Well it's all said & done and outside of Pittsburgh we've a few happy folks here at ZamboniNation.
The big winner being highschool as the overall winner as well as winning the Reggie Dunlop bracket. For his efforts he takes home a grand for first as well as 80 for the bracket win. 2nd place saw T-Dogg taking 250 plus being the leader after round 3 netted him an additional 50. In third was Spade winning 100 plus another 50 as the leader after round 2. What about the Ogie Ogilthorpe bracket you ask? Winner there was Blades who was our first round leader. Blades gets 80 for the bracket and another 50 as the first round leader.
It was a great playoff this year. One of the best in a long time if you ask me. The cup final going the full seven - what else could we ask for? The game itself may have been a dud but hats off to the Penguins. Taking the finals 4 outta 5 games against the defending champs was no small feat. The best team did win.
The legend of the Sid the kid continues to grow being the youngest NHL captain ever to win the cup. Gretzky was onto something 6 years ago when he alerted the hockey world about this kid from Nova Scotia. Mind you Crosby couldn't have done it without the supporting cast of Malkin, Gonchar, Fleury, Stall, Geurin etc. Dare I mention the taboo "D" word? It's been a long time since there been a run of repeat winners but this team comes as close as any in recent history to pull the feat.
From San Jose shitting the bed (again), Ovie & Crosby's duelling hat tricks, the Hurricanes stunning series victories and Columnus finally making the dance there were no shortage of storylines. But my personal fave was Max Talbot challenging Dan Carcillo when the Pens were getting thumped by Philly in round 1. That gladiator mentality really laid the foundation for the pens run to becoming the Stanley cup champs.
It's been a blast running the pool again. This being the 6th year and in my opinion the best to date. I had alot of comments about the brackets so expects that feature to be added next year.Other than a comments feature what other improvemets would you guys like to see?
I wish to thank everyone for your time, partcipation and patience. Daryl thanks for stepping in when I couldn't. Most importantly thanks to JennyCakes for her patience not to mention allowing me watch more hockey than she ever cared too.
I'll be making a decision on a regular season pool but with Baby Dunphy #1 due in September it's doubtful. The playoffs will see ZamboniNation #7 return bigger and better than ever.
I had a great time running the pool and hopefully you all had as much fun as I.
To you all, my sincere thanks!
-PD
Previous Updates
The cup could be awarded tonight but that's not what I'm talking about. I'm talking about the fact that I'm going to miss out on what what could possibly be the final hockey game of the year. I'll be in the skies overhead as I make my way to Utah for a training course. Beggars can't be choosers, in this time of belt tightening I'm lucky my employer is sending me anywhere.
So it's do or die time for the Sid, Geno & company tonight. Once again they're faced with the prospect of watching the Wings cart the cup around their home ice. This has to give the Penguins the focus they need. The Penguins had yet to get spanked like they did on Saturday. I doubt we'll see Pittsburgh get into the same sort of penalty trouble as Saturday. To quote Frank the Tank - tonight the Penguins will have to keep their composure.
Datsyuk silenced all speculation on Saturday & looked good getting 2 assists on Saturday. He along with Zetterberg were very effective shutting down the Pens 2 top guns. It'll be interesting how Detroit matches lines on the road now that they've both their best defensive forwards back.
Dan Cleary's been simply amazing this post season & I'm kinda shocked none of us picked him in the pool. To lead the NHL in +/- during the playoffs is no easy feat.
I'm hoping this goes seven - if for no other reason that at least I'll get to see the finale. It's been a great 2 months and I really hope you enjoyed the pool. I've had alot of fun running things and hope my efforts have been appreciated.
Enjoy the game everyone. Hopefully there'll be one last update before it's all said & done.
-PD
Cause we're down to a best of three & we're about to see some of the best hockey yet. It's going down to the wire and we could not have asked for more in this series. I don't think anyone outside of Detroit could be happier about it.
How pretty was that tic-tac-toe goal last night? What a beauty. I sure didn't think the game would go that way when Helm scored to make it 2-1 Detroit. Unlike game 3 where the Penguins needed MAF to bail them out in the first 2 periods before waking up to dominate the 3rd period, the Penguins were buzzing all night. The shorty by Staal was probably the defining moment of the game - and as someone said during the telecast, it could very well be the turning point in the series.
Did you all get a chance to see Coaches Corner last night? What an abomination that whole Dos Equis rip off is. I was in shock when the played it again last night. It was bad enough the first time but to subject us to it again.. The horror! CBC can surely do better than that - it was completely unoriginal & was void of any creativity whatsoever. I don't think I'm being harsh here but judge for yourself and watch the original Dos Equis commerical.
There's a new beast from the east & his name is Malkin. If the Conn Smyth were to be awarded based on performances to date, it's my opinion he'd win hands down. 5 points in the last 2 games will do that for you. Every time he's on the ice he's a threat.
Datsyuk is still MIA & who knows if he'll play Saturday night. But one thing is clear - the Wings sure could sure use his help right now. Not only is he an MVP candidate this year but last year he was the up for the Selke as the best defensive forward along with Zetterberg. If I were coach Babs I'd put one each on Geno & Sid & let the supporting casts sort it out.
The Detroit fans out there will like this link. It's a parody site where a Zetterberg look alike goes through his morning routine as well as another where he goes to a job interview. Wherever they found this guy, he's a dead ringer for Hank.
There's a scathing article on Sports Illustrated's site that reveals a whole new dynamic to the Phoenix/Hamilton/Basille/Bettman fiasco. The short of it is MLSE will sue the NHL as well as all 28 other teams should the team be allowed to move to Hamilton. To Tanenbaum, Peddie & the rest of the suits at MLSE I've 3 words for you - get over yourselves. If the LA area can support 2 teams & NY 3 then surely there's more than enough $$ to go around in hockey mad southern Ontario.
We've a tie atop the leaderboard between TDogg & highschool but I think TDOGG's days are numbered. Highschool has 3 more players left & if one of MAF, Staal or Kunitz gets another point it's all over.
-PD
Two 8pm games, two 3-1 wins for Detroit & for the 2nd year in a row, Detroit heads to Pittsburgh with a 2-0 series lead.
Detroit has certainly shown their resiliency & depth this series.. Unlike last year, Pittsburgh has been in the series from the get go having outshot the Wings in both games so far. The main difference has been Osgood - if you ask me, he looks to be a sure bet to win the Conn Smyth should the Wings go onto back to back cups.
Suprisingly, missing Datsyuk & Draper hasn't exactly hurt the Wings as much as you'd expect. They're a deep team where everyone buys into the same system. For the majority of Saturday night I kept wondering to myself, why the hell are they saying "Applicator" over & over.. Well - 2 goals in 2 games & I no longer need to wonder who Justin Abdelkader is anymore. First it was Helm earlier in the playoffs - now Adbelkader.. Long known as the pioneer's of incorporating a european style game, the wings have shown they have North American prospects too.
I must say, I've not noticed how gritty a player Zetterberg can be until this series. He & Sid playing head-to-head has been great, then last night he gets into his first ever NHL fight (if you can call it that) with Malkin.
The Penguins have to keep their heads about them and Melon arena will be a welcome sight tomorrow night. As Scotty Bowman is fond of saying, a series isn't over until you lose a game on home ice.
CBC needs a little lesson in originality.. Anyone see the pre-game where they were trying to spin Cherry in the same light as the "Most Interesting Man in the World" commericals for Dos Equies Beer? It may've sounded great sitting around a boardroom, but the implementation was just plain terrible. Stick to highlight packages please - that or do something original.
Enjoy tomorrows game everyone. Hopefully won't be out of reach before I get to see any of it. Softball season has started & I'm missing at least the first period.
-PD
A great game to end the series last night.. Detroit needed OT to clinch but after Huet's awesome save in the final seconds of the 3rd I feared a game 6 was in store. These Hawks are good & now that they've been shown what it takes to be the best they'll be a force in the west for the next few years. The kids still showed their youth though - I can't say I cared for Kane showboating after scoring the tieing goal. Sure it was beauty, but a game where you're facing elmination is not time to glide on one knee & do windwill celebrations.. Call me old school but that really irked me.
Darren Helm played a hell of a game last night, not only did the kid score the series winner in OT but that penalty kill shift was something to see. That kid can fly & is gonna be great in a few years.
Anyone notice Zetterberg not wanting to have any part of the Campbell trophy last night? Interesting contrast to the Penguins who have embraced the Wales Trophy.
The NHL dodged a huge bullet with the Wings winning & allowing the Cup Finals to start Saturday night. I can't think of any hockey fan willing to sit tight till June 5th.
There's no shortage of storylines going into to final... Where do we start?
Detroit is definatly one of the deepest teams in the league but can Lidstrom, Datsyuk & Draper get healthy in time? If not how do they match up down the middle with the likes of Crosby, Malkin & Staal? If you ask me, they'll be on the ice come 8pm Saturday.
How will Hossa feel should the Penguins win the cup? They say that playing for the cup is all the motivation you need, but to avenge last years defeat & against a player who basically thumbed his nose at them has to give an extra jolt of motivation.
Which Penguins comparison is more relevant? The coming of age like the 80's Oilers or the being led by a dynamic duo the of similar to Lemieux/Jagr?
Both teams have the guns & grit required but I'm thinking this series will boil down to which goalie plays the best. Osgood & Andre-Fleury have both played outstanding so far.
JennyCakes suprised me yesterday.. She was flicking through my SI yesterday where I heard her say - "What the hell? Where's Crosby?" I had no idea what she was talking about as I hadn't read it yet, but the player poll was "Who is the best player in the NHL?" Crosby didn't even make the top 6. I agree with JennyCakes - WTF??
Our third round winner has been decided - the $50 bucks goes to.... "T-DOGG". He has a slim one point lead over "Spade". Third place sits "highschool" who is 4 points out of first. Highschool looks to be the odds to win as he has the most players left of any team remaining. 14 out of 20 players - impressive work highschool!
Final Bracket matchups are also set. The Reg Dunlop division has "highschool" vs "Tom Brady Rules" & in the Ogie Ogilthorpe divison it's "The Mustangs" vs "Blades". Both winners get $80. Not bad for a fiver.
Oh & one more thing.. Go Penguins!
-PD
Pro athletes & their superstitions are well documented. According to most Crosby is as superstitious as they come. To see him last night pick up the Wales trophy, be photographed with his teammates and let alone take it to the dressing room was pretty damn shocking to me. I don't remember the last time I saw an eastern conference captain even touch it as it's considered taboo b/c the real prize is Lord Stanley's Mug. When asked of it in the post game, Crosby stated he talked about it briefly with teammates and b/c they lost year after not touching it that it was time to mix it up.
Last night was the outcome everyone was pretty much expecting. Once the flutterball got by Ward, that was all she wrote. The Pens have been dominating these past 2 rounds. After dropping the first 2 games to Washington they've now won 8 of they're last 9. Damn!
Call me a hypocrite but I think tonight marks the first time ever I'll be rooting for Detroit. If Chicago wins tonight, the Stanley Cup Finals won't start till next Friday - a ludicrous amount of time off in this point in the playoffs. That's 9 days away... About the only thing benefitting from a 9 day break is Sidney Crosby's beard.
Can someone let me know why these bafoon's are running the league? They're airing the finals on NBC for free yet CBC pays 100 million bucks and has no say about scheduling. That along with the Jim Basille soap opera just turns my stomach. Speaking of RimJim, one of the more laughable opinions I've heard about the Phoenix/Hamilton situation is the league doesn't want to move to Hamilton is b/c it'll increase league revenue therefore increasing the Salary Cap further hindering the financially troubled teams. I'm no number cruncher but isn't increased revenue a good thing for a league that has revenue sharing in place?
My rants is over. Go Wings. (I can't believe I just typed that)
-PD
The Blackhawks are taking this series on the chin and can onlty learn from it down the road. It's been a great postseason for them but it will hopefully come to a merciful end in game 5. When you're facing a team without it's best forward and best dman & still get smoked the writing is on the wall. Coming into this series I was really excited about the matchup of the vets against the kids but the kids have been schooled.
Since when did the NHL stand for No Hitting League? I was shocked on Friday seeing Kronwall get tossed for laying the boom on Havlat. I read one column in the paper yesterday that summed it up best - if that was a penalty they may as well remove Scott Stevens from the Hall of Fame. It was a perfectly legal hit & a BS call. What was perhaps even more shocking was the fact that Havlat played yesterday. Dude wants to get paid and is a UFA this summer. If he was under contract there's no way he sees the ice.
In the East Final, Marc Andre-Fleury is outplaying Cam Ward & Jordan is the better Staal. That's all you really need to know about the series. I've been a big Carolina booster this spring but it's time for them to go the way of Old Yeller and get put down. It was a good run, but winning 2 seven gamers only to be rewarded with a matchup against Sid & Gino is just cruel.
Speaking of Malkin - I'm still in awe of his hat trick goal in game 2. I mean wow.. To think he was actually trying to do just that is incredible. I'd love to watch a practice of theirs where he & Sid play a game of top this.
Standings are updated as well as the brackets. We've a tie atop the leaderboard between Spade & TDOGG at 266 and highschool is just 4 points back of them in 3rd.
Apologies for the lack of updates in the past week - how dare life get in the way of our hockey pool fun!
Fingers are crossed that the NHL is able to fix the scheduling mess. If NBC doesn't give in we all may be waiting until June 5th for the finals which would be the absolute worst case scenario for the NHL after an incredible first 3 rounds. If nothing else brace yourself for the onslaught of stories about Marion Hossa & his defection to the Red Wings. I think I'm tired of it already
-PD
I pay a little more attention to the Newfoundland born hockey players than most, so even thougth I was cheering for Anaheim last night I was still very happy that Cleary got the GWG last night. If you weer watching the game last night you may've missed that the arena was playing the Chevy jingle "Like a Rock" prior to play resuming. Moments later, the rock born Cleary gets the game winner.. I taut dat was wicked. Yes b'ye.
Unlike Wednesday night, we all witnessed how game sevens are meant to be, fast paced, hard hitting & full of intensity. For me, last nights main course was the nail biter in Detroit, then for dessert was Car-Bos in OT. It doesn't get much better than that.
Round 3 is going to be a dandy. Chicago will face a much stiffer test than Vancouver or Calgary with the much deeper wings, but there's some well established history between these 2 original 6 teams. They were even this years showcase for the Winter Classic. Cam Ward, who I've been raving about will get his toughest test of his career in facing the high scoring Penguins. He's never lost a playoff series - but he's never faced a team like these Pens in a 7 game series.
Was a little shocked to see that TSN is showing the first 2 games for the 3rd round and not CBC. It'll be a little strange to not see Ron & Don from the get go. I feel sorry for those without cable.. Hopefully you'll get a chance to watch it steaming online.
Standings have been updated & Spade is the 2nd round winner with 223 points. His 3 point lead over T-DOGG is slim as T-Dogg has one more player remaining.
That's it for now, the games start on Sunday with a 3pm matchup in Detroit.
Enjoy your May 24 guys - you'll hear from me again on Tuesday.
-PD
What a colossal letdown for the final of such an incredible playoff series. Sad to see this ending but what more could we have asked for? It was incredible.
Other than Ovechkin's breakaway in the opening minutes, Washington was never in it. The Pens wanted it more & outplayed the Caps in every way.
Crosby's first game 7 was like everything in his young career - outstanding. For those arguing the merits of Ovechkin or Crosby consider this, Sid the Kid has already been to a Stanley Cup Final - a 2nd Cup final could be in store this year. I'm a huge Ovechkin fan but you have to give credit where credit is due - Sid the Kid is the man.
On the homepage is last night's coaches corner segment. I couldn't agree more with Dapper Don that the league needs to do something about the composite sticks & how penalties are called as a result of them being so fragile. Had that slashing call in the first not happened & Crosby doesn't score on the powerplay - we could've had an entirely different game.
I doubt the league needs to do a MLB style bat investigation (ongoing study of Maple bats vs Ash bats & how they shatter) but something needs to be done. If for no other reason than to save cash in these tough times they should consider it. Some teams are spending close to $250,000 per season on sticks alone. Quick someone tell the GM's in Phoenix, Atlanta & Tampa about this cost savings!
We're starting to see some separation at the top of the standings. Spade is in 1st with 216 points, T-DOGG in 2nd with 212 and 3rd is Hibbsters with 207 and a four point cushion over 4th.
There are 2 dogfights in the brackets pool. "A Wing & an Ozzie" vs "Tom Brady rules" as well as "Hip" vs. "WhosYourDaddy" are both separated by a single point. Tonights games will see the dust settle to see who advacnes to the next round.
Last but certainly not least I want to take a moment & say a huge thanks to Daryl for keeping things running smoothly in my absence. He did an outstanding job with the stats & sending updates. We poolies tend to get agitated if can't check standings every day. Thanks Daryl! Awesome job!
2 more game 7's tonight - lets hope we're in for some better action that last night.
-PD
Leave it to the Blackhawks to screw things up. Why did they have to clinch before I had a chance to see any of that series? Granted I could've watched the clinching game on Monday but I was just too beat & needed the shuteye..
Yep.. I'm back and finally had a look at some 2nd round action late Monday night.. Arrived home just in time to catch the final 5 minutes of regulation & Overtime in the Pens-Caps game 6 game. According to what I've seen & read since, I've been missing probably the best playoff series in years.. That Crosby goal where he batted the puck out of the air & went around Varlamov to tie the game - awesome.. Steckle's deflection winner - wicked. I can't wait to plunk my ass in front of the TV tonight with a beer in hand to watch that game.
Big wins for Boston & Anaheim to stave off elimination last night. I'm not sure if Savard is out for game 7 but if he is it's a tough loss for them losing their #1 scorer. Last night Boston's 2nd line stepped up when they were needed most. I'm still calling on Cam Ward to outduel Tim Thomas in game 7. As for the ANA-DET I've not a clue who has the edge in that series.
That Chicago team is growing up in a hurry. Getting 7 by Luongo in a game is no easy feat but kudo's to Roberto for stepping up and taking the blame. Alot of emotion in his post game interview but he took it like a man.
Funny thought hit me last night - when was the last time this many teams made if this far with coaching changes in season.. Pittsburgh with Blysma, Chicago with Quenville and Carolina with Maurice. With coach Q already in the conference finals & if the other 2 make it, it'll set an entire new precedent around the league for making coaching changes midseason.
Had an awesome time overseas.. Was the first time outside North America but definatley not the last.. Saw both semi final gmaes in Bern which was unbelieveable.. The crowd the atmostphere, everything was fantasitc. Canada didn't win the gold, but if we were to lose to anyone it may have well been to Russia. I've a whole new respect for international hockey & their fans. I'll be sure to share the pics when I've posted them later. For now - here's my favorite. I love how embarrassed Jennifer is.. It’s awesome!
Enjoy the game tonight folks - I know I will.
-PD
The hockey world was rocked late last night when the Phoenix Coyotes filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, and RIM owner Jim Balsille announced that he had tendered an offer to buy the team for $212.5 million, with the intention to move them to "an un-served market in southern Ontario". This is a huge can of worms for the league, and they're clearly not happy about it, as they removed owner Jerry Moyes from 'all positions of authority'. The bankruptcy hearing to see if the sale will go forward is tomorrow in Phoenix. It's the top news story in Toronto this morning, and I'm sure there will be much more to come on this.
But, let's get back to the ice. Anaheim continues to prove they're the real deal with a controversial win over Detroit. Replays showed pretty clearly that Hossa's goal should have counted - the puck was loose, and it went in before the whistle, but it's a non-reviewable play, and the ref lost sight of the puck. I wonder if this will lead to expanding what type of plays are reviewable. If the ref had been on the other side of the net, he would have seen the puck come out and the goal would have counted, but you can't blame the ref for that - he was in the position he was supposed to be in. The best point on this I think came from Darren Pang on TSN's panel, who thought that Hiller had not shown that he had complete control of the puck before the referee blew the whistle. I'd tend to agree with this. Nevertheless, it's in the past now, and the Ducks have a 2-1 series lead.
Ditto for Vancouver, who bounced back from a Game 2 beating to take Game 3 in Chicago. Luongo silenced all doubters in a hurry with a spectacular effort, and did not get rattled when Chicago started to get in his face. In fact, he seemed to feed off of it, and just when it seemed Chicago was in the driver's seat, Vancouver shows why they're a serious contender for the Cup. This one also got really chippy at the end, so I'd expect more hard-nosed play from both sides.
And how about Crosby and Ovie? EACH with a hat trick in Game 2, but Washington is having things their way, capitalizing on a dumb penalty taken by Malkin. Malkin is going to have to smarten up if Pittsburgh is going to get back in his series. Crosby is doing everything he can, but he needs help. It won't surprise me if Malkin bounces back with a big game tonight. For the Pens sake, he'd better.
Stats are updated. Should be two more great games tonight - enjoy!
-Daryl
As play began on Saturday, we had 3 undefeated teams - and now we have none.
In the last post I was saying that Carolina would have to bring their A-game - and did they ever. Cam Ward was incredible in getting the shutout, and Carolina showed that they will not go away lightly with a huge win in Boston, stealing away home ice advantage as they head to Carolina.
We've also had our first marathon game, with Anaheim and Detroit needing triple OT to decide Game 2. Todd Marchant once again worked that crazy playoff magic of his, handing Detroit their first loss of the post-season. Is Getzlaf on fire or what? 3 more points for him last night, giving him 13 in total, good for tops in the playoffs so far.
Chicago also served notice in Game 2 that they are a force to be reckoned with, handing Vancouver their first post-season loss with a very convincing win in Game 2. Luongo, who in Round 1 looked like you'd need some sort of explosive device in order to break down the wall he was throwing up, suddenly has let in 11 goals in 2 games. He'd better be at the top of his game, because this young Blackhawk team is on fire and taking no prisoners.
Round 1 of the Crosby-Ovechkin match-up did not disappoint either. Crosby's incredible opening goal served notice that he is on a mission, but Ovechkin responded with a goal of his own on a 5-on-3, and with some unbelievable goaltending by Varlamov (check the YouTube video for what is probably the best save of the playoffs fo far), Washington hung on to win Game 1. Can't wait for Game 2 tonight.
All in all, Round 2 is looking much, much different than Round 1. Round 1 had three sweeps, but here in Round 2, things have evened up considerably. With three series tied at 1-1, and with Game 1 of Pittsburgh-Washington being a nail-biter right to the end, it sure looks like every one of these series will be going 6 or 7 games. It's gonna be quite a ride.
The stats have been updated to reflect the weekend action, and a whopping 18 teams are within 10 points of the lead. With Round 2 looking like it'll have a lot of games, there's going to be a lot of points out there for the taking.
Hope you're enjoying Round 2 as much as I am!
-Daryl
Hey there hockey fans! As you may know, our good buddy Patrick has jetted off for some much-deserved vacation, so he has left things in my supposedly-capable hands. I'll do the best I can in his stead. However, if you notice the Pickering Panthers suddenly jumping from 66th place to somewhere in the top 5, then you'll know that the power has corrupted me. ;)
Round 2 is off and running! Detroit managed to keep on rolling with a very narrow victory in Game 1 against the Ducks. One recurring theme of the Wings in the playoffs so far is they way they're scoring. They made life absolutely miserable for Mason in Round 1 by crashing the net over and over and over, and it looks like they have very similar plans for Hiller. The talk out of this game was the CRUSHING hit on Jiri Hudler by Mike Brown. If you didn't see it, I've put it on the home page. There's been 6 suspensions so far in the playoffs - will this be a 7th? Was it a dirty hit, or was Hudler admiring his pass? Tough to say. At least Hudler was OK and back in the game later, although initially it was looking pretty bad. I tend to think the NHL will give him one game, since they've set a precident for head shots, but that's it. Expect this series to get even more chippy as it progresses.
Vancouver and Boston both had solid Game 1 wins - the Bruins especially don't seem to have lost anything from their 9 day layoff. They look incredible. Carolina is really going to have to bring their A-game to stay with the Bruins.
And a couple of hours from now, the series everybody has been drooling about will begin. Washington vs. Pittsburgh - The Great 8 vs. Sid The Kid. The NHL brass must be thanking the hockey gods for making this matchup happen. I'll be very curious to see the rating NBC will get for carrying this series. If this ultimate marquee matchup doesn't draw interest, I don't know what else will.
And finally, I have to give a salute to the Blue Jackets and their incredible fans. I was fortunate enough to attend Game 3 and 4 down in Columbus, and while Game 3 was not terribly memorable (aside from everybody in the building yelling "LEO!!" when their anthem singler, Leo Welsh, is announced, and a fan behind us who pretty much summed up the building's feelings by yelling "AAAAAAAAAAAAA!" over and over), Game 4 was one of the most exciting games I've ever witnessed live. I was really upset that the refs cost them that game with that horrible call near the end of the 3rd, but the salute the fans gave the players after it was over was really something to see. Their spirits weren't dampened at all. Listening to the crowd and the local radio shows after the game, the theme was "we had a great season, and you know what - we'll be back". And so they will. Playoff fever has officially hit Columbus, and it's not going away any time soon.
Stats have been updated to reflect the 3 Game 1's played so far, and I'll do another update later tonight after the Pittsburgh/Washington game. T-DOGG has the slimmest of leads, with 9 other 4 points or less behind. Things are heating up!
Catch you later!
-Daryl
Hey Hockey Fans...
Sorry for being a day late.. Do you like exciting hockey? It gets no better than what we witnessed Tuesday night. Two incredible games that went to the wire.
I thought it appropriate for Fedorov to get the winner sending the Washington Red Army, I mean Capitals to the next round. He's lost a step but is still a crafty vet with a presence. Lundqvist was screened briefly & Fedorov took advantage. Now Ovie, Semin, Fedorov, Czarlamov & co. are all set to face Sid & Geno next round in a dream match up. The NHL execs should wipe their chins, we can see them drooling from here.
What can I say about Carolina that hasn't been said already. What a comeback. The first time they were ever up in the series was with 30 seconds left in game 7. The cliche was proved true.. It ain't over till it's over. How many goalies can say they've outdueled 3 time Cup winner Marty Brodeur over a 7 games series? Cam Ward did this series. Boston's up next for them & though they were 4-0 against the Canes during the season this isn't the same team. Tim Thomas had a great regular seaon but he's about the be exposed for being at the right place at the right time with a revamped Bruins team.
Had an interesting conversation while watching the games at Gretzky's Tuesday. I wasn't aware but there's been lots of speculation out west about a Sutter reunion in Calgary. Is Brent leaving the Devils to join Darryl and become the Flames new coach?
Our first winner of the pool has been decided. Blades is the first round leader with an even 100 points. They own a slim 2 point lead over Spade & The Mustangs heading into the Conference Semi's.
The 1st round brackets have been decided.. Funny coincidence that the 3 closest matchups all happened in the Ogie Ogilthorpe bracket. Hip over Harry 91 to 89, Bob Caie over Frog Lady 77 to 75 and All the way over Freeman 90 to 89. The 2nd round brackets are set. Are you playing catch up or trying to add to your lead?
Vancouver hosts Chicago to get round 2 started tonight. Anyone remember the last time these two teams met? Vancouver dman Shane O'Brien has already stated that Chicago is "going to have a tougher time getting to Louie than they did Kiprusoff".
It's gonna be an awesome second round. Pit-Was is a no brainer, the last 2 cup winners in Det-Ana, 2 teams with a hate for each other in Van-Chi. Will the Bruins get the rust off in time to counter Ward outduelling Thomas?
Lastly, I'm going to miss most if not all of the second round but things will still run smoothly in my absense. Pickering Panthers will update stats in my absense & sending updates whenever he can. Don't cry too much for me. I'll be celebrating a belated honeymoon with JennyCakes in Italy & Switzerland next week. I won't see any playoff hockey but I'll be at the next best thing - the IIHF World Championships.
Enjoy tonights game folks!
-PD
Morning Hockey fans.
Let me first state the obvious. No one ever pick San Jose in ANY type of playoff pool ever again.. I don't care if theres 15 New York Islanders or 300 Phoenix Coyotes. If you want to win, it's quite simple. Don't pick any Sharks. Year after year we get suckered into believing in this team - only to get burned. Well next year if I pick any, do me a favor & smack me upside my head.
Why didn't Joe Thornton show that kind of fire at the beginning of the series rather than the end? Not very often you see a playoff game start with a fight from the opening faceoff but it still failed to fire up the troops. San Jose has the horses, just not the drive to get there. This was McClennan's first season behind the bench but expect changes on the roster b/c it's not the coach's fault - just ask Ron Wilson.
As I predicted, the first team to win on the road will win the series & that's exactly what happened last night in Calgary. It's easier to say no Regher & no Phaneuf meant no chance to the Flames but the Flames just couldn't score with that Blackhawks team. Calgary is too reliant on Iggy to get them going but where was Cammallerri? Did Jokinen even dress for road games? That Chicago team is really something else - super balanaced attack led by soem great young talent.. Next round will be interesting matching up against the Canucks - how will they fare when they face one of the best in the business in Luongo?
With the number two team gone - the rest of this pool is going to take on a very different look. Roughly 20% of players picked were eliminaed last night. Heading into tonight's game seven's, there are only a handful of teams that have yet to lose a player.
Game 7 - doesn't get much better than that. I can't wait to watch these games. Did the Caps learn from last years Game 7 OT loss to Philly? Will King Henrik continue to be a leaky sieve? Who will win the best goalie duel of the first round? Ward or Brodeur?
I'm calling Caps/Canes. What do you think?
Enjoy tonight's games. I know I will!
-PD
Hey everyone..
Hope you all enjoyed your weekend.. Great weather & had the first BBQ of the year.. Boy did I miss BBQ!
To those that tried to access the stats on Saturday/Sunday I apologize, I'd made a small update that had messed up the way one of the tables were reporting. It's fixed now - the players left column on the standings page is now accurate. Also clicking a team name now loads that team on the entry page.
Gonna keep it short today as I can't really do justice to 3 days of action in one email. Besides, I didn't see much this weekend anyway.
Was I surprised Philly got bounced? Nope. Was I surprised how they got bounced? Hell yeah. Up 3-0 in the decisive game only to lose 5-3?? If the Pens go far this year, Maxim Talbot will be seen as hero in Pittsburgh. His fight with Carcillo after the 3-0 goal was the wake up call the Pens needed. Loved his shhhh'ing of the crowd while skating to the bench. Who says fighting has no place in the game?
What about Tortorella getting suspended from last nights game for his actions on Friday night? Huh? I understand he took exception to comments made towards his players but still, you're supposed to lead by example. How do you think the team reacts when they see their coach lose it on an opposing teams fan? The real sad part is it gives Douchbag all the excuses in the world now.
Calgary & San Jose both trying to force game 7's tonight. I certainly see Calgary doing exactly that but San Jose getting the win in Anaheim - well I just dunno. As poolie Chard pointed out to me - we're seeing more justification of why Boston dealt Thornton - maybe they weren't so dumb after all.
Check out the standings - there's a 3 way tie at the top. If there is a tie for first in any round - the tie breaker will be used to decide the winner. To those in the brackets - some real tight races in there.. You will want to pay attention.
Talk soon everyone.. Enjoy tonights games!
-PD
If you're the superstitious sort, it's been an interesting week. . 3 sweeps, 3 days, 3 shutouts.
Could there be a harsher way to end a season that what happened in Columbus last night? The first three games they were clearly intimidated by the Red Wings but lat night they brought their "A" game and showed why they made the playoffs. Fans were standing during the entire 3rd period only to be completely demoralized with a too many men penalty and the series clinching power play goal in the final minute. Littering the ice was classless but I'm still happy they got their first real taste of post-season action. The kids were thrown to the fire against arguably the favorite to take it all. They'll be back.
Watched most the Sharks/Ducks game. Let me rephase that - I watched the Ducks & the team formally known as the team to beat in the west. The Sharks were just flat with no sense of urgency. Bobby Ryan is something to watch.. That kids got magic hands.
Great performance by Brodeur & Ward last night - the best goaltending duel of the opening round by far. I just hope it doesn't become legendary bloody sock like the Red Sox Curt Shilling. Don't get me wrong - I'm glad nothign serious happened.. But its hockey - cuts & bruises happen.
Did everyone see Crosby get laid out in a Flyer sandwich last night? You'd think that would've fired up the entire team having their leader taken out like that. Sadly it didn't happen. Makes me wanna reconsider my thoughts of Pittsburgh going back to the cup finals.
One lonely game tonight.. Can the Caps stave off elimination or will it be time for Ovi Zombie & Co to drown their sorrows?
Enjoy the weekend everyone!
-PD
The TSN panel made a great point about Bob Gainey last night. Who was coaching the Habs? Was is Bob Gainey as coach or Bob Gainey the GM. A coach you'd think would've pulled the young goalie to shield him from getting his confidence destroyed. But as GM the "he's our guy" mentality prevailed. Now Price is the polar opposite to what we saw last season & the jury'on whether of not he can bounce back. If you ask me, if Carbo was still around Price wouldn't have even saw game 2 of that series.
Going to be a very interesting summer in Montreal. Ownership is up in the air, rumors of Gainey stepping down are rampant & they've a slew of UFA's. Most prominent being: Koivu, Kovalev, Komisarek, Tanguay and Lang. Toss in Higgins & Plekanec as RFA's and it's safe to say next 100 years isn't exactly starting on the right foot.
I've been intentionally avoiding any mention of that douchbag on the Rangers but I was super dissappointed when when the Capitals couldn't score on either of his penalties in the 3rd. And what purpose does squirting Ray Ferraro (former player/TSN analyst) with a water bottle serve? Get your head in the game! He's getting the Harry Potter Voldemort treatment from me - he who shall not be named will only be known as douchbag from now on.
Great game in Calgary. This series is hands down the most fun to watch. Scoring, hitting, trash talking.. What more do you want?
For the second night in a row, a great exciting game is on.. Then there's me, counting Z's on the couch.. Certainly not ready to pull a Roger Murtaugh but wow, when I was younger and on the rock, there were countless nights of staying up till 3am watching west coast late games. A 4.5 hour time difference requires commitment from any true hockey fan.
Standings & Brackets are updated. Those that loaded up on Boston & Vancouver players will sit tight as the rest of the series play out.
Four game up for tonight with Detroit & Pittsburgh having a chance to close out their series'. Detroit probably will but I think Philly still got some fight - literally & figuratively.
Enjoy!
-PD
Burrows is becoming quite the legend. There's a pub out west that's had a love in with Burrows all season long - for every goal he scores, bar patrons get free beer. Last night must've blew the roof off that place. Not many NHLer's cut their teeth in the ECHL let alone go to play on a number one line with talent like the Sedin's. He's just a great story. Did you know he's a ball hockey legend having won several world championships? I somehow doubt that compares to competing for the Cup. And to boot, he's now a well established trash talker - just ask David Backes. You know you've fans when someone makes a remix.
Didn't see much NHL action last night but in checking the scores while @ the Marlies (who btw got pounded 5-1) I see the Fleury must've been lights out.. I think it was 15-4 shots in the 2nd period at one point. With him playing like that Pittsburgh's a very dangerous team.
Sorry Columbus fans - I guess I was wrong.. Detroit is tough to beat. To our poolie friends that were at that game last night - send some pictures if you can.
Huge win for Carolina last night. Winning goal with 0.2 seconds left in regulation. This after being up 3-0 only to have the devils tie it up. That's a series changer right there folks.
We've a tie atop of the standing between O'Connor & TDOGG with 72 points a piece.
To those in the brackets - be sure to check out the matchups. There are some very close ones.
Reggie Dunlop Bracket:
Bambino's Bruisers (60) vs. MPH (58)
Duke (59) vs. A Wing & an Ozzie (61)
Moscow Dynamo (60) vs. Tom Brady Rules (61)
Ovie Ogilthorpe Bracket:
JennyCakes (48) vs. Toronto Reapers (49)
Harry (61) vs. Hip (61)
Pickering Panthers (55) vs. Chard (53)
Will Montreal survive tonight? I doubt it. That plus 2 other games tonight.
Enjoy!
-PD
April 21, 2009
Not really. But I couldn't help but laugh at Don Cherry once again. During his post game comments on Hockey Night in Canada (see video to the right), Cherry claims, "Watch Ovechkin go now that I've straightend the kid out." Don, I don't think Ovie got your memo. The Caps are down 0-2 in a must win game.. Regardless of what Cherry said or didn't say - that was some big time defensive effort on Ovechkin's part. Not once but twice. Great game by the Caps - they finally allowed players who don't wear number 8 to shoot the puck & surprise surprise, the Rangers are reeling now. With the shutout, I think it's safe to say it'll be the last time we see Theodore for quite some time.. Huge statement game for the Caps.
In Montreal the morning skate saw both Lang & Markov take to the ice which would've been a huge huge boost -- too bad they couldn't play the game. Montreal sure could've used them. They say the 4th game is the hardest game to win in any series but I don't see how the Habs can come back. Not gonna happen. There's no Red Sox type miracles gonna happen here - not with the disarray this team is in. On the other side of the ice.. How bout my fellow Newf, Micheal Ryder.. Gotta love the smirk on his face when Elliot Freedman asks how it feels to get the game winner in Montreal. He downplays it like any modest Newfie would but man I'm happy for him. Last year was purgatory for him in Carbo's doghouse.. Now that he's back with Julien in Boston, he's a completely different player.
Ryder wasn't the only Newfoundlander to get on the scoresheet last night.. Adam Pardy, a rookie dman in Calgary got his first ever post season point.. Gotta feel great for this kid. Let's see if Ryan Clowe of the Sharks can keep the Newfie hotstreak alive. San Jose could sure use it.
That Calgary-Chicago game last night was a beauty. I love the Calgary fans & their sea of red.. If you went to a Flames game, wouldn't you d feel like a complete moron if you wore the white jersey by accident? But I digress. I thought the Flames where in trouble when Jokinen took a stupid penalty early which led to a Hawks PP goal. To his credit, Jokinen turned it around & had his best game by a long shot.. He played awesome as did the Flames. The Hawks were missing Patrick Kane (flu) but the Flames were on a mission. 58 minutes in penalties in the final minute of the game - don't miss game 4. This series is going to the wire. The first team to win on the road takes it.
Big slate tonight.. 5 games.. I'm gonna miss most of the action as I'll be watching the only Toronto hockey team to make the post season in the past 5 years, the AHL's Toronto Marlies.
Before I forget, be sure to watch the funniest sportscast blooper I've seen in a long time. (bad language warning) Roger Millions has to be the best sports reporter name in the business.
Enjoy the games everyone!
-PD
April 20, 2009
That's some heady talk from Calgary's Mike Cammallerri - a player that's never been to the postseason before and on a team that's yet to beat the Blackhawks in 6 games this year. I realize the regular season is completely different beast from the playoffs but still the fact remains. I've liked Cammellerri his whole career but I must question his actions.. Not only am I suprised he didn't get suspended for his dumb elbow in game one, he also just gave the Blackhawks all the bulletin board fodder they need for the next game. Mark Messier you ain't buddy.
For you guys that have loaded up of San Jose & Washington players, there's still hope. Poolie Bob Caie reminded of Carolina a few years back. They lost the first two @ home in the opening round and went on to win the next 4 games for the series & eventually the Stanley Cup. San Jose played a good game last night & lost. Washington on the other hand just looks plain lost. Maybe the road will cure what ails these two teams. Time will tell.
Speaking of the Canes, I was suprised to learn that yesterday was the first time Martin Brodeur has beaten them in playoff overtime. Until last night he was 0-6 against them in OT. On a personal note, that's not good news for me as I've four Hurricanes on my team (Onda Slew).
Think Bob Gainey's feeling the heat in Montreal? Hell yeah.. His normally calm, cool & collected demeaner is nowhere to be found. For the third time in the past few weeks he's snapped at the media over an innocent question. Tonight the Habs have a perfect opportunity to get back into the series at home & with Lucic suspended. Lucic's been a force so far & Montreal must capitalize on his absense tonight. If not it'll be tee-off time waaay too early for the 100th anniversary of Les Glorieux.
Bobby Ryan must be the leagues best kept secret. Why do we hear nothing about him? When's the last time there was a rookie that scored 30 goals that we heard so little about.
Onto the pool updates.
We have a new leader in the standings. O'Connor sits atop everyone with 59 points, followed closely by T-DOGG (57), NSI44 & Krish (56 each).
The Reggie Dunlop & Ogie Ogilthorpe bracket's have finally been unveiled. Pairing was completely random and for the 32 poolies that paid to play - check out the matchups to see who you're up against. You'll now not only need to pay attention to your own team but to your opponents as well.
Ok everyone.. 3 more games tonight.. Enjoy the action!
-PD
April 19, 2009
That's some brilliant insight courtesy of Ovechkin during his post game interview.. The Caps have dug themselves a huge hole from by losing yesterday to fall 0-2 in the series. Playing the next 2 games on the road in MSG the Caps sure have their work cut out for themselves. Biggest surprise from the game yesterday saw Caps bench Jose "3-or-more" in favor of relative unknown Sergei Varlamov. The rook played well but was outduelled by Lundquist who was perfect in the Rangers net getting the shutout. Lundquist certainly has the resume & the ability to steal the series for New York. I'm sure you hockey fans remember it was him who backstopped Sweden to the gold medal in the 2006 Olympics.
Not just the Caps - it's also Woe & 2 for the Flames, Jackets & Habs. The big difference being those three teams get a chance to get back into their series on home ice. We all know what to expect from the Calgary & Montreal faithful by playing at home, but I'm also excited for the Columbus fans who finally to witness post-season action live for the very first time. The Red Wings are showing they're definitely a threat to repeat. With that said, I do think Columbus will win game 3 by using that emotion to get back into the series in. Hitchcock's a great coach & he'll have his guys ready for this one.
Calgary really is in tough - looked to me last night that Chicago was in complete control of that game. Granted I didn't see the first period when Calgary jumped to a 2-0 lead but it's how you finish a game that really matters.
The other 4 series shift cities today. Pittsburgh-Philly is the first to get under way @ 3pm EST. Can Philly stop Pittsburgh? Judging from the first 2 games I'd say no. But being at home & down 0-2 the Flyers better play with more desperation.
I mentioned Canadian content yesterday & it got me thinking that it doesn't get any more Canadian than Hockey Night in Canada.. Check out last night's hotstove discussion as it's now on the homepage. Hooray for YouTube!
Onto some housekeeping notes..
There was an entry lost in the shuffle earlier this week. "All the Way" was added to the database yesterday to bring out total entry count to 81.
I've processed all the payments I've received to date & sent confirmation emails. Those that haven't settled with me, please email me asap to make arrangements.
Some of you are missing tie-breakers & have been notified by email. Please get this into me. The tie-breaker is the total goals scored in the Stanley Cup finals. You may not think its import but it is - we needed to use it in last years pool to determine 2nd & 3rd place.
Standings will be updated later this evening.
Ok Everyone.. Enjoy your Sunday.
-PD
April 18, 2009
Happy Saturday everyone..
Gonna keep it short today.. Site's updated with up to date standings.. Krish & O'Connor currently share the lead with 35 points. It's a little oogly right now but it's there. Supposed to get to 22 degrees (mid 70's for our American friends) today so I'm gonna fix that up later. Also look for the new feature to be updated on the site.. The brackets will be updated later today. We had exactly 32 people opt in meaning we've 2 bracket pools in which the winners will eventually take home $80 when all is said & done.
I've ranted about this in previous years but it still boggles my mind. A playoff game being played @ 12:30 in the aftenoon? What the hell is that? All regular season long games are played in the evening with the exception of maybe twice a year. Players bodies are accustomed to playing in the evening ' why change it in the most important time of the year?? I realize they're trying to showcase the biggest star in the game (Ovie) against the team in the biggest market (Rangers) but as I said in the title ' this ain't College Football..
Flyers took one on the chin last night.. Biron played awesome but to lose in OT was rough. Flyers better show up for game 3 or it's curtains for their season. Luongo & the Canucks look really strong.. Funny article in the Toronto Sun yesterday about Sundin being the 5th best former leaf in game one. Behind the the 3 former Maple Leaf 1st rounders in Boyes, Coliocalvo and Steen, plus Wellwood for the Canucks... Poor Mats 5 million for 1/2 a season's work really is rough going. Is it just me or is Greg Millen a terrible play by play guy? He brings no presence or excitement to the games.. I think I'd actually have more fun watching paint dry.
Ok everyone that's it for today.. If you're in the GTA get out & enjoy the sunshine.. An idea is to go & catch a Blue Jays game ' they've been a great surprise so far this early baseball season & deserve the support.. And yes, I practice what I preach. Myself & JennyCakes are taking in our first game of the season tomorrow afternoon.
Enjoy today's games!
-PD
April 17, 2009
Detroit keeps the cup if we were to go by our collective expertise. Of the 1600 players picked, 325 were from Detroit which accounts for roughly 20% of all picks.
Next in line are San Jose, Boston, Washington. Not very surprising when you consider they're the top 2 seeds in each conference. In total there were 135 different players chosen with the most popular players chosen being Alex Ovechkin (67), Niklas Lidstrom (65) & Pavel Datsyk (61). For the first time since I began running this pool, there's players selected from every single team. The least coming from the Rangers (5) & Blues(4).
I've been working hard trying to get the stats up. I know you've all been anxiosly awaiting to see where you stand. I've been experiencing some some hiccups on my end getting the database to play nice with autoupdating. I apologize and appreciate your patience. I hope to have them working later tonight & will let you know where things stand.
I've updated the site with peoples entries as well as the team breakdowns. Please doublecheck your entry to ensure everything is accurate.
Saw parts of each game last night with the exception of Detroit-Columbus game. Some great hockey being played.. Habs actually looked decent in Boston but they're gonna get in trouble with the physicality of the Bruins. Lucic's a beast - him wallpapering Brisbois was a great hit & really set the tone. And forget about MMA or Ultimate Fighting, I'd pay to see Chara-Laraque. I doubt Chara's dumb enough to take himself out of the game that way but a man can dream can't he?? Great win for Chicago too.. Original 6 franchise that's been down in the dumps in the recent past is back with a vengence. Winning in the first minute of OT is a HUGE confidence boost for that young team. And Big Joe Thornton... How the hell are you gonna shake the bum post-season reputation? Certainly not by getting your first shot on net in the last minute of the game.. As Big Joe rolls so will the Sharks.. Anahiem could be poised for a huge upset.
Speaking of SJ-Ana, I watched that on Comcast Sports last night. Little weird to watch playoff hockey on a non-Canadian broadcast but to be honest - I didn't mind it at all. Why did I watch it on that channel you ask? I was working on this very pool. :) If any of you need your playoff fix and aren't able to get to a TV but have web access, check out this great site for live sports broadcasts. Props to poolie MPH for sending me the link!
3 more games tonight.. Man I love this time of year.
-PD
April 16, 2009
Welcome everyone to another fun year of playoff excitement. Thanks to you the pool participation has exceeded my expectations for the year.. We've 80 entries this year, a 33% increase over last year which is awesome... My favorite part is, we've gone international! Entries from all over Canada as well as our neighbors to the south, the Cayman Islands and even Japan!!
I missed the first 1/2 of the pens-flyers last night but have to admit to being completely underwhelmed with that game. I thought it was going to be fireworks all series long but man was it boring. Maybe it was the annoucers calling the game that nearly put me to sleep but I expecting much more excitement from that series. I ended up switching to the Rangers-Capitals game and was happy I did een though I didn't like the final outcome..
You know it's playoff time when the anthem singer gets a the crowd to sing the anthem as was the case in Vancouver last night.. How do you not get pumped up for that?!? Had goosebumps watching that.. Thought it was interesting to hear 12 Blues are making their playoff debut. That's 2/3rd's of the team!! THe Blues came out like Gangbusters.. Puck Daddy may have been onto something with his St.Louis upset prediction but not when you're facing Luongo.. Speaking of Roberto.. I thought it bizarre to hear this is only his 2nd time in the post season. Granted, he was with the Isles & Panthers but am I the only one that thinks it strange that such an elite goalie is so green on playoff experiece?
Stats will be avialable hopefully later tonight.. Got swamped with entries yesterday.. Need to verify they're correct.. Some of you have heard from me already about missing tie breakers..
The rest of the series get underway tonight. To our fellow poolies from Columbus - welcome to the post season. You're gonna love it - it's a completely different game.
Bruins-Habs meet for the 32nd time in the post season.. Be sure to check out this hilarious Bruins commerical.
Good luck everyone. Enjoy.
-PD
April 14, 2009
WELCOME ALL STANLEY CUP PLAYOFF FANS!!
The grind for Lord Stanley's Mug is the most gruelling in all of pro sports.. I have just one question, have you picked your team?
If you're a returnee, welcome back. To any newbies, welcome to the fun that's about to commence for the next 2 months!
Here's the scoop, I've participated in countless pools on countless sites and without question they're all pretty much the same.. BORING!!
Not at Zamboni Nation. The goal here is make this the most fun & personalable Stanley Cup Playoff pool out there. From the big hits to the upset of the night - I want to talk about it. Hopefully you do too.
This pool is now 6 years old & has grown from it's humble origins of picking teams upon barstools at a favorite pub.
The rules are few:
- One Entry per email address
- Maximum of 20 players
- 12 forwards, 6 Defense & 2 Goalies
- Scoring: 1 point for goal/assist/win. 2 points per shutout.
- Prizes for leader after 1st, 2nd & 3rd rounds; 1st, 2nd & 3rd overall in the final standings (prizes will be determined by number of entries)
- Daily updates online & by email
You can make your picks online or if you prefer, download a selection sheet, and email it to me @ pd@zambonination.com.
The new site is finally up. If you encounter any problems, let me know.
Oh yeah... One more thing.. Never date within your division.
-PD
P.S. If anyone has any suggestions ways to improve the site, I'm all ears.