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Post by FrostbackHoya on Jan 24, 2006 15:37:39 GMT -5
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Post by Deleted on Jan 24, 2006 17:12:18 GMT -5
Win at Edmonton, losses at 'Couver and Calgary. I expected only one win out of those three. Gotta take care of the Rangers tonight and split with Atlanta/Toronto. That way we get the six points I said they "needed" from the trip. I could live with that, especially with Dumont coming back now, and Briere shortly after the break.
And did you see "No Goal 3" last night? Horrible call... they called Darcy minutes after it happened to apologize!!
Too bad Mair and Pyatt have been lost to injury for a while...
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Post by Deleted on Jan 25, 2006 22:44:18 GMT -5
Now Timmy Connolly is out?! For two freakin' months?! Good god, this team is cursed. That, and Kasparitis is a cheap shot artist.
Dumont goes out after 15 games... is just getting back now.
Pyatt has been out since Thanksgiving.
Briere goes out right around X-Mas and won't be back for a couple months.
Mair gets a serious concussion and has been out for two weeks... and isn't expected to be back any time soon.
Add to that the minimum one week Gaustad, Drury, Pominville, Miller and Lydman have missed along the way... ye gads.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 25, 2006 22:45:37 GMT -5
I wanted six out of the possible 12 points on the trip. They've got 4 with two games to go. Woo hoo! Winnable games at Toronto and Atlanta coming up... go get 'em, boys!!
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Post by Deleted on Feb 1, 2006 16:39:28 GMT -5
What a road trip... toughest road stretch of the year, heavy on the West Coast, and my boys go 4-2. WITHOUT Briere. WITHOUT Connolly for two and a half games. This team is something special.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 7, 2006 8:49:15 GMT -5
WOO HOO!!
Over the hump! They finally beat - no, SHUT DOWN - the Senators. This two days after dismantling Philly. Ottawa is in trouble if they can't get it together... they aren't skating like they were early in the year (their 2006 record is terrible for that roster), and they have lots of Olympians.
The two most dangerous Eastern Conference teams right now are Carolina and Buffalo.
Where the hell are the rest of you guys? Boz? Frostback? SFO?
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Boz
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Post by Boz on Feb 7, 2006 9:25:33 GMT -5
Sorry, Buffalo. Been pretty occupied following some other sport that seems to be popular on these message boards.
Happy how the Bruins have been able to fight back into contention, but it's going to be dicey for them with the hole they dug themselves. Had a chance to continue the misery of the Habs the other day, but screwed the pooch on that and wound up with a split. The Carolina game was outstanding, though it was a foregone conclusion as soon as it went to a shootout. They've got Pittsburgh, NJ and Tampa coming up before the break. Be nice to see them latch on to the 8 spot after those games, because they're all winnable. We'll see. You could help out by whacking the Canadiens tonight.
As for your Sabres, not much else to add. They continue to impress. But that's about all you're going to get out of me. ;D Not sure if they can catch Ottawa, the Sens too talented to continue to slump for a real extended stretch, but you're right that the Olympics are not a help to them.
When Boston beat them a few games back, I got the TSN broadcast feed for that game and they were talking about riots in the nation's capital. Pretty funny, actually.
Can I just say that I hate that the Rangers are so good? I mean HATE it.
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SFHoya99
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Post by SFHoya99 on Feb 9, 2006 19:02:11 GMT -5
Awful quiet on this thread given the news.
Personally, if I'm Bettman, I'm banning everyone involved for life.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 10, 2006 9:59:40 GMT -5
I don't think its that big a deal unless they bet on hockey. Until that comes out, its just another story to me.
And I agree, SF... all involved should get "Rosed."
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Post by Deleted on Feb 10, 2006 10:03:49 GMT -5
Oh, and guess which NHL team lost another player to injury for a few weeks? If you answered the most injury plagued team in the NHL this season - the Buffalo Sabres - pat yourself on the back. Hecht out with twisted/wrenched/messed up knee ligaments for 2-4 weeks.
Super.
At least most of that is the Olympic break. Plus, Briere gets back after break. Then its only Hecht and Mair on the IR. Maybe this team will get healthy in time for the playoffs? That too much to ask?
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Boz
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Post by Boz on Feb 10, 2006 15:01:43 GMT -5
Hey, by the way, thanks for giving up three points Les Habi-Taints.
Good thing Tocchet got busted before I could bet on those two games.
Sheesh! Is Buffalo good for anything outside of wings and missed field goals?
;D ;D ;D
Enjoy the 'lympics. As for me, I've enjoyed seeing Janet Jones on TV a lot more in the past few days. God I love that woman. Sure, she's a little "pointy," but pretty amazing nonetheless.
I will watch American Anthem until the day I die, just for her! Flamingo Kid too!
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Post by Deleted on Feb 10, 2006 16:07:47 GMT -5
hahaha... see, you forget my boys got three points out of the deal, too. So I'll take it!!!
Three points back of Ottawa with a game in hand. They are collapsing before our eyes. The division is there for the taking...
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SFHoya99
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Post by SFHoya99 on Feb 10, 2006 18:56:08 GMT -5
I don't think its that big a deal unless they bet on hockey. Until that comes out, its just another story to me. And I agree, SF... all involved should get "Rosed." This is why they should all get Rosed regardless of bets on hockey. One, it is pretty obvious that a) Tocchet was not only betting but was in business with gamblers who would obviously take bets on hockey b) Gretzky and others knew of this Being business partners with organized crime/organized gambling is far beyond what Rose did, and beyond unacceptable. Even knowledge of said association, when he did nothing about it, is a worse crime. Furthermore, betting on any sport creates a situation where you may get into severe debt with your bookie. And guess how they want to get paid back? When Wayne Gretzky is down half a mil due to his poor football bets, don't you think Tocchet's partners might suggest a little shaving?
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Post by Deleted on Feb 10, 2006 19:31:50 GMT -5
Rose WAS in with some unsavory organized crime guys, I thought.
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SFHoya99
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Post by SFHoya99 on Feb 11, 2006 1:57:02 GMT -5
Rose WAS in with some unsavory organized crime guys, I thought. I think he just hung out with some scum. Plus, he bet, but I wasn't aware he was taking bets. I'm under the impression Tocchet was actually working as a bookie with someone that the FBI was actually interested in, i.e. not just your local bookie. Apparently, "Janet" Gretzky had $75,000 on the Super Bowl alone, and $5,000 on the coin toss. I know they are rich, but honestly, that's just asking for a point shaving scandal.
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Post by FrostbackHoya on Feb 14, 2006 15:22:15 GMT -5
-- I'd love to see all six Canadian teams in the playoffs, but either Toronto or Montreal or maybe both are going to miss out. Between injuries and just bad play, they're both in trouble.
-- The Canuckleheads are also in deep. I think they'll do something dramatic after the trade embargo is lifted. Buff -- your Sabres may very well get them to part with way too much for Biron, which would (gulp!) vault the Sabres into favourite status in the East.
-- IMHO, the Dead Things and 'Preds are overrated. They've been able to beat up on the bottom of the West, what with the worst three teams in their division. I'll bet both are 1&out in the playoffs, despite the high seeds they'll grab.
And my Flames have dramatically underachieved, with the exception of the Best Goalie in the NHL (tm). If Iginla starts getting seriously hot, LOOK OUT!
Hoya Saxa!
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Boz
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Post by Boz on Feb 15, 2006 13:35:16 GMT -5
Jebus! That Olympic ice is Huuuuge! Makes NHL-ers look like Mites!
Caught the 2nd period Canadian onslaught this morning, but missed the rest of the game. Don't think I'll be home in time for USA-Latvia, but I'm just glad they've started. Watching the women was simply painful. I've never seen so many players -- older than 12, that is -- skate with their heads down. Too bad hitting is frowned upon in the women's game, because those players are ripe for a clobberin'!
Good news for Buffalo with Hasek out with a leg injury. I'm sure Ottawa just loooovvvvees that!
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Post by Deleted on Feb 16, 2006 9:37:46 GMT -5
-- I'd love to see all six Canadian teams in the playoffs, but either Toronto or Montreal or maybe both are going to miss out. Between injuries and just bad play, they're both in trouble. -- The Canuckleheads are also in deep. I think they'll do something dramatic after the trade embargo is lifted. Buff -- your Sabres may very well get them to part with way too much for Biron, which would (gulp!) vault the Sabres into favourite status in the East. -- IMHO, the Dead Things and 'Preds are overrated. They've been able to beat up on the bottom of the West, what with the worst three teams in their division. I'll bet both are 1&out in the playoffs, despite the high seeds they'll grab. And my Flames have dramatically underachieved, with the exception of the Best Goalie in the NHL (tm). If Iginla starts getting seriously hot, LOOK OUT! Hoya Saxa! Good to see you back here, Frostback!!! Thought you'd left us! To your points... It is going to be tough for all six Canadian teams to make it. I think its going to come down between Montreal and Toronto for one spot, considering Atlanta and Boston seem to be playing 8th-seed hockey recently (but like I said - don't count on Boston, Thomas is the new Jim Carrey). I think one WILL make it, though. Remember, they all play each other a ton and as Boz will tell you, Montreal owns Boston. If the Leafs can pick it up a little and win their division games more often than not, they should coast to a 7th or 8th seed. Plus, the Leafs are going to get people back from injury and get better, whereas Montreal is peaking at mediocrity... with no answer between the pipes in sight. I like your thinking re: 'Couver trading the farm for Marty Biron. My fingers are crossed. I gotta think Marty is currently thought higher of than other netminders on the block like Theodore, Raycroft or Roloson. So hopefully someone in the market for a goalie (Vancouver, Colorado, Edmonton, Tampa) will give more than he's worth. Red Wings overrated? I think you're onto something. Preds? Yes, but Vokun is sick. He can carry them deep. I look for the Flames to go far in the playoffs, even with the SECOND best goalie in the NHL, Mr. Kiprusoff. But seriously, they are a great team that could make a big run again in the playoffs, esp. if they went up against Colorado in the first round, and the overrated Detroit in the second. I'd be wary of only Dallas and Nashville... hot goaltending can make all the difference, as you know.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 16, 2006 10:11:16 GMT -5
I used to think the Olympic ice was the way to go... now I'm not so sure, esp. if the NHL is going to enforce the rules. It's like playing a pick-up football game when you're a kid in a huge park with no out-of-bounds. Ridiculous. Now that I've seen the alternative - NHL ice with enforced rules - I prefer it to huge ice. The one thing I wish the NHL would take from IIHF hockey now that they got the shootout is the no-touch icing. Don't get me wrong, I love the occasional foot race to break up an icing, but I'd rather have no-touch than the couple of guys a year who's seasons are lost to getting run into the boards and screwing up their knee (Sabres have lost Hecht for a few weeks to just that).
Canada is a juggernaut. Nothing more need be said. They just need to play a complete game... can't afford to take time off, esp. when they start playing more skilled teams. Italy was actually outplaying them for a stretch there. Can't let Russia, USA, Czechs, etc. do that or you'll suddenly find yourself down a few goals against a team with real players (no offense, Italy).
Czech Republic should be ok with Vokun in for Hasek. He's pretty nasty himself. But the thing Hasek brings - and I saw for years first hand - is that confidence that you can play risky and press a whole hell of a lot, knowing if you give up a breakaway or a 2-on-1 you've got The Dominator back there (even though he's getting up in age, he's still the best goalie in odd man rushes). Without him, we'll see if C.R. starts to play more conservatively or suddenly becomes risk-averse. UPDATE: I just watched two periods of their loss to the Swiss. I'm tellin' ya, without Dom they are in trouble... a bunch of prissy Euros with their visors and no mental toughness.
Not a big fan of Sweden. They've never had strong D, don't this year, and they're missing Forsberg for a little while. They only have one really frightening line, outside of that nothing to get the blood pumping. Eh... maybe a bronze? Again, with the exception of a handful of players, a bunch of prissy Euros. THAT SAID - Lundqvist has the potential to carry this team a LONG way. I'm talking gold medal game.
USA, despite tying Latvia (Irbe was awesome), looked better than I thought. They dominated every aspect of the game minus a two minute stretch in the 2nd period. I think they could sneak up on people if Grahame gives them solid goaltending. Their achillies heel? Peter Laviolette. I hate his lines, I know he's going to play DiPeitro for a stretch and that's going to cost the US a win (I think he's the most overrated goalie since Andrei Trefilov), and I think he's a pretty poor tactician. We'll see.
Russia could be scary good. Stacked lineup: Alex the Great, Kovalev, Kovalchuk, Gonchar, my boy Mad Max Afinigenov... but they have, in my opinion, shaky goaltending - Khabibulin and Nabakov. THey also need to reign in their wild-at-times play, too. No more of this flying around, wild passing go-for-broke hockey they've played all the time minus Nagano. But they got a pretty gritty team, so I expect them to medal.
It pains me to say Slovakia could surprise people. Stupid Miro Satan. I haven't heard of any of their goalies, but they have sick defensemen... including the greatest defensive defender ever, Zdeno Chara.
I really think the three best teams, in order, are Canada, Russia, USA. I've always been a big fan of will-over-skill since the Ted Nolan days in Buffalo, and I think that's an edge those three teams have over their European counterparts. Its a very Don Cherry-like argument, but I think its true. I trust a guy from Moosejaw, Thunder Bay, Moscow, Minsk, Minnetonka, or Rochester over some guy who's played check-less hockey on big ice his whole life.
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burghoya
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Post by burghoya on Feb 16, 2006 14:19:50 GMT -5
I was woken up by cheers this morning of what I tought was the Sweedish Chef... in reality, it was the Suisse hockey fans. They were impressive in this morning's game vs. the czech's... Russia is redicuously good and agressive as all hell. From what I saw of this morning's game vs. the Sweeds, I would be terrified to face a team of that nature. Also, Wurtzel wrote an article this morning re: how the american team should no longer use NHL players on their team for the olympics. sports.yahoo.com/olympics/torino2006/ice_hockey/news;_ylt=ApEv94WRJLCnEoX8vCpmtrA5nYcB?slug=dw-hockey021606&prov=yhoo&type=lgnsIt's an interesting question to pose; do you risk sending college players who lack international competition or profession experience or do you keep the pro's who are mid NHL season and probably tired and beaten up. The thing I agree with Wurtzel on is the fact that you can't have the team show up less than 48 hours before they're supposed to start playing... 1) You have such little time to practice as a team and to get a feel for what lines are right and what not and 2) You can't just throw a bunch of guys together and expect them to gel overnight (which is what happened with the Latvia game).
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