USA Today has this article and printed today a handy one-page schedule of all the games, by team. On their website here is nice printable list of games day by day..............http://www.usatoday.com/sports/hockey/2003-daily-sked.htm
Will more games in division and conferences make for easier handicapping, given the familiarity, or more difficult with sharper lines and less exploitable opportunities with odd machups?
Posted 7/17/2003 3:46 AM Updated 7/17/2003 4:11 PM
2003-04 NHL schedule focuses on conferences, rivalries
By Mike Brehm, USA TODAY
This season's schedule aims to make the pressure go down to the wire.
The final six days of the season feature games within the conference, and teams play 64 of their 82 games in their conference. Games within the division have jumped from 20 to 24, and home-and-home sets are at 36, up from 21 last season. (Related item: Day-by-day schedule)
"I like the idea of rivalries and of intensity," San Jose Sharks general manager Doug Wilson says. "Many years ago, when I played (in Chicago), we had the Norris Division, and that's good for everyone involved."
Some schedule highlights:
?Fanfare. The Minnesota Wild, whose fans reveled in the team's trip to the Western Conference final in its playoff debut, host All-Star weekend Feb. 7-8.
?Reunions. Former Dallas Stars captain Derian Hatcher returns with the Detroit Red Wings on Nov. 12, and former Mighty Ducks of Anaheim captain Paul Kariya returns with the Colorado Avalanche on Dec. 19. Don Sweeney, part of Boston's blue line for 15 years, visits Nov. 8 wearing a Stars jersey.
?Banner nights. The New Jersey Devils raise their third Stanley Cup banner Oct. 16, and Anaheim celebrates its Western Conference title Oct. 12. The rematch is Nov. 26 in Anaheim.
?New home. The Phoenix Coyotes leave America West Arena, which was built for basketball, and move to Glendale, Ariz., on Dec. 27.
?New rivalries. The Wild, the only team to overcome two 3-1 series deficits in one postseason, host the vanquished Avalanche and Vancouver Canucks in back-to-back games Oct. 16 and 18.
The emphasis on conference play should make travel easier. The Sharks tend to have arduous trips, but this year's seven-game trip in October and November and a six-game trip in February make more sense geographically. But Wilson doesn't necessarily view tough road trips as season-breakers.
"It affects the team when the team's not winning," he says. "I preferred to go on the road and stay on the road rather than go for one or two games at a time. If you're playing well and are in sync, it's like, 'Let's just keep going and keep playing.' You have to play 41 games at home and 41 games on the road."
Will more games in division and conferences make for easier handicapping, given the familiarity, or more difficult with sharper lines and less exploitable opportunities with odd machups?
Posted 7/17/2003 3:46 AM Updated 7/17/2003 4:11 PM
2003-04 NHL schedule focuses on conferences, rivalries
By Mike Brehm, USA TODAY
This season's schedule aims to make the pressure go down to the wire.
The final six days of the season feature games within the conference, and teams play 64 of their 82 games in their conference. Games within the division have jumped from 20 to 24, and home-and-home sets are at 36, up from 21 last season. (Related item: Day-by-day schedule)
"I like the idea of rivalries and of intensity," San Jose Sharks general manager Doug Wilson says. "Many years ago, when I played (in Chicago), we had the Norris Division, and that's good for everyone involved."
Some schedule highlights:
?Fanfare. The Minnesota Wild, whose fans reveled in the team's trip to the Western Conference final in its playoff debut, host All-Star weekend Feb. 7-8.
?Reunions. Former Dallas Stars captain Derian Hatcher returns with the Detroit Red Wings on Nov. 12, and former Mighty Ducks of Anaheim captain Paul Kariya returns with the Colorado Avalanche on Dec. 19. Don Sweeney, part of Boston's blue line for 15 years, visits Nov. 8 wearing a Stars jersey.
?Banner nights. The New Jersey Devils raise their third Stanley Cup banner Oct. 16, and Anaheim celebrates its Western Conference title Oct. 12. The rematch is Nov. 26 in Anaheim.
?New home. The Phoenix Coyotes leave America West Arena, which was built for basketball, and move to Glendale, Ariz., on Dec. 27.
?New rivalries. The Wild, the only team to overcome two 3-1 series deficits in one postseason, host the vanquished Avalanche and Vancouver Canucks in back-to-back games Oct. 16 and 18.
The emphasis on conference play should make travel easier. The Sharks tend to have arduous trips, but this year's seven-game trip in October and November and a six-game trip in February make more sense geographically. But Wilson doesn't necessarily view tough road trips as season-breakers.
"It affects the team when the team's not winning," he says. "I preferred to go on the road and stay on the road rather than go for one or two games at a time. If you're playing well and are in sync, it's like, 'Let's just keep going and keep playing.' You have to play 41 games at home and 41 games on the road."
