Game on!!!!

[bbor]

Wooohooo!!

Hockey is back tonight...for real!

Every NHL team is in action.

What game are you going to watch?

[Recoil]

http://img235.exs.cx/img235/750/whocares6pm.jpg

[Pumpy Tudors]

I just can't imagine the honor that must come with being the first person to shit on a hockey or soccer thread, but considering how many people come out of the woodwork to do so, it must rival knighthood.

Thanks for that. Really.

I'll be watching Penguins and Devils.

[VPI97]

What game are you going to watch?Is the NHL even televised any more? I'd watch the Thrashers if they were on TV, but I have no idea if they are or not.

[heybrad]

I'll flip back and forth between both the Kings and the Ducks.

[MizzouRah]

Blues - Redwings!!!

[gottimd]

I'll be watching Lost, and maybe flip back and forth at some point during the night to see how the crapitals are doing.

[moriarty]

Is the NHL even televised any more? I'd watch the Thrashers if they were on TV, but I have no idea if they are or not.

I think channels like the Outdoor Living Network & locals are carrying it.

[General Mike]

Rangers-Flyers, Devils-Pens, and Islanders-Sabres.

[rkmsuf]

I think channels like the Outdoor Living Network & locals are carrying it.

It's the Outdoor Life Network!

Get it right!

[gottimd]

"the" ninny

[HomerJSimpson]

Is the NHL even televised any more? I'd watch the Thrashers if they were on TV, but I have no idea if they are or not.


The Atlanta PAX station will be carrying Thrasher games.

[rkmsuf]

"the" ninny

Moose and Rocko will be by shortly for some attitude adjustment.

[sterlingice]

No local games so it's Flyers/Rangers for me

I'll PIP it with the Sox/Sox game but the sound and big screen will be the hockey game since Sox/Sox really is a lesser of two evils game.

SI

[Butter]

What are the rule changes I need to be looking out for? I may try to get into the Blue Jackets, since this is almost like a whole new league starting up in some ways.

I could research this, but I am lazy.

[gottimd]

Moose and Rocko will be by shortly for some attitude adjustment.I've got Jack Johnson and Tom O'Leary waiting for them, right here!

[sterlingice]

Here's the quick and dirty lowdown, straight from Canada:
http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story.asp?id=138786

NHL rule changes for 2005-06 season

http://images.tsn.ca/images/stories/20051003/nhlreferee_54114.jpg Canadian Press



10/5/2005 9:33:44 AM

NEW YORK (AP-CP) - A look at NHL rules changes, effective with the start of the 2005-06 season:

Shootout: Following a scoreless five-minute overtime, three players from each team participate in a shootout. Each team takes three shots. The team with the most goals after those six shots wins. If still tied, the shootout will advance to a sudden-death format, which ends when one team scores and the fails to do so. If a game is decided by a shootout, the final score will give the winning team one more goal than its opponent, based on the score at the end of overtime.

Lines: Two-line passes are now legal as the centre red line will be ignored for offsides purposes.

- The blue lines will be moved closer together to create an additional four feet in each of the offensive zones. That reduces the size of the neutral zone to 50 feet from 54 feet.

- Goal lines will be moved two feet, to 11 feet from the end boards.


<table align="right" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <!--drop width--><tbody><tr height="8"><td>
</td></tr><tr><td> <!-- Begin Ad --> <script type="text/javascript"> if(!sops){if(p.sops){var sops=p.sops;}else{var sops="";}} if(dUnitBox==true){boxAd=true;} if(boxAd){if((!dUnitSky)||(dUnitBox)){place300x250();}} </script> <!--- End Ad ---> </td></tr><tr><td> </td></tr> </tbody> </table> - The width of the blue lines and red line was unchanged.

- The tag-up offsides rule returns, allowing play to continue if offensive players who preceded the puck into the zone return to the blue line and tag it.

Goalies: The dimensions of goaltender equipment will be reduced by approximately 11 percent. In addition to a one-inch reduction (to 11 inches) in the width of leg pads, the blocking glove, upper-body protector, pants and jersey also will be reduced in size.

- Goalies using oversized equipment will be given a two-game suspension. Their teams will be fined $25,000 fine and the trainer will be docked $1,000.

- Goalies may play the puck behind the goal line only in a trapezoid-shaped area defined by lines that begin six feet from either goal post and extend diagonally to points 28 feet apart at the end boards.

Icing: A team that ices the puck cannot is not allowed to make a line change prior to the ensuing faceoff.

- Touch icing remains in effect but linesmen will be given more discretion to wave off infractions if they are deemed the result of a long, attempted pass.

Instigation Penalties: A player who instigates a fight in the final five minutes of a game will receive a game misconduct and an automatic one-game suspension. The length of suspension would double for each additional incident. The player's coach will be fined $10,000 US, a penalty that would double for each recurrence.

Officiating: Zero tolerance on interference, hooking and holding-obstruction.

- Goalies who play the puck behind the goal line but outside the designated puck-handling area will be called for delay of game. Goaltenders will be penalized for delay of game if they freeze the puck unnecessarily.

- Any player who shoots the puck directly over the glass in his defending zone will be penalized for delay of game. Previously only goalies were penalized for the infraction.

Unsportsmanlike Conduct: The league will review and assess fines to players who dive, embellish a fall or a reaction, or who fake injury in an attempt to draw penalties. The first such incident will bring on a warning letter; the second will result in a $1,000 US fine; the third will result in a $2,000 US fine; and the fourth will result in a one-game suspension.

- Public complaints or derogatory comments toward the game also will result in fines.

Competition Committee: Comprised of four NHL players, four general managers and one owner and is supervised by Colin Campbell, NHL director of hockey operations.

- The players are: Rob Blake (Colorado), Jarome Iginla (Calgary), Trevor Linden (Vancouver), and Brendan Shanahan (Detroit).

- The general managers are: Bob Gainey (Montreal), Kevin Lowe (Edmonton), David Poile (Nashville) and Don Waddell (Atlanta).

- The owner is Ed Snider (Philadelphia).

- Mike Gartner, the players' association's director of business operations, will provide input to the committee.


SI

[Sublime 2]

Lookin forward to some Bruins Hockey vs those hated Canadians.

[Butter]

So what are the hockey fans' feelings toward these new rules?

The shootout is going to suck, if you ask me... and it also sounds like the referees will be allowed to make a lot more judgment calls, which is also probably not a good thing.

Tag-up offsides sounds like it could be interesting.... I didn't know it had been a rule previously.

[Karlifornia]

I may watch Sharks vs. whoever if I'm not working

[moriarty]

It's the Outdoor Life Network!

Get it right!

C'mon like you've ever actually watched something on that channel. :p

[rkmsuf]

C'mon like you've ever actually watched something on that channel. :p

I don't even know if I have that channel.

[Chubby]

Sabres - Islanders!

[RendeR]

Lookin forward to some Bruins Hockey vs those hated Canadians.


Yer in for a long season if you like Bruins hockey, they can't just go out and beat the shit out of everyone and play the puck after they're all down anymore. They will have to actually PLAY hockey.

;)


I'll be watching the Sabres/Islanders game. First time in my life I've actually lived in the region that my favorite team is from. GO SABRES!

[RendeR]

So what are the hockey fans' feelings toward these new rules?

The shootout is going to suck, if you ask me... and it also sounds like the referees will be allowed to make a lot more judgment calls, which is also probably not a good thing.

Tag-up offsides sounds like it could be interesting.... I didn't know it had been a rule previously.


Actually I love all the new rules, especially the shootout. No more playing for a tie, there will always be a winner. The whole "play tough defense and get points for not trying to score" bullshit is gone. Every team will need shooters and quality goal scorers just in case it gets to the shootout.

Offense is what makes hockey exciting. The red-line trap was the worst invention the sport ever saw. Thank god for the changes!

[Honolulu_Blue]

Red Wings - Blues.

[Wolfpack]

It's the Outdoor Life Network!

Get it right!

Technically, you're still wrong. It's just "OLN" now. So there. :p

[MizzouRah]

Red Wings - Blues.
May your Red Wings trip on an octopus!

[Maple Leafs]

My guess is that I'll be watching the first 10 or 12 minutes of the Leafs/Sens game, then throwing my remote through my big screen TV and storming off to drink alone in my basement storage area.

[SackAttack]

I don't get OLN, so I doubt if I can watch my beloved Panthers. :(

[bbor]

My guess is that I'll be watching the first 10 or 12 minutes of the Leafs/Sens game, then throwing my remote through my big screen TV and storming off to drink alone in my basement storage area.

Fraser is doing the Leafs/Sens game??

:D

[Ramzavail]

I don't get OLN, so I doubt if I can watch my beloved Panthers. :(

Sunshine Network?

[henry296]

I don't get OLN, so I doubt if I can watch my beloved Panthers. :(

The only game on OLN tonight is Flyers-Rangers. The only way to watch the Panthers tonight is with Center Ice, which is a free preview this week; at least on DirecTV and Comcast.

[Travis]

I'll be in the stands for the Oilers/Avalanche game tonight.

As far as the rule changes, I'm curious to see how well they'll be called all year (obstruction) and how teams devise ways around some of them (trying to get off the ice on a change before the other team touches the puck for the icing call).

I personally don't like the lines governing where a goalie can play the puck, I'd much prefer for them to be fair game. It'd be the goalie's responsibility to be aware of the situation they'd be going into to play the puck and it would be relatively easy for the refs/the league to keep players from running the goalies through penalties/fines/suspensions. At least it *should* reduce the instances where goalies like Roy or Turco would play the puck, curl with it as a player approaches because they knew they couldn't be touched, then play the puck or the times they'd try to pick players going behind the net.

Touch up offside should be wonderful to have back and should eliminate a lot of whistles. Kind of surprised they didn't go to no touch icing and even introduced the referee's being able to wave off icing on a judgement call of an attempted pass. It'll be interesting to see that in effect especially with all the hail mary passes now that the red line is out.

I just hope the ref's call the game the way it's written now, and continue to call it that way all season and in the playoffs. I'd guess the first 1/4 to 1/3 of the season will be a tough pill to swallow with the extra penalties and slower pace, but after that, everybody should be into the flow of it and it should result in some excellent on ice product. I just pray they keep calling everything once they get to that point so we don't regress and sit through the early season crap for nothing.

Here's hoping the Oilers start it off right tonight and Hemsky notches a couple in the win ;)

[MizzouRah]

Please say hello to Pronger for me. :(

[Travis]

Heh, funny story on that one. Buddy of mine (Blade on these forums) has been a huge Pronger fan for years despite being a huge homer (re: Oilers) fan. The game in Edmonton 3 or 4 years ago when Ethan Moreau laid out Pronger nearly made the boy cry. Anyway, I heard on the radio at around 11:15 pm when they started announcing that Pronger had been traded here so I called him up (now normally, I wouldn't call after 10 to avoid ticking off his wife, but well, it was big news) and for the life of me, I could not convince him that I wasn't trying to trick him by telling him that the Oilers had brought in his favorite player. I think it took until nearly midnight for some online sources to get the news up and for him to believe me, and well, he still hasn't climbed down from the cloud he ended up on.

That all said, I wish we had sent you Jason Smith instead of Brewer. That kid may never be a true #1 defenseman on any team, but as a #2 he has proven to be incredible.

[sabotai]

Since the Flyers game is the local game for me, that's one I'll be watching. I'll take it. :)

[Young Drachma]

OLN Baby. Only avaiLable Nowhere!

[sterlingice]

OLN Baby. Only avaiLable Nowhere!
We get it in the bustling burg of Lawrence, KS. You people have no room to complain.

SI

[sachmo71]

go stars!

[JeeberD]

Go Oilers!

[sachmo71]

Go Oilers!


http://forums.footballguys.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/boxing.gif

[GoldenEagle]

Even if I wanted to watch Hockey tonight, I could not. No games are being televised in my area.

[sterlingice]

Hm.. I will miss the ESPN NHL music, tho :(

SI

[Joe Canadian]

Leafs/Sens on TSN... during breaks Habs/Bruins on RDS... then Yotes/Nucks later in the night also on TSN.

Lost & Invasion get the ol' Bittorrent after the games, I'll watch them Thursday.

[Honolulu_Blue]

Leafs/Sens on TSN... during breaks Habs/Bruins on RDS... then Yotes/Nucks later in the night also on TSN.

Lost & Invasion get the ol' Bittorrent after the games, I'll watch them Thursday.
That's why I love have two tuners for my TiVO. I can hapily watch many an exciting hockey game, while assured that Lost is being duly recorded.

[TazFTW]

Rangers/Flyers first. I was going to watch it on OLN but I just noticed it is also playing on inHD. I'll probably switch between the two channels to see if there's a difference in how the game is shot (kept reading about how OLN will zoom in more to eliminate the crowd).

After that the games that are on are Coyotes/Canucks (HDNet), Kings/Stars (FSNW), Ducks/Blackhawks (FSNW2). I'll focus more on Kings/Stars because Modano is my favorite player and hopefully the rule changes have given him some more space to work with. I'll switch over to Coyotes/Canucks every now and then because it is in HD. Mmmmm high def hockey...

[Joe Canadian]

That's why I love have two tuners for my TiVO. I can hapily watch many an exciting hockey game, while assured that Lost is being duly recorded.

Yeah, apparently TiVo is in Canada now... you just need to get the box from the States. But I'm not interested in the monthly fee... after Christmas I'll probably throw together a simple Entertainment PC, or buy a Hard Drive recorder.

[Joe Canadian]

Oh... I almost forgot.

GO LEAFS!!!!

PS - Even though I'll admit I'd rather the Sens roster... :(

[Young Drachma]

We get it in the bustling burg of Lawrence, KS. You people have no room to complain.

SI

Your school is bigger than the U of Wyoming, :)

[TazFTW]

The inHD feed of Rangers/Flyers is the same as OLN, just a lot nicer looking.

[Capital]

I have the Thrashers game on and there's a penalty almost in the first minute or a play that no one could see. I'm a huge hockey fan but the number of penalties could break the game.

[Chubby]

GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL

Lydman from the point on the PP :D

[Galaxy]

GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL

Lydman from the point on the PP :D

SWEET! Is Vanek up with the Sabres now? What number?

[Joe Canadian]

I'm a huge hockey fan but the number of penalties could break the game.

I don't care... every time they crack down on obstruction people complain about the large amount of penalties & the obstruction comes back. This time I don't care if the first month of NHL games are all played on the Power Play... this time they better not screw this crack down up.

[Galaxy]

Dola...

The attendence at the Sabres game looks like a mixed bag.

[TazFTW]

1-0 Rangers. Let's go Rangers!

[sterlingice]

I don't care... every time they crack down on obstruction people complain about the large amount of penalties & the obstruction comes back. This time I don't care if the first month of NHL games are all played on the Power Play... this time they better not screw this crack down up.
Exactly the same with me- I'll live with a couple of months of 15 PP games if it means they make it stick finally.

Eventually, some teams are going to get smart and realize to just not get tangled up, get half a game on the power play and start winning and then others will have to follow.

SI

[Chubby]

Vanek is playing, not sure what his number is off hand (commercial)

Briere just scored to give the Sabres a 2-1 lead :)

[Chubby]

Vanek is 26 and just drew a penalty :)

[Joe Canadian]

Puck drop in Toronto... oh do I love hockey! So far so AWESOME!!!!!!

[Pyser]

brodeur is on FIRE. and sidney who? parise leads him in career goals 1-0 so far! :)

[Joe Canadian]

GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Leafs up 1-0!!!!

[Joe Canadian]

Alex O has his first goal as well....

[Joe Canadian]

Woot... Sundin looks like he just got hit in the eye...

[Ryan S]

NHL.com has free streaming audio if anyone is interested. I have no idea if they plan to keep this up all season or if it is just an opening night thing.

http://www.nhl.com/radio/index.html

[TazFTW]

Nice goal by Mike Richards and Jagr committed that dumbest penalty ever.

[sterlingice]

The crazy thing about htis game is that I think Philly has only had 1 PP. Never would have bet the under on that one.

SI

[TazFTW]

Philly has had a lot of PPs. This is the third 5 on 3 they've had.

[Schmidty]

Lalime looks TERRIBLE for the Blues.

4-1 Red Wings in the 2nd period.

[Joe Canadian]

Yeah, so even if I wanted to watch Lost... the damn Sox game is on my ABC station... stupid Boston and their damn love of the Red Sox!!!

[sterlingice]

Here in KC, with stuff like that, they'll show stuff at 2 or 3 in the morning so if you don't want to miss this week's stuff, look at your local listings.

SI

[Wolfpack]

I can vouch that the Center Ice package is running free right now on Comcast Digital. I currently have the Canes-'Ning game on (4-2 TB...grr....).

[Critch]

Bah, first Caps game of the season blacked out in the DC area for DirecTV. DirecTV blame Comcast as CSN (the regional sports network here) controls blackouts, Comcast are blaming the Caps, claim the Caps requested a blackout as there were unsold tickets. Good way to win fans.

[Joe Canadian]

Pierre just named the firs 40-year old MONSTER!!! The EAGLE!!

[Chubby]

The Sabres have never trailed ALL SEASON!!! :D

6-4 final Buffalo. Miller gave up 1 bad goal, the others were good shots or stupid turnovers by the D. Vanek had a really good 3rd period, decent game with 1 A. 2 goals for Briere and Afinigenov

[DaddyTorgo]

Painful Bruins loss there. Gave up the PP goal to lose the game with 11 seconds left in regulation!

[henry296]

1st point for Crosby on a good play coming out from the corner and setting up Recchi on the doorstop.

Brodeur solid as Pens 1-10 on PP.

[RPI-Fan]

The Sabres have never trailed ALL SEASON!!! :D

6-4 final Buffalo. Miller gave up 1 bad goal, the others were good shots or stupid turnovers by the D. Vanek had a really good 3rd period, decent game with 1 A. 2 goals for Briere and Afinigenov

We played terrible tonight. DiPietro was totally unfocused, and Satan played like a huge pussy. Zhitnik & Sopel were the only guys who had good games for us, IMO.

[TazFTW]

Jagr is god!

[TazFTW]

dola

5-3 Rangers!!!

[Chubby]

We played terrible tonight. DiPietro was totally unfocused, and Satan played like a huge pussy. Zhitnik & Sopel were the only guys who had good games for us, IMO.
He only got blasted into the boards a couple of times ;) Have fun waiting him to get out of his "coast mode". He likes to score empty netters and garabage goals that don't matter.

[Logan]

Can't believe the Rangers pulled out a 5-3 victory.

I didn't think they would score 5 goals in October.

[Joe Canadian]

Yeah, so even if I wanted to watch Lost... the damn Sox game is on my ABC station... stupid Boston and their damn love of the Red Sox!!!

Ha BoSox lost... take that Boston, don't screw with Lost again!!!

[JeeberD]

Wow, the Stars are trying to make this a game...

[RPI-Fan]

He only got blasted into the boards a couple of times ;) Have fun waiting him to get out of his "coast mode". He likes to score empty netters and garabage goals that don't matter.

BTW, forgot to say, great win! Briere, Vaken, and Kotalik played like mofo's... looks like you guys have a good squad up there.

[RPI-Fan]

Can't believe the Rangers pulled out a 5-3 victory.

I didn't think they would score 5 goals in October.

Guy at work is a HUGE Flyers & Red Sox fan... and gets very moody at times.

So I say to him this morning, "what are you going to be like if the Flyers AND the Sox lose?"... he goes "hopefully for your sake you won't have to find out."

:D

[Chubby]

BTW, forgot to say, great win! Briere, Vaken, and Kotalik played like mofo's... looks like you guys have a good squad up there.
Well there were some lapses (that crap goal by Z) but for the most part I think it was a solid effort all the way around tonight. Hopefully we'll make it 2 in a row against the Bs on friday.

[CHEMICAL SOLDIER]

Will Sidney Crosbie live up or is he pure hype? Oh and it seems there really are more scoring. About a 2 gpg increase.

[Simms]

TSN's Pierre Maguire after a big hit by Eric Lindros:

"This is the most emotion we've seen him play with this whole season."

[Logan]

Will Sidney Crosbie live up or is he pure hype?

Well, he's on pace for 82 points right now.

Can we let him play more than one game? :)

[Joe Canadian]

Ok, I hated Lindros before... but now he's the man!!! :D

[Joe Canadian]

Cuthbert is doing the second game on TSN with Glen Healey... I forgot the CBC fired him. Arrghh how I hate CBC management!!!!

[sachmo71]

Wow, kings really jumped on the Stars early, but they're fighting back.
JR has 2, Arnott has 1, Zubov has 2 I think.

Wide open hockey...not for the feint of heart.

[bbor]

Jagr is god!


Must be a contract year for him.

[sachmo71]

GUERIN!!!!

[Joe Canadian]

First shoot-out... Leafs\Sens.

[Simms]

Shootout!

[Chubby]

First shoot-out... Leafs\Sens.
hopefully they tie :p

[Joe Canadian]

Sens win...

FWIW, the Leafs, IMO, outplayed the Sens most of the game.

[sachmo71]

BOUCHER!!!

[Wolfpack]

Having seen a live shoot-out with marbles actually on the table, I have to say, "Eh." I think the SO would have more weight if the loser didn't collect a point for just making it.

It could also be the fact that Toronto whiffed on both chances so the crowd didn't celebrate or that it was opening night instead of a week left in the season, but there wasn't this tingly sort of tension like it was life-or-death.

[Maple Leafs]

Leafs do not have the snipers to win a shootout without Sundin. Allison looked awful, he might as well have crawled in.

Solid game for Toronto, given that everyone assumed that the younger, more-skilled Sens would bury them in the "new" NHL. To lose your best player and still get a point is nice, although it would be nicer to take two when you're up with 90 seconds left.

[sachmo71]

STARS WIN 5-4!!

Man, did I miss hockey.

[sachmo71]

dola..WTF, Manny?


Oct 5 Dwayne Roloson will be getting the start Wednesday against the Flames, according to the Pioneer Press. Fernandez was supposed to start Wednesday but injured his back and neck toweling off in the shower.
Recommendation: Fernandez and Roloson will be splitting time equally again this season, though Roloson looks like he'll get more time this week due to the freak injury.

[NoSkillz]

We played terrible tonight. DiPietro was totally unfocused, and Satan played like a huge pussy. Zhitnik & Sopel were the only guys who had good games for us, IMO.

Interesting you say this...

I just got back from the game. DiPietro was the ONLY reason they were in the game. He was named second star and rightfully deserved it...the save he made on Connolly was SICK!

It was an EXTREMELY entertaining game to see live. The announced attendance was a little under 16,000 so it was certainly a mixed bag. People definitely missed out on an 'edge of your seat' type of game.

The Sabres looked really solid overall, especially the forwards. Vanek was really dangerous all game. I can't believe I'm saying this but Tim Connolly was excellent tonight - no points but he played a super hockey game...a definite positive for the Sabres. The depth at forward that they have, with the ability to throw out three really dangerous lines with speed will cause havoc for the opposition this year.

Buffalo's defense was a bit shaky though. Lydman and Numminen weren't as sharp as usual tonight. Miller was REALLY shaky tonight. He came out to the ice about five minutes before the rest of the team...he must have been really nervous. He certainly lost his focus at times. The Zhitnik goal was horrible and could have really broke the Sabres...thankfully they came right back and scored 45 seconds later to retake the two goal lead. Miller will have to be better than that if the Sabres are to contend for a playoff berth.

Overall though, a great first game...lots of offense, the crowd was ROCKING, and everyone (except my Islander fan buddy) goes home happy.

Man I'm so happy hockey is back! :D

[Cards4ever]

I hate the shootout, love the other rule changes, made for much better hockey in the games I watched.

[st.cronin]

I am not a fan of the shootout; I understand not wanting ties, but I think shootouts are silly and would have preferred no-limit OT. I also don't really get the point of the goalie trapezoid.

The other rules all get 2 thumbs up, especially the 2-line pass.

[Galaxy]

I am not a fan of the shootout; I understand not wanting ties, but I think shootouts are silly and would have preferred no-limit OT. I also don't really get the point of the goalie trapezoid.

The other rules all get 2 thumbs up, especially the 2-line pass.
Can you imagine 2 or 3 20-minute overtime periods? No thanks. In the playoffs, of course. But not during the regular season.

[st.cronin]

Can you imagine 2 or 3 20-minute overtime periods? No thanks. In the playoffs, of course. But not during the regular season.

Well obviously I love hockey more than you.

[Schmidty]

Well obviously I love hockey more than you.

I love hockey and I think the shootout is great to watch and great for the game as a whole.

[Cards4ever]

I am not a fan of the shootout; I understand not wanting ties, but I think shootouts are silly and would have preferred no-limit OT. I also don't really get the point of the goalie trapezoid.

The other rules all get 2 thumbs up, especially the 2-line pass.

There is no reason for a no limit OT during the regular season.

[bbor]

I still wish icing was no touch....and the fact that teams can't change their lines when they are guilty of icing is a bit ridiculas.

[Galaxy]

Well obviously I love hockey more than you.

All hail the hockey king.....

[riz]

Hey guys, how about them Rangers ? :D

[Tekneek]

I have the Thrashers game on and there's a penalty almost in the first minute or a play that no one could see. I'm a huge hockey fan but the number of penalties could break the game.

The penalties will stop when the players follow the rules. I watched some of lots of games last night and did not see a bad penalty call.

[Tekneek]

I still wish icing was no touch....and the fact that teams can't change their lines when they are guilty of icing is a bit ridiculas.

Wha? That's awesome. I love that touch. You should not derive a benefit from icing the puck. It should be discouraged more than just having the faceoff in your zone. When the Oilers were swarming over the Avs last night, the Avalanche iced it a few times in a row and were stuck with the same guys out there. You have to use skill to buy yourself a line change, not a flip pass to the end of the ice.

[Tekneek]

I am not a fan of the shootout; I understand not wanting ties, but I think shootouts are silly and would have preferred no-limit OT. I also don't really get the point of the goalie trapezoid.

The other rules all get 2 thumbs up, especially the 2-line pass.

I would have preferred no regular season OT. If you're going to have it, stop giving points for losing. If you're going to have OT and a shootout, it should be like this:

3 points for a regulation win
2 points for a overtime win
1 point for a shootout win
0 points for losing

[Honolulu_Blue]

I am not a fan of the shootout; I understand not wanting ties, but I think shootouts are silly and would have preferred no-limit OT. I also don't really get the point of the goalie trapezoid.

The other rules all get 2 thumbs up, especially the 2-line pass.
No-limit OT games would make no sense in the regular season. There are 82 freaking games. It would grind the players down to nothing and I don't think most fans would be thrilled if game 58 in mid-Feburary went into 4 extra periods. During the play-offs? Yes. Regular season? No.

I didn't mind the shootout. I don't love it, but it's fine. I just kept thinking: "Would I prefer the Ottawa/Toronto game to end as a 2-2 tie, or would I have rather watched Lindros vs. Hasek, Heatly v. Belfour, etc." I think the response is pretty obvious.

[Maple Leafs]

The shootout is a bad idea -- it's a gimmick, meant to create some aritificial excitement at the expense of the integrity of the game. It's really no different than a home-run hitting contest in baseball. Even the NHL seems to realize it's a terrible way to end an important game, which is why they won't use it during the post-season -- but at some point this year, some team is going to lose a crucial game because of the shootout, and that will be a shame.

That said... the NHL game has become so deadly dull recently, and the game has lost so many fans, that I concede that we just need to bite the bullet and accept it. Artificial, gimmicky excitement is better than none at all.

[sachmo71]

Hey guys, how about them Rangers ? :D


I have Jagr on my fantasy team, so...WHOOT!!

I just don't know if Weeks is ever going to be a difference-making starting goaltender.

[sachmo71]

The shootout is a bad idea -- it's a gimmick, meant to create some aritificial excitement at the expense of the integrity of the game. It's really no different than a home-run hitting contest in baseball. Even the NHL seems to realize it's a terrible way to end an important game, which is why they won't use it during the post-season -- but at some point this year, some team is going to lose a crucial game because of the shootout, and that will be a shame.

That said... the NHL game has become so deadly dull recently, and the game has lost so many fans, that I concede that we just need to bite the bullet and accept it. Artificial, gimmicky excitement is better than none at all.

I like the shootout, and don't think the excitement of a shootout is artificial. It will take a while for older fans to get used to it, but I think it will stay.

[MizzouRah]

That all said, I wish we had sent you Jason Smith instead of Brewer. That kid may never be a true #1 defenseman on any team, but as a #2 he has proven to be incredible.
He scored our only goal!!! Go Brewer!!

[Honolulu_Blue]

He scored our only goal!!! Go Brewer!!
Yeah, the, uh, Blues really didn't look all that good last night. Well, they will have a shot at revenge tonight.

[Honolulu_Blue]

here are a few quick thoughts on the opener.

1. Man did the Blues look bad. It was a nice goal and that's exactly what
they were hoping to get out of Brewer. Other than that moment, they looked horrible. They had no speed. The Wings were out working them and getting to every open puck. It was pretty brutal. 13 shots on goal? 2 or 3 in the second? Poor. Even their power-play looked bad. They have Weight, Stay-Puff Keith, Cjanek, Brewer, and... ? They just don't have anyone that's all that dangerous. They will be better than they showed last night (especially if they get better play out of their goalie), but that was
pretty bad.

2. I liked the hustle I saw out of the Wings. It's tough to say if it's
Babcock, the excitement of a new season, some new, young hungry guys, or
what, but the Wings really looked like they were flying out there and
working hard to get every puck. It's something that I just felt we didn't
see much out of the team a couple years back.

3. Dan Cleary. This guy had a great game. He was everywhere. He always
seemed to be in a position to make a play and then made the play. Too bad
he didn't get a goal, but I really liked what I saw from this kid. If he
can keep playing like that all season he'll be a fan favorite for sure.

4. Johan Franzen. A great piece of back-checking late in the game. Unlike
Cleary, he seemed to be in a position to make a play on many occassions, but just didn't seem to make it. Missed some passes, made some bad passes, etc. It's his first NHL game, I think he'll be fine, but it wasn't as impressive
a debut as Cleary.

5. Speaking of the new guys, it's fun to have a team with some new, younger faces in the line-up. It's been a while since we've seen a Wings team like this. Cleary, Lebda, Samuelsson, Lilja, Franzen, etc.

6. It was odd to see that at some point the Wings power-play unit consisted
of: Lebda, Williams, Samuellson, Lang, and Holmstrom. The last two make
sense, but the first three are a clear indicator that this is an new era.
You can't argue with the results, but it's a far cry from having Hull and
Robitaille out there.

7. The new rules. The game looked fine to me. Maybe two or three
ticky-tack calls, but the game was fast, there were some good hits, some
good action. All in all I was pretty happy with what I saw out there.
Granted a 5-1 shallacking of the Blues probably had a little to do with it.

8. NHL Center Ice Package. There is no downside to this. Started the
evening watching Pitt/NJ to check out Crosby. Switched over to the
Wings/Blues game at 7:30. Between periods I kept busy with the
Ottawa/Toronto game. I saw the end of that one and then flipped over to
watch my TiVO'd episode of "Lost" and finished off with a night-cap of
Colorado/Edmonton. Good times...

[Logan]

I have Jagr on my fantasy team, so...WHOOT!!

I just don't know if Weeks is ever going to be a difference-making starting goaltender.

He doesn't need to be. He just needs to hold the fort until Lundqvist is ready.

[sterlingice]

Glad to see we got our money's worth you @#$@#ing, @#$#@$ing @$@#$@s in the front office! Nooo... that money wouldn't have been better spent elsewhere and let Thibault stay in the net.

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tbody><tr class="yspsctbg"><td colspan="7" class="ysptblhdr" height="18">Chicago </td> </tr> <tr class="ysptblthbody1" align="right"> <td class="yspdetailttl" align="left" height="18" width="35%"> Goalies</td> <td width="11%"> </td> <td width="10%"> </td> <td width="10%"> </td> <td class="yspdetailttl" width="10%">Shots</td> <td width="14%"> </td> <td class="yspdetailttl" width="10%">Saves </td> </tr> <tr class="ysprow1" align="right"> <td colspan="4" class="yspscores" align="left" nowrap="nowrap"> N. Khabibulin (http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/players/1174) </td> <td class="yspscores">24</td> <td class="yspscores"> </td> <td class="yspscores">19 </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="7" height="7">
</td></tr></tbody> </table>

SI

[Joe Canadian]

The shootout is a bad idea -- it's a gimmick, meant to create some aritificial excitement at the expense of the integrity of the game. It's really no different than a home-run hitting contest in baseball. Even the NHL seems to realize it's a terrible way to end an important game, which is why they won't use it during the post-season -- but at some point this year, some team is going to lose a crucial game because of the shootout, and that will be a shame.

That said... the NHL game has become so deadly dull recently, and the game has lost so many fans, that I concede that we just need to bite the bullet and accept it. Artificial, gimmicky excitement is better than none at all.

I used to agree with everything you said, now I can't disagree more strongly. It's amazingly fun to watch, it's exciting, and it gives the game some closure... who wants a game to end in a tie?

[Joe Canadian]

3. Dan Cleary. This guy had a great game. He was everywhere. He always
seemed to be in a position to make a play and then made the play. Too bad
he didn't get a goal, but I really liked what I saw from this kid. If he
can keep playing like that all season he'll be a fan favorite for sure.

Good to see Cleary had a good night... with that game and Ryder's winning goal, it was a good night all around for me fellow Newfoundlanders!

[DeToxRox]

One note I have..

Alexander Ovechkin has the look of a consistent 35-40 goal scorer.

Even though they were one timers, his release is deadly. It's one of the quickest in the game already. The puck jumps off his stick. This kid has it all offensivley and I cannot wait to keep seeing him play.

[Cards4ever]

I would have preferred no regular season OT. If you're going to have it, stop giving points for losing. If you're going to have OT and a shootout, it should be like this:

3 points for a regulation win
2 points for a overtime win
1 point for a shootout win
0 points for losing

I like this idea too.

[Butter]

As a hockey layman, I watched the end of the Blue Jackets/Caps game (and if you go 0 for 8 on the power play, you deserve to lose), then watched the end of the Leafs/Sens game... and found the shootout a total let down. It didn't create any excitement, it seemed to sort of artificially create a winner out of a game that probably should've rightfully ended with each team getting a point out of it. I found the mechanics of the shootout itself to be tedious and lacking excitement.

[RendeR]

Teams get a point for a shootout loss because they earned that point by playing to a tie through a full game plus 5 minute overtime. The shootout allows every game to have a winner and a loser and earns the team winning the shootout an extra point. This forces teams to focus on building their puck handling skills which will make for better players overall throughout the league.

No matter how much of a purist you are as a hockey fan you must realize that this league is still in serious danger and they must entertain the fans. the Vast majority of fans do NOT want to see a tie, ever and this is one way to guarentee they don't. Call it a gimmick if you want, but its more like pennicillin to an infected patient, its going to help save him.

[Maple Leafs]

Here's something that's bugging me after the Leafs game...

These players had a year off. Some of them stayed home and kept in shape by skating locally. Others went off to Europe to play in other leagues. Those leagues were important, but not at the level of the NHL -- they were a chance to keep in game shape and stay active, not much more than that.

So here's my question: why in the world would you not use that year as an opportunity to try out a visor?

I'm tired of these players trying a visor during the morning skate and then deciding they don't like it after 15 minutes. It takes getting used to, no question, and it does seem strange when you first try it. So why not give it three months when you're playing in a lower stakes league or skating with your buddies? See if you can get used to it.

In six years, the Leafs have had too many scary eye injuries to count. Ever since Berard got his eyeball carved out by Hossa, they can't go two months without someone having a near miss. And yet they refuse to wear shields. It's ridiculous.

I understand that the tough guys don't feel they can wear them. If Tie Domi or Wade Belak don't think they can do their job with a shield, fine. But there's zero reason for Mats Sundin or Tomas Kaberle or even Eric Lindros not to wear one. These guys are getting paid millions of dollars, we have our whole lineup built around them, and they refuse to protect themselves. You could make a very good argument that Sundin's injury cost the Leafs the game last night, and it was completely avoidable.

And now we have kids like Colaiacovo who have worn visors their whole career coming to Toronto and taking them off. I love old-time hockey and I'm as much a chest-thumping, Don Cherry-loving neandrathal as the next guy, but this macho crap has got to end. I'm tired of seeing Leafs rolling around on the ice with blood spurting out of their eyes. Enough is enough.

[Joe Canadian]

In six years, the Leafs have had too many scary eye injuries to count. Ever since Berard got his eyeball carved out by Hossa, they can't go two months without someone having a near miss. And yet they refuse to wear shields. It's ridiculous.

To be fair, if Berard had been wearing a visor the injury to his eye could have been a lot worse, because Hossa's stick would have been caught up inside the shield.

I understand that the tough guys don't feel they can wear them. If Tie Domi or Wade Belak don't think they can do their job with a shield, fine. But there's zero reason for Mats Sundin or Tomas Kaberle or even Eric Lindros not to wear one. These guys are getting paid millions of dollars, we have our whole lineup built around them, and they refuse to protect themselves. You could make a very good argument that Sundin's injury cost the Leafs the game last night, and it was completely avoidable.

I agree 100%. Sundin has missed around 30 games in his 10+ years with the Leafs... and the majority of those injuries have been injuries to his face.

And now we have kids like Colaiacovo who have worn visors their whole career coming to Toronto and taking them off. I love old-time hockey and I'm as much a chest-thumping, Don Cherry-loving neandrathal as the next guy, but this macho crap has got to end. I'm tired of seeing Leafs rolling around on the ice with blood spurting out of their eyes. Enough is enough.

Don Cherry is an ass & I'm sick of his prejudice crap on TV, but I do agree the rest of that statement.

[Maple Leafs]

To be fair, if Berard had been wearing a visor the injury to his eye could have been a lot worse, because Hossa's stick would have been caught up inside the shield.
That's possible. Not to go off on a tangent, but the Berard thing was probably the most extreme case of careless stick swinging you'll ever see in the NHL, yet it's been essentially forgotten. I have Sens fans up here today telling me that Allison is a jerk for accidentally whacking the linesman with his stick, yet they don't even remember what Hossa did. I wonder if that contributes to the eye problem we see today in some way -- that a guy can lose complete control and swing his stick like a golf club, blind a player, and we all just shrug and say "it wasn't intentional, so let's just forget about it".

[Joe Canadian]

That's possible. Not to go off on a tangent, but the Berard thing was probably the most extreme case of careless stick swinging you'll ever see in the NHL, yet it's been essentially forgotten. I have Sens fans up here today telling me that Allison is a jerk for accidentally whacking the linesman with his stick, yet they don't even remember what Hossa did. I wonder if that contributes to the eye problem we see today in some way -- that a guy can lose complete control and swing his stick like a golf club, blind a player, and we all just shrug and say "it wasn't intentional, so let's just forget about it".

I'm still amazed that linesman & refs don't where full face shields... it's not like they're going to be going one on one with Domi.

[Galaxy]

The shootout is a bad idea -- it's a gimmick, meant to create some aritificial excitement at the expense of the integrity of the game. It's really no different than a home-run hitting contest in baseball. Even the NHL seems to realize it's a terrible way to end an important game, which is why they won't use it during the post-season -- but at some point this year, some team is going to lose a crucial game because of the shootout, and that will be a shame.

That said... the NHL game has become so deadly dull recently, and the game has lost so many fans, that I concede that we just need to bite the bullet and accept it. Artificial, gimmicky excitement is better than none at all.

Big difference between using it in the post-season and regular season. Many of the teams in Europe and international competition use it. It's not a "new" concept. If a team loses, then don't they deserve to lose it? If anything, it puts pressure on the keeper and the shooters.

[Tekneek]

Teams get a point for a shootout loss because they earned that point by playing to a tie through a full game plus 5 minute overtime. The shootout allows every game to have a winner and a loser and earns the team winning the shootout an extra point. This forces teams to focus on building their puck handling skills which will make for better players overall throughout the league.

It would mean a lot more if you got no points for losing the shootout.

[Pumpy Tudors]

It would mean a lot more if you got no points for losing the shootout.
It's not enough for the shootout to "create" a winner? Now they should create a loser, too? It's absolutely not fair for two teams to play a relatively even game for 65 minutes and then have a team leave with no points, especially after they've stopped playing "full" hockey and are deciding the final score based on a wireframe version of the game. The teams played even hockey through regulation and overtime. I like that they're splitting the two points between the teams and using the shootout as a bonus point. If they're going to do a shootout, I think it's the best system.

I'm still not sold on the shootout, but I don't think it's terrible. Personally, I never had a problem with ties in the regular season, but I didn't mind the NHL the way it was either. However, I understand that there aren't enough people like me to keep the league afloat, especially with the old CBA that was in place. I accept the changes. I don't really like the NHL any more or less than before based on the first night of action. It is what it is, and I still enjoy it.

I'm glad it's back.

[st.cronin]

No-limit OT games would make no sense in the regular season. There are 82 freaking games. It would grind the players down to nothing and I don't think most fans would be thrilled if game 58 in mid-Feburary went into 4 extra periods. During the play-offs? Yes. Regular season? No.

I didn't mind the shootout. I don't love it, but it's fine. I just kept thinking: "Would I prefer the Ottawa/Toronto game to end as a 2-2 tie, or would I have rather watched Lindros vs. Hasek, Heatly v. Belfour, etc." I think the response is pretty obvious.

It's not that no-limit OT makes no sense in the regular season - it's that it makes NO sense to have 2 different sets of rules for regular season vs. playoffs. I know lots of folks uncomfortable with a shootout in the playoffs, but are just fine with it in the regular season. Of course, that's because the regular season is pretty much pointless and TOO LONG. It's one of the problems they DIDN'T address.

Anyway, how long does OT go more than 1 period in the playoffs? It really wouldn't be that big an issue during the regular season.

[Honolulu_Blue]

It's not that no-limit OT makes no sense in the regular season - it's that it makes NO sense to have 2 different sets of rules for regular season vs. playoffs. I know lots of folks uncomfortable with a shootout in the playoffs, but are just fine with it in the regular season. Of course, that's because the regular season is pretty much pointless and TOO LONG. It's one of the problems they DIDN'T address.

Anyway, how long does OT go more than 1 period in the playoffs? It really wouldn't be that big an issue during the regular season.
There already were 2 different sets of rules for the regular season vs. playoffs. It's been that way since I've started watchings hockey. It used to be: 5 minutes of OT in the regular season (with the game ending in a tie if no one scores after those 5 minutes or the team who scores first wins) and unlimited OT in the playoffs. I see no problem at all and it makes perfect sense to have different set of rules.

[Joe Canadian]

It's not that no-limit OT makes no sense in the regular season

No... no-limit OT makes no sence in the regular season. The amount of games that go a full OT period or longer would kill the players... and do you really think fans would be prepared to go to a hockey game, and have the possibility that the game may not end until 2-3 AM the next day? It's one thing for it to happen once and a while during the playoffs, but to have that possibility there all season, would suck.

There's always been two different sets of rules regarding OT in the playoffs and regular season... this year they've just changed the regular season rules up a bit.

No-limit OT in the regular season will NEVER happen. The league doesn't want it, the players don't want it, and the fans don't want it.

[Schmidty]

5. Speaking of the new guys, it's fun to have a team with some new, younger faces in the line-up. It's been a while since we've seen a Wings team like this. Cleary, Lebda, Samuelsson, Lilja, Franzen, etc.

Was it just me, or did Lebda seem faster than anyone else on the ice at times (except maybe Draper)? I didn't know much about him before the game, so I was very suprised by his speed. Maybe we won't miss Dandenault so much after all.

[Pumpy Tudors]

Anyway, how long does OT go more than 1 period in the playoffs? It really wouldn't be that big an issue during the regular season.
Say what?

Even one multiple-overtime game in the regular season would make it a huge issue, and when you have every team playing 82 games apiece, it's pretty likely that it would happen several times.

[st.cronin]

No-limit OT in the regular season will NEVER happen. The league doesn't want it, the players don't want it, and the fans don't want it.

I know that. I am an eccentric.

[RPI-Fan]

I LOVED the idea of 4-on-4 overtime for 4 minutes, 3-on-3 for 3 minutes, 2-on-2 til there's a winner. I wonder why it didn't get more play... can't see a huge downside to it. Takes the "winner and loser" factor, and applies it to the spirit of the game.

[Schmidty]

I LOVED the idea of 4-on-4 overtime for 4 minutes, 3-on-3 for 3 minutes, 2-on-2 til there's a winner. I wonder why it didn't get more play... can't see a huge downside to it. Takes the "winner and loser" factor, and applies it to the spirit of the game.

The downside to it is that it greatly increases the chance for injuries in the regular season. Just not worth it.

[RPI-Fan]

The downside to it is that it greatly increases the chance for injuries in the regular season. Just not worth it.

? How's that?

[Schmidty]

? How's that?

Because the more overtimes you play, the more tired the players get, which increases the chance for injuries.

[RPI-Fan]

Because the more overtimes you play, the more tired the players get, which increases the chance for injuries.

Yea' those extra 2-5 minutes are really going to devastate players.

[Schmidty]

Yea' those extra 2-5 minutes are really going to devastate players.

Was that SARCASM?!?!?!?!?!

How dare you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[RPI-Fan]

Was that SARCASM?!?!?!?!?!

How dare you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(Change of topic) -- what team are you?

[Schmidty]

(Change of topic) -- what team are you?

What team am I a fan of? Die hard Wing fan.

[RPI-Fan]

What team am I a fan of? Die hard Wing fan.

Ugh.

[Maple Leafs]

It's not enough for the shootout to "create" a winner? Now they should create a loser, too? Well... yeah. That's kind of the point. This isn't kindergarten, if someone's a winner than someone else should be the loser. It's not just the shootout -- I feel the same way about overtime. This "bonus point" stuff is a bad idea.

I just find it kind of silly that the NHL played 15 games last night -- they gave out two points for 14 of them, and three points for OTT/TOR. Why? Was that game somehow more important? Is it fair to the rest of the Northeast that two teams got to split up more points than anyone else did? At least OTT/TOR had some action at the end of regulation -- most times, all the OT system does is encourage the teams in a tie game to shut it down for the last half of the third period so they don't risk their freebie point.

I'm just kind of big into this whole "zero sum" concept when it comes to sports. I win, you lose. Or we tie, and split it down the middle. If you absolutely can't handle ties in hockey, then I'd prefer the three-point system that Tekneek mentioned. That makes sense to me. (I know people complain that the point totals won't match up with previous years, but I'm pretty sure we have computers these days that can do the complex job of multiplying the old records by 1.5.)

[Schmidty]

Ugh.

I'm suprised you didn't know that? I've only been in WA for a year and a half.

[RPI-Fan]

...

I'm just kind of big into this whole "zero sum" concept when it comes to sports. I win, you lose. Or we tie, and split it down the middle. If you absolutely can't handle ties in hockey, then I'd prefer the three-point system that Tekneek mentioned. That makes sense to me. (I know people complain that the point totals won't match up with previous years, but I'm pretty sure we have computers these days that can do the complex job of multiplying the old records by 1.5.)

IWS

[Joe Canadian]

Well... yeah. That's kind of the point. This isn't kindergarten, if someone's a winner than someone else should be the loser. It's not just the shootout -- I feel the same way about overtime. This "bonus point" stuff is a bad idea.

I just find it kind of silly that the NHL played 15 games last night -- they gave out two points for 14 of them, and three points for OTT/TOR. Why? Was that game somehow more important? Is it fair to the rest of the Northeast that two teams got to split up more points than anyone else did? At least OTT/TOR had some action at the end of regulation -- most times, all the OT system does is encourage the teams in a tie game to shut it down for the last half of the third period so they don't risk their freebie point.

I'm just kind of big into this whole "zero sum" concept when it comes to sports. I win, you lose. Or we tie, and split it down the middle. If you absolutely can't handle ties in hockey, then I'd prefer the three-point system that Tekneek mentioned. That makes sense to me. (I know people complain that the point totals won't match up with previous years, but I'm pretty sure we have computers these days that can do the complex job of multiplying the old records by 1.5.)

You know what would be even more awesome? Since there are no longer ties, why can't the standings just be based of winning percentage?

[Maple Leafs]

You know what would be even more awesome? Since there are no longer ties, why can't the standings just be based of winning percentage?But then it wouldn't be nine columns long! Come on, man, you don't want to be sitting in a bar twenty years from now reminicsing about the time your team went 25-14-5-6-1-4-8--1/2-9?

(Besides, it lets the NHL be the first league to have the brutally honest stat category: "SOL")

[Joe Canadian]

But then it wouldn't be nine columns long! Come on, man, you don't want to be sitting in a bar twenty years from now reminicsing about the time your team went 25-14-5-6-1-4-8--1/2-9?

(Besides, it lets the NHL be the first league to have the brutally honest stat category: "SOL")

You lost me... if the league went by winning %, the only columns would be W-L-%

[Maple Leafs]

You lost me... if the league went by winning %, the only columns would be W-L-%
Right.

(As opposed to the lotto results the standings resemble now.)

[Chubby]

You lost me... if the league went by winning %, the only columns would be W-L-%
which wouldn't work since you still get 1 pt for losing a shootout

[Joe Canadian]

which wouldn't work since you still get 1 pt for losing a shootout

But if they went to that system they would just go by wins & loses... there wouldn't be any pts awarded for losing in a shootout. You either win or you loose... just like baseball and basketball.

[st.cronin]

One thing I wish they had done (but they won't because it will decrease scoring) is more tightly enforce the crease in some way. I am not a fan of all the wrestling that goes on in front of the goal.

[Joe Canadian]

One thing I wish they had done (but they won't because it will decrease scoring) is more tightly enforce the crease in some way. I am not a fan of all the wrestling that goes on in front of the goal.

Yeah, cause that worked the last time they tried it! :D

In all seriousness, I love the battles that go on in front of the net... and the shoving after the whistle, it's part of establishing your game if your a PF.

[Maple Leafs]

They actually have changed the rules in front of the net. Or more specifically, they've changed how they call them.

In the old days, the front of the net was a war zone -- anything goes. In the new NHL, the defenceman can still get physical but he can't use his stick as a weapon. He can get position, and he can use his strength and leverage to move a guy, but he can't just go to town on some poor winger who's trying to screen the goalie. Basically, you can put both hands on your stick and try to push a guy away from the net, but you can put both hands on your stick and cross-check the guy in the small of the back.

The (terrible, awful, destructive) crease rule is gone, but at least the front of the net won't be a warzone anymore. In theory this helps a player like Nik Antropov who can go to the net and use his power and strenght to establish position and stake out a territory for screen and rebounds.

(In reality it doesn't help Antropov at all, since he's freaking terrible.)

[Draft Dodger]

you know, we have a thread going for this