Hockey Night in DSP-Season 2011-12

[10spro]

It was a short summer for my 'Nuckers as they start a new season full of hopes after falling just one game short of achieving the ultimate goal. After enduring a tragic summer, the NHL has rarely needed the promise of a new season more than now. There's a new sheriff in town which has shown so far that he means business and wants to clean up the game, now the question is whether Shanny will be able to be consistent with his punishment. During the pre-season he did quite well although I thought he missed the call on Campoli last week.

The Jets are also back after 15 years and G, Bettman better start thinking about re-alignment in the league while trying to accommodate all teams fairly in four conferences.

Here's hoping that Sid the Kid will be back very soon, he will miss the opener against the Canucks in this western Canadian swing. With him healthy and E. Malkov recovered from his knee injury, if he can recapture his moments of Lemieux-esque dominance with the Pens, the dynamic duo should be candidates for another shot at the Cup.

Caps should have a fine year too, and if this isn't their year, it'll never be. Devils will be much improved too. How will J. Jagr fare in his return?

As for the west, watch out for those Kings, they'll be a force. Sharks are deeper in D and will be the favorites to win the wild wild west IMO. I also think that the Oilers will be an exciting team to watch.

As for my 'Nuckers, well they'll start the season banged up, the same way they ended their final game of the SC finals, with R. Kesler out, and M. Raymond still suffering from a broken vertebrae. They'll miss the mobility of C. Ehrhoff in defense and will see how M. Sturm will perform with his wonky knee.

First coaching casualty will be Ron Wilson as B. Burke' honeymoon is over in leaf nation.

Labour issues may be harboring in the horizon as the current contract expires next year, but a fresh sheet of ice starts tonight and so does the hope of many teams in wining Lord Stanley.

Drop the puck, boys.

[RallyMonkey]

NHL network has kept my Stanley Cup fever alive all summer and tonight begins the year everyone wants to take what my B's got. First time since I was all of one year old that our town can say that about Lord Stanley's silver. I'm no fool to think a repeat is probable, but at least I have another 8 months to relish in a cup title. Can't wait for tonight as I expect the Flyers will have some lingering ill will after the sweep in round 2 and the raising of the banner above their heads tonight.

[dbdynsty25]

I guess since there is no NBA, I'm going to have to follow some hockey this year. At least the Kings are supposed to be pretty good...nice young team to follow and "grow" with. Kind of weird that their first game is in the middle of the afternoon on a Friday, but oh well.

[pk500]

Despite young talent like Hall, Nugent-Hopkins and Paajarvi, the Oil still is at least a year away from making the playoffs. The team has an increasing array of skilled depth at forward, but there's a dearth of talent on defense and in goal.

Any club that is relying on Nikolai Khabibuhlin and Devan Dubnyk between the pipes better have a strong defensive corps. But Ryan Whitney, Tom Gilbert, Theo Peckham, Andy Sutton and Laddy Smid won't terrify any forwards in the NHL as a puck-erasing unit.

I'm still eager to see my team progress, though!

[XXXIV]

I guess since there is no NBA, I'm going to have to follow some hockey this year. At least the Kings are supposed to be pretty good...nice young team to follow and "grow" with.

Enjoy!

[Naples39]

I'm very pumped to get this started tonight. I've got tickets to 9 flyers games this year, and the feel around the team is palpably different this year with Pronger and Bryz hamming it up in the locker room.

[Naples39]

It was a short summer for my 'Nuckers as they start a new season full of hopes after falling just one game short of achieving the ultimate goal. After enduring a tragic summer, the NHL has rarely needed the promise of a new season more than now. There's a new sheriff in town which has shown so far that he means business and wants to clean up the game, now the question is whether Shanny will be able to be consistent with his punishment. During the pre-season he did quite well although I thought he missed the call on Campoli last week.

Shanahan still gets kudos in my book for releasing a video on why he DIDN'T suspend Malone.

[XXXIV]

Shanahan still gets kudos in my book for releasing a video on why he DIDN'T suspend Malone.

Agree with you and with him on Malone.

Sure he will make some mistakes. We all do. Anything is better than that f***in disgrace that came before that f***ed up 50-80% of his job.

SO GLAD THAT HE IS GONE!

[toonarmy]

I think this season is a complete toss-up as to who ends up with the Cup. The West will have unreal parity again this year, with my Sharks probably falling short of making the finals yet again. Van and Det will be tough again, but the team I am keeping an eye on is LA. This may be the year they breakout. The East has too many unknowns. Pit could be very good. Is the new and improved Malkin going to maintain his new love of conditioning and motivation over the course of the season? Will Sid come back and be the same? If the answer to those two questions is "yes" then Pit will be very tough to beat. Phi has a lot of new pieces to the puzzle, so I am not sold on the idea that they will be a great team. On paper they look tough. The Caps are the Sharks of the East, so I cannot see them winning a Cup due to lack of being able to get it done in the postseason. Then of course there's Boston, a team that essentially has the same personnel as last year's Cup team. If they can get their anemic PP going in addition to their strong goaltending and defense then they could certainly get back to the finals. What all of this points to is another great season that sees no truly dominant team. I'm super excited for tonight's start of the season. VS is offering up two fantastic matchups tonight.

[10spro]

A good read by one of my favorite writers on the current state of the game and his view on B. Shanahan . I have no doubt that Shanny will be a vast improvement over his predecessor and at the same time may miss out some calls, we are all human after all. Refs will have to be very consistent in calling shots to the head during the long 82 season games. Players will have to have to adapt very quickly and learn what's acceptable what not, and based on some of the heavy suspensions handed out, the question is will the message from the coaches and different videos distributed to the players be fruitful enough to avoid more repercussions?


http://www.nationalpost.com/news/Danger ... story.html

[Diablo25]

Flyers Bruins tonight. Nice test for the retooled Flyers. I like what I saw in the preseason.

[RallyMonkey]

Tears in my eyes as I watch them raise the banner. Most beautiful sight these eyes have seen in a long time.

[Diablo25]

I hate the Bruins but that was a hell of a ceremony. I loved Recchi when he was a Flyer so I loved seeing him get props.

Now to hockey . A very entertaining first period. Awesome goal by Giroux. Man, I like the way Simmonds plays. He really set up that play when Voracek scored. Hockey is back!

[LAking]

I guess since there is no NBA, I'm going to have to follow some hockey this year. At least the Kings are supposed to be pretty good...nice young team to follow and "grow" with. Kind of weird that their first game is in the middle of the afternoon on a Friday, but oh well.

The game is in Germany, that's why. EDIT: It's in Sweden, I think the game on sat is in Germany.

This is the best Kings team ever but I'm still not convinced they can win the west, let alone the cup. Too many years of things going wrong to ever get my hopes up too high.

[10spro]

Canucks lose to the Pens in a SO. They looked not interested in the game until someone woke then up in the third period. Luongo looked shaky in a couple of goals.

[10spro]

Emotional return for the Jets at the hangar in Winnipeg. D. Buff is already a big hit and a tribute to the late R. Rypien brought the fans to a stand still.

[XXXIV]

Emotional return for the Jets at the hangar in Winnipeg. D. Buff is already a big hit and a tribute to the late R. Rypien brought the fans to a stand still.

They are pumped.

Thanks to the NHL Network I got to see the pregame and get the CBC broadcast of the game. That orchestra kinda ruined the rhythm of the anthem but it was pretty cool.

Cammalleri scores the first goal in Manitoba and the first of the season for the Habs three minutes into the game. Only took Montreal 63 minutes to get their first of the season.

EDIT: The NHL really needed a team in Phoenix and a second one in Atlanta.

[10spro]

EDIT: The NHL really needed a team in Phoenix and a second one in Atlanta.

LOL. Don't worry Quebec, your turn is next.

[XXXIV]

Cammalleri may have picked up a curse for scoring that goal. Looks like he got sliced pretty good above the knee by a skate.

[XXXIV]

Standing ovation for a team losing 5-1 in the closing seconds and after the game ended was pretty cool to see.

For the Habs it was great to see Pacioretty back on the ice and even scoring a goal.

EDIT: Cammalleri out two weeks with injury from team mate Webber's skate. Spacek left game with injury too. ugghhh...Not again.

[toonarmy]

Jay Beagle knocked the F out by Asham tonight. Asham's gestures after the fight are sure to draw much heat. Ovi sure as heck let him have it while sitting in the penalty box. Great stuff.

[10spro]

'Nucks lose back to back games against Philly yesterday and DET tonight. Sloppy last night in a 5-4 loss. Much better tonight but J. Howard had a perfect game. So far M. Sturm looks like a fish out of water. They miss Kesler and Raymond dearly.

[10spro]

Regarding Asham's poor gesture after he dropped Beagle, he did apologize after the game. Classless. There's no place for that type of gesture these days especially when we are all talking about concussions and all it does the next time both teams face each other, is to set up a possible brouhaha. Not exactly what the league wants to showcase the odd audience that may be watching hockey in lieu's of the basketball impasse.

[Diablo25]

Regarding Asham's poor gesture after he dropped Beagle, he did apologize after the game. Classless. There's no place for that type of gesture these days especially when we are all talking about concussions and all it does the next time both teams face each other, is to set up a possible brouhaha. Not exactly what the league wants to showcase the odd audience that may be watching hockey in lieu's of the basketball impasse.

Agreed 100%.

[pk500]

Jay Beagle knocked the F out by Asham tonight. Asham's gestures after the fight are sure to draw much heat. Ovi sure as heck let him have it while sitting in the penalty box. Great stuff.

Great tilt. I had no problem with Asham's gestures -- thought they were funny. Asham did put Beagle to sleep, and destroying an opponent is the objective of any fight. So mission accomplished -- what's the big deal? Beagle knew it wasn't a square dance. Plus Asham tapped his stick against the penalty box in what looked to be a sincere nod toward Beagle's toughness and well-being.

NHL tough guys could protect themselves so much better if they read one or two books about boxing. Good Lord, Beagle all but air-mailed his jaw to Asham's fist. Tuck your jaw toward your chest when fighting, son, especially when one of your hands is tied up holding your opponent's sweater!