kids encyclopedia robot

2008-09 NHL season facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
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 a special season because, for the first time since the 2004-05 lockout, every team played against each other at least once. This made the competition even more exciting!

The regular season started on October 4, 2008, and finished on April 12, 2009. The exciting Stanley Cup playoffs then began, ending on June 12, 2009. The Pittsburgh Penguins won the championship that year.

The city of Montreal hosted the 57th NHL All-Star Game at the Bell Centre. This big event happened on January 25, 2009, as part of the Canadiens' 100th season celebration.

The Regular Season: Teams and Standings

The regular season is when all the teams play many games to earn points. Teams try to get as many points as possible to qualify for the playoffs.

How Teams Ranked in Each Division

The NHL is divided into two main groups called conferences: the Eastern Conference and the Western Conference. Each conference has smaller groups called divisions.

Eastern Conference Teams

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 Teams

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

Overall Conference Standings

Here's how all the teams ranked within their conferences at the end of the regular season. The top teams from each conference moved on to the playoffs.

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

Top Players: Scoring and Goaltending Leaders

Some players had amazing seasons, leading the league in points or being the best goalies.

Top Scorers: Points Leaders

These players scored the most points, which is a combination of goals and assists.

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

Top Goaltenders: Best Save Percentages

These goalies were the best at stopping pucks from going into their net.

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

The Playoffs: Road to the Stanley Cup

The playoffs are a series of games where teams compete to win the Stanley Cup, the ultimate prize in hockey. Only the best 16 teams qualify. The San Jose Sharks won the Presidents' Trophy for having the best record in the league.

Playoff Teams: Who Made It?

Here are the teams that earned a spot in the playoffs from each conference.

Eastern Conference Playoff Teams

Hhof stanley cup
The Stanley Cup

Western Conference Playoff Teams

Playoff Bracket: The Path to the Finals

In the playoffs, teams play in a bracket format. The highest-ranked team plays the lowest-ranked team. The team with the better regular season record gets to play more games at home. Each series is "best-of-seven," meaning a team needs to win four games to move on.

  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: Recognizing the Best

At the end of the season, many awards are given to players and coaches who performed exceptionally well.

Presidents' Trophy: Awarded to the team with the best regular season record. This year, it was the San Jose Sharks.
Prince of Wales Trophy: Given to the Eastern Conference playoff champions, the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Clarence S. Campbell Bowl: Given to the Western Conference playoff champions, the Detroit Red Wings.
Art Ross Trophy: For the player who leads the league in points (goals + assists). Won by Evgeni Malkin from the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy: For perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey. Won by Steve Sullivan of the Nashville Predators.
Calder Memorial Trophy: For the best rookie player. Won by Steve Mason from the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Conn Smythe Trophy: For the most valuable player in the playoffs. Won by Evgeni Malkin of the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Frank J. Selke Trophy: For the best defensive forward. Won by Pavel Datsyuk from the Detroit Red Wings.
Hart Memorial Trophy: For the league's most valuable player. Won by Alexander Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals.
Jack Adams Award: For the best coach. Won by Claude Julien of the Boston Bruins.
James Norris Memorial Trophy: For the best defenseman. Won by Zdeno Chara from the Boston Bruins.
King Clancy Memorial Trophy: For leadership and humanitarian contributions. Won by Ethan Moreau of the Edmonton Oilers.
Lady Byng Memorial Trophy: For sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct. Won by Pavel Datsyuk from the Detroit Red Wings.
Lester B. Pearson Award: For the most outstanding player, voted by the players. Won by Alexander Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals.
Maurice 'Rocket' Richard Trophy: For the player who scores the most goals. Won by Alexander Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals.
NHL Plus/Minus Award: For the player with the best plus/minus rating. Won by David Krejci of the Boston Bruins.
Roger Crozier Saving Grace Award: For the goalie with the best save percentage. Won by Tim Thomas of the Boston Bruins.
Vezina Trophy: For the best goaltender. Won by Tim Thomas of the Boston Bruins.
William M. Jennings Trophy: For the goalie(s) on the team with the fewest goals allowed. Won by Tim Thomas and Manny Fernandez of the Boston Bruins.
Lester Patrick Trophy: For outstanding service to hockey in the United States. Won by Mark Messier, Mike Richter and Jim Devellano.
NHL Lifetime Achievement Award: Awarded for a lifetime of contributions to hockey. Won by Jean Beliveau.

NHL All-Star Teams: The League's Top Players

Each year, the best players are chosen to be part of the All-Star Teams, recognizing their excellent performance.

First All-Star Team

Second All-Star Team

NHL All-Rookie Team: Rising Stars

This team highlights the best first-year players in the league, showing who the future stars are.

More About the NHL Season

  • 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
kids search engine
All content from Kiddle encyclopedia articles (including the article images and facts) can be freely used under Attribution-ShareAlike license, unless stated otherwise. Cite this article:
2008-09 NHL season Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.