Re: The NHL Thread
 

That Swede story is great. And did you see about the German guy Brooks gave the tour of Kettler to?

I do find it strange they haven't announced anything about the makeup dates. At first I thought maybe they'd wait to see if they were necessary, but they're almost certainly going to have bearing on playoff berth/seeding or draft order for the Ducks and Pens, and for the Caps, while I feel confident saying they'll win the Metro, they could have bearing on the Presidents' Trophy. So I'm wondering when we'll hear something. I live 4 blocks from the Verizon Center, so was all set to go to both games last weekend, snow or not, and was sad they were postponed. I was particularly excited about the Pens game.

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Hey, did you guys know that your 4th line center Michael Richards used to play for the Philadelphia Flyers and was at one time their captain?

The more you know.

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Crazy Stat!

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They'll definitely make up the games. I feel like that isn't negotiable. I saw about the German guy. Something about a Brazilian too but I only skimmed that one.

No kidding. I thought he had just stumbled out of a rehab facility or something and found out he can hockey.

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Did you know that he was then traded to the LA Kings and won two Stanley Cups there?

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Apparently they were interested in Richards even before Beagle got hurt. From what I can tell, they signed him pretty much to win faceoffs and kill penalties. Anything on top of that is just gravy.

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It's an incredibly low risk move where the Caps have all the leverage. At first I was hesitant to sign off but now that a couple weeks have gone by I really like the move.

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Yeah, if he cleans up finally he'll be a good fit. Apparently, the organization talked long and hard with Justin Williams.

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Yeah, talking to Williams was the obvious, but very smart, move. I agree with everyone that it's really low-risk and high-reward. I'm sure there's a clause in his contract about his conduct re: drugs, and if he sucks, well it's a $1 million prorated deal, so no biggie. But if he produces...

Gotta figure Latta gets the short stick when Beagle comes back. Also, with a healthy Carlson and Orpik, which defenseman besides Chorney do you sit? It's a tough decision, Schmidt and Orlov have been great together. It's a good problem to have, and that's only if everyone is healthy at the same time, but gotta hope everyone is understanding and no egos get in the way. They've got such a good thing going.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

And Justin Williams was firmly in favor of adding him, from what I understand

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Honestly, I think Brooks will see the press booth a lot when Beagle comes back. Maybe Latta some, but quite frankly, he's proven more valuable than Laich.

As for the D, assuming Orpik comes back, both Schmidt and Orlov will stay in. Chorney will scratch and whichever AHL dman is currently up will go back down. It'll go back to the same top 6 that started the season:

Carlson - Orpik
Alzner - Niskanen
Schmidt - Orlov

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The real question for me is: Do the Caps trade Marcus Johannson? Especially if Orpik can't come back. I really hope the answer is no.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

You're right. I miscounted my d-men, not sure how, and ended up with Alzner, Niskanen, Schmidt, and Orlov as 5 people, meaning two would have to sit with Carlson and Orpik back. Between this and the games-in-hand thing from earlier, clearly my math skills are on fire today.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

http://www2.tsn.ca/bardown/Story.asp...mask&id=571470

An awesome mask by Howie...that he won't wear because Mrazek has grabbed a hold of that starting job, and most likely will start the outdoor game, going 7-1-1 in his last 9.

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Love it. I always said if I could play any position in sports it would be goalie, just so I could design my own mask. Too bad I can't skate, am not flexible at all, have zero athletic talent, and would dive out of the way of any puck coming at me. But for those things, I'd be the next Brodeur.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Too much caps talk.

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Feels good

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Kings/Avs tonight. It's on Matty!

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Aww man, Bob Miller taking a medical leave of absence to have bypass heart surgery. Pretty major stuff, going to miss hearing him do play-by-play.
Here's to a speedy recovery!

http://kings.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=799954

Re: The NHL Thread
 

I hope it turns out to be somewhat of a game. Varlamov is back in Denver resolving some "legal matters" so the Avs had to play Pickard last night, who had the flu and could barely stand up on his own as the 2nd period went on. The backup was their 4th string who played the rest of the game and only let in one, but I worry if Pickard is still sick and they have to start this guy tonight against the Kings. I guess the flu is making its way around the Avs room and a few guys are playing sick. crappy sitch

But oh well! Go Avs?

Hopefully we can stop the beast that is Vinny!

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Hopefully it's better than our last meeting. ;)

Have a feeling Dustin will net one tonight.

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The Caps look so, so rusty.

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Caps are boooooooty

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I take that back. Flyers are boooooooty

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Aaaaaaand we're back

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Oh wooooow

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Holtby with 4 PIMs in the second. The man has no limits

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Hextallesque

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I'm here for the Caps talk! If they can get value for Johansson so be it. I'd love for him to come alive but am tired of waiting and have no reason to think it's coming in April.

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Kuznetsov has no chill

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I think Marcus is having a great year. Incredibly underrated amongst Caps fans. For some reason there's this weird stigma that he isn't very good. Not you specifically, it's common. I strongly disagree.

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Flyers getting away with a lot this game. Should have easily been Dealy of Game penalty against Nuevy

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5 goals in 4 trips to the playoffs for a #1 pick will do that to you.

If I recall, he could have ended for series with the Rangers last year and whiffed.

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Damn. Great goal from Voracek.

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They had a nice loss tonight. We can talk about that.

Scorachek with a fantastic effort on the game winner

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I don't think you understand the penalty if you think it should have been called easily

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Yeah, it's borderline. Definitely not easy one way or the other. Depending which team you cheer for probably determines how you thought that call should've gone.

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Caps let a bottom 250 player score 2 goals

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Dude. They're 35-8-4. And you're melting. Calm down.

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You're right....The Caps last 4 loses have been to the Canes, Jackets, Sabres and Flyers, good thing none of them will be in the playoffs

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Ok, see the negative in a unanimously fantastic season if you choose.

I'm going to bed. Good game flyers people.

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I'm seriously enjoying this season and this team. Caps are on pace to put up 130 points this season. Only 2 points off the best hockey season ever. Sucks losing to lose a rival game especially when they aren't that great.

Certainly enjoying the historic ride and this teams chemistry

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We've got a game now, Matty!

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Hope you will enjoy hoisting another Presidents' trophy banner up in the Verizon Center next fall.

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More like 100% amirite

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what a play by Avs to tie it up 3-3

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This is not how I expected tonight to go. Great game!

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Congrats man! That was an awesome game, Avs showed up for sure!

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Safe to say Wideman getting at least 20 games for that cross check to the linesman. There was no way that wasn't intentional.

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I just saw it and love how he says it was unintentional. He sees him in the numbers basically and brings his stick up and hits him. If it was more of a bump while not paying attention, I'd buy it at least a little but he extends his arms into the linesman's back.

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Classic Brohan. Hopefully Ovi can get some GH hat tricks to lead the way to a Presidents Trophy and another early playoff exit

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Sorry for enjoying a possible historic run. If you don't know you actually have to do well in the regular season to even make it to the playoffs, something the Flyers won't see this year.

In the end it's all about what they can accomplish in the playoffs. But an 82 game season is a long 5+ months, might as well savor it all in. Especially when your team is on a historic run

Re: The NHL Thread
 

JRS needs to shut the eff up because the Caps are on a HISTORIC RUN. It's a long 82 game season, JRS. It's five months of in your face hockey with pain and intensity almost every night. You need a team that can suck it up, especially one that is on a HISTORIC RUN.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

when did Flyers v. Caps become a rivalry?

how long have i been asleep?

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Probably 13-14 when Ray Emery beat the crap out of Holtby.

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Surely you aren't serious

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that's like saying Pens v. Islanders is a rivalry

meh...

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i'll take yinz at your word though

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Pens don't have any rivalries anymore because they're terrible.

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It's not really like that at all, though. While they maybe haven't had a lot of important matchups over the last few years, the Flyers are traditionally the Caps' oldest rivalry.

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that didn't take long

i was referring to the Emery-Holtby fight

but if you say so

not sure how you have a rivalry without big time matchups though

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It's more of a tradition thing for me really. I hate the Flyers more than any other team, no matter the standings, always. Has been that way my whole life.

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:lol preaching to the choir bud

hockey and baseball are the worst offenders at the whole "because it's tradition" argument though

makes no sense to me

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Yeah I guess it doesn't make sense. But every time I see that stupid fucking P logo or whatever that is, I can't help but roll my eyes. Even when they suck and we're good or vice versa.

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Yeah, it is a tough call to make because you no one can red minds and determine intent.

Not that I think they will make a deep run but I could see the Canes making the playoffs, they are getting better and better down there and have some great kids playing. Nice win streak and I could easily see them getting a slot.

Presidents trophy is tough and I think a few teams will give the Caps a run for their money, especially since some teams have already played 5+ more games and are only a couple wins behind them so they will get more off days, plus the Caps are bound to hit a skid at some point.

Hell yeah it was, I was stunned they pulled that off.

About as long as I have been sleeping. :lol

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:lol don't forget the hockey puck in the middle of the P


:thumbsup:thumbsup

Re: The NHL Thread
 

:lol wideman saying that was unintentional

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yea Wideman is a piece of shit

if anyone is familiar with my NHL narratives, i'm sure you'll know how i feel about that incident...

Re: The NHL Thread
 

You mean the game the Caps won 8-0?


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Re: The NHL Thread
 

Looking at the EC playoffs how it stands right now is what all the teams will looks like come playoff time. Florida, Detroit, Tampa from Atlantic. Washington, NYR, NYI from Metro. Bruins & Pens WC. I could def see Bruins or Pens sneaking into top 3 for sure


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Re: The NHL Thread
 

Penguins are quietly playing great hockey recently & have the 2nd most efficient Power Play since mid-December

staying under the radar will be the tricky part. the quieter the better for the Pens

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It was actually 8-2, but whatever.

Enjoy those zero Stanley Cups.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

In the West the Hawks, Stars & Blues are pretty close to locks. I could for sure see the Preds getting hot again and taking a top 3 spot from Stars or Blues. You would have to think Pekka is going to have some positive regression to the norm. He really hasn't had a good season at all thus far. Get Johansen & Neal going and they're going to be pretty Dynamic together. Still a lot to be desired from Ribero, Forsberg, Smith and Fisher.

Blues should be getting Allen and Schwartz back shortly after the break. Fabbri is certainly starting to heat up and could see his way in top 6 even with Schwartz back.

Stars just aren't all there. No production from Seguin or Klingberg as of late. Team needs to find a balanced attack. Though they've been getting good production from bottom 6 during this rough streak.

Wild will probably be the 8th seed though I could see Avs giving them a run if Varly continues his stellar play. But the Avs lines need to start contributing and clicking. Not sure why you split up Landy-Mackinnon-Duchenw line but if you do you got to make sure you get production.


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Re: The NHL Thread
 

Enjoy golf in April. Should be a fantastic time


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Re: The NHL Thread
 

And I'm not going to touch the Pacific because that division is a god damn mess.

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Wouldn't you guys know that just as well?

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:lol Flyers-Caps banter is more entertaining than i thought it would be

clearly a heated rivalry :rolleyes

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I love the Flyers and Caps. First two Stanley Cups I witnessed were because of both of them.

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I think we just don't like Brohan. Barbs is cool.

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Agreed, though I do not think the Preds have the talent to make a deep run in the playoffs. Truthfully, I think (barring a fluke) we will see another LA/CHI conference final in the west.

As for the east, it is gonna be another battle. Have to believe the teams with the best chance at making deep playoff runs would be the Rangers, Capitals, Islanders, Bolts and Red Wings. No predictions on a conference final matchup though. :)

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Preds certainly don't have that much to offer in making a conference run but I do fell like there's plenty of talent on that team to cause some havoc. Getting production from Ekholm certainly helps.

Kings have the ability to go to the conference finals but they're a piece or two away from making a huge splash. Muzzin has certainly helped as of late from the blue line. Kings will be the biggest players at the deadline for sure from the West.

Hawks will need to make a play for a blue liner and a bottom 6 center I believe but tough to see them going all out.

As for the East it's going to be Caps & ????? Really tough to say who the other team will be. Caps will be active at the deadline for sure. Laich, Latta will be the ones to go I believe. I think Richards for sure would be a better option than those two. Caps will get get a solid winger come deadline. Could be a top 6 guy to move Burakovsky down. Caps will also get another solid blue liner. Schmidt has been playing well but hard to imagine Chorney will be there come May.

Rest of East is full of teams with lost identities, won't know what will happen until March


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Re: The NHL Thread
 

My Wings have the talent and the goaltending for it but they can't seem to get it all going in the same direction long enough, at least as of right now.

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Once again I agree on most of that though I do not think the Hawks have to make any moves really unless it is a rental. Kruger should be back come playoff time for the fourth line and can split duties with Panik or Rasmussin. As for their blue line guys, I have complete faith in Keith, Seabrook, Hjalmarsson, TVR, Scuderi and Gustafsson to set up the offense and contribute some points. I like the fact that Rozsival is a big guy who can hit hard but when it comes to passing, putting pucks on net for rebounds or playing shutdown D he cannot hold a candle to the rest of the guys I mentioned. Also, both Toews and Hossa are great at getting back quick to help out on D - true two way players.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Do you see Kane/Panarin/Anisimov carry the scoring? As long as Crawford stays healthy Hawks will be there. Crawford I think has the edge on Holtby for Vezina TBH, he's been carrying the Hawks just as much as Kane.

Something you really need to look at though is can Kane keep up the production? He's hitting territory this year he has never contributed. As long as he still has that chip on his shoulder I think he can succeed


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Re: The NHL Thread
 

John Scott opened up about the All Star debacle. So good.

http://www.theplayerstribune.com/a-guy-like-me/

EDIT: Screw you, NHL.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Yeah, the NHL has looked completely awful in this whole thing.

I'm really hoping Scott just gets fed pass after pass in one of his games.

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I want a Scott all-start jersey cause fuck the NHL on this.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Yeah, I do think the Anisimov line can keep up the scoring, the more they play together the better they get. Honestly I can't think of a more formidable line in the whole NHL. Panarin and Kane seem to read each others minds and Anisimov is probably the most underrated center in the league - only because he plays on that line. Thing is they don't have to carry the team so to speak. Recently the Hawks have been getting a lot more production out of the Toews/Hossa/Shaw line and Teravainen is turning into a star and anchoring that 3rd line.

As for Kane, he may drop off a bit but not much - having Panarin and Anisimov with him up top along with Seabrook and TVR supporting him I really believe he can keep up this pace, maybe not quite as many points but I do not see some dramatic drop off at all in his play.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

This'll be a top seller.

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Such a great article.

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T-Shirts are out of stock.

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Brilliant piece. Quickly gaining a lot of respect for John Scott which I never thought would happen. Seriously, screw you, NHL. Of course his kids will be proud, as they should be.

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The NHL shouldn't get a dime from his All-Star merchandise sales.

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His little girl wearing his Sharks jersey and the tutu...hilarious and cute.

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Came here to post this. Great article. NHL has done a lot of controversial stuff over the past 10 years and I believe they get away and a lot of it gets unnoticed because the media focuses more on Football and Basketball


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Re: The NHL Thread
 

Could be a difficult one. I doubt NHL prints enough for the run. They will probably purposefully only run the bare minimum


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Re: The NHL Thread
 

Think I'm going to pull the trigger on the Doughty one right now. Those look sharper than I remember.

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I'm gonna order a Chinese Scott All-Star jersey because extra fuck the NHL.

I don't want them to get money from my purchase. Counterfeit it is.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

I'm not ordering a single piece of official NHL merch.