2007/2008 Hockey Thread

[The Sultan of Swank]

Well we can't all be the Sens.

[Clawson]

We should, like, start bombarding the ice with random shit. It'll probably play better defense than the Leafs.

[Plubby]

I'd rather have some consistency in goal, in defence, and in offence.

Somebody make this man a General Manager. He knows where it's at.

[Cactus Drags]

www.inthecheapseats.com

^^ Awesome site (well, mainly, if not exclusively for Avalanche fans), with extensive stats and shift charts, which nhl.com has inexplicably stopped doing.

[alldaws1]

Holy crap, the Rangers scored three goals. Holy crap, the Rangers won a game.

Someone get Jagr some new teeth ¬_¬

[The Sultan of Swank]

Montreal and Atlanta tonight. There's strong rumors going around that Huet is going to be traded as he's apparently expressed the desire to quit hockey after the season, I don't know how much truth there is to that. Price gets the start again, hopefully we don't blow it against one of the worst teams in the league.

[Cactus Drags]

If he's expressed the desire to quit hockey, what trade value would he even have?

[Gabriel]

If he's expressed the desire to quit hockey, what trade value would he even have?

[Cactus Drags]

Bah, I hate this rent-a-player era we're in.

[The Sultan of Swank]

I think I might have mis-heard, it's more of he's in a contract year and Montreal has Price, Halak and Danis, one of whom has proven to be a great goalie, one is expected to be and one is a great back up, so it's more of a Huet out in a trade.

[The Sultan of Swank]

Awww, Montreal played a decent game, but Atlanta just played like they wanted to win from start to finish. We get the bitch point, but it's still not good enough. Price was spectacular, but the second goal he gave up, even though it was on a breakaway, it just looked weak.

[Plubby]

The highlights showed to me that Hedberg made just as many good saves as Price did, yet Price gets first star...and Hedberg..nothing? I thought it was just Basha who couldn't be fair and honest regarding Montreal..but it's the entire city?

[Clawson]

I still can't wrap my head around this huge Price boner the media has going on. The two had the same number of shots against them, yet Price is first star?

Edited October 31, 2007 by Clawson

[The Sultan of Swank]

I believe it was because Montreal was totally out played in the first 25-30 Minutes and Price bailed out the team which mustered something like 8 shots through 30 minutes... I gotta say, Kovalchuk is a beast, he's just so damn fast and good.

In trying to be objectionable as possible, I think Price was forced to make more big time saves than Hedberg was. Outside the last 10 minutes of the game when Montreal cranked up the Pressure, the Atlanta D made it so that almost all the Habs shots were perimeter shots.

[thatshortguy]

I believe it was because Montreal was totally out played in the first 25-30 Minutes and Price bailed out the team which mustered something like 8 shots through 30 minutes... I gotta say, Kovalchuk is a beast, he's just so damn fast and good.

In trying to be objectionable as possible, I think Price was forced to make more big time saves than Hedberg was. Outside the last 10 minutes of the game when Montreal cranked up the Pressure, the Atlanta D made it so that almost all the Habs shots were perimeter shots.

Though you can say this about every goalie, it's enhanced when you talk about Hedberg: he is best when he only faces one or two shots every few minutes. If there's pressure for more than, say, ten-to-fifteen seconds (or long enough to net a second rebound), he'll psych himself out from the pressure. Hence, the Atlanta D likes to do as much as they can to take away the middle of the ice...even to the point of sacrificing the back of the net.

Definitely approving of the birds' efforts in that game, as it shows what Atlanta can do if they just put some heart into it. That definition of Kovalchuk really applies to the entire offense, as they continue to keep their reputation as a blisteringly-fast offense that lacks power in favor of sheer agility.

[Plubby]

Hedberg seems to be playing a lot of games. Is Lehtonen injured or sucking? I really like Kari Lehtonen.

[SeanDMan]

Hedberg is not the bird. His nickname is The Moose. I don't know why. As far as I know there can be only one The Moose. But still, from his days in Vancouver, I know of him as The Moose. I am a fan, I like his work. From what I saw Price was better because his team was worse. Price had to be more acrobatic on his saves, and Hedberg played more in a groove.

As far Lehtonen, I think the days of him being an NHL starter may be waning. He is perenially injured and wildly inconsistent. Atlanta has no other option at the moment but to juggle two backups and hope they can team together to equal one good starter.

[Plubby]

You've been absent from this thread for oh so long and these are the only grand thoughts you have on hockey? I hate you.

EDIT: Just kidding.

Edited November 1, 2007 by Plubby

[Clawson]

Wow, I actually feel bad for Saku Koivu right now. Sometimes I wonder how some people in Montreal can even breath.

[thatshortguy]

As far Lehtonen, I think the days of him being an NHL starter may be waning. He is perenially injured and wildly inconsistent. Atlanta has no other option at the moment but to juggle two backups and hope they can team together to equal one good starter.

Nail. Head. My main problem with both (besides Johan's affinity for injury) is that they don't have the ability to be that brick wall if the defense slips up and there's traffic. They're solid in breakaway situations, but if there are bodies in front, they both lose the puck easily.