2018-2019 NHL Hockey Thread

[zimmer]

Wow. Hawks just took their 7th straight. Just a few points off the wildcard.

I guess these guys don’t want to get traded.

Impressively:

Christopher Kamka on Twitter: "NHL point leaders
January 20-present
Kane CHI 6 G, 10 A 16 pts
Toews CHI 7 G, 7 A 14 pts
DeBrincat CHI 4 G, 10 A 14 pts
Strome CHI 4 G, 10 A 14 pts
Aho CAR 3 G, 9 A 12 pts
Marchand BOS 2 G, 10 A 12 pts
#Blackhawks"

The West is amazing. I figured LA was out of it. Chicago out of it. Blues out of it... Hell, everyone is in it for the last wild card spot. The next 5 or 6 games will help sort out the logjam.

And what about the Ducks!!! Holy **** they tanked hard.

As for the Islanders, Trotz has done an awesome job. He’s tightened up their D, and it’s made a world of difference.

 

[zimmer]

Flyers had to lose a game eventually. So now I can post!!! :mrgreen:

Since it was an overtime loss the Flyers can still boast no regulation losses in 9 straight games.

I know this fairy-tale streak doesn't mean much in the larger scheme, but it sure does feel good to be at least a little consistent.

I feel quite confident in the goal-tending future of the Flyers. Carter Hart will hopefully just improve as he gets older.

What happens with the rest of the team is a huge question.

I don't know if the Flyers will make a Wild Card playoff spot or not. I expect not.

But at least I got a good 2 week burst of fun hockey to watch. :2wave:

Carter Hart... the 2019 Bernie Parent?

 

[zimmer]

Vancouver seems to be making a comeback. Isles grind out another one, 2 - 1 in a shootout against the Devils.

Amazing what one kid can do. Pettersson has amazing skills and is the type of talent that elevates teams. Was unexpected. Combined with Boeser... fun to watch. Horvat... a stud.

A pretty solid crew.

Great work between the pipes by Markstrom.

Pretty good season for what everyone considered to be a write-off rebuild year.

 

[Hari Seldon]

Amazing what one kid can do. Pettersson has amazing skills and is the type of talent that elevates teams. Was unexpected. Combined with Boeser... fun to watch. Horvat... a stud.

A pretty solid crew.

Great work between the pipes by Markstrom.

Pretty good season for what everyone considered to be a write-off rebuild year.

Half their supporters want another lottery pick the others want the playoffs. I doubt they get past the first round.

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[Hari Seldon]

10 games. 20 points available. Flyers get 19 points.

HUGE test next game.
Penguins. :censored

They got hosed by the refs on that early whistle on the power play. Over 40 shots and nothing.

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[zimmer]

Half their supporters want another lottery pick the others want the playoffs. I doubt they get past the first round.

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If they get in and get past the first round, Markstrom will be key.

 

[Hari Seldon]

If they get in and get past the first round, Markstrom will be key.

They got destroyed at home by San Jose.

 

[zimmer]

They got destroyed at home by San Jose.

That’s hockey... win some, lose some. Regroup... study the good and bad, rededicate... try again.

 

[Dragonfly]

They got hosed by the refs on that early whistle on the power play. Over 40 shots and nothing.

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Refs totally hosed the Flyers last night too. Called a double minor high sticking penalty against Flyers when it was clear the offending stick was from the Wild.
Fortunately the Flyers killed off that 4 minutes and came back to win the game after being down 3-1 at the end of the first period.

Some seriously BAD calls from the refs lately. Seriously bad.

 

[zimmer]

They got destroyed at home by San Jose.

Markstrom has back spasms. Not good.

 

[Hari Seldon]

Markstrom has back spasms. Not good.

I read about it. They hung a 19 year old DiPietro out to dry. Not good. My Isles finally lost a grinder to Buffalo. Their goalie was terrific, plenty of chances turned away. Can't win them all. Big game in Columbus tonight.

 

[zimmer]

I read about it. They hung a 19 year old DiPietro out to dry. Not good. My Isles finally lost a grinder to Buffalo. Their goalie was terrific, plenty of chances turned away. Can't win them all. Big game in Columbus tonight.

Great to see hockey fans here.

Amazing what a coach can do... I think the Islanders coaching is key to their turn-around.

Saw an interview where an NHL analyst spoke with Trotz, who quoted him saying the key is tightening the defensive play, and that it wasn’t complicated. He’s done it. Hat tip to Trotz.

I like Columbus... been following the progress of one of their 4th-liners... Hannikainen.

Nice win for the Isles vs. Columbus.

Got to know... a little bit... a few decades ago... one of the Islanders in his home country... Sweden who was part of the dynasty. Without looking, can you name him? (Jeopardy theme )

 

[Hari Seldon]

Great to see hockey fans here.

Amazing what a coach can do... I think the Islanders coaching is key to their turn-around.

Saw an interview where an NHL analyst spoke with Trotz, who quoted him saying the key is tightening the defensive play, and that it wasn’t complicated. He’s done it. Hat tip to Trotz.

I like Columbus... been following the progress of one of their 4th-liners... Hannikainen.

Nice win for the Isles vs. Columbus.

Got to know... a little bit... a few decades ago... one of the Islanders in his home country... Sweden who was part of the dynasty. Without looking, can you name him? (Jeopardy theme )

Kenny Johanson? Not sure how to spell it. Defenseman

 

[Redress]

The Russian Five movie, in theaters March 22: Trailer at link: Video | The Russian Five

Oh, here it is at youtube:



Best line: "and I get a call on my home phone, it is the state department, 'Do you know where Federov is?'"

 

[Hari Seldon]

So when does Columbus get Mark Stone? Jesus. At least the Isles get a home & home with the Sens sans all their top scorers.

 

[CanadaJohn]

Gotta love Islanders' fans. Great job perpetuating the image of the classless, boorish, American at Thursday's game against the Leafs. I can understand how Islander fans might be upset that Tavares left the team after last year, but seriously, can you blame him? Nine years he gave his best to the team that drafted him first overall and yet he spent nine years with a disaster of a franchise that did NOTHING to build a competitive team around their star player. And the Islander fans abandoned the Islander franchise long before Tavares did. Last year, Tavares' last with the franchise, saw the Islanders averaging 12,000 fans a game, THE WORST IN THE LEAGUE, even behind great hockey markets like Arizona, Carolina and Florida, averaging 76% of capacity. Can you blame a guy for abandoning a team whose fan base has abandoned it? Can you blame a guy for wanting to get something out of his career in the NHL and not languish with a tire fire of a franchise?

Tavares is a class act and he's come to a franchise, here in Toronto, that is a class act in this league with a fan base that adores the team, supports the team, with butts in the seats win or lose. And with all the crap in Long Island, Tavares has repeatedly said he loved playing for the Islanders, loved living in the area, and gave the team all his best - never said a bad word about the franchise he left to come home to a team he felt was trying desperately to be successful and desperately wanted Tavares to be part of that success.

Finally, I have to laugh as well that the majority of 'fans" who came out to watch the Islanders on Thursday did so in greater numbers than the year's average but still couldn't manage a sellout and just to spew their vitriol against Tavares. Imagine how the Islanders' players must feel that they came out to spew against Tavares rather than in support of their own team that has had a super year on the ice, is residing currently in first place, and deserves a better fan base than they have. Can't blame a guy for coming to a team that shows it wants to win and a fan base that wants to win and supports him and the team fully.

 

[Redress]

RIP Ted Lindsay.

 

[Redress]

Happy Richard Riot Day everyone!

 

[CanadaJohn]

Pretty nice game for John Tavares tonight - 4 goals, bringing him into the conversation with Alex Ovechkin for the Rocket Richard trophy - going to be tough to catch Ovechkin, but here in Toronto we'll be behind him 100%.

Took Austen Matthews one game in the NHL to have his first 4 goal game and took Tavares over 9 years in the NHL, and most importantly a year away from the classless Islanders, for him to have his first 4 goal game in the NHL, shattering his career goal scoring totals his first year with the Leafs, now with 45, coming to a team that has paired him with some talented players on his wings which he never really had in New York.

Pretty good example of why Tavares made a perfect choice last summer to leave NY and come home to Toronto.

 

[Redress]

Pretty nice game for John Tavares tonight - 4 goals, bringing him into the conversation with Alex Ovechkin for the Rocket Richard trophy - going to be tough to catch Ovechkin, but here in Toronto we'll be behind him 100%.

Took Austen Matthews one game in the NHL to have his first 4 goal game and took Tavares over 9 years in the NHL, and most importantly a year away from the classless Islanders, for him to have his first 4 goal game in the NHL, shattering his career goal scoring totals his first year with the Leafs, now with 45, coming to a team that has paired him with some talented players on his wings which he never really had in New York.

Pretty good example of why Tavares made a perfect choice last summer to leave NY and come home to Toronto.

Except he might have gotten further in the playoffs with the Islanders. And so much less drama....

 

[CanadaJohn]

Except he might have gotten further in the playoffs with the Islanders. And so much less drama....

You're seeing more in the Islanders' future than I'm seeing at this point. I see a far greater chance of the Leafs beating Boston than the Islanders beating either Pittsburgh or Washington. But then, I don't really expect much in the playoffs from this Leafs team although they do have the talent capacity to get on a serious run but that depends on them getting their two injured top four defensemen back very soon.

 

[Redress]

You're seeing more in the Islanders' future than I'm seeing at this point. I see a far greater chance of the Leafs beating Boston than the Islanders beating either Pittsburgh or Washington. But then, I don't really expect much in the playoffs from this Leafs team although they do have the talent capacity to get on a serious run but that depends on them getting their two injured top four defensemen back very soon.

It depends on them learning to play defensively. Really hard to consistently win 5-4 in the playoffs. Boston right now is the better, more complete team.

 

[CanadaJohn]

It depends on them learning to play defensively. Really hard to consistently win 5-4 in the playoffs. Boston right now is the better, more complete team.

I can't disagree that the Leafs, lately, have lacked defensive consistency and commitment - that's largely related to having multiple minor leaguers playing the past month - but I'd hardly claim the Bruins are a more "complete" team. They have one forward line - granted maybe the best in the league - but inferior overall forward talent. Defense is a wash between the two, when healthy, and the Leafs have the better number one goaltender.

Leafs have the 4th/5th best record in the NHL and a top 3 record on the road in the league and they haven't been very good the past month. While I readily have stated I don't think they are a Stanley Cup contender this year, I don't think the Bruins are either and most observers would concede that in that matchup, the outcome is a toss up with no clear winner. Series likely to go 6 or 7 games, outcome likely depending on whose goalie plays best.

Conversely, I don't know anyone, other than diehard Islanders' fans, who think they would be favoured or even a toss up playing either of Washington or Pittsburgh, one of whom will be their almost guaranteed first round opponent.

 

[Hicup]

I can't disagree that the Leafs, lately, have lacked defensive consistency and commitment - that's largely related to having multiple minor leaguers playing the past month - but I'd hardly claim the Bruins are a more "complete" team. They have one forward line - granted maybe the best in the league - but inferior overall forward talent. Defense is a wash between the two, when healthy, and the Leafs have the better number one goaltender.

Leafs have the 4th/5th best record in the NHL and a top 3 record on the road in the league and they haven't been very good the past month. While I readily have stated I don't think they are a Stanley Cup contender this year, I don't think the Bruins are either and most observers would concede that in that matchup, the outcome is a toss up with no clear winner. Series likely to go 6 or 7 games, outcome likely depending on whose goalie plays best.

Conversely, I don't know anyone, other than diehard Islanders' fans, who think they would be favoured or even a toss up playing either of Washington or Pittsburgh, one of whom will be their almost guaranteed first round opponent.

Defensive woes notwithstanding, I think Babcock over thinks things too much. I have said for at least a year that Matthews needs to play in Marner's position on the right and Marner play Matthews position on the left during the PP1. No other team in the league as far as I know have a left handed sniper on the left and a right handed sniper on the right. Ovechkin and Stamkos live off the one-timer on the PP, Babcock needs to make this adjustment for the playoffs.

That said, AAARRGGHH We're playing Boston again in the 1st round. I think Boston is in their heads (As well as mine) and they really need an answer for them. Anderson needs to be stellar. I suppose it doesn't matter as Tampa is going to win the cup this year, barring any major injury.



Tim-

 

[Dragonfly]

I can't disagree that the Leafs, lately, have lacked defensive consistency and commitment

You mean like last night? :mrgreen: :lamo


You get last laugh though - your team will be playing 2 weeks from now, my team won't.