The Hockey Thread - October

[Red Baron 0]

Looking at the box scores from Friday, I can't help but be confused. Did the Oilers really score three power play goals? Really? The Oilers? It really is a brave new world. The weird happenings that always pop up at the start of a new hockey season are exciting, but I've learned to never, EVER trust anything that happens in October. Habs fans should remember the strange performances of Brian Savage in Octobers past, that's always my favourite example.

 

It didn't help that Calgary spent almost a third of the time in the sin bin.

[the max 0]

Bruins defeat the Sens 4-2. Kessel (Phil Kessel what) with 2, Sturm and Lucic both with their first of the year. Bruins are 2-1-1 and head home for the first time this season. They looked very good tonight, tighter defensively. Fernandez was ok, not spectacular. I think Thomas deserves to start the home opener against the Crosbys on monday.

[bob_barron 0]

Cujo ended up giving up 4 goals.

 

The Leafs have some of the pieces in place, and they play with heart, but they just can't finish games.

[The Ghost of bps21 0]

The Sabres traveled to Atlanta after playing last night and looked horrid in the first period. They played their backup goalie (Lalime who was excellent and the only reason they didn't get blown out). They were down 2-0 after 1 and were being outshot by some ridiculous margin, and were taking penalty after penalty (although they still haven't given up a goal while a man down). They managed to get back and tie it up at 2 and lose in the shootout. 4-0-1 and Vanek scored his 7th.

[Red Baron 0]

Looks like you are going to give Kurt Sauer $500 Max. He laid out Andrei Kostitsyn in a clean hit. What made this hit look worse was he face planted the ice and the forehead squashed up on to his visor.

 

[CanadianGuitarist 0]

Looks like you are going to give Kurt Sauer $500, Max.

 

Beat me to it. The Hotstove was debating it during second intermission of the Leafs game yesterday. I didn't see the play leading up to it, just the hit itself, but it looked clean. Any word on him yet?

[the max 0]

If Kurt Sauer played for the Boston Bruins, I would be cutting him a check right now. Great hit.

[garfieldsnose 0]

Flyers really need to get it the fuck together. Their goaltending and defense has been deplorable. I'm really fucking pissed off they can't fucking win a fucking game.

[garfieldsnose 0]

Looks like you are going to give Kurt Sauer $500 Max. He laid out Andrei Kostitsyn in a clean hit. What made this hit look worse was he face planted the ice and the forehead squashed up on to his visor.

 

And of course, you have the Canadiens and the media playing it up like it was a cheap shot.

[RepoMan 0]

 

That video would have been nice if it had some hockey clips.

 

[Red Baron 0]

Looks like you are going to give Kurt Sauer $500 Max. He laid out Andrei Kostitsyn in a clean hit. What made this hit look worse was he face planted the ice and the forehead squashed up on to his visor.

 

And of course, you have the Canadiens and the media playing it up like it was a cheap shot.

 

Kostitsyn had his head down. Like I said earlier, he got the worst of it when he landed on the ice.

[garfieldsnose 0]

Having your head down does not equal a cheap shot all the time. Lindros had his head down and Scott Stevens killed him, and nobody in Philly called that a cheap shot.

[Smartly Pretty 0]

Having your head down is never a cheap shot. Ever. That's like, hockey 101. If you're skating through the neutral zone with the puck, keep your head up if you want to live.

[garfieldsnose 0]

While I respect The Rocket didn't call it a cheap shot, it still gets on my nerves that the Canadiens will bitch about anything bad that happens to them and the Canadian media follows in suit. I got my fix from the Flyers/Habs playoff series last year and Jesus Christ I felt for any Flyer fan that might have lived in or around that area.

[Red Baron 0]

Having your head down does not equal a cheap shot all the time. Lindros had his head down and Scott Stevens killed him, and nobody in Philly called that a cheap shot.

 

I wouldn't say cheap, but he did get away with an elbow there. Canadianguitarist and I are two diehard Habs fans, and neither one of us thinks its a cheap hit. I don't think TSN is making it a big deal, obviously the Habs are since its one of their better players, but there is no need to rush Andrei back. After Florida on Monday, they don't play again till Saturday against Anaheim.

[the max 0]

The Canucks have Matt Pettinger and Kyle Wellwood on re-entry waivers.

 

 

And it's the Boston Bruins home opener tonight! Marvel at the flopping of Tim Thomas! Shriek in horror at the size of the ape-man, Zdeno Chara! And for the ladies, it's the return of Patrice Bergeron! Can the Bruins continue their strong physical game against the defending conference champions? CAN THEY?

[the max 0]

Pettinger became Tampa's 29th forward.

 

Ken Klee, Patrick Rissmiller and Jason Ward were all waived as well. Klee is odd since he's over 35 and his cap hit counts regardless of where he plays. Unless Burke has someone definitely picking him up.

 

The Bruins are coming off two excellent games against Ottawa and Pittsburgh and storm into Buffalo tonight. Bergeron is about three games overdue for his first goal and Kessel (Phil Kessel what) looks like a completely different player. He was used on the PK last night, he's been much more aggressive and physical so far this season. I think Julien benching him in the playoffs last year flipped a switch or something, because he's been a different player since then.

 

On the other side, the Bruins defense has been getting better and better as the games have gone. They were very good against Montreal except for about 10 minutes in the first period. They shined against Ottawa and were absolutely spiffing against the Pens last night. Julien has pinched them a lot more so far. Wideman and Ference were leading rushes last night, Chara was in the slot on a set play and hustled back. Once they get clicked, this team is going to be a very solid #4 seed or the scariest fucking #7 or #8 in a long, long time.

[Prophet of Mike Zagurski 0]

Klee probably had the shortest stint in this Ducks administration. We aren't doing well.

[Obi Chris Kenobi 0]

Time to get back into Hockey, now that I have Satellite. Only, I need a team to follow. I used to follow the Washington Capital about 12 years ago, but its been so long I'm not sure what the hells going on. Any suggestions?

[bob_barron 0]

Follow the Caps. They're finally on the right track now that they have Ovechkin and some other good youngsters

[Obi Chris Kenobi 0]

Follow the Caps. They're finally on the right track now that they have Ovechkin and some other good youngsters

 

Yeah, may as well carry on where I left off. Just remember they had a great pair of wings and a killer goaltender back when I followed them, then I stopped following NHL and a few years later they won the cup.

[the max 0]

They went to the finals. They've never won the cup.

[Prophet of Mike Zagurski 0]

The Caps have never won the Cup but they did make it to the Finals about 10 years ago. They could make it this year to the Finals.

[garfieldsnose 0]

The two posts above mine = my post.

[treble 0]

I like all this hypothetical talk about another team in Toronto. The thought of putting them in the ACC is hilarious, since the Leafs would just sabotage all their revenues.

[Obi Chris Kenobi 0]

Ah right, sorry, must have just thought they won since they got to the final haha

[bob_barron 0]

I agree. The ACC also has the Raptors, which would make it a scheduling nightmare.

 

I did like the idea of moving a team to Hamilton, though I think Winnipeg deserves another shot

[CanadianChris 0]

I agree. The ACC also has the Raptors, which would make it a scheduling nightmare.

They do manage it at Staples Center. And if there's anywhere that could hypothetically support a second franchise, it's Toronto. But really, who would support it?

[Prophet of Mike Zagurski 0]

I think a lot the fans who can get into Leafs games might. Also, should this hypothetical team win the Stanley Cup, it might hurt (slightly) the Leafs popularity.

[CanadianGuitarist 0]

I wonder if a team in Hamilton would work; Ballsille, obviously, is gung-ho on it, to the point that he's mentioned adding on to Copps (That was from Real Time Sports on The Fan today, I don't remember him actually saying it publicly). I think it would.

 

I think a more intriguing idea would be, say, the Ontario Predators instead of the Hamilton/KW/London/Niagara Predators. It's a little forced, but I think it gets a foot in the door of a rivalry, as well as marketing outside the Hammer in what's, for the most part, Leaf Nation anyway.

 

There's nothing more I'd like than to see another team in Canada, so while it might be a little strange seeing a second Toronto franchise, I'm for it.

 

And finally, my post in the Death Pool this weekend hinted at a "fingers crossed" list of next year's selection. Coupled with my watching of Bon Cop, Bad Cop this weekend, Bettman will officially be a 2009 Death Pool Entry. Al Davis, too.