Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

Well, Wings get one of their 4 injured centers back tonight. Helm is in. Datsyuk and Alfie not practicing.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

Eh? I mean he is basically Andrew Shaw but better. Ok, maybe dirtier also, if that's the reason than yeah I agree with you.

But to call him a "grinder" is not exactly true. Marchand has some serious skill.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

Marchand is probably the best instigator in the league. He's awesome. I hate him and he is so damn annoying and he is incredibly talented.

EDIT:

The whole sequence yesterday when he fell into Seabrook, skated over and checked Keith from behind pretty hard and that set Keith off, and then he went right back over and sent Seabrook over the top drawing a penalty.....is exactly why he's awesome.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

Stumbled upon this today:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lq1Bi...&feature=share

Figured it was appropriate for a few reasons on this board.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

:thumbsup thanks for posting that.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

Hate shoot outs.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

No problem. Gave me chills.
Don't need to tell me that. Wings 2-7 this year in shootouts.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

Speaking of Marchand the entire Kings defense should probably ask him politely for their jock straps back after the way he undressed them this afternoon.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

Torts got 15 days :lol

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

Yea all unpaid too

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

I think Hartley should have got a game or 2. If he doesn't start the thugs, we never get to that point.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

It's always the retaliation that gets the penalty in every single sport. the Hawks or the Wings would have responded by putting out their top line and just scoring on them early. There were a couple ways to handle that situation and Torts handled it in a very childish way.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

Eh I don't know about that. He can't be held responsible for Torts actions. I see nothing's wrong with what happened that game other than what Torts did off the ice.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

I will say if they are handing out 15 games to a coach that they need to do the same harsher penalties to the players as well.

What a game, just driving back from Boston now. Marchand is insane lately, and it was great to see Quick getting cheers beforehand. Like I've said 100 times these two teams would kill eachother in a 7 game series.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

The way that game started is not needed in the NHL. It was goonery at its best. They were put out there to hurt. If they weren't Westgarth wouldn't go after Bieksa as soon as the puck dropped. The NHL ever wants to not be looked at as a second rate league, they need to get rid of that shit.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

Agree with this. Fights that happened during the emotions of a game I have no problem with. Pre-planned fights that happen at the face-off to start a game are just stupid. Imagin that happening on the opening kick off of the super-bowl?? The NFL would flip a shit.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

I agree that they should get rid of this shit but not sure about your other point.

That fight got more attention from the sports world than most hockey games do :shrug

A few of my friends that don't follow hockey at all came over to watch the NFL games Sunday and were like "did you see that fight!?"

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

Where is Bron to rag on fighting in the sport and use this anomaly for a reason to get rid of fighting in the NHL?

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

yep to the bolded

big time catch 22 for the NHL

i'm beginning to think that the NHL has it's viewers/fans and will remain a niche sport. that being said, get rid of the unnecessary fighting and try to grow the game via games overseas, continued outdoor games and market the superstars. if the game has topped out in viewership then fine, let's focus on making the game safer, better, and more enjoyable all around.

the NHL wants to be the NFL so bad, but it just can't...

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

I hope the people who just like the fights never go to a game.
I don't mind the NHL being a niche sport.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

It is too bad. Thread isn't the same without the Pitt/Caps pissing matches. :hug

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

:lol that Erat trade still looks amazing.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

:lol @ comparing the caps to the pens

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

Who compared the Crapitals to the Pens?

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

The press I saw it got was people dogging on them. To me, all it does is help the negative narrative that people already believe about the NHL.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

Hartley obviously was bent on intimidating. When McGratton and Westgarth found out they were starting the game TOGETHER (that's like basically giving the other team a 5-on-3 advantage), Hartley probably didn't even need to tell them what their job was going to be. It's obvious. They were sent out there to set the tone with an intimidating shift. And by intimidating, I mean beat the shit out of people. Speculate how you want, but that's what it was.

I feel for Tortorella in that situation. It's easy for people to say, "send the Sedins out and take advantage of the mismatch," but like I said, Calgary's 4th line knew what their job was for that opening shift, and I guarantee they would do it no matter who was on the ice. They get little enough playing time as is, they are going to do what they're told when they do get to play. Maybe the Sedins wouldn't have fought back, but they still would've gotten roughed up. BUT, if Tortorella elects to send out his 4th line (like he did), he's blamed for helping perpetuate the situation. Tough spot for a coach to be in. We speculate and take the "moral high road" as spectators, but when you're down in the trenches like that, you have some tough calls to make.

Where Torts went wrong was obviously the locker room incident. No place for that and a black eye on the game. Getting press, but for the wrong reasons. I'm totally fine with the suspension, and with Hartley's fine. Torts would've gotten the same fine too if he hadn't mounted an offensive on the Calgary locker room.

I do appreciate the comments he made about Lain in his post-game interview, saying that one of his biggest regrets was putting him in that situation for his first NHL game.

Also, for the record, I'm fine with the NHL being a niche sport too. :)

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

You can't send the Sedin line out, you just can't. Henrick was (is) hurt to the point he couldn't finish the game. The Flames line had no intention of playing the puck. Wesgarth didn't even look at it as it was dropped, they would have instantly pounded the crap out of the turtling Swedes.

Torts was in a damned if you do, damned if you don't situation.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

If anything I would thing Vancouver's 4th line would want to go out there in that situation to protect the first line from what was obviously going to be a rough start of the game

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

I'm ok with it being a niche sport to a point. but the NHL keeps shooting itself in the foot with crap like this. Part of the reason I like it being a niche sport is this board. Compare our thread to the NFL one. 99% of us know the game very well in here. Go to the NFL thread and you get a lot of people who think they know the game. It's nice to be able to talk civilized about the game.
Agree here. You send the Sedin's out when the 4th line from the other team gets caught out on an icing or something. When those guys start the game, you know what the idea is. You don't put your star players in that situation.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

Exactly. People are outside their minds if they think McGratton and Westgarth all of a sudden would've started attempting to play the game the minute the Sedins came out. "Oh, it's the Sedins... I guess we won't do what our coach put us out here to do anymore and just waste this shift trying to match up skill-wise against them." (translation from cave man).
Great point. Tortorella would instantly lose the respect of his team if he sent their less-able brothers into that situation. I'm pretty sure someone like Bieksa would've stepped up and been like, "uhhh Coach..." That's just how hockey players are with each other.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

Absolutely. Right amounts of press, but for precisely the wrong reasons.

That's why I love this thread too. :thumbsup

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

What's funny is Tortorella has done the same thing he was getting pissed at Hartley about. Just ask ol' Pete DeBoer.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

Yeah I read that yesterday I think. Always funny you can do something, but someone else does the same thing to you and it's terrible.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

Wings get monster back and lose Jimmy Howard for at least a week. Datsyuk, Franzen and Alfie all skated today but none play Wednesday. One day I'll get to see the team I had hoped for at the start of the season....one day.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

Tell me this: Can you send your 1st line out and say 'we're here to play hockey.' Especially if you get the refs on red alert. All eyes are then on the Flames to either goon it up or scramble after the face off to get the right matchup on the ice. If they choose goon-mode then you've kinda proven your point, if they choose scramble-mode then crisis averted, or at least you've kicked the can down the road to later in the game.

I see fighting fire with fire, but the Flames had already made their bed.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

They are going to get jumped (and potentially hurt) regardless of what they tell the refs.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

the thought process that the refs can't control the game or wouldn't realize what the Flames are doing is so dumb. If the Canucks put out their top line and 4 guys on Calgary jump them....looks like Vancouver is getting a ton of penalty minutes AND they don't lose 4 guys 2 seconds into the game. This mindset that Torts did the right thing in any stretch of reality is what will always keep hockey as a second rate sport.

"But Bob Hartley PUT OUT HIS GOON LINE"

then score on them and beat them where it matters, on the scoreboard.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

This is what I tend to believe from experience. When guys get it into their minds that they are going to do something, it's gonna happen regardless of who is on the ice or what they say. It's just reality. Not saying it's right, but it's reality. Hartley made it clear by starting the game with those guys (as the away team knowing the Canucks would have the chance to match it) that he was ready and willing to go after whoever else came out.

Like I said before, easy for us to take the moral high road as spectators, but so much more has to go on in the minds of the coach. Like you said, aclark, what if they put it off til later? Does McGratton/Westgarth take out a Sedin then? Are they going to let the goons come out and run guys whenever the rest of the game? Or would it be better just to get it done with, get those guys out on their game misconducts, and get on with the game?

Not trying to dictate what should/could've happened, just saying that it's not as easy a situation as some make it out to be, IMO.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

Wouldn't that be nice.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

Agree with these. Think Hartley got off too light.

But then again, Westgarth scored last night, so maybe he was looking for that offensive spark... :lol

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

Oh it's not easy at all. Don't get me wrong there's no winner here. I just think Torts comes out of it looking a little better by taking the high road. So the Sedins get roughed up a bit (they could use it). When the dust settles you're looking at a handful of instigating minors on the Flames, I'd throw a bench minor at em, and the story in the media is how to get goonsmanship out of the game, not "Oh wow torts is quite the hothead!"

NHL is heading to the stone age because no one in discipline has the stones to throw the book at the meatheads.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

I get that you've got protect yourself, Matty, don't get me wrong. Hard to argue against that.

The whole situation brings numerous failures of the system to light.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

:lol I can't argue against the appeal of seeing the Sedins getting knocked around a bit!

I totally get where you're coming from, Andy. But another thing to consider and that we've talked about only briefly is Torts's rep with his own team if he lets his stars go out there in what is a perceived disregard of their safety. I guarantee guys like Sestito, Bieksa, Weise, Kassian, etc. would be furious at Torts for putting his stars (and their teammates) in that situation. The hockey player mentality, especially among the more blue-collar players on a roster, is "we know our job and we'll do it for the team". They are the willing bullet-takers sometimes. In this situation, I think they would be more pissed sitting on the bench watching their stars get completely mugged, then they would by being out there themselves.

There are a few holes in this situation, I completely agree. That happens I suppose when so much emotion is involved.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

Bad mistakes are costing the Kings this game.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

Jackets!!!

God I hate Jeff Carter

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

Columbus looks so good. It is a shame though that they are on such a hot streak (set a club record tonight with 7 consecutive wins) yet they have a lot of empty seats still.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

finally broke down and bought my stadium series tickets.

cant wait

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

did they try banking one off the netting, off the goalies back and into the net?

because i hear that works

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

:eiffeltower yay! I am so excited for it.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

where are you sitting? Top deck here. 'only' $105

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

And the Caps fall another spot in the East... So frustrating to watch such a talented team continue to falter

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

Crowd was pretty good tonight actually, it's just that one section in the lower bowl which is easy to see on TV. Upper deck was sold out which is rare for a Tuesday game.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

Weird looking night

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

section 127

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

Gotcha, just seemed bizarre and it was on both sides down the middle of the ice. The sections were practically empty. Obviously not the worst in the league!

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

Believe me when I say you're not paying the ticket to see the game. You're paying to experience an amazing moment in hockey. Yeah, yeah, yeah--the winter classic has been diluted over the years, but to me, that doesn't matter. There is something special about seeing hockey in the outdoors. It adds the tailgating, outside environment of the NFL combined with the wits and intelligence of NHL fans.

Oh yeah. I totally get that. It's just that this is approx 8.5x what I normally pay for a game.

Sent from my EVO using Tapatalk

Is that field?

Sent from my EVO using Tapatalk

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

We've all been there.

I was a poor college student in 2009, and decided to spend 90 bucks for Game 6 tickets for the ECQF against the Pens.

That went well. :rolleyes

Heh. Alright. I'm so damn pumped.

Sent from my EVO using Tapatalk

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

Great, exciting win last night. If our November wasn't so bad, I'd be a lot happier about our season right now. Long hill still to climb to get back in this.

After last night, I'm even more excited for next Wednesday at Yankee Stadium. Gonna be awesome. Hopefully, there is no polar vortex, lol. Whatever it is, it is. We'll deal and love every minute of it.

As for the our top line:

Brian Compton ‏@BComptonNHL
With tonight's performance, the NHL's top three scorers since Dec. 17 are 1) Tavares; 2) Vanek and 3) Okposo. #Isles

In the discussion for one of the best lines in hockey, I think. Took a little bit to find the their game together after the trade but they are fun to watch right now. They keep this up, how could Vanek not want to resign.

Detroit sucks.

God I miss saying that.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

Rangers imploded last night. Up 3-1 and gave up 4 straight goals. yikes.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

not sure if you saw the game but it was a frustrating 1st period for us. We were dominating possession and offensive zone time and our rookie and pathetic d core gave up those 2 great Nash chances and goals. We owned the play most of the night but that doesn't always show up on the scoreboard. Thankfully, we came on strong and won.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

Yeah I watched it. The Vanek/Tavares goal to put you up 4-3 was slick too. Nothing Talbot could do on that one.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

They are fun to watch these days. Took them some time to click but they are clicking on all cylinders now.

Not sure where this desperate effort was in November during that losing streak. And we are doing this now without our top 2 D in Hamonic and Vis, who has now missed 44 games.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

They suck right now. Still no Datsyuk, Alfie or Franzen. Expecting another rough night tonight.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

Both the Rangers and Islanders are playing great hockey over the last month.

As to last night, no excuse for blowing a 3-1 lead. I felt it was the first game Talbot didn't play amazing in. Rangers should have held on to that lead. Hank will hopefully be able to be the difference next week.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

I'm so happy with the way the Jackets are playing. 8-1 since Horton came back, the guy is just a monster and Bob is playing well. Everyone keeps trying to make comparisons to last year but IMO this team is better. Ryan Murray is going to be a stud in this league for a long time, I still can't believe Edmonton passed on him :lol

Headed to the game against Philly tomorrow night, should be a good one.

Also, the East has really closed the gap with the west, you can almost argue it is a better conference top to bottom.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

I wouldn't doubt this at all right now. I think everybody knew Tavares was going to be "very good", but wow, what an ascension to the top of the league the past couple seasons. I've loved seeing it and very happy for you NYI fans finally getting that franchise player to get behind.

Nice also to see Vanek find his game. On paper, it looked like he and Tavares would be able to make beautiful hockey babies together, so it was difficult to see him stumble out of the gate. The good thing is, he looks like he's having fun out there.

My favorite story in all of this is Okposo. I think we've talked about him before, but I've been rooting for him for a long time and have obviously been disappointed. Not sure why I kinda attached myself to him... I think, like I said, it's a certain Messier-esque quality he has lurking underneath some of his youth that's just waiting to come out. He's already got some fire (fueled even more by the Olympic snub), and if he continues to cultivate that... he'll be a damn fine player.
Murray's one of my top 5 favorite young defensemen right now probably. His all-around game, IMO, makes him so much more appealing than guys like Subban.

Why would the Oilers even want Ryan Murray when they could get talent like Yakupov?!

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

Did you see his assist on the Johansen goal last night Matty? Worth a look.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

I just watched it, thanks for the recommendation :thumbsup. Like we've said before, the kid has vision. What a perfect pass, putting it right where it needed to be across what, like 80 feet of ice?

Makes me proud to see you noticing things like that :thumbsup

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

:thumbsup it's one thing just to see that opportunity and another thing to make that pass, amazing he can do both this early in his career.

:lol the amount of time I spend watching defenseman since I started posting in this thread regularly has tripled thanks to you.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

:thumbsup It's an inspiring, but overlooked part of the game that demonstrates the selfless, sacrificial nature of hockey at its finest. Glad I could help. :lol

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

Leafs are starting to pick it up. I think that's 5 wins in a row. Good win last night over the AV's with Reimer in net.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

They played a great game. Cohesive, relentless, precise. Varlamov hadn't had a regulation loss in like 18 games, and they chased him early. I turned it off after they went up 4-0 :lol

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

I feel like everyone in the NHL is hot right now.

Someone has to be losing these games.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

Yeah, taking Yakupov over him was a greeeeeeeaaaaaaaaat choice. :BANG

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

The answer is in the post above mine.

EDIT: And the Caps

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

lollercaps

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

Right here...

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

Here too.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

Pfftttt. You wish you could lose like the Oilers. We have it down to a fucking science at this point. haha

Are you a Reimer fan? I personally like Bernier much more, I know some Leafs fans who are all on board that Reimer should be the #1 goalie there. I thought he was decent in the playoffs last year, but gives up way too many rebounds.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

I don't know how healthy the Oilers are but gotta assume not missing 4 of their top 6 so at least the Wings have an excuse.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

Further proving swordo's point.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

:lol this is great proof you don't know how to be a fan of a bad team. swordo has you beat.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

As a person I love Reimer. He is everything you want in a teammate. He just comes across as such a good guy.

Bernier and Reimer are much different goalies.

Reimer gets out there will battle until his last breath. It doesn't always work in his favor.

Bernier is such a quiet and cool goalie. He gets out there and just calms everything down.

I'd love Reimer to be Bernier but he's not thus we go with Bernier.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

I would need to see a pic of Bernier's wife/GF before I decide between him and Reimer.

Right now, Reimer has him beat cold.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

Bernier's wife is Adam Foote's doppelganger

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

:lol

If she plays like him, I will bust a nut right now.

If she looks like him, I will claw my eyes out.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

Bernier's girlfriend: https://www.google.ca/search?q=Marti...w=1026&bih=710

Ms. Reimer: https://www.google.ca/search?q=Marti...icial&tbm=isch

I'd take Bernier's anyday over Reimer's.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

Yeah I wouldn't complain either way.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

Well done, Mr. Bernier.

I'm still partial to Ms. Reimer, but I definitely wouldn't turn Ms. Bernier down. And if she plays hockey like Adam Foote, as Mr. Mornay purports, I'm all in.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

Bernie's wife fo sho

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

Brunettes > Blondes

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

:thumbsup

Thus, give the starting job to Reimer.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

I think I have only dated Brunettes. Fucked a red head though so not completely prejudice

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

Fine fine fine. I'll take both.