kipwinger

So far, so good, I guess. I mean, we're competitive in the division and conference standings, so that's good. But then I remember the team that couldn't score against Boston in the playoffs, and that's bad. Most of the time I don't know what to think about this team. Obviously limiting other teams' shots is really important. And obviously we're good at doing it. But I think there's a difference between limiting shots because you've got the puck all the time (which we don't), and limiting shots because you clog up the neutral zone, and trap teams into oblivion (which we do). Generally speaking I like the former (because you play in the o-zone more), and don't like the later (because it rarely works in the playoffs). Right now, I see this strategy getting us pinned into our zone against good teams, and ultimately stifling our offense. But maybe a trade and/or a promotion will change all that.

No Alumni game for this year's classic because Peter Bondra couldn't play every position on the ice for the Caps and Dale Hunter is still not welcome in most NHL cities...including Washington. Without those two they're short on quality alumni in the Nation's Capital.

Did you think they would set an attendance record every year? Some game had to have the lowest. This was it. Not sure why you're treating it like a calamity. Also, does your Boston obsession include the city and its bands now too lol? You're bitching that Bettman is diverging from tried and true methods of promoting the game, and in the same breath you advocate having an opening act?

Aaaaand Ferraro scores two in a minute and a half. Ferraro? What the hell just happened to Ferraro? Did he black out?

Aaaaand Pulkkinen ties it up.

Those are the kinds of goals I want to see him scoring. I'm glad when he gets on the score board cleaning up trash in front of the crease, but I want to see him developing his shot at the pro level. Any big body can bang in a rebound, but a big body that can bang in rebounds AND pick the corners is lethal. Just ask Rick Nash and Jeff Carter.

When you've got elite level centers you don't need (or want) guys like Kunitz carrying the puck anyway. You want guys that can find open ice and finish scoring changes, which Kunitz does. Either way, it was a good trade for Pittsburgh obviously. They're 2015 pick isn't going to be too high as their record is pretty good, and Perron is another capable winger who'll fit nicely with their big guns (or even with Sutter). He'll give them real scoring depth and they basically gave up a second round pick to get him. Solid trade. I never put those two together, but you're absolutely right. Which center looks most like them? Tarasenko maybe? Imagine a line of all three.

Why does everybody always say that Crosby needs a winger? Chris Kunitz is really good. He was a 20+ goal a year player BEFORE playing with Crosby, and he's consistently been one after playing with Crosby. Did people think when he got put on a line with Crosby that he'd score 50? And is that what Pittsburgh needs in order to win? Because having two 90-100 point players and a bunch of guys that can score 15-25 goals ought to be enough...if your defense and goalie arent' terrible anyway.

Totally agree about Abby. He has been great.

Yep. That's what it is. Our guys weren't working hard enough. Gotta work real hard and get that goals against down, because god knows we are lethal in those close games.

I don't think any reasonable person thinks we are terrible. But I do think that its fair to ask "what's going on" when you get manhandled by a non playoff team who's missing two of its best players. Its a bit of a false dichotomy to act like the choices are either "everything is fine" or else "everything is terrible".

Nah, he's the best. The strategy of playing your checkers more than your goal scorers IS genius. Our guys just didn't want it bad enough last night...er...they didn't play heavy enough...er...they didn't play with pace. Whatever the reason, its clearly not the strategy or game plan. If they'd just execute properly the datsyuk line and the glendening line should be enough to beat anyone most nights.

There was a time when Kris Draper was one of the best faceoff men in the league. I don't remember him playing significantly more minutes than the guys doing all the scoring. Bowman would send him out to win important faceoffs too, but that didn't translate into minutes more TOI than your best even strength goal scorer and guys scoring at point per game clips.

Everybody knows that you can't put Tatar and Weiss on the ice much because only bad things happen when they're out there. Well, that and they score goals. But mostly bad things. Here's a fun game to play. Mike Babcock bitched during the game that the Bruins were playing effectively in front of the net and the Wings weren't. Now, for funsies, go look at where Stephen Weiss scored every single one of his goals so far this season. It'll be a hoot.

Haha, even if you factor in special teams (Tatar and Weiss had more special team TOI) Glendening and Miller had more. If you look at their even strength time on ice only, Glendening and Miller had WAY more. Which makes sense, what with the fact that we were playing from behind the whole game...ugh.

Lol. Glendening and Miller had more ice time than Weiss and Tatar tonight.

He started Weiss on a higher line last game. Putting him on the fourth line would have made more sense a game ago, but he wasn't too concerned with it then. AND he benched Weiss in overtime as well. So I'm just puzzled as to what's going on.

Rock solid argument. Babcock is the bestest coach eva, so nobody should question anything he does. Got it.

We've got exactly three competent defenseman, and none of them are depth guys. I don't know who we could spare that they'd want.

I just feel bad for Weiss. The only thing he can control is his play on the ice, and in that way he's performed exceptionally well, and yet he can't get a break. Bummer.

Oh good, Weiss is back on the fourth line tonight. Because that guy doesn't create offense or anything.

Anybody have an idea why Weiss was glued to the bench in overtime? Not a single shift.

I don't know what you guys are talking about, everybody knows it's the refs who cost Detroit all their games. If not for the league's bias, and refs interference we'd win 75 games a year. A roster full of all stars couldn't overcome the insidious plotting of the black and white.

I had no idea asking an honest question about goons was so threatening to your point of view. In the future I'll be sure I'll treat all players with the subtlety and nuance they deserve instead of using categories like goon...or sniper, or offensive defenseman, or stay at home defenseman, or power forward. Ya know, because clearly those are broad stroke categories that are neither helpful nor palpable given your sensibilities.

That's exactly what I'm asking about. Why is he always in the spotlight? Because he's a worse sort of goon? Or because he's just the scapegoat? I honestly don't know.