EHM The Blue Line

Rags need more scoring. They have just one guy (Zherdev, 25pts) in the top-50 points getter, tied for 22nd. And they have just one guy (Näslund, 10 goals) with 10+ goals, tied for 38th. In their own end, they have Lundqvist over 92%, so there's few room to improve there.

And if you look at the team stats, the Blue Shirts are 29th with an average of 2.41 GF/G. 6th defense with 2.48 GA/G. A weak powerplay at 15.4% (22nd) and the best penalty kill (90.1%). So clearly, their problem is to score goals. They have the occasions though, being ranked 4th in the league with 32.6 shots per game, but they don't convert their chances.

Toews just scored a stunning goal against the Red Wings.
I've been enjoying watching the Blackhawks this season, they play some good attacking hockey.

Toews has a knack for quality goals. Did he get Goal of the Year for his effort against the Avs last year? And as for Wings, as said before, poor goaltending, 3 more goals in the first period. That's 8 goals in their last 4 periods.

EDIT: And another at the start of the 2nd.

Watching the Kings game now, Staples Center is looking very empty.

Blackhawks are having an absolute stormer tonight, 6-0 against Phoenix after just 25 minutes of play.

Edit: Make that 7-0.

And yet they keep Bryzgalov in the goal still...

VER STEEG VER STEEG VER STEEG.

batdad wrote:VER STEEG VER STEEG VER STEEG.

I still can't believe the Bruins gave him up for Bochenski of all people.

Did anybody see the Edmonton @ San Jose game the other day? What a strange game! Apart from watching game highlights, that was the first Shark game I've seen this season. darn, they're incredible! They play so offensively - and for the entire game. Their stamina is unreal.

In the first period, the Sharks had 16 shots to the Oilers' one. But all importantly, that one shot was a goal. It finished 2-2 with 43 shots to 17. Edmonton still managed to score two goals despite so few shots. The Sharks threw it away by taking a penalty in OT.

It was nice to see the Bruins play well for a full 60 minutes the other day at Florida. And even against Tampa they came out and had a good start - though things got closer as the game progressed.

Hey, Can anyone explain tome what happen with Sakic?
Here in Brasil we aren't used to snow machines that eat fingers. ':-D'

Denver Colorado gets a ton of snow. He had some kind of accident using it. Gotta love a millionaire that does his own yard work. Unless of course..you are an Av's fan, or have the old bugger in your hockey pool. Same age as me, and I hated him as a kid...grew up with him...I was soooooo jealous. Now, I have fingers and he does not. So I can type on this board, and Joe well...not so much.

Batdad = not very nice...

Has he really lost some fingers?

Just broken them

So batdad, did you know Sakic when you grew up?

Yeah I knew him. I played against him for years growing up. AT least I tried to.

Anyway, I should have pointed out he still has fingers...just that they don't work and mine do. I had good hands as a kid on the ice, but not as good as his. For the first time ever I can say I have better hands than Joe.

Has anyone seen the Islanders-Penguins game? Were the Penguins too good or the Islanders too bad?

4 different players had hattricks this night!

Rangers coming back from 1-5 to 5-5

8-5 Devils now!

What a game!

Looks like the Stars are trying to fill the now "released" Avery gap by trading for Brian Sutherby from the Ducks.

http://ducks.nhl.com/team/app/?service= ... eid=398071

Slightly OT, but didn't think it was worth it own thread...

Danny Gare is such a tool as a broadcaster. I normally just try to blot out his inane drivel, but I'm watching the Jackets/Hawks game I just heard him say and I quote..."you have to play a zone 1-on-1..." Must be a new type of defensive scheme where you play man-on-man but but in zone coverage. Hard to believe he wasn't successful as a coach. Honestly, I think my brain is bleeding.

At least they traded Dan Fritsche so we never have to hear "FRITSCHE'S FEELIN' ITCHY!!"" ever again

For those who may be stuck watching these broadcasts on Center Ice, I sincerely apologize and I hope that you do not use the Incredible Mr. Gare as a barometer of Ohioans or Jackets fans in general. I've been trying to find an e-mail address or even a snail-mail addy to send my complaints to Fox Sports Ohio, but they seem to be hiding it.

MAts Sundin....Vancouver Canuck. Huh? What?

Sedin-Sedin-Hansen
Demitra-Sundin-Wellwood/Raymond
Burrows-Kesler-Bernier
Hordichuk-Ryan Johnson-Wellwood/Raymond
Mike Brown-Taylor Pyatt

Mitchell-Bieksa
Ohlund-Edler
Salo (if healthy, yeah sure)-O'Brien
Davison-some other guy

Luongo

That is one hell of a roster.

Oh and the Canucks will have 2 million (pro rated) or so left at the Trade Deadline to go after someone who is selling a player. Um...That translates to approx a 5-6 million dollar player who is due to be UFA at the end of the season.

So...

Sedin-Sedin-Hansen
Demitra-Sundin-Whoever at deadline
Burrows-Kesler-Bernier
Raymond-Wellwood-Pyatt
Hordichuck-Johnson-Brown

WOW! All you have to do is look at the number of Canucks taken in the hockey pool and you know they are a contender if they stay healthy.

Sedin, Sedin, HAnsen, Demitra, Sundin, Burrows,KEsler, Bernier, Raymond, Wellwood, Salo, Ohlund, Mitchell, Bieksa, Edler, O'Brien, Luongo (and while injured his backup)

Not many other teams with that many guys taken in the pool. And the pool is that darn big. And Pyatt is shut out right now from anyone's roster.

This team was already competing with Detroit (2-1-1) and have yet to play San Jose...

THey are tied for 1st in the division without Sundin and without Luongo for the last month.

Now...before anyone says they have trouble scoring...they are 8th in the NHL in Goals For. So I guess 21 other teams have trouble....


Now...what will go wrong?

I am going to absolutely die of laughter if the Canucks fail to make the playoffs now

Meh...if they miss the playoffs...they miss the playoffs. Mats is an addition that on paper makes the team much better. It is a surprise to most he came here.

To add this to a team that has played without their #1 goalie for a month now, and had been criticized for not being able to score (even though 8th in the league) definitely makes people take notice.

Now...if they miss...there is a reason. Most likely that reason will be mishandling the d-core of this team, in terms of moving guys out. Or injury. Honestly, they have no excuses for missing now. None.

So...not many will be laughing if they miss. There will be alot of finger pointing though.

That being said...I don't think they will miss. Never did think that. A big test on Saturday vs the SUPERHAWKS!

The real wonder is: how Mats did to wait 5 and a half months to sign for a 10M$ paycheck 2 years in a row. I would have signed straight away Hmm... maybe not for the Nucks though... or maybe... it remains 20M$

Bad jokes apart, if Mats can gel with the team and if the Nucks roster stays healthy, Vancouver has a shot at the Cup. Along with Detroit and San Jose, that's the third Western team with a real shot at the title. Too much for the Eastern teams to win this year? Or just enough to see the Western Conference champion dead tired when the Finals are coming up?

There's a lot of interesting action ahead!

So Mats went for the money then?
I'm a little dissapointed that he did.