Wing Across The Pond

Its funny as its the Hawks, but so so unlucky! http://video.nhl.com/videocenter/console?catid=35&id=90914 Anyone else noticed the massive rise in the number of penalty shots this year?

Yeah I get what you mean, it suggests he scored, yet did everything he could not to

Hudler: So when can we start... *makes sweeping motion*?"

Doesn't mention they're the best of all time. Fairly decent article though

Seems to be similar sentiments all throughout, but this is really what it's about. ASG is a way of getting young fans who haven't chosen a 'favourite sport' yet, into hockey over the others. No surprise the poster-boy is there and will probably be made captain. Although I think that Lids is a shoe/should be for captaincy, if its selling hockey to people, he might be overlooked. It isn't simply about showcasing the best players anymore. They insist on this to sell the game, yet increasing funding for advertising of the playoffs would draw in far more fans after they watch real hockey. The ASG attracts young fans, who then suddenly don't know which team to follow after their favourite players go back to their respective organisations.... "Do I follow Crosby, or Toews?" Sorry if little or none of that made sense.

It's like that with all sports, they just get former players in to talk about a game which has vastly changed since the last time they played for one reason or another. Recipe for disaster. That being said, FSD get D-Mac in!

Last night he didn't have a shot for three periods - I can't remember him taking one in the third so I think it was no shots all game. No wonder he's not putting up points. However, I was strangely surprised by his speed and physical play?! He threw one pretty good hit and then forechecked the hell out of the Vancouver defence when they had the puck. Mixed emotions

Just saw on Facebook, the NHL showing off the Pens Winter Classic masks, Fleury's just looks plain boring whereas Johnson's is a little better, but just says 'Winter Classic' on it. http://penguins.nhl.com/club/gallery.htm?id=18968&cmpid=nhl-rxl-fb Not to mention the Jersey looks pretty awful too (side-note) http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=541848

2:52 into the game and Leafs are 2-0 down. They are awful. In those 2:52 they hadn't had the puck in Atlanta's zone, and don't seem like they've got anyone who can get them back to a level playing field. Has anyone else watching this, seen a worse effort in the first 5 or so minutes, recently? Its truly terrible. Not to mention Lebda is simply playing as a third defencemen when he's on the ice, terrible positioning.

He's an amazing back-skater. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PKDbnm_IdYY

Yeah this. Glided in so no real speed or intent to do damage. Just his head snaps back which makes it look worse than it is.

I love the way the team are playing horribly, I think their captain is completely awful - skating behind his goal a few times he had the puck bobble away from and didn't look comfortable even with no one around - and a few fans (quite rightly) find a way to express their frustration, and all the commentary team can do is say "someone could have slipped on that".

Since you put that one up I always find myself watching this one

Embarrassed to be from the UK. Not for the fight, just for the commentator, who suggested that the referee deserved it and that someone should be 'beaten too hell'. Idiocy.

I get what you mean, but intentional or not it still has to be called. Just like a high stick is called time and again when sticks get caught up in scrums along the boards and flicks out. Probably was accidental, but still happened and should have been called.

Actually, one guy posted a Doan-face, at least two people commented on the states of their innebriation thanks to this thread, there were a few Youtube vids, and I'm just commenting on the last 'half-and-half' statement so no, your numbers are wrong. And in any case, taking this post for what it is, if half say they're giving up too much, and half say we're giving up too much, then there is NO debate. Basically half don't want the trade and the other half don't want the trade either. End of 'debate'. Edit: SP

Hehe Avery is my kind of scumbag in all honesty. If only for calling Brodeur fat. Some of the time he gets insufferable, but then again I can always watch this when it happens http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GxPwnB8U_cc Almost adds to his character to me, in that he's willing to do it.

Revenue from manufacture sponsorship, if it went towards teams who chose their sweater manufacturer, would help to negate the onset of jersey sponsorship which is making its way onto NHL practice jerseys ( ) I probably didn't word the original comment very well, didn't mean that Reebok should let another company compete, but just the league shouldn't sell the rights to every teams jersey to one company. The teams should do it themselves and therefore have the opportunity to support companies that focus more/solely on hockey. Hope that's worded more coherently! Very true on that front, but as far as I know they still manufacture hockey equipment independently so why not jerseys along with skates and protective equipment?

Off topic. I do, however, agree yet have never aired my frustration. On topic, I think the new jersey is boring and it was picked up on by Ken that, when Mickey commented that they look like an entirely different team in the new sweater, they were wearing Florida's Third. Reebok have little originality really if, by and large, if comes down to them to design them. They should stop trying to corner the marker in American sports and let another company make a jersey if a team wants them to. I prefer my CCM to my Reebok

I'm not sure what the ruling is. There is some rule in affect whereby a cap hit is taken off the books for a career ending injury, but I don't know if its only for players signing under/over a certain age, or if its got something to do with the length of the contract. I'd say being 40 and being forced to retire would mean that we still take his hit, as there's a far greater risk of retirement and injury anyway (compared to a 30 year old who signs a 10 year contract and then is forced to retire a year later). Not too sure though but that's my take on it.

Ha yeah too true! Although for a goaltender you wouldn't risk it if it was a groin of all things. Also makes me fear for Modano, with his injury. Ken and Mickey were talking last night and Mickey thinks that Mo might take it as his last game?! Hope he recovers well even at 40!

Agreed! Never thought it'd be said, but we really need Ozzy back. Can't play Howard for all those games in a row. He'll be too tired come the post-season, and I don't like the look of a GR goaltender in net.

I can honestly say, after only watching hockey for about 5 or 6 years, I know that I've learnt so much more from the Red Wings and it's fans, than I could ever have from supporting any other team. Just their core values of drafting and developing, and their use of the basics. It's no coincidence that Lidstrom (for me) is the best defenceman of the last decade (there is the case for all time but I can't claim to have seen him in the 90s etc), and yet there is no one better than him at the basics of defensive play. Really naive comment to say that there is a lack of knowledge surrounding this organisation.

Turns out that for once, the European version may actually be better. I paid £69.99 for it (don't know current exchange rates to understand how much that is in $) and I get every game, including playoffs it says. Don't know if that's because its through ESPN and they don't have to restrict themselves with blackouts and national broadcasts, but watching it since Thursday its great! Games being on a little late over here the 'on demand' feature is great. I just watched Mo's first goal quite a lot the day after it happened (I did see it live but fell asleep about an hour later). Anyway, would recommend it!

Were they both on the backcheck? Or did one have the puck? If so they would have to be the faster in my opinion. Just the one thing that sprung to mind when I saw that.