![](\"http://www.sportznutz.com/columns/nhl_insider/images/images_2/fenway%20classic.jpg\")
Artist rendering of Fenway Park for \n" ); document.write( " the 2010 NHL Winter Classic
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "NHL Insider
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "April 11, 2009
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "The Road to the Stanley Cup
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "The \n" ); document.write( "road to the Cup is set with the 16 participants having been decided. All that \n" ); document.write( "remains are the match-ups which are still unsettled as the final two days of the \n" ); document.write( "season come to an end.
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "On \n" ); document.write( "Friday night, the St. Louis Blues and Anaheim Ducks secured the final two spots \n" ); document.write( "in the Western Conference with wins. The Northwest Division title though is \n" ); document.write( "still up for grabs as the Vancouver Canucks and Calgary Flames are separated by \n" ); document.write( "just two points, with the Canucks having the advantage.
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Eastern Conference
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Boston \n" ); document.write( "locked up the division (Northeast) and also took the No. 1 seed in the Eastern \n" ); document.write( "Conference. They remain in the hunt for the President’s Trophy (overall \n" ); document.write( "standings leader) with 114 points and must win their remaining two games \n" ); document.write( "(against Buffalo and the NY Islanders) coupled with a San Jose loss.
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "The \n" ); document.write( "Washington Capitals clinched their second consecutive Southeast Division \n" ); document.write( "title and have locked up the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference. The New \n" ); document.write( "Jersey Devils took home the Atlantic Division title and the No. 3 seed in the \n" ); document.write( "East.
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "With 93 \n" ); document.write( "points, the Rangers needed to win both of their games this past week to \n" ); document.write( "make the playoffs and did so with victories over the Canadiens and Flyers. New \n" ); document.write( "York has the tie-breaker with Montreal for 7th place as they’ve won \n" ); document.write( "one more game. The Rangers will end the season on Sunday against the Flyers in \n" ); document.write( "Philadelphia.
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Montreal \n" ); document.write( "earned a playoff spot despite taking an overtime loss to the Bruins on Thursday \n" ); document.write( "night. Montreal will need a win against the Penguins on Saturday and a loss or \n" ); document.write( "non-win by the Rangers to take the 7th spot in the East.
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "The \n" ); document.write( "Flyers have plenty riding in their final two games of the season. They \n" ); document.write( "currently hold 4th place (a head of the Hurricanes and Penguins) and \n" ); document.write( "will need at least three points to guarantee themselves the lock in 4th \n" ); document.write( "and home-ice advantage in the first round.
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Carolina’s \n" ); document.write( "season comes to an end on Saturday against the Devils in New Jersey and a win \n" ); document.write( "would mean they can finish no lower than fifth. Earlier in the week the \n" ); document.write( "Hurricanes had a chance to secure the 4th spot, but were handed a \n" ); document.write( "loss by the Buffalo Sabres.
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "With 97 \n" ); document.write( "points, the Pittsburgh Penguins will need a win over Montreal and a loss \n" ); document.write( "by the Flyers to finish in 4th or 5th place. No matter \n" ); document.write( "what, the Penguins will fall no lower than 6th.
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Western Conference
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "The San \n" ); document.write( "Jose Sharks had no problems wrapping up the Pacific Division and taking home the \n" ); document.write( "division crown. With a win on Saturday and a non-win by the Bruins in one of \n" ); document.write( "their two remaining games, the Sharks can take home the President’s Trophy. \n" ); document.write( "Regardless of Detroit’s home-and-home weekend series against the Blackhawks \n" ); document.write( "they’ll finish in the No. 2 spot in the Western Conference. Detroit wrapped up \n" ); document.write( "the Central Division title.
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "The \n" ); document.write( "Northwest Division title is still up for grabs as the Canucks (98) hold a \n" ); document.write( "two-point advantage over the Flames (96). The Flames will need a win on \n" ); document.write( "Saturday against the Oilers to at least tie the Canucks… meanwhile; the Canucks \n" ); document.write( "could wrap it up on Saturday with a win against the Avalanche – the last place \n" ); document.write( "team in the West.
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "The \n" ); document.write( "Columbus Blue Jackets will be heading to the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the \n" ); document.write( "first time in their history. With 92 points and one game left in the season \n" ); document.write( "(home on Saturday against the Minnesota Wild), the Blue Jackets need just one \n" ); document.write( "point to finish in the No. 6 spot. A win would have the Blue Jackets face the \n" ); document.write( "Northwest Division winner in the opening round.
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "With \n" ); document.write( "Calgary’s loss on Friday night, the Chicago Blackhawks were assured of \n" ); document.write( "finishing fourth and getting home-ice advantage in the first round. They’ll \n" ); document.write( "face the Northwest runner-up to open the playoffs. Chicago has two games \n" ); document.write( "remaining; a home-and-home series against the Red Wings.
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "With a \n" ); document.write( "shootout win on Friday night over the Dallas Stars, the Anaheim Ducks \n" ); document.write( "locked up a playoff spot. They’ll end the season on Saturday against the \n" ); document.write( "Coyotes and need at least one point to get the 7th spot. A win and a \n" ); document.write( "regulation loss by the Blue Jackets will move them into 6th.
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "With a \n" ); document.write( "16-5-3 run since Feb. 18, the St. Louis Blues did a leap frog from last \n" ); document.write( "place in the West to no worse than 8th place and a trip into the \n" ); document.write( "post-season.
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Polishing the NHL Hardware
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Although it’s still early to determine the overall winners of the many NHL \n" ); document.write( "Awards that will be given out following the Stanley Cup Finals, a few have more \n" ); document.write( "or less been determined.
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "The \n" ); document.write( "Maurice Richard Trophy (awarded to the individual goal-scoring leader) will \n" ); document.write( "be won by Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals. With one game \n" ); document.write( "remaining, Ovechkin leads the league with 55 goals. Philadelphia’s Jeff \n" ); document.write( "Carter, currently with 45 goals has two games left and New Jersey’s Zack \n" ); document.write( "Parise has 44 goals with one game left. 2008 Winner: Alex Ovechkin
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "The \n" ); document.write( "Art Ross Trophy (awarded to the individual point’s leader) is still up for \n" ); document.write( "grabs. The current leader is Evgeni Malkin of the Penguins with 112 \n" ); document.write( "points. Alex Ovechkin is currently holding down the No. 2 spot with 108 \n" ); document.write( "points and Sidney Crosby is currently 3rd with 103. All three \n" ); document.write( "players have one game remaining. 2008 Winner: Alex Ovechkin
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Hart Memorial \n" ); document.write( "Trophy \n" ); document.write( "- \n" ); document.write( "annual award given to the player \n" ); document.write( "judged to be the most valuable to his team. The winner is selected in a poll of \n" ); document.write( "the Professional Hockey Writers' Association in all NHL cities at the end of the \n" ); document.write( "regular season. 2008 Winner: Alex Ovechkin
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "James Norris \n" ); document.write( "Memorial Trophy \n" ); document.write( "- \n" ); document.write( "annual award given to the defense \n" ); document.write( "player who demonstrates throughout the season the greatest all-round ability in \n" ); document.write( "the position. The winner is selected in a poll of the Professional Hockey \n" ); document.write( "Writers' Association at the end of the regular season. 2008 Winner: Nicklas \n" ); document.write( "Lidstrom
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Calder Memorial \n" ); document.write( "Trophy \n" ); document.write( "- \n" ); document.write( "annual award given to the player \n" ); document.write( "selected as the most proficient in his first year of competition in the National \n" ); document.write( "Hockey League. The winner is selected in a poll of the Professional Hockey \n" ); document.write( "Writers' Association at the end of the regular season. 2008 Winner: Patrick \n" ); document.write( "Kane
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Lady Byng Memorial \n" ); document.write( "Trophy \n" ); document.write( "- \n" ); document.write( "annual award given to the player \n" ); document.write( "adjudged to have exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly \n" ); document.write( "conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability. The winner is selected \n" ); document.write( "in a poll of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association at the end of the \n" ); document.write( "regular season. 2008 Winner: Pavel Datsyuk
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Frank J. Selke \n" ); document.write( "Trophy \n" ); document.write( "- \n" ); document.write( "annual award given to the forward \n" ); document.write( "who best excels in the defensive aspects of the game. The winner is selected in \n" ); document.write( "a poll of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association at the end of the regular \n" ); document.write( "season. 2008 Winner: Pavel Datsyuk
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Jack Adams Award \n" ); document.write( "- \n" ); document.write( "annual award presented by the \n" ); document.write( "National Hockey League Broadcasters' Association to the NHL coach adjudged to \n" ); document.write( "have contributed the most to his team's success. The winner is selected in a \n" ); document.write( "poll among members of the NHL Broadcasters' Association at the end of the \n" ); document.write( "regular season. 2008 Winner: Bruce Boudreau
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Bill Masterton \n" ); document.write( "Memorial Trophy \n" ); document.write( "- annual award under the trusteeship of \n" ); document.write( "the Professional Hockey Writers' Association and is given to the National Hockey \n" ); document.write( "League player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, \n" ); document.write( "and dedication to hockey. The winner is selected in a poll of all chapters of \n" ); document.write( "the PHWA at the end of the regular season. 2008 Winner: Jason Blake
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Lester B. Pearson \n" ); document.write( "Award \n" ); document.write( "- \n" ); document.write( "presented annually to the “most \n" ); document.write( "outstanding player” in the NHL as voted by fellow members of the National Hockey \n" ); document.write( "League Players' Association. 2008 Winner: Alex Ovechkin
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Vezina Trophy \n" ); document.write( "- annual award given to the goalkeeper \n" ); document.write( "adjudged to be the best at this position as voted by the general managers of all \n" ); document.write( "NHL clubs. 2008 Winner: Martin Brodeur
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "2010 Winter Classic
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "The \n" ); document.write( "success of the past NHL Winter Classic first in Buffalo and then this past \n" ); document.write( "January in Chicago could be headed to Boston’s Fenway Park to bring in 2010. \n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "| \n" );
document.write( " | \n" );
document.write( "
| \n" );
document.write( " Artist rendering of Fenway Park for \n" ); document.write( " the 2010 NHL Winter Classic | \n" );
document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "According to reports, NHL reps visited three potential host cities; Boston, New \n" ); document.write( "York and Philadelphia. Besides looking at Fenway, the reps also took a look-see \n" ); document.write( "at Gillette Stadium, home of the New England Patriots.
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Gillette Stadium’s seating capacity of 68,756 would certainly fill the bill \n" ); document.write( "compared to Fenway’s 38,805, but scheduling around any Patriots post-season play \n" ); document.write( "would have caused havoc, thus Fenway gets the call.
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "New \n" ); document.write( "York Yankee officials have shown approval of the Classic being held at the new \n" ); document.write( "Yankee Stadium with the Rangers being the host team. Additionally, the Yankees \n" ); document.write( "would like a New York Winter Classic (Rangers vs. Islanders), but the NHL seems \n" ); document.write( "to be against that idea because of possible poor ratings and would prefer Boston \n" ); document.write( "or New Jersey to replace the Islanders.
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "There \n" ); document.write( "is speculation that the Bruins opponent, should this deal become finalized could \n" ); document.write( "be the Rangers, Washington or any of the other U.S. based teams to capitalize on \n" ); document.write( "the ratings.
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Saturday Afternoon Roundup
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "The New \n" ); document.write( "Jersey Devils defeated the Carolina Hurricanes 3-2 in what could likely be a \n" ); document.write( "preview of a first-round matchup. Carolina will now have to wait to find out \n" ); document.write( "its opening round opponent. If the Flyers can win their final two games, the \n" ); document.write( "‘Canes will be the No. 6 seed and face the Devils who already have the No. 3 \n" ); document.write( "seed locked.
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "
| \n" ); document.write( " Archives | \n" ); document.write( "
| \n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( " 2007-2008 NHL Award Finalists \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Winter \n" ); document.write( "Classic ’09… Kontinental Hockey League… Coaching Carousel \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Melrose Place Replaced, Devil’s Dilemma, Injuries, Rumors etc. \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Winter Classic, All-Star Voting Problems and more… \n" ); document.write( "
| \n" );
document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "If \n" ); document.write( "you like this column, Althea also writes the \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( " MLB Insider, \n" ); document.write( "the \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Rays Corner \n" ); document.write( "and \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Lightning Nutz \n" ); document.write( "and Boltz \n" ); document.write( "all while serving as VP of Sports for NutzMedia. Listen to Althea on \n" ); document.write( "NewsTalk1220 \n" ); document.write( "-WSRQ Sarasota and \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "TBSNRadio510.com \n" ); document.write( "Sunday's, live from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm as Althea Co-hosts "Speaking of Sports" \n" ); document.write( "with Ted Fleming.
\n" ); document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "Add\n" );
document.write( "This Column To Your Site for free
\n" );
document.write( "