And away we go NHL thread!!!!

[Shawn Lutz]

Thats twice the wings have been screwed on high sticks. Double minors even. I guess that evens out zets pushing the net off the other night.

How do four refs miss someone getting smacked in the face with a high stick?!

Tell em what you think http://www.nhlofficials.com/contact.asp

I don't waste too much energy on things that the team cannot control, they can't control the officials. You just have to come to accept the fact that each game a couple of blown calls against each team is reality.

Aside from the bad call, the Wings should focus on what they can contol. While I'm not downplaying the maginitude of the blown call if the Wigs would have not taken dumb penalties or gone 0-5 on their power play -- and if Jimmy Howard would have stopped the game winner that I could have stopped in street clothes without a hockey stick the outcome would have been different.

[clifffclaven]

Tell em what you think http://www.nhlofficials.com/contact.asp

I don't waste too much energy on things that the team cannot control, they can't control the officials. You just have to come to accept the fact that each game a couple of blown calls against each team is reality.

Aside from the bad call, the Wings should focus on what they can contol. While I'm not downplaying the maginitude of the blown call if the Wigs would have not taken dumb penalties or gone 0-5 on their power play -- and if Jimmy Howard would have stopped the game winner that I could have stopped in street clothes without a hockey stick the outcome would have been different.

I realize some calls are gonna be missed, but calls like the zets one and the double minor high stick on franzen are maybe not game-deciding, but game-changing calls. It changes the outcome of things after that.

If they call the high stick on franzen, howard prob doesnt give up the GWG... On the other hand, if they called delay of game on zets, stuart likely doesnt get thte breakaway, and if pheonix scores on the 5 on 3, its now 3-2 instead of 4-1. I realize the refs will miss stuff, but it seems like they are missing HUGE, blatantly obvious calls.

[atomic charvel guy]

lundqvist shot a 39 on the front nine this a.m. at "gutterball hills" country club

[Shawn Lutz]

On the Z play there was just enough contact on Hank to drive him into the net. I don't think Hank really "pushed" the net off as you describe but he certainly made no effort to get the hell out of the way...accidently on purpose, embellished it if you will. If there was no contact before Z hitting the net then they probably would have called it imho. The bigger miss call in that game was the ref blowing the whistle when the puck wasn't even covered and laying in the open for 17k fans, 10 skaters and two goalies to see. Todd Bertuzzi should of had a goal right there.

Officiating sucks, no question but I watch the game, not the refs anymore, they fuck up too much and are not worth gettin bent outta shape over. Just play the game and taking care of what you can control.

[goodwood]

You should be a politician...you're great at the spin. You talk about hockey being a team sport and then justify OV not playing team hockey? And you say I'm not right yet all the evidence shows that OV simply doesn't rise to the occassion, whereas Sid does. Love him or hate him, Crosby is hands down the most complete player in the NHL.

The second half of your post is spot on.

Well when it isn't getting done then you have to step up and TRY to get it done. One player can win a game here or there with a very heroic effort but it has to be a team effort for any sort of sustained success.

Of course you are going to say that about Crosby but what did he do against Detroit last year? He got 1 goal and 2 assists in 7 games. Most complete? Yeah...he doesn't check like Ovechkin and he can't handle the other aspects of physical play like Ovechkin. He also starts cracking when he isn't winning but Ovechkin retains his composure when they aren't winning. You are being way too much of a homer on that one.

My entire post was 'spot on' and if you weren't so biased then you'd see that. It's ok though. I still like you Rube.

[Rupe]

Well when it isn't getting done then you have to step up and TRY to get it done. One player can win a game here or there with a very heroic effort but it has to be a team effort for any sort of sustained success.

Of course you are going to say that about Crosby but what did he do against Detroit last year? He got 1 goal and 2 assists in 7 games. Most complete? Yeah...he doesn't check like Ovechkin and he can't handle the other aspects of physical play like Ovechkin. He also starts cracking when he isn't winning but Ovechkin retains his composure when they aren't winning. You are being way too much of a homer on that one.

My entire post was 'spot on' and if you weren't so biased then you'd see that. It's ok though. I still like you Rube.

You obviously don't watch Crosby enough if you think he doesn't check. He may not hit like OV (who dishes out some brutal hits but is undeniably reckless at times) but his forechecking is a huge part of his game. Crosby does occassionally get a bit "chippy" when things aren't going his way (I hated his cross check on Zetterburg toward the end of the season) but so do a lot of others. And I'm hardly alone (or being a homer) on this one...just about every analyst I've seen recently has said how Crosby is separating himself from OV.

EDIT: Cool article - http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=527735

I still like you you too though...xoxoxoxo
We'd probably have a good time with a few beers watching hockey.

Pens go 4-4 on the PP tonight and throw in 5 against Halak...dominent perfermance...I just hope the Staal injury isn't serious.

[goodwood]

There's no doubt that Crosby still seems to be evolving or just has the ability to see what his game needs and shifts focus there but that isn't saying that Ovechkin doesn't have that capacity either. Ovechkin has a very one-dimensional team with him...there are people who will go near the net and even a couple who will go to the net (Laich, Knuble) but they didn't have anyone occupying any frosty real estate in front of the crease (which was an obvious difference in the Pens play last night). That makes all the difference when on the PP and when 40+ shots aren't getting it done.

Pens go 4-4 on the PP tonight and throw in 5 against Halak...dominent perfermance...I just hope the Staal injury isn't serious.

Halak was not the same netminder that played the last 3 games that was obvious. The focus wasn't there and maybe exhaustion finally got to him.

Gonchar was his usual self (a rock).

I don't think the Pens have to worry about Staal...let him rest. With Markov out they will suddenly have a distinct advantage. Halak better return to his previous form or they will be golfing in 3 games.

[Shawn Lutz]

As much as I hate having Sydney Crosby force fed by the league and media he is the complete player. Hate for the guy blinds people of noticing how good he really is it seems. Right now he IS a better player than Ovechkin is. Crosby has become a world class player in all 3 zones. I'm willing to bet if he wanted to he could focus on the D aspect and be in the running for the Selke. Sid is physical, throws the body and does not avoid diffiult areas of the ice. That and his ability to elevate his game when the team needs a goal make him stand out over Alewx imho. You see this in the playoffs as well as in the Olympics. The dude is just clutch and OV ins t just yet as OV puts OV first and team second and thats tnot the way to operate.

I really think facing adversity and having the bad taste of being ousted in round 1 will make Alex Ovchkin a better player next year. He was much more responsible defensively this season than last but he could improve in the two way game. The guy gas raw talent but needs to use his teammates more as he's getting predicable with the tunnel vision.

another difference came to md when I mentioned visoin. Sid sees the ice better and reads anticipates plays better as well. Game intellect is important and Sid has that, OV not so much.

[Rupe]

Gonchar quietly goes about being, IMO, the second most important player on the team...not sure why the Caps let him get away. He's a major reason why the Habs PK has gone from 32-33 in the last round to 0-4 last night. I'm afraid this may be his last year in the 'burgh though as they are far apart on contract talks.

Who the hell had the dumb ass idea to schedule the Boston/Philly game for 12:30 today???!!! :think:

[Shawn Lutz]

Who the hell had the dumb ass idea to schedule the Boston/Philly game for 12:30 today???!!! :think:

No kidding, man do I hate day games and was so glad to see that Detroit/San Jose series not have any NBC games. Hockey is a primetime sport. The Wings are like 2-10 in NBC day games the lats couple seasons.

I'm looking forward to the Vancouver vs Chicagi series...some bad blood between those two teams and hate already is into play. it usually takes a game or 2 to build up that hate level in a series but this series, ts there fromthe drop of thepuck in game 1. Those two teams are going to poundeach other physically...the team who is healthier advances imho.

[Shawn Lutz]

Staal done for the playoffs, severed tendon

[Jack Napalm]

I never like to see players get hurt, especially to the point of missing playoff games. That sucks.

[6string40]

As much as I hate having Sydney Crosby force fed by the league and media he is the complete player. Hate for the guy blinds people of noticing how good he really is it seems. Right now he IS a better player than Ovechkin is. Crosby has become a world class player in all 3 zones. I'm willing to bet if he wanted to he could focus on the D aspect and be in the running for the Selke. Sid is physical, throws the body and does not avoid diffiult areas of the ice. That and his ability to elevate his game when the team needs a goal make him stand out over Alewx imho. You see this in the playoffs as well as in the Olympics. The dude is just clutch and OV ins t just yet as OV puts OV first and team second and thats tnot the way to operate.

I really think facing adversity and having the bad taste of being ousted in round 1 will make Alex Ovchkin a better player next year. He was much more responsible defensively this season than last but he could improve in the two way game. The guy gas raw talent but needs to use his teammates more as he's getting predicable with the tunnel vision.

another difference came to md when I mentioned visoin. Sid sees the ice better and reads anticipates plays better as well. Game intellect is important and Sid has that, OV not so much.

I can't stand Crosby one bit...and I'm a long-time Caps fan...so it is hard for me to make any comments in the Crosby/Ovechkin debate without being called a homer.

That being said, I have to agree with most of what Shawn posted here. Crosby is the most complete player in the league, but I'm still not convinced he's the most talented. He plays smart and is in the right places when he needs to be. This is not meant to take away his talent--because he certainly is talented--but it's his knowledge of the game and his work ethic that make him what he is.

I'm happy (and somewhat surprised) to see someone else actually pick up on the fact that Ovie picked up his defensive game this year. The main thing I don't agree with is that Ovie puts Ovie first. He still puts up a ton of assists each year and by picking up his defensive game proves that he's not selfish. He could easily hang out at center ice and wait for a breakout all game long, but he realized he needed to step up and help his team...mainly because he knows his defense is more offensive minded than they are defensive minded. It's the all-out offense-first mindset of the overall team that makes people believe Ovie is selfish or a one-dimensional player. I also don't believe it's all Bruce's fault. He coaches what he has. He doesn't have a mucking/grinding team. He has a one-dimensional team and he coaches to their strength. Management is at fault for not bringing in the right personnel to win the Cup. Guys like Green need to play offense and they need to bring in (or up from Hershey) guys that can still get the puck up the ice, but will think defense first, man up to the puck carrier and not be afraid to get physical and mix things up. 20-year-old John Carlson was the most complete defenseman on the ice for Washington and Joe Corvo was the polar opposite type of player than what they should have traded for IMO.

[Shawn Lutz]

By selfish I'm talking about playoffs. - He was over extending his shifts, Also keep in mind the 82 games mean nothing once you reach the playoffs. In the first round Ovechkin stayed out there way too long and often times was too gased to backcheck. Selfish was gettin the puck and pretty much keeping it. He'd skate through the neutral zone with one thing on his mind, take it in the zone and get a shot off. There were many times he took a lower percentage shot instead of dishing to his mates in a higer percentage and better scoring chances. He was trying too hard to do it all himself basically.

As I said, golfing in late April erarly May will make him a better player next season, he now knows what it feels like to be favored to go deep in the playoffs and then being majorly disappointed by being upset by an 8 seed. He'll be back and better than before.

The Caps as a team need refine their team D strategy and alsolook at their back end and stress playing D first. Defensively they were pretty poor...Montreal should not have been able to put the puck in the net as much as they did.

[clifffclaven]

Jesus... Complete domination by vancouver last night. I turned it off after 5-0. Hawks better win game 2 or theyll be golfing shortly.

That hook on kane shouldve been a penalty shot.