kyle*
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Posts posted by kyle*
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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!
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People moan about 'idenikit' stadia in Scotland. Hockey arenas are complete clones
Change the decoration and that could be the Wachovia Centre in Philadelphia
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.
Nice photos kyle*, in the third photo it looks like the big scoreboard over the ice is on fire with the smoke coming from it
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?)
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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)
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Please do. I'm going to try to get to a game next month, so I'll try and remember as well.
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 not into Ice Hockey as much as you all seem to be, but I went to the Rangers/Chicago game at Madison Square Gardens last Friday when I was in NY, and I loved it.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.
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The Sharks go 2-0 behind another excellent forward display, this time the third and fourth lines getting in on the scoring in a 3-1 over the Kings, who are going to struggle again, with no real goaltender and losing Rob Blake to free agency.
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.
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For any Bay area supporters, the San Jose Sharks looked excellent in a 4-1 win over the Ducks.
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.
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My tickets are coming through the mail. Can't wait for the season to finally begin.
Ducks for the cup!
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Anyone here ever got tickets to one of the NHL games?
I'm in New York when the Rangers are at home to Chicago Blackhawks, but having problems getting a ticket.
Ticketmaster doesn't list the event, I've tried Stub Hub, but their website won't accept a non American address.
Any ideas?
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.
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You didn't have to jusitfy yourself!
I was just saying, your pretty pro-Ovechkin
I am not saying that I don't like Alex, nothing like that, I actually really like him, he is confident, has loads of flare and unlike your usual poofy frowards (excluding Iggy obviously B) ) he actually checks c***s, fights and done Cheli a beast at the Olympics (I think)
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 play NHL 2K8 on the PS3I still play... 2K2 on the Dreamcast! 2K8 was a bit too arcade-y for me this year.
Edit:
Pens offer salary arbitration to Fleury
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You sure your a Shitey Fucks fan?
Theres a lot of Ovechkin loving coming from you
Oh and that goal is unreal B)
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?
And that goal is ridiculous. He had no right whatsoever to actually score that.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.
Cheers Kyle that acutally makes sense to me
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.
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Who won their equivilent of the league?
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.)
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Hah, didn't wind me up at all!
We all knew that since the Caps made the post season that Ovechkin was gonna win it.
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.
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I like the Penguins. Oh well, next year
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.
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Who won it then? I dont pay attention to hockey
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).0 -
Sup, guys?
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Could be as late as 2011.
But how f**k is the Igloo boring? It is the oldest arena in the league and has the most character too.
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.
Some of that is nonsense.1- Checking has greatly improved over the past 4, 5 months.
2. Crosby has willingly taken a pay cut in order to help out his team.
3. Crosby is young, but he is definitely a leader. Of that there is no question.
4. I doubt it was the pressure that got to the Pens stars, but rather lack of experience, which of course they will have next year.
Penguins will be back.
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:
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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...
That is one of the most biiter things I've ever read!Obviously there are a lot of people who have started following the Pens over the past few months, but the same happened with the Ducks, and the same will happen again when any team goes on a good run. I can remember watching the Pens when they finished bottom of the league overall, and they've come so far in such a short period of time.
How can you say they won't be back? The team will be pretty much the same next year, except one year older and with experience of reaching the Final. Crosby will be 21, Malkin 22 and Staal 20.
Re Crosby diving, I'd like to point out that it is bullshit, and he has almost totally cut it out of his game now. He used to do it a lot more. The way some people act, Sid could hit a shot from the red line and it'd go over the glass, yet it'd still count and he'd be credited with 4 assists.
Anyway, roll on next season. Go Penguins.
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.
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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.
Eastern Conference - 2007-2008Rank GP W L OT Pts
1 z - Montréal Canadiens 82 47 25 10 104
2 y - Pittsburgh Penguins 82 47 27 8 102
3 y - Washington Capitals 82 43 31 8 94
4 x - New Jersey Devils 82 46 29 7 99
5 x - New York Rangers 82 42 27 13 97
6 x - Philadelphia Flyers 82 42 29 11 95
7 x - Ottawa Senators 82 43 31 8 94
8 x - Boston Bruins 82 41 29 12 94
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.
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Should've won tonight 4 or 5 to 1. The chances, the chances...
N H L Returns: Official Ice hockey thread
in All Other Sports
Posted · Edited by kyle*
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.