NHL Season 2011-2012

[gellar]

If Whitney wasn't made of glass, he'd fill the role fine.  Gilbert is looking much improved this year too.  I had lots of doubts about him as even a 3 or 4 D but this year hes been handling heavy minutes, mentoring and covering for AHL players much of the time.

Wonder when Khabibulin is going to turn back into a pumpkin.  This can't last.

With Whitney (or someone like Whitney) they will be a very, very good team.  With an all-star defender, they'd be an elite team.

[Koz]

Eight straight wins for Boston and they're still only a point from 12th place. I hate 3 point games.

[Canuck]

Wow Canadian teams were rocking the back of the net tonight I think they got about 24 goals between 4 teams!

[Arkon]

Crosby returns tonight!

I can't believe it has been nearly a year since Sid last played a game, and just wish I would be able to get tickets to tonights game, but that just isn't gonna happen.  Looking at Stubhub, there are only 50 tickets up for sale, with the lowest price being around $150, similar prices on the pens ticket exchange site.

I imagine even on TV folks will be able to hear a collective gasp the first time Sid gets hit, and then a collective sigh when he shakes it off.

[Canuck]

NHL.com has an interesting series of videos called "missed opportunities".  I love this one of a Dallas player  completely missing a totally open net and his team pays the price.  Probably a couple of years old but I've been in Japan since 2005 so I've missed a lot of replays!

[Devil]

Was at the Pats game so missed the collapse in FLA.

Time to make a move!

[msteelers]

Crosby returns tonight!

I can't believe it has been nearly a year since Sid last played a game, and just wish I would be able to get tickets to tonights game, but that just isn't gonna happen.  Looking at Stubhub, there are only 50 tickets up for sale, with the lowest price being around $150, similar prices on the pens ticket exchange site.

I imagine even on TV folks will be able to hear a collective gasp the first time Sid gets hit, and then a collective sigh when he shakes it off.

We went to see the Pens Saturday night against the Panthers. We were all hoping Crosby would return that night, but instead he sat out and we even got the back-up goalie instead. Then the very next game Sid comes back and scores 4 points? 

At least the game was on TV down here last night.

[Jag]

We went to see the Pens Saturday night against the Panthers. We were all hoping Crosby would return that night, but instead he sat out and we even got the back-up goalie instead. Then the very next game Sid comes back and scores 4 points?  

We were at that game. I got season tix since it's close, cheap for a pro sports team and family friendly (my boys love the fights). I think I was also at the last Pens game down here when Crosby got into a fight. The place went nuts.

We had quite the sports weekend. HS football playoffs on Friday night, hockey Saturday and Fins game on Sunday and I don't even really like sports!

[leo8877]

I guess Crosby doesn't have any rust after that 10 month break.  His mustache needs some serious work though.  Movember or not, that thing has got to go!

[msteelers]

We went to see the Pens Saturday night against the Panthers. We were all hoping Crosby would return that night, but instead he sat out and we even got the back-up goalie instead. Then the very next game Sid comes back and scores 4 points?  

We were at that game. I got season tix since it's close, cheap for a pro sports team and family friendly (my boys love the fights). I think I was also at the last Pens game down here when Crosby got into a fight. The place went nuts.

We had quite the sports weekend. HS football playoffs on Friday night, hockey Saturday and Fins game on Sunday and I don't even really like sports!

I must apologize to you then. I was probably the obnoxious drunk in the upper section. Those damn Molsen's caught up to me quick.

Which HS game were you at? I do radio for the high school teams up on the treasure coast. Our teams did not do well.

[Canuck]

I guess Crosby doesn't have any rust after that 10 month break.  His mustache needs some serious work though.  Movember or not, that thing has got to go!

Yeah that thing is pathetic-what the hell is he thinking? He doesn't look too young without it or anything.

Also what the hell is up with my beloved Maple Leafs? How can you kill Washington 7-1 one game and then lose to a team like Carolina and then kill TB 7-1 the next game?

[JayDee]

The scheduling on the Carolina game was bullshit. 5pm on the road the day after playing a 7pm game at home Saturday night? The team got in at 4am into NC. That basically means sleep and back at the rink for the game with no morning skate or practice.

[Jag]

Which HS game were you at? I do radio for the high school teams up on the treasure coast. Our teams did not do well.

We're in Broward. University School against Cardinal Newman.

[Devil]

Theo - Why were the Blues wearing white at home last night?

[theohall]

No idea on the home whites thing.  Have heard talk on NHL Radio about teams going back to wearing home whites the way it was until sometime in the 90s. 

On the game last night, Doughty better get the same 3-game suspension they gave Chris Stewart.  With the game almost over, he cross-checked Oshie into the boards from behind - almost exactly the same way Chris Stewart hit Kronwall - yet was only given a minor penalty, instead of the major they gave to Stewart in an earlier game.  Maybe Oshie should have lain there like a dead fish the way Kronwall did. 

Nothing will probably happen, though, because it wasn't a Wings player getting hit from behind into the boards in an awkward position.

[gellar]

Yeah I'm thinking it'll be a 2 gamer or just a fine because it's Drew Doughty.

[gellar]

I should add I am sort of interested in a suspension in that it may mean Thomas Hickey makes his NHL debut... which is somewhat long overdue.

[theohall]

Yeah I'm thinking it'll be a 2 gamer or just a fine because it's Drew Doughty.

I thought the same when it came to Stewart, because he had zero prior incidents of this kind.  Will be interesting to see what happens and if I should be outraged - which no suspension would likely cause.

[Isgrimnur]

At least have the decency to link the video.   

[theohall]

For comparison sake - Stewart hit on Kronwall which everyone agreed deserved a suspension.  So why is it even in doubt irt Doughty??

[gellar]

OOOOOR he gets nothing, because he is Drew Doughty:

The Kings have not heard anything in terms of supplemental discipline for Drew Doughty, for his hit on T.J. Oshie last night, so it’s doubtful that any is coming.

[theohall]

Completely ridiculous!!!!  <insert statement of outrage!!!!>

[gellar]

Completely ridiculous!!!!  <insert statement of outrage!!!!>

I was wrong!  He's apparently getting a $2,500 fine.  ONOS.

[El-Producto]

Approx. 1 minute of his time.

[gellar]

Puck Daddy has a post breaking down why they think he didn't get suspended, and for the most part I buy it.  I wouldn't have minded a suspension though.  Their core argument:

Doughty told Andy Strickland that he felt Oshie turned away from the contact suddenly, which, if true, would have turned a shot to the ribs into a shot to the spine:

    I thought he turned at the last minute, I was just trying to finish my man. I saw him take a peek and maybe I should have done a shoulder hit as opposed to a cross-check but I had no intention of hurting him and I hope he's okay."

If you watch the clip again, you can see that Oshie does appear to put his back to Doughty in order to shield the puck but, whether he did or he didn't, the fact that it's a possibility is likely why Doughty avoided a ban.

Consider: immediately prior to contact, Oshie is going north-south. In order for him to go headfirst into the side boards, he has to turn somewhat. Stewart on Kronwall differs in that Kronwall is skating towards the side boards, east to west, and Stewart is directly behind him. Stewart sees Kronwall's numbers the entire time -- it can only be a shove from behind.

[Koz]

The Boston/Buffalo rematch, a.k.a. The Running of the Goalies, is tonight. How many Sabres will give Lucic menacing looks? Will Tim Thomas get more penalties than he draws? Will the referees flip out and hand out misconducts to anyone who bumps into another player? Tune in and find out!

[theohall]

Puck Daddy has a post breaking down why they think he didn't get suspended, and for the most part I buy it.  I wouldn't have minded a suspension though.  Their core argument:

Doughty told Andy Strickland that he felt Oshie turned away from the contact suddenly, which, if true, would have turned a shot to the ribs into a shot to the spine:

    I thought he turned at the last minute, I was just trying to finish my man. I saw him take a peek and maybe I should have done a shoulder hit as opposed to a cross-check but I had no intention of hurting him and I hope he's okay."

If you watch the clip again, you can see that Oshie does appear to put his back to Doughty in order to shield the puck but, whether he did or he didn't, the fact that it's a possibility is likely why Doughty avoided a ban.

Consider: immediately prior to contact, Oshie is going north-south. In order for him to go headfirst into the side boards, he has to turn somewhat. Stewart on Kronwall differs in that Kronwall is skating towards the side boards, east to west, and Stewart is directly behind him. Stewart sees Kronwall's numbers the entire time -- it can only be a shove from behind.

Kronwall stopped skating which made the contact worse than it should have been, which conveniently is not mentioned. A hit from behind into the boards is a hit from behind into the boards.  Should have been a suspension.
Chris Stewart had no intention of hurting Kronwall, either.

[gellar]

I think you're sort of missing the point.  The reasoning that this was 'not as bad' as the Stewart hit was that Doughty had a plausible excuse (he turned) whereas Stewart had literally no excuse.  Stewart was staring at the #s the entire time.

Regardless, the fine puts Doughty on the Shanaban Naughty list, which given his rough play style (that I enjoy), means he's probably going to be suspended once this year for something.  Hopefully for fucking hipchecking the shit out of someone:

[leo8877]

Did you see this one of the Kings Captain vs. a water bottle?

http://youtu.be/s63sQ1jo_JM

[pr0ner]

The Boston/Buffalo rematch, a.k.a. The Running of the Goalies, is tonight. How many Sabres will give Lucic menacing looks? Will Tim Thomas get more penalties than he draws? Will the referees flip out and hand out misconducts to anyone who bumps into another player? Tune in and find out!

You'd think a Sabres team with Robyn Regehr on it would be tougher.

Maybe Regehr's gone soft now that he's left Calgary.

[gellar]

Did you see this one of the Kings Captain vs. a water bottle?

http://youtu.be/s63sQ1jo_JM

See, this is why the whole 'Dustin Brown is a diver' argument doesn't fly with me.  He's just a complete and total spaz.

[theohall]

I think you're sort of missing the point.  The reasoning that this was 'not as bad' as the Stewart hit was that Doughty had a plausible excuse (he turned) whereas Stewart had literally no excuse.  Stewart was staring at the #s the entire time.

Regardless, the fine puts Doughty on the Shanaban Naughty list, which given his rough play style (that I enjoy), means he's probably going to be suspended once this year for something.  Hopefully for fucking hipchecking the shit out of someone:

So Kronwall literally stopping skating meant nothing.   That is my argument.  Positioning mattered.

[gellar]

So Kronwall literally stopping skating meant nothing.   That is my argument.  Positioning mattered.

I don't think it did, to be honest.  If he stopped and Stewart incidentally ran into him, OK sure it's a non incident.  But Stewart was in the rear position the entire time, Kronwall slowed and Stewart completed his check (which he was never in position to make, in my opnion).  At no point from Stewart's position from even chasing at the middle of the ice was he in a position to hit Kronwall in any clean fashion.  Doughty, it could be argued, was.  Hence the 3 games versus the fine.

Again I'm not arguing Doughty didn't deserve some sort of suspension, but it's pretty clear to me that Stewart's hit was 'worse' because he has literally no argument to make other than 'Oops... didn't mean to do that.'

[theohall]

At least you agree Doughty deserved a suspension.

Waiting for the game to end to comment on Cindy.

[Devil]

Dominated at home by Columbus.

Time to make a move!

[gellar]

Parise for Bernier!

[theohall]

And Cindey Crosby still has not scored a goal against the St Louis Blues.

[gellar]

Kings melted down tonight pretty hardcore.

[Devil]

Parise for Bernier!

Nope. You signed the guy I wanted.

Zach's been kinda poopy so far too. Didn't play for a year so it's to be expected.

[theohall]

Cindey vs the Blues

6 GP, 0 G, 4 A, -2, 10 PIM, 17 shots, average ice time went down from 21:17 since he only played 18:41. 6 PIM will do that.

He has not scored goals against only three other teams in the league - Chicago (2 GP), Edmonton (4 GP), and San Jose (4 GP).

Being a bunch of turtling, whining at the refs, bitches did not help them this evening.  

Watching the game on DVR... Crosby blatantly interferes with Elliott on the Penguins first goal.... no call.  I guess the "it is not open season on goalies" thing does not apply to Crosby.  While he only skated into Elliott's stick - it is still interference.  Not calling it means players will push that envelope until penalties are called.  Just because it's Cindey, doesn't make it a non-penalty.