Sunday, March 28, 2010
The Hart Race: A Bold Prediction
Thursday, March 25, 2010
USS Flyers Playoff Chances
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Pens* at Caps 3/24/2010 Observations
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Simon Gagne did WHAT?
The Washington Steroiders?
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Interesting fight: Scott Hartnell/Jim Slater
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Bruins/Penguins yawnfest
The ball is in your court, NHL
Bruce Boudreau is a Moron
Caps head coach Bruce Boudreau said he wasn't particularly shocked by the announcement, nor was he particularly happy about it.
"You knew the possibility was there, obviously," Boudreau said. "I think sometimes it's the problem of having the most popular player in the world on your team. It gets also the most publicity.
"I'm really disappointed for Alex. You try to look at this from an objective view and I can see where, if you're not a Washington fan or a part of Washington, you're sitting there, 'Yeah suspend him, suspend him'," said Boudreau. "If you're looking at it from our point of view, people keep calling it a reckless hit and to me it was a push from behind that, if he had have gone straight, he would have gone on the ice.
"I didn't think it was the right call but I've been wrong almost every time on these and I know how tough a job it is for (Colin Campbell)," Boudreau added. "Holy smokes, I wouldn't want to have his job when he wakes up and sees that hit."
Boudreau added he didn't think it was necessarily a great move for the game of hockey.
"If this was Sidney Crosby doing it, everybody outside of Pittsburgh would have cried foul. 'Suspned him for the year!'," said Boudreau. "I don't think it does the game any good to have Alex suspended, but that's just me, that's just my opinion. He's so much fun to watch that I think the game is hurting when he's not playing."
So wait, because it's your player, Alexander Ovechkin, he shouldn't be suspended? He's too good for the sport to suspend? The best part of having a blog is the chance to do stuff like this:
PS: I'm actually a HUGE Ovechkin fan, and didn't think he should be suspended, especially with incidents like this going on with no penalty. Consistency, ain't it a bitch? Sure is for the NHL.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Philadelphia Flyers Goaltending - Worst. Luck. Ever.
Rank | Player's Name | League | Team | Status | Injury | Duration |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Ray Emery | NHL Philadelphia Flyers | LTIR | hip | out for the season |
2 | Michael Leighton | NHL Philadelphia Flyers | injured | high ankle sprain | unknown, possibly a few weeks |
3 | Brian Boucher | NHL Philadelphia Flyers | injured | flu | unknown, possibly a few days |
4 | Jonas Backlund | AHL Adirondack Phantoms | injured | unknown | unknown |
Seriously, that sucks. Jeremy Duschene (ECHL Kalamazoo Wings / AHL Adirondack Phantoms), come on down, you're the next contestant! Who the hell has to call up a minor-minor leaguer to potentially START IN NET? I guarantee you Dallas is licking their chops, this could get UGLY. At least he's kind of a local guy from Silver Spring, MD.
Maybe Ed Snider shouldn't break a mirror over a black cat's head under a ladder next time...
Monday, March 15, 2010
A typical Dion Phaneuf play
Sean Avery
Sunday, March 14, 2010
In response to the below post
When a player or goalkeeper has played in 41 consecutive regular League games without being assessed a stick-related major and a game misconduct penalty according to Rule 20– Major Penalties or Rule 22 – Misconduct Penalties, he will have the previous game misconduct penalties removed from his current record. They will remain part of his historical record.
Alexander the Obliterator
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
A letter to the NHL GMs
A violation of the above will result in a minor or major penalty and shall be reviewed for possible supplemental discipline."
Signed,
Waning hockey fans everywhere
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
How To Lose A Hockey Game (Presented by the Columbus Blue Jackets)
Unfortunately, only half of that was made up:
CLS @ LA Box Score
Monday, March 8, 2010
Congratulations to Jarome Iginla
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Trade Deadline
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
The Big Difference - NHL vs International Hockey
- The NHL's Trapezoid Rule (aka the Martin Brodeur is too good rule) - The trapezoid behind the goal line / goal is the only place that the goalie can play the puck in the NHL. If he plays it outside this, it's a 2-min minor penalty. There was none of this nonsense in international play. If a goalie thinks they're good enough to play the puck, let them try. They screw up - a forechecker gets an easy shot at a goal. The original excuse for starting this rule was to "increase scoring" by preventing the goalies from playing the puck in the corners.
- Hits to the Head - Why the NHL still hasn't made this a penalty is beyond me. Two minutes is easy, and at least simpler than the subjective, arcane suspension system in place with Colin Campbell in place.
- Penalties - Look at a box score one day. Why does the NHL feel the need to call seemingly 10 penalties a game? The Olympics had better flow because they let the players play, and called penalties to keep control of a game - not decide it. A man advantage in a 5 on 5 sport would be like having to play an 11-man football team with 9 guys.
We'll see if the NHL/NHLPA can get some of this sorted out next season. The penalties do go down in the playoffs, but it should be like that every night. And if they can't get their acts together, and they decide to stop sending NHL players to the Olympics, at least we only have 2 years until the end of the world...