2008–09 Motherwell F.C. season
The 2008–09 season was Motherwell's 11th season in the Scottish Premier League, and their 24th consecutive season in the top division of Scottish football. As well as the SPL, the club competed in the Scottish Cup, Scottish League Cup, and the UEFA Cup for the first time in 13 years.


2008–09 Motherwell F.C. season, Transfers
For a list of Scottish football transfers in 2008–09, see transfers in season 2008–09


2008–09 Motherwell F.C. season, Motherwell F.C. Season 2008–09 First-team Squad
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.


2008–09 Munster Rugby season
The 2008–09 Munster Rugby season was Munster's eighth season competing in the Celtic League, alongside which they also competed in the Heineken Cup. It was Tony McGahan's first season as Director of Rugby.


2008–09 Munster Rugby season, 2008–09 squad
Note: Flags indicate national union as has been defined under WR eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-WR nationality.


2008–09 Munster Rugby season, 2008–09 Celtic League
Under the standard bonus point system, points are awarded as follows:


2008–09 NBA season
The 2008–09 NBA season was the 63rd season of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Orlando Magic in the 2009 NBA Finals, four games to one.


2008–09 NBA season
The 2008 NBA draft was held on June 28, 2008, and Derrick Rose was selected first overall by the Chicago Bulls and eventually was awarded the 2009 NBA Rookie of the Year Award. The 2009 NBA All-Star Game was hosted at the US Airways Center in Phoenix. The Western Conference All-Stars defeated the Eastern Conference All-Stars 146–119. The All-Star Game co-MVPs were Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant.


2008–09 NBA season
This was the first NBA season since 1966–67 without a Seattle franchise, as the  SuperSonics moved to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma in July 2008 and became the Oklahoma City Thunder.


2008–09 NBA season, Notable occurrences
NBA All-Star BreakThe 2009 NBA All-Star Game was played at the US Airways Center, home of the Phoenix Suns, on February 15, 2009, with the West winning 146–119 and the Phoenix Suns' Shaquille O'Neal and Los Angeles Lakers' Kobe Bryant being named the Co-MVPs. During the NBA All-Star Weekend, Nate Robinson of the New York Knicks won the Sprite Slam Dunk competition; Kevin Durant, who won the Rookie Challenge MVP, also won the inaugural H.O.R.S.E Competition and Miami's Daequan Cook beat Rashard Lewis in a tiebreaker to win the Foot Locker Three-Point Shootout.


2008–09 NBA season, Standings, By conference
x- clinched playoff berthy- clinched division titlec- clinched home court advantage for the conference playoffsz- clinched home court advantage for the entire playoffs


2008–09 NBA season, Playoffs
Teams in bold advanced to the next round. The numbers to the left of each team indicate the team's seeding in its conference, and the numbers to the right indicate the number of games the team won in that round. The division champions are marked by an asterisk. Home court advantage does not necessarily belong to the higher-seeded team, but instead the team with the better regular season record; teams enjoying the home advantage are shown in italics.


2008–09 NBA season, Awards, Players of the week
The following players were named the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week.


2008–09 NBA season, Awards, Players of the month
The following players were named the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Month.


2008–09 NBA season, Awards, Rookies of the month
The following players were named the Eastern and Western Conference Rookies of the Month.


2008–09 NBA season, Awards, Coaches of the month
The following coaches were named the Eastern and Western Conference Coaches of the Month.


2008–09 NBA season, Salary cap
The NBA announced that the salary cap for the season would be $58.680 million, immediately going into effect on July 9 as the league's "moratorium period" had ended and teams could begin signing free agents and making trades.


2008–09 NBA season, Salary cap
The tax level for the season was set at $71.150 million, with each team paying a $1 tax for each $1 by which it exceeds $71.150 million. The mid-level exception was $5.585 million for the season and the minimum team salary, which was set at 75% of the salary cap, was $44.010 million.


2008–09 NBA season, Salary cap
For the 2007–08 season, the salary cap was set at $55.630 million ($3.05 million), the tax level was $67.865 million ($3.285 million) and the mid-level exception was $5.356 million ($229,000).


2008–09 NBL season
The 2008–09 NBL season was the 31st season of competition since its establishment in 1979. A total of 10 teams contested the league.


2008–09 NBL season, Regular Season
The 2008-09 Regular Season took place over 22 Rounds between 13 September 2008 and 14 February 2009.


2008–09 NBL season, Ladder
The NBL tie-breaker system as outlined in the NBL Rules and Regulations states that in the case of an identical win-loss record, the results in games played between the teams will determine order of seeding.


2008–09 NBL season, Ladder
23-way Head-to-Head between Wollongong Hawks (5-2), Sydney Spirit (3-4) and Cairns Taipans (2-4).


2008–09 NCAA Division I men's basketball rankings
Two human polls made up the 2008–09 NCAA Division I men's basketball rankings, the AP Poll and the Coaches Poll, in addition to various publications' preseason polls.


2008–09 NCAA Division I men's basketball rankings, AP poll
The Associated Press (AP) preseason poll was released on October 31, 2008. This poll is compiled by sportswriters across the nation. In Division I men's and women's college basketball, the AP Poll is largely just a tool to compare schools throughout the season and spark debate, as it has no bearing on postseason play. Generally, all top 25 teams in the poll are invited to the NCAA basketball tournament, also known as March Madness.


2008–09 NCAA Division I men's basketball rankings, ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll
The Coaches Poll is the second oldest poll still in use after the AP Poll. It is compiled by a rotating group of 31 college Division I head coaches. The Poll operates by Borda count. Each voting member ranks teams from 1 to 25. Each team then receives points for their ranking in reverse order: Number 1 earns 25 points, number 2 earns 24 points, and so forth. The points are then combined and the team with the highest points is then ranked #1; second highest is ranked #2 and so forth.


2008–09 NCAA Division I men's basketball rankings, ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll
Only the top 25 teams with points are ranked, with teams receiving first place votes noted the quantity next to their name. Any team receiving votes after the top 25 are listed after the top 25 by their point totals. However, these are not real rankings: They are not considered #26, #27, etc. The maximum points a single team can earn is 775. The preseason poll was released on October 30, 2008.


2008–09 NCAA Division I men's basketball season
The 2008–09 NCAA Division I men's basketball season began on November 10, 2008, and ended with the 2009 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament's championship game on April 6, 2009, at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan. The season saw six different teams achieve the AP #1 ranking during the year (just one shy of the NCAA record). Oklahoma sophomore Blake Griffin was the dominant individual performer, sweeping National Player of the Year honors.


2008–09 NCAA Division I men's basketball season
The season began with North Carolina becoming the first unanimous preseason #1 team, and ended with the Tar Heels dominating the NCAA tournament en route to their fifth NCAA title. UNC won its six NCAA tournament games by double digits, and by an average of 19.8 points per game. Junior Wayne Ellington was named Final Four Most Outstanding Player.


2008–09 NCAA Division I men's basketball season, Season outlook, Pre-season polls
The top 25 from the AP and ESPN/USA Today Coaches Polls, October 31, 2008.


2008–09 NCAA Division I men's basketball season, Regular season, Conference winners and tournaments
Thirty athletic conferences each end their regular seasons with a single-elimination tournament. The teams in each conference that win their regular season title are given the number one seed in each tournament. The winners of these tournaments receive automatic invitations to the 2009 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament. The Ivy League does not have a conference tournament, instead giving their automatic invitation to their regular-season champion Cornell.


2008–09 NCAA Division I men's basketball season, Post-season tournaments, NCAA Tournament
The NCAA Tournament tipped off on March 18, 2009, with the opening round game in Dayton, Ohio, and concluded on April 6 at the Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan. Of the 65 teams that were invited to participate, 31 were automatic bids while 34 were at-large bids. The 34 at-large teams came from 8 conferences, with the Big East, ACC and Big Ten each receiving seven bids. The Big 12 and Pac-10 each received six bids. The SEC and Atlantic 10 each received three bids.


2008–09 NCAA Division I men's basketball season, Post-season tournaments, NCAA Tournament
This season also marked the first time that three teams from the same conference were selected as #1 seeds (Louisville, Pittsburgh and Connecticut). North Carolina tore through the tournament, winning each game by 12 or more points and beating Michigan State in the Final 89–72 behind an NCAA-record 55 first-half points to win its fifth National Championship. Ty Lawson recorded a record 8 steals, while Wayne Ellington was named tournament Most Outstanding Player.


2008–09 NCAA Division I men's basketball season, Post-season tournaments, National Invitation Tournament
After the NCAA Tournament field was announced, the National Invitation Tournament invited 32 teams to participate. Five teams were automatic qualifiers for winning their conference regular-season championships, while the remaining 27 bids were named from an at-large pool. Notable entrants included Kentucky, who broke a 17-year NCAA tournament appearance streak by missing the field, as well as preseason top ten team Notre Dame and 2008 Regional Finalist Davidson. Penn State defeated Baylor 69–63 in the Final on April 2. The Nittany Lions' Jamelle Cornley was named tournament Most Outstanding Player.


2008–09 NCAA Division I men's basketball season, Post-season tournaments, National Invitation Tournament, NIT Semifinals and Final
Played at Madison Square Garden in New York City on March 31 and April 2


2008–09 NCAA Division I men's basketball season, Post-season tournaments, College Basketball Invitational
The second College Basketball Invitational (CBI) Tournament was held beginning March 17 and ended with a best-of-three final, ending March 30. It was the second year that the CBI tournament has conducted a post-season tournament. Oregon State defeated UTEP 2-1 in the final series to win the title. Oregon State's Roeland Schaftenaar was named tournament MVP.


2008–09 NCAA Division I men's basketball season, Post-season tournaments, CollegeInsider.com Tournament
The inaugural CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament was held beginning March 17 and ended with a championship game on March 30. This tournament places an emphasis on selecting successful teams from "mid-major" conferences who were left out of the NCAA Tournament and NIT. Old Dominion defeated Bradley 66–62 to win the first CIT championship in Peoria, Illinois. The Monarchs' Frank Hassell was named tournament MVP.


2008–09 NCAA Division I men's basketball season, Coaching changes
A number of teams changed coaches throughout the season and after the season ended.


2008–09 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey rankings
Two human polls made up the 2008–09 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey rankings, the USCHO.com/CBS College Sports poll and the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine poll. As the 2008–09 season progressed, rankings were updated weekly.


2008–09 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season
The 2008–09 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season began on October 10, 2008 and concluded with the 2009 NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Tournament's championship game on April 11, 2009 at the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C. Over the course of the season, five teams achieved the nation's #1 ranking, with Boston University finishing the season as the top-ranked team after winning the national championship tournament. This was the 62nd season in which an NCAA ice hockey championship was held and is the 114th year overall where an NCAA school fielded a team.


2008–09 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season, Pre-season polls
The top 20 from USCHO.com/CBS College Sports, October 6, 2008, and the top 15 from USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine, September 22, 2008.


2008–09 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season, Regular season, Season format
Beginning in 2008–09, a shootout is used to determine CCHA conference games that end in a tie. Shootout losers receive one point and an addition to their total number of ties. Shootout winners receive one point and an addition to their total number of ties, and as a bonus, receive one bonus point and an addition to their total number of shootout wins.


2008–09 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season, Player stats, Scoring leaders
The following players led the league in points at the conclusion of the season.


2008–09 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season, Player stats, Scoring leaders
GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes


2008–09 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season, Player stats, Leading goaltenders
The following goaltenders led the league in goals against average at the end of the regular season while playing at least 33% of their team's total minutes.


2008–09 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season, Player stats, Leading goaltenders
GP = Games played; Min = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; OT = Overtime/shootout losses; GA = Goals against; SO = Shutouts; SV% = Save percentage; GAA = Goals against average


2008–09 NCAA Division I women's basketball rankings
Two human polls comprise the 2008–09 NCAA Division I women's basketball rankings, the AP Poll and the Coaches Poll, in addition to various publications' preseason polls. The AP poll is currently a poll of sportswriters, while the USA Today Coaches' Poll is a poll of college coaches. The AP conducts polls weekly through the end of the regular season and conference play, while the Coaches poll conducts a final, post-NCAA tournament poll as well.


2008–09 NCAA Division III men's ice hockey season
The 2008–09 NCAA Division III men's ice hockey season began on October 17, 2008 and concluded on March 21 of the following year. This was the 36th season of Division III college ice hockey.


2008–09 NCAA football bowl games
The 2008–09 NCAA football bowl games, which concluded the 2008 NCAA Division I FBS football season, contained a record number of bowl games scheduled in college football history. A total of 37 bowl games, 34 team-competitive games and three all-star games, were played starting on December 20, 2008 with four contests and concluding with the Texas vs. The Nation Game in El Paso, Texas, played on January 31, 2009 at Sun Bowl Stadium. For the first time in 62 years, however, the Hula Bowl was not a part of the post-season as it was cancelled indefinitely.


2008–09 NCAA football bowl games
A new record of 34 team-competitive bowls, plus three all-star games, were played, including the inaugural St. Petersburg Bowl and EagleBank Bowl. While bowl games had been the purview of only the very best teams for nearly a century, this was the third consecutive year that teams with non-winning seasons participated in bowl games. To fill the 68 available team-competitive bowl slots, a new record total of 9 teams (13% of all participants) with non-winning seasons participated in bowl games—all 9 had a .500 (6-6) season.


2008–09 NCAA football bowl games, Selection of the teams
NCAA bylaws say that a school with a record of 6–6 in regular season play and at least 5 wins over FBS teams are eligible only after conferences cannot fill out available positions for bowl games with teams having seven (or more) wins automatically eligible, excluding games played in Hawaii and conference championship games in the ACC, Big 12, Conference USA, MAC and the SEC.


2008–09 NCAA football bowl games, Selection of the teams
After the final regular-season games on December 7, 2008, four conferences — the Pac-10, the SEC, the Big 12, and the Big Ten — did not have enough teams to fill their bowl game allotments. The Pac-10 had seven contracted bowl slots with only five teams eligible. The last two bowls in the Pac-10 pecking order—the Hawaiʻi Bowl (sixth) and Poinsettia Bowl (seventh)—had contingency contracts with other conferences, respectively Conference USA and the WAC, to select one of the secondary conference's teams should the Pac-10 fail to supply enough eligible teams to supply that bowl.


2008–09 NCAA football bowl games, Selection of the teams
However, because C-USA had only six bowl-eligible teams to fill its six primary bowl slots, the Pac-10/C-USA slot in the Hawaiʻi Bowl became an at-large spot, and was awarded to Notre Dame. The SEC and Big 12 failed to produce enough teams to fill their requirements even before both conferences had two teams selected to BCS games, while the Big Ten was unable to fill its requirements once a second team from that conference (Ohio State) was selected to a BCS game. The Atlantic Coast Conference sent an NCAA-record ten teams to bowl games this season.


2008–09 NCAA football bowl games, Selection of the teams
Since 72 teams were bowl-eligible, but only 68 bowl slots were available, four teams were left out of bowl games. Unlike in 2007, when an eight-win Troy team was left home for the postseason, no team with seven or more wins went without a bowl bid this year. All four uninvited teams — Arkansas State, Bowling Green, Louisiana-Lafayette, and San José State — had six wins.


2008–09 NCAA football bowl games, Results
NOTE: Rankings from final BCS Standings of December 7, 2008.


2008–09 NFL playoffs
The National Football League playoffs for the 2008 season began on January 3, 2009. The postseason tournament concluded with the Pittsburgh Steelers defeating the Arizona Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII, 27–23, on February 1, at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida.


2008–09 NFL playoffs, Participants
Within each conference, the four division winners and the two wild card teams (the top two non-division winners with the best overall regular season records) qualified for the playoffs. The four division winners are seeded 1 through 4 based on their overall won-lost-tied record, and the wild card teams are seeded 5 and 6. The NFL does not use a fixed bracket playoff system, and there are no restrictions regarding teams from the same division matching up in any round.


2008–09 NFL playoffs, Participants
In the first round, dubbed the wild-card playoffs or wild-card weekend, the third-seeded division winner hosts the sixth seed wild card, and the fourth seed hosts the fifth. The 1 and 2 seeds from each conference then receive a bye in the first round. In the second round, the divisional playoffs, the number 1 seed hosts the worst surviving seed from the first round (seed 4, 5, or 6), while the number 2 seed will play the other team (seed 3, 4, or 5).


2008–09 NFL playoffs, Participants
The two surviving teams from each conference's divisional playoff games then meet in the respective AFC and NFC Conference Championship games, hosted by the higher seed. Although the Super Bowl, the fourth and final round of the playoffs, is played at a neutral site, the designated home team is based on an annual rotation by conference.


2008–09 NFL playoffs, Schedule
In the United States, NBC broadcast the first two Wild Card playoff games and Super Bowl XLIII (their first Super Bowl broadcast since Super Bowl XXXII at the end of the 1997–98 playoffs). CBS telecast the rest of the AFC playoff games and Fox the rest of the NFC games.


2008–09 NFL playoffs, Wild Card playoffs, Saturday, January 3, 2009, NFC: Arizona Cardinals 30, Atlanta Falcons 24
Playing in their first playoff game at home since 1947 & 1st Playoff game in University of Phoenix Stadium, Arizona outgained the Falcons in total yards 357–250 and forced three turnovers. Atlanta running back Michael Turner, who rushed for 1,699 yards during the season, was held to 42 yards on 18 carries.


2008–09 NFL playoffs, Wild Card playoffs, Saturday, January 3, 2009, NFC: Arizona Cardinals 30, Atlanta Falcons 24
One minute into the game, Atlanta receiver Harry Douglas gave his team a scoring opportunity by returning a punt 21 yards to the Cardinals 48-yard line. But two plays later, rookie quarterback Matt Ryan's pass was intercepted by Ralph Brown. The Cardinals offense started off their ensuing drive with three runs for 21 yards by Edgerrin James, and then took the lead over the Falcons with a 42-yard touchdown pass from Kurt Warner to Larry Fitzgerald on a flea flicker play.


2008–09 NFL playoffs, Wild Card playoffs, Saturday, January 3, 2009, NFC: Arizona Cardinals 30, Atlanta Falcons 24
In the second quarter, Ryan led Atlanta 80 yards to the Cardinals 12-yard line where Jason Elam finished the drive with a 30-yard field goal to cut the score to 7–3. But three plays after the kickoff, Warner threw a short pass to receiver Anquan Boldin, who caught the ball and cut away from Lawyer Milloy, taking off down the left sideline for a 71-yard touchdown reception to give his team a 14–3 lead.


2008–09 NFL playoffs, Wild Card playoffs, Saturday, January 3, 2009, NFC: Arizona Cardinals 30, Atlanta Falcons 24
Atlanta responded with touchdowns on their next two drives to take the lead before halftime. First, Ryan threw for 67 yards on a 77-yard drive that ended with Turner's 7-yard touchdown run. Then, Falcons defensive back Chevis Jackson intercepted a pass from Warner on the Cardinals 23-yard line. Five plays later, Ryan threw a 2-yard touchdown pass to tight end Justin Peelle, giving Atlanta a 17–14 lead with 23 seconds left in the second quarter.


2008–09 NFL playoffs, Wild Card playoffs, Saturday, January 3, 2009, NFC: Arizona Cardinals 30, Atlanta Falcons 24
However, Arizona would score 16 unanswered points in the second half. Three plays after the second half kickoff, Darnell Dockett burst up the middle on a running play, knocking the ball out of Ryan's hands before he could hand it off. Antrel Rolle (who was blitzing on the play) snagged the ball out of midair and returned it 21 yards for a touchdown. Then following two Atlanta punts and a missed 51-yard field goal by Neil Rackers, Arizona running back Tim Hightower finished a 76-yard drive with a 4-yard touchdown run, making the score 28–17. Early in the fourth quarter, the Cardinals increased their lead to 30–17 when defensive end Antonio Smith sacked Ryan in the end zone for a safety.


2008–09 NFL playoffs, Wild Card playoffs, Saturday, January 3, 2009, NFC: Arizona Cardinals 30, Atlanta Falcons 24
With 4:14 left in the game, Atlanta managed to get back within one touchdown with a 5-yard touchdown pass from Ryan to Roddy White. But with the aid of a key 24-yard reception by reserve tight end Stephen Spach (who caught only two passes for 15 yards during the season) on third down and 16, the Cardinals managed to run out the rest of the clock.


2008–09 NFL playoffs, Wild Card playoffs, Saturday, January 3, 2009, NFC: Arizona Cardinals 30, Atlanta Falcons 24
This was the first postseason meeting between the Falcons and Cardinals.


2008–09 NFL playoffs, Wild Card playoffs, Saturday, January 3, 2009, AFC: San Diego Chargers 23, Indianapolis Colts 17 (OT)
Chargers running back Darren Sproles had 328 all-purpose yards (105 rushing, 45 receiving, 106 kickoff return yards, 72 yards on three punt returns), the third highest total in playoff history, and two touchdowns, including the game winning score in overtime.


2008–09 NFL playoffs, Wild Card playoffs, Saturday, January 3, 2009, AFC: San Diego Chargers 23, Indianapolis Colts 17 (OT)
Late in the first quarter, three receptions by Colts receiver Anthony Gonzalez for 59 yards set up a 1-yard touchdown run by Joseph Addai, putting Indianapolis on the board. In the second quarter, an 18-yard punt return by Sproles gave the Chargers good field position on the Colts 44-yard line. A few plays later, Philip Rivers' 30-yard completion to tight end Antonio Gates set up a 1-yard touchdown run by LaDainian Tomlinson to tie the game. But two more receptions by Gonzalez, for gains of 20 and 11 yards, led to an Adam Vinatieri field goal.


2008–09 NFL playoffs, Wild Card playoffs, Saturday, January 3, 2009, AFC: San Diego Chargers 23, Indianapolis Colts 17 (OT)
After an exchange of punts, Hunter Smith's 34-yard punt from his own 11-yard line gave San Diego the ball on the Colts 45. Five plays later, Sproles scored on a 9-yard touchdown run, giving his team a 14–10 halftime lead.


2008–09 NFL playoffs, Wild Card playoffs, Saturday, January 3, 2009, AFC: San Diego Chargers 23, Indianapolis Colts 17 (OT)
Midway into the third quarter, Indianapolis quarterback Peyton Manning managed to hurry his offense onto the line of scrimmage for a play while San Diego's defense was making substitutions. As a result, receiver Reggie Wayne ran past defensive back Antonio Cromartie (who didn't even realize the play had started), caught a pass from Manning, and took off for a 72-yard touchdown catch, retaking the lead for the Colts at 17–14. This would be the last score from both teams until late in the fourth quarter. San Diego responded on their ensuing drive by moving the ball to the Colts 9-yard line. But Sproles fumbled the ball into the end zone while being tackled by Tim Jennings and defensive tackle Raheem Brock recovered it for a touchback.


2008–09 NFL playoffs, Wild Card playoffs, Saturday, January 3, 2009, AFC: San Diego Chargers 23, Indianapolis Colts 17 (OT)
With under three minutes left in the game, Mike Scifres's 52-yard punt pinned the Colts back at their own 1-yard line. The Colts managed to get away from their own end zone with their first two plays, but on third down and two, linebacker Tim Dobbins drove them back to the 1 by sacking Manning for an 8-yard loss. Sproles then returned the ensuing punt 26 yards to the Colts 38-yard line. Following two receptions by Gates for 22 yards and an 8-yard run by Sproles, Nate Kaeding's field goal tied the game with 31 seconds left, sending it into sudden death.


2008–09 NFL playoffs, Wild Card playoffs, Saturday, January 3, 2009, AFC: San Diego Chargers 23, Indianapolis Colts 17 (OT)
In overtime, the Chargers won the coin toss and drove for the winning score, aided by two key penalties against the Colts defense. First Sproles returned the kickoff 31 yards to his own 25-yard line, and two plays later he caught a 13-yard pass on third down and 11. Six plays later from the Indianapolis 40-yard line, Jennings was called for defensive holding while trying to cover Chris Chambers on a third down play, giving the Chargers a first down. On the next play, a 15-yard facemask penalty on Clint Session moved the ball to the 20. Sproles was tackled for a 2-yard loss on the next play, but after that he ran 22 yards for a game-winning touchdown to win the game for San Diego.


2008–09 NFL playoffs, Wild Card playoffs, Saturday, January 3, 2009, AFC: San Diego Chargers 23, Indianapolis Colts 17 (OT)
This would be the Chargers' last playoff win until the 2013 NFL playoffs & last home playoff win for the Chargers in San Diego.


2008–09 NFL playoffs, Wild Card playoffs, Saturday, January 3, 2009, AFC: San Diego Chargers 23, Indianapolis Colts 17 (OT)
This was the third postseason meeting between the Colts and Chargers, and the second consecutive postseason meeting. Both teams have split the previous two meetings. San Diego won the previous meeting 28–24 in the 2007 AFC Divisional playoffs.


2008–09 NFL playoffs, Wild Card playoffs, Sunday, January 4, 2009, AFC: Baltimore Ravens 27, Miami Dolphins 9
The game featured a Dolphins offense which had an NFL-low 13 giveaways against a Ravens defense that led the league in takeaways with 34. The Ravens defense ended up triumphant, forcing five turnovers en route to victory.


2008–09 NFL playoffs, Wild Card playoffs, Sunday, January 4, 2009, AFC: Baltimore Ravens 27, Miami Dolphins 9
On the game's opening drive, Baltimore running back Le'Ron McClain lost a fumble which linebacker Joey Porter recovered and returned to midfield. Several plays later, Miami advanced to the Ravens 1-yard line, but was unable to get into the end zone with two consecutive plays and ended up settling for a Dan Carpenter field goal to take a 3–0 lead. Baltimore responded with a drive to the Dolphins 5-yard line, featuring a 31-yard reception by tight end Todd Heap and scored with Matt Stover's 23-yard field goal to tie the game.


2008–09 NFL playoffs, Wild Card playoffs, Sunday, January 4, 2009, AFC: Baltimore Ravens 27, Miami Dolphins 9
Midway through the second quarter, Ravens safety Ed Reed intercepted a pass from Chad Pennington and returned it 64 yards for a touchdown. Then after forcing a punt, Joe Flacco's 31-yard completion to Derrick Mason set up Stover's second field goal to give the Ravens a 13–3 halftime lead.


2008–09 NFL playoffs, Wild Card playoffs, Sunday, January 4, 2009, AFC: Baltimore Ravens 27, Miami Dolphins 9
Miami's misfortunes continued in the second half. On their first drive of the second half, Pennington threw his third interception of the game. Then after a punt, Dolphins running back Patrick Cobbs lost a fumble while being tackled by Marques Douglas and linebacker Terrell Suggs recovered it on Miami's 19-yard line. Three plays later, McClain scored on an 8-yard touchdown run to make it 20–3. The Dolphins responded with a drive to the Ravens 13-yard line, only to lose the ball on Pennington's fourth interception of the game, and his second to Reed.


2008–09 NFL playoffs, Wild Card playoffs, Sunday, January 4, 2009, AFC: Baltimore Ravens 27, Miami Dolphins 9
Early in the fourth quarter, Pennington's 45-yard completion to Davone Bess set up his 2-yard touchdown pass to Ronnie Brown, cutting the score to 20–9 after Frank Walker blocked the extra point attempt. But the Ravens defense shut out Miami for the rest of the game. Meanwhile, a 48-yard run by Willis McGahee set up a 5-yard touchdown by Flacco, making the final score 27–9.


2008–09 NFL playoffs, Wild Card playoffs, Sunday, January 4, 2009, AFC: Baltimore Ravens 27, Miami Dolphins 9
This would be the Dolphins last playoff appearance until the 2016 NFL playoffs.


2008–09 NFL playoffs, Wild Card playoffs, Sunday, January 4, 2009, AFC: Baltimore Ravens 27, Miami Dolphins 9
This was the second postseason meeting between the Ravens and Dolphins, with Baltimore winning the only prior meeting 20–3 in the 2001 AFC Wild Card playoffs.


2008–09 NFL playoffs, Wild Card playoffs, Sunday, January 4, 2009, NFC: Philadelphia Eagles 26, Minnesota Vikings 14
Brian Westbrook's 71-yard touchdown reception in the second half gave the Eagles a two-score lead they never relinquished. Philadelphia's special teams unit also played a key role in their victory, as David Akers kicked four field goals, while DeSean Jackson returned five punts for a franchise playoff record 106 yards.


2008–09 NFL playoffs, Wild Card playoffs, Sunday, January 4, 2009, NFC: Philadelphia Eagles 26, Minnesota Vikings 14
Early in the first quarter, Jackson's 62-yard punt return set up a field goal from Akers. Then after a punt, Donovan McNabb's 27-yard completion to Correll Buckhalter set up a 51-yard field goal by Akers on the last play of the quarter, making it 6–0. But Minnesota took the lead on their next drive with a 40-yard touchdown run from Adrian Peterson.


2008–09 NFL playoffs, Wild Card playoffs, Sunday, January 4, 2009, NFC: Philadelphia Eagles 26, Minnesota Vikings 14
However, this turned out to be the only lead the Vikings would have for the entire game, and it would be short-lived. First, a 34-yard reception by Jackson set up Akers' third field goal. Then on Minnesota's next drive, defensive back Asante Samuel intercepted a pass from Tarvaris Jackson and returned it 44 yards for a touchdown, giving the Eagles a 16–7 lead.


2008–09 NFL playoffs, Wild Card playoffs, Sunday, January 4, 2009, NFC: Philadelphia Eagles 26, Minnesota Vikings 14
With less than two minutes left in the first half, Peterson scored his second touchdown on a 3-yard run to cut the deficit to 16–14. But after a scoreless third quarter, Westbrook's 71-yard touchdown reception put the Eagles back up by nine points. Then with less than three minutes left in the game, a low snap by center Matt Birk in shotgun formation bounced off Tarvaris Jackson's foot and was recovered by Eagles lineman Juqua Parker. Five plays later, Akers kicked his fourth field goal, this one from 45 yards, to put the game away.


2008–09 NFL playoffs, Wild Card playoffs, Sunday, January 4, 2009, NFC: Philadelphia Eagles 26, Minnesota Vikings 14
This was the third postseason meeting between the Eagles and Vikings, with Philadelphia winning both prior meetings, including 27–14 in the 2004 NFC Divisional playoffs.


2008–09 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Saturday, January 10, 2009, AFC: Baltimore Ravens 13, Tennessee Titans 10
Matt Stover kicked a 43-yard field goal with 57 seconds remaining to send the Ravens into the AFC Championship Game at the expense of the Titans, as quarterback Joe Flacco became the first rookie quarterback to win two playoff games in a single postseason. Tennessee turned the ball over three times, which proved to be the difference between the two teams, as Baltimore never gave the ball away.


2008–09 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Saturday, January 10, 2009, AFC: Baltimore Ravens 13, Tennessee Titans 10
The Titans took the lead on their second drive of the game with Kerry Collins completing a 28-yard pass to rookie running back Chris Johnson and a 20-yarder to Justin Gage before Johnson finished the drive with an 8-yard touchdown run. But the Ravens answered back with Flacco's 48-yard touchdown pass to former Titan Derrick Mason.


2008–09 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Saturday, January 10, 2009, AFC: Baltimore Ravens 13, Tennessee Titans 10
Early in the second quarter, Tennessee drove to the Ravens 25-yard line, only to turn the ball over on downs due to a fumbled snap on a fourth down conversion attempt. Then after forcing a punt, their drive to the Ravens 32-yard line also ended with no points when a pass from Collins was picked off by former Titan Samari Rolle. Following another punt, the Titans moved the ball into scoring range for the third time in a row, this time driving to the Baltimore 22. But once again they came up empty after LenDale White's fumble was recovered by Ravens safety Jim Leonhard with 25 seconds left in the half.


2008–09 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Saturday, January 10, 2009, AFC: Baltimore Ravens 13, Tennessee Titans 10
In the second half, a 29-yard punt return by Leonhard and a 37-yard reception by Mark Clayton set up a Stover field goal to take a 10–7 lead. Meanwhile, the Titans failed to score again, as Rob Bironas missed a 51-yard field goal after Stover's field goal, and Ravens cornerback Fabian Washington forced and recovered a fumble from tight end Alge Crumpler on Baltimore's 1-yard line.


2008–09 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Saturday, January 10, 2009, AFC: Baltimore Ravens 13, Tennessee Titans 10
However, the Ravens were unable to gain any yards with their ensuing drive and Tennessee got the ball back with great field position at the Ravens 42-yard line. This time, they managed to drive to the 10-yard line and score with a Bironas field goal to tie the game at 10.


2008–09 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Saturday, January 10, 2009, AFC: Baltimore Ravens 13, Tennessee Titans 10
Two plays after the ensuing kickoff, Baltimore faced third down and 2. On the next play, the play clock appeared to expire before the snap, but no penalty flag was thrown and Flacco ended up completing a 23-yard pass to Todd Heap. Five plays later, Stover's 43-yard field goal gave the Ravens a 13–10 lead with 53 seconds left. Baltimore's defense then sealed the victory by forcing Tennessee to turn the ball over on downs on their own 40-yard line. This would be the last playoff appearance for the Titans until the 2017 Season.


2008–09 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Saturday, January 10, 2009, AFC: Baltimore Ravens 13, Tennessee Titans 10
This was the third postseason meeting between the Ravens and Titans. Both teams split the prior two meetings with the victor winning on the road. Tennessee won the most recent meeting 20–17 in the 2003 AFC Wild Card playoffs.


2008–09 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Saturday, January 10, 2009, NFC: Arizona Cardinals 33, Carolina Panthers 13
Jake Delhomme was intercepted five times and lost a fumble as the Cardinals reached the NFC Championship Game for the first time in their history, winning for the first time in the Eastern Time Zone all season, and not only handing the Panthers their first home defeat of the season, but also handing them their first playoff home defeat. Delhomme, playing on his 34th birthday, became the first player to have five picks in the playoffs since Rich Gannon in Super Bowl XXXVII, with Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Gerald Hayes, Antrel Rolle, Ralph Brown, and Roderick Hood all hauling the ball in. Meanwhile, Cardinals receiver Larry Fitzgerald set a franchise postseason record with 166 yards on eight receptions including a touchdown.


2008–09 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Saturday, January 10, 2009, NFC: Arizona Cardinals 33, Carolina Panthers 13
Panthers receiver Mark Jones gave his team good field position on their first drive, returning the opening kickoff 39 yards to the Arizona 48-yard line. A few plays later a 31-yard burst from DeAngelo Williams set up a 9-yard touchdown run by Jonathan Stewart giving Carolina a 7–0 lead. But this would be short lived as the Cardinals would respond with 33 unanswered points.


2008–09 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Saturday, January 10, 2009, NFC: Arizona Cardinals 33, Carolina Panthers 13
After an exchange of punts, Kurt Warner's 48-yard completion to Fitzgerald set up a 3-yard touchdown run by Tim Hightower. Then on the first play of the Panthers next drive, Cardinals defensive end Antonio Smith knocked the ball out of Delhomme's hand as he was about to throw and recovered it on the Carolina 13-yard line. One play later, Edgerrin James' 4-yard touchdown run gave Arizona a 14–7 lead.


2008–09 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Saturday, January 10, 2009, NFC: Arizona Cardinals 33, Carolina Panthers 13
Later on, a 45-yard pass interference penalty on Rolle gave the Panthers the ball on the Arizona 13-yard line. But on the first play of the second quarter, Delhomme's pass was intercepted by Rodgers-Cromartie, who returned the ball 20 yards to the 20-yard line. Arizona then drove to the Panthers 31-yard line where Neil Rackers made a 49-yard field goal. Following a Carolina punt, two receptions by Fitzgerald for 42 yards set up another Rackers field goal. Then Hayes intercepted a pass from Delhomme, which led to another Arizona score, this one a 29-yard touchdown pass from Warner to Fitzgerald, making the score 27–7 by halftime.


2008–09 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Saturday, January 10, 2009, NFC: Arizona Cardinals 33, Carolina Panthers 13
The situation didn't get any better for the Panthers in the second half. Six minutes into the third quarter, Rolle's 46-yard interception return led to Rackers' third field goal. Then in the fourth quarter, Delhomme was intercepted on two consecutive drives. After the second one, the Cardinals executed 12 consecutive running plays with Hightower, gaining 48 yards and setting up Rackers' fourth field goal.


2008–09 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Saturday, January 10, 2009, NFC: Arizona Cardinals 33, Carolina Panthers 13
Carolina managed to respond with an 8-yard touchdown pass from Delhomme to Steve Smith, but by then there were only 53 seconds left in the game.


2008–09 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Saturday, January 10, 2009, NFC: Arizona Cardinals 33, Carolina Panthers 13
This was the first postseason meeting between the Cardinals and Panthers.


2008–09 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Sunday, January 11, 2009, NFC: Philadelphia Eagles 23, New York Giants 11
In what would turn out to be the final playoff game ever played at Giants Stadium, the Eagles defense forced three turnovers and only allowed the Giants to score three field goals despite five drives inside the Philadelphia 20-yard line. Meanwhile, Eagles kicker David Akers' three field goals gave him an NFL record 18 consecutive field goals in the postseason without a miss.


2008–09 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Sunday, January 11, 2009, NFC: Philadelphia Eagles 23, New York Giants 11
New York running back Ahmad Bradshaw returned the opening kickoff 65 yards, giving his team the ball on the Eagles 35-yard line. The Giants eventually drove to the 4-yard line, but ended up settling for a John Carney field goal to take a 3–0 lead. The Giants subsequently forced a punt, but on the first play of their next drive, Eli Manning's pass was intercepted by defensive back Asante Samuel and returned 25 yards to the Giants 2-yard line. A few plays later, quarterback Donovan McNabb gave his team a 7–3 lead with a 1-yard touchdown run.


2008–09 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Sunday, January 11, 2009, NFC: Philadelphia Eagles 23, New York Giants 11
Early in the second quarter, Jeff Feagles' 45-yard punt pinned the Eagles back at their own 5-yard line. One play later, McNabb committed an intentional grounding penalty in the end zone, giving New York a safety. Following the free kick, the Giants drove to the Philadelphia 28-yard line, but came up empty when Carney's 46-yard field goal attempt sailed wide right.


2008–09 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Sunday, January 11, 2009, NFC: Philadelphia Eagles 23, New York Giants 11
With just under four minutes left in the second quarter, Giants defensive back Kevin Dockery intercepted a pass from McNabb on his own 20-yard line. Following a 25-yard run by Brandon Jacobs and Manning's 25-yard completion to tight end Kevin Boss, Carney kicked a 34-yard field goal to give New York a 1-point lead. But the Eagles responded with a 25-yard field goal from Akers as time expired in the half, making the score 10–8.


2008–09 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Sunday, January 11, 2009, NFC: Philadelphia Eagles 23, New York Giants 11
Early in the second half, New York defensive tackle Fred Robbins intercepted a pass from McNabb and returned it 17 yards to the Eagles 33-yard line, setting up Carney's third field goal to take an 11–10 lead. But McNabb led the Eagles back with four completions for 57 yards on their ensuing drive en route to a 35-yard field goal from Akers. After receiving the ensuing kickoff the Giants got a first down at the Philadelphia 30 thanks to a 34-yard over-the-shoulder catch by Domenik Hixon on third and 5.


2008–09 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Sunday, January 11, 2009, NFC: Philadelphia Eagles 23, New York Giants 11
But the drive stalled and the Giants came up empty as Carney missed a second field goal try, this one from 47 yards. After the missed field goal, McNabb led the Eagles 63 yards in 10 plays and finished the drive with a 1-yard touchdown pass to reserve tight end Brent Celek on the first play of the fourth quarter, giving the Eagles a 20–11 lead.


2008–09 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Sunday, January 11, 2009, NFC: Philadelphia Eagles 23, New York Giants 11
The Eagles defense then went on to dominate the fourth quarter, forcing two turnovers on downs, an interception and a fumble. Meanwhile, DeSean Jackson's 48-yard reception set up Akers' third field goal, making the final score 23–11, the first time in NFL history a game has ever ended with that score.


2008–09 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Sunday, January 11, 2009, NFC: Philadelphia Eagles 23, New York Giants 11
For the second straight year, the No. 1 seed in the NFC lost in the divisional round as the Cowboys lost to the Giants in the 2007 playoffs. The top seed had advanced to the NFC Championship Game every year from 1988 to 2006. The Eagles also became the third No. 6 seed to advance to the conference championship game and first in the NFC.


2008–09 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Sunday, January 11, 2009, NFC: Philadelphia Eagles 23, New York Giants 11
This was the final playoff game at Giants Stadium, and the Eagles' last playoff victory until their Super Bowl winning 2017 season.


2008–09 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Sunday, January 11, 2009, NFC: Philadelphia Eagles 23, New York Giants 11
This was the third postseason meeting between the Eagles and Giants. New York won two of the prior three meetings. Philadelphia won 23–20 in the most recent meeting in the 2006 NFC Wild Card playoffs.


2008–09 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Sunday, January 11, 2009, AFC: Pittsburgh Steelers 35, San Diego Chargers 24
Pittsburgh gained 342 yards, did not commit any turnovers, held the ball for 36:30, and scored a touchdown in every quarter to defeat the Chargers. Willie Parker led the Steelers offense with 147 rushing yards and two touchdowns.


2008–09 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Sunday, January 11, 2009, AFC: Pittsburgh Steelers 35, San Diego Chargers 24
However, the Chargers took the opening kickoff and scored with Philip Rivers' 48-yard touchdown pass to Vincent Jackson just two minutes into the game. Pittsburgh responded with a drive to the San Diego 34-yard line. On fourth down, rather than risk a long field goal attempt, they faked attempting to gain a first down and ran a surprise pooch punt with quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who kicked the ball 25 yards to the San Diego 9-yard line. Following a three-and-out, Steelers receiver Santonio Holmes returned Mike Scifres' punt 65 yards for a touchdown to tie the game.


2008–09 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Sunday, January 11, 2009, AFC: Pittsburgh Steelers 35, San Diego Chargers 24
Late in the second quarter, Pittsburgh tried to fool the Chargers with another trick play, this one a fake punt with a direct snap to safety Ryan Clark. But the Chargers back-up linebacker Antwan Applewhite tackled Clark for a 4-yard loss on the Steelers 44-yard line. Several plays later, Nate Kaeding's 42-yard field goal gave San Diego a 10–7 lead on the first play after the two-minute warning. But with less than one minute left, Roethlisberger's 41-yard completion to Hines Ward moved the ball to the Chargers 3-yard line. On the next play, Parker's 3-yard touchdown run gave the Steelers a 14–10 halftime lead.


2008–09 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Sunday, January 11, 2009, AFC: Pittsburgh Steelers 35, San Diego Chargers 24
Pittsburgh dominated the third quarter, starting it out with a 77-yard drive that ended with Roethlisberger's 8-yard touchdown pass to tight end Heath Miller. Meanwhile, their defense limited San Diego to just one play in the entire quarter, an interception by linebacker Larry Foote that negated a 63-yard kickoff return by Darren Sproles.


2008–09 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Sunday, January 11, 2009, AFC: Pittsburgh Steelers 35, San Diego Chargers 24
In the fourth quarter, San Diego managed to make a goal line stand, tackling fullback Carey Davis for no gain on fourth down and 1 on the Chargers 1-yard line. After taking over at their own 1-yard line, the Chargers appeared to escape the shadow of their own end zone when Rivers hit Jacob Hester with a pass for an 11-yard gain. But a 10-yard sack by LaMarr Woodley and two incompletions forced San Diego to punt from their own 2, and Holmes returned the ball six yards to the 49-yard line. One play later, a 44-yard pass interference penalty on Eric Weddle in the end zone moved the ball to the 1-yard line, and running back Gary Russell scored a 1-yard touchdown run on the next play, increasing Pittsburgh's lead to 28–10.


2008–09 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Sunday, January 11, 2009, AFC: Pittsburgh Steelers 35, San Diego Chargers 24
Rivers then led the Chargers 73 yards in 10 plays and finished the drive with a 4-yard touchdown pass to Legedu Naanee. But the Steelers stormed right back, with Parker rushing five times for 53 yards and finishing the drive with a 16-yard touchdown run. Following an exchange of punts, Rivers threw a 62-yard touchdown pass to Sproles, cutting the score to 35–24, but by then there was less than two minutes left in the game.


2008–09 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Sunday, January 11, 2009, AFC: Pittsburgh Steelers 35, San Diego Chargers 24
This was the third postseason meeting between the Chargers and Steelers, with San Diego winning both prior meeting in Pittsburgh, the most recent being 17–13 in the 1994 AFC Championship Game.


2008–09 NFL playoffs, Conference Championships, Sunday, January 18, 2009
For the first time since 1979, both #1 seeds failed to get to the conference championship round. Both #1 seeds had been defeated by #6 seeds in the divisional round, the first time that this has happened.


2008–09 NFL playoffs, Conference Championships, Sunday, January 18, 2009, NFC: Arizona Cardinals 32, Philadelphia Eagles 25
Arizona built up an 18-point halftime lead, but had to fight off an Eagles comeback attempt to earn their first conference championship and Super Bowl appearance in franchise history. Arizona also became the second team ever to make it to the Super Bowl with a 9–7 record, joining the 1979 Los Angeles Rams. Arizona also became the first #4 seed to host a conference championship game. As of the 2020 season, this was the last time that any team seeded below #2 has hosted a conference championship game.


2008–09 NFL playoffs, Conference Championships, Sunday, January 18, 2009, NFC: Arizona Cardinals 32, Philadelphia Eagles 25
Arizona took the opening kickoff and stormed down the field with a 9-play, 80-yard drive. Edgerrin James rushed four times for 33 yards on the drive, while Kurt Warner completed all four of his passes for 44 yards, the last one a 9-yard touchdown pass to Larry Fitzgerald. Philadelphia responded on their ensuing possession, starting it off with a 21-yard scramble by Donovan McNabb to the Arizona 39-yard line and finishing it with a 45-yard field goal by David Akers.


2008–09 NFL playoffs, Conference Championships, Sunday, January 18, 2009, NFC: Arizona Cardinals 32, Philadelphia Eagles 25
Following a punt, McNabb threw an interception to Aaron Francisco, but DeSean Jackson forced Francisco to fumble the ball during the return and Eagles lineman Jon Runyan recovered it. After the fumble, Philadelphia drove into scoring range, but they ended the drive with no points when Akers missed a 47-yard field goal attempt, ending his postseason record streak of consecutive field goals at 19. On the next play, Warner threw a 62-yard touchdown pass to Fitzgerald off of a double pass play, giving the Cardinals a 14-3 lead. It was the second time Arizona found pay-dirt on a trick play during the playoffs (after a flea flicker in the wild card game).


2008–09 NFL playoffs, Conference Championships, Sunday, January 18, 2009, NFC: Arizona Cardinals 32, Philadelphia Eagles 25
Two plays into the Eagles next drive, McNabb completed a 47-yard pass to Kevin Curtis on the Arizona 19-yard line. But Arizona halted the drive at the 15, forcing Philadelphia to settle for a 33-yard field goal from Akers. Then the Cardinals took the ensuing kickoff and stormed down the field for another score. First James rushed for 22 yards, then Tim Hightower ran for 5, and then Warner completed a 16-yard pass to J. J. Arrington at the Eagles 30-yard line. Following two more Warner completions for 22 yards, he finished the drive with his third touchdown pass to Fitzgerald, making the score 21–6.


2008–09 NFL playoffs, Conference Championships, Sunday, January 18, 2009, NFC: Arizona Cardinals 32, Philadelphia Eagles 25
After a Philadelphia punt, Warner led the Cardinals down the field again for more points. Starting with 1:31 left in the half, an unnecessary roughness penalty on Quintin Demps moved the ball to the Arizona 36. Then Warner completed a pair of passes to Jerheme Urban and Fitzgerald for 32 yards. A sack by linebacker Trent Cole pushed them out of field goal range, but on the next play, Warner's 13-yard completion to Anquan Boldin set up a 49-yard field goal by Neil Rackers, making the score 24–6 at halftime.


2008–09 NFL playoffs, Conference Championships, Sunday, January 18, 2009, NFC: Arizona Cardinals 32, Philadelphia Eagles 25
Philadelphia's defense made a major improvement in the third quarter, limiting Arizona to nine rushing yards, one completion, and no first downs. Meanwhile, the Eagles cut the score to 24–13 with a 90-yard scoring drive. The Eagles converted three third downs on the drive, including McNabb's 50-yard completion to Curtis on third and 19, and finished it off with a 6-yard touchdown reception by tight end Brent Celek. The Eagles quickly forced a punt on Arizona's ensuing possession, and Jackson returned it 13 yards to the Philadelphia 39-yard line. Five plays later, McNabb's threw a 31-yard touchdown pass to Celek. Rather than try to cut their deficit to three points, Philadelphia decided to kick the extra point, but Akers' kick was no good, keeping the score at 24–19. It was the first time Akers had missed an extra point all season.


2008–09 NFL playoffs, Conference Championships, Sunday, January 18, 2009, NFC: Arizona Cardinals 32, Philadelphia Eagles 25
Early in the fourth quarter, Philadelphia took their first lead of the game with McNabb's 62-yard touchdown pass to Jackson, giving his team a 1-point lead after the two-point conversion attempt failed. But the Cardinals responded with a 14-play, 74-yard drive to retake the lead for good, featuring a 6-yard run by Hightower on fourth down and 1 on the Eagles 49-yard line. Warner completed all five of his passes for 56 yards on the drive and finished it off with an 8-yard touchdown pass to Hightower with less than three minutes left.


2008–09 NFL playoffs, Conference Championships, Sunday, January 18, 2009, NFC: Arizona Cardinals 32, Philadelphia Eagles 25
Then his 2-point conversion pass to Ben Patrick made the score 32–25. Finally, the Cardinals defense sealed the victory by forcing a turnover on downs at the Arizona 47-yard line. By the time Philadelphia got the ball back, only 10 seconds remained. In a desperate lateral play, Darnell Dockett intercepted Jackson's throw, ending the game.


2008–09 NFL playoffs, Conference Championships, Sunday, January 18, 2009, NFC: Arizona Cardinals 32, Philadelphia Eagles 25
Fitzgerald finished the game with nine receptions for 152 yards and three touchdowns. This gave him an NFL postseason record 419 total receiving yards in his three playoff games. McNabb’s 375 passing yards  and Warner’s 145.7 passer rating were each third-highest recorded in the NFC championship game as of 2009. Both teams combined for an NFC postseason record 823 yards.


2008–09 NFL playoffs, Conference Championships, Sunday, January 18, 2009, NFC: Arizona Cardinals 32, Philadelphia Eagles 25
For the second time in five years, an all-Pennsylvania Super Bowl was denied. The Steelers lost the 2004 AFC Championship Game to the New England Patriots, who went on to win Super Bowl XXXIX over the Eagles 24–21.


2008–09 NFL playoffs, Conference Championships, Sunday, January 18, 2009, NFC: Arizona Cardinals 32, Philadelphia Eagles 25
This was the third postseason meeting between the Eagles and Cardinals. Both teams split the prior two meetings. The most recent ended with Philadelphia defeating the then-Chicago Cardinals 7–0 in the 1948 NFL Championship Game.


2008–09 NFL playoffs, Conference Championships, Sunday, January 18, 2009, AFC: Pittsburgh Steelers 23, Baltimore Ravens 14
Pittsburgh held the Ravens to 184 yards and forced five turnovers, including three in the last 3:13 of the game, en route to their seventh Super Bowl appearance in franchise history. Baltimore became the third consecutive road team (Pittsburgh was the last to win it), and the 11th out of 19 since the 1990 season, to lose the AFC title game and thus unable to duplicate their success in 2000 as a wild card team advancing to the Super Bowl.


2008–09 NFL playoffs, Conference Championships, Sunday, January 18, 2009, AFC: Pittsburgh Steelers 23, Baltimore Ravens 14
On the first drive of the game, Ben Roethlisberger's 45-yard completion to Hines Ward set up a 34-yard field goal by Jeff Reed. Later in the first quarter, Steelers defensive back Deshea Townsend intercepted a pass from Joe Flacco and returned it to the Ravens 35-yard line. A few plays later, Santonio Holmes appeared to catch a 23-yard pass on the 1, but it was overruled by a Baltimore replay challenge and they ended up settling for a 42-yard field goal to make the score 6–0.


2008–09 NFL playoffs, Conference Championships, Sunday, January 18, 2009, AFC: Pittsburgh Steelers 23, Baltimore Ravens 14
Later on, the Ravens got a scoring opportunity when linebacker Ray Lewis forced a fumble from Pittsburgh running back Willie Parker and safety Jim Leonhard recovered it on the Steelers 43-yard line. But Baltimore turned the ball over on downs after failing to convert a first down on third and fourth down and 1.


2008–09 NFL playoffs, Conference Championships, Sunday, January 18, 2009, AFC: Pittsburgh Steelers 23, Baltimore Ravens 14
Pittsburgh increased their lead to 13–0 on the second play of the second quarter with Roethlisberger's 65-yard touchdown pass to Holmes. But after several punts, a 45-yard punt return from Leonhard gave the Ravens a first down on the Pittsburgh 17-yard line. Two plays later, Willis McGahee scored a 3-yard touchdown run. Following an exchange of punts, Holmes returned a punt 25 yards to midfield. But the Steelers blew two chances to score before halftime. First, receiver Limas Sweed dropped a wide open pass near the end zone and the team ended up punting.


2008–09 NFL playoffs, Conference Championships, Sunday, January 18, 2009, AFC: Pittsburgh Steelers 23, Baltimore Ravens 14
However, a roughing the punter penalty allowed the Steelers to retain possession. Heath Miller's 14-yard reception on the next play moved the ball to the Ravens 21-yard line with 23 seconds left in the half and no timeouts left. Pittsburgh decided to run a few more plays before attempting a field goal, but Mewelde Moore's 8-yard reception in the middle of the field took too much time off the clock, and Pittsburgh could not spike the ball before time in the half expired.


2008–09 NFL playoffs, Conference Championships, Sunday, January 18, 2009, AFC: Pittsburgh Steelers 23, Baltimore Ravens 14
Midway through the third quarter, Pittsburgh drove 51 yards and scored with Reed's third field goal of the game, making the score 16–7. But in the fourth quarter, the Ravens took advantage of another key special teams play when Mitch Berger's punt went just 21 yards to the Baltimore 42-yard line. Flacco then led the Ravens 58 yards, completing all four of his passes for 44 yards on the way to a 1-yard touchdown run by McGahee, cutting their deficit to 16–14.


2008–09 NFL playoffs, Conference Championships, Sunday, January 18, 2009, AFC: Pittsburgh Steelers 23, Baltimore Ravens 14
Baltimore's defense subsequently forced a punt and got the ball back on their own 14-yard line with just over six minutes left in the game. But four plays later, safety Troy Polamalu intercepted a pass from Flacco, ran all the way across the field, and took off for a 40-yard touchdown return, making the score 23–14. Pittsburgh then put the game away by forcing two more turnovers on the Ravens next two drives.


2008–09 NFL playoffs, Conference Championships, Sunday, January 18, 2009, AFC: Pittsburgh Steelers 23, Baltimore Ravens 14
First, a hit by Ryan Clark on McGahee forced a fumble that was recovered by linebacker Lawrence Timmons; McGahee suffered a concussion and was removed from the field on a stretcher. Then after a punt, Tyrone Carter intercepted a pass from Flacco with less than a minute left in the game.


2008–09 NFL playoffs, Conference Championships, Sunday, January 18, 2009, AFC: Pittsburgh Steelers 23, Baltimore Ravens 14
This was the second postseason meeting between the Ravens and Steelers. Pittsburgh won the only prior meeting 27–10 in the 2001 AFC Divisional playoffs.


2008–09 NFL playoffs, Super Bowl XLIII: Pittsburgh Steelers 27, Arizona Cardinals 23
This was the first Super Bowl meeting between the Steelers and Cardinals.


2008–09 NHL season
The 2008–09 NHL season was the 92nd season of operation (91st season of play) of the National Hockey League (NHL). It was the first season since prior 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, as part of the Canadiens' 100th season celebration.


2008–09 NHL season, League business, Canadian media rights
In June 2008, the NHL reached a new television deal with TSN, allowing the network to broadcast 70 regular season games per season featuring at least one Canadian team. The league also removed the restriction that only allowed all playoff games involving Canadian teams to air only on the CBC, even if it meant such games had to be broadcast regionally. The CBC and TSN continued to split the first three rounds of the playoffs, and the CBC still maintained exclusive coverage of the Stanley Cup Finals. But under the new deal, the CBC and TSN selects the rights to individual series using a draft-like setup, regardless if they involve Canadian teams.


2008–09 NHL season, League business, Increase in salary cap
National Hockey League announced that the regular season salary cap would be going up for the fourth straight season. The 2008–09 salary cap is being increased by $6,400,000 (US) per team to bring the salary cap up to $56,700,000 (US). The salary floor is at $40,700,000 (US), which is higher than the salary cap on 2005–06 season.


2008–09 NHL season, League business, Rule changes
The NHL brought in a number of rule changes for the start of the 2008–09 NHL season aimed at increasing offence and safety. The first rule change was to Rule 76.2 on faceoffs. The first faceoff of a power play will now be in the defending zone of the team that committed the foul, regardless of where the play was stopped. The second rule dealt with the issue of safety while players are pursuing the puck on a potential icing call.


2008–09 NHL season, League business, Rule changes
Rule 81.1 states that, "Any contact between opposing players while pursuing the puck on an icing must be for the sole purpose of playing the puck and not for eliminating the opponent from playing the puck. Unnecessary or dangerous contact could result in penalties being assessed to the offending player." The third rule change also dealt with faceoff position: if a puck is shot off the goal frame, goal post or crossbar, the subsequent faceoff will remain in the end zone where the puck went out of play. Another rule change prohibits TV commercials, game breaks, and any line changes immediately after an icing call.


2008–09 NHL season, League business, Season schedule
The 2008–09 schedule returns to the pre-lockout schedule. The new schedule eliminates the three-year rotation where teams would only play teams in two of the three divisions of the opposite conference; instead the new schedule guarantees that each team plays every other team at least once. In this new schedule, each team will play their divisional rivals six times for a total of 24 games; they will play all other conference teams four times for a total of 40 games, and will play every team in the opposite conference at least once for a total of 15 games. To obtain a total of 82 games there are an additional three-wild card games; for the Canadian teams, the three-wild card games are composed of playing the three Canadian teams in the opposite conference an additional time.


2008–09 NHL season, League business, European openers
The regular season started with four games played in Europe. The Ottawa Senators and the Pittsburgh Penguins played each other twice in Stockholm, Sweden with the two teams splitting a 2-game premiere, and the New York Rangers and the Tampa Bay Lightning played each other twice in Prague, Czech Republic The Rangers swept Tampa Bay 2–0. The New York Rangers represented the NHL in the inaugural Victoria Cup challenge game as part of the club's pre-season schedule. The four teams also played some pre-season exhibition games in Europe.


2008–09 NHL season, League business, European openers
Other than the four overseas regular season games starting October 4, October 9 was the actual first day of regular season games as far as widespread continental North American broadcast from most providers, including pay per view hockey packages. Other teams still played preseason games between October 4 and 6.


2008–09 NHL season, League business, European openers
By February 23, 2009, all four teams who started the season in Europe had fired their coaches.


2008–09 NHL season, League business, Winter Classic
Because of the success of the 2008 Winter Classic, another outdoor game was held in the 2008–09 NHL season. While Yankee Stadium was considered an early favorite, in a game to be hosted by the Rangers, cold-weather issues involving the old stadium put that location out of the mix. Another site considered was Beaver Stadium at Penn State University, with that game to likely involve the Penguins and the Flyers.


2008–09 NHL season, League business, Winter Classic
On May 29, 2008, TSN reported that the 2009 NHL Winter Classic would be held in Chicago, Illinois on January 1, 2009, played between the Chicago Blackhawks and defending champion Detroit Red Wings. Soldier Field was considered an early candidate, however the NFL's Chicago Bears objected, citing a possible home game for the 2008 NFL playoffs that weekend (January 3–4); ironically, the Bears ended up being eliminated from contention in the last week.


2008–09 NHL season, League business, Winter Classic
It was decided that the game would be played at Wrigley Field, the North Side home of the Chicago Cubs, as confirmed by the Minneapolis Star-Tribune on July 6. Ten days afterward, the NHL confirmed the reports that the game would officially be held on New Year's Day. Faceoff was scheduled for 1 pm EST (12 noon CST). The Red Wings won the game 6–4.


2008–09 NHL season, League business, Trade deadline
The NHL and National Hockey League Players' Association (NHLPA) agreed to move the trade deadline from Tuesday, March 3, 2009, to Wednesday, March 4, 2009. This was done mainly because the schedule has twelve games on March 3 and only two on March 4.


2008–09 NHL season, League business, General Managers' Meeting
At the meeting, held in Naples, Florida from March 9–11, 2009, general managers of the teams discussed issues that concerned them. Consensus on any topic would lead to action by the Board of Governors or the Competition committee in later meetings. Paul Kelly, executive director of the NHLPA, made a presentation on the topic of dangerous hits to the head, proposing new rules to penalize intentional hits. The general managers could not agree on the planned rule change and took no further action.


2008–09 NHL season, League business, General Managers' Meeting
Kelly intends to review the issue at the future Competition committee meeting, which is held after the Stanley Cup final. The general managers also discussed the topic of fighting in hockey, and agreed to penalize further players who start fights directly after face-offs and to further enforce the existing 'instigator' rule. The managers agreed to award a second-round compensatory pick in the 2009 entry draft to the New York Rangers due to the death of Alexei Cherepanov.


2008–09 NHL season, Scheduled events and deadlines
The Christmas holiday roster freeze went into effect on December 19, 2008, and ended on December 27, 2008.


2008–09 NHL season, Scheduled events and deadlines
The NHL Winter Classic was held on January 1, 2009, between the Detroit Red Wings and the Chicago Blackhawks at Wrigley Field.


2008–09 NHL season, Scheduled events and deadlines
For the Canadiens 100th anniversary season, the annual All-Star Game and the SuperSkills Competition was held in Montreal, Quebec.


2008–09 NHL season, Scheduled events and deadlines
The trade deadline was March 4 at 3 pm EST. The most notable trade was between the Phoenix Coyotes and Calgary Flames sending Olli Jokinen to Calgary, but there were fewer trades than at previous deadlines.


2008–09 NHL season, Regular season
The first goal of the season was scored by Markus Naslund of the New York Rangers in Prague against the Tampa Bay Lightning. On October 16, 2008, the Blackhawks fired head coach Denis Savard and replaced him with former Colorado Avalanche and St. Louis Blues head coach Joel Quenneville. On Saturday, October 25, the NHL scheduled fifteen games—with all 30 teams playing—for the second time in league history.


2008–09 NHL season, Regular season
On November 3, 2008, in a game between the Columbus Blue Jackets and the New York Islanders, Islanders forward Chris Campoli scored twice in one overtime. First, Campoli retrieved a loose puck and fired a shot past Jacket's goaltender Fredrik Norrena. The shot went through the net and, while Campoli celebrated, the game continued. Campoli then received a pass in front of the goal and shot the puck again into the net.


2008–09 NHL season, Regular season
Tampa Bay Lightning head coach Barry Melrose would record his first win as a head coach in over 13 years on October 21, 2008, with a 3–2 victory over the Atlanta Thrashers. However, the Lightning did not get off to a great start as hoped, and Melrose was fired by the Lightning with a 5–7–4 record. Rick Tocchet, who had been hired as assistant coach during the previous offseason, was promoted to interim head coach. Melrose subsequently re-signed with broadcaster ESPN. Melrose proceeded to get into a war of words with the Lightning management, accusing the management of interference during an interview on a Toronto radio station.


2008–09 NHL season, Regular season
On December 2, 2008, Carolina Hurricanes' head coach Peter Laviolette was fired and Paul Maurice was rehired in his place. Ron Francis became the team's associate head coach.


2008–09 NHL season, Regular season
During the annual December board of governors' meeting, the issue of the state of the economy was raised. The Phoenix Coyotes were reported  to lose up to $35 million on the 2008–09 season. Asked to comment on Phoenix's loss, Commissioner Gary Bettman was quoted as saying "They're going to get through the season just fine." The Buffalo Sabres, while not for sale, had been approached for purchase.


2008–09 NHL season, Regular season
On December 5, Sean Avery of the Dallas Stars was suspended six games for 'off-colour' remarks prior to a game against the Calgary Flames. On December 14, the Stars' management announced that he would not be returning to the team. After Avery's reinstatement by the league, he reported to the Hartford Wolf Pack of the AHL. He was placed on re-entry waivers and was claimed by the New York Rangers, his team in 2007–08.


2008–09 NHL season, Regular season
On December 23, the Toronto Globe and Mail reported that the Phoenix Coyotes were receiving financial assistance from the league in the form of advances on league revenues. The Coyotes pledged all of their assets to New York company SOF Investments LP to cover an estimated debt of $80 million. The team lost an estimated $200 million since 2001 and lost about $30 million this season. One of the team's owners, Jerry Moyes' principal source of revenue, Swift Transportation was also in financial difficulty.


2008–09 NHL season, Regular season
ESPN reported that the league had gotten involved with the operations of the Coyotes and their revenues. The NHL reportedly wanted to work with the city of Glendale, Arizona, which owns the arena and receives revenues from the team. ESPN also reported that Moyes wanted to sell his share of the team and that Hollywood film producer Jerry Bruckheimer was a possible interested purchaser.


2008–09 NHL season, Regular season
In February 2009, three head coaches were relieved from their duties. On February 1, Craig Hartsburg was fired as head coach of the Ottawa Senators following a 17–24–7 start to the season and was immediately replaced by Binghamton Senators head coach Cory Clouston. On February 15, Dan Bylsma of the American Hockey League's Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins was promoted to replace Michel Therrien of the Pittsburgh Penguins as interim head coach. Bylsma would later be announced as a permanent head coach of the team. On February 23, the New York Rangers fired Tom Renney following an overtime loss and he was replaced on the same day by TSN analyst and former Tampa Bay Lightning head coach, John Tortorella.


2008–09 NHL season, Regular season
In March, goaltender Martin Brodeur returned to the New Jersey Devils after a long injury. He became the winningest goaltender in league history, surpassing the record of Patrick Roy. Guy Carbonneau was also fired as the head coach of the Canadiens when the team was in danger of being eliminated from the playoffs.


2008–09 NHL season, Regular season
In April, the Columbus Blue Jackets qualified for the playoffs for the first time in franchise history. The Carolina Hurricanes qualified for the playoffs for the first time since their 2006 Stanley Cup victory. The Ottawa Senators missed the playoffs for the first time since the 1995–96 season.


2008–09 NHL season, Regular season
In an ironic twist, considering his injury woes of past seasons, Jordan Leopold played in all 64 games for the Colorado Avalanche. Upon being traded to the Calgary Flames Leopold played in all 19 remaining games for the Flames becoming the only NHL player to play 83 games of the 82 game 2008–09 season. Jacques Lemaire resigned as the first head coach of the Minnesota Wild on April 11 after missing the playoffs.


2008–09 NHL season, Regular season
Scoring in the regular season improved somewhat from 2007–08, with an average of 5.7 goals scored per game (7,006 goals scored over 1,230 games). Goaltenders combined for 156 shutouts.


2008–09 NHL season, Regular season
In May 2009, it was revealed that the NHL had taken control of the Phoenix Coyotes from the start of the season and had known of the financial difficulties of the team prior to the start of the 2008–09 season. After owner Jerry Moyes petitioned the club into bankruptcy against the league's wishes, so as to sell the team to Jim Balsillie who plans to move the team to Hamilton, Ontario, the league challenged the right of Moyes to file for bankruptcy.


2008–09 NHL season, Regular season
In the documents filed with the Phoenix bankruptcy court, the NHL stated that the league took official control of the team on November 14, 2008. The league then began advancing money to the club from league revenues, and made a loan to the club in February 2009, for a combined estimated total of $44.5 million over the full season. During the season, commissioner Bettman and deputy commissioner Bill Daly had made a series of denials and obfuscations, while firing the Coyotes CEO and laying off 18 Coyotes employees. Moyes' documents filed with the court indicated that the team had lost $73 million over the last three years, and that the projected loss was $45 million for 2008–09.


2008–09 NHL season, Regular season
Jacques Martin became the head coach of the Montreal Canadiens on June 1 when former coach Bob Gainey returned to his general manager status. On June 3, Tony Granato was fired as the head coach of the Colorado Avalanche and was replaced on the next day by Joe Sacco, head coach of the Avs' top minor league affiliate the Lake Erie Monsters of the AHL. On June 9, despite Brent Sutter winning 51 games (a franchise record), he resigned as head coach of the New Jersey Devils after two first-round playoff losses because of family reasons.


2008–09 NHL season, Regular season
One day later on June 10, Dave Tippett was fired as head coach of the Dallas Stars after missing the playoffs for the first time since the 2001–02 season, when Rick Wilson took over as coach. Marc Crawford was named the new head coach for the 2009–10 season the next day. Todd Richards would be named the second head coach of the Minnesota Wild on June 15.


2008–09 NHL season, Regular season, Final standings
GP = Games Played, W = Wins, L = Losses, OTL = Overtime/Shootout Losses, GF = Goals For, GA = Goals Against, Pts = Points.


2008–09 NHL season, Regular season, Final standings
bold – qualified for playoffs, y – division winner, z – placed first in conference (and division)


2008–09 NHL season, Regular season, Final standings
AT – Atlantic Division, NE – Northeast Division, SE – Southeast Division


2008–09 NHL season, Regular season, Final standings
bold – qualified for playoffs, y – division winner, p – Presidents' Trophy winnerCE – Central Division, NW – Northwest Division, PA – Pacific Division


2008–09 NHL season, Regular season, Final standings, 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:


2008–09 NHL season, 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.


2008–09 NHL season, Playoffs, Playoff seeds, Eastern Conference
*Montreal finished with exactly the same record as the Florida Panthers (including the first tie-breaker – number of wins). Montreal won on the second tie-breaker, head-to-head record, with a six points to three advantage in the four-game season series.


2008–09 NHL season, Playoffs, 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).


2008–09 NHL season, Player statistics, Scoring leaders
GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/– = Plus/Minus; PIM = Penalty Minutes


2008–09 NHL season, Player statistics, Leading goaltenders
GP = Games Played; Min = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; OT = Overtime/Shootout Losses; GA = Goals Against; SO = Shutouts; Sv% = Save Percentage; GAA = Goals Against Average


2008–09 NHL season, Milestones, First games
The following is a list of players of note that played their first NHL game in 2008–09, listed with their first team:


2008–09 NHL season, Milestones, Last games
The following is a list of players of note who played their last NHL game in 2008–09, listed with their team:


2008–09 NHL transactions
The following is a list of all team-to-team transactions that have occurred in the National Hockey League during the 2008–09 NHL season. It lists what team each player has been traded to, signed by, or claimed by, and for which players or draft picks, if applicable.


2008–09 NK Dinamo Zagreb season
This article shows statistics of individual players for the football club Dinamo Zagreb It also lists all matches that Dinamo Zagreb will play in the 2008–09 season.


2008–09 NK Dinamo Zagreb season, First-team squad, Team roster
Updated 5 March 2009Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.


2008–09 NK Dinamo Zagreb season, First-team squad, Transfers, Summer
Midfielder Luka Modrić agreed to a five-year contract with Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur in a transfer worth €21m in late April, meaning his last game for the Croatian Cup second leg final on 14 May. On 22 May defender Hrvoje Čale signed a four-year contract with the Turkish side Trabzonspor for €2.2m, and four days later defensive midfielder Ognjen Vukojević joined Ukrainian giants Dynamo Kiev in a €6m transfer.


2008–09 NK Dinamo Zagreb season, First-team squad, Transfers, Summer
During the summer transfer window, a group of players were released, including 33-year-old forward Davor Vugrinec who joins city rivals NK Zagreb, Georg Koch who signs a deal with Rapid Vienna and Tomislav Mikulić who signs a two-year contract with Standard Liège. Marijan Buljat and Dario Jertec were also released after failing to break into the first team squad under Branko Ivanković, and join biggest local rivals, Hajduk Split.


2008–09 NK Dinamo Zagreb season, First-team squad, Transfers, Summer
As for the arrivals, goalkeeper Tomislav Butina signed a two-year deal after being released by Olympiacos. Butina signed a two-year deal after being released by the Greek powerhouse, in a transfer which marked his return to the club after spending five years playing abroad, and 15 years after his first top-flight debut for the Blues in 1993. Heart of Hajduk Award winner Mirko Hrgović also joined the club from Japanese side JEF United, in a transfer which stirred some resentment by supporters of both Hajduk and Dinamo. Three South American players also joined the club in the summer transfer window: Luis Ibáñez and Guillermo Suárez came from Argentina's Boca Juniors and Tigre for €650,000 and €1m respectively, while Chilean international Pedro Morales joined from Universidad de Chile in a €1.6m transfer.


2008–09 NK Dinamo Zagreb season, First-team squad, Transfers, Summer
Did'dy Guela also left the club in late August amid heavy criticism by Ivanković and a publicized conflict with Ante Tomić in training. Two months after his contract was terminated he joined Greek side Larissa.


2008–09 NK Dinamo Zagreb season, First-team squad, Transfers, Winter
On 15 December 2008, Dinamo executive Zdravko Mamić and sports director Zoran Mamić agreed on a 5 1⁄2-year deal with Adrián Calello signed from Argentina's Independiente. The following two signings were confirmed a few days later, in the form of forwards Miroslav Slepička, who signed from Sparta Prague a 3 1⁄2-year deal worth €1.5m, and the 21-year-old Ilija Sivonjić from the local side Inter Zaprešić. In late December it was announced that Mihael Mikić left the club to join the Japanese side Sanfrecce Hiroshima for €800,000. The last player to arrive in the winter transfer window was the 34-year-old Croatian international Robert Kovač, who signed from Borussia Dortmund for €500,000.


2008–09 NK Dinamo Zagreb season, First-team squad, Transfers, Winter
Six youth players also signed their first senior contracts, out of which only Ivan Tomečak joined the first team squad, while the rest were loaned to NK Lokomotiva, Dinamo's feeder club.


2008–09 NK Dinamo Zagreb season, First-team squad, Transfers, Winter
Additionally, Dario Zahora, the 26-year-old Croatian forward who spent the last couple of seasons on loan spells at Slovenian sides Domžale and Interblock Ljubljana, joined Norwegian powerhouse Rosenborg for €280,000 in March 2009.


2008–09 NK Dinamo Zagreb season, First-team squad, Transfers, Winter
Defender Dino Drpić, a product of Dinamo's youth academy and a permanent member of the first team squad since 2000, was abruptly suspended in January 2009, for "poor disciplinary record". He was removed from the first team and soon loaned out to German side Karlsruher SC. It was announced on 21 May 2009 that Karlsruhe bought Drpić's contract for €900,000, with the German side trailing at the bottom of the league table with just one match left to play.


2008–09 NK Dinamo Zagreb season, Player seasonal records
Competitive matches only. Updated to games played 31 May 2009.


2008–09 NK Osijek season
NK Osijek entered the into 2008-09 Season defending third position, which is equal to their best position in Prva HNL won six times since Croatian independence. The team decided not to participate in the UEFA Intertoto Cup which would make preparations for the new season harder than usual, as happened two years ago.


2008–09 NK Osijek season
To prepare for the Season, NK Osijek played a few friendly matches against 1. FC Kaiserslautern and FC Fehérvár to name a few. The new season will start with the same manager as last year, and with just Milan Pavličić sold from last years starting eleven. As the club's youth academy is one of the best in this part of Europe, several young players are drafted into the first team squad.


2008–09 NK Osijek season
Fans and board of directors are hoping that this season can repeat last one, to put NK Osijek into UEFA cups next season.


2008–09 NLA season
The 2008–09 National League A season, was the second ice hockey season of the National League A since the reorganization of the Swiss league and the 71st in the history of Swiss professional hockey.


2008–09 NLA season, Relegation
EHC Biel would later defeat Lausanne HC, Champions of the National League B, 4-3 to remain in the National League A


2008–09 NOFV-Oberliga
The 2008–09 season of the NOFV-Oberliga was the first season of the league at tier five (V) of the German football league system after the introduction of the 3. Liga in Germany.


2008–09 NOFV-Oberliga
The NOFV-Oberliga is split into two divisions, the NOFV-Oberliga Nord and the NOFV-Oberliga Süd. The champions of both divisions,  Tennis Borussia Berlin and ZFC Meuselwitz, were directly promoted to the 2009–10 Regionalliga Nord.


2008–09 NOJHL season
The 2008–09 NOJHL season was the 31st season of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League (NOJHL). The eight teams of the East and West Divisions played 50-game schedules.


2008–09 NOJHL season
The top teams of each division played for the Copeland-McNamara Trophy, the NOJHL championship. The winner of the Copeland-McNamara Trophy competed in the Central Canadian Junior "A" championship, the Dudley Hewitt Cup.


2008–09 NOJHL season, Final standings
Note: GP = Games played; W = Wins; L = Losses; OTL = Overtime Losses; SL = Shootout Losses; GF = Goals For; GA = Goals Against; PTS = Points; x = clinched playoff berth; y = clinched division title; z = clinched conference title


2008–09 NOJHL season, Dudley Hewitt Cup Championship
Hosted by the Schreiber Diesels in Schreiber, Ontario. Soo finished in fourth.


2008–09 NOJHL season, Scoring leaders
Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty Minutes


2008–09 NOJHL season, Leading goaltenders
Note: GP = Games Played; Mins = Minutes Played; W = Wins; L = Losses: OTL = Overtime Losses; SL = Shootout Losses; GA = Goals Allowed; SO = Shutouts; GAA = Goals Against Average


2008–09 NTFL season
The 2008/09 NTFL season was the 88th season of the Northern Territory Football League (NTFL).


2008–09 NTFL season
St Marys have won there 27th premiership title while defeating Wanderers Eagles in the grand final by 64 points.


2008–09 Nashville Predators season
The 2008–09 Nashville Predators season began on October 10, 2008. It was the Nashville Predators' 11th season in the National Hockey League. The Predators ended up missing the playoffs for the first time since 2002-03 season


2008–09 Nashville Predators season, Regular season, Conference standings
bold – qualified for playoffs, y – division winner, p – Presidents' Trophy winnerCE – Central Division, NW – Northwest Division, PA – Pacific Division


2008–09 Nashville Predators season, Regular season, Game log
Legend:  Win (2 points)  Loss (0 points)  Overtime/shootout loss (1 point)


2008–09 Nashville Predators season, Playoffs
The Nashville Predators failed to qualify for the 2009 Stanley Cup playoffs, making it the first time that the Predators missed the playoffs since 2003.


2008–09 Nashville Predators season, Player stats, Goaltenders
†Denotes player spent time with another team before joining Predators. Stats reflect time with the Predators only. ‡Traded mid-seasonBold/italics denotes franchise record


2008–09 Nashville Predators season, Draft picks
Nashville's picks at the 2008 NHL Entry Draft in Ottawa, Ontario.


2008–09 National Division One
The 2008–09 National Division One was the 22nd full season of rugby union within the second tier of the English league system, currently known as the RFU Championship. Leeds Carnegie joined National Division One, having been relegated from the Guinness Premiership after the 2007–08 season. Otley and Manchester were promoted from the 2007–08 National Division Two.


2008–09 National Division One
Leeds Carnegie won a quick promotion back to the Guinness Premiership, while five teams were relegated to the newly named 2009–10 National League 1: Esher, Sedgley Park, Newbury, Otley and Manchester. The reason for the large number of teams being relegated was due to the league being restructured the next season from 16 to 12 teams as the new RFU Championship was introduced.


2008–09 National Division One, Season records, Team
95 - 5 Nottingham at home to Otley on 8 March 2009


2008–09 National Division One, Season records, Team
104 - 0 Leeds Carnegie away to Manchester on 8 April 2009


2008–09 National Division One, Season records, Team
Nottingham at home to Otley on 8 March 2009Leeds Carnegie away to Manchester on 8 April 2009


2008–09 National Division One, Season records, Team
Rotherham Titans at home to Exeter Chiefs on 11 April 2009


2008–09 National Division One, Season records, Team
Cornish Pirates at home to Plymouth Albion on 12 April 2009


2008–09 National Division One, Season records, Player
Tim Taylor for Nottingham at home to Otley on 8 March 2009


2008–09 National Division One, Season records, Player
Tom Brown for London Welsh at home to Manchester on 28 March 2009


2008–09 National Division One, Season records, Player
Jason Strange for Leeds Carnegie away to Manchester on 8 April 2009


2008–09 National Division One, Season records, Player
Michael Whitehead for Rotherham Titans at home to Exeter Chiefs on 11 April 2009


2008–09 National Division One, Season records, Player
Rhys Jones for Cornish Pirates at home to Plymouth Albion on 12 April 2009


2008–09 National Division One, Season records, Attendances
Exeter Chiefs at home to Cornish Pirates on 27 December 2008


2008–09 National Division Three North
The 2008–09 National Division Three North was the tenth and last season (twenty-second overall)  of the fourth division (north) of the English domestic rugby union competition using the name National Division Three North. The division was set to be re-branded National League 2 North for the following season due to an RFU reshuffle of the entire league system.


2008–09 National Division Three North
New teams to the division included Halifax and Nuneaton who were relegated from the 2007–08 National Division Two while promoted sides included Loughborough Students who came up as champions of Midlands Division 1 along with Kendal (champions) Huddersfield (playoffs) coming up from North Division 1. A further, final change to the division saw Rugby Lions transfer across to 2008–09 National Division Three South as the most southerly side in the division in order to address a team imbalance between the two leagues.


2008–09 National Division Three North
The league system was 4 points for a win, 2 points for a draw and additional bonus points being awarded for scoring 4 or more tries and/or losing within 7 points of the victorious team. In terms of promotion the league champions would go straight up into what would be known as National League 1 from 2009-10 but unlike previous years, there would be no promotion playoff between the runners up of the division and the runners up of National Division Three South due to the league restructuring.


2008–09 National Division Three North
Nuneaton made it an instant return to the (newly named) 2009–10 National League 1 winning the league title and promotion ahead of nearest rivals Caldy who finished 9 points behind without the consolation of the usual north-south playoff. At the opposite end of the table Halifax suffered their second consecutive relegation being comfortably the worst team in the league with just 1 win and 1 draw for their efforts.


2008–09 National Division Three North
Much more competitive but ultimately 8 points worse off than next highest team were Darlington Mowden Park who were relegated despite finishing runners up the previous season (narrowly losing in the playoffs). Darlington Mowden Park would drop down to the newly named National League 3 North (previously North Division 1). The second relegated team, Halifax, were initial supposed to join Darlington Mowden Park in that division but due to financial difficulties the club decided to drop out of the national leagues and start as an amateur club in Yorkshire 6 - the lowest level the club could drop to.


2008–09 National Division Three North, Season records, Team
83 - 3  Leicester Lions at home to Halifax on 11 April 2009


2008–09 National Division Three North, Season records, Team
68 - 0  Kendal away to Bradford & Bingley on 9 May 2009


2008–09 National Division Three North, Season records, Team
Leicester Lions at home to Halifax on 11 April 2009


2008–09 National Division Three North, Season records, Team
Nuneaton at home to Macclesfield on 11 October 2008Nuneaton away to Bradford & Bingley on 29 November 2008


2008–09 National Division Three North, Season records, Player
Gareth Collins for Leicester Lions away to Bradford & Bingley on 7 March 2009 Gareth Collins for Leicester Lions at home to Halifax on 11 April 2009


2008–09 National Division Three North, Season records, Player
Jon Boden for Leicester Lions at home to Halifax on 11 April 2009


2008–09 National Division Three North, Season records, Player
Ross Winney for Macclesfield at home to Hull Ionians on 6 September 2008 Rickie Aley for Nuneaton away to Harrogate on 4 October 2008 Jon Benson for Darlington Mowden Park at home to Fylde on 7 March 2009


2008–09 National Division Three North, Season records, Player
Rickie Aley for Nuneaton at home to Macclesfield on 11 October 2008 Rickie Aley for Nuneaton away to Bradford & Bingley on 29 November 2008


2008–09 National Division Three North, Season records, Attendances
Fylde at home to Hull Ionians on 21 March 2009


2008–09 National Division Three North, Season records, Attendances
Loughborough Students at home to Huddersfield on 29 November 2008


2008–09 National Division Three South
The 2008–09 National Division Three South was the ninth and last season (22nd overall)  of the fourth division (south) of the English domestic rugby union competition using the name National Division Three South. The division was set to be re-branded National League 2 South for the following season due to an RFU reshuffle of the entire league system.


2008–09 National Division Three South
New teams to the division included Henley Hawks who were relegated from the 2007–08 National Division Two while promoted teams included Richmond (champions) and Worthing Raiders (playoffs) from London Division 1, Chinnor who returned after an absence of just one year as champions of South West Division 1 and finally Rugby Lions who were transferred from the 2008–09 National Division Three North to ensure that there was not an imbalance of teams between the two regional leagues.


2008–09 National Division Three South
The league system was 4 points for a win, 2 points for a draw and additional bonus points being awarded for scoring 4 or more tries and/or losing within 7 points of the victorious team. In terms of promotion the league champions would go straight up into what would be known as National League 1 from 2009-10 but unlike previous years, there would be no promotion playoff between the runners up of the division and the runners up of National Division Three North due to the league restructuring.


2008–09 National Division Three South
London Scottish finished the season as champions and clinched the only promotion spot to the (newly named) 2009–10 National League 1. The Richmond-based side had a fantastic season with only the one draw against Rugby Lions early on in the season blemishing what would have been a perfect record (this was achieved by Plymouth Albion back in the 2001-02 season).


2008–09 National Division Three South
Fellow Londoners, runners up Rosslyn Park had a good season which could have seen them champions on any other year but even they finished 22 points behind Scottish and did not have the consolation of  a playoff due to the league restructuring. The two relegation spots were filled by Havant, who were comfortably the worst team in the division (ending a five-year stay in National 3 South), and Chinnor, who went straight back down yet again but were much improved from their last time spent in the division. Havant would drop to National League 3 London & South East (formerly London Division 1) while Chinnor would drop to National League 3 South West (formerly South West Division 1).


2008–09 National Division Three South, Season records, Team
85 - 3 London Scottish at home to Rugby Lions on 21 March 2009


2008–09 National Division Three South, Season records, Team
71 - 13 London Scottish away to Worthing Raiders on 11 April 2009


2008–09 National Division Three South, Season records, Team
London Scottish at home to Barking on 6 December 2008


2008–09 National Division Three South, Season records, Team
Rugby Lions at home to Bridgwater & Albion on 6 September 2008Richmond at home to Lydney on 13 September 2008Lydney away to Henley Hawks on 29 November 2008


2008–09 National Division Three South, Season records, Team
Lydney at home to Worthing Raiders on 6 September 2008


2008–09 National Division Three South, Season records, Player
Ben Ward for Ealing Trailfinders at home to Lydney on 11 October 2008


2008–09 National Division Three South, Season records, Player
David Howells for Ealing Trailfinders away to Bridgwater & Albion on 29 November 2008


2008–09 National Division Three South, Season records, Player
James Brown for London Scottish at home to Barking on 6 December 2008