HOCKEY NIGHT in DSP 07-08

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Fri Oct 12, 2007 6:42 pm

Sully wrote:Boulerice sucks. He got what he deserved. Unfortunately, aside from Downie and Boulerice, not many others are getting the punishments they deserve.

Flyers' conspiracy! Bettman sucks!

Take care,
PK

Naples39 · Post by **Naples39** » Fri Oct 12, 2007 10:11 pm

tjung0831 wrote:Blues rookie David Perron makes his NHL debut tonight. Andy Murray held him out the first few games to let him watch and learn from the pressbox. He'll play on a line with Doug Weight and Martin Rucinsky tonight.

Interesting move by Murray. I think the guy is a great coach though, so it just might work.

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Sat Oct 13, 2007 10:22 am

I am happy with the 25 games suspension for Boulerice. But to be frank if I were on Campbell's shoes I would have given him an extra 10 games for being just stupid. Once thing is to cross check someone in the face when your team is losing 8-2 out of frustration, what not, but to do that when the game is out of reach and you're the one leading 8-2 is flat out moronic.

Too bad I missed the "Nucks win against the Oilers as I am out of town, but it seems that the boys showed a little bit of pride after the embarrassing loss vs the Flyers. Going for two on Saturday.

Gangrel · Post by **Gangrel** » Sat Oct 13, 2007 10:49 am

And they'll get it if Rollie and/or Garon play like they did last night. It's bad enough when one goalie is having an off night, but when they both are (i.e: Naslund's "goal" on Rollie) then you're kinda screwed.....

I hope the Oil bounce back tonight before this losing thing gets any more contagious.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Sat Oct 13, 2007 12:43 pm

Yep, this losing streak for the Oil is reviving evil memories of the end of last season.

What bothered me is that Vancouver won all the proverbial little battles last night. They dug the puck out of corners and had a step on the Oil all night.

Jacques and Nilsson were sent to Springfield today, with Schremp and Stortini recalled.

MacT probably wants more muscle in Stortini, and Nilsson has been invisible in the last three games. Maybe the former Boy Wonder Schremp will actually see kiddies Gagner and Cogliano playing complete, two-way games and be inspired. I'm not holding my breath.

It must be nice for Vancouver to roll out almost every night and know it only needs to score three goals to win. Luongo is the best goalie in the world.

Take care,
PK

Post by **ScoopBrady** » Sat Oct 13, 2007 2:28 pm

I have to say that I'm pleased with the Hawks start so far. They might have only gotten 4 of 8 possible points but they've been playing very well in the defensive end and Khabibulin has been playing outstanding so far with a save percentage of 92% and a GAA of 2.00. I think the scoring will come as the kids get more play time and Havlat returns. I can't complain with 2 1-goal losses against the Wild and Sharks and 2 come-from-behind victories against the Redwings.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Sat Oct 13, 2007 2:48 pm

ScoopBrady wrote:I can't complain with 2 1-goal losses against the Wild and Sharks and 2 come-from-behind victories against the Redwings.

Not at all, Scoop. Those are three of the best teams in the West right now, and the Hawks played them tough. Minnesota is the most complete team in the West. I think the Wild and the Sens are the best teams in the NHL after two weeks.

There finally is a hockey pulse in Chicago, no question.

Take care,
PK

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Sat Oct 13, 2007 2:51 pm

Speaking of the Wild, watch this team if you get a chance. A really fun team to watch, not nearly the trapping, squeezing Lemaire-coached team you would expect.

Sure, Lemaire still emphasizes defense, but Minnesota is a FAST hockey team. They really skate well. Plus it's fun as hell watching Gaborik and Demitra, and Backstrom is a budding monster in goal.

Watch out for the Wild, short- and long-term. This team is built to make a deep run this year if it can avoid injuries.

Like last year, the West is absolutely stacked. Other than Ottawa, I can't see any team in the East that can compete with the top teams in the West, San Jose, Minnesota, Detroit and eventually Anaheim. Maybe the Rangers, probably not.

Take care,
PK

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Sat Oct 13, 2007 7:44 pm

ScoopBrady wrote: Khabibulin has been playing outstanding so far with a save percentage of 92% and a GAA of 2.00. I think the scoring will come as the kids get more play time and Havlat returns. I can't complain with 2 1-goal losses against the Wild and Sharks and 2 come-from-behind victories against the Redwings.

It's nice that the Russian is putting up those numbers with the fat contract he's got. Toews is an exciting player to watch but eventually I think the Hawks will come down to earth.

Agree on OTT being the team to beat in the East, PK. Rangers maybe in the hunt if they tighten their back and I am liking how the Canes are playing.

Wild are playing sound Hockey, they are more fun to watch when everything is still at stake but I was bored to death last week watching them play safe in the third period to conserve the 2-0 win vs the Oils. When they got a lead of two goals or more on anyone, you can turn off the lights, they still play one player low and four waiting for the opponent to make a mistake in the neutral zone. I think they'll go as high as Backstrom can go. But the class of the West still belongs to SJ, ANA, and DET.

Post by **ScoopBrady** » Sat Oct 13, 2007 11:06 pm

Wow! Hawks are down 1-0 to the Stars and they tie it with less than 2 seconds left in the game and then win it in OT. Major kudos to rookie goaltender Tobias Stephan for stopping 38 of 40 shots in his first NHL game. It's been a long time baby but the Hawks are above .500! Baby steps.

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Mon Oct 15, 2007 12:25 am

Ducks are a pretty good measuring stick for the Wild as both teams picked up their intensity from their last playoffs match up. MIN is still the team to beat and they got another SO this time even without Backstrom in net.

Goon Boogaard got into a couple of scraps with Parros and May after T. Bertuzzi left with an undisclosed injury courtesy of Boogaard.

Shift of the season so far, looks like the Twins play during a PP with EDM this weekend hogging the puck for 2:15. I missed that play but boy, that's an eternity.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Mon Oct 15, 2007 12:38 am

10spro wrote:Shift of the season so far, looks like the Twins play during a PP with EDM this weekend hogging the puck for 2:15. I missed that play but boy, that's an eternity.

I saw it. Quite painful from my perspective, as was the entire game.

It's pretty telling about the Oil when their three best forwards through six games this season are a 35-year-old, an 18-year-old and a 20-year-old -- Sanderson, Gagner and Cogliano.

The veterans, especially Hemsky, Penner, Stoll, Torres and Horcoff, need to get going soon, or this is going to be a long season. Pitkanen looks shaky in the back, and so far Souray has been everything Montreal fans promised he would be -- a huge shot, and little else. A real liability on defense.

What's scary now is that the Oil's goaltending is quite shaky. Rolie hasn't looked great, and Garon was horrible Friday night. Last year, the goaltending was the one constant, even with such a horrible defense. This year, the defense isn't much better in its end than last year, and the work between the pipes has been marginal at best.

P.S.: Last night was the first really good look I got of Rob Schremp, as he only played the second-to-last game of last season. Schremp's skating has been cited as a weakness, and how! I can't recall seeing worse skating by a so-called skill player in a VERY long time than I saw last night by Schremp. He was knocked off his feet four times by my count, and none by heavy checks. He waddles when he skates. Schremp won't last long in the NHL if he doesn't work on his skating. In fact, I think his return plane ticket to Springfield already may be stamped.

Take care,
PK

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Mon Oct 15, 2007 6:01 pm

Who wants a player that can play in about 24-23 games from now? No brains required, as J. Boulerice is placed on waivers.

Jimmydeicide · Post by **Jimmydeicide** » Tue Oct 16, 2007 10:51 pm

pk500 wrote:
10spro wrote:Shift of the season so far, looks like the Twins play during a PP with EDM this weekend hogging the puck for 2:15. I missed that play but boy, that's an eternity.
I saw it. Quite painful from my perspective, as was the entire game.

It's pretty telling about the Oil when their three best forwards through six games this season are a 35-year-old, an 18-year-old and a 20-year-old -- Sanderson, Gagner and Cogliano.

The veterans, especially Hemsky, Penner, Stoll, Torres and Horcoff, need to get going soon, or this is going to be a long season. Pitkanen looks shaky in the back, and so far Souray has been everything Montreal fans promised he would be -- a huge shot, and little else. A real liability on defense.

What's scary now is that the Oil's goaltending is quite shaky. Rolie hasn't looked great, and Garon was horrible Friday night. Last year, the goaltending was the one constant, even with such a horrible defense. This year, the defense isn't much better in its end than last year, and the work between the pipes has been marginal at best.

P.S.: Last night was the first really good look I got of Rob Schremp, as he only played the second-to-last game of last season. Schremp's skating has been cited as a weakness, and how! I can't recall seeing worse skating by a so-called skill player in a VERY long time than I saw last night by Schremp. He was knocked off his feet four times by my count, and none by heavy checks. He waddles when he skates. Schremp won't last long in the NHL if he doesn't work on his skating. In fact, I think his return plane ticket to Springfield already may be stamped.

Take care,
PK

Kings are pretty crap right now so dont feel lonely, other than Cammeleri pretty bad and looking at the stands tonight against the wild its friggin empty and i mean empty and the Wild just scored now half of them have left lol.
Not a good sign in LA tho.

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Wed Oct 17, 2007 1:31 am

Jimmydeicide wrote: Kings are pretty crap right now so dont feel lonely, other than Cammeleri pretty bad and looking at the stands tonight against the wild its friggin empty and i mean empty and the Wild just scored now half of them have left lol. Not a good sign in LA tho.

Well those announced 14.000 fans (I think it's more like 12.000) should have stayed in their seats and watch a rather entertaining game where they managed to beat the best team in the NHL now in a SO.

What a comeback by the Avs against the Flames. They were down 4-0 in the second period, all it took was a change of goalies and an scrap and they came back all the way in a SO. COL looks dangerous folks.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Wed Oct 17, 2007 9:08 am

My heart breaks for Calgary, blowing a 4-0 lead. F*ck the Flames.

James is right: You know Colorado has some good mojo when Jose Theodore is playing well in net. Still boggles my mind that this guy won the Vezina and the Hart just six seasons ago.

Take care,
PK

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Wed Oct 17, 2007 9:54 am

Are heated blades the next revolution in hockey?

http://www.globesports.com/servlet/stor ... sptskate17

I have mixed thoughts about this. Good for fatigue reduction, but with rink sizes remaining unchanged, does the game really need to be faster? Especially with the concussion epidemic that has struck the league?

Take care,
PK

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Wed Oct 17, 2007 10:12 am

Speaking of Colorado, Joe Sakic is a Grade-A class act. No revelation to anyone who has followed hockey for the past 15 years, but still worth a link:

http://mirtle.blogspot.com/2007/10/saki ... osity.html

Take care,
PK

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Wed Oct 17, 2007 10:24 am

pk500 wrote:Speaking of Colorado, Joe Sakic is a Grade-A class act. No revelation to anyone who has followed hockey for the past 15 years, but still worth a link:

http://mirtle.blogspot.com/2007/10/saki ... osity.html Take care, PK

Burnaby Joe is a great class act. Before the game last night he was spending some time with underpriviledged kids. And despite his age, he's still playing a strong game and being a true leader in the dressing room. He doesn't say much, he's not a vocal guy, but let's his play do the talking. Still a great faceoff guy and a dangerous wristshot. Hope he finishes his career with VAN one day.

Sudz · Post by **Sudz** » Wed Oct 17, 2007 3:48 pm

1st coached AXED

http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=3067372

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Wed Oct 17, 2007 4:08 pm

It's an overreaction, but you need to step back and understand the position of Atlanta ownership. Hockey is an afterthought in the Atlanta market, at best, when the team is successful, so an 0-6 start isn't going to compel anyone but the hardcore to follow the team and buy tickets.

This is as much, or more, of an economic move as it is a hockey move.

Atlanta isn't Montreal, Toronto, Edmonton, Calgary, Vancouver or Ottawa, where media coverage and fan support are damn near constant regardless of the team's performance. The Thrashers need to put butts in seats NOW, and an 0-6 start isn't helping.

Still, GM Waddell should get his walking papers with Hartley. What has he done with this franchise during his tenure?

NOTHING.

Take care,
PK

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Wed Oct 17, 2007 4:16 pm

Also a key player like M. Hossa just came back from injury and I do think that maybe six games is a bit premature. I don't know what kind of expectations ATL has for their team but if they don't make it to the playoffs, the GM should go as well.

Naples39 · Post by **Naples39** » Wed Oct 17, 2007 4:51 pm

Thrashers kind of remind me of Flyers last year. They made the preceeding postseason, but were blown away in the first round. Poor form carried over to next season, and team fires coach (Flyers started 1-6 last year, 0-6 for Atlanta).

Having watched the game last night, the Thrashers didn't really play all that bad, and were probably the better team in the first period. Problem is they didn't score, then fell apart once Flyers picked it up their play and banged in a goal. Again reminds me of early season Flyers last year.

Not saying Atlanta is destined to finish dead last, but confidence is a funny thing.

Gangrel · Post by **Gangrel** » Wed Oct 17, 2007 5:46 pm

Souray is out indefinately.

Maybe this is a good thing for the defense....

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=220828&hubname=

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Wed Oct 17, 2007 6:26 pm

Gangrel wrote:Souray is out indefinately.

Maybe this is a good thing for the defense....

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=220828&hubname=

Definitely he's a defensive liability, but they'll miss him on the PP and EDM is already struggling to score goals.