The Official 2011-12 Regular Season Talk Thread

[gopher_guy]

Re: The Official 2011-12 Regular Season Talk Thread

Also fun to watch Blake Wheeler. I don't think I've watched a full game of his in the pros. One of my favorite Gophers!!

[ImTellinTim]

Re: The Official 2011-12 Regular Season Talk Thread

LOL @ Jets fans booing lustfully at Heatley.

[ImTellinTim]

Re: The Official 2011-12 Regular Season Talk Thread

There better be a nice suspension for that hit. ****ing disgusting.

Uh yeah, can't wait for this rivalry to develop. What a game! Both teams have great crowds and the driving distance isn't too bad. I need to get to a game up there sooner rather than later.

Wild can't close out the perfect road trip. Back at home for two before *sigh* another Canada/West Coast trip.

[Bellsprout]

Re: The Official 2011-12 Regular Season Talk Thread

What a ****ing game.

Dear god, I'M exhausted.

[gopher_guy]

Re: The Official 2011-12 Regular Season Talk Thread

We know who's going to have a MAJOR target on his back the next time these two teams play...

[DrJones]

Re: The Official 2011-12 Regular Season Talk Thread

Wait, Richard Bachman plays for the Stars? I thought he was a King.

[Kobalt]

Re: The Official 2011-12 Regular Season Talk Thread

There better be a nice suspension for that hit. ****ing disgusting.

Uh yeah, can't wait for this rivalry to develop. What a game! Both teams have great crowds and the driving distance isn't too bad. I need to get to a game up there sooner rather than later.

Wild can't close out the perfect road trip. Back at home for two before *sigh* another Canada/West Coast trip.

I'm guessing you're talking about Bogosian? He'll get suspended for getting a game misconduct with not much time left(I think last 5 mins of regulation) or is that just instigator. I have no idea.

I don't think it's worthy of suspension, it looked like Bouchard just turned while he was being hit. That's just me, but what do I know. Hope Bouchard is ok.

[AutoMG]

Re: The Official 2011-12 Regular Season Talk Thread

So who are you guys top 10 right now?

My opinion is good teams are really dominant in one facet of the game while average or bad on the other end while great teams can score in bunches and keep the score low.

These are my opinions, so flame away and no I don't hide homerism.

1. Detroit - +30 goal differential(2nd in NHL), very hot right now and has score outscored opponents in last three games, 16 to 4, Jimmy Howard is 1st in wins and top 5 every other major statistic and getting good support on D.

2. Boston- +38 GD, defending Cup Champs, two very good goaltenders but Detroit ended the big winning streak so I put them ahead.

3. Philadelphia - Scores more than anyone but gets average goaltending.

4. Minnesota - Pretty much anyone they put in net has been good this season, very surprising team. Yes, they have the most points but they have a game or two on most teams and I don't think they will maintain it.

5. Vancouver - Hate them, but I can not deny that they can score with anyone and have a great Goalie duo(in the regular season anyways).

6. New York Rangers - Decent offense but gets great defense and has Lundqvist in net.

7. Chicago - More points than Detroit but they give up about as many goals as they score.

8. Pittsburgh - Even without Crosby, they still have great depth and a great goalie in M-A Fluery.

9. Florida - Another surprise team but I don't think they will be able to be consistent.

10. St. Louis - Playing great hockey under Hitchcock.

That's mine, what is your top ten?

[TheMatrix31]

Re: The Official 2011-12 Regular Season Talk Thread

Not sure about a top ten, but the Sabres are disgustingly bad on home ice. Makes no sense.

[SPTO]

Re: The Official 2011-12 Regular Season Talk Thread

AutoMG I agree with your list for the most part but my top 4 would be:

Boston
Detroit
Minnesota
Philadelphia

[mercalnd]

Re: The Official 2011-12 Regular Season Talk Thread

Wait, Richard Bachman plays for the Stars? I thought he was a King.

Good one. I wonder how many people will actually get it though...

[ImTellinTim]

Re: The Official 2011-12 Regular Season Talk Thread

I'm guessing you're talking about Bogosian? He'll get suspended for getting a game misconduct with not much time left(I think last 5 mins of regulation) or is that just instigator. I have no idea.

I don't think it's worthy of suspension, it looked like Bouchard just turned while he was being hit. That's just me, but what do I know. Hope Bouchard is ok.

That is just instigator I think.

As for the hit, he starts the motion to push him into the boards after he clearly had his back turned. He knew what he was doing there.

[Money99]

Re: The Official 2011-12 Regular Season Talk Thread

The size of the ice does nothing to avoid a freak accident like what happened to Giroux.

And like it's been mentioned, in theory it sounds like a good idea, but it's just not practical.

I'd like to see it tried during preseason though as I really do feel with a wider surface freak accidents like this could be avoided.
It was just the night before that Giroux showed off his ninja skills by avoiding a nasty Malkin elbow.
The guy has amazing awareness.

With more ice, there's less bunching up and less chance for freak accidents.

I understand the issue with losing seats or having one building be different than another.
But for the older hockey fans out there like myself, I still remember the days where teams like the Bruins and Sabres played on surfaces that were much smaller than other rinks.

In any event, I'd at least like to see how it could look during preseason. Have one night where the NHL has games in non-NHL buildings and make the ice 200x100.
We'd get a large sample of how things would look so a more educated assumption could be made.

[SPTO]

Re: The Official 2011-12 Regular Season Talk Thread

With more ice, there's less bunching up and less chance for freak accidents.

I like your idea a lot but the fossils that run the league immediately equate larger ice surface with "pansy Euro hockey". I'd like to see them try it at the very least at the hockey development camp during the summer and have it tried out for a full year in one of the minor leagues.

[DrJones]

Re: The Official 2011-12 Regular Season Talk Thread

So who are you guys top 10 right now?

My opinion is good teams are really dominant in one facet of the game while average or bad on the other end while great teams can score in bunches and keep the score low.

These are my opinions, so flame away and no I don't hide homerism.

...

That's mine, what is your top ten?

Power Rankings are one of the (many) internet-age sports tropes that bring out my inner Andy Rooney. "Don't you just hate Power Rankings? Remember when they were just called Standings?"