NHL Season 2011-2012

[El-Producto]

I agree that Daniel should have had a penalty for his hit, the officiating was terrible that game.  But c'mon, he'll serve his suspension in the form of a head injury.

The problem with saying that, is it bypasses the loss of pay which is equally important in the suspension process. 

Oh, I get it.  But does the small loss of pay during a suspension really matter to these guys?  I would think missing the playoffs or part of, would be punishment enough.  Especially if Keith gets to play after 7 games and (worse case scenario), Daniel is still out.

[kronovan]

I agree that Daniel should have had a penalty for his hit, the officiating was terrible that game.  But c'mon, he'll serve his suspension in the form of a head injury.

The problem with saying that, is it bypasses the loss of pay which is equally important in the suspension process.

Yup, and after all this unfolds Sedin could still be fined a game to be served once he's healthy enough to return. That's a long shot, but it could still happen.

Oh, I get it.  But does the small loss of pay during a suspension really matter to these guys?  I would think missing the playoffs or part of, would be punishment enough.  Especially if Keith gets to play after 7 games and (worse case scenario), Daniel is still out.

I'm sure all that will weigh in, which is why I doubt Sedin will receive anything. Of course we don't know how severe his injury is yet - its all just speculation at this point.

[El-Producto]

Which I have no problem with.

The whole thing is absurd, Keith could get a MAJOR suspension for what was a 2 min. minor, and Sedin could get a suspension for a play that didn't even get penalized.

[kronovan]

Which I have no problem with.

The whole thing is absurd, Keith could get a MAJOR suspension for what was a 2 min. minor, and Sedin could get a suspension for a play that didn't even get penalized.

Yep, look at recent history - Tyler Myers 3 game suspension, 2 minute penalty during game; Shane Doan 3 game suspension, 2 minute penalty during game; Duncan Keith, 5 game suspension, 2 minutes during the game. NHL needs to seriously deal with the on-ice officiating and they need to deal with it this summer at the latest!

[Arkon]

Officiating has really gone down hill this year, we are moving back to the clutch and grab style from prior to the lockout.

[kronovan]

Sheesh! 2 points separate being 3rd and in the 10th spot for Pacific division rivals. And that with barely more than a handful of games left! It's going to be a fun horse race to the Pacific line.

[leo8877]

Sheesh! 2 points separate being 3rd and in the 10th spot for Pacific division rivals. And that with barely more than a handful of games left! It's going to be a fun horse race to the Pacific line.

"fun" 

[kronovan]

Sheesh! 2 points separate being 3rd and in the 10th spot for Pacific division rivals. And that with barely more than a handful of games left! It's going to be a fun horse race to the Pacific line.

"fun" 

Sharks just have to play to their potential and they're in. Of course them playing to their potiential these days is easier said then done.

[leo8877]

Sheesh! 2 points separate being 3rd and in the 10th spot for Pacific division rivals. And that with barely more than a handful of games left! It's going to be a fun horse race to the Pacific line.

"fun" 

Sharks just have to play to their potential and they're in. Of course them playing to their potiential these days is easier said then done.

Yeah the schedule is setup for them to handle their own destiny.  Hopefully the good team shows up.

[El-Producto]

Man, I would really rather play Colorado in the playoffs instead of LA.  Kings are just scary right now.

[kratz]

Yes, that $2500 is hurting them. Severely.

[Clanwolfer]

Yes, that $2500 is hurting them. Severely.

$2500 is the maximum stand-alone fine. For suspensions, they get fined either per day or per game, depending on repeat offender status - obviously that gets up over $2500 rather quickly.

[El-Producto]

5 games

http://video.nhl.com/videocenter/console?catid=-7&id=167025

[Clanwolfer]

5 games

http://video.nhl.com/videocenter/console?catid=-7&id=167025

Coming to a tidy sum of $149,688.15 to the Players' Emergency Assistance Fund.

[kronovan]

Coming to a tidy sum of $149,688.15 to the Players' Emergency Assistance Fund.

Jeez, couldn't you have just rounded that to $150k.    BTW That fund must be getting big these days - gotta be big enough now to feed some 3rd world country for a day.  

[Devil]

Ha! Smoked by the Laughs at home!!

[Clanwolfer]

What a brutal, brutal, brutal meltdown by the Caps tonight. They've had chances and chances and chances to secure their hold on 8th - instead, it's now come down to Ottawa with 84, Caps and Sabres with 82, and the Jets clinging on with 78. The only upside is that the Caps will hold the tiebreaker in just about any conceivable scenario, so they just have to keep pace - but Buffalo is surging, and Ottawa might be about at a low point.

At this point you can figure it's a coin flip for the Caps to make the playoffs, and a big part of it hinges on Tuesday's game versus the Sabres. A regulation win either way is going to go a long way.

[Kagath]

I can't believe it.

[Isgrimnur]

Maybe the Sabres get lucky and Minnesota bounces back from their loss tonight to beat the Caps tomorrow. 

[leo8877]

Big win for the Sharks last night.  Looks like not only will the Sharks need to win, but the other teams in the PAC (and the others competing) need to lose for us to have a chance.  It's playoffs right now.  Last 2 games of the season are a home and home against LA...gellar could be getting his revenge early this year.

[gellar]

Big win for the Sharks last night.  Looks like not only will the Sharks need to win, but the other teams in the PAC (and the others competing) need to lose for us to have a chance.  It's playoffs right now.  Last 2 games of the season are a home and home against LA...gellar could be getting his revenge early this year.

Sadly I won't be around to see it.  I'm taking a two week vacation before the playoffs start.

[Devil]

Didn't have a chance from the start.

God's Team

[Clanwolfer]

Maybe the Sabres get lucky and Minnesota bounces back from their loss tonight to beat the Caps tomorrow. 

Tuesday's pretty key, huh?

[Koz]

Didn't have a chance from the start.

God's Team

They can't beat the frickin Senators though.

[Devil]

Didn't have a chance from the start.

God's Team

They can't beat the frickin Senators though.

Devils did!

Trust me, I want the season to end today more than anyone. Wouldn't be playing you til the ECF. Would never get that far though.

[Isgrimnur]

Maybe the Sabres get lucky and Minnesota bounces back from their loss tonight to beat the Caps tomorrow. 

Tuesday's pretty key, huh?

Yeah, and not in a way that I'm comfortable with, win over the Rangers notwithstanding.

[Clanwolfer]

Maybe the Sabres get lucky and Minnesota bounces back from their loss tonight to beat the Caps tomorrow. 

Tuesday's pretty key, huh?

Yeah, and not in a way that I'm comfortable with, win over the Rangers notwithstanding.

At least you know who's starting in net! Right now there's a case to be made for all 3 Caps goalies, assuming Vokoun is good to go. Holtby's coming off a shutout, Vokoun is technically still the 'big-game goalie', and Neuvy is probably the best blend of experience, quality, and non-injuredness.

The Caps' defense needs to show up in force, though - either roll 7 like they did yesterday and double-shift Ovechkin again, or at least limit Carlson's and Wideman's minutes to the point where they're effective.

As much as I'd like for Joe Beninati to have to go during warmups "OH MY GAWD! THAT'S BACKSTROM'S MUSIC!", I'm pretty sure they hold him out another week.

[El-Producto]

Canucks/Kings tonight, should be a great game.

Had to share this gif, only b/c it makes me laugh.

[Kagath]

Canucks/Kings tonight, should be a great game.

Had to share this gif, only b/c it makes me laugh.

That's pretty good.

[Arkon]

Didn't have a chance from the start.

God's Team

I was at the game, thought the Devils played pretty well, despite the score (they missed a few wide open nets).  At one point the Pens were down to 4 D, as they lost Lovejoy early in the game, and then Letang had a nasty collision.  Thankfully Letang was able to return.

Crosby's goal was a thing of beauty, but thank god Zidlicky didn't decide to play the body.  Crosby put himself into a really bad position to get hit very hard.  I think the best part about that goal is that it was the second time in the game the Crosby pulled off that move against Zidlicky.

[Devil]

That's the thing, Arks.

He did the same thing earlier and Marty bailed him out, why not be ready for it the next time?

I've been saying it all year, the Devils forwards can probably hold up against anyone. Their defense may be the worst in the league.

[Arkon]

That's the thing, Arks.

He did the same thing earlier and Marty bailed him out, why not be ready for it the next time?

I've been saying it all year, the Devils forwards can probably hold up against anyone. Their defense may be the worst in the league.

Yeah, I honestly was amazed that Sid got away with it a second time.  I was rather impressed with Henrique overall, was my first chance to see him in person. 

Also, as much as it pains me to say it, my favorite non-penguin is Zach Parise, which made it oh so painful when Crosby set him up for the empty net goal in the first period.

 

All that said, it is possible that the devils could end up with the best possible playoff position in the east if they hold on to finish in 6th.  Playing whoever comes out of the southeast should be a good match up for you guys.

[Devil]

Henrique turned out to be a huge plus. Seems to be everywhere.

Being at the game you probably were a bit shocked to see Kovy backchecking too!

Love to stay in 6th and play FLA.

Want no part of your Pens or the Bruins out of the gate.

[Arkon]

Henrique turned out to be a huge plus. Seems to be everywhere.

Being at the game you probably were a bit shocked to see Kovy backchecking too!

Love to stay in 6th and play FLA.

Want no part of your Pens or the Bruins out of the gate.

Kovy doesn't backcheck...his momentum just happens to carry him in to the defensive zone every now and again...

 

[Devil]

Look who's talking - Mario only knew who his goalie was during games because he wasn't the one on the bench.

 

[Arkon]

Look who's talking - Mario only knew who his goalie was during games because he wasn't the one on the bench.

 

Let's be honest...Mario didn't know there was such a thing as the defensive zone, I am pretty sure he thought the ice stopped once he hit the red line coming out of the offensive zone.

 

[Kagath]

It wasn't a pretty game against the Jackets but I'll take it.

[gellar]

Canucks/Kings tonight, should be a great game.

Turns out no (thus far anyway), which was really disappointing.  This was one of the more unwatchable games of the season, which is a bummer since the Kings/Bruins and Kings/Blues the last few games were really damn fun to watch.  Kings/Canucks games have been historically great too.  In that this is my last hockey game to watch for a couple of weeks and my high expectations, this sucked.

I'm going to blame the officiating for this one since it was really damn atrocious with horrific calls from either side.

[leo8877]

Another big win for the Sharks and got some help with other teams losing!

gellar, where are you off to?

[kronovan]

I'm going to blame the officiating for this one since it was really damn atrocious with horrific calls from either side.

Agreed, pretty piss poor. I saw more soft calls in that game than I have in the last 5 games the Canucks played in. I did however enjoy the great display of goaltending at both ends of the ice.