Re: NHL '08- '09 Thread
 

Hey Tom, looks like I have even more reason to make my way to Chicago. My buddy Flats just was hired on as Developmental Goaltending Coach for your beloved Hawks.

Re: NHL '08- '09 Thread
 

Re: NHL '08- '09 Thread
 

Devils are looking pretty solid!

My Hurricanes lost a tough one to the Rangers the other night... but got a nice win at home against the hapless Lightning tonight. Carolina really needs to get their act together if they are going to make the playoffs. The are flirting with not making it... again. :rolleyes:

Re: NHL '08- '09 Thread
 

Ladd hasn't scored for a month, Joe, and the Hawks are looking pretty mediocre the last month as well. :mad:

Re: NHL '08- '09 Thread
 

Ladd is an enigma... got all the skills, but he seems to just "check out" for portions of the season. :confused:

Wish he could get it together.

Re: NHL '08- '09 Thread
 

So do I, Joe! :r

Re: NHL '08- '09 Thread
 

Tough game to lose last night. Bruins were out skated by the Devils. Nice win for you guys.

Re: NHL '08- '09 Thread
 

Coyotes put up a good fight for the sharks last night. The west is going to be exciting near the end. And now the sharks are in first place in the league! I need to get center ice so I can watch all these games, though I did find a website that streams every pro sport on my computer, it isn't the same watching it on a 12 inch screen.

Re: NHL '08- '09 Thread
 

Ya I watch all my sport streaming but I have a 19 inch monitor in my small room hooked up to surround sound so Its not to bad.

I was watching the Panthers Habs Game last night(which the Habs played terrible)...In Florida $17.50 gets you a ticket to the game, parking, and some sort of combo meal(Drink hot dog and chips I think). Talk about an awesome price point and they still can't get any fans down there. It costs more for just a ticket to a Moose game in Winnipeg(AHL) which average around $20. Not to mention parking is $5 bucks and a combo $10ish. Twice as much for hockey that is a level below the NHL...crazy.

On a side note for my Organizational Theory class I'm righting a paper on the NHL's decision to expand in to non-traditional hockey markets.

Re: NHL '08- '09 Thread
 

Re: NHL '08- '09 Thread
 

Re: NHL '08- '09 Thread
 

Re: NHL '08- '09 Thread
 

So...whatcha drinkin', Rich? ;)

Re: NHL '08- '09 Thread
 

How about them Devils!!! :D

Re: NHL '08- '09 Thread
 

i had alot of guinness extra stout lol

Re: NHL '08- '09 Thread
 

Then I completely understand! :D :tu :r

Re: NHL '08- '09 Thread
 

I'm tempted to pick up a big monitor for when I stream games. I know I would get my monies worth, as that is basically all I watch on tv.

I think in some places it has actually worked out well, and in others, not so much. I don't know what is going through the lightning owner's heads though, it is like they are trying to loose. Trade Boyle and Luckowich, for essentially nothing, and then trade away the player they got for literally nothing. Good thing they got Vincent, but even that isn't helping them.

Re: NHL '08- '09 Thread
 

Maybe they could trade Vinnie to the Blackhawks for essentially nothing? :)

Re: NHL '08- '09 Thread
 

Big warm up for the stupor bowl today, Bruins at Canadiens. Kick some Canadian butt Boston.:ss

Re: NHL '08- '09 Thread
 

Big character win for the Hawks over the Sharks last night, especially after an apparent 2-0 lead became a 1-1 tie over the period of a few seconds. The NHL still has a couple goofy rules on the books, but the Hawks gutted out a tough win.

Re: NHL '08- '09 Thread
 

I wouldn't put it past them. They don't realize that you actually have to spend money to put a competitive team on the ice. Oh well, sharks steal again from another team! Still can't believe the Thornton deal.

Very strange rule, never seen anything like that. Sharks didn't play their best, and against a young fast team like the Hawks, you are going to loose. Love watching the Hawks play, as they are just so young. That one goal that was put in about 2 feet in front of the goal was simply amazing.

Re: NHL '08- '09 Thread
 

First time I have ever seen it as well....I guess since Cheechoo was bleeding like a stuck pig they thought they better.

Sharks let Dan Boyle sit the game to rest....he is a good penalty killing d-man and might have been a factor in (stopping) the Versteeg shorthanded goal. Regardless, a big confidence booster for the young Hawks. I didn't think SJ played bad at all, I thought Khabibulin stood on his head at times.

Re: NHL '08- '09 Thread
 

Towards the end of the game they played ok, but having watched them the entire season, they weren't skating too well. The last couple minutes got exciting, but Khabibulin managed to keep it out. Missing Boyle AND Luckowich hurts as they are paired as defenseman, but who knows what would have happened. I agree, it is a huge boost to the Hawks, especially beating the Sharks at home. I'm glad that the Hawks are leading the league in attendance. Kind of a shame the way they disappeared for awhile, but seems like the son taking over has a lot to do with it.

I'm hoping they end up meeting in the playoffs, as I think it would be exciting to watch two young teams go at it. What am I talking about though, I just love watching quality hockey, and talking about it with people who share the same passion as me. CA as a whole does not appreciate it, though San Jose certainly does.

Re: NHL '08- '09 Thread
 

What was with those old style Montreal uniforms today? No wonder they lost, too busy laughing whenever they saw their reflection.

Re: NHL '08- '09 Thread
 

That would be great...especially if it were in the Western Conference Finals. :)

Re: NHL '08- '09 Thread
 

My Stars are starting to play some good hockey. How about last nights game 10 to 2 over the Rangers.:ss

Re: NHL '08- '09 Thread
 

Devils beat the Sharks!!! :r:r

Re: NHL '08- '09 Thread
 

Sharks need to get healthy and start playing better. I thought those refs sucked in the game, and not even against the sharks, but both teams. The call against the Devils at the end was a joke, a few against the sharks were bad.

Re: NHL '08- '09 Thread
 

I didnt have a chance to catch the game but hopefully they will replay it tonight

Re: NHL '08- '09 Thread
 

Nice 5-1 win for the Bruins over Carolina last night, the Bruins needed a regulation time win with the way they have been playing lately. It was also nice to see Carolina retire Glen Wesley's number. He was never the best player in Boston but he was one of the hardest workers.:ss

Re: NHL '08- '09 Thread
 

Last night we played horribly against the Florida Panthers :fl :sad




----------------
Now playing: Blake Shelton - Back There Again
via FoxyTunes

Re: NHL '08- '09 Thread
 

:tpd: WTF happened....good thing I went to bed when it was 1-0! :(

Re: NHL '08- '09 Thread
 

Sharks finally got a regulation win, and even against the damn Oilers who they always have problems with!

Any penguins fans here? Wondering what they think of the firing/hiring of the coach.

Re: NHL '08- '09 Thread
 

I do like the Pens although I am a Islanders fan. I really like a lot of the players throughout the years but I think there is too much talent on tha team to be where they are so maybe a change was needed. I wish the Isles woul have canned Mad Mike about tens years ago and maybe the Islanders history would have been different.

Just MHO.

T

Re: NHL '08- '09 Thread
 

Ugh! I know I caught the last 17 min and at first I thought it sais 3-0 Devils leadin but I looked again and saw they were bein shut out. When the Panters scored that last goal it was over 4-0:fl

Re: NHL '08- '09 Thread
 

WOOOOO!!! Take that tampa!!!! :D:ss

Re: NHL '08- '09 Thread
 

I still can't forgive the Devils (no pun intended) for the development and use of the Neutral Zone Crap. It almost finished off hockey. :tg

T

Re: NHL '08- '09 Thread
 

:hm neutral zone crap? Can u explain more Ive never heard of this

Re: NHL '08- '09 Thread
 

Montreal players linked to organized crime....

http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=3921050

So that's how they rigged the All-star game voting! :r

Re: NHL '08- '09 Thread
 

Doesn't surprise me...Sergei was a piece of work when I worked in Hamilton last year. On one occasion he simply went up to the coach and said "no practice". This also falls in line with some of the comment Kovalev made about the younger players getting into trouble.

The Habs are imploding at the moment I'm not sure what the solution is.

Re: NHL '08- '09 Thread
 

Had tickets on the glass today for the Stars game . Very cool to watch the game from that view point,to bad they lost.

Re: NHL '08- '09 Thread
 

Yeah, I think the penguins are totally underachieving. When you have two of the top 5 players in the league on your team, a good goalie, and you aren't doing well, something needs to change.

Looks like the sharks are finally turning it on again.

Re: NHL '08- '09 Thread
 

Re: NHL '08- '09 Thread
 

Great game today between Vancouver and Toronto. I hate TOronto but very classy act by the fans giving Matts Sundin a Standing O. He deserved the respect. Did I mention it was a great game.

Now I am watching the Pens/Caps. shaping up well.

T

Re: NHL '08- '09 Thread
 

The Blackhawks continue to exceed all expectations.

Please don't pinch me. ;)

Re: NHL '08- '09 Thread
 

They have allot of speed on there team at the game sat. they were a step quicker than the stars all day:rolleyes:

Re: NHL '08- '09 Thread
 

Neutral zone trap
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search

The neutral zone trap is a defensive strategy used in ice hockey to prevent an opposing team from proceeding through the neutral zone (the area between the blue lines) to force turnovers. The strategy is generally used to level the playing field for teams that are not as offensively talented as their opponent, though the trap can also be used by teams simply looking to protect a lead late in the game.

The most recognizable implementation of the trap sees the defense stationing four of their players in the neutral zone and one forechecker in the offensive zone. As the offensive team starts to move up the ice, the forechecker (generally the centre) will cut off passing lanes to other offensive players by staying in the middle of the ice, forcing the puck carrier to either sideboard. The defensive wingers—typically placed on or near the red line—will be positioned by the boards to challenge the puck carrier, prevent passing, or even keep opponents from moving through. The two defencemen who are positioned on or near the blue lines are the last defence, and must stall the opposition long enough for the wingers to reset themselves and continue the trap.

The trap reached prominence with the New Jersey Devils' 1995 Stanley Cup victory, and has been widely criticized for reducing scoring and making the game less exciting for fans.[1] It has, however, proven to be very effective, especially in the playoffs.[citation needed] During the 2004-05 NHL lockout, serious discussion about opening the game to offense was done by both the NHL and NHL Players Association (NHLPA). Because it is easier to trap when engaging in obstruction and restraining fouls, such as hooking and holding, which slow the progress of faster players who can evade the trapping team, the NHL ordered officials to call every obstruction penalty, regardless of circumstance. The prohibition on two-line passes from behind a team's blue line to the other side of the red line was also lifted. Long passes are one method for breaking out of the trap, as it avoids the need to navigate through defenders in the neutral zone. With passes across the red line from behind the puck carrier's blue line permitted under the revised NHL rules, the effectiveness of the neutral zone trap is greatly diminished. Defensive minded teams have reverted to a "third man high" system where only two offensive players will commit down low, allowing the third to join the defense and impede progress across the blue line.


courtesy of Wikipedia

Re: NHL '08- '09 Thread
 

Rangers fired their coach, thats now 2 coaches gone in the past few weeks. I wonder if anybody else is going to get fired.

Hopefully tonights Stars/Sharks game will be a good one.

Re: NHL '08- '09 Thread
 

I am looking forward to that Sharks - Wings game Wednesday! :tu

Re: NHL '08- '09 Thread
 

Thanks :tu

I'll have to look for this when they play on Thursday

----------------
Now playing: Blake Shelton - Dont make me
via FoxyTunes