Boz
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Post by Boz on Oct 14, 2009 10:32:25 GMT -5
Yeah, that was amazing.
When I was nine, I was lucky if I could get a shot off at all, and not whiff. (Heck, even when I was playing in high school I couldn't do anything remotely like that. I think my best move was a lousy Dean Youngblood through-the-skates maneuver.)
It's a shame there's no All-Star game this winter due to the Olympics, because I guarantee 100% that Ovechkin would be stealing that move to the skills competition. There's no question about it.
Maybe they can have a skills exhibition in Vancouver......
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jgalt
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Post by jgalt on Oct 14, 2009 14:44:05 GMT -5
Maybe they can have a skills exhibition in Vancouver...... Maybe Russia will play Germany ;D
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The Stig
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Post by The Stig on Oct 23, 2009 21:32:20 GMT -5
Box score line that nobody expected to see: 10:20 ›WSH Jeff Schultz (1) - Assists: S. Varlamov (1)
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The Stig
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Post by The Stig on Oct 27, 2009 20:49:28 GMT -5
Another doozy between Philly and the Caps. Nice rivalry building up there, led by Ovechkin and Richards. In this one Philly was up 2-0, then Ovechkin decked Richards and gave the Caps the momentum, which made it 2-2 by the end of the 2nd.
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The Stig
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Post by The Stig on Oct 27, 2009 20:52:15 GMT -5
In other news, Scott Hartnell is officially the reincarnation of Ogie Ogilthorpe, right down to the orange jersey.
(PLEASE tell me that somebody gets that reference!)
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jgalt
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Post by jgalt on Oct 27, 2009 21:22:13 GMT -5
In other news, Scott Hartnell is officially the reincarnation of Ogie Ogilthorpe, right down to the orange jersey. (PLEASE tell me that somebody gets that reference!) I have to say that Hartnell isnt as ugly as Ogie, though almost. That interview with his dad was pretty wacky though. Glad to see the caps top line get back on track, and im going to the game on sunday, very pumped.
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SFHoya99
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Post by SFHoya99 on Oct 27, 2009 23:16:09 GMT -5
You have to ask if we're going to get a Slap Shot reference? Give the board some credit.
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Boz
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Post by Boz on Oct 28, 2009 8:21:33 GMT -5
Yeah, I mean, at least make it challenging.
Say he was Clarence Swamptown or something.
(If I had my way, Ulf Samuelsson also would have been suspended forever.)
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The Stig
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Post by The Stig on Nov 18, 2009 19:01:46 GMT -5
GREAT game last night between the Caps and Rangers. Matt Bradley gets badly bloodied in a first period fight, goes off to get a clean jersey and some stitches, then comes back to score the game winner in the 3rd period. Ovie also scores in his first game back.
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Boz
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Post by Boz on Nov 18, 2009 19:05:55 GMT -5
I have placed a self-imposed NHL gag order on myself after watching that ridiculous Bruins-Penguins game last Saturday.
"It's a long season, Boz; it will get better." "It's a long season, Boz; it will get better." "It's a long season, Boz; it will get better." "It's a long season, Boz; it will get better."
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jgalt
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Post by jgalt on Nov 18, 2009 22:08:55 GMT -5
GREAT game last night between the Caps and Rangers. Matt Bradley gets badly bloodied in a first period fight, goes off to get a clean jersey and some stitches, then comes back to score the game winner in the 3rd period. Ovie also scores in his first game back. Second this. That fight, well Bradley tries really hard but he usually ends up the punching bag. But does it really matter if he goes out and scores a goal, id easily take a goal over winning a fight. hopefully the caps keep up the secondary scoring even with ovie back- nearly 4 goals a game with out much secondary until recently and then adding ovie back should push the goals per game way up (now if they can just do something about the goals against. Also Avery remains a prick. Apparently he was jawing at Boudreau during warm ups, making fun of him about Boudreau's new book. He does know that the coach stays off the ice during games right? Then he punches Varly in the face (what does he have against the kid)! Good job by erskine jumping on him, that is a penalty that i am ok with anytime, though i would like to see someone just jump him and sucker punch him after some of his antics. Boz, things WILL get better. Somebody has got to step up and prevent the Atlantic from getting 5 teams into the playoffs.
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The Stig
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Post by The Stig on Nov 30, 2009 19:54:17 GMT -5
Ouch - bad night in the NHL.
First Ovechkin gets hurt. Very hard knee to knee, looked pretty bad. No update on his condition yet.
But worse than that was what happened to Florida. One of their defensemen tried to smash his stick against the post in frustration, but he ended up hitting his goalie Tomas Vokoun straight in the head. Vokoun went off on a stretcher. Really scary stuff, let's hope he's okay.
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jgalt
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Post by jgalt on Dec 1, 2009 0:16:38 GMT -5
Ouch - bad night in the NHL. First Ovechkin gets hurt. Very hard knee to knee, looked pretty bad. No update on his condition yet. But worse than that was what happened to Florida. One of their defensemen tried to smash his stick against the post in frustration, but he ended up hitting his goalie Tomas Vokoun straight in the head. Vokoun went off on a stretcher. Really scary stuff, let's hope he's okay. yeah that stuff in Florida is crazy. what an idiot though ballard is. I know that is a common thing to do, but come on have a little forethought. As for Ovie, well i am more concerned with how long he will be out with and injury. Reports are that he is walking with a slight limp after the game. As for a suspension. I think he should get a few games, but mostly because of the incident last week in conjunction with this one. I dont think he leads with his knee intentionally. There is a picture on puck daddy that makes it look like he is sticking his knee out only, but in reality it is due to him slowing down and trying to change direction. I really have never got why people claim he is a dirty player. Am i biased? Yeah sure, but i have watched him play in close to 300 games probably and i have never gotten that impression. People always seem to cite him leaving his feet on hits, which may be slightly true, but does that make him a dirty player? It looks more like a consequence of physics to me. Last season Ovie checked Jamie Heward of the Lighting into the boards, a hit that put heward in the hospital for a few days. Many were calling it a dirty hit. Heward? He said that it was clean that Ovie was one of the cleanest players he had play with (Heward was a cap for while) or against and that he didnt think Ovie should be suspended. That is enough for me to believe he is not dirty. To me someone is dirty if they do illegal actions with the intent to injure, and often hide those actions because they know they are illegal (a la Avery punching goalies in the face). Laying Hard hits that are boarder line or over the line illegal does not, to me, make you "dirty." It just means you made an illegal hit. You didnt go out trying to hit someone illegally and it is pretty hard to hide a check from the refs. But that doesnt mean illegals hits shouldnt be punished, they should and more often than the NHL does. One last thing in my pointless rant: Many people are now going to bring up how Ovie never drops the gloves after these "dirty" hits (hello Don Cherry). Well in all the games i have watched when ever someone challenges Ovie he responds. Is he "dropping the gloves" literally, no, because usually the other guy is shoving not punching. When he was injured against Columbus it was during a fight where he was jumped by one guy on the ice and one coming off the bench and was surrounded by the whole Columbus team. He held his own pretty well, and the gloves came off that time. The guy is 6'4" 240 lbs. there are not that many guys who want to fight a player that big. Sorry that he is not ready and raring to go hit a guy in the nuts or jump him on a face off like a certain other star palyer does. Ok rant over. Not looking forward to hearing about this from retarded pens fans tomorrow.
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Boz
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Post by Boz on Dec 1, 2009 12:18:26 GMT -5
I do not think Ovechkin is a dirty player. I have to say that anyone who would postulate that is really not someone I would think to be credible.
Having said that, though, I do think he can be a bit uncontrolled in his hitting. Not dirty, as there is no malice, but reckless might be a fair description.
I speak, of course, with a bias as someone who's favorite player ever (OK, maybe second behind Ray Bourque) was a victim of knee-on-knee violence (and that WAS from a dirty player). Because of the speed involved in hockey, I think the risk to knees might be greater than in any other sport. You REALLY have to be careful about sticking legs out. There is a reason the refs called a 5 minute major on him for that hit, even if he didn't intend to lead with his leg. I don't think Ovechkin often thinks about being careful.
It's the same with his "flying" checks. They may border on the legal/illegal line, but there's nothing blatantly cheap or malicious about it, and I don't think Ovechkin is attempting dirty play. With Jamie Heward, well, that was more of an accident, Ovechkin was reckless in hitting him high, but Heward slipped a little bit to put his head right in the crosshairs. I don't think Ovechkin was going for his head at all. Again, I just think he's a little reckless. OK, more than a little.
And, as last night shows, reckless can be bad for everybody.
I hope both players recover completely and soon. I mean that 100% (and I think if Ovechkin learns from this to be a bit more measured, that won't be a bad thing).
As for Ballard, I'll just agree with Barry Melrose. That was one of the stupidest things I've seen in my whole life.
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Post by FrostbackHoya on Dec 1, 2009 16:38:32 GMT -5
Long time, no post -- thought I'd ask a Q of you Amerks vis-a-vis the Olympics. I saw Ryan Miller shut out the Maple Leafs and was wondering if he's already the de facto starting goalie for Team USA in Vancouver. (Granted, it was the Leafs, but he still looked really solid.) The other choice would be your Bruin, Boz, no? Are there any other American goalies that'll be able to hoist a team on their shoulders? BTW -- look out for my Flames. Kipper is back and we have secondary scoring and a mobile power play defenceman in Bouwmeester. If we solve our Black Hawk jinx and Thornton does his usual tank, it's Flames/Penguins for all the marbles...
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Boz
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Post by Boz on Dec 1, 2009 16:46:36 GMT -5
Thomas has been sick this season & out for a while. He's back now, but he's not playing quite at the caliber he did last year (yet).
I think there is no question that Ryan Miller is the #1 goalie for the US, at least right now. I'm pretty sure he's still leading the NHL in save percentage and GAA.
Thomas will probably still be his backup and Craig Anderson will be #3.
Though it wouldn't surprise me at all if #2 and #3 swapped places.
I don't know what the prospects are for Rick DiPietro getting healthy this season, I haven't read about that, but I doubt he could get healthy in time for the Olympics, so I think he's out of the mix altogether.
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jgalt
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Post by jgalt on Dec 1, 2009 17:14:03 GMT -5
Thomas has been sick this season & out for a while. He's back now, but he's not playing quite at the caliber he did last year (yet). I think there is no question that Ryan Miller is the #1 goalie for the US, at least right now. I'm pretty sure he's still leading the NHL in save percentage and GAA. Thomas will probably still be his backup and Craig Anderson will be #3. Though it wouldn't surprise me at all if #2 and #3 swapped places. I don't know what the prospects are for Rick DiPietro getting healthy this season, I haven't read about that, but I doubt he could get healthy in time for the Olympics, so I think he's out of the mix altogether. I agree 100% with this, and what you said earlier boz about Ovie being "reckless" i think that is a good way to put it. I dont like watching him on the ice like last night. And Boudreau agrees, calling it reckless at practice today, but ovie was defiant about changing his style of play. So he gets 2 games which i think is fair. And now he has his wrap sheet that will effect any future discipline, im sure that will please his detractors. It also looks like he wont be out that long. Im guessing he is out for a total of 3 games from the injury. Havent heard if the suspension will start after he can return on right away. The coaches say they will talk to him about his play, but my money is that during the first game he is back hell lay down a monster hit to stake his territory. The real victim of last nights game was Joe Corvo who is out 8-12 weeks after Alzner stepped on his foot
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Boz
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Post by Boz on Dec 1, 2009 17:19:15 GMT -5
To be clear, I would never, EVER want Ovechkin to stop laying monster hits.
He just needs to be in better control of his body when he does so. The two are not incongruous.
My guess is he will learn this lesson, hopefully sooner rather than later, because if he learns it later, incidents like last night where he knocks himself out will become more common as he gets older.
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The Stig
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Post by The Stig on Jan 1, 2010 16:44:47 GMT -5
Now THAT was a fun Winter Classic. A bit slow to start, but the ending was phenomenal. The predictable but still perfectly executed Tim Thomas Olympic announcement was the icing on the cake. Another great day for the NHL. Let's hope the TV ratings were good.
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Boz
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Post by Boz on Jan 1, 2010 19:47:15 GMT -5
Now THAT was a fun Winter Classic. A bit slow to start, but the ending was phenomenal. The predictable but still perfectly executed Tim Thomas Olympic announcement was the icing on the cake. Another great day for the NHL. Let's hope the TV ratings were good. Well, I watched, if that helps the ratings. Pretty lame afternoon bowl games (in terms of the teams playing, I mean), so maybe there were a few more viewers. Obviously, happy with the win, but I like the Winter Classic no matter who is playing. It's a great showcase for the league and this year was no exception. Are plans set yet for 2011? The Caps definitely need to be involved, maybe against the Rangers in the new Yankee Stadium. I think the new field in Minnesota has been considered as well. Good God, that might be really cold though. Plus, the Wild aren't very marketable, so maybe not the best idea. I'm a bit surprised Quick got the nod as the third goaltender. I thought Anderson was going to get the spot.
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