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NHL Regular Season 2017-18

#241
DerekW said:
Are you sure you’re a Pens fan?
You seem to hate everything about your 5th place in the league, back to back, and 3 in 8 years, Stanley cup champions.

Have you become this jaded by having such a consistently excellent team, that you think they have to be in first place all the time? Hasn’t worked out for the Caps lately.
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Yes, I'm sure.
Yes, I'm jaded. I expect more because I have been given more.
I don't need the Pens to be in first place all season long.
I don't expect Murray to give away glove side high goals over and over and over again.
I don't expect Malkin to turn into some pass happy fancy boy.
I don't expect Maatta to play with his head down half the time and skate himself into no-win situations.
What's with all the M guys anyway?
I expect Reaves to be the workman he has been so far and remind the other team he's on the ice.
I expect Hagelin to keep being the excellent player he has been.
I expect Hornqvist to continue to be my favorite Pen. I love how he posts up in front of the goal and does the dirty work. Totally reminds me of Holmstrom for the Wings years ago, although Patrick isn't quite as good as Tomas was.
I expect the Pens to play 60 minutes every single night and not let games get away from them like they have been this season.
I expect Rutherford to make a move on a real backup to Murray.
I expect Crosby to get out of whatever funk he is in, stop playing like a baby, and take over the NHL before Matthews makes him a distant memory.

-Mike
 
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#242
Great post, Mike.

The only thing I disagree with is where you state that Holmstrom was better than Hornqvist. All Holmstrom ever did was park his ass in front of the net and screen the goalie while netting a few garbage goals every now and then. Horny actually plays all 200 feet of the ice, especially the corners. Other than being Swedes, no comparison IMHO.

Re Crosby: I don't know what is going on with him this past week especially. Seems distracted or preoccupied most shifts. Scarily similar to the early part of the '15-'16 season prior to Johnston's firing. He still will step up with a flash of brilliance periodically, but overall he's been a pretty average player lately. But he's human, not a machine, and I know he'll step up when it counts as always. He's still the best player in the world. For the moment. 97 and 34 hot on his tail though...
 
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#243
Hey , 2 wins out of 2 in Sweden , we'll take it !
(Not very convincing wins but still....)

On another note, Don Cherry expressed his (somewhat no always good) view on the new arena not being built in downtown Ottawa and suggested that they should move to Quebec.
As an Ex Nordiques fan who then took the Sens as my Team , I would have never thought of this absolutely fantastic wet fantasy.


What a strange individual .....
(I'll be polite)

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#247
Well, Sid found the net again after an 11-game drought. And set up the GWG in OT. Still, for most of the game he just didn't look like the Sid we all know he can be. Timing was off, his usual dazzling puck work wasn't as sharp, but he still came through when the team needed it most. (I wonder how much of a butt-chewing Eichel got after leaving Sheary wide open at the net?)

Glad the Pens pulled it out, but geez, it's against the second-worst team in the league, and they had them at home. Trailed three different times...their only lead was the game-winner. Gotta do better in these games against the bottom half.
 
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#248
Oilers finally explode for a blowout. Connor back up among league leaders in scoring (T7). Great to see Nuge having a very nice comeback year.

Not expecting much from Cammalleri but Jokinen was giving us absolutely nothing. I was quite surprised by that, his rep was as a very good 2way player, but he sucked both ends. Father time catching up? Dunno.
 
#249
Jokinen is one of those players that seems to always leave a great situation. He doesn't seem to recognize a good fit when he's in one.

In Carolina, he was an important part of their team, especially in shootouts. In Pittsburgh, he was heavily depended on for certain situations, and came through quite well. Perfect third-liner. In Florida, he was also a mainstay at both ends of the ice, and a leader with all the youth they had. Was invisible in Edmonton but maybe the Kings will get good use out of him. I'd love to see him back in the 'burgh. Perhaps the Pens can unload Riley Sheahan for him. :smug:
 
#251
Well isn't this special?
The Pens roll into Ottawa Thursday night for Duchene's first home game as a Sen, and it's the return of Bobby Ryan.

Meantime the Flames and Wings take turns blowing each other out. Detroit wins this one ending with a brawl (14 penalties and four ejections) leading to the first Gordie Howe hat trick from a Wing since 12/1/2015.
Still weird to see Daley in the red and white sweater. Not that he was a longtime Pen, but still good memories for me mostly.

-Mike
 
#252
MJ5150 said:
Well isn't this special?
The Pens roll into Ottawa Thursday night for Duchene's first home game as a Sen, and it's the return of Bobby Ryan.

Meantime the Flames and Wings take turns blowing each other out. Detroit wins this one ending with a brawl (14 penalties and four ejections) leading to the first Gordie Howe hat trick from a Wing since 12/1/2015.
Still weird to see Daley in the red and white sweater. Not that he was a longtime Pen, but still good memories for me mostly.

-Mike
Click to expand...


Old time hockey. Eddie Shore.
 
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#253
I like Calgary but Matthew Tkachuk is a punk. Can't wait for somebody to plaster his face through the boards.

I actually liked his old man here in Phoenix back in the day but as time went by you'd hear more and more stories of what a total a-hole he was. Not surprised the nut doesn't fall too far from the tree.
 
#258
LOL, first thing I thought of when that goal went in... Hmmm, I wonder if Mike saw that? ;)

Pens surprised me with their (defensive) puck possession against the Sens. I only got to see the third period but they were in control, and kept Ottawa out of their zone for much of that period. Dumolin played a solid game, despite being burned on Pageau's goal. And Murray, forgetting the only goal, was in top form again. Sid, on the other hand, not so much. :bag:

EDIT: Just found out my son was at the game last night. He and his girlfriend had flown into Montreal earlier in the week, then drove into Vermont to spend a few days with her family. I had no idea he had planned to drive to Ottawa to catch the Pens. Cool.
 
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#259
And how about those Coyotes? First regulation win of the season! Keep your April playoff schedules open!

Seriously, a great effort after being down 2-0 in Montreal. A couple of fights fired the boys up, and the team never quit. I'm hoping this can be a turning point of sorts, since they really have been playing better than their dismal record indicates. But Gawd, they've got to stop taking stupid penalties at critical junctures of these close games. Raanta really held the fort down last night.
 
#260
dwm74 said:
And how about those Coyotes? First regulation win of the season! Keep your April playoff schedules open!

Seriously, a great effort after being down 2-0 in Montreal. A couple of fights fired the boys up, and the team never quit. I'm hoping this can be a turning point of sorts, since they really have been playing better than their dismal record indicates. But Gawd, they've got to stop taking stupid penalties at critical junctures of these close games. Raanta really held the fort down last night.
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Don't hold your breath. It was only Montreal you beat.....
 
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