Hockey

[shadows]

Here are the scores from Feb 13th's games:

1. The Islanders beat Tampa Bay 5-4. John Tavares got his first point in quite a few games. Biron was in net again for the Islanders so I am wondering if Di Pietro is hurt again or if they are just resting(which doesn't make much sense with the Olympic break coming up.

2. Buffalo beat San Jose 3-1. Buffalo finally got out of their funk(at least for now) and beat a good team. That being said, I don't think San Jose was firing on all cylinders since they were probably thinking ahead to the Olympics.

3. Philadelphia beat Montreal 6-2. Philly won the home-and-home against the Habs. Halak was not particularly sharp in this one, and after scoring their 3 first period goals Philly never looked back.

4. Carolina beat New Jersey 5-2. I imagine that New Jersey is looking forward to the break, but since their goalie is going to play in the Olympics how is he supposed to get rested? He has looked rather ordinary for a while now, and if they make the playoffs will fatigue be a factor?

5. Boston beat Florida 3-2 in the shootout. Not a pretty win, but a good one for the Bruins. Boston actually came from behind to win this one, rather than their usual coughing up of leads lately. This is now Boston's 4th win in a row. They are clicking at the right time.

6. Detroit beat Ottawa 4-1. Detroit's offense has gotten a huge kickstart by getting Johan Franzen back. He has gotten 3 points in 3 games since his return and looks like he hasn't missed any time at all let alone almost 4 months of hockey!

7. St. Louis beat Washington 4-3 in the shootout. Since having their 14 game winning streak snapped they are winless in two games(having given up 10 goals in those two games, not including the shootout goal).

8. Dallas beat Phoenix 3-0. Second time in 3 games that the Coyotes have been shut out(and the game in between they only scored 1 goal). If Phoenix doesn't find some offense soon, their playoff journey will be over before they know it.

9. Chicago beat Atlanta 5-4 in the shootout. Despite coughing up a 3-1 lead Chicago managed to squeak out the victory.

10. Calgary beat Anaheim 3-1. Iginla had 2 goals in this one, and a couple of former leafs had points in this one as well(White and Stajan each had an assist).

11. LA beat Colorado 3-0. This was a close game until the third period. Kopitar scored the second goal and that seemed to take the wind out of Colorado's sails.

[smc]

Originally Posted by shadows

Here are the scores from Feb 13th's games:

5. Boston beat Florida 3-2 in the shootout. Not a pretty win, but a good one for the Bruins. Boston actually came from behind to win this one, rather than their usual coughing up of leads lately. This is now Boston's 4th win in a row. They are clicking at the right time.

I am sorry to report that four of seven Bruins fans (all serious hockey fans) I have spoken to in the last 48 hours have said they've stopped following the team for the season. I was shocked. Perhaps a few more wins can turn them around, but Olympic hockey is going to steal a lot of attention!

[ila]

Originally Posted by shadows

.........3. Philadelphia beat Montreal 6-2. Philly won the home-and-home against the Habs. Halak was not particularly sharp in this one, and after scoring their 3 first period goals Philly never looked back.....

Not only did Montreal forget that they had to actually play the game, they forgot to even show up for the game. Damn that Toskala.

[Captn Sacto]

Originally Posted by ila

Not only did Montreal forget that they had to actually play the game, they forgot to even show up for the game. Damn that Toskala.

Didn't know Toskala ever played for the Habs. Is it sort of like the ex-Cubs factor in baseball. The teams farthest removed from Toskala have the best chance of winning?

[ila]

Originally Posted by Captn Sacto

Didn't know Toskala ever played for the Habs. Is it sort of like the ex-Cubs factor in baseball. The teams farthest removed from Toskala have the best chance of winning?

Toskala never played for Montreal. It's a bit of joke for shadows as shadows still blames Toskala (jokingly) when Toronto loses.

[smc]

Originally Posted by ila

Toskala never played for Montreal. It's a bit of joke for shadows as shadows still blames Toskala (jokingly) when Toronto loses.

Around these parts (Bruins country, that is), you'll still occasionally hear people talk about a Toronto loss as channeling the 1969 playoff team that was blown out in the first two games by the Bruins, 10-0 and 7-0.

Hey shadows, perhaps you should lay off Toskala and start blaming the ghosts of Horton, Pilote, Ullman, and Bower. (Oh, wait, those guys were so old that they might have been ghosts that very year!)

[ila]

Originally Posted by smc

Around these parts (Bruins country, that is), you'll still occasionally hear people talk about a Toronto loss as channeling the 1969 playoff team that was blown out in the first two games by the Bruins, 10-0 and 7-0.

Hey shadows, perhaps you should lay off Toskala and start blaming the ghosts of Horton, Pilote, Ullman, and Bower. (Oh, wait, those guys were so old that they might have been ghosts that very year!)

And it was only two years previous to that that Toronto won the Stanley Cup. Of course that was the last time that Toronto won the cup.

[shadows]

Originally Posted by smc

Around these parts (Bruins country, that is), you'll still occasionally hear people talk about a Toronto loss as channeling the 1969 playoff team that was blown out in the first two games by the Bruins, 10-0 and 7-0.

Hey shadows, perhaps you should lay off Toskala and start blaming the ghosts of Horton, Pilote, Ullman, and Bower. (Oh, wait, those guys were so old that they might have been ghosts that very year!)

I have only experienced the mystical play of Toskala. If I had been around when those players were still active, I may change my scapegoat. As it stands however....Toskala for the goat!


And Ila....jokingly?

[shadows]

Here are the scores from Feb 14th's games(last night of NHL hockey until after the Olympic break!):

1. The Rangers beat Tampa Bay 5-2. With Tampa Bay ahead 2-0 after the first period, the Rangers stormed back with 4 goals in the second period! And this was without Gaborik who missed the game due to injury.

2. Nashville beat Pittsburgh 4-3 in the shootout. Crosby had a goal and an assist in this game. The goal was his 42nd of the season and that tied him for the lead with Ovechkin! Hopefully he'll continue his great play for Canada in the Olympics!

3. Minnesota beat Vancouver 6-2. I guess Brodeur and Luongo both ate bad food and got sick as that is how one can describe how they both played in their last game before the Olympics! I sure hope they play like they should be able to in the Olympics otherwise we will be in some trouble!

4. Ottawa beat the Islanders 4-3. The Senators came back from a 3-1 deficit and ended up taking 1st place in their Division with this win.

5. Chicago beat Columbus 5-4 in the shootout. It seems that Chicago wants to give their opponents points as well rather than finish them off in regulation. It is fortunate for Chicago that the Blue Jackets are so far away from them that it doesn't really affect them too much.

6. Anaheim beat Edmonton 7-3. A much better game from the Ducks than their stinker against Calgary the previous night. So, do you think that Ryan Getzlaf wants to play for Canada? He scored 2 goals and 2 assists last night. If his ankle remains good this morning, then he is a go for Team Canada!

Well, this is it for the hockey reports...at least the NHL ones. I will post the hockey scores from the Olympics.

I will also post the scores from the women's hockey if anybody is interested. If so, just make a post stating that you would like to see it.

[shadows]

Originally Posted by ila

Not only did Montreal forget that they had to actually play the game, they forgot to even show up for the game. Damn that Toskala.

Yes, his evil ineptitude seeps into many teams. Why do you think that Anaheim is afraid to put him in net?

[GRH]

Originally Posted by ila

Not only did Montreal forget that they had to actually play the game, they forgot to even show up for the game. Damn that Toskala.

I'm with you Ila! That game was painful to watch. Especially when the Flyers broke away on Montreal's powerplay to score yet another goal. I pretty much had to start skipping around channels at that point. I still watched the game, but only half-heartedly. It sucks to have been swept.

[ila]

Originally Posted by GRH

I'm with you Ila! That game was painful to watch. Especially when the Flyers broke away on Montreal's powerplay to score yet another goal. I pretty much had to start skipping around channels at that point. I still watched the game, but only half-heartedly. It sucks to have been swept.

That pretty much sums up the way I feel about the game and the way I watched the game too.

[dauls]

I read earlier that Women's Hockey might be dropped from future Winter Games if the rest of the World don't start closing the gap on Canada and the USA.

18-0 & 10-1 wins for Canada and 12-1 for the USA.

Is there anything that can stop a Canada-USA final?

[shadows]

Originally Posted by dauls

I read earlier that Women's Hockey might be dropped from future Winter Games if the rest of the World don't start closing the gap on Canada and the USA.

18-0 & 10-1 wins for Canada and 12-1 for the USA.

Is there anything that can stop a Canada-USA final?

Aside from the two teams catching a huge bout of food poisoning, not likely.

Not much fun when it's a two team race.

[smc]

Originally Posted by shadows

Aside from the two teams catching a huge bout of food poisoning, not likely.

Not much fun when it's a two team race.

I watched most of the Canada / Switzerland women's game. I am sure this will sound strange, I must say that Schelling, the Swiss goalie, did a hell of a job. I mean, jeez, she faced 55 shots, most of them coming in rapid succession since the rest of her team seemed incapable of pushing any of the hockey game down to the other end of the ice!

Florence plays for Northeastern University here in Boston and she is an impressive young player.

But shadows is right. It would be more fun to watch a 7-game series against the Canadian and U.S. women's teams than to be witnesses to wholesale slaughter.