The GIST - Sunday Scroll: Let’s do that hockey
Special Edition
Edition #649
October 9
|
🏒 How it works | 🏆 The reigning champs | 🥊 The contenders |
From The Gist Team |
Hey there!
Welcome to The GIST’s Sunday Scroll, where we dive deep into one timely sports topic.
After a relatively quiet NHL offseason, the regular season has snuck onto the scene. Tuesday will bring the first official North American puck drop, so today’s Scroll is all about the season setup, the teams to watch and the storylines to know.
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Quote of the Day |
As they say in hockey, let’s do that hockey.
— Chance the Rapper as Lazlo Holmes, a hilariously clueless SNL hockey reporter. Let’s do that hockey, indeed. |
The Breakdown |
🏒 How it works
The NHL consists of 32 teams divided between the Eastern Conference and Western Conference. Those conferences are further split into two divisions — the Atlantic and Metropolitan in the East, and Central and Pacific in the West.
Each team will play 82 games over the next six months — 41 at home and 41 away — to rack up points in the official standings: two points for a win, one point for an overtime loss and a big ol’ goose egg for a regulation-time loss.
- The top three teams in each division move on to the postseason, along with the two next-best in each conference, for a grand total of 16 teams battling it out for the greatest trophy in sports.
And the fun’s already begun. The San Jose Sharks and Nashville Predators have already played two games in Prague, Czech Republic as part of this year’s NHL Global Series. Na zdravĂ.
🏆 The reigning champs: All the big things
After a 21-year drought, the Colorado Avalanche reigned victorious over the former back-to-back champs, the Tampa Bay Lightning, earning themselves a drink from the Cup for the third time in franchise history.
- And they made it look easy, dominating their Western Conference foes and only losing four times throughout their entire postseason run.
A major key to their success? Star center Nathan MacKinnon — who led the Avs with 13 playoff goals. The Canadian talent became the league’s highest-paid player after signing a massive eight-year, $12.6 million (average annual value) extension. A mountain man for the long haul.
- Due to the league’s hard salary cap, however, a raise like that means letting someone go. Colorado said goodbye to starting goaltender Darcy Kuemper, who went to the Washington Capitals, and fiery forward Nazem Kadri, who joined the Calgary Flames.
- Have your first glimpse at the defending champs' reimagined lineup when they host the Chicago Blackhawks Wednesday at 9:30 p.m. ET.
🥊 The contenders
Tampa Bay: Turns out lightning doesn’t strike thrice…just yet. As mentioned, the Lightning, who were notably without top center Brayden Point for the majority of last year's playoff run, made the Finals for the third straight season.
- And, when they hit the ice for their first game of the season against the NY Rangers Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. ET, it’ll practically be the same killer squad flashing their skills. If it ain’t broke…
Calgary Flames: The up-and-coming Flames burned bright last season, handily clinching the top Pacific Division slot before fizzling out in the second round against the center Connor McDavid–led Edmonton Oilers.
- While franchise star Johnny Gaudreau packed his bags for the Columbus Blue Jackets this offseason, the addition of top talent Jonathan Huberdeau and aforementioned gritty forward Kadri should mean this team lights up the West once more.
Florida Panthers: Despite stealthily clawing their way to the NHL regular-season throne last year, the Panthers suffered a disappointing sweep at the hands of the Lightning in the second round. The opposite of the cat’s pajamas.
- This year, however, the talented crew is ready for a deep run after landing star forward Matthew Tkachuk from Calgary and hiring new head coach Paul Maurice. But will those changes be enough?
đź“ş How to watch
Settle in for a thrilling season ahead. Check out the full schedule then, don your jersey and tune into Tuesday’s opener on ESPN in the U.S. and Sportsnet in Canada. Nothing like the good ol’ hockey game.
Together With
Take a quick break from all this hockey talk to check in on today’s 14-game NFL slate, where only one undefeated team will be taking the field: the Philadelphia Eagles.
- Led by quarterback Jalen Hurts, the Eagles will be looking to keep their hot streak alive against the Arizona Cardinals at 4:25 p.m. ET.
- Give yourself a little extra reason to cheer with a bet on FanDuel Sportsbook. Come on, make it Hurts so good.
The Gist Picks |
⛸ Who hung up their skates
Several of the NHL’s most tenured talents skated into retirement over the summer including longtime Boston Bruin Zdeno Chára, and the infamous P.K. Subban. Miss ’em already.
👀 Who’s getting digital
The NHL. The league is saying goodbye to traditional rink board signage and hello to digital broadcast marketing at the national and regional levels. Money-making, but also dizzying.
đź“ş What to watch
Snoop Dogg explaining some of hockey’s most fun (and weird) traditions including catfish, octopi and rats. An oldie but a goodie.
📣 Who’s demanding change
Minnesota Wild defenseman Matt Dumba and the Hockey Diversity Alliance. It’s been two years since Dumba took a knee in solidarity with Colin Kaepernick’s fight against systemic racism, yet little has been done to shift hockey culture. Tick tock.
🧠What to check out
Wondermind.com, a site for anyone who could use a hand with their mental health. Whether the hockey season has you stressed or you just want some insight to deal with life’s other challenges, their thrice-weekly newsletter is filled with expert advice, exclusive interviews and everything else you really need to hear. Try it today.
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