kipwinger

Thank god for that.

Must be I just needed to show up before they started playing. You're welcome everybody.

Dang, I missed the first period but at least it looks like all of you guys and gals are on an even keel tonight.

I don't know why you keep referencing my "agenda". I've admitted to having one. It's to prove that Smith isn't a top pair defenseman. You keep saying it like it's some sort of revelation and not a blatantly obvious thing I've spent the better part of six pages trying to prove. Here's the link to where I got my numbers. It's got Smith ahead of Kindl and behind Lashoff (5-on-5). Last time I checked (about a week ago) Lashoff was behind Smith too. So no, I'm not "lying". Also why are you excluding neutral zone starts? Because it's convenient for your argument? Smith starts in the o-zone more than Dekeyser, Kronwall, Quincey, Ericsson, and Kindl (according to my numbers). You don't get to exclude facts just because you feel like it. Also, why do you keep saying Dekeyser should have more offense to show? He's a defensive d-man who's never put up big numbers at any level. You know who should have better numbers? Our talented young offensive d-man with all the "upside". http://www.behindthenet.ca/nhl_statistics.php?ds=63&f1=2013_s&f2=5v5&f4=D&f5=DET&c=0+1+3+5+63+67+57+58+59+60+61+62+64+65+66

While I agree that Gus was pass first in Grand Rapids, he did not play center down there. He was a wing and largely played with Andersson, Sheahan, and Jarnkrok (a little this season) at center while in the AHL.

I like the line changes, with the exception of Andersson on the wing. I realize, however, that there's nobody else so it'll have to do for now. Can't wait until Abby's back and in that spot though.

It doesn't mean that at all. He get's more offensive zone starts than any other defenseman on our team. It's not hard to bring the puck into our zone when you already start with the puck in our zone.

Just saw this over at Winging it in Motown and got a kick out of it... "Gustav Nyquist once ate three 72 oz. steaks in an hour. He spent the first 45 minutes having sex with his waitress."

I'm glad we're in a playoff position and lord knows I'd like to kick back and feel good about the fact that our team is playing decently well, but sadly I can't. Yesterday we left another point on the table after leading 2 to nothing in the first. In a race this tight we can't afford to give points away, but we blow leads every game. It's Babs' stated goal to get early leads and then lock down defensively. As such, this shouldn't be happening. So, the topic for discussion is...why? Let's talk about problems, and let's talk about solutions. And for the love of god can this thread not devolve into a "Player X sucks" discussion, because surely we can all agree that if an entire team strategy is failing there are more issues than one or two players.

Ummm...Herman Melville?

Really pushing this "cray" thing huh?

Yeah, I have no idea what the answer to that question is. Seems like they'd have to go with just calling the penalty rather than awarding a goal, but you never know with this league.

Two things: 1) I hope so, 2) If anybody could do it it's the Leafs.

Which do you think is more likely... Kindl is actually regressing as a player each and every game and very soon he'll be worse than when he started. or... He's the same crummy player he's been all season, but since he's your whipping boy you're just spending more time scrutinizing each and every little thing he's doing wrong.

Here's the part that gets me. If I'm Smith, and I just got beat like a circus elephant, and I'm rushing back on a guy who's clearly about to tap in the game winning goal I don't love tap him into the net and let him get a stick on the puck...I wipe him out completely, take the penalty, and save the goal. Not touching him at all ends in a goal, touching him a little bit ends in a goal, destroying his life saves a goal. I'm not blaming Brendan for not doing it, I just wish he had.

Guilty. I do have an agenda. It's called using video and statistical evidence to prove to everyone that Smith's not ready to be a top pair defenseman. Good work detective, you caught me red handed. I think probably the reason why people give Dekeyser a break are twofold. First, he actually plays defense. Secondly, none of his turnovers led to the game winning goal for Columbus. Edit: Also watch the video at the link below starting at 3:08. It wasn't a bad bounce at all, the Columbus forward chipped it over Smith's stick (as Smith desperately lunged for the puck rather than getting back) and had nothing but space and time. Why oh why do people feel the need to constantly make excuses for this guy? http://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/en/recap?id=2013021085&navid=nhl:topheads

Addressing your point about Boston, I agree. If the Bruins where missing pieces like we are they'd probably struggle too. And when they did I sure hope their fan base wouldn't go blaming loses on their third line wingers and bottom pair defensemen. Because that would be misguided...and stupid. Of course Bertuzzi makes bad plays, he's a washed up veteran who can hardly skate. But replacing him with a kid who's clearly not ready for NHL competition doesn't help you at all either. Because guess who else makes bad plays? Kids who are in over their heads. For the time being we've got nobody better to play on this patched up third line than Bert. When Jurco's back it probably won't be an issue anymore.

I'm not mad at Smith for knocking the net off the moorings, however, I am mad at him for being so out of position that he gave up a 2 on 1 and only caught up to the play (despite his elite skating ability) as the goal was being scored. His pinch was terrible and it cost us last night...with or without the net mooring incident.

Don't forget the astoundingly stupid interference penalty he took in the first, which led to a goal, and was nowhere near the play itself. Ok, having said that I'll say this. Smith looked better the two Minnesota games, and didn't look bad (or good) against Pittsburgh. As you mentioned his decision making is not up to snuff, and that problem is going to be exacerbated with more minutes against better competition like he's getting on the first line. So as a coach Babs needs to determine whether the potential benefits (like in Minnesota) of having Smith on the top line outweigh the negatives. So far, I'd say it's a wash. He helped win a game (the first in Minny) and last night he helped lose one. Time will tell.

The Bert hate around here is absurd. First of all, he didn't have a terrible game minus the penalty at the beginning which was incidental and happens a thousand times a week in the NHL. Secondly, Bert's not an X factor on this team. He's a washed up injury replacement who wouldn't be playing on a healthy roster. We neither win nor lose based on Bert's play. Wanna blame anyone? Blame Kronwall, Alfie, and Franzen for not showing up in a week (at least). Oh, and our terrible defense. Everybody around here always thinks that the reason we're no good some nights is because a third liner or bottom pair defenseman isn't very good...as if other teams don't have those too. Guess what? Boston's Shawn Thornton isn't very good and has, almost certainly, taken dumb penalties/got outclassed by more skilled players to the detriment of his team. Yet they win anyway. Why? They don't rely on bottom line players to win them games.

Tatar scores.

Yes it does. It says exactly those words. In order to award a goal in this situation, the goal post must have been displaced by the actions a defending player or goalkeeper, the puck must have been shot (or the player must be in the act of shooting) at the goal prior to the goal post being displaced, and it must be determined that the puck would have entered the net between the normal position of the goal posts.

What it is mother f***ers?!?!? My mind's racing right now from all the booze and things I couldn't say during the game. 1) Where the f*** are our veterans? Nobody expects Bertuzzi to be good, he's washed up, where are Alfie, Franzen, and Kronwall? 2) Don't go giving "the best coach in the league" too much credit for the recent upswing considering his two best players (the guys clawing this team into the playoff picture) are guys he actively worked to keep out of the lineup by bringing back Cleary and playing, Sammy, and Bert, and he over the kids. This was never in his plan. 3) Just when you think Brendan Smith is trending upward he goes full on retard. -2 tonight, including a horrible pinch in the third (very bad idea), empty netter (not his fault), and a terrible penalty in the first (away from the play) that resulted in a goal. Meanwhile Kyle Quincey was even with more ice time. 4) If I was Tomas Tatar's agent I would jam Holland up this off season. Make that f***** pay. What? He's not going to re-sign you? 5) Callahan looked good...or at least he looked like a real winger. Speaking of which, get Andersson off the wing, he literally had ZERO impact all game. 6) Jimmy was fine...don't blame Jimmy.

I aim to please.

I mean, I'm not trying to denigrate the guy...what he does well he does pretty well. Good pk, faceoffs, defensively responsible. He's a good bit better than Emmerton and probably better all around than Glendening (though less gritty). And that's precisely his problem, he's too good to be on the fourth line (long term) and not better than Helm, Sheahan, Legwand, Weiss, or Datsyuk...so he ends up playing the wing...where he doesn't take faceoffs, or have as much defensive responsibility...and so the things that make him excel aren't needed.