NHL Season 2018-19

[dwm74]

What? No posts about the All-Star weekend?

I missed the Skills Competition, mostly because I had no idea it was held on Friday night. I get up Saturday morning and while on the treadmill, I turn on the tube and see highlights from the Skills comp. WTH? For centuries it's been on Saturday night, and the Game on Sunday afternoon. Oh well.

At least I got to see most of the actual game(s)...and lo and behold my guys won. Sid deserved the MVP, no doubt. Lundqvist looked like he was the only goalie that came to play, making a boatload of great saves. Overall, I enjoyed the game, but glad to be back to the regular season... starting tonight.

 

[Picton]

I'm in withdrawal from real hockey. I'm inordinately pleased that the All-Star break is over.

I know they're trying to keep the event relevant, and I appreciate that, and I even watched it. But it's not hockey. Nobody's got any skin in the game. Bruins are back tomorrow night!

 

[grrg63]

Pens traded Oleksiak to Dallas for a 4th rd pick.
They now have 3 4th round picks.
What are you up to GMJR?

 

[MJ5150]

Ugh, lame.
Rutherford seems to have an aversion to tall defensemen.

-Mike

 

[grrg63]

Someone on another message board said (referring to Jack Johnson),
Which one of Sid's broke ass friends are we clearing cap space for this time?
haha
With Justin Schultz not due back for another couple weeks I hope they do something soon.

Meanwhile, Pens are 1-6-1 against last-place teams (NJD, Ottawa, CBH, LA except 1 OT win) this year so far.
They're 0-2 against NJ.
Maybe Sid should offer up that new car he won the other night to any 3rd or 4th liner who gets a hat trick tonight.

 

[MJ5150]

Rutherford can make any move he wants, but as long as Jack Johnson is a Pen, that's on him.

-Mike

 

[dwm74]

I really thought they (the Pens) were going hard after Muzzin. Exactly the kind of Dman they needed. I also think Toronto overpaid a bit but if they're going for it all this year then it may work out for them.

And as @grrg63 pointed out, typical Pens...letting cellar-dwellers steal another one from them.

 

[grrg63]

typical Pens...letting cellar-dwellers steal another one from them.

Dont worry, they're playing the best team in the league on Wednesday (TBL), they'll probably show up for them.

 

[GonePlaid]

Dont worry, they're playing the best team in the league on Wednesday (TBL), they'll probably show up for them.

(From FL) Hope not.

 

[MJ5150]

Sullivan has threatened changes to the top PP line. All those amazing offensive players and not a one of them has any interest in playing defense.
You know how much a fan would pay to have the kind of view Kessel and Malkin get for those short handed goals against the Pens?

-Mike

 

[Fishheadjoe]

Have someone toss a hotdog into the Pen's net, that'll get Kessel's attention!
Fishheadjoe

 

[dwm74]

Kessel is one of those players that just make you shake your head sometimes. Seeing him play in person versus on TV is eye-opening. He's a lot quicker/faster skater than he appears on TV, but what you don't see on the screen is he's ALWAYS the last player to clear the offensive zone when the opponent starts down the ice. The word 'backcheck' is a completely foreign concept to the guy...always has been. I guess his near-40-goal potential keeps him on the ice, because he only plays half the game his 'mates are playing. An enigmatic player to say the least.

 

[MJ5150]

That there is the 2018-19 Pens for ya. Blown out by one of the worst teams in the NHL only to come back a day later and blow out the best team, by far, in the NHL.
Yes, I realize 4-2 isn't by definition a blow out, but the Pens were up 3-0 after one and made it 4-0 not even halfway into the second. Tampa came along and scored two goals with less than five minutes left in the game.

-Mike

 

[GonePlaid]

That there is the 2018-19 Pens for ya. Blown out by one of the worst teams in the NHL only to come back a day later and blow out the best team, by far, in the NHL.
Yes, I realize 4-2 isn't by definition a blow out, but the Pens were up 3-0 after one and made it 4-0 not even halfway into the second. Tampa came along and scored two goals with less than five minutes left in the game.

-Mike

Yeah, congrats to yer Pens. I think the 'Ning were still on vacation 'til the 3rd. It seemed to be a very friendly little get-together.
My daughter and I are going to the TBL/VGK game Tuesday night @ Amalie Arena. Should be interesting since she really likes both teams. Might get emotional.

 

[hbarcat]

What? No posts about the All-Star weekend?

Saw the skills competition. It was ok.

Watched the all star games on Sunday and was bored into a coma. I literally fell asleep in my chair several times.

The problem is the 3 on 3 play is only interesting when used as a quick tie breaker to a regular season game. It's 5 minute sudden death when real points are on the line in a game that really means something in the standings.

It doesn't translate to an all star game setting because

1) 3 on 3 hockey is so physically exhausting (its basically non stop wind sprints) that no player is going to be giving 100% effort in an exhibition competition.

2) No one is playing defense so it's basically a turkey shoot against the goalies. There's at least a goal scored every minute. If I remember correctly, one of the games ended 12 - 7. That's not "all star" hockey. I can see play like that at the local rink on "rat hockey" night.

BOOOOOOOOH!!

 

[dwm74]

2) No one is playing defense so it's basically a turkey shoot against the goalies. There's at least a goal scored every minute. If I remember correctly, one of the games ended 12 - 7. That's not "all star" hockey. I can see play like that at the local rink on "rat hockey" night.

BOOOOOOOOH!!

And how is that different from any other ASG over the decades? They've always been a showcase for the scorers with little effort on the defensive side of things.

Pens-Bolts...The Malkin-Stamkos fight was, ahem, interesting. Murray looked good again, and I catch myself saying that more often than not lately (except Monday night vs NJD). Hopefully he's finally turned that corner and can be depended upon as the #1 netminder heading into the postseason.

 

[grrg63]

It was nice to see the pens taking care of business in all departments and Geno playing a competent 60 minutes.
Kessel demonstrated exactly what you guys were talking about the other day too. The angle on that shot was insane.
i guess there is a good bit of luck involved, but damn, that was incredible.

I wish they would go back to 5 on 5 in the ASG, even 4 on 4 would be better.

 

[hbarcat]

And how is that different from any other ASG over the decades? They've always been a showcase for the scorers with little effort on the defensive side of things.
.

It's not different, it's just worse.

Take a traditional 5 on 5 all star game, with its minimal effort and virtual absence of defence, then make it 3 on 3 and the lack of effort and defence is multiplied.

The effect is obvious. Traditional games may not have been exciting, but it was entertaining to watch the puck handling and shooting skills of the best players in the league and to see the best goalies trying to stop them from scoring.

3 on 3 hockey automatically makes it much, much easier to score. Others may enjoy watching players rack up points taking pot shots at the net from point blank range but I don't. To me, that's no longer real hockey and it bores me.

 

[GoLeafsGo]

It's not different, it's just worse.

Take a traditional 5 on 5 all star game, with its minimal effort and virtual absence of defence, then make it 3 on 3 and the lack of effort and defence is multiplied.

The effect is obvious. Traditional games may not have been exciting, but it was entertaining to watch the puck handling and shooting skills of the best players in the league and to see the best goalies trying to stop them from scoring.

3 on 3 hockey automatically makes it much, much easier to score. Others may enjoy watching players rack up points taking pot shots at the net from point blank range but I don't. To me, that's no longer real hockey and it bores me.

I would use this same argument around the ridiculous 3-3 format now used for regular season OT games. Stupid, stupid, stupid. And don't get me started on why some games are worth 3 points and some only 2. If they have to give out 3 points, then a regulation win should be worth all 3 points. But no, the greedy owners want it to seem as if the lower rung teams are really "still in the hunt" for the playoffs, and keep people buying tickets. I guess it is good for the bottom line, but I think it diminishes the game. Okay, rant over (for now...)

 

[dwm74]

And don't get me started on why some games are worth 3 points and some only 2. If they have to give out 3 points, then a regulation win should be worth all 3 points. But no, the greedy owners want it to seem as if the lower rung teams are really "still in the hunt" for the playoffs, and keep people buying tickets.

I don't really mind that 3-point thing, but you've hit the nail on the head as to why they do it. Amazing how some teams have a 'record-breaking season' pointwise but only because their OT/shootout losses add to their point total, whereas losses were never counted in previous protocols. But at least it's better than that fiasco of having four numbers in their record (W-L-OTL-SOL). That was a joke.

I guess I'm the lone dissenter regarding the 3-on-3 ASG. I enjoy it. It's so much more watchable than having 10 skaters all playing at half speed. IMO that was like watching the over-40 league at my local arena.