2013 NHL Predictions

www.nhlsnipers.com

No need to to explain here, but below are my very own predictions for the 2013 NHL season.

I will predict the final spots each team will finish, in both the Eastern and Western Conference.

Also, below that, I will predict the winner of the playoffs and all the major awards that will be given out.

Enjoy!

Eastern Conference

1. Pittsburgh
2. Boston
3. Tampa Bay
4. New York Rangers
5. Philadelphia
6. Buffalo
7. Ottawa
8. Washington
9. Carolina
10. Winnipeg
11. Florida
12. Toronto
13. New Jersey
14. Montreal
15. New York Islanders

Courtesy of Jeanine Leech/Icon SMI

Western Conference

1. Vancouver
2. Chicago
3. Los Angeles
4. St. Louis
5. Nashville
6. San Jose
7. Anaheim
8. Minnesota
9. Detroit
10. Phoenix
11. Edmonton
12. Dallas
13. Colorado
14. Calgary
15. Columbus

President's Trophy - Vancouver Canucks

Eastern Conference Playoff Champions - New York Rangers

Western Conference Playoff Champions - St. Louis Blues

Stanley Cup Winner - New York Rangers

ANDREW THEODORAKIS/NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

     Individual Award Winner

     Hart Trophy - Sidney Crosby (Pittsburgh)

     Art Ross Trophy - Evgeni Malkin (Pittsburgh)

     Rocket Richard Trophy - Rick Nash (New
     York Rangers)                                                      

     Norris Trophy - Drew Doughty (Los Angeles)

     Vezina Trophy - Pekke Rinne (Nashville)

     Calder Trophy - Alex Galchenyuk (Montreal)

Life at the Rink

The Zamboni.

Invented by an American, but altogether Canadian.

For many who live in the Great White North, it is an icon. The Zamboni mesmerizes kids who grow up in Canada when those gates open wide and it rolls out onto the ice.

These young hopefuls, with NHL dreams in their eyes, wait patiently along the glass for the ten minutes it takes to clean the ice. All in hopes the driver will wave or honk his horn at them.

As those same players grow older, NHL dreams faded, the fascination with the Zamboni does not waver. Rather, it just transfers its energy to another detail.

No longer do these players stare in awe at the immense machine driving up and down the ice, but rather what that machine is doing to their playing surface.

The attraction is now with the clean sheet just waiting for them to dig their skates into.

So, no matter where a player is in his hockey career, the Zamboni always will play an important part in bringing the games emotion out in us.

The Zamboni may have been an American creation, but it is the adopted Canadian symbol of the rink.

NHL Lockout: A Simple Way To Say Thanks

The UTSC boys celebrating a 'duck hunt' win. 

     With no NHL to cheer for, and it seems to be staying that way for the unforeseeable future, playing hockey has took on a whole new meaning for me.

And for that NHL, I thank you.

Before, when the NHL was on basically every night and I could immerse myself in highlights every morning, hockey was all around me. Now, it is nowhere to be seen.

Heading to the rink with my bag slung over my back and two sticks in hand brings a whole new sense of excitement.

I always knew that hockey needed to be a part of my life. I never quite realized however, just how big of a part it actually plays in it.