AHL- Apolyton Hockey League 07/08: VI They brought their ****in' toys with 'em!

[Flubber]

Originally posted by Asher
It's official: Phaneuf, 6 years @ $6.5M


Iginla, Phaneuf, Regehr, Kiprusoff all locked-up long term.

A fine core-- I like it a lot

But the key will be how well Sutter can do in finding those 3rd liners and 4th liners that can contribute and at a reasonable salary. I actually have not been that greatly impressed with what he has provided thus far.

So far on the 3rd and 4th lines I have seen guys that don't score and don't hit big. there are times when they buzz around and look dangerous but they never seem to finish. I'm actually wondering what the role for a Yelle is these days since he doesn't seem to be a regular penalty-killer any more

One guy I liked on the those lines was Nystrom-- I hope injury does not kep him out too long because he showed a great effort every time I saw him and at least was irritating the other team

[Flubber]

Edmonton wins again

I'll say one thing-- those guys don't quit and are only 6 points out of a playoff spot (that is slightly misleading since the Oil have played 2 more games)

Last night they get outshot again 40-23 IIRC yet again only surrender one goal-- I didn't see the game-- did garon steal it or were the Hawks shots mainly crappy and from the outside. The Hawks seem to be in freefall but with their young offensive talent I have high hopes for them in years to come ( I just want them to continue their losing skid for ONE more night

Western conference standings are insane right now. Its tight and even Dallas is not that secure given how many teams are chasing. Really nobody can afford a long losing skid. PLus teams like 9th place Phoenix have been playing very well and have to be considered a real threat to grab a playoff spot . Vancouver is in 10th but their defence is decimated (they dressed FOUR rookie d-men last night!!) and if they get those guys back I have to figure Luongo can bring that team to a playoff spot.


BUt if either of those teams make it, who out of the current top 8 drops?

[Flubber]

The east is even more mucked up. Washington is now the third seed ONLY because they lead the southeast-- on their record they would be ninth-- but even that is a great improvement (7-3 in their last 10).

Like the West there are a LOT of teams hanging about just outside a playoff spot but the reality for teams like Tampa and the Leafs is that they would have to get very hot right now. Trailing by 8 or 10 points does not seem like a lot but if you assume that those ahead of you will earn an average of a point a game ( a reasonable enough assumption since for every team that falters there may be another that surges), you would be looking at the Leafs needing records like 18-10 or 14-6-8 to contend. Tough sledding -- I haven't heard that the Leafs have thrown in the towel ( and a five game win streak would alter things considerably) but they have to be considering that this year they will be a seller by the trade deadline

[Asher]

An oldie but a goodie.

[snoopy369]

Originally posted by Flubber
Edmonton wins again

I'll say one thing-- those guys don't quit and are only 6 points out of a playoff spot (that is slightly misleading since the Oil have played 2 more games)

Last night they get outshot again 40-23 IIRC yet again only surrender one goal-- I didn't see the game-- did garon steal it or were the Hawks shots mainly crappy and from the outside. The Hawks seem to be in freefall but with their young offensive talent I have high hopes for them in years to come ( I just want them to continue their losing skid for ONE more night

Western conference standings are insane right now. Its tight and even Dallas is not that secure given how many teams are chasing. Really nobody can afford a long losing skid. PLus teams like 9th place Phoenix have been playing very well and have to be considered a real threat to grab a playoff spot . Vancouver is in 10th but their defence is decimated (they dressed FOUR rookie d-men last night!!) and if they get those guys back I have to figure Luongo can bring that team to a playoff spot.


BUt if either of those teams make it, who out of the current top 8 drops?

Garon stole it, although the 40 shots weren't all high quality, you had at least 2 or 3 sportscenter saves where he saved it after it went past him The Hawks were playing like crud, after the 1st period. The 1st period they were going after the puck and playing hard and doing well; after that, they just gave up three goals relatively quickly, and had a hard time playing well in the Edmonton end. They had 8 power plays, mostly in the 2nd and 3rd periods, including a SIX ON THREE for half a minute (pulled goalie), but couldn't score... they just passed too much.

On the scored-on end, the Hawks couldn't keep Edmonton from goal-sitting (or whatever you call it when one guy sits three feet from the goal and waits for a puck to redirect it). It's also how the Hawks scored their goal, but it was how several Oil goals went in. Lalime also played pretty averagely, at least two of those goals should've been relatively easy saves...

[Kontiki]

Damn, I didn't get Heatley activated fast enough. The guy goes and gets 2 goals, an assist, a PP goal and is +1 in his first game back.

[notyoueither]

Originally posted by Flubber
Looking again at the clip-- I don't call that a 'late hit" by Phaneuf-- Heck he was almost in contact with the guy who cycled the puck back behind him-- Phaneuf may or may not have seen where the puck went but either way he finished his check-- and that one was not a particularly big hit--hell it was hardly even a hit

Then Moreau mugs Phaneuf from behind and you have the gall to slam Phaneuf for the hit and then for fighting with a visor

THis is bullcrap all the way-- There is nothing at all to fault Phaneuf for in this play-- Nothing.

Oh and thats not to say he is a pleasant guy--He is cocky and I don't doubt that other players in the league will call him on that. I applaud that-- I enjoy the physical battles when another big strong guy battles Phaneuf hard (I even like the fights when its real hockey players that are legitimately peeved at each other that fight-- The ritualistic battles between the 'heavyweights" while somewhat interesting to see, generally leave me cold)

But if that hit is your idea of a 'late hit' then we have a very different idea of how hockey should be played.

I didn't say it was actually a late hit, but past acts colour the view of current ones for opposing players and fans. A lot of people are viewing Dion as a bit of a douche for a couple reasons, so it is not surprising that other teams give him less than a benefit of a doubt. It's also not surprising the refs don't give him the benefit of the doubt.

Moreau has more than likely wanted to clock Dion for more than half the year. He sees half an excuse to do it... bang, bang.

Dion's game is catching up to him.

[Asher]

Dion's game of clean hits, hardest in the NHL?

I've heard Dion is cocky, but I've never heard him described as a douche before except by Edmonton fans (for obvious reasons).

For all of your pandering and slander, and hilariously disconnected-from-reality depiction of the Moreau incident, you've nothing to back up your words but your hate for a rival's star player.

[notyoueither]

Originally posted by snoopy369


Garon stole it, although the 40 shots weren't all high quality, you had at least 2 or 3 sportscenter saves where he saved it after it went past him The Hawks were playing like crud, after the 1st period. The 1st period they were going after the puck and playing hard and doing well; after that, they just gave up three goals relatively quickly, and had a hard time playing well in the Edmonton end. They had 8 power plays, mostly in the 2nd and 3rd periods, including a SIX ON THREE for half a minute (pulled goalie), but couldn't score... they just passed too much.

On the scored-on end, the Hawks couldn't keep Edmonton from goal-sitting (or whatever you call it when one guy sits three feet from the goal and waits for a puck to redirect it). It's also how the Hawks scored their goal, but it was how several Oil goals went in. Lalime also played pretty averagely, at least two of those goals should've been relatively easy saves...

Screening is what they call it, but none of the goals fit the bill.

The 1st and 4th were good shots from the point that simply beat Lalime.

The 2nd and 3rd I can see what you are referring to, but they are not 'garbage' goals. Penner's goal was a deflection off his stick from a pass off the side boards as he went to the net. It is not an easy goal to score.

Moreau's goal (the 3rd) was more blind luck, but again he was going to the net, and not sitting there waiting for it. That one was a lucky bounce off him into the net.

[snoopy369]

I didn't mean garbage goals, I meant what you described, good play getting a pass into the guy in front of the net... 2nd and 3rd goals indeed. Edmonton was doing what they were supposed to, but the Hawks both times had a player near the player who scored the goal in front of the net and should've put more of a body on them. The first and fourth I thought both should've been stopped, but what can you do, we have our backup goalie in there.

Tonight the Hawks played much better, particularly with the Bulin Wall stopping some great shots in the third period... Flames played decently from the little I saw, but the Hawks just played harder (and got a bit lucky).

Iginla dodged another fight, I saw

[notyoueither]

Originally posted by Asher
Dion's game of clean hits, hardest in the NHL?

I've heard Dion is cocky, but I've never heard him described as a douche before except by Edmonton fans (for obvious reasons).

For all of your pandering and slander, and hilariously disconnected-from-reality depiction of the Moreau incident, you've nothing to back up your words but your hate for a rival's star player.

Actually, I quite like Iginla and Kipper despite them being Flames.

Dion has some less than attractive parts to his game, and they don't involve his good, clean hits. They involve his play off the puck and after the whistle, and how he interacts with other players.

Incidently, if you want to know how popular a player who goes way out of his way for the big hit is among players of other teams, ask Marchment and Stevens.

[notyoueither]

Originally posted by snoopy369
I didn't mean garbage goals, I meant what you described, good play getting a pass into the guy in front of the net... 2nd and 3rd goals indeed. Edmonton was doing what they were supposed to, but the Hawks both times had a player near the player who scored the goal in front of the net and should've put more of a body on them. The first and fourth I thought both should've been stopped, but what can you do, we have our backup goalie in there.

Goal sitting would be parking in front of or by the net and waiting for the tip or rebound. It isn't generally used to describe going to the net, and isn't usually used to describe play in the NHL at all.

Anyone, like Ryan Smyth, who can make a living parked in front of the net with the tip and the rebound is generally quite highly regarded. NHL level defencemen do not allow that to be an easy life, and getting goals on NHL goalies is no easy task no matter how you get them.

[Flubber]

Snoopy

The hawks played pretty well but they got very lucky-- There were FOUR separate shots that beat khabibulin and clanged off a post ( or maybe he just had the angle played perfectly). The Flames also had a couple of very close in chances where 'bulin came up large.

The Flames-- a pretty good defensive effort and Kipper did ok-- My only beef despite the abovenoted chances was that the Flames didn't generate enough.. They outplayed the Hawks slightly but only slightly-- After crapping themselves against the Oil and then having that great 3rd against the Coyotes I wanted to see them dominate a game-- I wanted a super hard effort that was so good that Chicago could not stand up to the pressure. I actually noted that the 4th line got a fair bit of time tonight with the attempt at energy by Smioth and Boyd most apparent-- too bad those guys aren't bigger or have better finish because they always seem to try real hard

[Asher]

Originally posted by snoopy369

Tonight the Hawks played much better, particularly with the Bulin Wall stopping some great shots in the third period... Flames played decently from the little I saw, but the Hawks just played harder (and got a bit lucky).

Khabibulin owns the Flames. He's 19-5-2 in his career vs Calgary.

Iginla dodged another fight, I saw

Against who? Unless it's the opposing team's star, good on him.

[Flubber]

Originally posted by Asher




Against who? Unless it's the opposing team's star, good on him.

It was Craig Adams--he has 5 points this season and plays between 5 and 12 minutes a game.

It was actually a funny moment because they came together with no prelude that I saw and Adams dropped his gloves and then shoved Iggy-- Iggy gave him a disgusted look like "you have to be kidding me" stared at Adams for another couple of seconds and then moved off. Adams had just picked up his gloves when David Halle arrived on the scene and the two quickly had a minor bout of their own.

The flip side is that Iggy was so ineffective last night that a little bout might have been a bigger contribution than anything he actually did


But in the principle, I am in agreement with Asher. Stars should not accept every challenge with every idiot player that wantes to remove them from the game for 5 minutes. Halle is a third string defenceman and is the proper opponent for a 3rd/4th liner like Adams that wants a fight for the sake of a fight. Actually IMHO it is part of the 'code' that the role players don't go seeking fights with the stars.

How silly would it be to the Iginla's, Crosbie's and Ovechkin's of the world trooping to the box game after game because they were expected to accept such challenges.