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2008-09 NHL season facts for kids

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2008-09 NHL season
League National Hockey League
Sport Ice hockey
Duration October 4, 2008 - June 12, 2009
Total attendance 23,114,825(total)
21,475,223(reg)
1,639,602(playoffs)
Regular season
Presidents' Trophy San Jose Sharks
Season MVP Alexander Ovechkin (Washington)
Top scorer Evgeni Malkin (Pittsburgh)
Playoffs
Eastern champions Pittsburgh Penguins
  Eastern runners-up Carolina Hurricanes
Western champions Detroit Red Wings
  Western runners-up Chicago Blackhawks
Playoffs MVP Evgeni Malkin
Stanley Cup
Stanley Cup champions Pittsburgh Penguins
  Runners-up Detroit Red Wings
NHL seasons

← 2007-08

2009-10 →

The 2008-09 NHL season was the 91st season of the National Hockey League. It was the first season since before to the 2004-05 lockout in which every team played each other at least once during the season, following three seasons where teams only played against two divisions in the other conference (one division at home and one on the road.) It began on October 4, with the regular season ending on April 12. The Stanley Cup playoffs ended on June 12, with the Pittsburgh Penguins taking the championship. The Montreal Canadiens hosted the 57th NHL All-Star Game at the Bell Centre on January 25, 2009, part of the Canadiens' 100th season celebration.

Regular season

Final standings

GP = Games Played, W = Wins, L = Losses, OTL = Overtime/Shootout Losses, GF = Goals For, GA = Goals Against, Pts = Points.

Eastern Conference

Atlantic Division GP W L OTL GF GA PTS
y-New Jersey Devils 82 51 27 4 244 209 106
x-Pittsburgh Penguins 82 45 28 9 264 239 99
x-Philadelphia Flyers 82 44 27 11 264 238 99
x-New York Rangers 82 43 30 9 210 218 95
e-New York Islanders 82 26 47 9 201 279 61
Northeast Division GP W L OTL GF GA PTS
z-Boston Bruins 82 53 19 10 274 196 116
x-Montreal Canadiens 82 41 30 11 249 247 93
e-Buffalo Sabres 82 41 32 9 250 234 91
e-Ottawa Senators 82 36 35 11 217 237 83
e-Toronto Maple Leafs 82 34 35 13 250 293 81
Southeast Division GP W L OTL GF GA PTS
y-Washington Capitals 82 50 24 8 272 245 108
e-Carolina Hurricanes 82 45 30 7 239 226 97
e-Florida Panthers 82 41 30 11 234 231 93
e-Atlanta Thrashers 82 35 41 6 257 280 76
e-Tampa Bay Lightning 82 24 40 18 210 279 66

Western Conference

Central Division GP W L OTL GF GA PTS
y-Detroit Red Wings 82 51 21 10 295 244 112
x-Chicago Blackhawks 82 46 24 12 264 216 104
x-St. Louis Blues 82 41 31 10 233 233 92
x-Columbus Blue Jackets 82 41 31 10 226 230 92
e-Nashville Predators 82 40 34 8 213 233 88
Northwest Division GP W L OTL GF GA PTS
y-Vancouver Canucks 82 45 27 10 246 220 100
x-Calgary Flames 82 46 30 6 254 248 98
e-Minnesota Wild 82 40 33 9 219 200 89
e-Edmonton Oilers 82 38 35 9 234 248 85
e-Colorado Avalanche 82 32 45 5 199 257 69
Pacific Division GP W L OTL GF GA PTS
p-San Jose Sharks 82 53 18 11 257 204 117
x-Anaheim Ducks 82 42 33 7 245 238 91
e-Dallas Stars 82 36 35 11 230 257 83
e-Phoenix Coyotes 82 36 39 7 208 252 79
e-Los Angeles Kings 82 34 37 11 207 234 79

Conference standings

Eastern Conference GP W L OTL GF GA PTS
z-Boston Bruins * 82 53 19 10 274 196 116
y-Washington Capitals * 82 50 24 8 272 245 108
y-New Jersey Devils * 82 51 27 4 244 209 106
x-Pittsburgh Penguins 82 45 28 9 264 239 99
x-Philadelphia Flyers 82 44 27 11 264 238 99
e-Carolina Hurricanes 82 45 30 7 239 226 97
x-New York Rangers 82 43 30 9 210 218 95
x-Montreal Canadiens 82 41 30 11 249 247 93
e-Florida Panthers 82 41 30 11 234 231 93
e-Buffalo Sabres 82 41 32 9 250 234 91
e-Ottawa Senators 82 36 35 11 217 237 83
e-Toronto Maple Leafs 82 34 35 13 250 293 81
e-Atlanta Thrashers 82 35 41 6 257 280 76
e-Tampa Bay Lightning 82 24 40 18 210 279 66
e-New York Islanders 82 26 47 9 201 279 61

x - clinched playoff spot, y - clinched division title, z - clinched best conference record, e - eliminated from playoff contention, * - division leader

Western Conference GP W L OTL GF GA PTS
p-San Jose Sharks * 82 53 18 11 257 204 117
y-Detroit Red Wings * 82 51 21 10 295 244 112
y-Vancouver Canucks * 82 45 27 10 246 220 100
x-Chicago Blackhawks 82 46 24 12 264 216 104
x-Calgary Flames 82 46 30 6 254 248 98
x-St. Louis Blues 82 41 31 10 233 233 92
x-Columbus Blue Jackets 82 41 31 10 226 230 92
x-Anaheim Ducks 82 42 33 7 245 238 91
e-Minnesota Wild 82 40 33 9 219 200 89
e-Nashville Predators 82 40 34 8 213 233 88
e-Edmonton Oilers 82 38 35 9 234 248 85
e-Dallas Stars 82 36 35 11 230 257 83
e-Phoenix Coyotes 82 36 39 7 208 252 79
e-Los Angeles Kings 82 34 37 11 207 234 79
e-Colorado Avalanche 82 32 45 5 199 257 69

x - clinched playoff spot, y - clinched division title, z - clinched best conference record, e - eliminated from playoff contention, * - division leader

Tiebreaking procedures

In the event of a tie in points in the standings at the end of the season, ties are broken using the following tiebreaking procedures. The higher ranked team is the one with:

  1. The greater number of games won.
  2. The greater number of points earned in games between the tied clubs.
  3. The greater differential between goals for and against for the entire regular season.

Statistical leaders

Scoring leaders

GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/- = Plus/Minus; PIM = Penalty Minutes

Player Team GP G A Pts +/- PIM
Malkin, EvgeniEvgeni Malkin Pittsburgh Penguins 82 35 78 113 +17 80
Ovechkin, AlexanderAlexander Ovechkin Washington Capitals 79 56 54 110 +8 72
Crosby, SidneySidney Crosby Pittsburgh Penguins 76 33 70 103 +3 76
Datsyuk, PavelPavel Datsyuk Detroit Red Wings 81 32 65 97 +34 22
Parise, ZachZach Parise New Jersey Devils 82 45 49 94 +30 24
Kovalchuk, IlyaIlya Kovalchuk Atlanta Thrashers 79 43 48 91 -12 50
Getzlaf, RyanRyan Getzlaf Anaheim Ducks 81 25 66 91 +5 121
Iginla, JaromeJarome Iginla Calgary Flames 81 35 54 89 -2 37
Savard, MarcMarc Savard Boston Bruins 82 25 63 88 +25 70
Backstrom, NicklasNicklas Backstrom Washington Capitals 82 22 66 88 +16 46

Leading goaltenders

GP = Games Played; TOI = Time On Ice (minutes); W = Wins; L = Losses; OT = Overtime/Shootout Losses; GA = Goals Against; SO = Shutouts; Sv% = Save Percentage; GAA = Goals Against Average

Player Team GP TOI W L OT GA SO Sv% GAA
Thomas, TimTim Thomas Boston Bruins 54 3,258:49 36 11 7 114 5 .933 2.10
Mason, SteveSteve Mason Columbus Blue Jackets 60 3,604:58 33 19 7 135 10 .917 2.25
Backstrom, NiklasNiklas Backstrom Minnesota Wild 71 4,088:03 37 24 8 159 8 .923 2.33
Hiller, JonasJonas Hiller Anaheim Ducks 45 2,446:26 23 15 1 95 4 .920 2.33
Luongo, RobertoRoberto Luongo Vancouver Canucks 54 3,181:05 33 13 7 124 9 .920 2.34
Rinne, PekkaPekka Rinne Nashville Predators 52 2,999:12 29 15 4 119 7 .917 2.38
Khabibulin, NikolaiNikolai Khabibulin Chicago Blackhawks 41 2,407:15 24 8 7 96 2 .917 2.39
Clemmensen, ScottScott Clemmensen New Jersey Devils 40 2,355:56 25 13 1 94 2 .917 2.39
Brodeur, MartinMartin Brodeur New Jersey Devils 31 1,813:35 19 9 3 73 5 .916 2.41
Mason, ChrisChris Mason St. Louis Blues 57 3,214:54 27 21 7 129 6 .916 2.41

Playoffs

Main article: 2009 Stanley Cup playoffs

Playoff seeds

After the regular season, the standard of 16 teams qualified for the playoffs. The San Jose Sharks won the Presidents' Trophy for having the best record in the league, at 117 points. Division champions maintain their relative ranking during the entire playoffs while the remaining teams get reseeded below them after each round.

Eastern Conference

Hhof stanley cup
The Stanley Cup
  1. Boston Bruins - Northeast Division and Eastern Conference regular season champions, 116 points
  2. Washington Capitals - Southeast Division champions, 108 points
  3. New Jersey Devils - Atlantic Division champions, 106 points
  4. Pittsburgh Penguins - 99 points (45 wins)
  5. Philadelphia Flyers - 99 points (44 wins)
  6. Carolina Hurricanes - 97 points
  7. New York Rangers - 95 points
  8. Montreal Canadiens - 93 points*Montreal finished with exactly the same record as the Florida Panthers (including number of wins), but garnered more points (the Canadiens with six, the Panthers with three) in the four game season series between them, to earn the 8th spot.

Western Conference

  1. San Jose Sharks - Pacific Division champions and Western Conference regular season champions; President's Trophy winners, 117 points
  2. Detroit Red Wings - Central Division champions, 112 points
  3. Vancouver Canucks - Northwest Division champions, 100 points
  4. Chicago Blackhawks - 104 points
  5. Calgary Flames - 98 points
  6. St. Louis Blues - 92 points (10 points head-to-head)
  7. Columbus Blue Jackets - 92 points (3 points head-to-head)
  8. Anaheim Ducks - 91 points

Playoff bracket

In each round, the highest remaining seed in each conference is matched against the lowest remaining seed. The higher-seeded team is awarded home ice advantage. In the Stanley Cup Finals, home ice is determined based on regular season points. Each best-of-seven series follows a 2-2-1-1-1 format: the higher-seeded team will play at home for games 1 and 2 (plus 5 and 7 if necessary), and the lower-seeded team will be at home for game 3, 4 and 6 (if necessary).

  Conference Quarterfinals Conference Semifinals Conference Finals Stanley Cup Final
                                     
1  Boston Bruins 4  
8  Montreal Canadiens 0  
  1  Boston Bruins 3  
  6  Carolina Hurricanes 4  
2  Washington Capitals 4
7  New York Rangers 3  
  6  Carolina Hurricanes 0  
Eastern Conference
  4  Pittsburgh Penguins 4  
3  New Jersey Devils 3  
6  Carolina Hurricanes 4  
  2  Washington Capitals 3
  4  Pittsburgh Penguins 4  
4  Pittsburgh Penguins 4
5  Philadelphia Flyers 2  
  E4  Pittsburgh Penguins 4
  W2  Detroit Red Wings 3
1  San Jose Sharks 2  
8  Anaheim Ducks 4  
  2  Detroit Red Wings 4
  8  Anaheim Ducks 3  
2  Detroit Red Wings 4
7  Columbus Blue Jackets 0  
  2  Detroit Red Wings 4
Western Conference
  4  Chicago Blackhawks 1  
3  Vancouver Canucks 4  
6  St. Louis Blues 0  
  3  Vancouver Canucks 2
  4  Chicago Blackhawks 4  
4  Chicago Blackhawks 4
5  Calgary Flames 2  


NHL awards

Presidents' Trophy: San Jose Sharks
Prince of Wales Trophy: Pittsburgh Penguins
Clarence S. Campbell Bowl: Detroit Red Wings
Art Ross Trophy: Evgeni Malkin, Pittsburgh Penguins
Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy: Steve Sullivan, Nashville Predators
Calder Memorial Trophy: Steve Mason, Columbus Blue Jackets
Conn Smythe Trophy: Evgeni Malkin, Pittsburgh Penguins
Frank J. Selke Trophy: Pavel Datsyuk, Detroit Red Wings
Hart Memorial Trophy: Alexander Ovechkin, Washington Capitals
Jack Adams Award: Claude Julien, Boston Bruins
James Norris Memorial Trophy: Zdeno Chara, Boston Bruins
King Clancy Memorial Trophy: Ethan Moreau, Edmonton Oilers
Lady Byng Memorial Trophy: Pavel Datsyuk, Detroit Red Wings
Lester B. Pearson Award: Alexander Ovechkin, Washington Capitals
Maurice 'Rocket' Richard Trophy: Alexander Ovechkin, Washington Capitals
NHL Plus/Minus Award: David Krejci, Boston Bruins
Roger Crozier Saving Grace Award: Tim Thomas, Boston Bruins
Vezina Trophy: Tim Thomas, Boston Bruins
William M. Jennings Trophy: Tim Thomas and Manny Fernandez, Boston Bruins
Lester Patrick Trophy: Mark Messier, Mike Richter and Jim Devellano
NHL Lifetime Achievement Award: Jean Beliveau

NHL All Star Team

First All-Star Team

Second All-Star Team

NHL All-Rookie team

Related pages

  • Season structure of the NHL
  • 2009 Stanley Cup playoffs
  • 2008 NHL Entry Draft
  • 2007-08 NHL season
  • 2008-09 NHL transactions
  • 2009 NHL Winter Classic
  • 57th National Hockey League All-Star Game
  • 2008 in sports
  • 2009 in sports
  • Victoria Cup
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