2011-12 NHL Regular Season Thread

[Galaxy]

Was happy to see Kaleta get suspended four games for that disgusting headbutt on Voracek last night. Shanahan's explanation on the hit was fantastic, highlighting it's the third time Kaleta has done something like this.

I only wish the Flyers got Marty tonight instead of Hedburg.

I'm glad he hit with the suspension as well. It's nice to see the NHL finally have someone who actually gives a shit in regards to the dirty plays.

[RomaGoth]

Haven't seen the Wings in such a goal-scoring funk in many moons.......

Game is over, 6 losses in a row now. Ugh. :(

[Honolulu_Blue]

Our man, Maple Leafs continues to build and expand on his comedic prowess.

Great job!

The NHL's Three Stars of Comedy - The Triangle Blog (http://www.grantland.com/blog/the-triangle/post/_/id/8698/hockey%e2%80%99s-three-stars-of-comedy)

[Dr. Sak]

Our man, Maple Leafs continues to build and expand on his comedic prowess.

Great job!

The NHL's Three Stars of Comedy - The Triangle Blog (http://www.grantland.com/blog/the-triangle/post/_/id/8698/hockey%e2%80%99s-three-stars-of-comedy)

Sold out to the mothership!

Just kidding, Congrats Sean it is well deserved.

[Suburban Rhythm]

Prior to the Pens game in SJ last night, the Sharks presented Joe Thornton with a gift to commemerate his 1,000th career game.

And just what do you get a guy who reaches a thousand career NHL games? Why a mammoth tusk, of course!

http://www.csnbayarea.com/common/medialib/223/579092.jpg

[sterlingice]

WTF?

SI

[bronconick]

His teammates bought it, apparently. This *has* to be the story behind it.


Los Angeles Kings @ San Jose Sharks GameThread, Oct 28, 2009 7:30 PM PDT - Battle of California (http://www.battleofcali.com/2009/10/28/1104767/kings-gameday-joe-thornton-woolly)

I don't know if you saw this quote, but I did and I spent way to much time considering its ramifications. The set up is that the Sharks were in Washington, D.C. and they had some spare time. Of course Joe Thornton (http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/players/54760/Joe_Thornton) wanted to go to the Smithsonian, not because he's cultured and wants to learn about history but because... "I’m a woolly mammoth guy, but there are so many cool things," Thornton said. "I’d definitely recommend going to see it."
Did you catch my favorite part? Here it is again, in case you missed it: I’m a woolly mammoth guy
Jesus Christ, Joe, you make it too easy. First off, the idea that Joe Thornton loves things that are big, thick and hairy is not surprising to anyone, I don't think. Secondly... I mean, the guy loves woolly mammoths?!?!? So much so that he considers himself a "woolly mammoth guy?" Who the fuck says things like that? Especially multimillionaires that are elite athletes to boot. What the hell is wrong with him? The greatest thing about that quote is that I can totally picture it. Can't you see Joe Thornton rounding up Ryane Clowe (http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/players/54766/Ryane_Clowe), Devin Setoguchi (http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/players/54758/Devin_Setoguchi) and Kent Huskins (http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/players/54528/Kent_Huskins) and excitedly leading them through the Museum of Natural History and then listening with rapt attention as the docent talks about the Mesozoic Era while the other 3 guys check their watches? Why doesn't Thornton speak in cliches and make commercials that show how cool he is instead of talking up woolly mammoths and making ventriloquist commercials? WHY AREN'T YOU LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE????
Joe Thornton is simultaneously the best and worst superstar ever.


Edit: Best quote over on HF about it.


(http://hfboards.com/showthread.php?p=38941679#post38941679) measly 1000th game. Chelios hunted down and killed his own mammoth on his 1000th birthday. He had it stuffed. It's in his basement.

[RomaGoth]

Quote:
<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr> <td class="alt2" style="border:1px inset"> measly 1000th game. Chelios hunted down and killed his own mammoth on his 1000th birthday. He had it stuffed. It's in his basement. </td></tr></tbody></table>
epic

[bhlloy]

They decided the rule doesn't actually mean what it says

[RomaGoth]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/rf/image_606w/2010-2019/WashingtonPost/2011/11/04/Sports/Images/proposed%20realignment%20NHL%20divisions%20pittsburgh.PNG?uuid=Xpd0agcjEeGTqgmR1Z1-zA

Anyone have an opinion on the proposed realignment for next year?

If Hamilton and KC really have been the closest cities, after Winnipeg, to getting teams that move, then this seems like an ideal spot to expand into those 2 cities and get 8 in each division in the near future.

Or..........Buttman could do the right thing and remove a few teams from the league that have no business being around at this point. Ok, everyone laugh now as we know that won't happen.

[Galaxy]

I don't see Hamilton coming in anymore. (not that I ever did) Jim Balsillie's financial situation has taken a pretty nice hit with RIM down and out. I imagine his attention is also fully with RIM now.

Sabres finally play their best period of the year, and Karlsson is playing just lights out. Hopefully they stick with it and get Karlsson off.

[Grover]

Yeah, drop Florida and Phoenix and that works as well.

But the sun belt expansion has been such a smashing success!

[Galaxy]

Dola....I see Quebec City getting a team before Hamilton.

[Suburban Rhythm]

So, how does the NHL review this shootout attempt and still not determine the puck stopped forward momentum?

<IFRAME height=315 src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Ndy0blENXR8" frameBorder=0 width=560 allowfullscreen></IFRAME>

They decided the rule doesn't actually mean what it says

For me, the feet aren't even the worst part.

His stick blade is parallel to the goal line, and he pulls the puck back. How pulling the puck back away from the net is moving forward....yeah, not sure.

[Grover]

As a Flyers fan I thought for sure that goal was coming back while I was watching the game. Aside from that, I can't believe Lavy threw Simmonds out there and didn't use Talbot, who scored on a penalty shot earlier in the game.

[Wolfpack]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/rf/image_606w/2010-2019/WashingtonPost/2011/11/04/Sports/Images/proposed%20realignment%20NHL%20divisions%20pittsburgh.PNG?uuid=Xpd0agcjEeGTqgmR1Z1-zA

Anyone have an opinion on the proposed realignment for next year?

If Hamilton and KC really have been the closest cities, after Winnipeg, to getting teams that move, then this seems like an ideal spot to expand into those 2 cities and get 8 in each division in the near future.

If they didn't want to keep the conferences strictly geographic (bring back the Campbell/Wales names or else drop the conferences altogether), they could do something like this:

Northeast: Boston, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Buffalo, Detroit, Minnesota, Winnipeg
Atlantic: Islanders, Rangers, NJ, Philly, Pittsburgh, Washington, Carolina
Central: Columbus, Chicago, St. Louis, Nashville, Dallas, Tampa Bay, Florida
Pacific: Edmonton, Calgary, Vancouver, SJ, LA, Anaheim, Phoenix, Colorado

[Galaxy]

That would work as well. Bring back Quebec and add KC. Just do something to even out the divisions.

Seattle could be an option. They're trying to put together a financing plan to build a new arena. The whole realignment thing depends on what happens with the Coyotes though.


If they didn't want to keep the conferences strictly geographic (bring back the Campbell/Wales names or else drop the conferences altogether), they could do something like this:

Northeast: Boston, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Detroit, Minnesota, Winnipeg
Atlantic: Islanders, Rangers, NJ, Philly, Pittsburgh, Washington, Carolina
Central: Columbus, Chicago, St. Louis, Nashville, Dallas, Tampa Bay, Florida
Pacific: Edmonton, Calgary, Vancouver, SJ, LA, Anaheim, Phoenix, Colorado

Won't happen. The big thing is the time zones.

[Suburban Rhythm]

Did we contract Buffalo?

[Suburban Rhythm]

Re: Briere goal

This is what is most mind boggling about the NHL. I love what Shanahan does with the suspension videos, he walks through the points of the rule and how they are applied.

Then, they have an NHL employee, Mike Murphy, give this explanation:


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CISCO NHL Live - Mike Murphy Video - NHL VideoCenter (http://video.nhl.com/videocenter/console?catid=2&id=132800)

He says the puck can go backwards. Which is great...except it is exactly what the rule says can't happen.

24.2 Procedure - The Referee shall ask to have announced over the public address system the name of the player designated by him or selected by the team entitled to take the shot (as appropriate). He shall then place the puck on the center face-off spot and the player taking the shot will, on the instruction of the Referee (by blowing his whistle), play the puck from there and shall attempt to score on the goalkeeper. The puck must be kept in motion towards the opponent’s goal line and once it is shot, the play shall be considered complete. No goal can be scored on a rebound of any kind (an exception being the puck off the goal post or crossbar, then the goalkeeper and then directly into the goal), and any time the puck crosses the goal line or comes to a complete stop, the shot shall be considered complete.


Wouldn't it make sense to have your explanation not go against the rule?

[Galaxy]

Did we contract Buffalo?

Don't put it pass Gary Bettman. :)

[bhlloy]

They actually got themselves into that mess last year when trying to allow the spin-o-rama because OMG it's so cool and it's exactly what the fans want to see and it will get us on top plays every night!!!!

If it's not bad enough that there's this dumb skills competition deciding a significant % of the games and completely cheapening the points structure, let's cheapen it even further by ignoring and contradicting the rules. Awesome.

[Chubby]

And that's why Gary Bettman can't die soon enough.

+10000000000

[Galaxy]

Jhonas Enroth is getting the nod again tonight in Ottawa.

[Grover]

Flyers up 5-0 after one on the absolutely hapless Blue Jackets. Voracek with a goal and an assist. Can tell he's absolutely pumped to be playing against Columbus.

[TurnerONU22]

Just when I thought the CBJ couldn't get any worse, they just did.

I'm at a loss for words. Seriously, I have never been as depressed as a sports fan. If the coach, GM and Steve Mason are still with the organization after this debacle, then this team deserves to move.

[RomaGoth]

Are you on a 6 game losing streak? Do you average 1.8 goals per game? Don't worry, we have Bruce Boudreau. You're welcome.

Wait, I thought the Wings beat Anaheim tonight? :D

[JonInMiddleGA]

Just when I thought the CBJ couldn't get any worse, they just did.

Kind of tacky of the Flyers to go for a two-point conversion after their first TD.

[RomaGoth]

St. Louis fires their coach and hires............yep, Ken Hitchcock. (http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=599197)

:popcorn:

[Chief Rum]

Wait, I thought the Wings beat Anaheim tonight? :D

Shit, that game actually happened? I assumed it was a nightmare.

[DeToxRox]

Shit, that game actually happened? I assumed it was a nightmare.

I had to work late that night. What the hell happened with Teemu?

[Grover]

Just when I thought the CBJ couldn't get any worse, they just did.

I'm at a loss for words. Seriously, I have never been as depressed as a sports fan. If the coach, GM and Steve Mason are still with the organization after this debacle, then this team deserves to move.

I didn't understand pulling Allen and putting Mason back into the game.

As a Flyers fan, it was nice to have a game that I could actually watch and enjoy. There's no way the Jackets should be as bad as they are.

[Chief Rum]

I had to work late that night. What the hell happened with Teemu?

I don't know actually. Only heard the first period on radio, and by then the Ducks were already giving up goals. After that, I decided to blot the game form memory and never went back to see what happened.

[Suburban Rhythm]

PING Turner

The answer to all your problems

Penguins Acquire 2012 Fourth-Round Draft Pick From Columbus in Exchange for Mark Letestu - Pittsburgh Penguins - News (http://penguins.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=599599&cmpid=pit-fb-pghpenguins)

[bbor]

Leafs go into their annual early season swoon after a solid start.

[Honolulu_Blue]

What the hell is going on in Tampa between the Lightning and the Flyers?

[DeToxRox]

I just turned it on. What's going on?

[Galaxy]

I don't think I've ever seen that before. What the hell? I would be asking the NHL for a refund on my tickets.

[Grover]

Tampa's refusing to put any pressure on the puck by playing a 1-3-1 through the center, so the Flyers are holding waiting for them to forecheck.

[RomaGoth]

Tampa's refusing to put any pressure on the puck by playing a 1-3-1 through the center, so the Flyers are holding waiting for them to forecheck.

It seemed to be effective as they won 2-1.

[Grover]

It seemed to be effective as they won 2-1.

Heh, it wasn't so much the 1-3-1 that was effective as the Flyers imploded in the third period taking bad penalty after bad penalty. They set themselves up to lose.

Everybody on VS was slagging the 1-3-1 hard, both Milbury (who I despise) and Jones (who I love). Strader, Edzo and Pierre didn't seem to be huge fans of it either. It's negative hockey, much like the Wings old left wing lock or the Devils trap. There's no place for that negativity in the game.

[Grover]

Completely infuriating. I'm glad the Flyers exposed the fraud that is the 1-3-1 by just sitting back in their end holding the puck.

[RomaGoth]

Completely infuriating. I'm glad the Flyers exposed the fraud that is the 1-3-1 by just sitting back in their end holding the puck.

Bizarre first period overshadows interesting Flyers-Lightning clash - Cross Checks Blog - ESPN (http://espn.go.com/blog/nhl/post/_/id/12218/bizarre-first-period-overshadows-interesting-flyers-lightning-clash)

[bronconick]

If you really hate the system, you start doing this every game in Tampa that you play. Their fans will start making plans to do anything rather than watch Philly hold the puck in their own zone for 48 of the 60 minutes every time they're in town.

[Fidatelo]

If I'm the coach of the next team to go into Tampa, I advance the strategy a notch. Instead of having my d-man just stand there with the puck, after 5 seconds or so I get him to lob it down into the other zone and then fall back into my own 1-3-1. Two can play the counter-attack game.

[TurnerONU22]

Just when I thought the CBJ couldn't get any worse, they just did.

I'm at a loss for words. Seriously, I have never been as depressed as a sports fan. If the coach, GM and Steve Mason are still with the organization after this debacle, then this team deserves to move.

This team deserves to move. The owner doesn't have the balls to make a change, the president doesn't have the slightest clue how to run a hockey team, the GM can't bring in a capable goalie or defense, and the coach runs a system that continually puts pressure on a terrible D and Sieve Mason. Pathetic.

[RomaGoth]

So the Wings are now on a 4-game winning streak. This, after starting the season 5-0-0 then going 0-5-1. Weird how these streaks go.

[Fidatelo]

Jets looked atrocious for the first 50 minutes against Columbus tonight. Not that Columbus looked like any great shakes either, but at least they had a handful of chances.

Byfuglien is a serious problem right now, and I don't know how the Jets can solve it. He's likely untradeable, I don't think they can realistically send him to the minors, from what I've heard he won't listen to talk of moving back to forward, and he's pretty much the laziest defenseman I've ever seen. Not a good combo.

[Grover]

Great win for the Flyers in Sunrise over the upstart Panthers.

Bryzgalov was nothing short of fantastic and is the reason they won the game. It was also nice to see the Panthers with a pretty packed house and it was nice to see that they are a VERY good hockey team.

I'd like to see them do well because Kevin Dineen was the AHL Portland Pirates coach up here for a number of years, he's brought a nice attacking mentality to the Panthers.

[NoSkillz]

I'm pretty surprised no one here is talking about the Lucic hit on Miller from Saturday night.

Or more importantly, especially as a Sabres fan, the complete and utter lack of response, in any way, by the rest of the Sabres to their world-class goaltender getting absolutely trucked.

Deservedly, the Sabres are getting murdered in the press for not doing anything to respond to the Lucic hit and the whole league now knows that the Sabres are soft and easily intimidated. They were actually leading that Bruins game at the time of the hit and all it did was fire the Bruins up to the tune of six consecutive goals.

Is Lucic tougher than any Sabres player? Yeah, most likely but I don't care if it was Gaustad, Myers or even Pominville, all of whom were on the ice...SOMEONE has to nut up, drop their gloves and take a few shots on the chin after that.

I'm embarrassed as a fan and I certainly hope the team can't stand to look in the mirror at themselves right now.

For those that still haven't seen it:

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/TERA-GY2K1o" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[Honolulu_Blue]

I was curious of the same thing... I figured someone would raise it.

The HNiC crew... Well, at least Hrudey, Milbury and Stock all thought that the hit was fine and if Miller is going to come out that far outside his crease, he is "fair game". MacLean, of course, took the opposing view.

Some pretty harsh words from both Miller and Lucic.

When do they play next? Does Buffalo have anyone who could have done something about it? Gaustadt was on the ice, no? Kaletta fights, but he's a punk bitch Avery-type guy. Who else do they have?

[NoSkillz]

I was curious of the same thing... I figured someone would raise it.

The HNiC crew... Well, at least Hrudey, Milbury and Stock all thought that the hit was fine and if Miller is going to come out that far outside his crease, he is "fair game". MacLean, of course, took the opposing view.

Some pretty harsh words from both Miller and Lucic.

When do they play next? Does Buffalo have anyone who could have done something about it? Gaustadt was on the ice, no? Kaletta fights, but he's a punk bitch Avery-type guy. Who else do they have?

They play again, in Buffalo, in 9 days so I'm sure the league will be watching that game closely. Still...too little, too late in my opinion.

Gaustad should be ashamed - while Buffalo doesn't dress an 'enforcer' under the normal definition, at 6'4" and 220+, he's at least a policeman out there and fights a number of times a year. He was on the ice, admittedly the last into the skirmish but did nothing other than get tied up by Nathan Horton. Vanek went after him first and fell to the ground after hitting him but what about 6'8" Tyler Myers? Nothing...

As for later in the game and possible players who could handle themselves other than Gaustad: Kaleta is just a shit-disturber type but he was playing his first game since the four-game headbutting suspension so he's truly under the league's microscope right now. Cody McCormick also fights but he got his face rearranged by Tanner Glass a few nights earlier and has stiches all over...I'm sure he's been told not to fight for a certain amount of time. Their toughest defenseman is Mike Weber but he was a healthy scratch. He won't be for much longer (Myers is scratched tonight, his first benching of his NHL career).

That all said, at the very least, they could have re-enacted the brawl from a few years ago when Chris Drury took the headshot from Ottawa's Chris Neil that resulted in the memorable fight between Ray Emery and Andrew Peters. Just the sight of Adam Mair chasing a scared Jason Spezza down the ice and Peters mugging Dany Heatley makes me smile, if even for a second.

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/ulyEnFh9Wvo" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[Suburban Rhythm]

I was curious of the same thing... I figured someone would raise it.

The HNiC crew... Well, at least Hrudey, Milbury and Stock all thought that the hit was fine and if Miller is going to come out that far outside his crease, he is "fair game". MacLean, of course, took the opposing view.

Some pretty harsh words from both Miller and Lucic.

When do they play next? Does Buffalo have anyone who could have done something about it? Gaustadt was on the ice, no? Kaletta fights, but he's a punk bitch Avery-type guy. Who else do they have?

Cody McCormick. He's not a heavyweight, but neither is Lucic.

And about being "fair game", things like that always blow my mind. The rule is you can not touch the goalie. Period. So what these 3 are suggesting is let's bring more gray area and judgement calls to the game, so the officials can be inconsistent on something else.

[Suburban Rhythm]

DOLA

Lucic has a hearing today

I have to think there is some suspension. Prior history + penalty + injury (NHL favorite piece of the puzzle).

[Fidatelo]

I've never been a fan of protecting the goalies outside the crease. In this scenario, whatever rules apply to Tyler Myers should apply to Ryan Miller.

I think the charging call on the ice was appropriate. I'm not sure on a suspension or not; I can't quite tell if he gets his elbows up into the head area at the end or not. I think he kind of does, so I'd probably give him a couple games.

[bbor]

If a goalie leaves his crease he is fair game by the NHL rulebook....now the "code" is different, hit a goalie and you have to eat some knuckles usually.

Unfortunatly no one from Buffalo stepped up to enforce it and that is the real crime here.

What is up with Myers? He is a tire fire out there. I think he has been scratched for tonights game?

[Suburban Rhythm]

DOLA

Lucic has a hearing today

I have to think there is some suspension. Prior history + penalty + injury (NHL favorite piece of the puzzle).

No suspension

Shanahan says "Lucic convinced him there was no intent"

Not sure what that means.

Also, waiting for the part where Mark Recchi comes out and claims Miller is faking the concussion.

[Galaxy]

The Sabres have been soft for, what, the last 4 years or so? I just wonder if Ruff is behind it. I'm also glad Myers is suppose to get scratched tonight.

[Grover]

Flyers have jumped out quick on Cam Ward, 2-0 8:50 in.

[Wolfpack]

Speaking of tire fires...well, that's pretty much the entire Carolina roster at this point. Aside from the game against the Pens that they nearly gagged away, they've been pretty much blitzed by every team they've faced over the past couple of weeks. Tonight was just more of the same. Choppy play, sloppy defense, more "gliding" over skating, etc. Overall, the team is pretty well stuck in a rut.

The media focus whenever it shifts to Carolina is now beginning the inevitable "Maurice may be in trouble" storyline. Not too surprising as aside from the several months after he replaced Laviolette and goosed them into the playoffs in 2009 and the frantic push to get out of the massive hole they found themselves in 2010, the team has played mediocre at best hockey. I will say it's not entirely on him, though. Rutherford's choices in free agency this offseason have not worked out so far (*cough*Kaberle*cough*cough*), either.

Of course, the inevitable problem is, who replaces Maurice? After all, Laviolette is still coaching in Philadelphia right now, so you can't bring him back (even though I think he'd just as soon light himself on fire as come back given the acrimony between him and Karmanos and Rutherford). No chance at recycling as a result.

[Suburban Rhythm]

]Lucic did nothing wrong. If Miller wants to sprint 20-30 feet from the goal to play a puck then he should get lit up.[/B]

With that said, all 5 Buffalo players should have had their gloves off before Miller hit the ice. That's the softest thing I've seen in a while and I'm a Caps fan.

Other than the rules say you can't, I'll agree.

I think they should be fair game when playing the puck outside the crease, but until the rule is changed, it's a penalty.

The part of the argument that makes no sense to me of the Lucic hit is that he was still pursuing the puck. His stick was not on the ice for like 6 strides. A bang-bang play like that, if you are going for the puck, your stick is on the ice, reaching for the puck.

[RendeR]

Lucic had every chance to avoid that hit and by the rules that is required. And the idea that there was no "intent" is complete shit since the replays shows him lifting his shoulder into Miller's head quite plainly.

Lucic should have been beaten bloody on the ice, no argument there. I was disgusted that the Sabres went limp dick on that. If your Goaltender gets hit you fucking beat down the bastard that did it, then there won't BE a next time.

[Fidatelo]

Other than the rules say you can't, I'll agree.

I think they should be fair game when playing the puck outside the crease, but until the rule is changed, it's a penalty.

Which rule are you speaking of? As far as I know, the goalie has legally been fair game outside of the blue paint forever.

[Doug5984]

Hell I play beer league, and if someone did that to any goalie there'd probably be a fight

[Honolulu_Blue]

Which rule are you speaking of? As far as I know, the goalie has legally been fair game outside of the blue paint forever.

I don't think that's the case. I've seen numerous "goalie interference" calls where a player happens to run into or check a goalie outside of the blue paint.

That said, Lucic did get a penalty on the play.

[Fidatelo]

Ok I looked it up, here is the pertinent portion of goalie interference (bolding is my own):

"69.4 Contact Outside the Goal Crease - If an attacking player initiates any contact with a goalkeeper, other than incidental contact, while the goalkeeper is outside his goal crease, and a goal is scored, the goal will be disallowed.
A goalkeeper is not “fair game” just because he is outside the goal crease. The appropriate penalty should be assessed in every case where an attacking player makes unnecessary contact with the goalkeeper. However, incidental contact will be permitted when the goalkeeper is in the act of playing the puck outside his goal crease provided the attacking player has made a reasonable effort to avoid such unnecessary contact.
When a goalkeeper has played the puck outside of his crease and is then prevented from returning to his crease area due to the deliberate actions of an attacking player, such player may be penalized for goalkeeper interference. Similarly, the goalkeeper may be penalized, if by his actions outside of his crease he deliberately interferes with an attacking player who is attempting to play the puck or an opponent."

So in this scenario it all comes down to whether we believe Lucic could have avoided contact after Miller moved the puck, which I think is reasonable to assume he could have. So a penalty was definitely warranted.

[RomaGoth]

Rutherford's choices in free agency this offseason have not worked out so far (*cough*Kaberle*cough*cough*), either.

The rest of the league knew what Rutherford apparently did not: Kaberle is waaaay overrated.

[Suburban Rhythm]

Speaking of tire fires...well, that's pretty much the entire Carolina roster at this point. Aside from the game against the Pens that they nearly gagged away, they've been pretty much blitzed by every team they've faced over the past couple of weeks. Tonight was just more of the same. Choppy play, sloppy defense, more "gliding" over skating, etc. Overall, the team is pretty well stuck in a rut.

The media focus whenever it shifts to Carolina is now beginning the inevitable "Maurice may be in trouble" storyline. Not too surprising as aside from the several months after he replaced Laviolette and goosed them into the playoffs in 2009 and the frantic push to get out of the massive hole they found themselves in 2010, the team has played mediocre at best hockey. I will say it's not entirely on him, though. Rutherford's choices in free agency this offseason have not worked out so far (*cough*Kaberle*cough*cough*), either.

Of course, the inevitable problem is, who replaces Maurice? After all, Laviolette is still coaching in Philadelphia right now, so you can't bring him back (even though I think he'd just as soon light himself on fire as come back given the acrimony between him and Karmanos and Rutherford). No chance at recycling as a result.

I am saying this with complete honesty.

I watched the entire game Saturday night (full disclosure: It was the Pens feed, so it was Steigerwald and Errey). If you would have questioned me after, I would have bet you Kaberle did not play. I did not hear his name or notice him at any point.

[Honolulu_Blue]

I am saying this with complete honesty.

I watched the entire game Saturday night (full disclosure: It was the Pens feed, so it was Steigerwald and Errey). If you would have questioned me after, I would have bet you Kaberle did not play. I did not hear his name or notice him at any point.

I experienced the same phenomenon multiples times while Bruins games last year in the playoffs.

[RendeR]

Ok I looked it up, here is the pertinent portion of goalie interference (bolding is my own):

"69.4 Contact Outside the Goal Crease - If an attacking player initiates any contact with a goalkeeper, other than incidental contact, while the goalkeeper is outside his goal crease, and a goal is scored, the goal will be disallowed.
A goalkeeper is not “fair game” just because he is outside the goal crease. The appropriate penalty should be assessed in every case where an attacking player makes unnecessary contact with the goalkeeper. However, incidental contact will be permitted when the goalkeeper is in the act of playing the puck outside his goal crease provided the attacking player has made a reasonable effort to avoid such unnecessary contact.
When a goalkeeper has played the puck outside of his crease and is then prevented from returning to his crease area due to the deliberate actions of an attacking player, such player may be penalized for goalkeeper interference. Similarly, the goalkeeper may be penalized, if by his actions outside of his crease he deliberately interferes with an attacking player who is attempting to play the puck or an opponent."

So in this scenario it all comes down to whether we believe Lucic could have avoided contact after Miller moved the puck, which I think is reasonable to assume he could have. So a penalty was definitely warranted.



Seeing how Lucic made no effort AT ALL, to avoid contact in any way and in fact leaned INTO the hit. I stand by the fact that Shanahan's a fucking puss bag and the Sabres should have left Lucic bleeding in the corner of the rink..

Even Fraser, who reffed more games than god it seems like, agrees that Shanahan fucked up.

http://www.tsn.ca/story/?id=380468

[MacroGuru]

Seeing how Lucic made no effort AT ALL, to avoid contact in any way and in fact leaned INTO the hit. I stand by the fact that Shanahan's a fucking puss bag and the Sabres should have left Lucic bleeding in the corner of the rink..

Even Fraser, who reffed more games than god it seems like, agrees that Shanahan fucked up.

http://www.tsn.ca/story/?id=380468

Yeah...I think the League is prepared for the next game what, 8 days away?

[RomaGoth]

I stand by the fact that Shanahan's a fucking puss bag and the Sabres should have left Lucic bleeding in the corner of the rink..


C'mon RendeR tell us how you really feel.

[Pumpy Tudors]

When Kerry Fraser admits that someone missed a call, you KNOW they fucked up.

[Galaxy]

Yeah...I think the League is prepared for the next game what, 8 days away?

I wouldn't get your hopes too high.

[Grover]

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/eedht78u9oI" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Nasty.

[MizzouRah]

Blues win again.. hello Mr. Hitchcock!

[Draft Dodger]

the Duchene goal was awesome. Malkin had a beauty in the game as well. Unfortunately.

[Galaxy]

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/eedht78u9oI" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Nasty.

French?

[Suburban Rhythm]

the Duchene goal was awesome. Malkin had a beauty in the game as well. Unfortunately.

I was there. Both great goals.

I thought when Jones scored to end the 1st, it just was not the Penguins night.

I hope they can find a spot for Crosby in a week or so ;)

[Logan]

Seven in a row for the Rangers! Impressed with how the defense has played without Marc Staal.

[Doug5984]

The only thing I understood in that clip was ".... Duchene ..... wow .... "

[Grover]

I was there. Both great goals.

I thought when Jones scored to end the 1st, it just was not the Penguins night.

I hope they can find a spot for Crosby in a week or so ;)

I talk to one of my best friends almost daily (despite that he's a Pens fan), works for KDKA and has been hearing a lot about Crosby practicing with Neal and Malkin, which is frightening for the rest of the league.

He thought the Pens were done last night too, neither of us could believe the Avs buckled like that. Great third period from the Pens.

[Grover]

French?

Oui.

[Suburban Rhythm]

I talk to one of my best friends almost daily (despite that he's a Pens fan), works for KDKA and has been hearing a lot about Crosby practicing with Neal and Malkin, which is frightening for the rest of the league.

He thought the Pens were done last night too, neither of us could believe the Avs buckled like that. Great third period from the Pens.

Monday Crosby took Sullivan's spot on that line during practice. Sullivan only played 11 minutes vs Carolina Saturday night, and sat out a few practices as a precaution.

They are doing this too without Zbynek Michalek, who is arguably their best D in their own end, and their best PK defender-- and they are still #1 on the PK.

I'm not foolish enough to believe there won't be other bumps along the way and some more injuries, but with a full roster, I like this team against anyone in 7 games.

[Honolulu_Blue]

One of Lady H_B's good friend's brother is dating former Red Wing Jiri Fischer's ex-wife.

That's all I got.

[Chief Rum]

One of Lady H_B's good friend's brother is dating former Red Wing Jiri Fischer's ex-wife.

That's all I got.

A diagram for those of you who need it.



H_B==Lady H_B
|
|
V
GGF---->GGFB==?==JFxW==!!==JF==!!==Red Wings

[sterlingice]

Where's flere when we need him?

SI

[Fidatelo]

Go Jets Go! :D

[RomaGoth]

Welp, the Wings officially have a team that they can't seem to beat. Must have something to do with McClellan being the coach of the Sharks, because Babcock and crew haven't been able to figure them out in 3 years.

*sigh*

[Galaxy]

Epic fail?

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/FJNmFDR5mmU" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[Galaxy]

One of Lady H_B's good friend's brother is dating former Red Wing Jiri Fischer's ex-wife.

That's all I got.

Pics please.

[Honolulu_Blue]

A diagram for those of you who need it.



H_B==Lady H_B
|
|
V
GGF---->GGFB==?==JFxW==!!==JF==!!==Red Wings


Thanks for the diagram, Chief. About sums it up. Six degrees of separation!

I have a similar connection to the Black Hawks. My good friend's wife's cousin is married to ex-Black Hawk Keith Carney, who is currently serving as the Black Hawk's head of player development, same role Fischer has for the Wings.

I am so totally connected.

Pics please.

I searched for pics, but couldn't find any. Though this guy (our friend's brother) once told his sister, "I only date 9s and 10s, so you know she's hot..." when describing some woman he was dating.

[Galaxy]

I searched for pics, but couldn't find any. Though this guy (our friend's brother) once told his sister, "I only date 9s and 10s, so you know she's hot..." when describing some woman he was dating.

Usually when guys say that, they're aren't.

[Honolulu_Blue]

Usually when guys say that, they're aren't.

I can't say. Never met any of the guy's girlfriends. But he's a former minor league hockey player and owns a bar, so it's not out of the realm of possibility.

[RomaGoth]

I have a similar connection to the Black Hawks. My good friend's wife's cousin is married to ex-Black Hawk Keith Carney, who is currently serving as the Black Hawk's head of player development, same role Fischer has for the Wings.


Carney was the slowest d-man on the Hawks roster in NHL '95.

[Honolulu_Blue]

Carney was the slowest d-man on the Hawks roster in NHL '95.

And I loved him for it. I liked having at least on physical slow defenseman in that game, because he was often too slow to get caught up ice. Doug Houda was a star for me in that capacity.

[Suburban Rhythm]

Crosby back Monday night vs Isles.

[Honolulu_Blue]

Crosby back Monday night vs Isles.

Who?

[Suburban Rhythm]

Who?

Some center the Penguins want to try on the 3rd line behind Malkin and Staal. Seems OK

[Suburban Rhythm]

Craig Smith makes David Legwand feels a little better about himself


<OBJECT width=560 height=315>
<embed src="<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/FJNmFDR5mmU?version=3&hl=en_US" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/FJNmFDR5mmU?version=3&ampamphl=en_US[/url]" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="560" height="315" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></OBJECT>


Bah...embed actually worked for me for a couple weeks.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJNmFDR5mmU

[DeToxRox]

Power went out in Anaheim in the first period. Shrewd move Carlyle.

[Dr. Sak]

Nice booing a kid is cool.

[Suburban Rhythm]

A Flyers fan on booing ettiquette. What is this?

:p

[Chief Rum]

Power went out in Anaheim in the first period. Shrewd move Carlyle.

Cue joke about the power never coming back on in the Anaheim bench area.

BTW, I wonder what the heck is going on at the Honda Center? The start of the third period last Thursday was delayed a good 15 minutes or so as well by a lighting issue.

[RomaGoth]

Cue joke about the power never coming back on in the Anaheim bench area.

BTW, I wonder what the heck is going on at the Honda Center? The start of the third period last Thursday was delayed a good 15 minutes or so as well by a lighting issue.

Occupy Honda Center rally?

[Chief Rum]

Break out the pepper spray.

[Suburban Rhythm]

Caps come from down 2-0, both goals for Phoenix were short handed, to win 4-3. I'm still not sold on Vokoun. Alex Semin was a healthy scratch and Ovi may have been the worst player on the ice for the Caps and they still won.

There was also a point in the game where a red balloon was floating just above head level on the ice. The Phoenix goalie got annoyed enough that he swung his stick at it before one faceoff.

Crosby only 11 points behind

[RomaGoth]

Ovi got slammed on the front page of the Washington Post sports section yesterday by one of the Caps lead writers. There's legitimate discussion among fans about whether or not he can be moved with his contract. I actually heard someone say he's got a little Gilbert Arenas in him yesterday.

He pulled a gun on a teammate during a poker game on a plane?

[Grover]

Flyers come back down 3-1 after two to beat the Isles 4-3 in overtime. Briere with the equalizer with 5:42 left and gets the winner too. Great penalty kill after Harts took a stupid (shocking) penalty just :21 into OT. He gets the puck after the kill, gives it to Danny Boy who finds some space and DiPietro's five hole.

Flyers have now beaten the Isles in 22 of their last 23 meetings.

[JonInMiddleGA]

I've never seen that kind of improvement from someone in his 30s.

Hope they don't ask him to pee in a cup anytime soon ;)

[JPhillips]

I'll take a risk and say the Caps would not be a better team without Ovi and Semin.

[DeToxRox]

http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lv7z7ep4ZX1qdlh1io1_400.gif

[Suburban Rhythm]

Crosby has 7 points in 3 games. And actually in 2, as he was scoreless Wednesday night vs STL.

Sure, those 2 games are against NYI and OTT, but still.

And, he could add to it tomorrow night in Montreal-

3 straight seasons, the Saturday following Thanksgiving, Crosby has a HT.

New Jersey Devils at Pittsburgh Penguins Box Score, November 29, 2008 | Hockey-Reference.com (http://www.hockey-reference.com/boxscores/200811290PIT.html)

New York Rangers at Pittsburgh Penguins Box Score, November 28, 2009 | Hockey-Reference.com (http://www.hockey-reference.com/boxscores/200911280PIT.html)

Calgary Flames at Pittsburgh Penguins Box Score, November 27, 2010 | Hockey-Reference.com (http://www.hockey-reference.com/boxscores/201011270PIT.html)

[MizzouRah]

http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lv7z7ep4ZX1qdlh1io1_400.gif

LMAO.. :lol:

[MizzouRah]

Another shutout for G Elliott.. I hope Hitchcock plays him now and keeps Halek on the bench.

[Wolfpack]

Canes may have just had a dead cat bounce. They managed to shrug off a two-week stretch of horrid hockey with a pair of wins, but then blew a lead twice and lost in SO against Montreal a couple of nights ago, then followed that up with a generally inept performance in a loss to Winnipeg at home tonight. The rapidly deteriorating mistake that is Tomas Kaberle allowed himself to get outworked on the game-winning goal by Andrew Ladd, then followed up with a spectacular fail on an open-net chance set up by a beautiful feed from Skinner late in the third that could have tied the game. The "Mo must go" chants are getting a bit louder by the game right now on top of all that, so things are really getting to a critical point for this season. The question is now becoming whether it's worth firing Maurice to try to salvage the season, or consider the season something of a write-off at this point (at which time the team will go on a massive tear after the New Year that will flicker some hope, only to run out of gas at the end, similar to 2010) and let him finish out the last year of his contract and make the change with a new coach and a possible lottery pick for next year.

[Dr. Sak]

How much longer does Bruce Boudreau have a job for?

[Wolfpack]

Hey now, no cutting in line! We Canes fans want to fire our coach first! 4-3 loss in Ottawa tonight and thus Carolina remains mired in 14th place in the East and that's only because the Islanders would have to win two games to catch up to us, which means the Islanders must really suck....

[Suburban Rhythm]

And the Caps lose 5-1 to a Buffalo team missing 9 regulars. Roman Hamrlik, Jeff Halpern and Tomas Vokoun are massive downgrades from Scott Hannan, Boyd Gordon and Semyon Varlamov at nearly 7 times the money.

3rd shorty given up by the Caps this week, and nearly gave up a 2nd again tonight, that just happens to coincide with Fat Fuck putting Ovi back on the PP point. Anybody willing to take nearly 10 years and $97 million off our hands?

There are 6-8 professionals on the Caps roster. That's all.

How much longer does Bruce Boudreau have a job for?

Bob McKenzie reporting Coach BB(Q) is out, Dale Hunter in

[gstelmack]

(at which time the team will go on a massive tear after the New Year that will flicker some hope, only to run out of gas at the end, similar to 2010)

Or 2005 or pick your year. Even the 2006 cup year was a horrid start, but they went on the massive tear after New Year that by some miracle they did not run out of gas on.

I don't think I've ever seen the Canes put together a complete season. Inconsistent play and lack of effort has ALWAYS been a hallmark of these teams. I still remember the Boston game when the Canes win and they're in, and Boston was down several players including the starting goalie due to injury and they couldn't win. And I'll always remember the Montreal game during one of their stretch collapses that cost them a playoff spot where the entire game consisted of dumpoff into the Montreal end, scrum around the Montreal goal, puck squirts out, two Canadiens bring it down the ice, one Cane trailing trying to catch up, goal.

Ah well, at least I won the NC Lottery prize pack back a few weeks ago when Washington came to town, that we almost missed because both kids needed a potty break...

[RomaGoth]

How much longer does Bruce Boudreau have a job for?

Apparently.................none (http://espn.go.com/nhl/story/_/id/7289699/washington-capitals-replace-bruce-boudreau-ex-team-captain-dale-hunter).

[Honolulu_Blue]

Glad to hear it's Dale Hunter behind the bench. It's not at all surprising, since he's been linked with that job for a while now, but nice. It will be very interesting to see if the Caps adopt his identity as his OHL teams tended to do and how Hunter and Ovechkin get along. Could be a fun, wild ride.

[Honolulu_Blue]

Hey now, no cutting in line! We Canes fans want to fire our coach first! 4-3 loss in Ottawa tonight and thus Carolina remains mired in 14th place in the East and that's only because the Islanders would have to win two games to catch up to us, which means the Islanders must really suck....

Muarice is out!

[Suburban Rhythm]

Guy Boucher, and his 100 games of experience, is the most tenured coach in the SE division.

[gstelmack]

Muarice is out!
Carolina Hurricanes fire coach Paul Maurice - NHL - SI.com (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/hockey/nhl/11/28/hurricanes.fire.paul.maurice/index.html?sct=hp_t2_a8&eref=sihp)

Kirk Muller is the replacement.

[Chief Rum]

Is it Fire The Coach Day?

Randy Carlyle, you might want to be looking over your shoulder right about now.

[Suburban Rhythm]

Pronger out 4 weeks after knee surgery.

Good thing Homer studied the CBA extensively before that deal.

[Grover]

Pronger out 4 weeks, undergoing knee surgery.

Cap genius Paul Holmgren made the mistake at waiving Oskars Bartulis before the season and now we can't even afford to call him back up. With Lilja out six weeks, the Flyers will continue to skate with a pair of rookies in the back six. I'm curious to see how this team gets to the new year with 6 rookies starting every night.

[Suburban Rhythm]

Pronger out 4 weeks, undergoing knee surgery.

Cap genius Paul Holmgren made the mistake at waiving Oskars Bartulis before the season and now we can't even afford to call him back up. With Lilja out six weeks, the Flyers will continue to skate with a pair of rookies in the back six. I'm curious to see how this team gets to the new year with 6 rookies starting every night.

You still have Matt Walker...or is he already playing?

[Grover]

You still have Matt Walker...or is he already playing?

Walker is utter crap. He's been in and out of the lineup. I'm much more comfortable with Bourdon and Marshall as rookies than I am with Matt Walker and his 1.7m salary.

He and Jody Shelley were awful, awful signings for their prices.

[Suburban Rhythm]

I appreciate that each of our prior 3 posts combined reference Holmgren's terrible cap management for 3 separate reasons...and all are correct.

[Fidatelo]

I find it really interesting to see how harsh some of you guys are on your own teams. It will be fun to see if I become this bitter about the Jets as time goes on.

[Dr. Sak]

Nodl has been put on waivers...There is a trade brewing.

[Grover]

Nodl has been put on waivers...There is a trade brewing.

Disappointing to hear. I can only assume it's for a d-man. Nodl's been a decent player for us, a good fourth liner, excellent penalty killer, but the rise of Couturier and especially Matt Read on the PK has made him expendable.

It could also be to make room for Brayden Schenn, who's expected to be back for for the game against the Ducks on Friday.

Homer says it's to gauge interest in Nodl... but why not pick up a phone?

[Honolulu_Blue]

Nodl has been put on waivers...There is a trade brewing.

Not the Noodler!

[Pumpy Tudors]

I find it really interesting to see how harsh some of you guys are on your own teams. It will be fun to see if I become this bitter about the Jets as time goes on.
Yeah, I wonder where it's all coming from. I mean, we've got Capitals fans, Flyers fans, Hurricanes fans, and that guy with the funny blog who likes the Maple Leafs (I can't remember his name) griping. These four teams have one Stanley Cup championship combined in the past 36 years. Where are the expectations coming from?

If this is the norm, I should've shot myself in the face after the Devils missed the playoffs last season. [insert joke here about how I should shoot myself in the face for being a Devils fan]<INSERT fan Devils a being for face the in myself shoot should I how about here joke>

[Grover]

Yeah, I wonder where it's all coming from. I mean, we've got Capitals fans, Flyers fans, Hurricanes fans, and that guy with the funny blog who likes the Maple Leafs (I can't remember his name) griping. These four teams have one Stanley Cup championship combined in the past 36 years. Where are the expectations coming from?



Well, I can't really gripe about the Bengals this year, so something has to fill that spot.

Homer's cap (mis)management has been poor ever since he's been in charge in Philly and it's really, really starting to hurt the team by forcing Lavy to play a bunch of untested rookies.

And while Read and Couturier have been excellent as rookies, it's still early in the season and neither of them have ever played a season as long as an NHL season. Burnout is bound to happen, much like JVR did his first year.

[johnnyshaka]

I find it really interesting to see how harsh some of you guys are on your own teams. It will be fun to see if I become this bitter about the Jets as time goes on.

On the internet, "fanboys" are usually ridiculed and eventually forced to change their handle. Also, being contradictory is way "cooler"...you know, the "I'm a rebel" for making off the wall comments.

That's why I don't post often in this thread these days...I don't want to change my handle nor am I cool enough! :)

[Honolulu_Blue]

On the internet, "fanboys" are usually ridiculed and eventually forced to change their handle. Also, being contradictory is way "cooler"...you know, the "I'm a rebel" for making off the wall comments.

That's why I don't post often in this thread these days...I don't want to change my handle nor am I cool enough! :)

I post here all the time... Mainly on the account of my coolness. :cool:

[RomaGoth]

Yeah, I wonder where it's all coming from. I mean, we've got Capitals fans, Flyers fans, Hurricanes fans, and that guy with the funny blog who likes the Maple Leafs (I can't remember his name) griping. These four teams have one Stanley Cup championship combined in the past 36 years. Where are the expectations coming from?

If this is the norm, I should've shot myself in the face after the Devils missed the playoffs last season. [insert joke here about how I should shoot myself in the face for being a Devils fan]<insert fan="" devils="" a="" being="" for="" face="" the="" in="" myself="" shoot="" should="" i="" how="" about="" here="" joke="">

Why all the self-hurt?
</insert>

[Suburban Rhythm]

I have no real complaints about my team...other than the rest of the hockey world not conceding the season and giving them the Cup now.

[Dr. Sak]

Why all the self-hurt?
</insert>

You've never seen his face have you? Some would consider it an improvement ;)

[Suburban Rhythm]

Nodl has been put on waivers...There is a trade brewing.

Bryzgalov only has 8 3/4 years remaining on his deal...

[Pumpy Tudors]

Why all the self-hurt?
Being a Devils fan is self-hurt.
You've never seen his face have you? Some would consider it an improvement ;)
ice cold imo

:)

[Grover]

Ovechkin has 9 3/4.

Rick DiPietro has infinity.

[Grover]

We can't be far from finding him dead in a room somewhere only to get the reveal, 6 months later, that the Islanders hired someone to off him to get rid of his cap hit, can we?

EDIT: Yeah, that brings new meaning to the term cap hit.

If they hired a hit man, the bullet would find a way through DiPietro's legs.

[SackAttack]

We can't be far from finding him dead in a room somewhere only to get the reveal, 6 months later, that the Islanders hired someone to off him to get rid of his cap hit, can we?

EDIT: Yeah, that brings new meaning to the term cap hit.

Is that, in retrospect, the worst contract in professional sports history?

[Logan]

Is that the worst contract in professional sports history?

Fixed. It was Ryan Howard-bad at the time.

[SackAttack]

Fixed. It was Ryan Howard-bad at the time.

He got that straight out of the draft, though, didn't he? Or soon enough after?

Howard at least had some big years before getting paid.

[RainMaker]

Is that, in retrospect, the worst contract in professional sports history?
Rashard Lewis has to rank up there somewhere.

[Grover]

Ricky Five-Hole signed the deal in 2006. He had played just 143 games for the Isles before the deal.

He's played 162 games since...

I think the Kovalchuk deal could be one of the worst all time as well.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Is that, in retrospect, the worst contract in professional sports history?

ARod & the Rangers

[Suburban Rhythm]

Yeah it's a bad deal, but I don't think the worst. If only because the cap hit is like $4.5M. In a couple years, it will be a nuisance, but not a killer contract.

(I apologize to Pumpy for my $ usage in this post. In order to make it up to him, I'll post something nice)

Zach Parise isn't too bad looking when standing next to Ken Daneyko

[RomaGoth]

Yeah it's a bad deal, but I don't think the worst. If only because the cap hit is like $4.5M. In a couple years, it will be a nuisance, but not a killer contract.

(I apologize to Pumpy for my $ usage in this post. In order to make it up to him, I'll post something nice)

Zach Parise isn't too bad looking when standing next to Ken Daneyko

What the hell is wrong with Ken Daneyko? :redface:

[Wolfpack]

Yeah, I wonder where it's all coming from. I mean, we've got Capitals fans, Flyers fans, Hurricanes fans, and that guy with the funny blog who likes the Maple Leafs (I can't remember his name) griping. These four teams have one Stanley Cup championship combined in the past 36 years. Where are the expectations coming from?

If this is the norm, I should've shot myself in the face after the Devils missed the playoffs last season. [insert joke here about how I should shoot myself in the face for being a Devils fan]<INSERT fan Devils a being for face the in myself shoot should I how about here joke>

Meh, forget the Cup right now. I'm just looking for competent, competitive play and a coach who actually knows how to do anything besides dump-and-chase and can actually develop his players. Maurice may be a nice guy, but he's got a certain mindset about how his teams should play and it never adjusts for what he actually has on his roster (Rutherford's not immune to blame on this because he kept feeding Maurice round pegs for his square holes). Arguably his best team was the 2009 team he inherited from Laviolette and that was because he didn't do too much tinkering other than tightening up the defense. Once he had time to put his stamp on the team, it went downhill.

[RomaGoth]

I love the NHL. FWIW, Dubinsky is right...anyone who has ever seen Jody Shelley play...errr...skate...err....whatever the hell he is trying to do on the ice, knows that he does, indeed, suck.

New York Rangers' Brandon Dubinsky says Philadelphia Flyers' Jody Shelley is 'terrible hockey player' - ESPN New York (http://espn.go.com/new-york/nhl/story/_/id/7292058/new-york-rangers-brandon-dubinsky-says-philadelphia-flyers-jody-shelley-terrible-hockey-player)

[Suburban Rhythm]

3 games for Pacciorretty hit on Letang.

I expected 0 and had hoped for 2, so this is a surprise.

[Dr. Sak]

I love the NHL. FWIW, Dubinsky is right...anyone who has ever seen Jody Shelley play...errr...skate...err....whatever the hell he is trying to do on the ice, knows that he does, indeed, suck.

New York Rangers' Brandon Dubinsky says Philadelphia Flyers' Jody Shelley is 'terrible hockey player' - ESPN New York (http://espn.go.com/new-york/nhl/story/_/id/7292058/new-york-rangers-brandon-dubinsky-says-philadelphia-flyers-jody-shelley-terrible-hockey-player)

I can't argue with that and I was hoping he would get waived.

[Logan]

I love the NHL. FWIW, Dubinsky is right...anyone who has ever seen Jody Shelley play...errr...skate...err....whatever the hell he is trying to do on the ice, knows that he does, indeed, suck.

New York Rangers' Brandon Dubinsky says Philadelphia Flyers' Jody Shelley is 'terrible hockey player' - ESPN New York (http://espn.go.com/new-york/nhl/story/_/id/7292058/new-york-rangers-brandon-dubinsky-says-philadelphia-flyers-jody-shelley-terrible-hockey-player)

Good for Shelley. He parlayed a great Ranger career into a great Philly contract.

[Grover]

I can't argue with that and I was hoping he would get waived.

We can dream.

[Honolulu_Blue]

3 games for Pacciorretty hit on Letang.

I expected 0 and had hoped for 2, so this is a surprise.

Hoped for two? Did it happen to slip your mind that Letang plays for Gary's favoritest team?

[terpkristin]

I'm going to my first-ever hockey game tomorrow with work. Blues @ Caps I think. Well, definitely Caps...

/tk

[MizzouRah]

I'm going to my first-ever hockey game tomorrow with work. Blues @ Caps I think. Well, definitely Caps...

/tk

You are correct and I can't wait to watch it!

GO BLUES! :)

[Pumpy Tudors]

Yeah it's a bad deal, but I don't think the worst. If only because the cap hit is like $4.5M. In a couple years, it will be a nuisance, but not a killer contract.

(I apologize to Pumpy for my $ usage in this post. In order to make it up to him, I'll post something nice)

Zach Parise isn't too bad looking when standing next to Ken Daneyko
lol you are amazing

[Suburban Rhythm]

Hoped for two? Did it happen to slip your mind that Letang plays for Gary's favoritest team?

He needs to have another meeting with his officials then....they didn't even call a penalty on the play.

[Dr. Sak]

I'm going to my first-ever hockey game tomorrow with work. Blues @ Caps I think. Well, definitely Caps...

/tk

I hope your seats aren't next to the horn guy.

[gstelmack]

Yeah, I wonder where it's all coming from. I mean, we've got Capitals fans, Flyers fans, Hurricanes fans, and that guy with the funny blog who likes the Maple Leafs (I can't remember his name) griping. These four teams have one Stanley Cup championship combined in the past 36 years. Where are the expectations coming from?
<INSERT joke here about how I should shoot myself in the face for being a Devils fan>

I don't care so much that the Canes WIN, I care that they actually try and play hard. And there is some legitimate anger at how they've built the team. For example, they went cheap on Cole so he ended up walking, but then spent more than what it would have taken to keep Cole on Tomas Kaberle instead. One key to Cole is that Eric Staal plays better when Cole is on the line with him.

This is a team that should be able to make the playoffs most years, although not very many unlikely Cup runs, but there are some real headscratchers on personnel decisions, and the team as a whole simply doesn't seem to play very hard consistently.

[Honolulu_Blue]

He needs to have another meeting with his officials then....they didn't even call a penalty on the play.

They were probably too busy making sure Sidney Crosby was ok. I am sure those officials got a stern talking to.

[Honolulu_Blue]

Carolina has claimed The Noodler off waivers.

There are also rumors swirling around that the Ducks may be willing to trade Bobby Ryan. I know Ryan is struggling this year, but I am fan of the guy. Though I don't think it'd ever happen, the Wings could really use some youth and scoring on the wing.

[Honolulu_Blue]

Ovechkin for Ryan straight up. That would be a landscape changing move. Ducks would have to throw in more salary to balance it, and the Caps would likely send a pick back, but that would certainly cement the end of the primadonna era in DC.

That is madness.

Also, the Ducks are on a pretty strict slef-imposed budget. No way could they take on Ovechkin's massive contract.

[JPhillips]

The Caps will either win with Ovechkin or not win. Trading your superstar for lesser pieces won't help.

[RomaGoth]

There are also rumors swirling around that the Ducks may be willing to trade Bobby Ryan. I know Ryan is struggling this year, but I am fan of the guy. Though I don't think it'd ever happen, the Wings could really use some youth and scoring on the wing.

Would love to see Ryan wearing the winged wheel. We desperately need some scoring off the wing, and his speed/size combination would fit in very well.

[Grover]

Best of luck to Nodl in Carolina. I'll miss him.

[Fidatelo]

Byfuglien for Bobby Ryan straight up. Make it happen, Chevledayoff. :)

[JPhillips]

My point is that there's no way the Caps win the Cup without Ovechkin playing like a star. There's no way to get rid of him and be better.

[Honolulu_Blue]

Ovechkin is 9-10m/yr. Ryan is 5.5m/yr. Anaheim tosses in a contract, the Caps respond with a high draft pick, and it evens out.

When you're talking internal team budget, I think you also have to take into account the overall value of the contract, not just the per year cap hit. When Bobby Ryan's contract comes off the books in 2015, the Caps will still being owing Ovie another $50 million or so? Yikes!

[JPhillips]

Ovechkin is 9-10m/yr. Ryan is 5.5m/yr. Anaheim tosses in a contract, the Caps respond with a high draft pick, and it evens out.

I think he means it would be madness for the Caps. Ovechkin's lowest point total is higher than Ryan's highest point total.

[Honolulu_Blue]

I think he means it would be madness for the Caps. Ovechkin's lowest point total is higher than Ryan's highest point total.

Yes. It would be madness for the Caps.

And I also believe that it would be financially impossible for the Ducks.

[Suburban Rhythm]

The difference is the steady decline Ovechkin has been going through. He's pack on at least 25-30lbs since joining the league. He no longer keeps the initial distance on defenders that he gains by cherrypicking on breakaways. He's no longer the creative guy who bounces the puck off the boards and spins around a defender. He's no longer the guy who goes sliding across the ice and hooks a puck in the goal while he's on his back.

He's become the guy who gets most of his goals right near the crease on put backs but isn't willing to do that work most of the time. He's become the guy who puts on 1-2 high energy shifts per period, but spends the rest of the time floating around doing no work on defense or in the corners/down low on offense. He's become the guy who whines his way onto the point on PPs because he doesn't like taking the contact down low and his PP numbers have declined badly because of it. He's become an 80-85 point winger, and shows no signs of doing the work to get back to the 100+ point superstar.

I would love to see the superstar Alex Ovechkin again. I don't think he exists, and even if he does I don't see any indication he's willing to work for it. Maybe, hopefully Dale Hunter can be the kind of coach to get him to put the effort in. Otherwise, we're looking at something that is going to slip into very bad contract territory very soon.

I think alot of this is how guys play him anymore. He scored a bunch of goals by entering the zone with speed, and ripping a shot using the D as a screen.

D are no longer concerned with getting beat by him blowing past him, so they stand up on him, he no longer gets those shots off.

I'll stop short of calling him a one-trick pony, because he did have some great goals in tight. But his best chances are being taken away before they even develop now.

[Suburban Rhythm]

They were probably too busy making sure Sidney Crosby was ok. I am sure those officials got a stern talking to.

Shanny is going to be getting a memo

NHL fines Penguins winger Neal $2,500 for high-stick incident (http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11333/1193340-100.stm)

Unless this is all part of the coverup, in which case, good job.

[Honolulu_Blue]

Unless this is all part of the coverup, in which case, good job.

Now you're starting to get the hang of this...

[Chief Rum]

Carolina has claimed The Noodler off waivers.

There are also rumors swirling around that the Ducks may be willing to trade Bobby Ryan. I know Ryan is struggling this year, but I am fan of the guy. Though I don't think it'd ever happen, the Wings could really use some youth and scoring on the wing.

The problem with the Ducks is not the talent. They shouldn't be looking to move these guys. I think the issue is that the veterans have tuned out Carlyle. Most of them have been here a while and have been listening to Carlyle's tough guy schtick since before the Cup year.

[Logan]

I have to imagine the Rangers would be very interested in a deal for Ryan, and for once it seems like we'd have the young players/prospects to pull off such a deal.

[RomaGoth]

I never knew that Gretzky had a daughter, and she ain't bad to look at:

Did The Great One shut down Paulina Gretzky’s tantalizing Twitter? - Puck Daddy - NHL*Blog - Yahoo! Sports (http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/blog/puck_daddy/post/Did-The-Great-One-shut-down-Paulina-Gretzky-821?urn=nhl-wp18522)

:popcorn:

[RomaGoth]

dola

http://xaxor.com/images/Paulina-Gretzky-Twitter-pics-/Paulina-Gretzky-Twitter-pics-5.jpg

[johnnyshaka]

Yup, The Great One done....well, Great.

[Logan]

Traveling this week...staying in a hotel room alone. If you would have told me before I left that Tuesday night's inspiration would have come from the NHL thread on FOFC...wow would I have been worried about myself.

[Dr. Sak]

Best of luck to Nodl in Carolina. I'll miss him.

He was a decent 3rd/4th liner. With the emergence of Matt Read and Sean Couturier he became expendable.

[Grover]

He was a decent 3rd/4th liner. With the emergence of Matt Read and Sean Couturier he became expendable.

Indeed. Those were my exact thoughts on him yesterday further up the thread. I like him a lot when he was on the PK line with Betts, but Read and Cooter have been excellent on the PK this year.

[Dr. Sak]

Indeed. Those were my exact thoughts on him yesterday further up the thread. I like him a lot when he was on the PK line with Betts, but Read and Cooter have been excellent on the PK this year.

What did Nodl in was that he didn't score. Only 12 goals in 100+ games I believe.

[Grover]

What did Nodl in was that he didn't score. Only 12 goals in 100+ games I believe.

Agree with this completely. I just wish Homer would've at least tried to get a draft pick for the guy. I know cap space is pretty rare with the Flyers, but letting someone, anyone (other than Shelley/Walker) go for nothing is borderline unacceptable.

[MizzouRah]

The Blues are freaking hot.. and with many injuries to boot.

[JPhillips]

This surprised me. From Japer's Rink:

.133 - Average increase in winning percentage for all mid-season coaching changes made in the NHL since the lockout.

If it held true for the Caps they would end the season with 111 points.

[Wolfpack]

New coach, SOS. This team is seriously hurting in the confidence department right now. Carolina played with good intensity and had a fair number of chances, but still lost to Florida, 3-1. As has been the case for much of the season, they are their own worst enemy with an ineffective power play and then mental mistakes resulting in opposing goals scored (Kaberle with another lapse on defense on the second goal though Ward should have made that save and then Ponikarovsky with a nifty fail at the blue line that resulted in an empty net game-clincher).

Muller's got his work cut out for him and it's going to take a little time to get things turned around (if ever as far as this season goes).

[Fidatelo]

Saw my second regular season Jets game tonight, unfortunately another loss to the Sens. I felt the game could have gone either way, and that the Jets played pretty well after an ineffective first period. Refs made a couple questionable decisions that went the wrong way for us and ended up being game changers.

Regardless, it was so much fun! I took my Dad, I think it might have been the first hockey game I've been to with him since I was about 10 years old. I love you, Winnipeg Jets.

[Suburban Rhythm]

Blues played good hockey tonight and so did the Caps. I liked a lot of what I saw. Blues were able to take advantage of a couple of mistakes, one a positioning mistake and one a Vokoun can't control his rebounds at all mistake.

Despite Hunter saying he wasn't going to change much in just 2 practices, the pregame warmup routine was completely different, the offensive alignment and style was completely different (there was actual structure primarily through playing a center-high set), the neutral zone scheme was completely different, and the defensive set and coverages were completely different. I saw an attempt to play real hockey in DC for the first time since Ron Wilson was coach.

Boudreau had picked up the nickname Juggles The Clown due to his incessant juggling of lines from game to game and shift to shift. Hunter did not do a single line changeup until the 3rd period when Marcus Johannson was getting treatment in the training room for the first few minutes and Matt Hendricks spent 5 minutes in the box for a beauty of a fight (done right off a faceoff solely to pump up the team/crowd--we play like pussies no more). He then went back to the regular lines until the final shift with the goalie pulled and put on his six best scorers. It's so nice to have a competent coach who isn't going to needlessly screw with everything all the time.

Is he warming up for a re-match Thursday night?

[Suburban Rhythm]

The question is already floating around about whether DJ King gets recalled by Thursday or if Hunter goes and finds another heavyweight to put on the 4th line when necessary.

MacIntyre was put on IR yesterday ("upper-body"). Engelland and Asham will surely dress.

[Sublime 2]

Bruins beat the Leafs tonight, and finish the month of November without losing a game in regulation, going 12-0-1.

After the hideous start, this has been fun to watch.

[Galaxy]

Carolina has claimed The Noodler off waivers.

There are also rumors swirling around that the Ducks may be willing to trade Bobby Ryan. I know Ryan is struggling this year, but I am fan of the guy. Though I don't think it'd ever happen, the Wings could really use some youth and scoring on the wing.

I heard the Ducks' GM and two scouts were at the Sabres-Islanders game last night, and got a booth right next to the Sabres' booth. It sounds like the two teams have had some conversations. Miller was also in a trade rumor, but not sure to where and where that rumor is coming from.

[bhlloy]

Boudreau replaces Carlyle as Ducks coach. Pleasantly surprised, with all his faults his style of play fits the current roster way better than Randy's did. Thanks for the cup but this team has been underperforming for years.

Very interested to see what this means for Bobby Ryan, I can't imagine Boudreau is going to be happy to see the first thing that happens is one of his best offensive players get dealt. Doesn't really make sense, I'm almost wondering if it isn't a crazy scheme by Murray to keep the Boudreau deal quiet, maybe he was worried another team might try a coaching switcheroo first?

[RomaGoth]

Boudreau replaces Carlyle as Ducks coach. Pleasantly surprised, with all his faults his style of play fits the current roster way better than Randy's did. Thanks for the cup but this team has been underperforming for years.

Very interested to see what this means for Bobby Ryan, I can't imagine Boudreau is going to be happy to see the first thing that happens is one of his best offensive players get dealt. Doesn't really make sense, I'm almost wondering if it isn't a crazy scheme by Murray to keep the Boudreau deal quiet, maybe he was worried another team might try a coaching switcheroo first?

Sweeeeet.....Washington Capitals West!

[DaddyTorgo]

Bruins beat the Leafs tonight, and finish the month of November without losing a game in regulation, going 12-0-1.

After the hideous start, this has been fun to watch.

This. Hell of a fun month.

[Honolulu_Blue]

Bruins beat the Leafs tonight, and finish the month of November without losing a game in regulation, going 12-0-1.

After the hideous start, this has been fun to watch.

Glad it was the Wings that made Boston have to use that qualifier. :)

[RomaGoth]

Hurricanes add MacLean to coaching staff. (http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=604090)

[RomaGoth]

Dola

Interesting that the Original 6 NHL franchises are also the top 6 in total value out of all NHL franchises:

Detroit Red Wings - NHL | Forbes: Red Wings rank fourth in value at $336M | The Detroit News (http://detnews.com/article/20111201/SPORTS0103/112010403/1128/rss16)

[DeToxRox]

Red Wings are expected to host one of the next two Winter Classics. The Rangers are the other team in line. Seeing that the Rangers are playing in this years it reasons to think Detroit holds it next year. The NHL is also considering playing the game at the Big House in an effort to break the attendance record. I'd imagine Detroit vs Toronto would easily do that, but I can't see NBC being too thrilled in having a Canadian team playing the game.

[Fidatelo]

I have to think that Winnipeg will get an outdoor game in the next 2-3 years. We have the new team, we're building a new football stadium, and we have the climate. Seems like a perfect fit, to me.

[DeToxRox]

Red Wings in talks with NHL to host outdoor game within next two seasons | MLive.com (http://www.mlive.com/redwings/index.ssf/2011/12/red_wings_in_talks_with_nhl_to.html)

DETROIT -- The Detroit Red Wings are in deep discussions with the NHL about hosting an outdoor game within the next two seasons.

MLive.com has learned the Red Wings expect to host the annual Winter Classic either next season or in 2013-14.

The Red Wings would prefer to have the game at Comerica Park, home of the Tigers, also owned by Mike Ilitch. But it might take place at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor due to its huge capacity.

The stadium hosted the "Big Chill at the Big House" on Dec. 11, 2010, attracting a world record announced crowd of 113,411 in the game between Michigan and Michigan State.

Detroit and New York are in line for the next two NHL outdoor games in the U.S.

Since the New York Rangers play in this season’s Winter Classic on Jan. 2 at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia against the Flyers, it stands to reason that Detroit would be the leading candidate to host next season’s game since the league is unlikely to have the same team (the Rangers) play in it two years in a row.

The Red Wings played in the 2009 Winter Classic at Chicago’s Wrigley Field, beating the Blackhawks 6-4.

A limited number of NHL cities in the U.S. can host these events due to climate. Buffalo, Chicago, Boston and Pittsburgh already have hosted outdoor games.

Minnesota and Columbus probably would be the only other places capable of hosting the Winter Classic, but it’s doubtful NBC would want to show the Wild or the Blue Jackets, who would not garner good enough TV ratings.

[Logan]

I doubt the Rangers get to host it next year, but whenever they do, please NHL, don't give in to pressure to host it at "historic" Yankee Stadium. Only baseball should be played there. It needs to be at a football stadium for the better viewing angles and increased capacity.

As an aside, is there anything that prevents a team from planning/playing an outdoor game on their own? Obviously it would be very expensive to host, but I'm thinking about a team like the Devils who would be pretty far down the list of being a team involved (both in general and as a NY area team). Could they give up a home game versus the Rangers, play at MetLife Stadium, charge their season ticket holders a premium, charge Rangers fans a higher premium, and get some extra money from NBC to offset the costs by scheduling it as a primetime event? There's no doubt some of the buzz will be gone by not having it branded with the Winter Classic and what comes with it, but I'm just wondering.

[Grover]

Random note: Mike Grier has retired.

[MikeVic]

Random note: Mike Grier has retired.

ESPN's side headline of "U.S.-born black player Grier retires from NHL" seems off for some reason, and I don't know why.

[Sublime 2]

Bruins re-sign David Krejci for 3 yrs at 5.25/yr.

[johnnyshaka]

Dola

Interesting that the Original 6 NHL franchises are also the top 6 in total value out of all NHL franchises:

Detroit Red Wings - NHL | Forbes: Red Wings rank fourth in value at $336M | The Detroit News (http://detnews.com/article/20111201/SPORTS0103/112010403/1128/rss16)

Stands to reason when those six teams have been around forever and are in the markets they're in.

What will be interesting is if a team like Pittsburgh ousts one of the original six in 10 years as the "Crosby Generation" grows up and starts spreading their seed around North America.

[johnnyshaka]

Random note: Mike Grier has retired.

Frustrating player to cheer for as he had speed and size, and used it appropriately, but no friggin' hands! BUT, he was always going balls to the wall and as a fan I appreciate that every day of the week.

[JonInMiddleGA]

ESPN's side headline of "U.S.-born black player Grier retires from NHL" seems off for some reason, and I don't know why.

I assumed that he was the first U.S. born black player to make it, so I figured the headline made sense. The article only refers to him as "one of the first", so it's a bigger reach IMO if that's the case.

[RomaGoth]

...starts spreading their seed around North America.

:eek:

[Suburban Rhythm]

Bruins re-sign David Krejci for 3 yrs at 5.25/yr.

TB extended Hedman too, $4M per for 5 years.

[johnnyshaka]

:eek:

lol...exactly what happened with the fans of Original Six teams, right? ;)

[DeToxRox]

This will always be what I remember when people talk about Mike Grier:

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/TBdU6NPJb1c" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[Honolulu_Blue]

An very interesting interview with Scotty Bowman:

Red Light » Posts It’s the time of the season for NHL coaching upheaval « (http://nhl-red-light.si.com/2011/12/01/its-the-time-of-the-season-for-nhl-coaching-upheaval/)

Here are some quotes:

Bowman on the Caps:

“I don’t know how good that team is,” he says of the Capitals, wondering if they might have been long overrated. “They’re always in a weak division. They’re always with teams that have no money or don’t spend to the salary cap. They get in the playoffs and their competition is tougher.

“I think what happened with Boudreau, he replaced Glen Hanlon, and they weren’t playing for him,” he continues. ”They bought in Boudreau, some guy from the minors, and they started to win by playing all-out offense. They didn’t play any defense. Then they started to lose in the playoffs and he tried to change,” alluding to Boudreau trying to get his players to become more defensively responsible after having some regular season success playing another way. “I don’t think you can change. It’s too bad for Boudreau, but he bounced back right away.”

Bowman on the Ducks:

“Carlyle, I don’t understand. He was a big matcher. He always had a defensive line. The year they won the Cup (2007), it was Sami Pahlsson, Travis Moen and Robbie Niedermayer. He changed on the fly (to get them out against their opponent’s best forwards) and they played a very disciplined game.” But those three players are all gone now, the Ducks defense corps is not what it was, and Carlyle seemed to have taken a different approach by playing his best forwards in situations where he previously used checkers.

“I’ve been watching them the last month and a half,” Bowman said. “The goalie wasn’t what he was, but their defense corps is horrible. And Perry, Getzlaf, and Ryan, they weren’t good in their own end. I know he didn’t have a checking line anymore because all those guys are gone. You know when you get star players, you can’t ever get them thinking that you want them to fail. You got to make them believe you’re always in their corner, you’re always trying to insulate them. I don’t know what he was doing.”

Bowman on the Hurricanes:

As far as Carolina goes, the Hurricanes are in that Southeast Division of lower payroll teams and it’s reflected by their roster as far as Bowman is concerned. “They got Eric Staal and Jeff Skinner. Tuomo Ruutu’s OK. But they don’t have any other forwards. Their defense corps, he keeps getting recycled guys. How can you keep winning with recycled players? You click for a while, eh? They have a goalie (Cam Ward) who’s very good. He’s going to need some relief, though. They get a lot of shots against them.”

Will that doom Muller, Maurice’s replacement? “I don’t know much about him,” Bowman says, ”A lot of people swear by him. They say he’s going to be offensive-minded. Kirk Muller worked with Jacques Martin (in Montreal), and he’s a defensive guy. It’ll be interesting to see what he can do.”

Bowman on the Blues:

What about the Blues, who have certainly had success after replacing Payne with Ken Hitchcock? “I just find they’re working,” Bowman says. ”They’re on top of the other team. They’re always chasing the puckcarrier. He’s got a guy whose always chasing the puck. They’re playing an uptempo game.” He likens it to the way the Red Wings have played successfully under Mike Babcock, who always has a forechecker going full tilt at the puckcarrier.

[Suburban Rhythm]

Caps-Pens has been fun so far. Pens got a goal on Jeff Schultz being useless and covering no one in the crease. Caps lead 15-2 in hits 11 minutes in. Erskine avenged Beagle by dropping Asham.

2 ticky-tack penalties against the Caps so far, but Jordan Staal runs over Erskine with the puck nowhere near him (but in front of the ref) and no interference call. The Bettman Hockey League really pisses me off at times.

I'd hardly say Erskine "dropped" Asham. Nobody landed much of anything, then they hugged it out.

This is my black n gold glasses probably, but I mentioned earlier in the thread. Ovy doesn't scare me anymore. Stand up on him, Washington rush defused. And the few times he made plays, Backstrom was there to miss the net.

[johnnyshaka]

Pure gold...thanks to DGB for pointing it out!

<iframe src='http://video.thescore.com/embed/brian-burke-on-the-end-of-his-feud-with-kevin-lowe' width='650' height='366' frameborder='0' scrolling='no'></iframe>

[Fidatelo]

I love Brian Burke.

[bronconick]

Shannon on NHL: Realignment on the way? - sportsnet.ca (http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/2011/12/02/shannon_on_realignment/)

On the agenda were two realignment plans. One simple, one a little more progressive. I'm told, the two plans will be presented without a recommendation from the commissioner's office, and they are plans that "reflect the greatest level of club interest." The simple one is just a swap of Detroit for Winnipeg. That fulfils the promise of Gary Bettman to Mike Illitch to put the Red Wings in the east.
The second proposal is very close to the one we have been discussing for a few months that would see the removal of the two conferences (and six divisions) for four divisions and would include a more balanced schedule. It would appease the Wings' demand that, if in fact they can't be in the East, every team in the league would play a minimum of one home-and-home series. That proposal would also call for two rounds of divisional playoffs, which would help maintain the regional rivalries, if they don't play as many games against each other in the regular season.

[Grover]

I am so against splitting Pittsburgh and Philadelphia up.

[Honolulu_Blue]

Interesting stuff on realignment.

The four divisions, no conference plan sounds pretty radical. That said, I believe the two rounds of divisional playoffs could be fantastic. Rivalries are really born in the playoffs, much much more so than during regular season games.

[RomaGoth]

The NHL should just create an Original 6 division and the rest are irrelevant.

:D

[johnnyshaka]

The NHL should just create an Original 6 division and the rest are irrelevant.

:D

Even better, create your own network so I don't have to watch the friggin' Leafs and Habs two or three times a week!!!

[RomaGoth]

Even better, create your own network so I don't have to watch the friggin' Leafs and Habs two or three times a week!!!

That's not a bad idea, actually. Unfortunately, Bettman will never go for such a radical idea as long as he has one hand in Crosby's pants and the other in the owner's wallets.

[bronconick]

That's not a bad idea, actually. Unfortunately, Bettman will never go for such a radical idea as long as he has one hand in Crosby's pants and the other in the owner's wallets.

Well, he takes Montreal and Toronto out and replaces them with Pittsburgh and Philadelphia.

The network is called "NBC".

[Grover]

What a comeback for the Flyers to spoil Boudreau's Ducks debut. Down 2-0 after one, I told a fellow board member, The Jackal, that we were going to win this game. Looking completely inept and rusty after six days off, the Ducks went up 3-0 before Jagr got one back in the second. Jagr got another back in the third, before Hartnell evened it up with 3:42 to go. We gave up a late penalty, so a tense couple of minutes on the kill leading into overtime.

Getzlaf gets called for tripping Voracek right after he came out of the box and into the Ducks zone. Getzlaf argues with the ref and gets another two minutes tacked on. Giroux with a fantastic one-timer from the left circle beats Hiller. Boudreau and co. cry. Flyers win.

Fantastic.

The Finnish God of Defense, Kimmo Timonen finished the game with three assists, Jagr had two goals, Giroux a goal and an assist. Boy, did we miss #68.

[Grover]

Hold on...a Bruce Boudreau coached team couldn't hold a lead? Maybe that's why the Caps had the worst winning % in the league when scoring first at the time he was fired.

Good to see nothing has changed with Fat Fuck.

I thought you might enjoy this.

[MizzouRah]

David Peron makes his return tonight after a concussion has kept him off the ice for 90+ games. So excited to see him back!

[RomaGoth]

Good to see nothing has changed with Fat Fuck.

Tell us how you really feel. ;)

[Grover]

Flyers jump out 4-0 on Phoenix after one. What a period. Goals from Read, Giroux, Hartnell and Simmonds (not in that order). Rookie sensation Read has a PPG and two assists.

Read for Calder. He plays in all three phases of the game, unlike that hyphenate in Edmonton.

[Suburban Rhythm]

Flyers jump out 4-0 on Phoenix after one. What a period. Goals from Read, Giroux, Hartnell and Simmonds (not in that order). Rookie sensation Read has a PPG and two assists.

Read for Calder. He plays in all three phases of the game, unlike that hyphenate in Edmonton.

Read was Bob McKenzie's preseason pick.

But...not to take anything away from Read (I've only seen 1 Philly game this year), the Nuge is not just a offensive player. He's going to be a Datsyuk like player-- he's really slick picking pockets on the backcheck.

[Grover]

Read was Bob McKenzie's preseason pick.

But...not to take anything away from Read (I've only seen 1 Philly game this year), the Nuge is not just a offensive player. He's going to be a Datsyuk like player-- he's really slick picking pockets on the backcheck.

Read's been one of our best penalty killers this year. Even has a SHG. Kid (well, he's 25) can do it all.

In fact, he's been on a PK line with our other rookie, Couturier most of the year.

[Galaxy]

Dear lord, Ryan Miller returns tonight since the Lucic hit. What happens? Tootoo leaps right into him and gets a game misconduct.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/sEvcmQndjYc" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[EagleFan]

Dear lord, Ryan Miller returns tonight since the Lucic hit. What happens? Tootoo leaps right into him and gets a game misconduct.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/sEvcmQndjYc" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

What did he get for that? Looks like a suspension to me, can't see how there is anyway to sell that as something other than a cheap shot.

Loved Miller's immediate retaliation, he was throwing punches before they even stopped falling, and rightfully so. Also likes the Buffalo response with about 5 guys jumping on him right away. Always good to see immediate reaction from teammates when something like that happens, tells you about the team.

[Galaxy]

What did he get for that? Looks like a suspension to me, can't see how there is anyway to sell that as something other than a cheap shot.

Loved Miller's immediate retaliation, he was throwing punches before they even stopped falling, and rightfully so. Also likes the Buffalo response with about 5 guys jumping on him right away. Always good to see immediate reaction from teammates when something like that happens, tells you about the team.

He got a game misconduct and a major for charging. Yeah, Gastaud was talking up with the Nashville goalie as he was leaving the ice, but he didn't return due to injury. The team really didn't let Nashville take another shot at him the rest of the night. If you were near, the Sabres would push and throw them down.

Ruff basically called out Shanahan in the post-game conference. It'll be interesting.

The best part was the Nashville chanting, "Miller is a sissy." It's funny when you play a country music song after the Preds score though.

[Johnny93g]

Always good to see immediate reaction from teammates when something like that happens, tells you about the team.

Ya, it tells me that they got the riot act from the whole hockey world when they didn't do anything the first time it happened.

[Pumpy Tudors]

You know what I see when the whole Buffalo team has to jump on Tootoo after that? It takes 6 Sabres to equal one decent tough guy.

[EagleFan]

You know what I see when the whole Buffalo team has to jump on Tootoo after that? It takes 6 Sabres to equal one decent tough guy.

Like a Penguins fan would know what a tough guy is...

:devil:

[EagleFan]

Ya, it tells me that they got the riot act from the whole hockey world when they didn't do anything the first time it happened.

Ah, didn't know they didn't do it prior.

That is what I am liking about the Flyers team this year. They stand up for each other immediately, not quite like that under Richards' watch.

[Dr. Sak]

Like a Penguins fan would know what a tough guy is...

:devil:

I don't know what is more insulting to Pumpy...calling him a Pens fan or saying he loves Colin White.

[Suburban Rhythm]

Ya, it tells me that they got the riot act from the whole hockey world when they didn't do anything the first time it happened.

This was my initial reaction too...6 guys to Tootoo, 0 to Lucic. And I can't stand Lucic, but

Like a Penguins fan would know what a tough guy is...

:devil:

Don't lump a Devils fan in with us! ;)

Also-- Deryk Engelland (and Jody Shelley) feel different than you do

http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcR89KkJPmAaWv2iSVber8PMTcGgbuhPthl90mmop_yr6x6D6feol63NpElzMw

[Big T]

Oh oh, here we go again........ Nice to see the Sabres react this time. I was not as certain on the Lucic hit on Miller as to whether there would be suspension as Miller was way out of his net and shouldn't expect the opposing player would simply give way and give up the puck voluntarily like the Sabres and Ruff expected... this time there is no question.

[RomaGoth]

Leave it to the Crapalanche to end the Wings' winning streak. The thing that has impressed me the most this year is the play of Jimmy Howard. He is a legitimate starting goalie in the NHL, which is something the Wings have been lacking for several decades (outside of stints from Hasek and Mike Vernon/Curtis Joseph and a good but not great regular season goalie in Chris Osgood).

[Honolulu_Blue]

Leave it to the Crapalanche to end the Wings' winning streak. The thing that has impressed me the most this year is the play of Jimmy Howard. He is a legitimate starting goalie in the NHL, which is something the Wings have been lacking for several decades (outside of stints from Hasek and Mike Vernon/Curtis Joseph and a good but not great regular season goalie in Chris Osgood).

Jimmy Howard has been playing great this year. His numbers back it up and he's looked the part. He's maturing and developing. He's been the best player on the team all season along with Lidstrom.

He is part of the reason I never got concerned when the Wings went into that 6 game funk earlier in the season. About half of those losses came during Conklin's meltdown period and when Howard was in net the Wings weren't losing because of bad goaltending or defensive play, but because their offense went dry. You knew the offense would come around eventually, which it did, and the defensive play remained solid.

As for the comment about lacking a "legitimate starting goalie in the NHL"... Yes, goaltending has long been considered the Wings "weak spot", except for the 2002 Hasek year. But I think the reason goaltending was considered the weak spot was because the rest of the team was so good. You had to point to something.

By listing Osgood, Hasek, Vernon and Joseph as exceptions to the rule you pretty much list every starting goalie the Wings have had, outside Legace, over the past 20 years.

Chris Osgood is the winningest goalie in Red Wings history. He was a "legitimate starting goalie in the NHL" for a long, long time. And I'm not sure what you mean by calling Osgood "good but not great regular season goalie". Sure, Osgood may not have been a "great" goalie, but he was a good one and definitely a "legitimate starting goalie in the NHL" for many years. And you can't say that Osgood was only a "regular season" goalie when he won two cups as a starter and his playoff numbers are better than his regular season numbers.

[Draft Dodger]

Leave it to the Crapalanche to end the Wings' winning streak.

and the Avs needed it (so did Joe Sacco). A week ago, the Avs were 2-3 on their crucial 8-game home stand. But 3 big wins, blowing out the New Jersey Pumpys and ending the winning streaks for both the Blues and the Wings and they are right back in it. For now.

Ryan O'Reilly has been awesome, as has Varlamov

[RomaGoth]

As for the comment about lacking a "legitimate starting goalie in the NHL"... Yes, goaltending has long been considered the Wings "weak spot", except for the 2002 Hasek year. But I think the reason goaltending was considered the weak spot was because the rest of the team was so good. You had to point to something.

By listing Osgood, Hasek, Vernon and Joseph as exceptions to the rule you pretty much list every starting goalie the Wings have had, outside Legace, over the past 20 years.

Chris Osgood is the winningest goalie in Red Wings history. He was a "legitimate starting goalie in the NHL" for a long, long time. And I'm not sure what you mean by calling Osgood "good but not great regular season goalie". Sure, Osgood may not have been a "great" goalie, but he was a good one and definitely a "legitimate starting goalie in the NHL" for many years. And you can't say that Osgood was only a "regular season" goalie when he won two cups as a starter and his playoff numbers are better than his regular season numbers.

I have always been in Osgood's corner and believe he is a hall of famer. However, his regular season numbers were often inflated because of the great teams he was on (he did have one great season with the Islanders and that team was terrible). Osgood is mostly known as a playoff goalie and that is a well-deserved label. He was an incredible performer under pressure after the loss to San Jose in 1993 or 1994 (can't remember which year now).

I believe you read what I was saying in reverse, as I was alluding to Ozzie's great playoffs and sometimes average regular season numbers. We all know he didn't always have the best work ethic during the regular season, and his consistency suffered because of it.

In regards to the other goalies, there was a good year or 2 with Hasek but the rest of those guys are forgettable. Joseph's and Vernon's best years were before they played in Detroit (although Vernon did win a Cup in Detroit). I was mostly referring to guys like Greg Stefan, Glen Hanlon, Tim Cheveldae, Bob Essensa, and yes...Manny Legace.

I have been a Wings fan for over 30 years and have never seen them have what I would call a legitimate starting goalie, especially one who is homegrown, until now.

Howard is the real deal.