Re: The NHL Thread
 

It doesn't, but it also seems like no big deal since it's always been an option and nobody's pursued it yet

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Preds need to tie up this series badly tonight. I don't see them beating Chicago 3 in a row if they lose tonight.

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Looks like Fisher will be back in the game tonight which is good. Veteran leadership and a solid 2nd line C. Now if only Weber would be back. It's not going to happen this game though. I just hope that Jones/Josi D1 isn't a thing this game. Jones needs to go back to the 2nd pairing.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

If he didn't make the trip it has to be pretty bad you'd think. Agree with you about tonight though. I just don't see them winning 3 in a row.

For my team I'm glad they've had more off days. More time to rest up any lingering injuries and practice that thing called defense.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Yeah I'm afraid that it is bad. We'll see. Weber is my favorite so it sucks even more at this point.

I haven't had to a chance to watch much of the Wings/Tampa series so far. I'll be switching between the Caps/Isles game tonight.

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the game stagger sucked last night. starting at 7, 8 meant intermissions synced up for Rangers/Pens and Wild/STL

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yea, i had a melt on my couch when i realized what was happening.

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http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nhl-pu...ory&soc_trk=tw

Pens fans thoughts?

The Malkin thought in that article is spot on. I watched most of the 3rd last night and it felt like he wasn't there.

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that's just rutherford knowing he fucked up and it's probably his last shot at being a relevant GM or front office person.

it's been all over the news here today.

Rossi is an idiot but he's in the right here.

at least they aren't melting on the ice, which is nice to see even if they lose the series

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Blues just the worst playoff team. My God.

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I cannot stand Rossi. He consistently gives off the air of needing to be flicked in the taint. And go sell ice cream is now my new favorite insult.

How much did Rutherford honestly eff up, though, H2P? The cap mismanagement, absolutely. Trading Bortuzzo for Lovejoy, absolutely. The Erhoff signing doesn't look great now, but was praised at the time. Trading for Perron was a good move at the time. Also, Shero made some questionable moves during the end of his tenure. See Scuderi, Rob, and Rutherford got stuck with that. Losing Dupuis and Matta for the season, plus Kris Letang and Hornqvist for long stretches, would hamstring anyone.

All is not right in Pens land, that's for sure. Perhaps it goes all the way to the top. The Shero/Bylsma fiasco from last summer was just so bizarre, and that's on Lemieux and Burkle. Obviously I have no idea what else is going on inside, but the frustrations of recent playoff failures seem to be boiling over.

As for Malkin, I have no doubt he's hurt and far from 100%. As I said before, the stars need to step up, and they have not, save for the second period in Game 2 (though Fleury has kept them in it).

Pens are still a good team with a great core. They have the tools to fix their problems. They are far from the dumpster fire that is Edmonton (sorry Oilers fans).

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Been saying this for months to anyone that will listen. I picked NY because I am a fan, but the Ducks are my unbiased pick. Have been for months.

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I still say that Shero got a bad rap. Yes the contracts to Scuderi, Dupui, and Kunitz were too long and for too much. However, with that said, he was trying to keep as many of the pieces together as he could for their "championship window". I put the on ice failures straight at Bylsma. Shero gave him the pieces and he horribly effed it up. As I've said before... see Iginla, Jerome. Their championship window has closed to a crack or might have already slammed shut.

Anyway, I agree with Drama on Rutherford's bad moves so far.

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I am definitely still puzzled they axed Shero. I wouldn't say Rutherford has done a better job (or really a worse job for that matter).

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I'll also agree that the Bortuzzo for Lovejoy is still a head scratch-er too.

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I don't blame Bylsma.

there were several playoff failures where Fleury was dog shit. you can't coach yourself out of that.

the pens have had great regular seasons on the backs of Crosby and Malkin the past several years but it becomes exceedingly difficult to win postseason hockey games without 4 lines that can win posession battles. They just weren't icing a good team with their bottom 6, that was quite evident to me last year in the series with CBJ. Again, I don't know what Bylsma could do about that.

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Yeah, the top lines and MAF have been Peyton Manning'ing it up the last few postseasons.

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In game 4's under Coach Q, the Blackhawks are 8-8.

ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN TONIGHT!

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i hate that the chicago game is so late tonight.

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Bylsma was a terrible playoff coach. no 2 ways about it

couple that with players shitting the bed and you get 5 early exits in a row

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Ian Cole is garbage

gerrit cole >>> ian cole

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Feels like a must win game for Washington tonight. I hope they agree.

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I'm excited for tonight. Wings need to make a statement and not get outshot the way they did in the first two games. Not that if they lose the series is over but this is a good chance to push back.

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@SportsnetSpec
BREAKING: Linden to address media here in CGY very soon on status of Alex Burrows, who left Saddledome in an ambulance.

Oh shit.

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Rossi is a jackass, glad gmjr told him off. Rossi's feelings are still hurt that shero and db are gone.

Bylsmas was garbage. Any coach that puts a hof rw on his off wing is a dolt. He made very poor decisions with his roster that he was given.

Shero made a lot of bad moves in his last few years. Scuderi, adams, glass, all terrible deals. The kunitz deal is starting to look bad.

Ian cole has been good so far.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

i've already melted thinking about it. no fucking reason it should not start at 8 ET

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Sure it is. Wings game won't be over at 8, but will be close by 9:30.

Early games also start and end half hour apart as well as late games.

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sounds like an upper body injury, strange he would need an ambulance.
he's already been ruled out of game 4 though.

i guess we're the NHL melt twins

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Yeah the ambulance is weird.

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Pretty happy to see Burakovsky get a look tonight. He could be an x factor (or completely inconsequential)