dat's sick

Feels like he's been a non-factor for us this season. He's not been bad, and has done some good things, but overall he hasn't been an impact player for us. Which is unfortunate coming off such a fantastic season. Maybe he needs to be paired with Z again? As for keeping him around or not, if we let him go after this year and the Datsyuk leaves after next season we'll be hurting. Fil might be expendable right now but we need to think a bit further ahead.

Some overreactions here. We had 3 straight wins and got a point tonight. With our injuries and work-in-progress defense we are going to have letdown games every now and then. Definitely can complain about some of the lineup decisions though. Mrazek probably should have gotten the start, I thought so even before the game. Howard is being badly overworked and it's going to hurt us. As for Brunner, he also is bound to have a few games where he struggles. It's his first NHL season, and he's mainly an offensive guy so he's going to look worse when the offense isn't working.

Be glad we're not Ottawa fans atleast. Erik Karlsson most likely out for the season.

Not able to watch the game, but I feel like I'm getting the full experience from reading this board. Sounds like Cleary is having a great game again. Looking forward to Babs giving him even more top 6 and PP icetime.

Yeah since he's coming from the neutral zone the whole blueline is part of that zone as opposed to the offensive zone, meaning the puck has to go completely past the blueline before Dats enters the zone. So the play is actually offside. But in reality, it was a bang-bang play and a split-second decision for the linesman. If not for people watching the play with modern technology in slow-motion and freeze-framing no one would even be discussing it. Also you could easily make an argument for the play falling under the exception that he had the puck under control, in which case it's okay for the puck to enter the zone after the player. There were no complaints from Kings players or coaches, the fact that the puck entered the zone a millisecond after Pavel had no impact on how he split the D and scored on Quick. Beauty play no matter what. NHL linesmen get it right 99 times out of a 100 and the ones they get wrong usually even out over a season, you win some you lose some. In plays like this where it's extremely close and difficult to call on the ice I prefer that they let it go as opposed to breaking up the play.

Howard was painfully average today. Did you see those average saves he made? All 45 of them.

I don't see much hate towards MacDonald. Everyone recognizes he's come up big for us when called upon, but he is what he is. He'll never be a #1 goalie, and he'll probably never be a steady backup either. He seems like a great guy so I wish him the best, but I'd much rather see a kid like Mrazek get a bigger opportunity and chance to gain NHL experience than to play MacDonald.

Great 1st period, just bad luck (and weak arms from Cleary) that they scored one at the end. Sweet goals by both Pav and Brunner, 2 nice assists from captain Z, a coupe of killer saves from Howie... Expecting our legs to diminish in a while so hopefully we can stay in front.

Pavel is on today. Doughty may have rocked him, but if he hadn't Pav would have gotten past the defender with that slick move and had a prime shorthanded chance. And the goal was just fantastic, all the way from how he received that pass to the shot.

Tatar is a much needed spark to the 3rd line. Cleary also looked much better tonight. Tatar-Helm-Cleary Miller-Abdelkader-Tootoo Would not be a bad bottom 6...

Solid win all around, not much to complain about. We got that secondary scoring we've been craving and it was also one of the best defensive efforts of the season, and Mrazek did fine in net. I agree with the people saying he should get the start next game, let Howie focus on the Kings. Gonna sleep well after this one! :-D

Hahaha that's Fil answering all the whiners on here.

Looking pretty good. Keeping them to the outside on defense, creating a lot of half-chances on the counterattack. Almost a sick play from Z to Brunner. A couple of 2-on-1s where they were too focused on passing though.

Blade Brunner! YAY!!!

4th line! Bottom 6 is top 6 tonight! Whipping boys night!

Been a tough 2nd period for us. We've been really pushed back. As long as it's 5-on-5 we're doing okay, we REALLY have to keep out of the box.

What the hell happened there?? Embarrassing too many men sends out our embarressing PK. Barely even have hope when we're 'killing' penalties anymore.

He's tried a couple of times. But just like with everything else he's tried this year, it hasn't worked.

Z's line has had some rough shifts tonight. Figures that when our bottom 6 gets going our top 6 struggles.

Tatar looks real good. Making solid plays both on offense and defense. Had a quick shot that Cleary got the rebound on and scored. Mrazek didn't have a lot to do, but had one really good reaction save and handled everything well. Didn't notice Tootoo much, think he was in front of the net screening the goalie on the 2nd goal though.

Too bad we had that PP at the end, it really took away any momentum we could have carried into the 2nd. Laughably bad. I almost couldn't watch it. When will Babs/Renney change the PP formations? Neither of them is close to working. Good period on the whole though. Mrazek got to show his stuff towards the end of the period, looked sharp.

Now is the time to package up Cleary and Kindl for a conditional 5th rounder, instead of the conditional 6th we would have gotten before this period! Jokes aside, good to see some secondary scoring. Tatar has sparked the 3rd line for sure.

Isles are stacked now with Thomas in net and Yashin up front.

Feels like we need a win, but it won't be easy. They'll be fired up to get back on track, and who know how Mrazek will handle things. Regardless of skill he's a rookie in his first NHL game, so I won't be hard on him if he has a bad night. Hoping for the best, no predictions. Will be happy if we can play a good game and show some fire, win or lose.

I'd really like to see him come over next year. Not sure his development can go much further if he stays in sweden. Adapting to the smaller ice and north american hockey as soon as possible is a must, even if it would mean he'd have to play on the 3rd line or even a bit in the AHL. And learning from both Z and D would also do wonders for him.