Shaman

Aside from the second period a lot of great things about this game: Patrick Eaves Hat trick Jiri Hudler has another multipoint night Lidstrom is keeping up his amazing pace at 40 Bertuzzi and Franzen both had two assists Great game by the wings.

I expect 3 hat tricks per game from him.

Patty with the hatty!! :siren:

EAVES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :siren: :siren:

How are our other prospects doing?

Draper is the new Datsyuk

2 points so far tonight, nothing to sneeze at.

Stuart GOALLL!!!!!!! assist from Hudler

3 games and 4 points so far for Pulkkinen

My bet that it's his addiction to smoking poles.

This really is one of those 'when a dog bites a man, its nothing, but its news when the man bites the dog back' things. While I think he should get a fine (probably equal to the salary for one game) I really don't think its that big of a deal, people screw with refs every day, good that one gave a little back.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5MxWBNqcvA&feature=player_embedded Pulkkinen goal is at 15 min mark of the 3rd period, Brett Hull like one timer. 5:30 or so on this video.

Finland played earlier today Pulkkinen had a PP goal.

at least his cap hit will be small

Pulkkinen has me so excited for the wings future, every GM has to be kicking themselves...

But his offensive output is not where a solid second line player's should be at, hes more like bottom tier second line in offensive output. I know his defense is great, but a lot of third liners can claim that too, my whole point is he hasn't made that definitive step from top tier third liner to true second line player and that as time drags on its less likely that he will make that step.

:chug: :beerbuddy: Merry Christmas LGW this round is on me.

I really expect him to be a 20-25 goals 30-35 assist guy...

Had to give you a plus, not for the stats, but the honesty in your explanation, you said a lot of what I have tried to say over the course of this thread, but not nearly as well.

I don't hate Filppula is that he has a lot of potential but he never quite lives up to it... he always seems to be on the cusp of breaking out to be a 60 point player but then he cools down and plays mediocre for a few games. If he were a 3rd line guy that would be just fine, a 3rd line center putting up 40+ points is a wonderful thing to have, but as a second line center its just puts that much more pressure on the first line to produce. If you follow other teams, you'll see teams without balanced scoring don't do too well in the playoffs. Then on top of it would be the Flip slappies on here, like Konnan and Z and D for C who always swear up and down in the off season the next season will be his break out season, but then go apes*** whenever anyone calls out flip for not playing like we all know he can. I hate to say this but I am really playing foil to those two people on here, because the way they talk it should seem that Flip is a beast and that its the rest of the team thats letting him down. As I said I don't hate him, I do believe there are better options for second line center, and if you hate me for that, so be it. Flip is a good player in the playoffs, but, again its very very streaky, its not like Zetterberg or other players who really turn it on for the playoffs, and with less than 90+ games played in the post season its hard to tell if its really a trend or just anomalies. The rest of this season will be a great benchmark for what Flip's true potential is, whether he is a legit second line center or a very good 3rd line center.

Just off the top of my head... Malkin, Crosby, Getzlaf, Ward, M. Richards, (small sample size) Leino, Kane, Pronger... I am sure there are more, but these are the players I think of when I think of 'really step it up come playoff time'.

Sucks for Sabers fans, I like Roy... wonder how they will adjust.

Hate to EVER say anything you'll probably agree with, but Zetterberg and Dats need a power forward on the line with them to create time and space so Z can get more quality chances.

Shows up in the playoffs? He doesn't do poorly, but, I would say based on the sample size he doesn't take it up to the next level like Zetterberg and Franzen do, and like Fedorov did... Hes not horrid, but hes still not Mr Amazing you make him out to be. I mean honestly, why does it trouble you and Z and D for C so much that some people see him as a 3rd line center with good offensive upside?

Zetterberg is still on pace for 90+ points so I am not going to complain too much... its the secondary players that are getting on my nerves, Hudler (even if I am his 3rd biggest slappy on here), Filpulla (I can't believe the love he gets on here hes still on pace for 43 points... thats pretty good for a third liner, but poor for a second liner/second pp guy), and Franzen sometimes though he could score 40 goals... if those 3 can step it up at all Pav's injury will be less of an issue.