Your Announcers and Open Thread for VERSUS and CBC’s Opening Day Coverage of NHL Faceoff and NHL Premiere

Carolina vs. Minnesota, 12:00 PM ET
National TV (US): VERSUS (HD)
National TV (Canada): TSN (HD)
Play by Play: John Forslund
Color: Billy Jaffe

Philadelphia vs. Pittsburgh, 7:00 PM ET
National TV (US): VERSUS (HD)
Play by Play: Mike Emrick
Color: Daryl Reaugh
Reporter: Charissa Thompson

Montreal vs. Toronto, 7:00 PM ET
National TV (Canada): CBC (HD)
Play by Play: Jim Hughson
Color: Craig Simpson
Inside the Glass: Glenn Healy
Reporter: Elliotte Friedman

Chicago vs. Colorado, 10:00 PM ET
National TV (US): VERSUS (HD)
Play by Play: Joe Beninati
Color: Eddie Olczyk
Reporter: Bob Harwood

Calgary vs. Edmonton, 10:00 PM ET
National TV (Canada): CBC (HD)
Play by Play: Mark Lee
Color: Kevin Weekes
Reporter: Scott Oake

Puck the Media’s Final Predictions for the 2010-11 NHL Season

Note: The Hoobastank previews did not draw enough of a reaction for me to beat myself over the head with irony for the Western Conference. Here’s just my full set of predictions, irony-free.

First Round
East
#1 Washington over #8 Ottawa
#2 New Jersey over #7 Tampa Bay
#6 Buffalo over #3 Boston
#4 Pittsburgh over #5 Philadelphia

West
#8 Colorado over #1 Vancouver
#2 Detroit over #7 St. Louis
#3 Los Angeles over #6 San Jose
#4 Chicago over #5 Phoenix

Second Round

East
#1 Washington over #6 Buffalo
#4 Pittsburgh over #2 New Jersey

West
#2 Detroit over #8 Colorado
#3 Los Angeles over #4 Chicago

Third Round
#1 Washington over #4 Pittsburgh
#3 Los Angeles over #2 Detroit

Stanley Cup Final
Washington over Los Angeles