Hockey

[Tbone]

Originally Posted by smc

Just back from the Winter Classic. I thought all the hockey fans out there might like to read my impressions.

But first, a note for Transjen -- sorry it had to be your Flyers that lost. But I'm not sorry it was the Bruins that beat 'em!

Once the game started, the first five minutes were as intense as any NHL game I've seen. I don't think I've seen a puck hop this much since the last time I played pond hockey, and that was too many years ago to say. The Flyers scored first (a cheap goal; Tim Thomas was distracted), but threatening again, in the 2nd period, the Bruins demonstrated why they are the #1 penalty killing team in the NHL.

Then came the end. An awesome goal by the Bruins to tie, and then an ending that was just phenomenal: sudden death.

Fenway Park looked awesome for hockey, although the sight lines weren't very good. Retired Bruins numbers were hanging there with the Red Sox. It was Boston sports heaven!!!

Originally Posted by smc

Fenway looked bizarre. The sight lines were awful. People behind home plate who have awesome seats at a baseball game had to stand the entire time to watch hockey. I was up high enough to see, but binoculars just don't cut it with the fast action of hockey. They showed the match on big screens in the Park, though, which helped.

As a Flyers fan it was a tough to see them lose the Winter Classic that way, and I know how much the hockey fans here at the forum hate overtime and shootouts during the regular season. I watched a repeat of the game on ESPN (UK) yesterday, but I didn't know the score beforehand so it was almost like watching the game live.

I do think the layout of a baseball ground is wrong for hockey. As you said smc some fans behind home plate spent the whole game standing up to catch the action. Perhaps the rink should have run along one of the foul lines rather than across from 1st to 3rd bases.

[smc]

Originally Posted by Tbone

I do think the layout of a baseball ground is wrong for hockey. As you said smc some fans behind home plate spent the whole game standing up to catch the action. Perhaps the rink should have run along one of the foul lines rather than across from 1st to 3rd bases.

Actually, the problem of how far the rink was from the stands was secondary. The primary problem -- and this is just bizarre -- is that people anywhere in the stands (other than the outfield bleachers and the Green Monster seats) who were sitting anywhere in the first 15 or so rows were actually below the level of the rink. That's why they had to stand!!

[interal]

Originally Posted by smc

Actually, the problem of how far the rink was from the stands was secondary. The primary problem -- and this is just bizarre -- is that people anywhere in the stands (other than the outfield bleachers and the Green Monster seats) who were sitting anywhere in the first 15 or so rows were actually below the level of the rink. That's why they had to stand!!

It may have been a nice idea to use Fenway, but to have 15 rows of people sat too low for the ice is as you put it "just bizarre". Isn't there another stadium better suited for hockey in Boston - maybe one of the university stadia?

I hope the next Winter Classic is shown live in the UK rather than 24 hours later. It would be great to put my feet up on New Years Day to watch a game of hockey, sipping a few beers in the early evening - NHL games are always shown after midnight in the UK.

[smc]

Originally Posted by interal

It may have been a nice idea to use Fenway, but to have 15 rows of people sat too low for the ice is as you put it "just bizarre". Isn't there another stadium better suited for hockey in Boston - maybe one of the university stadia?

Despite your obvious point, I think part of the Winter Classic that the NHL thinks makes it "classic" is to hold it in a venue that has a lot of sports history, and Fenway Park is one of the most storied sports venues in the entire world!

[shadows]

The US beat Sweden 5-2, so it will be a Canada/US gold medal game. If Canada plays the US like they did the last game they will be toast, but if they play like they are supposed to play, then the game will be very evenly matched. No matter what team wins, it should be a great game! I've got Tuesday off, so I think I may watch me some of that game!

[shadows]

This one's gonna be big!

Here are the scores from Jan 2nd's games:

1. Carolina beat the Rangers 2-1 in overtime. Carolina won? Yep. The Rangers scored 1 goal...again. Hard to win when that happens.

2. Vancouver beat Dallas 3-1. Daniel Sedin had another point. He has been amazing since coming back from his injury. Luongo was preparing himself for Olympic duty by having another good game.

3. Tampa Bay beat Pittsburgh 3-1. Fourth loss in a row for the Penguins. A little bit of burnout, perhaps?

4. LA beat Washington 2-1. Backstrom left the game with a migraine, hopefully nothing serious. Ovechkin was held pointless, and Quick(LA goalie) played great. He is on the Olympic squad(USA) because of his play this year.

5. The Islanders beat Atlanta 6-5 in the shootout. Ugly finish for an ugly game. Atlanta kept tying up the score, and then giving it right back again. Ugly, ugly, ugly.

6. Colorado beat Columbus 3-2. Columbus lose? No surprise.

7. Calgary beat Toronto 3-1. Way to not show up, guys! Arghhhhhhhh!

8. Chicago beat St. Louis 6-3. Chicago keeps on rolling, and smoked St. Louis on the night of their new head coach's debut. Not a good debut.

9. Nashville beat Anaheim 3-1. Anaheim has been better than Toronto this year, but only marginally. Who would have thought they would stink this bad?

10. New Jersey beat Minnesota 5-3. It looked like Minnesota was going to tie it up(when it became 4-3 NJ) but Langenbrunner got his 3rd goal via the empty net to squash the rally.

11. Detroit beat Phoenix 4-1. Getting 3 goals past Bryzgalov is hard to do(4th goal was an empty net goal), but Detroit was able to do it. Their offense is so inconsistant right now, and that is the main reason for their struggles.

12. San Jose beat Edmonton 4-1. No surprise, since it seems the only team that Edmonton can actually beat are the freaking Leafs! Man, I'm still pissed about that loss!

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Here are the scores from Jan 3rd's games:

1. Ottawa beat Philadelphia 7-4. Kovalev scored 4 goals, but I imagine he will disappear again for a month before he has another game like this. This guy is so hard to figure out. The talent is there, but the mentality is not. Poor Jen. I'll bet this one was difficult to watch.

2. Buffalo beat Montreal 1-0. No fault to Montreal at all, as when Ryan Miller is on he is almost impossible to beat. This is Miller's 5th shutout of the season.

3. Florida beat Pittsburgh 6-2. The Penguins actually had a 2-0 lead at one point, and then totally fell apart. This is their 5th loss in a row. They need to wake up soon, otherwise they will find themselves on the outside looking in.

4. Chicago beat Anaheim 5-2. True, Anaheim is not a true test to gauge Chicago's might, but the Hawks look GOOD right now! If they play like this, I honestly think they could take out SJ in the playoffs!

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Here are the scores from Jan 4th's games:

1. The Rangers beat Boston 3-2. Boston is third last in goals scored in the entire league(which is surprising, to be honest), and they were dealt a big blow when Bergeron got hit in the hand with a puck. It now looks like he will miss 2-6 weeks with a broken thumb(which sucks for him as he was named to the Canadian Olympic roster).

2. LA beat San Jose 6-2. LA is going to be a good team to watch this year, and like Chicago, could knock San Jose out of the playoffs. Some good teams in the west this year.

[transjen]

Originally Posted by shadows

This one's gonna be big!
1. Ottawa beat Philadelphia 7-4. Kovalev scored 4 goals, but I imagine he will disappear again for a month before he has another game like this. This guy is so hard to figure out. The talent is there, but the mentality is not. Poor Jen. I'll bet this one was difficult to watch.

I know i said i can't wait for baseball season but that doesn't mean i wanted to see a baseball game score in a hockey game

Jerseygirl Jen