edicius

If "the same" you mean they're all "CROSBY CROSBY CROSBY", then yes. But if you mean personnel, yep, they're the same there too - Jones, Engblom and Patrick.

This back and forth is pretty fun now though.

GOMEZ! Rangers 2-1. With the lopsided pressure and SOG, the Rangers should at least be up by 3 or 4. Bolts are lucky right now. Blocking a lot of shots too. EDIT: HOLY KOLZIG! Melrose is coming unhinged on the bench.

And the Bolts STILL only have 3 SOG in the whole game.

That was an INCREDIBLE Rangers PP. Wow.

Okay, here's something more awake (and all artsy with the lighting ) while watching the Rangers/Bolts game...

Okay, wasn't sure about that. It's a bit strange, but it keeps the playing field even, so to speak - players have to go over to Europe, expending all that travel time and such, so might as well make the rest of the league continue to wear themselves out with some games.

I think we'll get back better than Burke has, keeping in mind the comparative skill levels of the players involved. I'd like to think that the GMs around the league know that it's Burke's own ineptitude that drove him to have to dump players, thus knowing that he's over a barrel. With Holland, it's just an embarassment of riches, so it's in the other teams' best interests to maintain a good relationship with Holland.

I know it's not a popular sentiment, but I'm totally fine with this. Lebda's speed, Lilja's PK ability and shot-blocking - it's a No. 3 defensive pairing that could easily be a No. 2 pairing (and in a couple cases, a No. 1 pairing) on many other teams. I think the reason we're so hard on Lilja (and Lebda, to a lesser extent) is that, up against guys like Lidstrom and Rafalski, they pale in comparison to a huge degree. But I've always been an underdog kind of guy too, which might explain why I can deal with Lils better than others.

And since Shanny's not signed, otherwise he'd be a shoo-in for the C. Is it normal for pre-season games to still be going on when the season has begun (overseas, mind you)? Don't remember that happening last season.

Okay, let's ask a slightly different question... Who's the best one-two punch in the NHL or, if you so desire, the world? Zata/Dats, Crosby/Malkin, etc.?

Great set of pics, man. Can't imagine what it was like to be there, but that's a damn good snapshot.

Thanks! I've actually lost about 30 lbs in the past three and a half months, so Wii Fit (and better eating) is definitely working for me.

What a twist!

Heard it on the way home today when they were talking fantasy picks, they mentioned it as breaking news. Oddly enough, I haven't seen TSN report on it, but NHLSCap.com has already accounted for it, showing Anaheim now with approximately $1.2M in cap space. Can't really say I'm surprised by this move.

Most definitely, it's been that kind of past couple of weeks. So thank you. That too. I swear, I've been absolutely exhausted for the past two weeks and my sleep schedule hasn't changed at all. Heya chickie, where ya been?

Work bores me. Plus I think I might be coming down with some stomach bug. Blech.

Well, if it'll make you guys feel better, here's Kevin Allen's predictions from USA Today: Western Conference Finals: Detroit over San Jose Eastern Conference Finals: Montreal over Pittsburgh Stanley Cup Finals: Detroit over Montreal

:rotflmao: Never too early for Crosby jokes.

He said the same thing on XM last week. When the Power Play guys asked him for his preseason picks, he instantly spat out, "Not Detroit, not Detroit!". Then he went on to praise the Ducks and the Sharks. Predictable. *shrug* The thing that confuses me is that Clement's talking like Ozzie's a career backup or something. He handled things fine last season, he'll handle them fine this season too - because, ultimately, he's a career STARTER.

Not a terribly big deal, we've got enough good d-men to cover his spot.

The Crosby one was a neat concept...but he totally sounded like he wanted to cry. Actually, all the National TV ones are really nicely done. I gotta admit the whole "We're not satisfied until there's no room left in the rafters" Wings one was neat too. The Devils one didn't seem too accurate, though... Shoulda been more like "For every goal, there's a few thousand assists."

THIS. Burke didn't have to work any magic in these acquisitions. If Burke was able to acquire, say, Hossa like Holland did, then he'd be doing something right. One of the few times I've agreed with eva, mark it on your calendar.

Clement was gushing about the Ducks yesterday on XM too. Additionally, when the guys on Power Play asked him for his pick, he instantly spat out, "Not Detroit, not Detroit..." According to NHLSCap.com, they're $235K over the cap. Good show, Burke, good show.

This is a bad, bad idea.