Hockey Night in DSP-Season 2011-12

[10spro]

The big difference for the Oil: Khabibulin is sober. I'm not joking, either.

Who says a little jail time doesn't help?

[10spro]

Somehow surprising that the Blues would bring Hitchcock this early in the season especially when J. Davidson was adamant that he would not hire Hitch even if he was looking for a coaching change.

Could the CBJ be the next in line?

Canucks are playing solid hockey in CHI so far after 40 minutes. Bieksa who's been struggling big time this season just dropped Mayers in a good tilt. They need to step it up and not let the home team come back in the final period.

[Naples39]

Everyone thought Hitch was going back to Columbus. They need a change as that 9-2 loss to the Flyers was one of the worst performances I've seen by an NHL team in some time. At least Jeff Carter can breathe a sigh of relief for avoiding a reunion with Hitch.

[Diablo25]

Flyers at Bolts....

[10spro]

Flyers at Bolts....

One of the reasons the league is much more open and entertaining to watch past the lockout season is because the league got rid of the clutching and grabbing of years past while teams started to focus more on skills and speed. Rules have also changed somewhat. But based on this game, Boucher's trap may bring yesteryear's boredom back to life and although the bottom line for all coaches is to win, the league has to look back at this game alone and say at what cost? The brain trust had better come up with a well thought out solution to this 'game flow' dilemma before the next puck is dropped and sits motionless in Tampa again.

http://www.nesn.com/2011/11/nhl-needs-t ... d-cou.html

[Naples39]

You don't want to overreact to one night. Teams have been trapping heavily for 15 years, and TB has been playing the same system under Boucher all along.

That game was just one of those moments. It may happen again, it may not.

If it does happen again (and again), the league should make offseason changes to place the burden on the team without the puck to do something. Yes, it's the opposite of a basketball shot clock that places a burden on the team with the ball, but the question is whose behavior do you want to change.

I think everyone would vote that if we're going to force a team to change their habits, make the trapping team change.

The simplest thing to do would be to pass a rule like the 5-second count in basketball (applied inversely), where the officials count keep a count requiring a team setting up on defense to pursue the puck after a few seconds.

Bob McKenzie polled GMs on who was in the wrong on this one, and 13 of 18 responded the Bolts. Only 3 said the Flyers. NHL scoring has also steadily declined since the lockout, which isn't necessarily a bad thing with many factors at play.

[10spro]

There were some beautiful goals tonight between the Pens and Avs' game including one by E. Malkin but I am going to stick with this one by M. Duchene.

[10spro]

Good game tonight at Rogers arena between the Hawks and 'Nucks. When you face each other three playoffs in a row you develop a certain hatred and rivalry towards each other (although I hate the Bruins more) and these two teams always bring the best in what's perhaps the best rivalry in the NHL today. I am sure that CHI will bring their best skate forward tonight after VAN embarrassed them in their own building a couple of weeks ago. If D. Carcillo can keep his trap shut, the Hawks are one of the better 5 on 5 teams in the league. But give the 'Nucks a man advantage and they will make you pay. Should be a good one.

P. Lebrun's take on this rivalry:

http://espn.go.com/nhl/gameoftheweek/_/ ... er-canucks

[Diablo25]

Very entertaining Coyotes Flyers game tonight. Matt Read scores with 18 seconds left to win it 2-1! Read continues to impress.

[10spro]

How could C. Smith miss this open net?

[10spro]

Crosby is to make his long awaited comeback on Monday against the Isles.

[HipE]

Crosby is to make his long awaited comeback on Monday against the Isles.

I'm so glad tonight has finally come, there have been times over the past 10 months when I doubted that it would. The pregame hype on the NHL Network and Versus has been crazy, it feels almost like the Super Bowl.

[HipE]

Classic Crosby goal in the first, welcome back Sid!!!

[10spro]

Classic Crosby goal in the first, welcome back Sid!!!

Happy for you Pens fans but more importantly for the game of Hockey. Great backhander.

[Naples39]

Jeff Skinner just burned Timonen with a spin-o-rama. I haven't seen one of those in a while.

[10spro]

Sid the Kid played as if he never left the game. Outstanding four points night for #87, and his supporting cast against the lowly Isles.

[10spro]

After a lackluster performance during the first quarter of the season, Canucks may and I emphasize may have finally turned the corner around as they found their game sweeping their 3 road games after beating the Sharks tonight. They also may have found their new #1 goalie in Corey Schneider who played magnificently the last 4-5 games as Luongo was injured the last couple of weeks. But he's healthy again and I thought Bobby Lou was going to get the call tonight as they played last night too in PHO with Corey getting 2 SO's in a row. Coach AV decided to go with the hot hand and #35 delivered again.

I can see the media in Vancouver this week debating the dilemma that the "Nucks now face with a 6 million dollar man sitting on the bench.

Schneider has been key in this road trip, the boys are much better playing 5 on 5 but the injuries are still a big issue for the team losing A. Edler tonight.

[RallyMonkey]

In case no one has noticed, points in 12 straight games including 11 wins and your Cup champs have gone from worst to first. I know some of you have an inherent hatred for one individual on this team, but how can you not love this group. It was last year, and is once again this year, the model of winning as a collective unit. No real superstars, just 20 guys who seem to respect and stand up for one another and really enjoy wearing the black and gold.

[XXXIV]

1) I dislike more than one guy on the team.

2) My "hatred" for that "one" d*****bag goes beyond the internet. Everyone here knows about it too.

3) Im a Habs fan... I was born to "hate" the f***ers.

BUT...

I will say...I do like honest true blue fans who care about their clubs. Enjoy your team. It is pretty damn good. You aint so bad yourself.

[RallyMonkey]

1) I dislike more than one guy on the team.

2) My "hatred" for that "one" d*****bag goes beyond the internet. Everyone here knows about it too.

3) Im a Habs fan... I was born to "hate" the f***ers.

BUT...

I will say...I do like honest true blue fans who care about their clubs. Enjoy your team. It is pretty damn good. You aint so bad yourself.

Thank you my man. Ditto.

Born a year before the '72 championship and being a player/coach of the game for 40 years, the passion for my beloved B's is undeniable. But I, like you, can respect passion even if it's for a team I can't stand (ask 10s, or just look back at our Stanley Cup dialogue last year).

Here's something you will LOVE though. My father is a die hard Habs fan. Always has been, and tried to convert his young son for years. I had posters put up in my room of Yvon "the Roadrunner" Cournoyer and of course "Le Demon Blond" since I was born but alas….the draw of the man from Parry Sound, Ontario (even though I truly first saw Robert Gordon Orr only in his later years) was just too much for my father to overcome!!

[toonarmy]

I'm increasingly impressed with Shanahan and the videos he is releasing about his rulings on discipline. The three-game suspension on Pacioretty was perfect IMO. Rather than go overboard he realized that Pacioretty does not have a history of cheap hits, so he did not go overboard with his punishment. I hope he continues to be thorough and fair.

As for more important matters, I was not surprised to see Washington fire Boudreau. I'm surprised it did not happen sooner. Now we can see for sure whether the problem as been the coach or the players.

[10spro]

As for more important matters, I was not surprised to see Washington fire Boudreau. I'm surprised it did not happen sooner. Now we can see for sure whether the problem as been the coach or the players.

Boudreau will get another call sooner than later I think. And as long as AO and CO refuses to play proper defense while doing his thing the Caps will be no different under coach Hunter who pretty much rides his top players and has an open style of Hockey from what I've seen from the London Knights. Firing the coach is always easier than trading a player with an albatross contract like Ovechkin and not as simple as it may seem regardless of his superstar status.

[toonarmy]

Great matchup tonight between the Sharks and Kings. Been looking forward to this one all day. Hopefully the Sharks can pull this one out.

[10spro]

Boudreau will get another call sooner than later.

OK. How about getting a new address in just 3 days after getting fired. New head coach of the Ducks.

[pk500]

Boudreau will get another call sooner than later.

OK. How about getting a new address in just 3 days after getting fired. New head coach of the Ducks.

Holy f*ck! That was f*ckin' quick. F*ckin' Boudreau must be either f*ckin' good or lucky as f*ck.