EHM The Blue Line

I have watched every Pens game this year and cant believe how bad the D is. Outside of Crosby(who has been unbelieveable in passing and drawing penalties) Palffy, Rechi, Malone(sometimes) and Fata the fowards havent been much better. Im glad now that they did not bring up Fleury because it is getting ugly and dont want him to be overwhelmed with how bad the D is. They seem to turn the puck over consistently in their own end, cant hit the big pass, and worst of all not only take bad penalties but take the most penalties when they are already down one man. I used to think that it would get better and the Pens might be able to make a run for the last seed in the East. But now that even seems less likely because they have to overhaul the whole defensive unit. It is a shame with all the hype in the city because of Crosby is starting to fade and might cost the Pens a new arena and eventually in 2007 a move to become the Portland Penguins. Just had to rant for they are driving me crazy. I feel like

I hear ya amigo and I feel your pain for sure. I've seen I think it's three Pens games now and yeah I think it's even more baffling because 'on paper' they should be so much better at least on offense. I was watching that game tonight and I was amazed at how absolutely brutal Mario looked out there. The announcers were obviously giving him a pass. While I was watching though he had four passes that could have set up prime scoring chances and not only did he not complete them, they weren't even close He looked very large and very slow... I wonder if it's lack of chemistry with all the changes and hype.

I know Eddie's a really good guy from his time in Chicago but I wonder if he's simply overmatched going from being a teaching/rebuilding coach to then having all the aquisitions and hype/expectations. Someone else I know from Chicago is Thibault though I can't say I have as much/any faith in him. Every game I've seen him play just reminds me why his detractors here used to call him Thibound.

He is one of those guys that once one thing goes wrong it immediately leads to four more and he can't seem to pull it back around until he really hits bottom and/or gets injured. The good thing is that when he is going well he can be awesome but the bad thing is he's not one of those guys that 'shakes off' bad games and comes back out next time like it never happened. That's a real problem for Pitt at this point.
As for the penalty parade it's the same story that is driving me insane here in Chicago They've been on eighteen 5 on 3 disadvantages already They have a rash of injuries and even before that they inexplicably have shown zero ability to finish. Someone finally makes a play and there's a breakaway that find the stick of.... Jim Dowd

I'll join you in rocking slowly back and forth as I mutter to myself 'It's a long season... it's along season'

Ouch Chicago then you do know the pain im going through. Ive watched a couple Chicago games this year and Khbibulian did not look to good. I think he will come around just taking some time to adjust. How has Daze looked this year? One more thing I could never understand is that Chicago is one of the biggest cities but has so much trouble selling hockey tickets why is that? Just too many teams or what. Those were not encouraging words about Thibault as I did not get to see much of him before the lock-out but since he has been in Pittsburgh he has been the third best goalie on the team. Caron even looked better than him in the couple of games he played in. The best goalie we got is in the minors. Fleury had the best pre-season and has a good enough glove to play shortstop for the Pirates(yes another bad Pittsburgh team). I do feel bad for Eddie O. you can just see that this pains him to watch how bad the team is doing. I agree about Lemieux. He has looked horrible early on even missing open nets and making bad passes. But it is a long season...a very long season

A "Dam they suck" thread

So we hear about the Pens and the Hawks. Let me tell you about "my" Devils.

A 4-4 record isn't very impressive at this moment, if you're lokking at the past 5 seasons Devils Hockey.
Also a .500 isn't that bad either if you're looking at other teams. But when you're losing to the Canes 1-6 and the Rangers 1-5 it IS bad.

Ok, the defense lost Niedermayer and Stevens. But the "replacements" Matvichuk and McGillis look not very mobile
Also the cornerstone of devils hockey, marty brodeur, is shaky at this stage.

Offense: without the leading scorer of the past 4 seasons (elias) they are really struggling. also they cut friesen cause the CBA. the only bright hopes on offense so far - Brian Gionta and (i hate me to say that) Sergei Brylin.

Not only a long season in Chicago and Pittsburgh....also in New Jersey

Wohoo! Washington is not the crappiest!

Caps exceed all expectations! Fans go WILD!!