NHL Season 08-09

[Arnwulf]

How was Clutterbuck's and Avery's fight?

It was the worst, most god awful staged fight I've ever seen. I'm sorry but if you have time to take your gloves off, take your helmet off and set it down on the ice, and then skate halfway down the ice, you shouldn't fight, that's just ridiculous. The fight itself was ok, but the way it started was absurd.

[Bregor]

I loved Curtis Joseph's quote after the Leafs-Capitals game



For those that don't know, he took over for Gerber after Gerber had a bit of a hissy-fit over the Capitals game-tie'ing goal in the last minute of the third period. Joseph shutout the Capitals in OT and then stopped all 3 shootout attempts (well, the second missed the net, but whatever).

Even though I'm a Caps fan, I've always liked CuJo and thought it was a good moment for him. The Washington Post recap was sort of amusing, talking about how the first 55 minutes were pretty sloppy, something along the lines of "one team waiting for the playoffs to start, and another waiting for vacation."

[Mytiwar]

big win by the habs today

Indeed

Kovalev/Tanguay/Koivu ftw

At first I had mega doubts on that working out but boi, I just love Kovi and Tanguay...

Work your magic Kovi, work it!

[Abraxas]

god bless you habs for still cheering for Kovalev. he has skill, but he takes too many days off for my liking.

especially with someone like Koivu on the team, you would think his work ethic would rub off onto other players

[Palin]

http://www.nhlplayoffrace.com/east.html

Nice chart that shows the standings and the games remaining for each team. Some teams are going to have a lot rougher road in these last games than others, so the final 16 should be interesting. For example, looking at Detroit's final games compared to SJ, I think Detroit has the upper hand, and will win the Conference.

[Arnwulf]

http://i43.tinypic.com/2j0nq8p.jpg

Shutout #10! We punished the Flames last night, great win!

[Thoronas]

Glad you guys won last night. The Canucks played another stinker but because you totally dominated the Flames we still have a shot at third place in the west. For that I say THANK YOU COLUMBUS!

[Brill Weave]

Back to the Eaton/Timmonen debate. I normally agree with most of your comments Sepp but you do realize that while you were saying Timmonen is injury prone, Eaton has missed half a season for the last two seasons in a row due to serious injuries? I like Eaton and I'm floored at how well he has rebounded and been able to do whatever the Penguins ask of him. I really thought his days would be numbered but he has proven me wrong here.

The real question is which dman ends up getting the short end of the stick next year when Gogo is up here all season? I hope it's Gill but I think management is too in love with his size and experience to the point where they will ignore his complete and total lack of anything even remotely resembling speed.

[Izzy]

Did anyone watch the Wings lose to the Islanders? lol

[Ivaden]

Back to the Eaton/Timmonen debate. I normally agree with most of your comments Sepp but you do realize that while you were saying Timmonen is injury prone, Eaton has missed half a season for the last two seasons in a row due to serious injuries? I like Eaton and I'm floored at how well he has rebounded and been able to do whatever the Penguins ask of him. I really thought his days would be numbered but he has proven me wrong here.

The real question is which dman ends up getting the short end of the stick next year when Gogo is up here all season? I hope it's Gill but I think management is too in love with his size and experience to the point where they will ignore his complete and total lack of anything even remotely resembling speed.

Gill is best paired up with an offensive d-man, which is I think what's been lacking about him. He can't handle the puck well, so he needs a more offensive capable d-man to pass it to in order to get it out of the zone. Unfortunately, he's usually paired with Scuderi, which is also another stay at home D. Personally, I like them both individually, but I wish they wouldn't be paired together. I really don't dislike any of our d-men anymore, Eaton has amazed me the past few weeks, but I do think Gill is going to be replaced with Goligoski. Who knows, if we make it to the playoffs (good lord are the points close...), he might pick up his game like he did last year in the playoffs.

[Sepukku]

Timmonen has been injured several times as well in his 6? 7? 8? year career (not just the 2008 ECF).

Gill is usable on the PK where I can't remember once where Goligoski got PK time. Obviously that comes with being new and not polished defensively - I remember Malkin's first season he saw barely (if any) PK time. Thats all Gill really has on him except 50 more pounds and 8-9 inches.

[Ivaden]

With the way Bylsma sets up the PK for the last thirty seconds of it or so by throwing Crosby or Malkin out there, I wouldn't be surprised if Goligoski eventually found his way to the PK if only for that last bit of offensive on the ending PK.

That's assuming Bylsma becomes the head coach for next season, which I honestly don't see any reasons why he wouldn't be. He turned this team into the force it should be with all the talent we have.

[Palin]

Well Stars season is officially over. Pretty impossible for them to get in now, and they're losing a key player to injuries every game. Almost like divine providence to not make it this year.

Switching my vote for Panthers, and more realistically, the Devils.

[Brill Weave]

Sigh, now we wait until Wednesday for the next Pens game.

[Sepukku]

Pens with their win against the Rangers almost garuntees them 5th or 6th and a first round matchup against either Devils or Flyers, both of which would be good series. Rangers now likely stuck with Boston or Washington.

[Makaveli]

Timmonen has been injured several times as well in his 6? 7? 8? year career (not just the 2008 ECF).

Kimmo Timonen Stats, News, Photos - Philadelphia Flyers - ESPN

http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/player...s?playerId=244

really? he has? most games he has missed was 10 in 02-03.
EDIT: Just to compare the two since that is what was being discussed I added Eaton's stats too. Kimmo has 1 more year but almost 300 more games played, 71 more goals, 250+ more assists.
He may have only 3 goals this year, but you dont need to scoring from your defense when you have 6 forwards with 25+ each. Also if you didnt watch lasts first round and the games this year Kimmo just about shut Ovie down.

[Sepukku]

Also if you didnt watch lasts first round and the games this year Kimmo just about shut Ovie down.

And then got a blood clot. And in addition to the little knicks and scrapes hes missed for, he also missed a handful of games back in 1999-2000 along with the first all star game he was voted into with an injury, and he's 34 now so he ain't getting any stronger. Mark Eaton, while being hurt the past couple years, can't be blamed for arguably either injury. Both hits were seriously shadey. Marco Sturm slew footed him and Cheechoo boarded him. Its not like he got a strained groin (which makes Crosby softer than Eaton, as Crosby regularly battles tweaked groin problems) or a wimpy blood clot. Both plays he was just doing his job going to get the puck dumped behind the next and got fucked from behind by a cheap play.

And during their time together in Nashville, guess which defenseman had a better +/- (both overall and in all but 1 of the 5-6 seasons), including, at one point, the Predators franchise record in +/-?


Wait for it...


Wait for it.....


Mark Eaton.

[Makaveli]

its hard to get minus when you are out injured, so i can see how he would set a team record with a whopping +16

[Ishido]

Did anyone watch the Wings lose to the Islanders? lol

Late, but yeah. 2 goals by the Isles on poor defensive plays, and about 7 posts for the Wings, was a pretty frustrating game.

Today was similar, not as many posts but 2 turnovers turn into 2 goals within 20 seconds of each other, turning a 2-1 game into 3-2 the other way.

President's Trophy is probably out of the question now unless San Jose fails in a few games as much as we have in the last 2.

[Abraxas]

And then got a blood clot. And in addition to the little knicks and scrapes hes missed for, he also missed a handful of games back in 1999-2000 along with the first all star game he was voted into with an injury, and he's 34 now so he ain't getting any stronger. Mark Eaton, while being hurt the past couple years, can't be blamed for arguably either injury. Both hits were seriously shadey. Marco Sturm slew footed him and Cheechoo boarded him. Its not like he got a strained groin (which makes Crosby softer than Eaton, as Crosby regularly battles tweaked groin problems) or a wimpy blood clot. Both plays he was just doing his job going to get the puck dumped behind the next and got fucked from behind by a cheap play.

And during their time together in Nashville, guess which defenseman had a better +/- (both overall and in all but 1 of the 5-6 seasons), including, at one point, the Predators franchise record in +/-?


Wait for it...


Wait for it.....


Mark Eaton.

he missed 22 games in the past 9 seasons. how is that injury prone?

and it doesnt suprise me that Eaton had a better plus minus. he wasnt the one they put out when the game was on the line.

but they're comparable defensemen. sure