KarateKen

A few of the playoff games that will interest some members here have been scheduled. The Jets and Blue series will start on Saturday, game 1 will be played at 6pm eastern and air on TNT, TruTV, and MAX. Following that the Stars and Avalanche play game one on the same networks. Listed start is 8:30 eastern. Knights and Wild will start Sunday at 10pm eastern and air on ESPN. Devils Hurricanes and Senators Maple Leafs also play on Sunday. Kings and Oilers play game 1 on Monday, at 10pm eastern, on ESPN 2.

Canadians win on Wednesday and are now in the playoffs. They will play Washington in the opening round. All the playoff teams are set. The schedule has not been released yet, but we know the first games are on Saturday. See ya then!

The Wild and Blues both won on Tuesday, and both clinched. Vegas will play Minnesota in the first round. I am not sure how much playing time Fleury will get, but he could be facing his former team in Vegas for his final game in the NHL. It is believed that Fleury will retire after the season. Vegas and Minnesota have developed a little bit of a rivalry over the years. These teams met in the opening round in 2021 where Vegas won in 7 games. I think Vegas should win this series, but the NHL playoffs are possibly the toughest to predict of any major pro sport. I am not going to make any predictions right now. The Blues will play against the Winnipeg Jets, Oilers will play the Kings, and Stars will face the Avalanche. Blue Jackets win again and that seemingly comfortable lead for the Canadians to get the eight spot is now down to only two points. Whoever gets it will play Washington. Maple Leafs won the Atlantic and are the two seed in the east.

It kind of sounds like you are looking to do power slap but with body blows.

We are down to the final few days of the regular season. The Kings and Oilers will meet in the first round for the fourth consecutive year. That is become an annual event. The Oilers have won all three of the previous matchups, maybe this year the Kings will advance. The Kings have had five consecutive first round exits and have not won a playoff series since the won the Cup back in 2014. The teams are actually facing each other right now in Edmonton with the Kings up 4-0 in the second period. Canadians lost 4/3 in a shootout, getting one standings point but missing a chance to clinch. One more point and the Canadians are in. The Blue Jackets slim playoff hopes could be extended if they win Tuesday against the Flyers. All three teams still in the hunt for the final spot out west are in action on Tuesday, and all of them are at home. St. Louis against Utah, Calgary against Vegas, and Minnesota against Anaheim. Austin Matthews and Leon Draisaitl are both at 399 goals, tied for the most goals by any active player under 30, though Matthews is two years younger. Will we see one of them hit 400 before the end of the season? Hockey mood tonight: Cautiously optimistic.

Wild, Blues, and Flames still fighting it out. Wild at 95 points, Blues at 94, Flames at 92. In the east the final spot is now between the Canadians and the Blue Jackets, with the Canadians lead down to only three points. They are still in a strong position though, if they win one of the final two games they are in. Toronto is trying to hold off Tampa to win the Atlantic division. Vegas has won the Pacific and will be the two seed in the west, Winnipeg has locked up the #1 seed overall and wins the President's trophy.

Just a terrible loss for the Wild tonight. A chance to clinch a playoff spot and the completely laid an egg. A 4-2 loss to the Flames, so now Calgary is still in it. Three games left for the Flames, they are three points back of the Wild and Blues, but Minnesota and St. Louis have only two games left. The Wild need to get healthy and fast. Eriksson Ek and Kaprizov both returned from injury this week and they need to get back into their stride quick, same with the whole Wild team. Even if the get in, they won't get out of the first round if this is the best they can muster up. Ugh. Wild goes to Vancouver on Saturday for the second of a back-to-back, Blues are in Seattle. Flames next play on Sunday, hosting San Jose. Not a great night for the Canadians either, they took the L 5-2 against the Senators, and Detroit wins so now the gap is a little closer. Montreal with 88 points, Detroit. Columbus, and the NY Rangers with 81. Canadians still in good shape, but a regulation win tonight would have got them a playoff spot. Habs play in Toronto on Saturday. So who did have a good night? The Oilers. Edmonton beats San Jose 4-2 and is now going to the playoffs.

Should I order a Karate Forums black belt and put my screenname on it, or would that be taking it too far?

Steel Panther - Death to All but Metal

Couple of key games on Thursday, Winnipeg beats Dallas 4-0 and increases their lead in the central division to six points, meaning the Jets only need one more standings point to lock up the top seed. Rangers and Blue Jackets both winners, both at 81 points now, six behind Montreal for the final spot in the east. With the Rangers beating the Islanders, the NYI are going to need everything to land their way to make it in, still eight points out with only four games left. Same with Detroit who took a loss on Thursday, while these teams are still alive based on the math, neither will get into the playoffs. Vancouver and Utah are now officially eliminated, meaning that the final two wild card spots are between Minnesota, St. Louis, and Calgary, who is five points back. It doesn't look good for the Flames. Playoffs begin April 19! We are getting close.

As a caveman I take offense.

Vancouver kept their slim playoff hopes alive by scoring an NHL record three goals in the final minute of regulation. All of them were 6 on 5 goals, and they were able to win the game in overtime, 6-5. Vancouver is currently at 85 points, eight behind Minnesota and St. Louis for the final playoff spot. Minnesota wins tonight over the Sharks and the Blues are tied 1-1 with the Oilers in the second. Vancouver trails Calgary by two points for the 9th spot, and Calgary has a one game in hand advantage. Flames are ahead of the Ducks 1-0 during this writing. Winnipeg is first overall with 110 points, four ahead of Dallas in the central and seven ahead of Vegas for the top seed in the west. Only one playoff opening in the east, where Montreal has an eight-point lead over Detroit, Columbus, and both New York teams. Other games...Tronto beat Tampa in OT and the Flyers beat the Rangers 8-5. A missed chance for the Rangers tonight in the chase for that final playoff spot. Keep your stick on the ice!

Tony Hinchliffe

NFL is a money-making machine. In 2023 it was reported the NFL generated about 20 billion dollars, with projections of it increasing to 25 billion by 2027. The average NFL franchise is worth just over 5 billion. The franchise are worth more than ever and player salaries have never been higher. This means the customer, the fans, can expect to see an increase in prices for tickets, merchandise, TV packages, and streaming services. As long as enough people continue to hand over their money to support the NFL, the league will keep expanding. The tush push will be put to a vote at the next owners meeting, which is in May.

The Ottawa Senators have clinched a playoff berth and the Penguins are now eliminated. Ten games on Tuesday, some with playoff implications and some not, such as Chicago and Pittsburgh, where the Pens won 5-0. Bruins crushed the Devils 7-2, and with the Hurricanes' losing Washington has won the Metro division. Other winners were the Panthers, Canadians, Canucks, Blue Jackets, Sabers, and Predators. Right now, Vegas is up 2-0 against Colorado and Utah is pounding Seattle 7-0, both in the second period.

Lita Ford with Ozzy Osborne - Close My Eyes Forever

Florida Panthers and LA Kings both in the playoffs, Boston Bruins, Philadelphia Flyers and Anaheim Ducks are all eliminated.

Twisted Sister - I Want to Rock

NFL is again in talks about extending the season to 18 games. This has been going on for many years, long before they went to 17, and while it is inevitable that the league will go to the 18-game season, the question is when. The answer could be 2027. With the current agreement there is no chance it would happen before 2027, so the 17-game season will remain for at least the next two years. Also, a possibility of expanding the playoffs to eight teams per conference and pushing the Super Bowl to President's Day weekend could come with the extended season. An 18-game season would be good for the owners and the networks because it would equal more money. The concern though is for the health of the players. A longer season will mean more injuries. One option to manage this could be adding a second bye week, something the league will consider.

Bedwetter by Sarah Silverman

Del Shannon - Runaway

I've cut out the caffeine for the last few days and the problems have gone away so at least for now I feel back to normal.

The tush push change was first proposed by the Packers organization, claiming that it is a risk to player safety. Sounds like a fair argument, but I think that their motivation is based more on how well the Eagles have perfected the play than concerns about safety. I have a feeling that if the Packers had perfected the play and were coming off a Super Bowl victory where that play call was a significant advantage for them, they would not be making such a proposal.

Blues extend their win streak to 11 and it has overshadowed how well the Dallas Stars are playing, they have won now seven in a row and their 104 points is third best in the league. The Kings have also been hot, winning three in a row, and only three points back of Vegas for the Pacific division. LA has the best home record in the league and they have a home friendly schedule the rest of the way. They could make a run at the Pacific title. Three hot teams in the west as the playoffs are only two weeks away. Also, Colorado has clinched a playoff spot, making seven of the 16 and four of the eight in the west.

Black Sabbath - War Pigs