NHL 2010/2011 Season

[10spro]

It's official: The Islanders have passed the Oilers in the overall standings. The Oilers' dive to the bottom of the NHL is complete.

Time to aim for the No. 1 pick for the second consecutive year!

Watch them get on little hot streak now. T. Hall has been a positive note though, he's maturing very quickly in his game and is showing flashes of his best junior days. Eberle helped right away too after missing some games.

[HipE]

Malkin is likely out for the season with a torn ACL and MCL in his right knee. Sid has been out for a month now as well with a concussion and it doesn't look like he'll be back anytime soon. And their number 4 center, Mark Letestu, is also out 4-6 weeks now with a knee injury.

Looks like it won't be the Pens stopping the Flyers from repeating in the East.

[MizzouRah]

Blues win!

Now there is something you dont read every day

I see your boys are still only 6pts out of the last spot.

Habs have come out of the break with two wins and looking to make it three this afternoon against the Rangers.

You are right sir!

Game by game...

[10spro]

Malkin is likely out for the season with a torn ACL and MCL in his right knee. Sid has been out for a month now as well with a concussion and it doesn't look like he'll be back anytime soon.

Likely? Ouch, that's a tough break for Pens fans. With that type of injury he probably will start rehab in the Summer, is Mario available?

With trade deadline looming, they have to do something to shake their lineup. How about bringing former Pens guy A. Kovalev who absolutely stunk the joint in OTT. Just saying...

[XXXIV]

Habs do get that third in a row and Price gets the shut out with a great third. Gearing up for another playoff run?

As for the Pens as long as Crosby gets back they will still have a punchers shot...but....

I really dont know if anyone can stop what looks like a Flyer machine in a seven game series. SUPER hot goalie maybe?

[toonarmy]

I wouldn't count the Pens out. They have still been winning games with both Geno and Sid out of the lineup, albeit most of those games have not been against elite clubs. Better than expected defense and good play from Fleury have been pluses for Pit this year. Also, Geno was having the least productive year of his career this season, so if Pit can find somebody to put in his place it may not be as devastating a loss as people may think. Now if Sid does not make it back before the playoffs then that changes everything. I think even without Sid Pit can win a round or two, but there is no way they can go all the way without him. With Sid in the lineup Pit is certainly a serious cup contender, as they have shown throughout the year when he is healthy.

[10spro]

It certainly wasn't as easy as it looked on paper but Canucks managed to double the Sens 4-2, as the visiting team played a good forechecking game against VAN. Both goalies were solid, Luongo had lady luck on his side three times while B. Elliot had some brilliant saves.

On a negative point, VAN continue to lose yet another D-man to injury as K. Ballard who was getting a lot of mileage lately was lost early in the game with a knee injury.

[pk500]

Oilers win! Oilers win! Oilers win! Devan Dubnyk's first career shutout, too. Now let another losing streak commence.

[lexbur]

Oilers win! Oilers win! Oilers win! Devan Dubnyk's first career shutout, too. Now let another losing streak commence.

Four games? You call that a losing streak?

[Naples39]

That's one more shutout than the Flyers have managed all year.

[pk500]

Oilers win! Oilers win! Oilers win! Devan Dubnyk's first career shutout, too. Now let another losing streak commence.

Four games? You call that a losing streak?

I feel your pain, dude. That's brutal.

[10spro]

Brutal hit from behind from M. Cooke to F. Tyutin into the boards in PIT. If the league wants to send a clear message about intolerance towards dirty hits, Cooke should get a minimum of 5 games for his transgression. It's a miracle that Tyutin walked away from the hit and I certainly hope that C. Campbell doesn't ease up on the punishment because he was not seriously injured.

I am sure that PIT fans have enough reasons to be concerned about their play going into the playoffs. News are not good regarding Crosby's concussion and with Malkin gone for awhile, Kunitz injured, they have to be one of the teams hungry for help at the end of the month.

[LAking]

Brutal hit from behind from M. Cooke to F. Tyutin into the boards in PIT. If the league wants to send a clear message about intolerance towards dirty hits, Cooke should get a minimum of 5 games for his transgression. It's a miracle that Tyutin walked away from the hit and I certainly hope that C. Campbell doesn't ease up on the punishment because he was not seriously injured.

I am sure that PIT fans have enough reasons to be concerned about their play going into the playoffs. News are not good regarding Crosby's concussion and with Malkin gone for awhile, Kunitz injured, they have to be one of the teams hungry for help at the end of the month.

Any video of the hit? When is the league going to ban that guy? He's as dirty as they come.

[Naples39]

Without having seen the hit, is there any question that Cooke is the bottom the barrel in the league as far as dirty players go?

Didn't waste any time after a questionable hit on Ovechkin the other night, did he.

[LAking]

Found it in TSN's Sports Centre highlights from the game. Boarding calls don't get any easier than that. It's a charge and a boarding call. Should have gotten a misconduct as well. How can his teammates keep standing up for him? If I were his teammate at some point I would just let the opposing team go after him. No way I'm going to stick up for a guy who has absolutely no respect for every other player in the league.

[pk500]

There's no way Cooke will get five games because it wasn't a head shot.

Campbell lacks the mental dexterity to balance proper levels of justice for different kinds of hits. He's so confused trying to figure out how to issue punishment for head shots that I think his brain might melt trying to mete discipline for a simple hit from behind.

Head shots are drawing negative attention to the NHL, especially with Crosby's injury. So Bettman probably has ordered Campbell to throw the proverbial book at those offenders. "Routine" infractions such as Cooke's hit will be punished less severely because of the Neanderthal culture still prevalent within the upper management of the game and because tougher suspensions for head shots is better PR for the league.

The only exacerbating factor is that Cooke is a repeat offender. That might double his suspension from one game to two.

Roger Goodell ordered NFL players to stop delivering head shots, and they nearly disappeared within two weekends. Yet Bettman and Campbell wrestle with head shots like they're more complicated that negotiating a quick exit of the Mubarak government in Egypt. The ineptitude and lack of teeth of NHL management boggle my mind.

This issue is really hurting the game. This thread is a perfect example: We spent equal amounts of time talking about dirty hits and players lost to concussions as we do about great moves, shots and saves.

[pk500]

Good column by Cam Cole of the Vancouver Sun on the Cooke hit:

http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Wake+C ... story.html

[Naples39]

How about Roenick's take. LOL

Roenick: "Does it surprise you? Does it surprise you that Matt Cooke would be so ..."
Ross: "Dumb?"
Roenick: "Chickenshit, and do that?
"Right from behind. Blatant from behind. Fedor Tyutin didn't even turn. Didn't move. Was standing there for three or four seconds, and he still hit him from behind."
Roenick: "Not one second did he see anything but his name and his number. It goes back to so many different things that I talk about when it comes to the respect factor. Matt Cooke, No. 1, doesn't have respect for anyone. He's one of the least favorite guys in the League by the players for a reason. Hitting Savard, having that all situation ... granted, you decide what you think on that. But this situation last night is exactly what gives players bad names, gives guys bad names. It's why we have injuries. It's why someone's going to get either paralyzed or killed on the ice one of these days. Because of idiot, idiot, idiot people and plays like Matt Cooke did last night."
Roenick: "He might be a great player for a team. But all in all, when it comes down to it, you have most of the people don't like you, most of the people don't respect you. And the respect factor becomes big. Because when you lose that respect, you've lost a lot.
"I totally disagree about taking him on your team. You want a guy that has integrity that has class, that has hard work. You don't go to that disrespect aspect or that lack of integrity that's going to make your team look bush league, and last night was a terrible display of gamemanship (sic).
Roenick: "That situation last night did not happen instinctively. It did not happen quickly. He had three or four seconds to make up his mind and drive those numbers into the glass."
"That's a situation where you take Matt Cooke, because of his history, into the office and you give him 20 games flat. Twenty games, gone, thanks for coming."

All I ask for is that NHL discipline be transparent and predictable, even if they don't care about player safety. I don't think that will ever happen until there are changes at the top.

[tjung0831]

Great trade by Burke today. Beauchemin goes back to the Ducks for Lupul, prospect Jake Gardiner who is highly rated, and a draft pick.

[10spro]

Great trade by Burke today. Beauchemin goes back to the Ducks for Lupul, prospect Jake Gardiner who is highly rated, and a draft pick.

I agree. Leafs must get younger if they really want to build the franchise to respectability, key player here is Gardiner, good offensive skills playing D, while the Ducks try to get stronger for the playoffs.

Many people didn't expect them to be among the top 8 in the western conference.

[10spro]

I predicted 5 games for Cooke's dumb hit but I guess 4 will do. And I am glad that Campbell didn't wait for Tyutin to be paralyzed in order to call Cooke for the suspension.

[pk500]

Great trade by Burke today. Beauchemin goes back to the Ducks for Lupul, prospect Jake Gardiner who is highly rated, and a draft pick.

Lupul is overrated. He is softer than cotton candy, and he plays during the regular season only when motivated and healthy -- which isn't often. Lupul was good in the playoffs for Anaheim and the Flyers, but there will be no hockey past early April this year in Toronto.

The Leafs better hope Gardiner pans out.

[Naples39]

Wow, an actual 'hockey' trade. Don't see these too much anymore.

Ducks get the best player, but the Leafs get a decent prospect (that apparently Burke drafted) and a guy who will help out their top-6 forwards. Should help both teams I think.

[10spro]

I am just surprised that Burkie got so much in return for Beauchemin. Gardiner is a high prospect and the straight trade along the conditional draft pick would have been fine with me. But the fact that they throw G. Lupul along who's been struggling with injuries for the last couple of years is worth a gamble.

[pk500]

I predicted 5 games for Cooke's dumb hit but I guess 4 will do. And I am glad that Campbell didn't wait for Tyutin to be paralyzed in order to call Cooke for the suspension.

Prior offenses must have factored into that decision. No way Campbell has the balls to give a first- or infrequent-offender four games for that hit.