Hockey Talk: The Official NHL 2008-2009 Thread - Page 4

Re: Hockey Talk: The Official NHL 2008-2009 Thread

What a treat having two NHL games to watch this afternoon. I was thrilled to see both the Red Wings/Penguins and Maple Leafs/Canadiens games on television. It was also nice to see a nationally-televised game (on NBC).

The games were interesting as well, with both road teams winning. I thought the refs were working overtime to keep the Habs/Leafs game under control. Is that the norm for when those two teams meet? I thought that they had such genuine love for one another.

I also watched some of the NBA games and the Pro Bowl. It was quite an afternoon for sports.

Re: Hockey Talk: The Official NHL 2008-2009 Thread

I didn't see the game (I recorded it, but haven't watched it), but the Habs and Leafs series has not been a blood bath for as long as I can remember. There is usually a lot of energy, but not any more rough play than any other two teams. Montreal vs. Quebec, before the Nordiques moved to Denver, was much more nasty.

BTW, I've been to a few Habs - Leafs games in Toronto, and it's amazing how many Canadiens fans are there. It's almost a 50/50 mix. On the subway ride to old Maple Leaf Gardens the cars would be filled with Montreal fans in various Habs garb.

Re: Hockey Talk: The Official NHL 2008-2009 Thread

Scott,

Yeah, the announcers mentioned this a few times during the game yesterday (about the mix of fans).

Another treat for me was hearing the names of greats of the past (Beliveau, Carbonneau, Jeffrion, et al.). I may not like the Canadiens, but I sure do respect them a heck of a lot. Those were great days -- IMO one of the waves of the glory days of the NHL.

BTW, even though I am a Bruins fan, I've been hoping for many years (nearly forty or so!) that the Maple Leafs would win the Cup again. I don't recall the 1966-67 championship team all that well -- the ghosts of Dave Keon and Jim Pappin notwithstanding . The Maple Leafs are secretly my second favorite team.

Re: Hockey Talk: The Official NHL 2008-2009 Thread

Mine is still the Whalers! (And I ain't talkin' no Carolina, neither.)

Re: Hockey Talk: The Official NHL 2008-2009 Thread

Actually, mine is, too, but not the Hartford team. The Plymouth Whalers are our local Ontario Hockey League team, and are owned by Carolina Hurricanes owner Peter Karmanos -- hence the Whalers nickname.

My wife and I go to about 15 games a year. It's very entertaining hockey for an excellent price, we get to see some future NHL players, and the arena is only about a mile from home.

Re: Hockey Talk: The Official NHL 2008-2009 Thread

Habs fans are similar to Yankee fans. They are all over the place, and they multiply easily . . . kind of like fungus.

Re: Hockey Talk: The Official NHL 2008-2009 Thread

Tell me about it. I was surprised to see so many Habs fans at the Wachovia Center in Philly. They ended up being louder than the Flyers fans, but that's because the Canadiens came away with the win. Not exactly a pleasant experience, in more ways than one.

Re: Hockey Talk: The Official NHL 2008-2009 Thread

This is why, in my opinion, the Pens are having issues this year. Lack of understanding that effort does not equal W and 2 points. Someone needs to kick them in the pants and get that across.

Pens lose 3-0 to the Wings on Saturday and here are a few player comments:

From Sykora: "It's another great test [playing San Jose], and I feel like we deserve to win on Wednesday for the effort we had [against Detroit] even though we didn't get the points," Penguins winger Petr Sykora said.

My comments: They haven't even played yet -they don't deserve anything for losing to the Wings - there's no automatic, well we played with a great effort but still got blanked, so the Sharks should just roll over and give us the two points since we did such a good job in the last game.

From Matt Cooke: "We have to play the same way. Just come out with the same attitude, just come out with the same effort, and we're going to be fine."

My comments: How about getting the darn puck in the net. You don't get any points for effort - you get points for outscoring your opponent.

I am pretty ticked off right now with how this season has progressed.

San Jose went into Boston and beat the Bruins 5-2 - that's after being down 2-0 and they put up 3 goals in a 6 minute span. Oh yeah, the Pens last game against the Sharks this year. 11 shots. Not in a period. For the whole stinking game and OT period. They only had 3 shots in each of the periods and got 2 in OT.

10th place in the East guys. Time for a gut check - this we had a good effort crap isn't going to fly any longer.

Good news. Gonchar is cleared to play. Bad News. Still searching for competent wingers for Crosby's line. Nothing against Tyler Kennedy and Pascal Dupuis, but they aren't 1st line wingers.

Let's get it in gear.

Re: Hockey Talk: The Official NHL 2008-2009 Thread

San Jose is the class of the league. Period. Bruins need to find a way to stop that behemoth if they wish a chance at Stanley. No team in the east scares me like the Sharks.

Re: Hockey Talk: The Official NHL 2008-2009 Thread

Well, that was a much better outcome last night. Pens picked up 2 critical points in a 2-1 OT/SO win against the Sharks with Crosby scoring the only Shoot Out goal.

Fun game to watch and glad that the Pens showed some signs of life. Still need to improve the PP - had a golden chance in OT but didn't capitalize on it...

Next up. Maple Leafs - Saturday @ Toronto. Will Gonchar play? Sure hope so.

Randy

Re: Hockey Talk: The Official NHL 2008-2009 Thread

I will not be a believer in San Jose until I see them actually do something in the playoffs. They remind me of Ottawa a few years ago -- impressive regular seasons, but disappointing in the playoffs.

Re: Hockey Talk: The Official NHL 2008-2009 Thread

Yeah, but those Ottawa teams were really, really soft; great talent, but no grit. And when they chose to let Chara go, they became complete marshmallows. That is not something you want in the playoffs.

On the other hand, these Sharks played physical against what many consider a very physical team in the Bruins. They outhit them for 2 periods, and basically only had to outhit Lucic to do it. Faceoffs were brutal (they won like 75%), and Yelle and Bergeron are great faceoff men. Sure two of the goals were flukes, but they were flukes due to outworking the B's. Hey, either team could get picked off before the final, you never know, but right now I'm not scared of anything but them. Honestly, I'd rather face Detroit.

Re: Hockey Talk: The Official NHL 2008-2009 Thread

Well that started well and ended badly....Pens up 2-0 and then let up 6 straight...Michel Therrien gets canned and the Pens bring in Dan Bylsma from the Baby Pens...38 years old and in his first year as coach of the farm club...

We'll see how it goes. Don't know if this was the right move or not. Was more concerned about lack of leadership being displayed by players and the fact that there aren't any first line Wingers on the squad and the injuries that hampered the D all year.

Push for the last 25 games...make the playoffs...we'll see.

Game Flash: Pens tied 2-2 in the third with the lowly Islanders. So much for a huge push as a result of the firing...

Game End: Pens lose in OT SO...yikes.

Re: Hockey Talk: The Official NHL 2008-2009 Thread

No team in the East scares you?

Then I have 3 words for you.................New Jersey Devils.

Beat Boston 1-0 on Friday.

Beat San Jose 6-5 on Sunday.

Beat the best of the East & West.

13-2 in their last 15 games. None of those wins shootout/OT wins either!!!

Running away with the Atlantic Division.

All this done without Martin Brodeur since November 1, 2008. (We get him back Feb 26th.)

Brent Sutter for Coach of the Year.

Ok. I'll leave for now. Us lowly Devils fans (All 8 of us) have to get back to our quest for another Stanley Cup.

Re: Hockey Talk: The Official NHL 2008-2009 Thread

Big difference between these two statements. I never said I'm not scared of any team in the East, the Sharks just scare me more. As far as the Devils are concerned . . . we'll see when the playoffs get here. I never predict any sporting event, afterall . . . I am a Red Sox fan.

Re: Hockey Talk: The Official NHL 2008-2009 Thread

Mario is coming down to the bench from the Owner's suite! Hah. Hah. Hah.

If that wouldn't be a recipe for disaster, I don't know what would be...we see how well the Great One has worked out as coach in Phoenix.

I tend to agree - they should have pulled the trigger sooner than know to allow for some more adjustment time - it's not like the Pens have just found themselves in the 10th spot in the East. It's been that way for a while now....

Interesting column in the PG about the continued slide of some teams ahead of the Pens and how that really needs to continue. Rangers for one. Lose 8-3 to the Flyers and give up a short handed 5 on 3 goal as well.

We'll see how the Pens fair after the next 3 games. Tough stretch ahead with the Canadians, Flyers and Caps - Back to back for the last two.

Randy

Re: Hockey Talk: The Official NHL 2008-2009 Thread

Super talented stars almost never make it as coaches. They are just too elite in their outlook to relate to the muck and grinders who are necessary elements of any team. When your hockey mind works in the ethereal space of a Gretzky, you really can't be relied on to know how to bash bodies at the front of the net, or how to beat a more talented team with guts and guile.

Bobby Orr once said he could never be a coach because he never really understood how he did the things he did. He said sometimes he was in back of his own net with the puck, and then next next thing he knows, the puck is in the net at the other end. Everything in between was sheer instinct.

Re: Hockey Talk: The Official NHL 2008-2009 Thread

Jeff,

Astonishing, really. But having seen him play for many years, I don't a doubt a word about what he said with regard to his play and instinct above.

Re: Hockey Talk: The Official NHL 2008-2009 Thread

Wow, I wonder if the Habs had one of these:

Inside The Canadiens Closed Door Meeting

Definitely one of the funniest hockey related spoofs ever.

"You know not to throw it glove side. Just throw that into his chest, build up his confidence!"

Re: Hockey Talk: The Official NHL 2008-2009 Thread

Pens so far 3-1-1 with Bylsma...

Beginning a 5 in a row on the road against the Blackhawks and end with the Caps on March 8 - game I will be at.

Hopefully it is the beginning of a solid road trip and Pens can work their way up in the Eastern standings.

Oh yeah. Traded Whitney to Anaheim. Not too familar with Winger that they picked up in addition to a pretty decent prospect.

Whitney can be a good Offensive D-man but was pretty dreadful since he came back. -15 with a single goal. Gonchar has been spot on since his return.

Re: Hockey Talk: The Official NHL 2008-2009 Thread

Sigh. . .went to the Bruins/ Panthers game on Saturday with my dad and the B's got shut out (on 41 shots!). In the 3 games since, they have 15 goals. . .

When I get around to it I'll post my photos on Shutterfly or something.

Re: Hockey Talk: The Official NHL 2008-2009 Thread

Great SI article on the greatest that I ever saw turning 60:

At 60 he's been a player agent for longer than he ruled - 03.02.09 - SI Vault

A couple excerpts:

His immense talent, so pure it was recognized by all . . .


His white hot anger . . .


And the nicest guy to the fans that I've ever met, and I've had the pleasure of meeting him a couple times . . .

Re: Hockey Talk: The Official NHL 2008-2009 Thread

I'm pleased the Sharks have lost a few games recently. I was actually not rooting against the Canadiens when they played San Jose the other night....

Re: Hockey Talk: The Official NHL 2008-2009 Thread

Jeff,

That was a fun read. I remember that hit of Quinn's. I don't recall the revenge very well, however. No. 4 was such an amazing player.

One of the images I have of Orr was how fast he got up the ice from behind his own net. Astonishing, actually.

Re: Hockey Talk: The Official NHL 2008-2009 Thread

I was a little young in '69, but I've seen the clips of the Garden faithful chanting "Get Quinn!! Get Quinn!!" and Quinn needing a police escort out of the building (police which probably would not have stopped too many if challenged). I do remember hearing from my Dad about Bobby finally getting his due; on his terms, not Quinn's. But alas, even in 1970, I was still only allowed to watch the first period before bed. But you can bet if the game was on, I was either watching it, or listening to it from under my covers.

And yes, he had the fastest first 3 strides in hockey . . . ever. Acceleration like a Top Fuel dragster going downhill.

Re: Hockey Talk: The Official NHL 2008-2009 Thread

Jeff,

Some of my most fond memories are of listening to Bruins, Celtics, and Red Sox games in my room on a transistor radio, late at night. Those are indeed cherished memories.

I loved what Ken Dryden had to say about Orr in the article. And the stat regarding the +124 ("... the Bruins scored 124 more even-strength or shorthanded goals than they gave up when Orr was on the ice") is quite telling.

Re: Hockey Talk: The Official NHL 2008-2009 Thread

Orr completely changed the way a defenseman was thought of. It's so rare that a player can completely redefine a position. I remember watching Larry Robinson make some end-to-end rushes during those great late '70's Stanley Cup years and thinking "Bobby Orr made that possible".

Just think of the numbers Orr could have put up with modern medicine. I'm sure his knee problems could have been corrected with today's technology.