BS: NHL Reg Season '09-'010

Subject: BS: NHL Reg Season '09-'010
From: wysiwyg
Date: 09 Oct 09 - 09:47 AM

Every dumbass commentator is calling this 09-oh10, so what the f*ck. I may as well.

I'm suggesting a different focus this year for our all-year hockey thread. The tone (for those of you new to Mudcat-style hockey threads) has always been to respect one another's teams while still calling it as we see it for our own teams. We don't usually go much for the trash-talk of denigrating each other's teams. We DO bemoan our OWN teams' foibles.

And that is why I feel perfectly comfortable focusing this year on the many ways in which our Penguins SUCK. Yes, there is all the skill, talent, great coaching, great organization, etc. But I still see the places where they need to grow.

And THAT is why I can easily say, after seeing two RS games, that there is NO WAY they could have beaten the Wings last year if the Wings had been equally healthy (or the Pens equally banged up). Because the Pens I'm seeing in THIS game (we're a few behind on our DVR due to MIL visit) are more in love with having lucked into the Cup last year than with being able to win the Cup. They are not as focused as they SAY they are, on winning it again. They're still coasting too much (as individual players) on the heady magic of their talent. They don't yet see it as a JOB.

[rant off]

So there! How does YOUR team suck this year (or habitually)?

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: NHL Reg Season '09-'010
From: Michael Harrison
Date: 09 Oct 09 - 01:07 PM

Well, it's about damned time, Susan. I've been waiting to get going and I assure you that I will refresh this thread prn in order to keep it in our faces and quickly accessable to comments.

The first thing to write is that I agree with your assessment of the Pens winning the cup, in part, because the Wings were so banged up - we Winged folk didn't even know how much the team was damaged until it was all over and the truth of the injuries came out. But, hey, being healthy and/or injured is part of the game and you just have to deal with it - win or lose.

As for my guys,...hmmm, well, as far as I'm concerned we are in trouble for this year; but, again, I'm not maintaining a locker at The Joe, and Babcock still doesn't call me, so...

But, I do think that we have a big problem in the net. Ozzy will be fine, but I'm in the camp that does not think that Jimmy Howard will get it done, and, I'm also very disappointed that they were not able to find a way to keep Ty Conklin - I really like him.

Our penalty killing has been especially bad going back to last year and that needs to be addressed BIG TIME. I've seen all three of their games this year and the two that were played in Sweden left me wondering if there were "fake" Wings on the ice - I just didn't see that crisp puck-control and they seemed so slow; however, game #3, last night at The Joe saw the guys emerge a-new and they beat Chicago in a very good game, so...

Hey! Life's good - hockey is back. GO RED WING!............mwh

Subject: RE: BS: NHL Reg Season '09-'010
From: wysiwyg
Date: 09 Oct 09 - 08:59 PM

LOL, where the hell have YOU been then? :~)

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: NHL Reg Season '09-'010
From: Michael Harrison
Date: 10 Oct 09 - 12:52 AM

...well, I've been hanging around, but last year I started a hockey thread because I couldn't find the other one, and as I recall, I was sort of called to the carpet for it - so this year I thought it wise to just wait it out with certainty that it would show up.

More bad news for my Wings - Franzen has a torn ACL and will be out until mid-January and that is going to really hurt. Enjoy the weekend hockey and we'll chat down the road. Cheers,.........mwh

Subject: RE: BS: NHL Reg Season '09-'010
From: Beer
Date: 10 Oct 09 - 08:35 AM

Hay Michael, just finished reading on the Franzen injury. That is some blow. There is no one in the organization that they can bring up to replace this quality player. But it will give management time to have a good look at whoever they insert in the vacant spot than get rid of. Abdelkader has never impressed me. I hope I'm wrong.
"Go Wings GO".
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Subject: RE: BS: NHL Reg Season '09-'010
From: wysiwyg
Date: 10 Oct 09 - 10:27 PM

Pens are vulnerable in ways they do not even begin to realize. One way is for opponents not only yo draw penalties on them, but draw 'em intentionally on our penalty killers. We're already vulnerable on PP, so if our best P-killer is in the box, it might as well be a 5 on 3.

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: NHL Reg Season '09-'010
From: Michael Harrison
Date: 10 Oct 09 - 10:39 PM

Beer - nice to hear from a fellow Wing-nut! I'm not sure about Abdelkader either, but he did score a couple of needed goals in the finals last year; we'll have to wait and see. There's a nice little bit in today's on-line Freep about May and his new Red Wing number -
and the one he would like to have. Cheers,..............mwh

Subject: RE: BS: NHL Reg Season '09-'010
From: Rapparee
Date: 10 Oct 09 - 10:55 PM

Ah, it's time for Fighting On Skates again!

Subject: RE: BS: NHL Reg Season '09-'010
From: 3refs
Date: 11 Oct 09 - 08:28 AM

Even though the "Broad Street Bullies" have moved to Toronto and become the "Bay St Bullies", the Leafs still suck.

I read an article recently that selected the top 100 sports team logos. They were chosen from all sports including the professional ranks, as well as amature, high school, college and university teams. 3 N.H.L. teams made the top 10 list. Some of you will be happy to know your team was #2, with Chicago Black Hawks being #1.

Subject: RE: BS: NHL Reg Season '09-'010
From: wysiwyg
Date: 11 Oct 09 - 09:41 AM

I have written several really good posts over the years here about fighting in hockey, but I'm tired or re-stating them. This year, the first thing I noticed about the fighting in hockey (courtesy of one of our rivals' behavior in their own building) was that with a hockey ticket-- YOU GET TWO SPORTS IN ONE EVENING with one ticket, one dinner out, one babysitter, etc etc etc.

And fans like it. Tough! :~)

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: NHL Reg Season '09-'010
From: Beer
Date: 11 Oct 09 - 10:06 AM

Michael, my thoughts on number 24 is that yes it should be hoisted to the rafters. Chris Chelios hated by many, including myself when he played for the Canadians turned his game completely around when he went to the Wings. His contribution should never be forgotten.
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Subject: RE: BS: NHL Reg Season '09-'010
From: Michael Harrison
Date: 12 Oct 09 - 12:14 AM

Beer - I, too, would be happy to see Chelly up in the rafters; after all, he spent ten years with the Wings, and frankly, I just love the guy. According to what I read on the Freep page this morning - May called and asked Chelly if it would be o.k. if he (May) wore #24 and Chelios said it would be fine, no problem.

Just an observation here: the family has switched from cable to the
AT&T "U-Verse" set-up for t.v. and internet and we've found that we can get several hockey games a week - including the Red Wings. The other day I was cruising to see what was on and I found a "Classic
Hockey" game on one of the channels - Chicago Blackhawks were playing the Red Wings at the old Olympia. WOW! Howe, Lindsay, Delvecchio(sp), Hull, Hall, Mikita were all playing and the year was 1965. There were several interesting things to observe about the game but the stand-out feature was the complete lack of helmets and/or face masks except for one player - and he was a very young forward.

Kelly and I noticed that there was not a lot of fighting and what fighting did occur was brief and not so intense as it can be today.
We discussed it and concluded that if the players of today didn't have so much body protection they may not play quite as aggressively and might just be not so quick to start a fight; but, then again?

Cheers from Hockeytown South,...............................mwh

Subject: RE: BS: NHL Reg Season '09-'010
From: wysiwyg
Date: 12 Oct 09 - 11:32 AM

We grew up with those Hawks! Oh man.....

Not only the body armor, but the beefed-up muscles and the big bones of today's huge players-- just like a handgun built on a large frame absorbs a lot of kick, so too the larger bodies handle impact differently than small bodies.

I don't doubt the glass/boards systems' technology has changed a lot since the old days, too, to absorb some of the shock. See the way the glass waves around the arena when there's a hit.

In the game we saw last night, we wanted to know the answer to the joking question of the commentators-- when your guy is hit on accident by a TEAMMATE, does the hit register in the stats, and can there be a penalty? :~)

Or, didja ever see 2 current teammates drop the gloves on each other? I'd think the goalie might occasionally like to nail one of his own guys, and vice versa.

~Susan

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: NHL Reg Season '09-'010
From: Rapparee
Date: 12 Oct 09 - 02:05 PM

Heck, I'll just wait until the streets ice up and go watch the fights outside the Green Tee or the Hi-Ho Bar.

Subject: RE: BS: NHL Reg Season '09-'010
From: 3refs
Date: 13 Oct 09 - 09:46 AM

"We discussed it and concluded that if the players of today didn't have so much body protection they may not play quite as aggressively and might just be not so quick to start a fight; but, then again?"

"Or, didja ever see 2 current teammates drop the gloves on each other?" Yes! During practice, lots of them! And one of the worst offenders I ever had as a team mate was a goalie!

It's body armor period! I've preached this for years(to those who listen)!

Although I haven't rid myself of my golfing weight(255lbs), I'm still dwarfed by players who weight 100lbs lighter than me because of the equipment they wear.

This past weekend, I officiated in a tourny here in Orillia. Bantam aged players, 15-16 yrs old. They have no fear of injuring their opponents and no respect for the officials. At the end of the Championship game(Orillia vs Fort Erie), there was a two separated fights that started. As officials, we are not to break up fights alone. "Wait for your partner". As two of the players were getting pummeled, I stepped in to separate one fight and my oldest son took the other. BIG MISTAKE! A third man jumped into my fight and then a fourth jumped on him. Now I'm trying to separate four players who are all throwing hay makers with their gloves still on. I probably got punched in the head 6-8 times. Now in cases such as this one, the Referee's job is to stand back, with his riot pad in hand, and start taking numbers. He was too busy holding back the benches, because we were very close to a bench clearing battle. So, those that should have had the rule book shoved up their asses got away with most of what they did on the ice. Now we get one team off the ice and they remain outside their dressing room waiting for the other team. "Get in your room", was met with F-this, F-that, Suck my ----, F-you. In all my years of hockey, 45+, I'm not sure I was ever so close to loosing it!
Welcome to another season of minor hockey!(maybe my last)

Subject: RE: BS: NHL Reg Season '09-'010
From: wysiwyg
Date: 13 Oct 09 - 10:22 AM

[hysterical laffing]

OK-- trying to get serious-- Are you saying that some of the fighting in hockey stems from TEENAGE HORMONES????

(And thus is it possible that some of the lack of respect mirrors the societal trend to treat kids as adults?????)

And then when they grow up to play in the NHL they fight!?!?!?!? THERE's a shock, eh.

(I actually never thought of that!)


Hardi will LOVE LOVE LOVE your description above.

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: NHL Reg Season '09-'010
From: Beer
Date: 13 Oct 09 - 10:37 AM

Well I'm not laughing at all and I don't think that 3refs meant it to be as a laughing matter. My grand son of 10 took a deliberate slash behind the knee on Saturday. Yes the kid got two minutes but it should have went further in that the child who did the deliberate slash should have met with both coaches and my grand son(grand son aside.) after the game.
ad.

Subject: RE: BS: NHL Reg Season '09-'010
From: wysiwyg
Date: 13 Oct 09 - 12:09 PM

What's funny about it is-- if you have raised boys, this kind of stuff goes on all the time.

Of course it's NOT funny as hockey ed, or for 3refs to have had a hard time.

What else is funny about it (to me) is that with strokebrain, I had forgotten some of the more memorable boy-romps at my house when I added a new stepbrother to a houseful of boys and their rowdy uncles. Who one day tossed a wayward lad into the shower to cool him down, all in good, rowdy fun which changed incipient REAL violence to comedy.

In strokebrain, the post above drew me a quick picture of Jarkko Ruutu tossing a wayward lad into a shower. It cracked me up before I could take it apart to articulate it HERE. (So sue me)

I like to define for myself what is funny-- don't we all? :~)

Unrepentantly busy,

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: NHL Reg Season '09-'010
From: wysiwyg
Date: 13 Oct 09 - 12:24 PM

... or for a kid to get HURT. NOt funny.

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: NHL Reg Season '09-'010
From: Beer
Date: 13 Oct 09 - 09:59 PM

We sure took a shit kicking tonight Michael.
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Subject: RE: BS: NHL Reg Season '09-'010
From: Michael Harrison
Date: 14 Oct 09 - 01:44 PM

You know, Beer, I think we're in for a long season - they looked so bad last night that the Griffins might have kicked their ass. Yeah, that was terrible and disgusting and rotten and sickening all wrapped up in one and very hard to swallow; but, I took a moment out to recall the drubbing we handed Patrick Roy and the Avalanche in the playoffs a few years back 7-0 - Wings! I guess anyone can do anything on any given night, but still, I don't like the looks of this team right now at all. One of my favorite Irish bands is a group called, Three Men and a Dog, and last night that's what our guys looked like - even Lids stunk up the ice, and that's rare.
We'll get 'em next time. GO RED WINGS! Cheers,.............mwh

Subject: RE: BS: NHL Reg Season '09-'010
From: Michael Harrison
Date: 14 Oct 09 - 11:50 PM

Stars beat the Preds tonight and that's a good thing for the Wings because they live on our block - any time someone from out block loses it's a good thing, but 6-0? Seems to be a lot of goals scored early on this year; I've not kept track over the years, but is this a normal thing for early in the season or are the goalies napping? Cheers,....mwh

Subject: RE: BS: NHL Reg Season '09-'010
From: meself
Date: 14 Oct 09 - 11:53 PM

Okay, to cheer everybody up - I'm not much of a hockey fan, but check out this nine-year-old from Maine.

That's right: nine years old. Keep your eye on him.

Subject: RE: BS: NHL Reg Season '09-'010
From: 3refs
Date: 15 Oct 09 - 07:24 AM

The Leafs still suck!!!

Subject: RE: BS: NHL Reg Season '09-'010
From: Beer
Date: 18 Oct 09 - 10:56 PM

Wasn't a shit kicking last night but the wings sure did blow one.
"Go Wings", in the right direction.
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Subject: RE: BS: NHL Reg Season '09-'010
From: Michael Harrison
Date: 21 Oct 09 - 12:45 AM

Just thought I'd refresh this thing before it disappears.
Beer - yeah, you are right, that was a tough one to lose, unfortunately, I'd bet that there will be many of those this year that will end up able to go either way. Hold on to your horses - could be a bouncy ride this year. Cheers,................mwh

Subject: RE: BS: NHL Reg Season '09-'010
From: Michael Harrison
Date: 29 Oct 09 - 01:42 AM

Well, here's a refreshing thought - the Red Wings finally won a road game and Datsyuk got two goals tonight. Wings win 5-4 over Luongo and company. YAAAAAY! Go Red Wings. Cheers,..............Michael

Subject: RE: BS: NHL Reg Season '09-'010
From: wysiwyg
Date: 29 Oct 09 - 08:51 AM

They never truly disappear. I'll tend it more closely, too, as soon as the dogfencing and funerals here end.

GO PENS!

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: NHL Reg Season '09-'010
From: Michael Harrison
Date: 31 Oct 09 - 12:43 AM

Funerals here, too - not a happy thing, for sure. Love to all, sometimes we really need it. GO RED WINGS! Cheers,............mwh

Subject: RE: BS: NHL Reg Season '09-'010
From: wysiwyg
Date: 31 Oct 09 - 10:47 AM

Aw, nice. Hardi's out doing two today (masked, with swine flu), while others are taking the weekend's scheduled services. That means the two patients here will be able to watch a game, live, tonight, for a change.

Last night the Pens tried to give a game to the Blue Jackets but the BJs declined and handed it back. Could not believe we won it in the last 5 minutes of the game/SO. With many best-players missing. They will have to do it all over again tonight.

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: NHL Reg Season '09-'010
From: 3refs
Date: 31 Oct 09 - 01:16 PM

"Hello, Canada, and hockey fans in the United States and Newfoundland."

Tonight is a Canadian Classic!

The Leafs still suck!!!!!

Subject: RE: BS: NHL Reg Season '09-'010
From: wysiwyg
Date: 31 Oct 09 - 04:13 PM

Does anyone know where Mike Zigomanis went? Google fails me.

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: NHL Reg Season '09-'010
From: Michael Harrison
Date: 07 Nov 09 - 11:09 AM

Well, here's another refresher - Wings beat Sharks at the Joe 2-1 in a shootout with Datsyuk and Zetterberg both scoring on Nabby to win it. Wings played well for the entire game.

My birthday is coming up and I've got a Red Wing sweater coming with name and number on it just in time for the December and January games with the Stars at the A2C in Dallas. Much fun. GO RED WINGS!

Subject: RE: BS: NHL Reg Season '09-'010
From: Beer
Date: 07 Nov 09 - 11:49 AM

Watched the game thanks to bobad who sent me a web site that I can get the Wings every time they play. Helm was something in that game eh! What speed and he is just getting healthy.
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Subject: RE: BS: NHL Reg Season '09-'010
From: Michael Harrison
Date: 07 Nov 09 - 07:07 PM

Beer - thanks for the tip on the website, you never know when it'll come in handy. We've got this AT&T thing down here called, U-Verse and we get FSD (Fox Sports Detroit) but we don't get the games. We get the pre/post game shows but not the actual game; which, would stink if not for the fact that they rebroadcast the game later that night, so I tape it and watch it in the morning with all of the ability to rewind, replay, pause, etc.

You're right, Helm played very well. I'm not as worried as some of the Freep readers up north - I think the guys are going to be just fine; it's a new and different team from last year and they are working the kinks out while sticking to the system that has kept this ship sailing so well for so long.

GO RED WINGS - RAKE THOSE LEAVES TONIGHT! Cheers,..........mwh

Subject: RE: BS: NHL Reg Season '09-'010
From: wysiwyg
Date: 07 Nov 09 - 07:25 PM

Pens have really looked lackluster without Malkin, Gonchar, Kennedy, and Talbot. The scoring is there, but not the sparkle.

Lucky they're doiong as well as they are with no POWER PLAY! I suppose I should be grateful there haven' been a slew of shorties....

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: NHL Reg Season '09-'010
From: GUEST,3refs
Date: 08 Nov 09 - 07:01 AM

The Leafs don't suck quite as much today!

Subject: RE: BS: NHL Reg Season '09-'010
From: Beer
Date: 08 Nov 09 - 07:49 AM

That's because they played a junior team last night. What a disgrace for the wings. Plus another serious injury.
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Subject: RE: BS: NHL Reg Season '09-'010
From: GUEST,jts
Date: 08 Nov 09 - 10:36 AM

Having completely given up on the Ottawa Senators, I decided to give two teams a chance, Carolina and Pittsburgh. Carolina because they play 120 miles away in Raleigh. Pittsburgh because they are the most exciting team with the most exciting young players.

Carolina is dead last in the league. Pittsburgh is tied for first in the conference. Rumors of Penguin demise seem exaggerated.

Subject: RE: BS: NHL Reg Season '09-'010
From: GUEST,jts
Date: 08 Nov 09 - 10:38 AM

Leafs fans should cheer long and hard every time they beat the Wings. After all, how many chances will they get to do that?

Subject: RE: BS: NHL Reg Season '09-'010
From: Beer
Date: 08 Nov 09 - 12:16 PM

If what I'm reading is correct, the Leafs and Wings are finished playing each other for this regular season.
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Subject: RE: BS: NHL Reg Season '09-'010
From: Michael Harrison
Date: 08 Nov 09 - 11:16 PM

Personally, I think that it is just criminal that the "Original Six" teams do not play each other with frequency - much frequency.

Beer - I'm beginning to think that the Wings are this year's Dallas Stars who went from injury to injury to injury last year and then turned around and fired the coach. No, no implication here that Mike will be fired. Dallas brought in a new GM and he appointed his "guy" to the head coaching spot.

~S~ your guys will be o.k., but like the Wings, if "injuryitis" sets in, why it just erodes everything for a year. Cheers,.........mwh

Subject: RE: BS: NHL Reg Season '09-'010
From: wysiwyg
Date: 09 Nov 09 - 09:23 AM

Thanks, MWH, but the suckification is well under way.

Condolences,

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: NHL Reg Season '09-'010
From: GUEST,jts
Date: 09 Nov 09 - 11:45 AM

Are the Wings still among the oldest teams in the league? (average player age)

Subject: RE: BS: NHL Reg Season '09-'010
From: Michael Harrison
Date: 10 Nov 09 - 12:51 AM

GUEST,jts - I do believe that the Wings are one of the oldest teams in the league, but, with young guys like Helm, Abdelkader, Ericksson, Leino and some others, I think we'll be in the hunt for quite a while yet to come. On the other side, Datsyuk and Zetterberg are not exactly in wheelchairs, nor is Cleary. I like our mixture of youth and age (experience) and believe that maintaining that balance is part of keeping a winning tradition going,...we'll see. GO RED WINGS!.........................mwh

Subject: RE: BS: NHL Reg Season '09-'010
From: Michael Harrison
Date: 17 Nov 09 - 10:37 PM

Had to refresh this before it got lost.
~S~ I read today that the Pens lost another player to injury - seems like "injury" is like a virus going around the NHL these days. Well, let's all keep our collective chins up for fewer injuries and some great hockey. Cheers,...GO RED WINGS!.....................mwh

Subject: RE: BS: NHL Reg Season '09-'010
From: wysiwyg
Date: 18 Nov 09 - 12:28 PM

Thanks, MWH. We get one back though. After getting another one back last couple of games-- which got us back on the woin and off the PP schneid.

ALL the guys coming back are the sparkle players.

Look out now!

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: NHL Reg Season '09-'010
From: wysiwyg
Date: 19 Nov 09 - 04:22 PM

We get another coupla sparklers back tonight (Talbot, Gonchar), but another two are freshly down and out. Farm team D's are doing great, fortunately.

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: NHL Reg Season '09-'010
From: Beer
Date: 19 Nov 09 - 10:35 PM

Well i came close. I picked the Sens as a 6-4 winner against the Pens.

Here is a question which I'm sure has a simple answer but i do not know it.

If I score on my own goaltender, do i get a point for that terrible afford? Or does it go to the last player on the other team who touched the puck? I'm not kidding, I really don't know the answer. Who gets the point??
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Subject: RE: BS: NHL Reg Season '09-'010
From: Beer
Date: 20 Nov 09 - 08:52 AM

Are they F....ing blind in Toronto where they review goals?????
What a terrible call. The score was 2-1 at the time for Dallas. This goal would have tied the game and the end results could very well have been different. I will never again trust their decision.
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