NHL

It’s been about five months since I’ve done one of these but I’m happy to back. If you haven’t read a Between the Pipes before, basically I start out with a mini piece on a hockey topic relevant to the week or in general, then I spotlight a goalie and then we dive into the week with clips, opinion/analysis. I then round it out with stats, did you know and this week in hockey history.

Hockey is back (in Edmonton) – There are two ways to build a long term successfully team in any sport. Drafting well in the lower rounds and/or trading down to acquire more picks as you continually make the playoffs as the Red Wings do and the New England Patriots do in the NFL. These team...

It's been an action-packed opening few days in the NHL, and all the games have definitely left fans with a lot to talk about heading in week 2 (or, at least, week 1 1/2). Thanks to Columbus Day in the US and Thanksgiving in Canada, the first weekend of NHL action was extended into Monday, with all day action in the league from 1PM on Long Island to past midnight on the Eastern seaboard in Vancouver. And through the first five days of NHL action, we've had plenty of surprises. From "inappropriate gestures to vicious blindside hits to surprise wins and surprise losses, and even a Gordie Howe Hat Trick, it seems like opening week in the NHL has had it all. That being said, I thought ...

My predictions will be quick and may or may not be accurate. Northeast Division 1: Toronto – IN with 104 points 2: Montreal – IN with 100 points 3: Boston – IN with 98 points 4: Buffalo – IN with 93 points 5: Ottawa – OUT with 73 points Atlantic Division 1: Pittsburgh – IN with 100 points 2: New Jersey – IN with 97 points 3: Philadelphia – OUT but barely with 92 points 4: NY Rangers – OUT with 76 points 5: NY Islanders – OUT with 76 points Southeast Division 1: Washington – IN with 103 points 2: Tampa Bay – IN with 94 points 3: Carolina – OUT with 90 points 4: Atlanta – OUT with 82 points 5: Florida – OUT with 81 points Central Divis...