# NHL season begins Jan 13 with new divisions **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Tags:** hockey-nhl\ **Created:** [December 21, 2020, 8:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-season-begins-jan-13-with-new-divisions/928521 "2020-12-21T08:59:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 9
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2021, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-season-begins-jan-13-with-new-divisions/928521/161 "2021-06-11T00:52:45Z")
Hurt. “New York Saints!!!” Interedsting - never heard an NHL crowd sound all chanty like a Prem. one. ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2021, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-season-begins-jan-13-with-new-divisions/928521/162 "2021-06-11T01:02:38Z")
Yeah, they were nonstop, and singing songs, just like a soccer crowd. NY Saints is hilarious, given Cassidy’s whining. ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2021, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-season-begins-jan-13-with-new-divisions/928521/163 "2021-06-11T02:47:59Z")
Deets bedamned - suffice it to say that the first minute of this PVR’d Avs/Knights game is maybe the most cray-insane, hair-raising opening minute of hockey I’ve ever seen. Wha-POW! ---
**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2021, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-season-begins-jan-13-with-new-divisions/928521/164 "2021-06-13T17:04:07Z")
I haven’t followed this thread, so perhaps it has already been mentioned, but these upcoming semi-finals are very unique. Not only haven’t any of these sides played each other, but neither have any of divisions. It’s almost like the champions of 4 different leagues meeting in a grand showdown. It’s quite intriguing, and will be interesting to follow. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2021, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-season-begins-jan-13-with-new-divisions/928521/165 "2021-06-13T17:16:21Z")
Well, one of the series will be. I’d like to see the Habs be competitive, but I think they’re swept easily. ---
**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2021, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-season-begins-jan-13-with-new-divisions/928521/166 "2021-06-13T23:39:05Z")
That’s pretty much my point. How can we know? I think many expected TB to dominate NYI as well. ---
**Author:** ![SwissMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e79b87/32.png) [@SwissMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SwissMan)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2021, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-season-begins-jan-13-with-new-divisions/928521/167 "2021-06-14T01:01:10Z")
I don’t know about dominate; TB beat the Isles last year in the playoffs, but it wasn’t a sweep or anything. It is funny that these playoffs have produced a series pitting the NHL’s oldest franchise (Canadiens) against it’s youngest (Golden Knights). ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2021, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-season-begins-jan-13-with-new-divisions/928521/168 "2021-06-14T12:41:49Z")
I don’t want to jinx anything, but the underdog has beaten the favorite in many of the series leading up to these semis. So, Isles/Habs? More seriously, there was a big difference in competition in the four divisions. The East was brutal, IMO, and North and Central not nearly as competitive (I don’t really follow the West at all). So, is it possible that the Isles and Knights are just more battle hardened? ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2021, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-season-begins-jan-13-with-new-divisions/928521/169 "2021-06-15T12:15:20Z")
I have a question, which I hope isn’t too far afield for this thread. The odds for game 1 of the NYI/TBL were decidedly in TBL’s favor, according to Vegas lines. For game 2, they are more in TBL’s favor – I guess it can be difficult to win two games in an away arena. My question is, is there a place where I can see the odds for past games? I’m just wondering if the Islanders have ever been favored in these playoffs. ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2021, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-season-begins-jan-13-with-new-divisions/928521/170 "2021-06-15T13:43:09Z")
Answering my own question. [This](https://www.sportsbookreviewsonline.com/scoresoddsarchives/nhl/nhloddsarchives.htm) website his historical opening and closing odds for the whole season. There were two home games were the Isles were very slightly favored against the Penguins (-110/-105), but otherwise, the opposing team were always the bettors’ faves. ETA: I only looked at the playoff games. I’m sure the Isles were favorites for many games during the regular season. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2021, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-season-begins-jan-13-with-new-divisions/928521/171 "2021-06-19T03:20:46Z")
Marc-Andre Fleury might not get any sleep tonight. ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2021, 10:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-season-begins-jan-13-with-new-divisions/928521/172 "2021-06-19T10:28:05Z")
Indeed, and if he goes to sleep, he’s probably going to see Josh Anderson in his nightmares. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2021, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-season-begins-jan-13-with-new-divisions/928521/173 "2021-06-19T12:56:05Z")
That was some old time Montreal magic last night. The shots were roughly 6-1 after the first period and close to 4-1 after the second but were able to get it to under 2-1 by the end of the game. If Price has an off game last night, it would have been ugly. ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2021, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-season-begins-jan-13-with-new-divisions/928521/174 "2021-06-19T20:31:57Z")
I’m an erstwhile Sharks fan living in Washington, waiting on the Kraken. Montreal’s heroics have made me a temporary Habs fan this postseason. Of course, anyone up against VGK would win my support, but go Canadiens! ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2021, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-season-begins-jan-13-with-new-divisions/928521/175 "2021-06-20T03:10:20Z")
Goodness Gravy that last-second save NYI defenseman Pulock made to preserve their 3-2 win was rad. ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2021, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-season-begins-jan-13-with-new-divisions/928521/176 "2021-06-20T05:03:37Z")
Dang, when you said that, I just expected to see a defenseman doing his job. Nope, that was gorgeous timing. Dammit, I love the underdogs, and I hope for a MTL/Islanders final. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2021, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-season-begins-jan-13-with-new-divisions/928521/177 "2021-06-21T15:31:39Z")
These 2 series have both been great. I just hope they go 7 games to stretch out the season as long a possible… ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2021, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-season-begins-jan-13-with-new-divisions/928521/178 "2021-06-21T22:07:57Z")
How about 6 games, with an Isles win? And, yeah, Pulock was a hero that night. Fingers crossed for tonight! ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2021, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-season-begins-jan-13-with-new-divisions/928521/179 "2021-06-21T22:21:48Z")
> [@Ike\_Witt](#): > > These 2 series have both been great. The Knights-Habs series has been marred by some dreadful officiating, even by NHL standards. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2021, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-season-begins-jan-13-with-new-divisions/928521/180 "2021-06-21T23:08:40Z")
That is true. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-season-begins-jan-13-with-new-divisions/928521.md?page=8) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-season-begins-jan-13-with-new-divisions/928521.md?page=10)