Hank 0 Report post Posted January 22, 2008 What an unbelievable game. It had everything! If every NHL game was like this one, the NHL would never have an issue with TV contracts or ratings. The showdown between Ovechkin and Malkin was one of the best I've seen in recent memory. Both scored 2 goals and added an assist and everytime they were on the ice, they made something happen. And that hit that Malkin narrowly avoided (and sent A.O. into the boards himself) was awesome! XM204 this morning said there's been rumors for years that AO and Malkin don't like each other a whole lot and it showed on the ice yesterday. Give me more games like that and I'll never watch anything else. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GMRwings1983 8,804 Report post Posted January 22, 2008 I was disappointed by Laraque and Brashear. I was sure they were going to go in such a spirited game, but Malkin and Ovechkin wound up showing more intensity than either of them. It was a great game, though, mostly thanks to the goaltending which was awful. That's why I always lament the fact that goalies for the most part are too good nowadays to give up all these soft goals in order to have these high scoring games. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hank 0 Report post Posted January 22, 2008 I was disappointed by Laraque and Brashear. I was sure they were going to go in such a spirited game, but Malkin and Ovechkin wound up showing more intensity than either of them. It was a great game, though, mostly thanks to the goaltending which was awful. That's why I always lament the fact that goalies for the most part are too good nowadays to give up all these soft goals in order to have these high scoring games. Which is exactly why they need to shrink the goalie gear. Force goalies to wear 8" pads, normal sized pants. shrink the gloves in half and make sure that their upperbody gear is in the same relation to their bodies. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NeverForgetMac25 483 Report post Posted January 22, 2008 I was disappointed by Laraque and Brashear. I was sure they were going to go in such a spirited game, but Malkin and Ovechkin wound up showing more intensity than either of them. It was a great game, though, mostly thanks to the goaltending which was awful. That's why I always lament the fact that goalies for the most part are too good nowadays to give up all these soft goals in order to have these high scoring games. QFT This is meant with no ill-will toward you Hank, but I don't understand why people consider these types of games to have "everything". The goaltending was piss poor, and the defense was beyond shaky. Don't get me wrong, Ovechkin and Malkin were great, but it's not as if either goaltender or defense showed up for the game. To me, the SJ/DET game had the potential to be something, but then the penalty fest began, and it completely took away from the game. To me, a game that has everything is one in which both offenses create opportunities and get the puck up and down the ice, while at the same time a defense gets in front of shots and makes good decisions, all the while a goaltender makes spectacular saves, not to mention chippy play resulting in emotion. Honestly, I feel this game only had the first component of the four I listed. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WingNutt 12 Report post Posted January 22, 2008 What an unbelievable game. It had everything! If every NHL game was like this one, the NHL would never have an issue with TV contracts or ratings. The showdown between Ovechkin and Malkin was one of the best I've seen in recent memory. Both scored 2 goals and added an assist and everytime they were on the ice, they made something happen. And that hit that Malkin narrowly avoided (and sent A.O. into the boards himself) was awesome! XM204 this morning said there's been rumors for years that AO and Malkin don't like each other a whole lot and it showed on the ice yesterday. Give me more games like that and I'll never watch anything else. I agree with the first part, that game was amazing, lots of action and battling. Nice to see a game where they focused on the play between Malkin and Ovechkin without having to talk about Crosby the whole time like usual. Backstrom also had a amazing game, his assist on Ovechkin's second goal was jaw dropping. as for your rumors of Ovechkin and Malkin not liking each other is so wrong, Alex and Evgeni are infact good friends. They do however both have what you would say a brotherly competive thing going on, both know that they are great skilled players and when on different teams they will try and one up each other like they did last night, both always joke about if they find the other in the corner they better look out. jokingly that is. Great game, fun to watch Alex and Evgeni, now wait and see how fun it will be this weekend when they play together again, (Malkin will most likely fill in for injured Crosby) Ovechkin and Malkin on the same team is deadly. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Opie 308 Report post Posted January 22, 2008 I think the Pens goaltender was awful (not Conklin, the other guy) Kolzig gave up three goals that were damn close to unstoppable. If he makes the glove save on that laser Malkin put top shelf that is on every NHL highlight reel around the world, hell the goal probably should be, the Sykora goal, he had no chance. His D let him down badly plus it was a PP, there was one sequence where he was prone and flailing everywhere because the 2 d-men in front of him and his own winger couldn't get the puck away from two forwards from Pit. The score was that high due to dumb penalties, bad Goaltending from Pit, and horrible D from Was. IMO But AO and Malkin were great to watch. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
irishtemper14+25 11 Report post Posted January 22, 2008 yea that was a good game Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wingslogo19 281 Report post Posted January 22, 2008 This was a very good game to watch.. Ao and malkin were very good in this game Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SweWings 45 Report post Posted January 22, 2008 The last few Caps games have been real fun to watch and I'm gonna try to watch as many as I can... Always exciting when an underdog starts winning... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hank 0 Report post Posted January 22, 2008 QFT This is meant with no ill-will toward you Hank, but I don't understand why people consider these types of games to have "everything". The goaltending was piss poor, and the defense was beyond shaky. Don't get me wrong, Ovechkin and Malkin were great, but it's not as if either goaltender or defense showed up for the game. To me, the SJ/DET game had the potential to be something, but then the penalty fest began, and it completely took away from the game. To me, a game that has everything is one in which both offenses create opportunities and get the puck up and down the ice, while at the same time a defense gets in front of shots and makes good decisions, all the while a goaltender makes spectacular saves, not to mention chippy play resulting in emotion. Honestly, I feel this game only had the first component of the four I listed. I hear what you're saying. But for my own personal tastes, I find good defense and goaltending to be very boring. I think it's because it's the only thing you see in most hockey games nowadays. Even most of the so called 'jaw dropping saves' aren't even that great. How many times did we see Giguere make a 'great' save last spring when in actuality he didn't even move and the shot went right into his belly? Watching guys like AO and Malkin do what they do best was a pleasure to watch. Even Mike Green made some terrific end-to-end rushes. Anyone can block a shot or play sound positionally. But only 1% of the NHL can do what those guys can. And it was nice to finally watch a game where offensive skill overshadowed skills that anyone can learn or perfect. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hank 0 Report post Posted January 22, 2008 The last few Caps games have been real fun to watch and I'm gonna try to watch as many as I can... Always exciting when an underdog starts winning... Not to mention the style they play. Bruce Boudreau was an offensive powerhouse in junior and you can tell he likes an offensive type of game. Under Hanlon the Caps were pure death to watch, but now they're so much fun. And I don't think it's a coincidence that since Boudreau took over, the Caps have the 3rd best record in the league and AO has 40 points in 27 games - the most during that span. I'm really hoping that 'hockey people' are taking note what an aggressive offensive plan can do for you. P.S. speaking of which, I heard an interview with NJ coach Brent Sutter. He talked about how he hates the trap and if his forwards want to skate backwards they can be defensemen. They're actually fun to watch now. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hak 21 Report post Posted January 22, 2008 (edited) ovechkin hit on malkin god i love ovechkin edit: brawl video here Edited January 22, 2008 by hak Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
