kyle*

Five in a row! Wings fans threw octopus at the wrong times. And once while the game was in play. Idiots. So glad we beat them. The Detroit "fans" are nearly as bad as Kings fans. Mainly because it's a constantly busy bandwagon. But Selanne with the hatty! Beauch with another OT winner! Getzy was really awesome tonight, too. Five points, and he was throwing his body around like there was no tomorrow. The only downside was May getting hurt. Hopefully he is alright. He is one of my favourite players, and really adds a lot to the team in the locker room. Still expecting a move soon... And I get my new jersey on Saturday!

I think my first post in this thread (and probably on this site) was something along the lines of "Crosby is a punk." I still stand by that. (Let's not do that argument again, though? )

His nickname in the stands was "Dead Weight." Get it? Because he is useless? Oh come on, that is so clever. Of course, I think he has already matched his point total he had with the Ducks over in New York... It's just that Morrison seems like such a similar move. Weight and Morrison are known more so as set-up guys, with Morrison just a bit more offensive potential, but that's not what the Ducks need in a second line center. It's even easier to repeat my biased opinion that Carter could be our second-line center. And in hilarious news, I'm almost certain there were more Wings fans last night in LA than Kings fans. I almost felt bad, but then I remembered my last altercation with a Kings fan. Also, it sounds like the Coyotes picked up Ken Klee of re-entry waivers from the Ducks. So we'll free up half of his contract (~$.6 million), but still be liable for the other half. With Hedican's contract, I think we only actually gained ~$200,000 in cap room. I still think a big move is on the way so the Ducks can get Ryan up. And... Four in a row!

Three in a row!

Edit: Christ in heaven this is long. I blame the Ducks. The duo of Selanne and Carter are the only two of the top six forwards that are really putting in the effort. Brian Burke's stock is plummeting in my mind. >Trade Andy McDonald. >Replace him with washed-up Doug Weight. >Release weight and replace him with the ineffective as of now Brendan Morrison, who has had injury problems. >Trade Sean O'Donell for absolutely nothing to the Kings. >Replace him with washed-up Ken Klee. >Put Klee on waivers, sign washed up Hedican. >And at this point in time, we could still be biting the bullet on Klee's contract. Buries Bobby Ryan (the 2nd pick from the draft that Crosby was picked up in) in the minors because of past salary-cap decisions. I know that we picked up Bertuzzi and Schneider as replacements for Selanne and Scotty, but they were still very overpaid, and those contracts came back to haunt us this year. And nearly all of the players we've drafted are hardly making an impact. Burke just picks up veterans he likes or has played with in the past, instead of letting some of the youth develop. I thought we had some security for the future, but there are going to be some really awkward growing years in Anaheim as this team brings in the youth slowly. Burke will like f**k off to Toronto at the end of the year anyway. And the coaching is doing my head in. Perry - 2 points, scratched for 0 games. Getzlaf - 1 point, scratched for one game due to injury. (and both of the above with first line time on ice) Sit these muppets and let them know that performance, not prestige, earns the right to play. Carter - 3 points, scratched for one game, demoted to fourth line on a few occasions. May - 3 points, scratched for three games. Sutherby - 3 points, scratched for two games. These three leave everything on the ice, but aren't even rewarded for it. Carter especially, from my biased mind as he is my favourite player, because he clearly has earned his shot for a top six spot. May and Sutherby throw their weight around, and are +4 and +3 respectively.

1-5-0 now. Should've won tonight 4 or 5 to 1. The chances, the chances... I'm really excited... But also worried. I think our lines are just starting to click. I think Selanne / Carter is going to be a great pairing. Those two have been our best forwards so far, and I really hope that Carter (who is my favourite player) is recognized for the hard work he has put in this season so far. But I'm worried that we're going to make a stupid trade soon. I just feel it. I feel a trade on the horizon, or a player being put on waivers that I'll really hate. Road trip time. Hopefully are lines finally click, and we can start picking up some wins. Let's thrash some Canadian teams!

Hey! Ducks are the only team in the NHL with palm trees outside the arena! As Jim said, there isn't too much you can do with an NHL arena. The Pond is one of the newer arenas in the league, and the nicest of the select few I've been to. The pictures don't really do the entire experience of the arena justice. It is really theatre like, and the surrounding area is fantastic. I was wondering if someone would notice that. I'll tell you were the smoke was coming from tonight... From the fire that the Ducks were on!! The 0-4-0 Ducks beat the 4-0-0 Sharks by a scoreline of 4:0. Oh it was glorious! Three fights in the first! Penalty killing! I feel so much happier in general tonight. Giguere. Was. Ridiculous. 38 saves, and quite a handful that were highlight reel material. Oh, and I'm not sure how long is left in it, but shop.nhl.com is offering free customization on all RBK jerseys. So if you want a top with you favourite player or your own number and set of letters, get to it now, because you'll skip the usual $55 fee. And if you sign up on the site, you can save an additional 10%, so you can get a premium RBK jersey for ~$120. (£70?)

0-4-0. Ugh. 0% on the PP. 72% on the PK from christ knows how many penalties. Don't even want to get into it. Here are a few photos from the arena, all from pre-game stuff. I can't yell and hold my hands on my head and take photos at the same time... (click for high-res)

Cool. I'll have some pics of the Pond up on Thursday then. I won't disgrace this board with the Staples Center. I'm surprised you didn't see a fight in the stands! I've heard so much about how fierce it is to go to a Rangers game as an opposing fan. As far as fighting goes, it's usually to get your team going and gain some momentum. Fights are most common when the game is close, and players are looking to give their team a boost. Or if the game is really physical, there is a rivalry between the teams or players, or it's a blowout and players are frustrated and EVERYONE starts to throw fists. (See: Sunday's game here ended in a brawl that even the goalies got involved in.) The people that actually do drop the gloves are usually the "enforcers." A team usually carries one or two heavyweights so nothing happens to the team's star players, or they aren't pushed around in general. Most players don't aspire to be enforcers, but as the game becomes more and more difficult, they end up literally fighting for roster spots. Dropping the gloves = respect. The Ducks' enforcer, George Parros, has an economics degree from Princeton University, and grows his hair out for locks of love, a charity that makes wigs for cancer patients. It's an awesome story. Fights really aren't staged, but they are usually pre-meditated. Hit on the captain, words exchanged at the bench, big hit, timely goal, etc. If you watch the heavyweights on the ice, they usually go out there and just throw their weight around and run their mouths at other players. If someone else talks back, they circle, and the gloves go down. So, I really like hockey fights.

The Kings' problem is hardly losing Blake. It's having without a doubt the worst ownership of any team in all of sports. They have been feeding this bullshit of "rebuilding" to their delusional, moronic fans for years, an they eat it right up. I don't know why, but their fanbase is convinced they will be a powerhouse next year. Always next year. But they always say their rebuilding. God, going to the Staples Center is always a terrible experience. Anyway, hopefully tomorrow it's an alright one. As far as the fans think, it's a must win. And then we'll probably have the first look at Hiller on Wednesday, when we play the Oilers, who have become a huge rival of ours. So what does this mean for me? An 0-2 start and now two games against rivals in the next two days? I'm not going to have a voice on Thursday. Edit: I always forget my camera, but if I remember it, I'll post some pics here if anyone is interested.

Die. Ducks were absolutely dire. Seven minors, PK was terrible, no one crashed the net, Moen is not a first-liner, and the enforcers didn't answer the Sharks' physical play. Giguere was the only bright spot of the night, which seems odd with the scoreline, but he really was great. We need to get rid of Marchant, bring Ryan back up, and play smarter but still physically. *sigh* This is so familiar to last year... Hopefully Sunday brings a better result. And we NEED to thrash the Kings next week, or I'll be really upset. Can't wait to sing the goal song at the Pond. It's been ages.

My tickets are coming through the mail. Can't wait for the season to finally begin. Ducks for the cup!

Late, but I've bought a few tickets off eBay, and I'm sure sellers will have no problem shipping to you if you pay for it. The Rangers website may have a ticket marketplace, where you may be able to purchase tickets and pick them up at the game. And at a last resort, there are always scalpers around the arenas.

I'll take any excuse to rave about Ovechkin. He destroyed Chelios a while back (Chelios was skating with his head down), but there wasn't a fight. Fights in international hockey are rare because of the players that are carried on the squads, and I think it is an automatic suspension (or at least an ejection from the game). I really wish Ovehckin would drop the gloves. It would be so awesome, and the game would become a complete brawl with the Caps trying to protect him. I still play... 2K2 on the Dreamcast! 2K8 was a bit too arcade-y for me this year. Edit: Pens offer salary arbitration to Fleury http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/news;_ylt=Ag9G...p&type=lgns

I used to live in DC, so when I couldn't stay up to 10pm to catch the puck drop in Anaheim, I would watch the Caps games... I'm serious, Ovechkin is the most exciting player right now. It's unbelievable. I'm not going to lie. The Ducks have Parros, who is exciting to watch in a completely different way, and Selanne is the best player to ever skate for our team, but Ovechkin is just ridiculous. And he is such a character! "I SWEAR GOD" But seriously, why would I be a closet Caps fan? OVECHKIN LOVES GOALS AND HE DESERVES TO SCORE THEM. Playoffs were so awesome when he played. Even when his team scores, and he is on the bench, he flips out and has the smile of a kid in a candy store. He just loves goals. All of them. Glad I got it. Oh, do any of you play NHL 08 on the PS3? If any of you play online, we should get some games going.

The Stanley Cup is like winning the league. There are two conferences, Western and Eastern, and the winner of each (through a playoff system consisting of 16 teams) face each other for a best of seven series to determine the league champions, but they are labelled as the Stanley Cup champions. You can win divisions (Pacific, Northwest, etc.), but they aren't looked upon as huge things by the fans, because the Cup is really the big thing. (Hope this answers your question... I'm a bit unsure.)

Bodreau and Ovechkin would have taken the trophies even if they hadn't made the playoffs. Easily. Bodreau turned that team around beyond anyone's expectations. I was in DC for the start of the season, and Caps fans really did not expect to finish well at all. Ovechkin is a monster. It's unbelievable how good he is. Always a threat, never gives up. Easily the top player in the league. He was guaranteed two of the four, and I don't think anyone who voted for him for the other two was unaware of his talent until the playoffs. Now stand back while I score an unbelievable goal.

Oh here we go again... Winter Classic next year is going to be so awesome. And I'm glad that we won't lose two rivalry games to London.

Detroit won the Stanley cup against Pittsburgh four games to two. The picture I posted is to wind up a certain Pens fan ( just kidding, buddy!) because it shows Alexander Ovechkin with the Hart trophy (best judged player in league), Lester B. Pearson trophy (best player voted by NHL players assosciation), Art Ross trophy (leader in points at end of regular season), and the Maurice "Rocket" Richards trophy (leader in goals at end of regular season).

Sup, guys?

I didn't mean to repeat myself there. It's boring because of the fans. And I didn't hear it, nor watch it, but I heard that many booed during the cup presentation/celebration for the Red Wings. (a general applause is the usual, classy tradition) And please explain to me how it has the most character in the league. 1. He is still not a physical force. He still goes down quite easily. He doesn't show the tenacity that is required to 3. be a leader of his team, and pick up his performance when necessary. I really do think he will be able to do this, but not right now. He can't carry his team like other stars have done so with their teams in the playoffs. 2. To what extent? He is not going to keep dropping millions when he can get them elsewhere. Again. They are too top-heavy. It's common knowledge. They can't carry the four big players that they have now, and losing any of them is a giant blow. 4. I did agree with that, but they only have next year if they are lucky. Again, it all comes down to competing with the salary cap. That's what this is all about. They'll lose Hossa. And a team can swoop in and offer a ludicrous amount of money for Fleury or Malkin at any time, and if those players see more money, they'll take it. That's the way it is. (EDMONTON.) I'd be shocked if the Penguins don't make the playoffs next year, but the year after that, unless there are some amazing moves in the GM office, they are going to struggle. Edit: This: http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/news;_ylt=Ahko...p&type=lgns

Edit: Also way up there, I wasn't saying the Penguins road was easy, but this year they had a weak set of opponents. Philly is not a GREAT team, and without two big d-men, they were even more exposed. Again, even though they made it through, I wouldn't have fancied them against anyone from the West. (well, a few teams, but...) ^^Captaining a team in the NHL isn't a massive deal. The 'C' is basically thrown at the best player, regardless of age or maturity. I don't think that Crosby is deserving of the status, but definitely will be down the line. You need to have a well-seasoned veteran who is consistent and can control the game as your captain. I don't think the Pens really have that, but I wouldn't want Crosby as the captain on my team right now. Oh god, I completely missed the "Crosby is the best..." Ugh. I'm not going to get into that one... Bitter? What about? I hated both teams in the finals, but just wanted to see that punk Crosby without his name on the cup. About my team? I'm well over it now, and the celebration of 07/08 is still exciting to me. Of course, I'm not saying the Pens are the first team to have a bandwagon support, but they have an extremely annoying one. Boring arena, boring crowd, annoying fans from those who I have met. *shrug* Dunno what else to say. The Ducks bandwagon wasn't too massive. Hockey in Southern California has never been that big, and the Cup didn't really change that too much. The majority of the seats are still filled even when the team is in last. The reason I doubt the Penguins is not because of their ability, but their salary situation. Again, Hossa or Malkin is gone. They simply won't get rid of Crosby, and will want to keep Fluery, but that's too much salary cap to be spent on three players. They were way too top heavy, and that showed in the finals. They have very little to be confident about in the fourth line, and their checking line isn't anything to write home about either. I do like Staal, and I think he is going to develop into a great player, but in the NHL, you can only carry so many stars. Crosby is no Ovechkin or Gretzky in terms of consistency and ability to carry a team. We saw that both Crosby and Malkin are a bit too opportunistic of players in the finals, and couldn't handle the pressure. That'll probably change over the years (I'd bet on it), though. Sorry, but if you think the Crosby diving thing is bullshit, you have missed quite a bit of his hockey. It has definitely declined, but it is definitely still there. There is a reason so many hockey fans hate him, and diving is one of those reasons.

The Pens will not be back. And their bandwagon will thankfully die. (never seen a Pens top until this year. Can't wait for this to be over, because they are also some of the quietest, least passionate fans out there. They're absolutely dead unless they're ahead or close to being tied in a big game, and next year they are going to slowly decline to mediocre attendances if they are poor again.) Fleury (who I feel really bad for) is going to be considered an upper-tier netminder, and going to want AT LEAST $6 million. Crosby's current contract expires in two years, and is going to be making around $9 million, and Malkin and Hossa are going to want the same, as they are premier players as well. That's not going to agree with the salary cap, and they are going to find a more balanced team. I think Hossa is gone. Also, Penguins faced a shattered Philly with two huge D-men out, and the rather mediocre Rangers and Senators. There weren't a whole lot of teams I would have fancied the Pens over from the West. It was definitely the Western Conference's year. I do like Orpik on the Pens. He really impressed me in the series, as did Malone. Seriously. He takes a puck to the face and skates the same game? NHL players aren't even paid during the playoffs. That's amazing. I was pulling for the Red Wings, simply because Crosby is a diving punk, but now I'm back to hating both teams. It was a good series, though. And it was also the highest rated on ever here, which hopefully helps the sport out a bit. We need Bettman to get the !#%$ out of his role as commissioner, and maybe the sport will reach it's old quality. The Eastern Conference champions are the team that reaches the finals from the Eastern Conference. I mean, you can say "Regular Season Eastern Conference Champions," but no one really looks at them as the champions. And I don't think there is a trophy awarded for this. If you look at their Wiki page, the last time they were Eastern Conference Champions was 92/93, when they beat the Kings in the finals. I like the Habs for the this. I'm so ready for next season! I'll hopefully be at The Pond for opening day.