Hockey Night In DSP

Naples39 · Post by **Naples39** » Sun Dec 24, 2006 11:30 pm

I'm open to the bigger nets, though I haven't really decided one way or the other. All sports change; basketball introduced the 3-point shot and zone defense restrictions, and thanks to technological changes, modern professional baseball and golf barely even resemble the game as it was for the first 100 years of their respective existences.

The simple fact is that the players are bigger, the rinks are bigger, the equipment is bigger, why not the nets? Sports are entertainment, and statistical comparisons only have value when one considers the context of different eras anyway. Don't worry Wayne, your records are safe.

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Mon Dec 25, 2006 1:54 pm

The Stadiums are bigger in order to satisfy the interest of (or lackof in some cities) the sport but the rink size has remained the same. I am not in favour of bigger nets, the game has moved forward with the new changes, but I would do something about the new equipment, for example shoulder pads and elbow pads that hurt people.

I would make the goalies' pads still a touch smaller and the game is fine as it is. Just fix the stupid schedule, and don't call icing when it's an obvious pass that a player has missed in trying to receive the puck.

Naples39 · Post by **Naples39** » Mon Dec 25, 2006 9:04 pm

Today, every NHL rink is 200x85, but this was not always the case. I don't have all the history in front of me, but for many years a number of NHL teams played on smaller surfaces. I believe Boston was the last team to play on a smaller surface at home.

Feanor · Post by **Feanor** » Mon Dec 25, 2006 11:41 pm

tjung0831 wrote:
Feanor wrote:What do you guys think of the bigger nets idea? Apparently, goals per game are down to 5.8 this year from 6.1 last year. If it just keeps on sliding down to 5.0 or even lower and 50 goal guys become extinct again, then that's not going to be good for the game.

I heard the PTI guys claiming bigger nets would automatically invalidate the records, but I don't agree with that at all. The NHL record books have Terry Sawchuk next to Martin Brodeur despite the latter wearing five times as much padding and nobody minds. And other sports change their rules to favour the offense all the time. I don't see anything wrong with at least looking at making the nets bigger and giving shooters some more twine to aim at.
NO!!!!

Remember this in a few years if the leading goal scorer in the NHL has 38 goals or something ridiculous. I think it was only a few seasons ago 41 was the highest.

Man, I really miss the days when Neely, Selanne, Mogilny and co. were racking up the points. Early 90's hockey ftw.

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Tue Dec 26, 2006 9:14 pm

Back to back games with the hated Flames tonight, hope the 'Nucks are ready to turn on the red light more often or they'll be doomed by the All Stars game. But then again everyone is so inconsistent this season in the NW, that you never know.

World Juniors in Sweden kicked off today. Canada blanks the hosts 2-0.

vader29 · Post by **vader29** » Thu Dec 28, 2006 12:56 am

Heard mentioned in tonight's Penguin game that the world's oldest hockey stick was sold in an ebay auction: http://cgi.ebay.com/Worlds-Oldest-Hocke ... dZViewItem

Now that's a mighty fine piece of hickory.

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Thu Dec 28, 2006 1:59 am

Back to back wins baby, against Kiprusoff and the burning Flames. Oh yeah! I know the other teams have games in hand but I am going to enjoy these couple of wins that means also first place. For now

.
This is how close the NW is, one day you could be in 1st place, the next last.

We just have to do it again vs PK's Oilers on Saturday (too bad I'll be out of town for that one) and one more game with Cowtown next week. Bring on the Aberta teams.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Thu Dec 28, 2006 8:57 pm

The Northwest Division is just nuts right now. One point separates all five teams!

The Kings come to Rexall tonight. Eager to see Kopitar, and eager for an Oil victory.

Take care,
PK

Feanor · Post by **Feanor** » Mon Jan 01, 2007 10:47 am

The Flyers had a nice end to a terrible 2006 with a 5-2 win against Carolina. Kyle Calder scored a beautiful breakway goal and Robert Esche made 40 saves again.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Mon Jan 01, 2007 11:33 am

F*ck me. The Oilers are horrible right now -- one of the five worst teams in the NHL, with ease.

Kevin Lowe needs to make a deal for a puck-rushing defenseman and a veteran, solid defenseman with quick feet ASAP. This defensive lineup wouldn't scare some AHL teams, let alone NHL:

Smith (sliding downhill fast due to plodding speed)
Staios (best Oilers' D man of the season, which isn't saying much)
Greene (very promising, physical, but still turns over puck too much)
Smid (very, very promising, all-around player who has some bad, bad nights)
Tjarnqvist (invisible most nights)
Bergeron (a complete defensive liability who isn't scoring from the point)
Hejda (Who?)

What does it say about an NHL defensive corps that claims Steve Staios as its best player? The lack of fundamental positioning by the defense during this 2-8 slump has been appalling. And Smid is the only defenseman who can make a breakout pass to save his life, something Pronger and Spacek excelled at last season for the Oil.

And where the f*ck is all of the vaunted offensive ability that pundits and fans, including me, praised during the preseason? The only line that's doing a f*cking thing is Torres-Stoll-Pisani. Sykora has disappeared and must be partying with Jimmy Hoffa and Amelia Earhart, and Lupul flat-out sucks. I would love to see him used as trade bait for a defenseman, because the Oil wouldn't miss him at all.

Smytty and Hemmer clearly came back too soon. Smytty's shot couldn't break tissue paper right now, and Hemmer is terrified of getting his shoulder hit.

And Pouliot and Jacques must have pictures of MacT with a stripper. They both are incredible wastes of space yet play every night, while sparkplugs like Petersen and/or Thoresen and the big, fairly skilled body of Winchester are in the press box as healthy scratches.

I'm not even worried about the Northwest Division right now. I'm more worried about the vastly improved play of bottom feeders Chicago, Columbus and Phoenix. At the rate the Oil is playing now, it's only a matter of time until one or two of those teams catches Edmonton in the Western Conference playoff chase.

As Marlon Brando said in "Apocalypse Now," "the horror ... the horror ... the horror."

That said, I still love my Oil and enjoy watching every game!

Take care,
PK

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Mon Jan 01, 2007 11:34 am

We'll see how good Scott Niedermayer is right now. Pronger out with a broken foot; Jiggy and Bryzgalov both hurt.

I shed no tears.

Take care,
PK

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Mon Jan 01, 2007 11:42 am

In a case of pucks serendipity, check out the picture that is used with the lead "Ambulance Blues" item on the always-excellent Oilers' blog, Lowetide:

http://lowetide.blogspot.com/2006/12/am ... blues.html

Yep. Brando lying dead on the ground as Colonel Kurtz in "Apocalypse Now."

I made my "Apocalypse" reference before I looked at Lowetide -- honestly! Frustrated Oilers' fans think alike.

Take care,
PK

tjung0831 · Post by **tjung0831** » Mon Jan 01, 2007 12:34 pm

pk500 wrote:
I'm not even worried about the Northwest Division right now. I'm more worried about the vastly improved play of bottom feeders Chicago, Columbus and Phoenix. At the rate the Oil is playing now, it's only a matter of time until one or two of those teams catches Edmonton in the Western Conference playoff chase.

Take care,
PK

Don't forget the much improved play of the St. Louis Blues. Points in 8 straight games and only 6pts behind Chicago for 3rd in the division and we play them twice this week. They are playing so well that at this point they are holding off on trades while there are rumors of contract extensions for Bill Guerin as well as Eric Brewer. What a difference Andy Murray has made for this organization!

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Mon Jan 01, 2007 12:50 pm

True, Tim. Totally unintentional omission. Sorry. Murray is doing a superb job with the Blues.

At least I know that the Oil's problem isn't coaching. MacT, Simpson, Huddy and Moores get more out of a team than most.

The problem is personnel. The defense is horrid, lacking anything remotely close to an All-Star player, and the offense lacks a true star other than Ryan Smyth.

I love Smytty, but he's not a meganova in the likes of Selanne or Crosby. Smytty gets nearly all of his goals around the net and never will scare anyone with his shot or ability to carry the puck on the rush.

Take care,
PK

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Mon Jan 01, 2007 3:15 pm

The Blues are indeed an improvement under Murray and thanks for beating the Avs two times in a row. Ditto for the improved CHI play, I am not sure if it's coincided with the Havlat reappeareance from injury or the wisdom of D. Savard.

Confidence is a huge factor in this league as you may well know PK. Yes, it seems that EDM's defense is treating the puck in their own zone like a hot potatoe but both goalies have been shaky too, especially Rolie who's been a solid rock earlier on.

Canucks have been struggling to score earlier on because everyone was squeezing the stick so tight and lately they look like a goal scoring machine. If we could keep Naslund going, then things would be much better before the wells start to dry

. But this gang seem to be playing with that confidence that was lacking for the first 25 games.

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Tue Jan 02, 2007 5:58 pm

Special night in DET as Stevie Y's number gets retired. The Joe Louis arena should be rocking.

Just as the Sens were to claim P. Nevded on waivers, the Oilers snags him first perhaps in order to wake up his Czech mate P. Sykora. Odd move as the D needs more help than up front. Unless a trade is in the works...

Sudz · Post by **Sudz** » Tue Jan 02, 2007 7:23 pm

that was odd.

TSN was all over ned ved becoming a sen....then EDM swooped in and got him.

how is he any worse than john leclair? wonder if the sens will try to get him..

and why is VS playing the blackhawks vs blues game?

at least i get the pens/hurricanes game on local fox...with the WORST f***in announcers EVER.

trip tracy sucks cock in the video store near the arena.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Tue Jan 02, 2007 9:06 pm

I don't get the Nedved deal one bit. He was surplus for one of the worst teams in the league, but he'll produce in Edmonton?

MacT made some sort of comment today after practice about how the fast ice in Edmonton always suited Nedved, blah, blah. I say horsesh*t.

The Oil doesn't need another underachieving forward. Lupul, Pisani and Horcoff are doing just fine in that category.

I sure hope Lowe is getting Nedved because he's using some of the underachieving forwards -- especially Lupul, who is horrible -- and some of the young depth -- such as deadwood Pouliot and Jacques -- to swing a deal for a puck-moving defenseman or two in the next six weeks.

There better be a grand scheme behind this Nedved deal. Otherwise, it makes no sense.

Take care,
PK

Feanor · Post by **Feanor** » Wed Jan 03, 2007 1:01 am

Not one of the worst, the worst.

Still, three wins in a row is nice.

Sudz · Post by **Sudz** » Wed Jan 03, 2007 12:47 pm

sens just got comrie for NOTHING.

much better than the ned ved pick-up they wanted.

and sidney crosby is f***in awesome.

he skates just like me.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Wed Jan 03, 2007 12:53 pm

A total salary dump by Phoenix. Comrie is making $3 million this season and told Barnett and Gretzky that he would try free agency this summer.

But still, the Coyotes got a Russian puck bag in return for a guy who dumped in 30 goals last year. Barnett and Gretzky are so out of their depth in hockey management that it isn't funny. Barnett is Gretzky's former agent, and it shows. He doesn't know what it takes to build a hockey team.

Comrie is a crafty little player who will fit in well in Ottawa. But he's a greedy midget f*ck for holding out in Edmonton, his hometown, and still is booed lustily every time he plays at Rexall.

Still, nice pickup for the Sens. Too bad they can't find someone stupid enough to pick up Gerber's contract, which arguably is the most bloated in the NHL for the return on the ice.

Take care,
PK

tjung0831 · Post by **tjung0831** » Wed Jan 03, 2007 2:44 pm

Sudz wrote:that was odd.

TSN was all over ned ved becoming a sen....then EDM swooped in and got him.

how is he any worse than john leclair? wonder if the sens will try to get him..

and why is VS playing the blackhawks vs blues game?

at least i get the pens/hurricanes game on local fox...with the WORST f***in announcers EVER.

trip tracy sucks cock in the video store near the arena.

Blues and Blackhawks baby...LIVE WITH IT!!! I agree about Tripp Tracy though..

tjung0831 · Post by **tjung0831** » Wed Jan 03, 2007 3:11 pm

pk500 wrote:A total salary dump by Phoenix. Comrie is making $3 million this season and told Barnett and Gretzky that he would try free agency this summer.

But still, the Coyotes got a Russian puck bag in return for a guy who dumped in 30 goals last year. Barnett and Gretzky are so out of their depth in hockey management that it isn't funny. Barnett is Gretzky's former agent, and it shows. He doesn't know what it takes to build a hockey team.

Comrie is a crafty little player who will fit in well in Ottawa. But he's a greedy midget f*ck for holding out in Edmonton, his hometown, and still is booed lustily every time he plays at Rexall.

Still, nice pickup for the Sens. Too bad they can't find someone stupid enough to pick up Gerber's contract, which arguably is the most bloated in the NHL for the return on the ice.

Take care,
PK

Paul,

The rumors are flying today that Brewer is going back to Edmonton. We need a forward or two, the Oilers need a defensemen. I think that something is going to go down. So much for the Blues standing pat on deals apparently. If it does happen, the Blues must feel like they are getting a good deal because Brewer has much more value at the trade deadline.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Wed Jan 03, 2007 3:11 pm

Absolute classic between Canada and the U.S. in the World Junior semis today.

No spoilers. I'm just glad I set the DVR this morning, as Center Ice is carrying the U.S. games live.

Good viewing coming tonight, baby!

Take care,
PK

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Wed Jan 03, 2007 3:13 pm

tjung0831 wrote:The rumors are flying today that Brewer is going back to Edmonton. We need a forward or two, the Oilers need a defensemen.

That is a match for both teams. The Oil needs D desperately, and it has surplus forwards.

At the start of the season, I wouldn't have wanted Brewer. But the Oil's defensive corps is so bad -- Steve Staios is the best D man, for Christ's sake! -- that I would like to have Brewer now.

Take care,
PK