NHL Regular Season 2017-18

[dangnewt]

Bruins up 2-1 over the Wings on their last Marchand-free game. Their first goal was from Kuraly, his first in about 14,000 games; they're continuing their trend of getting good production from fourth-liners and other young guys.

Somehow Kuraly ended up on a line with Pastrnak - that would certainly increase your odds of scoring.

Detroit made it interesting with a goal late after pulling the goalie.

B's went 4-1 without Marshy, I was thinking that they would come out with 5 points and they ended up with 8!

 

[dwm74]

I missed the video tribute to Marc-Andre Fleury, but managed to watch most of the game after that. Despite 9 goals going in the net, I felt both goalies played well, with MAF winning the acrobatics award hands down. Murray came up big more than once, too. Pens looking like their old selves again, reminiscent to the past few years when no lead was safe for their opponents. Liking that confidence they show when coming back from a deficit, like they developed soon after Sullivan took over.

Of course, not getting into those deficits would help immensely...

 

[grrg63]

If the Pens end up going the whole way for the Cup, I imagine it'll be VGK they'll be seeing one more time.

Im callin it now- 2018 SCPF- Pens vs. VGK; Pens in 6

 

[MJ5150]

I missed the video tribute to Marc-Andre Fleury, but managed to watch most of the game after that. Despite 9 goals going in the net, I felt both goalies played well, with MAF winning the acrobatics award hands down. Murray came up big more than once, too. Pens looking like their old selves again, reminiscent to the past few years when no lead was safe for their opponents. Liking that confidence they show when coming back from a deficit, like they developed soon after Sullivan took over.

Of course, not getting into those deficits would help immensely...

Here are two versions of the tribute...
This one is the big screen in the arena playing the video:
Watch the Penguins' video tribute to Marc-Andre Fleury

This one is the video with cutaways to the fans, Fleury, and his family while it is playing. Its what people watching the game on TV saw:


-Mike

 

[GoLeafsGo]

Im callin it now- 2018 SCPF- Pens vs. VGK; Pens in 6

Don't the Pens have to make to playoffs to get to the final?

 

[MJ5150]

Don't the Pens have to make to playoffs to get to the final?

If the season ended today, which it doesn't so it's stupid to even talk about it, the Pens would be playing your boys in the first round. Home ice to Toronto.
Pens win that series rather easily.

-Mike

 

[GoLeafsGo]

If the season ended today, which it doesn't so it's stupid to even talk about it, the Pens would be playing your boys in the first round. Home ice to Toronto.
Pens win that series rather easily.

-Mike

Well, we will never know the answer to how easily T.O. would win that series because if the playoffs started today, you would lose to NJ in the first round while we clean up on the Bruins.

 

[MJ5150]

Well, we will never know the answer to how easily T.O. would win that series because if the playoffs started today, you would lose to NJ in the first round while we clean up on the Bruins.

Yeah, I messed up on that. I forgot the NHL uses divisional matchups in the first round.
The Pens will handle the Devils. Toronto beating Boston four times in seven tries? Ain't gonna happen this season. That one is an easy pick.

-Mike

 

[GoLeafsGo]

Yeah, I messed up on that. I forgot the NHL uses divisional matchups in the first round.
The Pens will handle the Devils. Toronto beating Boston four times in seven tries? Ain't gonna happen this season. That one is an easy pick.

-Mike

Like I said, you first have to make the playoffs. real tight in the Metro, and teams behind you have games in hand....

 

[grrg63]

Don't the Pens have to make to playoffs to get to the final?

Im obviously confident they will.

Favorite moment from last night- Fleury smacking Malkin in the butt and pushing him away in front of the goal. "Get out of my face, Geno!"

 

[MJ5150]

Like I said, you first have to make the playoffs. real tight in the Metro, and teams behind you have games in hand....

Good point.
Hopefully Toronto hangs on and makes it too.
It's been a long time since a Canadian team made the SCF, and even longer since one won it all. I am sure you are already well aware of that though.

-Mike

 

[GoLeafsGo]

Good point.
Hopefully Toronto hangs on and makes it too.
It's been a long time since a Canadian team made the SCF, and even longer since one won it all. I am sure you are already well aware of that though.

-Mike

Don't think making the playoffs is in question, 17 points clear of the next team behind us. But, we are talking about the Leafs, so you never know....

 

[DerekW]

Don't think making the playoffs is in question, 17 points clear of the next team behind us. But, we are talking about the Leafs, so you never know....

Nah, we'll make the playoffs... then blow a 4-1 3rd period lead in game 7 to the Bruins.

That's how we roll.

 

[dwm74]

^ Ouch, that one still smarts, and I'm not even a Leafs fan per se.

If I remember correctly, poor old Dion took much of the criticism for that collapse.

 

[DerekW]

^ Ouch, that one still smarts, and I'm not even a Leafs fan per se.

If I remember correctly, poor old Dion took much of the criticism for that collapse.

Yeah, he took a lot of grief in Toronto for everything. But it wasn't all his fault, he was a 2nd line Dman on a good day, put in a #1 roll, given the C, and overpaid by about $2mill a year.
How Toronto suckered Ottawa into taking his contract is beyond me, lol

Heck, we're still paying $1.2mill a year till the end of 2022 for Kessel!

 

[dwm74]

I agree completely with your take on Phaneuf. Always liked him (except when he plays Pittsburgh!) but always felt too much was expected from the guy...that he was pushed into the limelight.

Overrated? No doubt. Overpaid? Absolutely. But a pretty good NHL d-man most nights? Heck yeah.

 

[DerekW]

How about Alex Burtows getting a 10 game suspension?
Shoulda been more, imo.

 

[MJ5150]

Heck, we're still paying $1.2mill a year till the end of 2022 for Kessel!

Thank you.
How are the guys you got working out? Kapanen, Spaling, and Harrington? I really liked Kapanen and Spaling, so was bummed to see them go.
The other two guys the Pens got (Erixon and Biggs), didn't even play a game for the Pens. I think that was part of the plan though. They just wanted Kessel.
I haven't chased down what came of the draft picks exchanged in the trade.

-Mike

 

[DerekW]

Thank you.
How are the guys you got working out? Kapanen, Spaling, and Harrington? I really liked Kapanen and Spaling, so was bummed to see them go.
The other two guys the Pens got (Erixon and Biggs), didn't even play a game for the Pens. I think that was part of the plan though. They just wanted Kessel.
I haven't chased down what came of the draft picks exchanged in the trade.

-Mike

Kapenen has been mostly down with the Marlies trying to find a way to crack the lineup, he was excellent in the playoffs last year, but has been a recent call up and has been playing like he wants to stay with the big boys, even got some PK time, google his short handed goal last night against the Preds, awesome!
That guy is stupid fast! He may be the hidden gem in that trade

Harrington got traded to Columbus for Kerby Rychel, who's on the Marlies and has some potential.
Spaling was traded to San Jose for picks, he's playing in Europe now.

Funny story about Biggs, leafs traded their 30th and a late 2nd round pick to Anaheim to move up to get Biggs in the draft at 22. Anaheim then used Toronto's 30th pick to get Rickard Rakell, who's on track for about 70 points this year... typical Leafs, lol

 

[Picton]

How about Alex Burtows getting a 10 game suspension?
Shoulda been more, imo.

I missed it. What'd he do this time?

He's like Marchand without the skills.