AHL- Apolyton Hockey League 08/09 (II): Game On

[Asher]

Are the Canucks, this year, the most obvious "one man team" ever?

[Asher]

Originally posted by snoopy369
Hawks/Bruins game was pretty cool tonight ... Khabi was The Bulin Wall indeed, 38 saves including some incredible ones where he left you wondering how he could've been in position to make the save. Tim Thomas did pretty well also; both let in just one goal on redirects in regulation. Pretty fun game to watch.

You should see my Tim Thomas thread.

[snoopy369]

I did He certainly played well, though Khabi faced much tougher shots. That Boston D is pretty tough...

[-Jrabbit]

Great game. If the Hawks could win a damn shootout, they'd be dangerous.

[snoopy369]

Fortunately shootouts don't matter in the playoffs

[Flubber]

Originally posted by snoopy369
Fortunately shootouts don't matter in the playoffs

True but UNfortunately they do matter in determining who gets to those playoffs.

While I have always thought the Blackhawks will make it this year, nothing is a certainty in that Wild Wild West and those lost points could end up being much regretted. There are a LOT of teams that could conceivably contend for a playoff spot

[snoopy369]

5-0-3 at home I won't argue with.

[Flubber]

Originally posted by snoopy369
5-0-3 at home I won't argue with.

Obviously an excellent record but would not 7-0-1 look much better

I'm just looking at the standings and right now Chicago is a mere 2 points ahead of 9th place Phoenix (admittedly with both Phoenix and Chicago having played 1-3 fewer games than most everyone else.

The point though is that it is currently close and if you keep letting the extra point go the other way it may be tough to get any breathing room. THat home record IS stellar but right now they are in a mash with pretty much everyone

[Flubber]

Some assessments of the Canadian teams at this early stage

Calgary-- Inconsistent but Kipper seems to be coming out of his early funk and the team has been getting some more balanced scoring than most years. The 3rd and 4th lines appear greatly improved. If Phaneuf can steady his defensive play a little more this team could be one to watch. The injury to Jim VanderMeer will be a bigger blow than people realize as he quietly was one of their steadiest defenders


Edmonton-- Difficult team to assess-- They remain one of the lower scoring teams and one of the few teams I have ever heard of to actually attempt to use a TRIO of goalies-- It seems to have worked lately such that who knows when Garon gets to play again-- The team has looked great in flashes but I actually expected more from them.

Vancouver-- No goalie trio here-- the award for "most resembling a one man team"-- In fairness, the team has played better than I expected and their defense is very solid and they have bven scoring slightly better than 3 goals a game. I don't know that I believe in them in the long haul but Luongo can be freaking amazing


Montreal-- My Habs--- A record of 9-2-2 speaks volumes. They should be good all year. Playoffs? THat will demonstrate if they have toughened up enough.

Toronto-- A team that has totally transformed itself in a year-- They are now fairly young and hungry but fundamentally they just do not seem good enough to make the playoffs. They will tease you through the year though. They have already gotten victories against Detroit and Montreal plus Toskala seems to be the real deal in net. Nowhere near as bad as people expected, I think they are just good eneough to barely miss the playoffs again

Ottawa-- I just don't know-- Two years ago they were an elite team. Last year they were an even more elite team for about 20 games and then went in the crapper. This year they seem mediocre-- I don't trust their goaltending even though their goals against is pretty good and I have been surprised by their lack of offense on many nights. There does seem to be the makings of a team in there but frankly I doubt their mettle


Some other teams

Tampa-- who would have expected they would score those few goals

San Jose-- yes they are THAT good ( in the reg. season)-- show me something in the playoffs

Dallas-- I predicetd them to fall last year and they fooled me. This year?? Give them even adequate goaltending and they would be solidly in a playoff spot. I won't bet agaionst them again and see them making it back and competing hard in the playoff hunt

[Flubber]

Wow-- the Flames are getting an asskicking tonight-- There are times when San Jose is just scary-good

[Asher]

Again, was on a plane with no TV.

[snoopy369]

Melrose is out ...

[q="yahoo.com"]

Tampa Bay Lightning fire Melrose as coach

By FRED GOODALL, AP Sports Writer 24 minutes ago

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In this Sept. 23, 2008 file photo, Tampa Bay Lightning head coach Barry Melrose, right, and assistant coach Rick Tocchet watch action during the first period of a preseason NHL hockey game against the New York Rangers in Tampa, Fla. The Lightning fired Melrose on Friday, Nov. 14, 2008, just 16 games into the season. Assistant Rick Tocchet was appointed interim head coach.
In this Sept. 23, 2008 file ph…
AP - Nov 14, 5:28 pm EST

* NHL Gallery

TAMPA, Fla. (AP)—Barry Melrose’s return to the NHL as coach of the Tampa Bay Lightning lasted 16 games. Now the job belongs to assistant Rick Tocchet.

Melrose was fired Friday less than five months after he left the television booth to coach a team that finished with the league’s worst record last season.

“This was a tough decision to make,” general manager Brian Lawton said. “Barry is a good man and we have a great deal of respect for him. We wish him nothing but success. However, the results were unacceptable and the players have to understand that we need to be better. Hopefully this change helps push them.”

Tocchet was promoted to interim head coach. He was sentenced to two years’ probation in August 2007 after pleading guilty in a gambling investigation into a sports betting ring. Tocchet said he never bet on NHL games.

“We think this is a great opportunity for him and we believe he’s the type of coach who can take the team to the next level,” Lawton said. “Our players have a great deal of respect for him.”

The Lightning have lost three straight games, dropping to fourth in the Southeast Division. Despite the presence of Martin St. Louis and Vincent Lecavalier, Tampa Bay ranks last in goals in the NHL.
In this Oct. 21, 2008 file photo, Tampa Bay Lightning head coach Barry Melrose watches from the bench with center Chris Gratton (77) as they play the Atlanta Thrashers during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Tampa, Fla. The Lightning fired Melrose on Friday, Nov. 14, 2008, just 16 games into the season. Assistant Rick Tocchet was appointed interim head coach.
In this Oct. 21, 2008 file pho…
AP - Nov 14, 5:27 pm EST

Melrose is the second NHL coach to be fired this season—the Chicago Blackhawks dismissed Denis Savard after four games.

Out of coaching for 13 years, Melrose was lured back to the bench by new Lightning owners Oren Koules and Len Barrie as a replacement for John Tortorella, who led Tampa Bay to its only Stanley Cup championship.

Melrose coached Los Angeles from 1992-95. In his first season, he helped the Wayne Gretzky-led Kings to the Stanley Cup finals, where they lost to the Montreal Canadiens. He spent 12 years at ESPN before taking over the Lightning.

At the time of his hiring, Melrose said his time in television enabled him to get a good read on what works in the NHL, as well as a “handle on the players that I would love to have in our organization when deals are made.”

Koules and Barrie were the primary investors in a group that purchased the Lightning for $206 million. The roster was overhauled during the summer, but the team got off to a slow start and has shown few signs of improvement.

Tocchet has been in the NHL for 25 years as a player and coach. He played 18 seasons with Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Los Angeles, Boston, Washington and Phoenix and served as an assistant coach with Colorado and Phoenix.

Tocchet rejoined Phoenix’s staff in February 2008 after a two-year absence that included a suspension by NHL commissioner Gary Bettman.
[/q]

link

[-Jrabbit]

That didn't take long.

Welcome back to ESPN, Barry!

[Flubber]

Cripes

I don't know if Melrose was a good coach or not BUT 16 games is all he gets???? Its not like he took a contended and made them suck. This team was LAST in the east last year and lost some pretty good dmen in the offseason. Considering that their goaltenders are not elite guys, their average of giving up less than 3 goals a game appears pretty decent actually.

I usually think of defence as the area that is more responsive to coachiing . So while I have been surprised at Tampa's lack of offense I wonder if there is much in the coach's systems that is causing this. Much good offense is creativity and skill of the player although good coaching can markedly improve the power play.

So I really question this decision. Did they really expect a contender this year? To the outsider it doesn't appear that the coach was given much of a chance here.

[snoopy369]

And replaced with Vegas Rick also ... even better

Welcome back to ESPN indeed.