2010-2011 NHL Season Thread

[Penthesilea]

But he still falls down as much, if not more.

[Callisto]

lol just checked the stats to be sure, Crosby does in fact have more points on the season that the entirety of NJD, that's too awesome. I actually really hope he finishes the season outscoring an entire team.

[Ishido]

Career, Callisto, career. Ishito said averaged out over their season and careers. Pavelac and Price's careers are case studies in how NOT to enter the NHL.

Uhhh don't you mean Fleury? Dude's first two NHL season statlines:
21 GP, 4 W, .896 sv%, 3.64 GAA
50 GP, 13 W, .898 sv%, 3.25 GAA

Price's
41 GP, 24 W, .920 sv%, 2.56 GAA
52 GP, 23 W, .905 sv%, 2.83 GAA

[Anton]

"I'm not interested in a five-year rebuild here," Burke said in April. "You can say Pittsburgh -- well, Pittsburgh picked a ball out of a drum to get Sidney Crosby. Don't tell me there was any skill there. When you say, 'Gee, what a great rebuilding job they did,' they won a goddamned lottery."

"The plus-minus stat is like a lamp post to a drunk," Burke opined, "supportive but not really illuminating. You look at Beauchemin and defencemen like him who play all the time against the other team’s best players and they’re rarely plus players. Sidney Crosby jumps over the boards and, boom, there goes Beauchemin with him."

Oh Burke, you so funny.

[Callisto]

he didn't mean that 'entering the NHL'

[Anton]

Iiiiiits Hockey Night in North America, a.k.a wednesday.

I think it's fun trying to predict games with teams I don't necessarily follow. And If you don't like it, well then take off, hosehead! Go point out all the mistakes I made.

VIS VS HOME
Boston(16-8-4) Vs Buffalo(12-14-4): Have met twice this year, Boston has taken both games in regular time and is starting from 2 days rest. Stuart and Seguin are questionable to play, but you don't put dough against Tiny Tim without some better odds.

Phoenix (14-8-6) Vs New Jersey (8-19-2): Not much to say here, Phoenix is getting production from all over the corps, while Kovalchuk is in a slump, Brodeur has only one win since Oct29, and the Devils have lost the last 3. News on Zach Parise: Back by Mid-Feb.

New York (18-13-1) Vs Pittsburg (21-9-2): Third of six meetings between these two. Rangers have won this before, winning tonight would advance them to division 5th (7-0 against the Caps, that's pretty impressive). Captain Chris Drury is expected to return as well, while Chris Kunitz apparently has an injury of some sort. I think the Rangers are a scrappy team, I've always liked Lundqvist, so I say the pens drop one at home (5 of their 9 losses @ home... not great odds so this one's in the hutch category)

Anaheim (16-13-4) Vs Washington (18-11-3): You don't sell HBO specials by losing 7-0. Fun fact: Washington hasn't won a game since filming began! Lots of injuries: Mike Green is questionable off the flu, Boyd Gordon is out for 2 weeks, Semin and Johansson sat out practice with flu symptoms. WASH YOUR HANDS YOU SICK PEOPLE! Selanne and Voros aren't expected to play. In terms of raw stats the Caps are superior, but with so many sitting out, and Fuckin' Corey Perry and Ryan Getzlav riding hot streaks, I've got Anaheim to add to Caps woes. Smile for the camera!

St. Louis (14-9-5) Vs Detroit (19-7-3): Detroit have been spotty at home since starting the season strong, which is actually good thing today, because St. Louis is 5-7-3 on the road. Andy McDonald and David perron are out for concussions. Det missing Mike Modano. Despite losing 5-0 to LA, 51 shots on net is still a sign of life. If there's a time to turn the boat around, here it is. Detroit wins at home.

Philadelphia (20-7-5) Vs Montreal (18-10-2): Second meeting this season, PHI was blanked at MTL and subsequently won at home from 2 back. How much do you measure snapping a 12 game winning streak against Price's 11-4-2 .935 @home record? Montreal is missing Gomer, which is ok he sucks, but Spacek and Gorges omitted from their blue line corps is a definite blow (gorges claims he'll play, spacek is a doubtful). The stats are close too - Mtl has better special teams but PHI has better averages. MTL has the goalie but PHI's forwards have the thunder. AHHH this is so close to call... Price comes up big time and MTL wins it. Gee that wasn't so hard after all.

Atlanta (17-11-3) Vs Tampa Bay (16-10-4): Stamkos has carved up Atlanta in their previous two meetings in early October against Mason, but since then Ondrej Pavelec recovered and returned to net with definite #1 numbers. Also, Byfuglien turned into a Norris candidate who has already broken franchise records (in only 31 games?) Vincent Lecavalier and Steve Downie are on IR - that's definitely bad. Both teams have serious heat on the PP, but lukewarm simmering on the PK. I think this game's different after a month and a half and a decent goalie later. With TB's injuries, Atlanta can win this if they so please.

Carolina (12-12-4) Vs Florida (13-15-0): Cam Ward has singlehandedly earned the team three points in the last two games, stopping 66 of 68 shots during regulation and OT. Meanwhile, the Panthers dropped a 3-0 decision against Nashville due to poor offense, and it's no surprise looking at the IR. From nhl.com: "Florida will get defenseman Bryan Allen back from a broken foot and forward Chris Higgins returns following a staph infection. Forwards Byron Bitz (sports hernia), Mark Cullen (Achilles), Rostislav Olesz (broken finger), Cory Stillman (back spasms), and Radek Dvorak (shoulder) remain on injured reserve." Supposedly Vokoun is in the pipes tonight, but he won't be there for a win.

San Jose (15-10-5) Vs Nashville (15-8-6): What the hell SJS? Why can't you just win games? Is it the goalies? Is it the forwards? It's Niemi vs Lindback tonight, Rinne is out. Nashville has won its last 3 games 11-2 with back-to-back shutouts by Lindback, and yet San Jose has been the dominant opponent last season. Frankly, I have no idea so I'll let history be the judge.

Colorado (16-10-4) Vs Chicago (16-13-3): Colorado has beat the Hawks twice already this season at home, can they do it on the road? Last monday was nutty, especially considering how many Avs are injured: Van Der Gulik is cleared to play, but Galiardi, Hedjuk, Stewart, Quincey, Cuminsky, and Mueller are all out. And yet here they are tied with Vancouver for the division title (guess those players aren't all that necessary). Chicago is missing Kane with an ankle injury, but apparently Hossa is marked as a probable tonight. I don't see why Chicago is any worse, having won 3 of 5 with Kane and Hossa out, and they're starting Crawford instead of Turco, so I'm siding with the forum. GO HAWKS GO!

Columbus (16-11-2) Vs Vancouver (16-8-4): The swedes have a combined 15 points in the last 8 games, meaning they are good. Surprise. Ehrhoff, Raymond, and Salo are out, but Vancouver generally has good home showings against the blue jackets, with Luongo 4-1-3 against Mason's 2-2-0 4.64GAA, and Garon's 2-5-0 3.68GAA. The Jackets are facing a rough week playing five games in seven days and six in 10, spanning four time zones, but have been decent on the road this season. Safe bet is still Vancouver, 25% on the PP is way too destructive.
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As always, feel free to tell me why I'm so wrong.

[Callisto]

Word on the street, Hossa possibly back tonight, Friday if not, Kaner possibly back Friday, Sunday if not.

[Callisto]

also that actually wasn't as terrible as some of your previous ones. I'm taking Preds > Sharks and Flyers > Habs though. I'd also take Lightning > Thrashers, but the Bolts' lack of a proper NHL-caliber goalie is really starting to become unsettling, rumors are that they could potentially bring Nabby back from the KHL(if so, lol at a Nabby/Nitty swap without a trade), I can't really pick them over any hot teams at the moment regardless of how good their offense is when they don't have someone capable of keeping less than 4 pucks out of the net.

[Palin]

I'm angry and upset and morally outraged Lundqvist was not considered in the top 5. MORALLY OUTRAGED. TONIGHT THE PENS VS RANGERS DEATHMATCH WILL DETERMINE WHOS GOALIE IS TRULY UNDERRATED. MAY THE BEST HOMER WIN.

[Callisto]

I'm angry and upset and morally outraged Lundqvist was not considered in the top 5. MORALLY OUTRAGED. TONIGHT THE PENS VS RANGERS DEATHMATCH WILL DETERMINE WHOS GOALIE IS TRULY UNDERRATED. MAY THE BEST HOMER WIN.

Incoming 7-6 game.

[Ishido]

Chris Osgood and Marty Brodeur both have 3 rings, they are tied for best goaltender in the league AT THIS VERY MOMENT.

[Callisto]

I wonder how many young, talented goaltenders are perpetually haunted by the thought that once their career is over and done, despite working their hardest and playing their hearts out, someone somewhere is going to look back and say, "Well, I mean he was OK, but he wasn't a proven winner like Chris Osgood..."

[Ishido]

All of them. Win #400 coming soon, and might climb up a few more spots on the all time wins list from where he is at #10 right now!

To be fair he wasn't always bad, but was rarely one of the better goaltenders in the league. Also had the benefit of playing most of his career behind a pretty good team (same as Brodeur lol).

[isladar]

[...] MORALLY OUTRAGED [...] MAY THE BEST HOMER WIN.

This is how you know you're really hackey.

[Callisto]

I'm not going to hate on him at all, rings are rings, but objectively there is no way you can say he's not really the least talented goalie to have 3 cup rings. Same way Andrew Ladd is the youngest guy ever to have 2 rings afaik, not going to put him over Crosby just yet though.

[Ishido]

I'm not going to hate on him at all, rings are rings, but objectively there is no way you can say he's not really the least talented goalie to have 3 cup rings. Same way Andrew Ladd is the youngest guy ever to have 2 rings afaik, not going to put him over Crosby just yet though.

Not only is Andrew Ladd more skilled than Crosby, he is a better captain and leader of men as well. He has TWO STANLEY CUP RINGS. That is a STATISTICAL FACT.

[Deader2818]

Jesus, what did I start? lol.

[Alderaan]

Holy shit at Sep's rant, i loved it.

Also completely agree with him on Malkin. The man took over games, running over people and by them, scoring goals at will on route to our Cup. I haven't seen him play like that since. You can blame it on having terrible line mates all you like but Sid has the same problem and is blowing everyone away. It's obvious he doesn't work on his game anywhere near the level that Crosby does, but i guess who does? How many breakaways can a man miss on before it sinks in?

[Deader2818]

Malkin could just have the problem of winning a cup so young and thinking "this is easy" and forgot what it took to win it. I forget who the player was but they said they had that problem when they won a cup with the Devils at a young age then didnt make it back to the finals till the end of their career.

[Sepukku]

Malkin could just have the problem of winning a cup so young and thinking "this is easy" and forgot what it took to win it. I forget who the player was but they said they had that problem when they won a cup with the Devils at a young age then didnt make it back to the finals till the end of their career.

Lmao that was Bill Guerin. He one it at like 22 with the New Jersey Devils and then not again til 38 with the Penguins. And Alderaan does have a point, you NEVER hear about Malkin working on anything. You never hear about Malkin working, period.