NHL 2010/2011 Season

[toonarmy]

Helluva initial 3 minutes already between the Habs and Caps already. Two goals, a disallowed one after a long review, one fight, hey these guys don't remember anything from the playoffs last year.

2-1 Caps after one. Habs had a tremendous PK on the 5 on 3 to end the period. Price is looking great. I'm sure Boudreau's comments added intensity to a game that already promised to be intense. Really fun hockey.

[XXXIV]

Its fun hockey kinda ....Its also sloppy hockey. The first two goals were both gifted by the goalies.

Sighsssssss......Im still pissed.

[XXXIV]

Now that was a sweet goal from Kostitsyn.

[Naples39]

A lot of questionable hits last night. Are these happening more often, or are we just paying more attention?

Hopefully Heatley gets suspended for a total weasel elbow.

[XXXIV]

A lot of questionable hits last night. Are these happening more often, or are we just paying more attention?

Hopefully Heatley gets suspended for a total weasel elbow.

I think its both. It has been getting worse for a while and that is why we have been noticing it more and more.

Hopefully something came from the outcry after they let that creepy cowardly ape off with just a game misconduct and a major. Maybe corruption incorporated wont let this weasel go

[10spro]

A lot of questionable hits last night. Are these happening more often, or are we just paying more attention?

Hopefully Heatley gets suspended for a total weasel elbow.

Two games for an attempt to injure is a farce, the way he made it so wimpy should have been stretched to at least 5 games.

[XXXIV]

Two games for an attempt to injure is a farce, the way he made it so wimpy should have been stretched to at least 5 games.

A no namer who have gotten more but hell, at least he got something...That play was just pointless.

The players are getting dumber or they just have no respect for the corruption incorporated.

Note to heater. No get out of jail free card for Sharks.

[XXXIV]

Habs getting crushed in MSG...the Price is wrong! To the bench he goes and gets the rest he should have gotten after playing into OT last night.

5-1 Rangers after one. Forget the season sweep.

Thinking of playoffs if they do manage to limp in ( I, unlike the often head injured clowns on tv, am not counting them in), I do not see them going far at all.
Not that they were a great team to begin with... but all those injuries will begin to take a greater and greater toll.

[10spro]

Thinking of playoffs if they do manage to limp in ( I, unlike the often head injured clowns on tv, am not counting them in), I do not see them going far at all.
Not that they were a great team to begin with... but all those injuries will begin to take a greater and greater toll.

Tell me about it. 'Nucks have used close to 40 different players this season a record I believe for trying to patch up a depleted D and other key positions. Back on Wednesday Manny Malhotra who's been such a pleasant acquisition almost lost his eye and is lost indefinitely now. He's been such a key figure in the success of VAN's PK unit and strong presence in the third line. He'll be missed dearly, hope for a quick recovery. Guys, you all have to wear visors...

Playoffs are a couple of weeks ago, but sure it would be nice to have all regulars aboard by then.

[toonarmy]

It appears that NJ's bid to make the playoffs is over after getting beat soundly by the Caps tonight. Too many teams in front of them competing for those last two playoff spots.

BTW, agree about the Heatley hit. I'm a Sharks man and think 2 games was laughable. I disagree with other SJ fans that are trying to say he meant to hit his chest and his arm slid up to the head -- the hit was plain vicious and unnecessary. He should have received 5 games minimum, and if he would have gotten more I would have not complained. I was very pissed when Heatley pulled that s***. There's no room for that in hockey.

[XXXIV]

I'm a Sharks man and think 2 games was laughable. .

There I agree 100% but if you look at who we are dealing with It actually makes sense... If that disgusting and creepy f*** gets zero games then by campbells and corruption incorporated's chart you have to give heater, a fellow "star", two.

The whole thing is a f***in joke. Watching the already shorthanded Habs play without what might there best wing tonight, in a back to back game , just brought it back home for me once again.....The nhl is run by clueless douchebags.

I want to say I quit but the game, when they play hockey, is just to freaking good! The Habs could have thrown in the towel tonight after the 5-1 first but , to my own surprise, they never quit. They pulled to withing 5-3 before a garbage goalie int call ended any shot late.

[toonarmy]

I want to say I quit but the game, when they play hockey, is just to freaking good! The Habs could have thrown in the towel tonight after the 5-1 first but , to my own surprise, they never quit. They pulled to withing 5-3 before a garbage goalie int call ended any shot late.

That's the thing. As much as the NHL is run by clueless morons, the game itself is very good now, with exciting players and ridiculous parity among teams. If they could just clean things up and get some people in place that can be consistent and firm with punishments then the league could be that much better. As for reffing, it is as bad as I have seen in a while. I used to say the NHL has the best refs of any of the big four sports, but after this year I cannot say that. They have been abysmal this year. I don't think they have it in for any one team, rather they just suck all the way around. Ian Walsh, for example, is just brutal. Every time I see him ref a game he looks like a bozo out there and makes horrendous call after horrendous call on both sides. I honestly do not see how he maintains a job in the NHL as bad as he is.

[XXXIV]

That's the thing. As much as the NHL is run by clueless morons, the game itself is very good now, with exciting players and ridiculous parity among teams. If they could just clean things up and get some people in place that can be consistent and firm with punishments then the league could be that much better.

Right on! The actual hockey is awesome which just adds to the frustration.

Look at the olympics last year. The buzz and excitement the hockey created was at the highest level in the US since the 80 miracle on ice. That was all done with the players playing hockey not trying to cripple each other.

Somehow the great brains in charge of the nhl completely missed that...

[XXXIV]

Cooke does his heater immitation. Gets a 5er and a game misconduct but how many games?

Consulting the chart and keeping in my mind no one related to campbell plays for the Pens Ill say it should be five plus but with corruption incorporated you never know. Like Forrest Gump's box of chocolates.

Now the Pens get a shorty...now they get high stick penalty...5 on 3 Rangers down 2-1 in the 3rd.

Rangers score and its 2-2.... and now 3-2 secs later on a second 5 on 3 goal.

Very interesting 3rd in Pittsburgh.

[HipE]

He should get 8-10 at least. It would be nice for Mario to actually stand behind his recent words and waive him though.

He most likely cost the Penguins the game because of it as well

[XXXIV]

It would be nice for Mario to actually stand behind his recent words and waive him though.

Ya. Those words dont mean as much when you have a loose cannon like cooke doing stupid s*** like that.

I was hoping for a Ranger loss... Still time.

[toonarmy]

I have zero clue how many games Cooke will be suspended. The NHL is so arbitrary with things like this. Heatley deserved more games for what he did. Chara got nothing. Cooke was deemed not trying to injure Savard despite replay evidence to the contrary. And the list over the past few years goes on and on. I can honestly see the league saying no harm no foul and giving him 4 games since he has a history of prior infractions. Then again I can see them throwing the book at him and giving him 10 or more. I guess it depends on how sober Campbell is when he makes his decision. Mario has to be embarrassed by what happened today after he released that letter on hits to the head. Cooke cost the Pens the game today and is actually a pretty key part of the team this year due to the injury of so many players. What he did was just plain moronic that served no purpose.

[fletcher21]

Wild lose 8-1 to Montreal. I am shocked. The Wild did a great impression of a minor league team. Talk about getting 6 different kinds of dog crap kicked out of you lol. Subban had the game of his life. It looked like there were a huge amount of Canadians fans at the game. I still can't believe any of the rubbernecks in this town believed the Wild had a chance at the playoffs. What a typical Minnesota franchise full of mediocrity and no name players. Send the Wild to Winnipeg or Hartford!!!

[XXXIV]

Wild lose 8-1 to Montreal. I am shocked. The Wild did a great impression of a minor league team. Talk about getting 6 different kinds of dog crap kicked out of you lol. Subban had the game of his life. It looked like there were a huge amount of Canadians fans at the game. I still can't believe any of the rubbernecks in this town believed the Wild had a chance at the playoffs. What a typical Minnesota franchise full of mediocrity and no name players. Send the Wild to Winnipeg or Hartford!!!

The Habs were either going to be smoking today after giving up 5 in the first friday night or they would be dead meat. Glad to see they still have the fire even if they are missing a third of the team.

The Wild shoud stay right where they are cause if they were to move, the nhl will just give them another expansion team in about five years.

Phoenix on the otherhand is a sad story. When Keith scored for the Hawks tonight to open the scoring it sounded like the game was in Chicago.

[10spro]

Send the Wild to Winnipeg or Hartford!!!

Woot? What are you smoking. In my opinion they exceeded expectations this season, no one expected them to make it in the top 8 at the beginning of the year but they were hanging around until a week ago. And they have one of the more loyal fans in America following the Sport with good attendance. There are far way more other teams not deserving of a franchise in the States.

[Naples39]

I'm guessing approximately 6 games for Cooke.

It's not that his hit was super violent, it was just so gratuitous. Maybe 1-2 games for anyone else, but given his mounting record, got to be 5 or more.

I'm not too critical of Mario here though. I mean he has spoken out against organized mob justice (like in the Isles game) and called for team fines for hits like this. If his proposed rule on team fines were in place, I think he would happily pay it and still say it's a good rule.

When Cooke does things like this, it hurts his own teams, fans and owners more than anyone else.

[10spro]

Although the victim was not seriously hurt, a repeat offender like Cookie whether his intent was serious or not should be banned until the playoffs.

That's another perfect example that C. Campbell could give to the rest of us today, that hits to the heads are a priority for everyone concerned.

If Heatley got 2 for his wimpy shot at Ott's head, and this is #24 fifth suspension I would multiply that easily and therefore my conclusion that he should be gone until the end of the season.

[Naples39]

Sounds like the Pens are backing up their talk.

@RealKyper
Nick Kypreos
I'm told #Pens Mario/Cooke had spoken at great length yesterday and was basically told to change the way he plays or leave.

And Bylsma also spoke about the larger implications of what Cooke did, saying, “I don’t think you can talk about eliminating head shots from the game, as we have as an organization, and not expect that to be examined, as what looks to be contact right to the head on the play. So the league will look at that and treat it as such.”

That’s a significant sentiment. That’s not what most teams do when one of their players crosses the line. Most teams make some noise defending their player, trying to get him off or hoping to minimize the severity of the discipline imposed. Not here. And while the public statements by Cooke’s teammates (video) sounded like Sgt. Schultz on the old TV show Hogan’s Heroes, according to Dave Molinari of The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, “More than a few guys, however, privately expressed outrage over what Cooke did.”

It would be great to hear a few of them make those sentiments public, as former Penguin Bill Guerin did last season when Cooke blindsided Marc Savard, and as Boston’s Andrew Ference did earlier this year when his teammate Dan Paille put a head shot on the Stars’ Raymond Sawada. But that’s a rarity in the NHL, where being a good teammate also means supporting the guy no matter how wrong he is.

Yet, if Cooke’s teammates tell him he let them down, if his coach and GM won’t back him up, and if his owner, Mario Lemieux — who has to be infuriated and embarrassed by Cooke’s actions after his February statement about violence in the game and his proposal to fine teams and coaches of repeat offenders — makes it clear that the Penguins organization won’t tolerate that sort of on-ice behavior, it’s going to be as much or even more of a deterrent than any suspension from the NHL.

And that probably is what happened, judging by the observations of NBC’s and Sports Illustrated’s Pierre McGuire in the Penguins’ dressing room after the game. “This is not a small little thing for this organization,” he said Monday morning on Ottawa radio Team 1200 (audio). “The organization has let him know that is unacceptable behavior and it will not be stood up for.”

McGuire added the team told Cooke, “You’re on your own.”

And how did Cooke take it?

“He looked crushed. He looked absolutely crushed,” McGuire said. “He deserves to be crushed.”

[Feanor]

I'm guessing approximately 6 games for Cooke.

It's not that his hit was super violent, it was just so gratuitous.

Yeah, in terms of being gratuitous might be the worst elbow I've ever seen. Obviously there have been far more violent elbows to the head in the past, but Cooke's hit was completely unnecessary. I'm thinking maybe Matt Cooke has some sort of mental problem where he just can't control himself when he see's a chance to attack an opponent's head.

Imagine is someone on another team did that to Crosby in his first game back; the Penguins couldn't even be outraged since they have a guy like Cooke on their team.

[XXXIV]

Sounds like the Pens are backing up their talk.

Good! Someone has to make a first move.