NHL Predictions Fall 15
Clobber Samson

"It's the most wonderful time of the year...."
Singer Johnny Mathis

Of course, ole Johnny is singing about Christmas time. Alas, for many, Christmas is anything but the most wonderful time of the year. It can be a very lonely and sad time.

Christmas is that season that now stretches from November 1 to who knows when. There’s an endless array of television commercials and horrible Christmas songs in shopping malls. This year, all that commercial shite will hit us having just brain-recovered from political attack ads!

I like the traditional Christmas season as much as does anyone, but, for me, October is more the time for having a jolly holly ole time sitting in front of the electronic aquarium watching sports. It is truly 'Christmas in October' for us sport fans, with the NFL in full swing, baseball pay-offs, including the Blue Jays, and more so, the start of NHL hockey! Think of Don Cherry as St. Nick.

In that light, what's on your Christmas in October wish list? Who gets the lump of coal? Which team will be the gift that keeps on giving?

Every year, it gets harder to separate Rudolph from the other reindeer, the reindeer from the elves, Santa from Mrs Claus.

Alas, to keep with tradition, here are my predictions. Teams in 'Bold' will make the play-offs. Two teams, marked with an asterisk, are my 'dark horses'.

Drop the puck!

Eastern Conference

Atlantic

Tampa Bay

Montreal

Ottawa

Florida*

Detroit

Buffalo

Boston

Toronto

Metro

   Pittsburgh

   Washington

   New York Rangers

    New York Island

    Columbus

    Philadelphia

    Carolina

    New Jersey

Western Conference

Pacific

   Anaheim

    Los Angeles

    Calgary

    Vancouver

    San Jose

    Edmonton

   Arizona

Central

    Chicago

    St Louis

    Nashville

    Dallas

    Minnesota

    Winnipeg*

    Colorado