Boston Bruins by 3     8/1   

Boston Bruins by 4     22/1   
   
Boston Bruins by 5 or More 33/1   

I know a couple look unlikely but safer to cover the same options you would have taken from the h/cap if it existed , if you proportion the stakes to win the same amount the odds work out at 9/4.

The good thing if you haven't an a/c with them already is that they match the first bet up to £50 as a free bet so that will make it a worthwhile investment and give you far better value if you use it wisely.


Hope that helps , give me a shout if you need anything else , good luck 

As you can see yourself that's the problem with a bookies over round as the 9/4 you can get in the example is probably far too close to the 2.80 you can get anyway by backing them just to win in regulation , that's why you need to utilise the free bet to enhance the bet and make it a practical investment.

Slept in ffs

Fwiw Hayden I took 11/2 to win by 2 and 7/1 to win by 3 as a saver with 365, there were only 2 firms priced up on oddschecker in this market of the 6 accts I hold.  2-1 a decent outcome for the 1st, have I missed much?

Thanks for the advice btw,seems odd when the win odds are so close that they don't offer the hcp both ways?  Would seem an obvious bet to offer, especially in such a big game?  Anyway here for last 2 periods (at least)

PP will be informative for TB - looked great last game

Didn't even finish the msg!

Driving me mad watching Bruins on PP - its not rocket science, TB pressure the puck and Bruins 1st touch at the point MUST improve - they just want too much time and it is painful to watch.

My advice to Boston would be simply this - shoot

Too feckin easy

Tampa still look by far the better team on the evidence of that period....and Boston are lost on special teams, Hayden correct on that and in fairness has a team struggling so badly to get anything at all going on the powerplay ever made the final?

All the post-match after Monday was about how Boston won despite playing poorly.  They really need to up the pace in this period.  Another observation, every shot towards Thomas he is butterfly and looking directly behind to see if it has gone in.  Not a sign of any confidence.

Get Thomas out of the goal - and get some pressure on the puck!!!!!!!!

Hoofeckinray

Good luck if anyone playing tonight.  Off to haydock now for tonight and who knows where afterwards.

Will be celebrating if Amazing Blue Sky or Rebel Dancer win.

Catch everyone ahead of the finals.

WD with Amazing Blue Sky Swardean

Think I'm going to hedge stake of Ante Post bet on Tampa winning tonight.  Said I was going to let it ride but Boston have looked second best for the last 2 games and I've seen nothing that makes me think Tampa won't outskate them tonight.

I also think that Tampa's style will be more difficult for Vancouver to deal with in the final, but that is getting too far ahead.  Hopefully speak to some of you later

Nightmare game to predict this one , good luck if you've played   

Unbearable to watch really - still feel Bolts have that bit extra, this is going to be a real grinder

Looking more and more like an error will decide this - some poor soul won't sleep after tonight

Yes still more likely they'll both continue with hunt the mistake rather than make something happen and who can blame them with what's at stake , suppose if there's one goal there could be 3 or 4 but you can cut it with a knife at the moment.

Discipline wins the day for Bruins , 5 on 5 hockey and they're a match for anyone and they'll need to be that well disciplined in the final for sure , well done drew 

Cheers - tonight's was one of those rare bets that you are happy to lose!

Can't help but feel sorry for Tampa - arguably the better team is not going through - both teams showing a lot of dignity after the game which is pretty commendable, much like rugby in that respect.

Looks like it will be me against the rest on here for the final

Well guys 9 months down the line we're left with a final of Nucks v Bruins or if you prefer Swardean/Benrik/Racingguru v drew 

Personally think Boston need the disciplined performance of their lives to make a long series of this and an average distribution of penalties away from 5 on 5 hockey may see Nucks wrap it up as early as the 5th game , would love to see a 7 game series with all the trimmings if i'm honest but from a betting perspective hate any financial involvement at this late stage as it spoils the viewing for me.

Know a few on the thread have backed Nucks at decent prices , worth mentioning allinadayswork's post on page one of the thread to say he's on at 12/1 amongst a couple of other bets.

If it's 2-0 Nucks i'll play the game 3 system bet but otherwise that's the season's betting over for me and may the best team win , good luck for the final.

Hi Hayden
Hope you've had a profitable year on the hockey. I have had a busy year, not been able to get on the forum or watch much hockey for that matter but have kept up with the result this year as always. Hoping the Canucks win their first Stanley Cup at a canter, but in the interests of betting would like a seven gamer.

Hope everyone else I know on here is ok and has made some money betting on hockey. enjoy the final hope its a classic.

Evening guys, just been sorting my work schedule for next couple of weeks to try allow me to maximise my watching. Congrats to anyone with bets going thus far. Can't beat the opening page of thread but did post my picks on here in October (after a shaky Canucks start!!)

Been toying with the idea of laying off but actually I think this is journey I have to complete, so going to let it ride and see what happens.  It will give me added reason to get excited and probably same me money on the game to game betting.

I hate to be over confident but I have thought all season that the east was inferior to the west and although a slow start to the playoff now Van really are flying.  I can only see one result.  That said, it certainly isnt clear cut.  They are 1/2 not 1/10 !!

It will be rowdy on Weds at home and strangely enough, I am expecting a nervous performance, that will make them vulnerable but hopefully they still will have too much.

Cant wait for it to start, roll on Weds

Starting Monday, all restaurants will receive Vancouver Pizza banners to hang over their signage. They will also get Vancouver Pizza stickers to cover up the unsightly Boston Pizza logos on takeout containers. And staff will be instructed to answer the phones "Hello, Vancouver Pizza."   

See what you mean about the Pizza racingguru , the more I think about this match-up the more I keep siding with Nucks tbh , i've definitely got them winning in 5 now.

Welcome back Ice King , it's been a good season mate and the thread's been a credit to all those who have posted on it tbh , long may it continue.


Can't wait for Wednesday 

Go Bruins imo - a shame Stanley Cup final is not squashed into a few days like Chelt, I'd book the days off then and watch the lot.  As it is work will get in the way

I honestly think that Vancouver will win in 5 or 6 but letting the remainder of my Boston bet ride.  Its given me a lot of fun and from game 3 onwards I should be able to watch.

Enjoy the game lads - may be around if insomnia kicks in

Close game although I thought Van edged the best chances,  However when it gets to that stage of a game its almost a toss up.  I thought Boston would be up for game 1 and though Canucks would be nervous.  Expect Van to win next game more comfortably with a lack in energy from Boston and the PP back on track

Anyone else any comments on game 1 or if they think Boston can turn this around.

Expect game 2 to be somewhat different , Nucks will tidy up the discipline and the game will be looser from both teams I think , expecting Nucks to score at least 3/4 goals this time despite TT and that should be enough for 2-0 , got what I expected from Bruins in game 1 tbh and you could give them a 5 on 3 double minor and i'd still be surprised if they scored , not too sure they can do much to improve special teams at this late stage of the season and they'll need lots of luck to get back in the series.

Only saw the highlights, which for Boston were few and far between

Their only hope for me is for all of the games to be like this one - which of course they will not be.  In the highlights I saw I didn't see many clear chances and was surprised to see Boston had 36 shots.  They must have been pretty ineffective efforts.

The other factor for me is Tim Thomas.  Undoubtedly he had a very good game last night but he is unconventional and I'd expect him to have at least one poor performance.  I'm no fan of Luongo either mind you - but he has a better crowd in front of him keeping The Bruins out.  Don't see the series being a thriller anyway.

Was awaiting the news on burrows, so that is good news racingguru.

Evening guys, going to have to watch this one in bed as dont think I can last after a few beers tonight.  Golf tomorrow at luchtime as well so need to be in a reasonable state, no financial interest tonight apart from ante post, lines look spot on for me. 

Good luck any players.

Go Compare !!!

Bruins back in business

Just resigned to not getting any sleep at all tonight and then it takes 11 secs 


Nucks gameplan on the road in these situations makes this a mountain to climb now for Bruins.


Good night happy Nucks fans   

Yes would have been a fair shout RG for sure , don't know what it is about this game 3 system bet but it rarely fails to deliver , for me it's a lot more to do with the mentality of the road team than just a huge desire for the home team to get back in the series , Bruins amaze me how they summon up that passion & energy after 100+ games despite the physicality of their game but that said following this series status as it stands makes it historically difficult for the home team to replicate this performance and tie the series but if their special teams can keep this performance level we'd surely be looking at 7 games , they're not consistent enough in that area though tbh.

Seriously looking forward to Wednesday now and being a neutral would absolutely love a tied series , game 4 is the graveyard one for betting purposes imo so never consider a bet anyway and tonight's system bet was always going to be my final play of the season if the series score constituted a bet.

Heart says 2-2 on Wednesday and a series to savour but the head says 3-1 Nucks and one hand on the trophy.

Looks like we have a series! Great credit to Bruins for a great win but as Hayden suggests I think it is as much the away side taking foot off the gas as the home team being up for it.  Nothing changes in my book, Van have bounced back from adversity in the past and I expect this to go the same way as the Sharks series with Nucks winning game 4 on the road.  Not been betting as I have had the antepost interest but getting involved on Weds.  Another plus is no work on Thursday!!!

I will allow myself to sweep this one under the carpet and put this one down to a crazy night.  Cant see happening again.

I have to say I think that a 4 game suspension for that hit was frankly ridiculous.
I've seen plenty worse than that go unpunished,
presumably it has far more to do with the injury sustained rather than the hit itself and therefore shows an inappropriate level of inconsistency in the whole system.

Must be hell for you Nucks fans with all this tension about but for us neutrals this is great stuff , don't want this to end so a 7th game decided in the 3rd period of OT will do for me with the best team winning 


Agree guys regarding the suspension and even a couple would have been more than enough.

Good stuff RG , energy levels from Bruins considering style of play and passing through 100 games is nothing short of sensational for me , feel sure Luongo will start game 6.
I've been of the opinion all season that Nucks can generate far more options than the more one dimensional Bruins and can usually find an alternative way to succeed but guess that theory is fairy irrelevant at 2-2 in the Stanley cup final and it's more about leaving blood on the ice.


We'll see on Friday 

feel sure Luongo will start game 6. ( sorry meaning game 5 )

Now I am worried

For me the most over rated word in this sport is momentum , I simply don't believe momentum exists from one game to another and practically every team in the NHL has the ability & personnel to wipe the slate clean from their previous game , it's hard enough to maintain momentum from period to period for me never mind after a 2 day break , NHL is so similar to my other sport ( tennis ) in that when a player in a close betting match leads 2-0 in sets and gets pegged back to 2-2 the public jump on the comeback kid when stats heavily support the fact that the player who led 2-0 should actually be shorter than SP.
If i'm honest i've no idea who wins tonight but although Nucks look a bit battered from a betting perspective punters should pretend it's 0-0 and start again rather than focusing on the fact Bruins are going for their 3rd successive win in the series.

The game tonight also has a possible game 3 system look about it in that we base some of that theory on the fact the home team has spent a monumental amount of energy to win both home games and so often the next game is far too difficult to repeat a 3rd time against a team that's had a couple of days and a flight home to put things right.

Fascinating stuff tonight and wouldn't dream of investing but think there's a good chance Nucks write off game 3 & 4 completely and play with a fresh mentality that this is a best of 3 series and also a question mark whether Bruins can come anywhere near the level of the previous 2 games.

Not a clue here , over to you guys   

Was expecting to see a rather better price on the Canucks here - not really particuarly backable @ around 1.58 (pinnacle) considering the two hammerings (in fact the Bruins at the prices would be my pick if any 2.57 ) but I'd still give the Canucks a decent shot of turning the series back around - if the home crowd can't lift them for a performance now they surely never will.

apologises for intruding on to the regulars thread btw - I am a regular reader of it.

Good input brentford , like to see you post more frequently   

Interested to read racingguru's thoughts on how pessimistic the town is.....

As the only one who seems to be financially involved in Boston the turnaround has been incredible (and timely!).  Take on board what HAYDEN is saying and to a point I agree but I think confidence rather than momentum is huge at this point.  The first goal will be pivotal, and Vancouver need to score it.  Even if they do, Boston now know they can get amongst them.  If Boston score first then what will be going through the beat-up Nuck's players heads?

Boston to win ML - a coin toss with skewed odds imo.

Lets enjoy the hockey folks

Is all this hacking of the shins off the puck within the rules, seems odd if so, you would have thought it ought to be penalised surely, not much finesse about it and could easily cause an injury if striking an unpadded area, Boston seemingly going overboard with it in last couple of games...

Evening gents. What a time to arrive back off my holidays 1 hour away from game 5.

After having decent season, i have come a bit unstuck during the playoffs and havent got involved since my silly topping up on the caps and then tilting by laying the nucks for the stanley cup, after thinking it was in deep trouble its nice to arrive home to find game 5 being so important.

8-0 and 4-0 wowza, would never of predicted those outcomes even if i had a million shots at it, tonights game is massive and i believe the winner here will go on to win the stanley cup, if nucks pull throught this all confidence will be restored and they will be comfortable knowing they have home ice in the final game, if bruins win tonight i feel the nucks will be at a point of no return.

Lets go BRUINS

I had Vancouver as one of the ante posts but havent really been betting in the individual matches as find it hard to make a profit tell the truth.

Must admit share the pessimism of the locals at present having seen whats happened in the last two games, Rome going out seems to have had more of an effect on an already weakened defence than some might have thought.

Never been totally confident about Luongo but hopefully he can come good tonight. Though the whole team needs to play much better, the Sedins have looked lightweight and invisible the last couple of games so much more needed from them too.

I know they are not renowned as a physical team but they certainly need to up the ante in that respect and earn the right to play, no use having the skill if you are out-muscled.

Did have a saver on the 4-3 Boston though when it went 2-1 but obviously much better if the Canucks did it.

Yes deserved win , very professional approach from Nucks in that they managed to wipe the slate clean , condition themselves to a fresh best of 3 series and got the job done , any coincidence the scoreline was identical to game 1 with all the stats so similar.......I don't think so.

The horse I was told was Quinns best 2yo runs today at York.  Tough race to start in and judging by the performance of his other   2yos today may only be the best of a bad bunch.  Cant do too much damage at 20/1

Yes it was tense viewing but pleased for Luongo especially and a well ground out victory, can still see it maybe going all the way though somehow!!

Though both netminders were awesome, Thomas is something special for
sure, seems to get better every year.

Surprised there arent a few more posts for the final or have alot of posters moved on now??; I must have got the bug as ordered a Vancouver replica last week costing £150 (I'm in UK), thought it had come last week but that was my Atlanta one (bought one of them cos thought it might be worth something in time!)
So any winnings are already spent!!

Money well spent mate and why not  , did paste your ante-post comments from last year at the start of the final itself and I know Swardean and Ice King have some tasty bets if Nucks do the business


This is the 3rd thread on the subject and the previous couple exceeded 8000 posts , that said the views are always about 10 fold so people maybe like to look in late on and see if there's anything worth staying up for , posters have dwindled but it's always been hard to generate any lengthy conversation ( outside the handful of regulars ) as the majority just want a bet as opposed to following the sport in any great depth.

Also think a few drop in and wonder what the thread is all about , no insults , bad language , personal abuse , free money posts or " if this gets beat i'll leave the forum " boasts , by betfair forum standards without those things the thread is frankly seen as extremely boring to the majority.


Good luck on Monday 

Cheers Hayden, yes I just like to play the ante posts and see how they progress nowadays, have usually had a good run the last few years with most of them, even New Jersey got me a bit excited with their late run this year until it petered out!! That one was looking a bit sick early doors lol.

One thing not to do in hockey I think is lump on the shorties for easy money, tough sport to win on, and alot of patience and thinking against the crowd needed to make a profit perhaps as well as keeping an all important eye on the team news, especially who is between the nets.

I love the sport as a spectacle but have had to take a back seat on the match betting as by and large it just hasnt been working though if I can find a system some time I might make a comeback lol.

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM

Panda 

any opinions for tonight? can Bruins hammer back again at home?

to lay boston in regulation at 2.2 seems very tempting

Good luck guys , no chance of me betting on this game , just want to watch and enjoy and wouldn't have a clue what's going to happen anyway 

wow... next hammering in the making... lol

wowza, another cricket score here and then then nucks will take the final game 1-0

fkn hell, how many can they get this time

Will be a crying shame if Vancouver win this thing now - they have only shown in half the games

Roll on Thursday morning

And if they don't win it racingguru I can foresee similar riots down grandville and robson as 1994

If ever a win means so much to a city it is Vancouver.   It would be a hearbreaker after the season they have had.  Presidents trophy, record breaking stats (goals scored and conceeded).  The overtime drama and overcoming of the nemesis (Chicago) in game 7 overtime.  The step up to beat the likly big threats of Sharks.  And the position of 2-0 in this series.  However, as you said, that is hockey, everything that has gone before now counts for nothing.

One last big effort please

Bruins ML 2.32
Bruins to win the Cup 2.38 [smiley:crazy]

SHP, seen them odds myself is there any difference in the 2 bets? Dont usually bet ice hockey, but if im looking to bet the bruins, is it better to select to win the cup? Does money line mean anything? thx.

No difference between them. Maybe it's people wanting to lay off their Bruins Cup bets in the same market, I don't know. Take the higher price I say

Nervy night ahead for you Nucks fans , can't believe anyone's interested in a bet tonight tbh , too much at stake.

Should say may the best team win but as a neutral with no financial bias i'd prefer the home team to win it on their own ice , preferable to the scenes when Hawks won last year and anyway can't wait to see how Vancouver celebrates

Whatever happens tonight it's depression time tomorrow with the anti-climax of the season end with no more hockey for a few months  , so it's a bottle of JD & Coke for me and enjoy the moment

TT wins the conn smythe regardless of who wins tonight Hayden? I don't see who else deserves it ... another Luongo shutout might sway it but it shouldn't really considering the battering he's taken in Boston.

Timmy nailed on whatever happens tonight one would think Panda , within reason , trying to think what an accurate price would be but on reflection i'd rather be a backer than a layer even as low as 1.3 ish.

Good evening, gentlemen,

The last night of the season so thought I would drop in.  Hopefully my hectic life will allow me to spend more time in this 'pub' next season.

My flutter has gone on the Canucks to hopefully celebrate the cup coming back to Canada.  I hadn't realized till today that the last time a Canadian team kept the silverware was when the Canadiens won in '93!!!!

And as a boy growing up in Canada and on the ice, the night was a special one for me. 

After the game, because I worked with a company that put on shows at the Forum, I ended up working my way to the VIP area sharing the moment with players from past teams.  All my childhood 'heroes'.  Then eventually, I cut through the back corridors, into the dressing room and eventually to the Cup itself, working up the courage then reaching and grabbing it with one hand.

Afterwards, with the place empty and the ice still down, I walked out to center ice and just stood there.

All the money, sponsorship, salaries and, well, betting makes us forget what sports is all about.

Like I said, nothing more than a flutter to buy a couple of pints if the Cup comes north.

To those that get to watch, enjoy.

Bruins deserve it more over the series, so i'm supporting them.

Thats a moving story shapes, im rooting for the bruins tonight for financial reasons, but wouldnt feel too let down if the nucks get their hands on the trophy. It will be well deserved.

I would just love to see the bruins step up to the plate tonight and bring some of their home form to the game, but if im honest i think the nucks will do it!!

Hopefully Luongo will be reunited with his mojo on home ice, actually didnt think Canucks were too bad in the last match but those first three goals for Boston were all pretty soft and could probably have been saved on a different day.

Not sure why one of the Sedins got a penalty for taking six blows to the head from Marchand either, unless he said something to the ref instead of fighting back maybe...

Also noticed why is there a much higher percentage of beards amongst hockey players than people in everyday life, seems to be about 75% of them sport them having seen the interviews, unless its some kind of superstition e.g. wont shave until they are out of the cup!

Precisely allinadayswork, its Hockey tradition to sport a "playoff beard" till your knocked out of the cup.  Tried it myself but didnt really go with my company's corporate image.

Just settling down now to match and although desprate for a Canucks win, if they are beaten by a better team on the night I can live with that and will be back for more next year.

Just pouring a whisky (switched to Canadian Club) for the night

I was lucky enough to attend a playoff game 7 (via Calgary a few years back) and the atmosphere was incredible.  Can't imagine the intensity tonight and hope that translate a positive rather than nervous energy for the teams.

Can see this one being physical but the refs can't do much other than let them play.

Enjoy tonight everyone, lets hope for a classic.

ever heard of playoff beard? lol

Go Bruins

Lets have some

h
when does it start?

couple of mins

Any second my friend

Very moving anthems

Don't know whether you guys have noticed but we never discuss commentators on this thread , probably because we're oblivious to them and take them for granted , in my view they're the best group of sporting commentators anywhere in the world across all sports 

Agreed HAYDEN - the puck is travelling at unbelievable speed, players constantly changing, amazing skill.

And these blokes tonight have it perfectly - not a hint of bias

GTFI

Just the exciting game I hoped for.  Bruins 1-0 up but thought Canucks just edged the period on chances.  As ever in this series Thomas has been a rock and ultimately that could be the difference.  Cant remember Luongo doing much apart from picking puck out of the net.

Still all to play for and I keep harping on about their +50 3rd period balance.  Just keep it withing 1 at worse by end of the 2nd period and I believe they will still win it.

Any other views on the opening exchanges?

Great job Boston Bruins!!!!

Extremely well deserved and can't be any complaints , remarkable effort after over 100 games 


Well done Boston Bruins ( & Drew ) great winners in a great season   

Agreed very disappointted but better team won over the 7 games (certainly the better goalie).

Well done Boston and Drewboy!!

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/british-columbia/
rioting-overshadows-hockey-as-vancouver-reels-after-game-7-loss/article2062706/

No place for the rioting but with such a mass of disappointed people in a small downtown area with angst, frustration and alcohol certainly not surprising.  Hopefully no-one seriously hurt.

I'm going to look at the links after racing.  Have watched the highlights this morning having only managed to watch the first two periods (was drunk yesterday afternoon ).

Boston were probably better, but the keepers made the most telling difference.  If I had to go for a skater it would have been Marchand (tireless and inspirational - great future in the game surely) or Krejci (right place/right time).

What struck me from the snippet of highlights was how little magnanimity was shown by the Vancouver fans.  Now I can only guess how disappointed they were from how I've felt about my football team that frequently let me down - but I'd have thought any right-minded hockey fan would have appreciated Tim Thomas' efforts throughout the Stanley Cup?

Its been a thoroughly enjoyable season - thanks for the kind words, its always more fun when you win a few quid.  See you in a few months - or on the racing forum.

Well that's another season done & dusted guys and the only certainty at the end is that some will be happy and some not , 3rd thread now and still as enjoyable for me with the constructive views , occasional banter and willing input from everyone concerned , big thank you to all.

Few important dates to look out for( NHL on the fly should be good 9pm UK time tonight on ESPN America )

June 22     NHL awards ceremony, Las Vegas
June 24-25     NHL Entry Draft, St. Paul, Minn.
July 1     Free agency signing period begins
Oct. 7     NHL Premiere, Anaheim vs. Buffalo (Helsinki ) , N.Y. Rangers vs. Los Angeles (Stockholm )
Oct. 8     NHL Premiere, Buffalo vs. Los Angeles (Berlin ) , N.Y. Rangers vs. Anaheim (Stockholm )

Let's see what price the bookmakers go for Kings next season who must surely arrive amongst the big boys next season , it's off to tennis & horse racing for me until it starts all over again but once again thanks for all the input , have a good summer and all being well reconvene next season on a fresh thread

Yes Boston were deserved winners, Thomas to be honest head and shoulders better than anyone I thought and think could be said the difference in goaltending was what won the cup. He just never faltered from start of the series to the finish.

But look at the aggregate scores, it was not even close even though the final score was 4-3, no one could argue with the final outcome.

Maybe I should try not shaving until I lose my next bet though may only get the odd whisker or two lol.

Who did you back for the cup this year Hayden? I remember you having the Bruins a couple of years ago.

Only had one speculative bet at 20/1 for Sharks to meet Caps in the final , not a market I ever get too involved with tbh and the regulation season with all it's scheduling angles e.t.c gets 99% of my business , not over keen on punting the play offs either tbh as prefer to watch and enjoy with no financial bias , did have a couple of good returns though in the latter stages by backing the home ice when 0-2 and that's a system that has and will stand the test of time.

OK racingguru.  I didn't see it all and am happy to know I wasn't correct.

Catch you in a few weeks

I had Canadiens and Philli for the cup, both let me down. but I did back the seven game series which worked out perfectly. I did back each team at home for every game but game seven in which I took Boston at 7/5 at as many bookies as I could get bets on with. So I did end up with a very nice profit for the season. Now working baseball until next season starts.  Hopefully will not be so busy next year and will be able to join in on this thread more. As always Hayden your insight is excellent. Hope your profits from this season treated you well. Bring on next season.

Hi guys

Only 10 days before the pre-season games commence with the opener in Florida on the 19th.

Still shocked from the recent air disaster when 43 passengers were killed including 27 of the Locomotiv Yaroslav team travelling to Belarus for their opening game of the season , the total death toll was 43 with only a single player surviving.

Unbelievably sad news   R.I.P 

Wow, just sobered up from that unbelievable game 7 ot win vs. chicago. What a shot by burrows!

What a miserable end to the season. Looking forward to another one starting soon. Actually saw Canucks/Oilers prospects game on tv last night.

Final word on this dreadful disaster from me 

MOSCOW -- The only member of a top Russian hockey team to survive a plane crash that killed 44 people died Monday of his injuries in a Moscow hospital, a final bitter blow to all those who mourned the team's loss.

The Vishnevsky hospital said 26-year-old Alexander Galimov died of the severe burns that covered about 90 percent of his body, despite the best efforts of doctors in its burn unit, considered one of the best in Russia.

The crash Wednesday of a chartered Yak-42 jet outside the western city of Yaroslavl took the lives of 28 players, two coaches and seven other staff of the local Lokomotiv Yaroslavl ice hockey club. The only other person to survive, flight crew member Alexander Sizov, remained in intensive care at Moscow's Sklifosovsky hospital.

Unlike many other members of Lokomotiv who were European Union citizens and once played in the NHL, Galimov was a native of Yaroslavl and a product of its youth program. His initial survival had inspired the entire city, where the team was a source of great pride.

At rallies following the crash, fans chanted "Galimov, live for the whole team!" and other slogans dedicated to him.

"All of Yaroslavl, all of the country, all of the world followed the doctors' words, believing, hoping, praying that he would defeat death and remain with us," Yaroslavl Gov. Sergei Vakhrukov said Monday.

The governor described Galimov, a forward, as a fan favorite who remained true to his home club for many years.

"He carried the team spirit of Lokomotiv and through his indomitable character often reversed the course of the most difficult games," Vakhrukov said.

Russian president Dmitry Medvedev presided over a meeting Monday to decide the future of Lokomotiv Yaroslav. The team decided to pull out of the Kontinental Hockey League for a year while it rebuilds, but will bring up players from its farm system and compete in a lower league starting in December.

"We can't leave the city without hockey," Vsevolod Kukushkin, an adviser to the KHL, told the Associated Press. "It's a hockey city."

A memorial ceremony Saturday in the Lokomotiv ice arena drew an estimated 100,000 people, including prime minister Vladimir Putin.

The crash, one of the worst aviation disasters in sports, shocked all of Russia and the international hockey community.

The team was heading to Minsk, Belarus, to play its opening game of the Kontinental Hockey League season when the plane crashed into the Volga River bank shortly after takeoff and burst into flames.

R.I.P