NHL 2010/2011 season....

[mimic]

I was pretty ticked at Scottie Upshall for his hit on Bartulis that resulted in a shoulder injury that probably cost Oskars the rest of the season. So was the crowd - they went from cheering a former Flyer to booing him every time he touched the puck. Then Upshall apologized on twitter, writing that he didn't intend to injure anyone but that yes the hit was late. I wish more player would own up to their mistakes.

 

[Danny99]

Besides, people dragging Matt Cooke into this have no idea what they are talking about. Had Mario lashed out at the league for not suspending Steckel, then calling him a hypocrite would hold merit. But, that's not at all what he's doing. This isn't about hard open ice hits in the heat of play, or boarding defensemen playing a dump-in. Mario's upset because an entire team got off with a minor slap on the wrist for gooning up their roster, and repeatedly attempting to cause serious injury to members of his team. Mario's upset because pinning a man to the ice, and pummeling him in the head repeatedly long after he had fallen unconscious with a concussion was deemed to be a mere 9 game offense. He's upset because sucker punching an unsuspecting player in the back of the head as he passed by during a stoppage of play, and then pounding on him as he collapsed to the ground was deemed a mere 4 game suspension.

I disagree. So Cooke hitting Fedor Tyutin from behind got a "mere" four game suspension, while blindsiding Savard got him nothing.

I don't disagree that the Islanders deserve to be suspended and punished for that, but their behavior is the same goonish behavior as Cooke. It is hypocritical for Lemieux to come out like this when he's got his own goon running around.

 

[AdmiralGarak]

Cooke's hits were undeniably horrible hits. But those are the actions of a player crossing the line in the matter of a split second during a high speed game, and with no follow-up contact after the initial hit. Show me the point where Cooke crouched over Savard and repeatedly pummeled him in the face when he was unconscious. Show me the moment in which Cooke sucker punched Tyutin in the head as he collapsed. This is what Mario was upset about. Cooke's a goon that should be dealt with more severely, but the Islanders crossed a whole different line entirely by continuing to assault defenseless and injured players.

 

[Danny99]

I'm not denying that the Islanders were goons.

But Mario doesn't come out smelling like roses with a guy like Cooke on his team. If he had moved Cooke out, even after his second offense, then he'd look a little better.

Once owners, GM's, the NHLPA start standing up and taking repeat offenders out of the game for more significant amounts of time, heftier fines, or clearing them out for good, things will begin to change.

The problem is everyone loves having this type of player on their team until they get hurt by the one of the opposing team.

There is nothing wrong with a good hard bodycheck, but not when it's an elbow to the head.

 

[Danny99]

Trade deadline = boring.

Luckily there is nothing on daytime television.

 

[Canadave]

^ At least I wasn't expecting anything from the Leafs. And good on Burke for sitting tight, I don't think there are any trades he could have made to improve the team significantly in the long-term.

Incidentally, I just got back from seeing Peter Chiarelli speak here at the University of Ottawa. He's a grad of our law program, so the student association invited him here. It was pretty neat (and fairly low-key, in a smallish lecture hall). He spoke a lot about what being a GM in the NHL is like, how he approaches trade negotiations, etc.

 

[DeafPoet]

So, the Leafs won a nail-biter against the Pens. And they're now 4 points out of 8th place in the East. So, are they for real or is this a typical horseshit late season surge? They have a history of that. I haven't looked at the numbers but I wouldn't be surprised if they're like .650 after the All-Star break since the lockout. And missed the playoffs every time.

Personally, I think it's a long shot, but it's the best shot they've had in years. For years there's been talk about how deep the Leafs are prospect-wise in net and that seems to finally be coming home to roost. Reimer may or may not be a long-term solution but indications are he's going to continue his stellar play throughout the season. Or maybe not. Everyone's playing really well right now but if Reimer or especially Kessel take a break, then they're probably fucked.

I heard from somewhere that they can afford to lose no more than 5 games in regulation from here on out if they want a shot at the playoffs. That sounds about right to me.

I know we have a few Leafs fans around here, what do you guys think? Are they the real deal or are we going to have blue-and-white balls again this spring?

 

[Canadave]

^ It's an outside shot, but I think that, for once, it's a legitimate chance. I wouldn't put any money on them making it, but it's also probably not the worst bet you could ever make. It definitely depends a lot on Reimer and Kessel, as this run has a lot to do with both of them.

Incidentally, even though he's not lighting the scoring charts on fire, I think Lupol has done a lot to elevate Kessel's game. They seem to have good chemistry, and Lupol has been creating a lot of solid chances for Kessel. Sign a strong centre between the two of 'em, and you just might have a recipe for a very good scoring line.

Incidentally, here's the OT winner from last night. Talk about a team effort, and Phaneuf deserves serious props for starting that play:

[yt]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bYToGj0HNWY[/yt]

ETA: The Star put together a an article on what the Leafs need to do to make it a couple days ago. Here's their estimate of what's required over the next six weeks:

Week 1: Home to Pgh., at Pha., home to Chi.; Need four points (so that's two of four, then...)

Week 2: at NYI, home to Pha. and Buf.; Must beat NYI, Buf., preferably in regulation, for four points

Week 3: Home to TB, at Car., at Fla., home to Bos.; Need six points, including win over Car

Week 4: at Min., at Col., at Det; Better come out with three points

Week 5: at Buf., home to Bos. and Ott.; Two Ws and an OTL to Bos

Week 6: at Wash, home to N.J., at Mtl.; Another 2-0-1 week

 

[AdmiralGarak]

So, as previously stated, Gillies was suspended for a laughable nine games after repeatedly punching a disabled opponent in the head. His first game back, what does he do? Slams Clutterbuck's head into the boards from behind and gets tossed from the game. Yup.

 

[tomalak301]

So, as previously stated, Gillies was suspended for a laughable nine games after repeatedly punching a disabled opponent in the head. His first game back, what does he do? Slams Clutterbuck's head into the boards from behind and gets tossed from the game. Yup.

I know they won't do it, but I hope he gets suspended for the rest of the season. There is no place in the league for that kind of thing and that's not the reason I watch Hockey.

Now, since it is a hot topic, I don't like what Matt Cooke does either. I think the only difference though is Cooke actually does play hockey. Yeah he's a coward and lays dirty hits, but so does Ott and Avery to name a few. I don't think Cooke goes out there to intentionally hurt people right when he get's on the ice, like Guillies did. Also, the chances are very slim that Cooke would actually be kicked out of the league so it's really a moot issue.

 

[Canadave]

The Leafs just beat Philadelphia at home for the first time since March 12, 2008, and moved to within three points of the slumping New York Rangers. Clutch scoring, and big saves at critical times. I'm starting to believe there may be something to this team.

If nothing else, it's damned exciting.

 

[Danny99]

If you had told me the Leafs would be in the playoff hunt at this point a few months ago, my reaction would be similar to:

[yt]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3-eavMSBnk[/yt]

They need a lot of luck to get in. But I'll be hopeful to the end.

 

[Winterwind]

Great clip!

And this late season push is... nice, damned nice, but the Leafs have done that a few times since the lockout. Hot and cold through the season leading up to the all-star break then they turn it on and make a push for 8th. Regardless of whether they make it or not I'll be happy to see them not giving Boston another lottery pick.

I'm just hoping that Reimer doesn't get the almost expected "sophomore slump" that a lot of rookies, especially goalies, experience next year. Read an interesting article the other day about Reimer's style, strengths and areas of improvement. One of the things discussed was the second year slump that goalies undergo, that being largely due to the scouts getting out and about and teams then being more familiar with the goalie.

 

[Derishton]

Where did the Flyers disappear to on Sunday?!? I've been expecting that they'd overtake the Canucks for first, given their easier schedule, but not if they get thrashed 7-0 by the relatively lowly Rangers.

 

[Alidar Jarok]

It was their fourth straight loss too. It's the definition of a slump, that's all I can say.

 

[Warped9]

Total bullshit. Chara hits Pacorietty, takes him out for the season and gets...nada.

It's disingenuous to claim he didn't mean to hurt him. Pacorietty didn't have the puck and Chara knew he was near the bench boards and hitting a guy there has potential for injury. I'm not saying he meant to seriously hurt him, but he did and when you make a decision to check someone who doesn't even have the puck then you're gambling it doesn't go wrong. This time it did and there should have been at least a couple of games suspension.

 

[Garak]

Ditto - I don't think Chara is a dirty player, but I would have thought it would have warranted a 2 game suspension due to the fact the puck was no where near them.

 

[AdmiralGarak]

Tough call letting Chara off. Yesterday I would have argued that it was too lenient, but the more I've seen the hit replayed the more I think this was the right decision. There is simply no evidence that he had any intention of driving Pacioretty into the stanchion, and certainly not head first. It was a clean and legal hockey hit that ended in a fluke disaster out of the players' control.

What I'd like to seem come of this is to redesign the stanchions so that it doesn't happen again. Look at guard rails. Many curve downward and/or away from the roads at the ends to prevent just this sort of blunt impact. There needs to be an effort to deflect the impact rather than simply piling on layer after layer of padding.

 

[Warped9]

Pacorietty didn't have the possession of the puck, hence Chara had no justification for checking him. I don't think he intended to drive Pacorietty into the stanchion, but he enacted a check in a dangerous place with real possibility of getting hurt. Instead of letting Pacorietty go (since he didn't have the puck) Chara still chose to nail him. He has responsibility for his actions.

Except in the NHL where this sort of thing happens often enough with no consequences.

 

[Warped9]

Hmm.. Interesting. Pacorietty is lucid enough to remember the hit and says that Chara but his hand on him and pushed him into the boards.

Interesting...