Sharks are Going to Get it Together
 

Out of their troubles BEFORE the playoffs this time....
:yes:

Finally!
 

The NHLPA approved the new rule this morning to ban blindside hits to the head, and it goes into effect immediately. Colin Campbell, the useless douchebag, can now hand out suspensions when a player hits an unsuspecting player where the head is the targeted. Will he? Who the hell knows, but it'll be tough for him to ignore the calls from teams demanding action. My Bruins lost Marc Savard for the season because of one of these ruthless hits.

All 30 NHL teams were sent DVD showing what is legal and what is not.

I guess we'll know shortly. David Booth of Florida was taken off the ice after being hit in the head with a shoulder. I don't think it was a dirty hit, and Booth is now prone to concussions(due to previous ones), but if it falls into the newly-banned hits it should be a suspendable hit. I have not seen it myself, so I don't know where it falls.

Speaking of falling....the Atlanta Thrashers fell to the Leafs 2-1 in overtime!:yes:

I saw the hit of Booth on replay, from several angles, and I don't think anyone would call it a dirty hit. Rather, it was an example of a hockey player forgetting that this is a game of hits, and he ought not to skate with his head hanging down so low!

By the way, Booth left the ice on his own two skates, albeit helped by his teammates. He did not require being carried.

That is good to hear. I was at work, so I wasn't able to see the hit(or the after-effects). I heard that the Montreal player wasn't a dirty player, so I thought it may have been one of the "head-down" hits. I don't know where that falls under the new rules, though. I guess we'll know soon enough I'm sure.

Rangers 4-3 Devils (SO)
 

:censored:, the Devils were leading 3-2 with only 17 seconds of the 3rd period to go. Officially half a second later it was 3-3 and we blew it in a shootout.:frown:

Not only are the Devils battling against the Penguins for #2 spot in the East, their recent poor form has let the Sabres close the gap and make it a three-team battle for 2nd/3rd/4th seeds.:frown:

If it's any consolation, Buffalo lost 4-2 to Ottawa tonight.;)

I thought our hockey fans would get a kick out of this. Kevin Paul Dupont, the Boston Globe's resident hockey columnist, suggested yesterday in the newspaper a solution to the Bruins' current woes when it comes to defending against the power play. (Remember that earlier in the season the Bruins were at the top of the NHL in this category; how great the mighty have fallen!)

Dupont's suggestion: use the "not-so-secret weapon" of Zdeno Chara and "park the big lug right at the top of the crease for the full two minutes."

He adds: "... and as those great old Habs teams would have said, 'Que sera sera, baby!'"

I love this idea. Chara is 6'9", the tallest player in NHL history. Dupont writes of "Trencin Tower of Power, parking his stretch-limousine 6-foot-9-inch self right in front of that piddly 4-foot-by-6-foot net."

Pretty nifty idea, eh?

Actually, it looks like the cure for the Bruin's ails is to play the Calgary Flames. Boston smoked them 5-0 this afternoon(Tim Thomas got the shutout)!;)

Damn! I was so busy working and ... well ... being distracted by thoughts of Connie (see other thread) that I forgot to watch. Nice that Thomas played for a change; he was so good earlier in the season.

You probably can't get tonight's New Jersey - Montreal game, dauls, so I'll give you a little spoiler right now. There's ten minutes left in the second period and New Jersey is up 2 - 1. Montreal is on a power play and they aren't doing a thing with it.

^ You're not missing much of a game. Both teams look like they are too tired to bother playing at all. I've seen more action in an oldtimers game and that was what was happening between periods.

You're right ila. It's Mixed Martial Arts and Ultimate Fighting through to 6am on ESPN-UK. :frown: Tomorrow more UFC and the NBA. No NHL until Monday night (starts at 3am Tuesday, Ducks-Stars, so I won't be watching that one).

As for the latest score... :) :cool:

And Boston winning 5-0 today. :eek:

Bit of action just now, NHL.com says it's 3-2 to the Devils.;)

Damn, I just changed the channel a couple of minutes ago because of the lack of movement on the ice.

It' not been a good for me. Early this morning I watch Munich lose to Stuttgart in what should have been an easy game for Munich and in Munich no less. Now Montreal can't win in their own arena.

My only hope is now for Vancouver to beat San Jose later this evening.

:cool: Devils win 4-2. However it went all the way down to the wire, the Devils only sealed the victory with an empty net goal at 19:50 in the 3rd.

Devils needed that win following wins by the Penguins and the Sabres today. It's turning into a close fight for #2 seed in the East.

:frown: I can't remember the last time ESPN-UK showed a Devils game, it must've been before the Olympics.

And :eek::eek::eek: Toronto managed to use a 2-0 deficit to their advantage, stealing it 3-2 in OT from the Rangers.
The Leafs are 8-2-0 in the last 10, surely they left it a bit late to start their run for the playoffs.:innocent:(sorry, shadows);)

^Even Ottawa managed to win tonight.

Unfortunately, prepare for your hopes to be dashed. Vancouver lost 4-2.

Montreal picked a lousy time to go on a losing streak.:eek:

At least my Leafs helped you and smc out tonight by beating the Rangers(one of the teams vying for Montreal's and Boston's playoff spots). Sorry that they allowed the Rangers to get a point, but at least they prevented them from getting two!:)

Flyers 5-1 Devils
 

:censored: The Flyers spanked the Devils 5-1 last night. Not too surprising though, that's the fifth time this season the Flyers have beaten us.

With the Sabres and the Penguins winning it looks like the Devils will probably head into the playoffs as #4 seed in the East.

At least as #4 seeds we will avoid drawing our bogey team the Flyers in the first round of the playoffs, Ottawa look set for the #5 spot.

Tell me about it! :censored:

3 questions
 

Three hockey questions for three of my hockey-loving friends on this board ...

shadows: Now that the school year is over, your Maple Leafs just signed Brayden Irwin from University of Vermont for the final six games of the regular season. Brayden played 39 games for the Catamounts this season, and led the team in goals (15), assists, (19), power-play goals (7), and ... wait for it ... penalty minutes (72). What do you think? A smart move?

ila: The Phoenix Business Journal reported yesterday (I believe) that a billionaire from Toronto named David Thomson has an agreement in principle to move the Coyotes from Phoenix to Winnipeg, if owners cannot be found to keep the team in Arizona (a place where, as I have stated in the past, hockey should not be played!). Thoughts? An NHL team in Manitoba again a good thing? Will you become a Coyotes fan? What do you think they'll call the team if it moves? The Winnipeg Jets? The Winnipeg Lake Monsters? (Sorry, couldn't resist.)

dauls: Our teams, the Bruins and the Devils, meet up tonight. What is the one thing you can say for certain about this game before it begins, other than that there is not a single player on either team who wants to be in Newark, New Jersey? :lol:

The rumour of moving Phoenix back to Winnipeg has been going around for some time now. Each resurgence brings the rumour on stronger. Each rumour makes the NHL headoffice waffle even more with their yes, Winnipeg, you will get it; no, Winnipeg, you will not get it. Then there is their famous denial and confirmation, all in one statement. I do not think Winnipeg will be the next city, in Canada, to get an NHL team. I do believe that Quebec City or Hamilton will get one first.

The good news is the David Thomson is supposed to be on-board with any franchise that moves to Winnipeg. David Thomson has very deep pockets, which he may need to get a franchise established.

If a team moves to Winnipeg I am sure that the fans will demand that the team be named the Jets.

Although I live in the west I will not change my loyalties to the team that I have supported since before I could skate. I will cheer for any team in the west, but my favourite will still be Montreal.

What?! My "Manitoba Lake Monsters" doesn't even get a chuckle?! :rolleyes:

Patrice Bergeron scored the winning goal with 0:19 left in sudden-death overtime. Bruins 1, Devils 0.

Sorry, dauls.

I could see them nicknamed the Sturgeons or the Catfish. Out west catfish would be an insult as no one in the west eats catfish.

Well, if you don't eat catfish, you are missing out on some might fine eating!

Before the game? Name one Bruins player that wouldn't jump at the chance to stay and play in New Jersey for the rest of the season. The Devils may be a bit up and down at the moment, but at least they have a reasonable chance of lifting the Stanley Cup. But in Boston, will they be packing away their hockey equipment early this season?

After the game? F:censored:kity f:censored:k-f:censored:k 18.3 seconds!!! F:censored:k.:(

Gutted for Brodeur, clean sheet for 64.41 and then just misses out on what sounds like a deserved shutout. But as we all know Attachment 156138.

I wish I'd seen the game.:frown::(

Even foreigners know better than to wish they were in New Jersey! (Sorry, Jen.)

It really was a superb one to watch. As long as you insist on living in England, you're going to have to miss out on good stuff like this. Oh, and edible food, too. :lol:

He's a young player so that fits with the current direction the team is going. He also has a physical presence which may help cut down on the "liberties" that opposing players like to take from time to time. As far as his offensive side will be? I guess we'll have to see next season, as 6 games isn't really an accurate measuring stick for his talent.

Bruins got the much need two points(since the damned Leafs decided to let Atlanta win!). The Rangers also won, so the Eastern race remains tight!:eek:

Blackhawks 2-1 Devils (SO)
 

Once again the Devils get those final 60-seconds blues.

F:censored:kity f:censored:k-f:censored:k 26 seconds from a 1-0 win this time!!!:( And then we lose in a damn shootout.:frown:

NHL.com trivia:
Friday night's Blackhawks-Devils game was the first penalty-free game in the NHL since March 28, 2001, when the Bruins beat Toronto 3-0.;)

Word around these parts is that the NHL is going to axe Colin Campbell as chief disciplinarian in favor of newbie Brendan Shanahan. I wonder: did Marc Savard and David Booth get a say in this?

This is the first I've heard about this. I thought him and Buttman were tight, so that would protect him no matter what!:confused:

It looks like Montreal has righted their ship at exactly the right moment. Two straight shutouts for Halak.

It looks like it is going to be down to the wire for the following teams: Boston, Atlanta, New York Rangers, Philadelphia(and to a lesser extent, Montreal). What a race!

And about time too. They had me concerned for awhile.

They will need Ottawa to lose the rest of their games, and Montreal will have to win the rest of their games, but if that happens Montreal could get into fifth position! Both teams have 3 games remaining. Here are the games:

Ottawa: Florida, Tampa Bay, Buffalo

Montreal: Islanders, Carolina, Toronto(dang!)

The only team that looks like it may be a challenge for either Ottawa or Montreal would be Buffalo(of course, Ottawa has owned Buffalo this year), so it will be a slim chance for Montreal to catch them.

Boston lost to Washington 3-2 in overtime. At least Boston got a much-needed point, which gives them 85. Philly is in 8th with 84 points and the Rangers have 82. The only other team that has a chance in the East is Atlanta, and they have 81 points.

The problem with this is that the Rangers have a game in hand, so that could be trouble.

:cool: Sat 3rd: Devils 4-0 'Canes
:cool: Tue 6th: Devils 3-0 Thrashers

Back-to-back shutouts for Brodeur and the Devils. Maybe our defence and veteran goalie have put their post-Olympic slump behind them in time for the postseason.

And the Devils knocked Atlanta from playoff contention!:cool:

The only good thing about Toronto losing to Philadelphia tonight is....well, I guess it helps out Jennifer's team, so I can live with the loss.:)

Montreal lost 4-3 in a shootout to the Islanders. They got a point, but they weren't going to be able to get any higher in the standings as Ottawa also won their game and there is now no way for Montreal to beat them in the standings.

There are only a few more days of hockey left. I am barely holding onto 2nd place(4 points up on 3rd). There is not enough time for me to catch up to 1st place(14 points behind), but I would like my fellow hockey fans to send me some good vibes so I can stay in second place(and win $40 rather than $10)!:hug:

I forgot to add that the Rangers lost 5-2 to Buffalo, so they are now on the brink of elimination. Boston and the Rangers each have 3 games left to play and New York is 3 points back.

Here are the games remaining for both Boston and New York(as I mentioned above, Atlanta was eliminated).

Rangers: Toronto, Philadelphia, Philadelphia

Boston: Buffalo, Carolina, Washington

Philadelphia only has 2 games remaining, but since they are both against the Rangers they are in control of their own fate. They beat them once and they are in the playoffs.

I should also mention that Calgary was eliminated today. Colorado got the final Western playoff spot.

Smc, the darned Maple Leafs couldn't help Boston out last night! They lost 5-1 to the Rangers, and now New York is only 1 point behind Boston!:eek::no:

I guess a silver lining can be found in the fact that Boston has a game in hand, which can be the difference maker.

Yeah, thanks a lot Toronto!

Actually, the silver lining can be found in the fact that I can take something else in hand and forget about hockey for a while. ;)

Oh, yeah! Bruins 3, Sabres 1. Boston now has 87 points, and the playoff hopes have improved exponentially!

And on the flip-side, Montreal lost 5-2 to Carolina and New Jersey lost 3-2 to Florida. All Montreal needs is a single point to get into the playoffs, but they did not show up for this one!

And Vancouver is currently losing 4-0 after two periods to the San Jose Sharks. If Nabokov gets the shutout I will be severely pissed off! I doubt Vancouver can come back and win it, but if Nabokov gets the shutout he will get 7 points rather than just 2 points for a win. I am currently in second place in the hockey pool, and I NEED Nabokov to NOT get the shutout!:censored:

Unfortunately the Sharks won, but at least Nabokov lost his shutout. Now the other person in the pool only gained 1 point on me rather than 6. I still have a 6 point lead with many opportunities to get points tomorrow night(since I have a lot of players that he doesn't).

Thankfully the Sharks only have one more game(he has Thornton, Heatley, and Nabokov)!

:censored: Losing to the Panthers when the Devils out-shot them 44-18.:frown: And the Penguins beat the Islanders 7-3.:(

Now the Devils and Penguins are tied on 99pts with two games left.

If only they played each other...;)

The West
 

In the west, there's three teams tied on 98 points.

Oh, they do play sometimes, but it's not always hockey.

It looks like Montreal is trying their hardest to stay out of the playoffs.:censored: