Guest Olympic Slam Posted January 3, 2004 Report Posted January 3, 2004 They have got to move the nets back to their old positions as there's way too much dead space behind the net and in the corners behind it. The thinking in 98' or whenever they moved them forward, was that they'd be creating more Wayne Gretzkys capabale of dishing the puck to guys in the slot with regularity. I don't know about the rest of you, but it seems like there's been a huge decrease in the number of goals and plays like that since the nets were moved up. Maybe it's because the Sharks (the time I watch 98% of the time) has never been overly skilled until recently, but there's almost never any Gretzkyish plays from behind the net anymore. The leauge is so defensively oriented now that there are few teams and players dumb enough to fall for for those behind the net passes anymore. It's been a failure I'm afraid. We can also agree that adding 90 more players to the leauge with the Thrashers, Jackets and Wild didn't help matters when it came to adding more skill and precision to the game. That's not going to help matters any. I guarantee that scoring isn't down because they moved the nets forward...that's just a coincidence. The best realistic way to increase offense right now would be to eliminate the red line, but they've been talking about doing that for years with no results. The game needs both. Simply tinkering with one thing won't bring back games that end 7-5. If that is indeed what people want, that is.
The Czech Republic Posted January 3, 2004 Report Posted January 3, 2004 I don't know what I want score-wise as a hockey fan. I appreciate a good match between goaltenders the same way I appreciate a good match between pitchers in baseball. But then again I like to see some good high-score games, and as we know, American Sports Fans Like Big Numbers. I think the low-score games we're seeing aren't necessarily wars of attrition between the goalies, it's more like teams such as, oh let's go with New Jersey, just not allowing an environment conducive to scoring for either team.
Guest Olympic Slam Posted January 3, 2004 Report Posted January 3, 2004 I don't know what I want score-wise as a hockey fan. I appreciate a good match between goaltenders the same way I appreciate a good match between pitchers in baseball. But then again I like to see some good high-score games, and as we know, American Sports Fans Like Big Numbers. I think the low-score games we're seeing aren't necessarily wars of attrition between the goalies, it's more like teams such as, oh let's go with New Jersey, just not allowing an environment conducive to scoring for either team. I'd much rather see a tense 3-2 game then a sloppily played 7-6 game. I think the biggest problem with hockey is impossible to solve: - The game is just too difficult. It takes a lot of work to guide a rubber disk from one end to the other without it being disrupted by a million possible combinations of things that try to prevent you from doing so. All it takes for a play to be broken up is for a pass to just graze an opponents stick, skate or whatever else is in the way. This I've found is the biggest problem for non-hockey fans to overcome. I live in an area of California where hockey is not at all popular. My friends think I'm crazy because I can sit in front of the TV for hours and watch dead plays, pucks bouncing off skates and "passes to nowhere" in the neutral zone. A friend of mine described hockey as "watching football with nothing but incomplete passes and constant fumbles." As players get better, well conditioned and coached, they're going to know all the tricks and tactics for breaking up plays. I play defense when I play and I'm aware of nearly every trick in the book when it comes to passes and positioning. Unless I get burned on a speedy 2-1 with a sweet saucer pass to the other guy, I at least have 90% chance of foiling their scoring chance. I don't even consider myself all that good, I just know how to foil opponents.
Guest Salacious Crumb Posted January 3, 2004 Report Posted January 3, 2004 The REAL problem for hockey is it's an awesome live sport but I hard to follow televised sport. It takes people a long time to follow a puck on tv.
CanadianChris Posted January 4, 2004 Author Report Posted January 4, 2004 The REAL problem for hockey is it's an awesome live sport but I hard to follow televised sport. It takes people a long time to follow a puck on tv. Not for anyone with two functioning eyes. That's why the glowing puck was so widely ridiculed. On an unrelated topic...9 unbeaten for the Senators after tonight's 5-2 thrashing of Washington,. They're now within 5 of Toronto for first in the Northeast (and first in the conference). I'll be posting my first half thoughts later in the week.
treble Posted January 4, 2004 Report Posted January 4, 2004 This is frustrating as the Leafs keep having to fight back in the 3rd after playing bad in the first 2 periods. Maybe I should just be happy that they didn't lose to Buffalo again, but their big buffer that they built up during the streak is disappearing too fast for my liking.
CanadianChris Posted January 4, 2004 Author Report Posted January 4, 2004 Is anyone in the States carrying the World Junior Hockey Championship? Because the Americans are playing Canada in the gold-medal game, Monday at noon.
the max Posted January 4, 2004 Report Posted January 4, 2004 I doubt anyone will carry it, and I haven't seen it anywhere on my digital cable. I want to see it too, since TSN has had it plastered all over their site lately.
CanadianChris Posted January 4, 2004 Author Report Posted January 4, 2004 It's times like this when I really hate having a job, because I badly want to see this live. Then I think of my $65,000 a year salary, and it passes.
CanadianChris Posted January 4, 2004 Author Report Posted January 4, 2004 Don't be too jealous, o ye with the girlfriend. I'm envioning myself going cougar hunting in five years or so. *shudder*
CanadianChris Posted January 4, 2004 Author Report Posted January 4, 2004 ... Wow, the Canucks are beating up on the Flames in Calgary right now. I thought Calgary would give them more of a game than this.
Red Baron Posted January 4, 2004 Report Posted January 4, 2004 They have got to move the nets back to their old positions as there's way too much dead space behind the net and in the corners behind it. The thinking in 98' or whenever they moved them forward, was that they'd be creating more Wayne Gretzkys capabale of dishing the puck to guys in the slot with regularity. I don't know about the rest of you, but it seems like there's been a huge decrease in the number of goals and plays like that since the nets were moved up. Maybe it's because the Sharks (the time I watch 98% of the time) has never been overly skilled until recently, but there's almost never any Gretzkyish plays from behind the net anymore. The leauge is so defensively oriented now that there are few teams and players dumb enough to fall for for those behind the net passes anymore. It's been a failure I'm afraid. We can also agree that adding 90 more players to the leauge with the Thrashers, Jackets and Wild didn't help matters when it came to adding more skill and precision to the game. That's not going to help matters any. I guarantee that scoring isn't down because they moved the nets forward...that's just a coincidence. The best realistic way to increase offense right now would be to eliminate the red line, but they've been talking about doing that for years with no results. The game needs both. Simply tinkering with one thing won't bring back games that end 7-5. If that is indeed what people want, that is. the redline keeps the balance in the game I think, taking away the red-line will insure a sloppy style of defence, while hot-shots will just loaf around the blue line not playing any defence, and soon thats what the strategy would be. Take the goal-line back 2 inches each side, the offensive zone is bigger, the trap is harder to use, and the pace of the game will be much quicker.
treble Posted January 4, 2004 Report Posted January 4, 2004 You must mean feet, because 4 inches isn't going to make any difference.
CanadianChris Posted January 4, 2004 Author Report Posted January 4, 2004 Take the goal-line back 2 inches each side, the offensive zone is bigger, the trap is harder to use, and the pace of the game will be much quicker. The whole point of the trap is to force players to the boards as they're entering the offensive zone. Making the rink longer won't affect the trap at all...you'd need to widen the rink to accomplish that. Increase the ice size to international levels, and you could reduce the effectiveness of the trap, because you'd have more room between the boards to skate.
Dogbert Posted January 4, 2004 Report Posted January 4, 2004 ... Wow, the Canucks are beating up on the Flames in Calgary right now. I thought Calgary would give them more of a game than this. We all thought so. As usual, the refereeing was shoddy, but that's not the reason they sucked tonight. Iginla pissed away three breakaways, Ference missed a sure goal right after Clark's marker, and they weren't hitting at all. They got physically dominated all night by the 'Nucks, and I'm thinking they're afraid of getting injured, considering sick bay is pretty much packed right now in Calgary.
The Czech Republic Posted January 4, 2004 Report Posted January 4, 2004 Is anyone in the States carrying the World Junior Hockey Championship? Because the Americans are playing Canada in the gold-medal game, Monday at noon. "Are the Red Wings in it?"
treble Posted January 5, 2004 Report Posted January 5, 2004 Fuck, this was the THIRD year in a row Canada blew a 3rd period lead in the Gold Medal game. Well, congrats to the US, anyway.
Brush with Greatness Posted January 5, 2004 Report Posted January 5, 2004 Wow, what an ugly goal to lose on. Anyways, that was fucking brutal. Canada was in total control of that game. They really should have buried their chances in the 2nd and early third. And then they get caught sending three guys hard when they are up 2 goals in the third. WTF was that? USA was dead before they got that second goal and gave them the life they needed. Canada pretty much beat themselves this year as no team was really capable of playing with them. Hopefully those thirteen guys will be back next year and will have something to prove. Fuck.
CanadianChris Posted January 6, 2004 Author Report Posted January 6, 2004 I am disconsolate. Fleury must have thought he was back in Pittsburgh.
Guest Italian Stallion Posted January 6, 2004 Report Posted January 6, 2004 Walz got schooled by Keith! Anybody catch that hit? So clean and so hard. Walz had no idea what hit him. Damn was Keith proud of himself.
Gert T Posted January 6, 2004 Report Posted January 6, 2004 That was a hell of a hit, I was pissed because the announcers were going nuts about it, then didn't show a replay for about 5 minutes. When they showed Lemaire on the bench, I thought he was saying to the players, "let's get to OT, get our point and try to retaliate in OT. But they'll probably save that for when they go back to Minnesota. Good clean (albeit brutal) hit, though.
CanadianChris Posted January 9, 2004 Author Report Posted January 9, 2004 MOTHERFUCKER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The Senators/Leafs game is blacked out on EVERY CHANNEL in Ottawa. I can't get it on Sportsnet OR Centre Ice. Not that it's much of a contest...4-0 Senators 7 minutes in.
Red Baron Posted January 9, 2004 Report Posted January 9, 2004 I thought it was an error. Then I flipped to the game. And believe me. There is no error.... and 5-0!!!!
CanadianChris Posted January 9, 2004 Author Report Posted January 9, 2004 And here comes the thuganomics. I absolutely hate what Pat Quinn has done to the Leafs.
Red Baron Posted January 9, 2004 Report Posted January 9, 2004 The leafs looks like your ordinary Junior B team out there. Their D are Pilons with sticks.
LaParkaMarka Posted January 9, 2004 Report Posted January 9, 2004 (edited) Yeah, Rich Pilon was a pretty bad d-man. Edited January 9, 2004 by LaParkaMarka
starvenger Posted January 9, 2004 Report Posted January 9, 2004 Well, the Leafs finally scored to make it 5-1, but from what I can tell the Sens did the equivalent of beating them up and taking their girlfriend...
Brush with Greatness Posted January 9, 2004 Report Posted January 9, 2004 Meh, had Belfour played the Leafs would have likely won 1-0. Possibly tied 1-1. Kidd is shit.
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