the hockey thread

capt. scotty · May 07, 2009, 10:15 PM

Jellyfish · May 08, 2009, 11:11 PM

Canes on a roll,gonna finish off the Bruins sunday! :)

capt. scotty · May 08, 2009, 11:13 PM

Fuck Ovechkin.

I have never had a problem with him before tonight, but he clearly straightens out and locks his leg, then extends it so its going to hit Gonchar in his knee area. His body is not going to hit Gonchar, just his leg. Dirty as fuck.

Great players dont pull shit like that. I dont care if Gretzky, Mario, etc. werent as physical as Ovie, you dont do shit like that to players, especially an all star caliber player like Gonchar.

The last couple games the Pens have made Ovie look like what he is - a guy who takes more shots than he pisses that day, but outside of that and checking people, dude has no game. Crosby and Malkin are both better all around players, and if anyone questions that, the only hockey they watch is Sportscenter highlights.

Jaimoe · May 08, 2009, 11:47 PM

Greg Millen on the CBC telecast pointed out that Gonchar and Ovechkin are great friends off the ice. He didn't think he went after his knee intentionally. I don't care really. It was a knee-on-knee. I don't think Ovechkin is dirty or two-dimensional. He's one of the most dominant players in the league, but so are Malkin and Crosby. In fact, Crosby and Eric Staal have been the best playoff performers so far this tournament - at least in the East. Fucking Staal killed the Bruins tonight.

I thought the goaltending killed the Caps tonight along with excellent coverage on Ovechkin. I love that that fucker Alex Semin is laying a giant egg in the playoffs. What a guttless piece of shit.

capt. scotty · May 08, 2009, 11:48 PM

I dont want Caps fans to have an excuse if the Pens win this series and Ovechkin got suspended for a game, but he should. He wont be suspended, but he should be.

Ovechkin should probably lead the league in charging penalties, but never gets called for it, then pulls shit like this and plays dumbfounded.

Makes me sick.

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PsIfl9HpPyI[/media]

capt. scotty · May 08, 2009, 11:56 PM

QuoteGreg Millen on the CBC telecast pointed out that Gonchar and Ovechkin are great friends off the ice. He didn't think he went after his knee intentionally. I don't care really. It was a knee-on-knee. I don't think Ovechkin is dirty or two-dimensional. He's one of the most dominant players in the league, but so are Malkin and Crosby. In fact, Crosby and Eric Staal have been the best playoff performers so far this tournament - at least in the East. Fucking Staal killed the Bruins tonight.

I thought the goaltending killed the Caps tonight along with excellent coverage on Ovechkin. I love that that fucker Alex Semin is laying a giant egg in the playoffs. What a guttless piece of shit.

I heard the friends off the ice thing too, but I think once a game is going, Ovechkin throws that out the window. If you saw the games, for the last year and a half until the all star break this year, he aimed for Malkin as much as possible. Who knows why, but they were supposedly better friends than Ovie and Gonch are/were.

I dont think Ovie has built up a reputation as being dirty, but he takes liberties on players/rules and IMO this singular play was dirty and he had intent. He's the best goal scorer in the league, but Ive seen him enough to know those numbers are boosted by wide open left net PP goals (maybe it does take more skill that I see for him to just stand there and have no one within 5 feet of him though).

I disliked Alexander Semen more than Ovie coming into this series, but that changed after tonight.

Sid and EStaal (so much for Chara shutting him down) have owned it so far. Id throw Getzlaf into that conversation as well.

Jaimoe · May 09, 2009, 12:00 AM

I love Getzlaf too. Man, Team Canada will be tough to make for the Olympics: Staal, Crosby and Getzlaf are centres and the brass don't want to move players from their natural position. Guys such as Joe Thornton, Mike Richards and Marc Savard could all be out.

capt. scotty · May 09, 2009, 12:05 AM

QuoteI love Getzlaf too. Man, Team Canada will be tough to make for the Olympics: Staal, Crosby and Getzlaf are centres and the brass don't want to move players from their natural position. Guys such as Joe Thornton, Mike Richards and Marc Savard could all be out.

Every name there is too good to not have on the team though IMO

I think Staal could easily play wing, same with Richards. Thornton and Savard I see as pure Centers.

dont know who else would be on that team, but a top line of Richards-Crosby-Iginla sounds frightening to me.

capt. scotty · May 09, 2009, 12:07 AM

Feel free to reply to that last post, but what are your thoughts on each series, Pens included :)

Ive honestly seen less of Boston-Carolina than anything, this round and last. Seen a good bit of the west series though, especially both rounds for Anaheim.

Jaimoe · May 09, 2009, 12:19 AM

Another centre that should be on the team is Vinnie Lecavalier. Canada is a little weak on the wings. Locks are Iginla, Jeff Carter, Heatley, Nash and Gagne. Doan and Morrow might make up the checking line. Marleau should make it and St. Louis should get some notice (he's great in international play); the wildcard is Stamkos. I think Toews will make the team, but he'll be on the "taxi-squad" along with Corey Perry. I hope Sharpe gets some consideration too.

Our defense and goaltending is excellent though.

BTW, Canada plays the Ruskies on Sunday for the gold in the World Championship final. The US lost on Friday to the Russians on a flukey goal that Radulov (former Nashville star) banked off of a teammates leg. The US plays Sweden for the bronze. I'm pulling for the US.

capt. scotty · May 09, 2009, 12:28 AM

QuoteAnother centre that should be on the team is Vinnie Lecavalier. Canada is a little weak on the wings. Locks are Iginla, Jeff Carter, Heatley, Nash and Gagne. Doan and Morrow might make up the checking line. Marleau should make it and St. Louis should get some notice (he's great in international play); the wildcard is Stamkos. I think Toews will make the team, but he'll be on the "taxi-squad" along with Corey Perry. I hope Sharpe gets some consideration too.
.

So why is Carter, who plays Center, a lock then?! :-?
Aside from that, just like I said I can see Staal or Richards seamlessly playing wing, I can see Carter or Lecavalier doing the same. They all (outside of Richards) seem like they would be best served as winger as opposed to centers.

I think Doan and Morrow (if he's healthy at that point) are musts haves for that team. They bring grit to the table most of the other guys dont. Despite a great season, I can see Marleau not making it, and I think surrounding talent may have caught up with St Louis (although you know more than me as far as his international skills go)

I dont think Toews (yet) or Sharp are on the same level as the rest of these guys. Perry, maybe. Im honestly laughing you mentioned Stamkos making the team when someone like Thornton or Savard wouldnt though.

No comments on the playoffs :'(

Jaimoe · May 09, 2009, 12:44 AM

I'm liking the playoffs. I watch all the series, but focus more on the Bruins-Canes. What a game tonight. The hits were fast and furious and the crowd never stopped. It doesn't hurt as much with the Canes. I like their team. I want the Hawks to win and want the the Ducks to make it to the finals. I hate the Wings.

I enjoyed the Caps-Pens game tonight. Great intensity, but the goaltending took the steam out of the Caps. That team has proven that spotty goaltending shakes their overall approach.

It amazes me that people seem to overlook the fact that Crosby is the best player in the league when he wants to be.

capt. scotty · May 09, 2009, 12:49 AM

QuoteI'm liking the playoffs. I watch all the series, but focus more on the Bruins-Canes. What a game tonight. The hits were fast and furious and the crowd never stopped. It doesn't hurt as much with the Canes. I like their team. I want the Hawks to win and want the the Ducks to make it to the finals. I hate the Wings.

I enjoyed the Caps-Pens game tonight. Great intensity, but the goaltending took the steam out of the Caps. That team has proven that spotty goaltending shakes their overall approach.

It amazes me that people seem to overlook the fact that Crosby is the best player in the league when he wants to be.

Ditto. I honestly might rather see the Wings/Hossa lose than the Pens win (and I dont blame Hossa as much as some)

What bothers me most about how the Pens-Caps series is being publicized is that it is Crosby vs. Ovechkin. Malkin, the guy who won the scoring title, is being thrown to the side like a fat ginger stepchild.

I thought Malkin was the best all around player in the NHL - and when he decides to be (see game 3) - he probably is, but Sid has shown in the playoffs he's the best player in the NHL. He's got 9 goals now. If I had to guess, I'd say thats nearly, if not more than, 1/3 of his regular season total. Crosby is playing lights out every shift

Jaimoe · May 09, 2009, 01:03 AM

The thing that separates Crosby from othre great players is that he plays whatever role the team needs him to play. Right now, they need him to be a scorer, and he's great at it.

All-round? I don't know if Malkin is the best all-round. The criteria for your all-round would probably differ from mine.

capt. scotty · May 09, 2009, 01:08 AM

QuoteThe thing that separates Crosby from othre great players is that he plays whatever role the team needs him to play. Right now, they need him to be a scorer, and he's great at it.

All-round? I don't know if Malkin is the best all-round. The criteria for your all-round would probably differ from mine.

You are about spot on with Crosby. I havent seen him play as much around the net his whole career (and he hasnt had netminded guys like Guerin or Kunitz playing with him either :-?)

Malkin is great all around. In the playoffs, he's been hot or cold it seems like, but he's great all around. Malkin, not perennial Selke candidate Datsyuk or whoever you may think of, lead the NHL in takeaways this year.

Jaimoe · May 09, 2009, 01:21 AM

He can score goals if he wants. He tore it up in the Quebec league and only one forward off of his team in Rimouski went on to make the NHL, Marc-Antoine Pouliot, who is a role player in Edmonton (although he was drafted 21st overall in 2003, thanks to The Kid being his centre). I still think the best QMJHL player ever was Pat Lafontaine (my favourite US-born player ever).

The first column is GP:

2003-04 Rimouski Oceanic QMJHL 59 54 81 135
2004-05 Rimouski Oceanic QMJHL 62 66 102 168
2005-06 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 81 39 63 102
2006-07 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 79 36 84 120
2007-08 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 53 24 48 72
2008-09 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 77 33 70 103

capt. scotty · May 09, 2009, 01:28 AM

When you look at his numbers from 05/06 compared to 08/09, I think its clear that the Pens need to get Crosby a legit, goal scoring winger.

If it sacrifices a 4th liner like Dupuis, so be it. He needs (and deserves) a goal scoring winger who is in his prime.

Jaimoe · May 09, 2009, 01:30 AM

I think if Sid was healthy all year, he would have threatened the scoring title. His play in the 2nd half of the season was amazing and it was instrumental in the Pens making the playoffs.

Ruckus · May 09, 2009, 01:36 AM

QuoteI dont want Caps fans to have an excuse if the Pens win this series and Ovechkin got suspended for a game, but he should. He wont be suspended, but he should be.

Ovechkin should probably lead the league in charging penalties, but never gets called for it, then pulls shit like this and plays dumbfounded.

Makes me sick.

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PsIfl9HpPyI[/media]

capt. scotty · May 09, 2009, 01:37 AM

He missed 5 games, and you can say he played a few others injured. It wouldve been very interesting if he played all 82 because his and Geno's point totals would have been a lot closer.

And it's splitting hairs, but I think Malkin is just as good as Crosby all around, if not better. Crosby just seems to have more willpower to play every shift like his last, especially in the playoffs.

I think Datsyuk is the only player near as good as either of them. See earlier posts on Ovie. His all around game isnt close.