NHL Season 2018-19

[dwm74]

James Neal lost five teeth on one high stick. Yowch!

-Mike

That's one tooth for each goal he has this season!

Seriously, how can it be February and this guy only have five goals? Not like Calgary is a defense-oriented team. I'm guessing he'll be dealt in the next week or two...
******
Good game in Florida yesterday, with the Bolts coming out on top. Seemed like the Panthers controlled play much of the game, but Tampa Bay capitalized when they had the chances, and won 5-2.

 

[GoLeafsGo]

Wow....talk about a hot goalie...Leafs threw over 55 shots at him, and a large number were good chances. Credit where it is due, the guy won the game for the Rangers...on his birthday!

 

[grrg63]

Nice work by Murray tonight, sux he didnt get the SO.
Letang is now the highest scoring D man in Pens history passing the great Paul Coffey with 109.

Now they better start rackin up some dubyas.

 

[MJ5150]

Malkin gets ejected for swinging his stick at Raffl's head? The clip is below, see if you agree he was aiming for his head. I like Malkin, so I'm biased.
Should we forget about Raffl punching Malkin in the back of the head moments before? The Flyers always get in the Pens heads, especially when the Pens are torching them like they were in that game Monday night.



Oh, and Maatta is out indefinitely.

-Mike

 

[GonePlaid]

Malkin gets ejected for swinging his stick at Raffl's head? The clip is below, see if you agree he was aiming for his head. I like Malkin, so I'm biased.
Should we forget about Raffl punching Malkin in the back of the head moments before? The Flyers always get in the Pens heads, especially when the Pens are torching them like they were in that game Monday night.



Oh, and Maatta is out indefinitely.

-Mike

Ouch! That(Maata)has to suck.

 

[Jeff K]

Yep. I definitely think that was a blatant swing of the stick with intent to injure. Raffl should have gotten 2 minutes for popping Malkin on the back of the head, and maybe even another 2 minutes for for a cross-check. But Malkin should have gone after him and offered to drop the gloves rather than swinging the stick. I DO understand "heat of the moment" and all that. But Malkin had no remorse whatsoever.

Some of Malkin's comments: "I know it's dirty, but I missed," Malkin told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette after the game. "He just like dived and the referee give me five minutes. [He wasn't] injured, not bleeding, nothing."

Malkin has a history of doling out cheap shots. Imagine if it had been the other way. If a Flyer had swung a stick like that at a Pen. IMO, Malkin is very fortunate that Raffl WASN'T hurt or cut badly.

 

[96tbird]

Malkin is a great player. Tough, quick and handy. With his skills, he should take a hard look and drop the goon act. Totally not required.

 

[dwm74]

Malkin has a history of doling out cheap shots. Imagine if it had been the other way. If a Flyer had swung a stick like that at a Pen.

You certainly bring up some good points, Jeff, but I gotta adjust that last part for ya...Malkin has a history of retaliating after being cheap-shotted all game long. Not just talking about last night's game. For whatever reason, the refs have a history of letting marginal players get away with the cheap shots against Malkin (like punching him in the back of the head, cross-checks/slashes behind the play, etc). Maybe because he's Russian and doesn't communicate well? Plus, other teams KNOW they can get under his skin with the cheap stuff, and know he's gonna retaliate, usually resulting in a stupid penalty.

Look, I'm not justifying the stick swing at all but being a Pens fan I see way too much uncalled crap that Geno and Sid put up with in a lot of games. And I readily admit I might feel differently if the situation were reversed. Biased? Absolutely, but no different than you or any other fan.

 

[96tbird]

True you are. Pretty much the story of all the star scorers in the game. But it's valid strategy to shut them down and get in their heads. There is a difference between malicious/dangerous and "hey I'm on you" jabs and elbows, etc. The refs know it and allow it to an extent.

Your team is (should be) doing the same stuff to their opponents.

 

[MJ5150]

McDavid goes glove side high on Murray like everyone else does, but Mr. Murray says 'not tonight young man, Elvis is in the building and he ain't having none of that!'
I love the look on McDavid's face as he skates away. I think he was as surprised as I was he didn't get that goal.



Time to give it up for Johnson, another +2, but I still don't like him.
Pens win again in a secondary scoring bonanza, trying to hang on to a playoff spot.

-Mike

 

[dwm74]

Yep, twas a good effort last night. Rust is developing that knack for some vital goals at the right time, which is exactly what this team needs more and more.

I like the way they're playing overall lately...more 'businesslike' approach to games, resulting in some comfortable wins against teams they oughta be beating for a change.

 

[GoLeafsGo]

Yep, twas a good effort last night. Rust is developing that knack for some vital goals at the right time, which is exactly what this team needs more and more.

I like the way they're playing overall lately...more 'businesslike' approach to games, resulting in some comfortable wins against teams they oughta be beating for a change.

We seem to be seeing the same thing in T.O., looks like the coaches in both cases were using the first half of the year to try different combinations and see which worked better. Now that crunch time is coming, they seem to be able to put out the most appropriate line/combination for the task at hand. Sometimes I think Babs is too much of a square peg meet round hole kind of guy, but looks like he is trying to get this team ready for a playoff run.

 

[GonePlaid]

We seem to be seeing the same thing in T.O., looks like the coaches in both cases were using the first half of the year to try different combinations and see which worked better. Now that crunch time is coming, they seem to be able to put out the most appropriate line/combination for the task at hand. Sometimes I think Babs is too much of a square peg meet round hole kind of guy, but looks like he is trying to get this team ready for a playoff run.

Some interesting-and some good-hockey in FL tonight. Panther over Flames in S.O. Tight game. Bolts played 'poopie' on the Stars.

 

[dwm74]

I don't know if it's just me but it seems like it's the doldrums of the hockey season. I just can't get into any games very much lately, and although I tune in to Center Ice every night I find myself getting disinterested and restless rather quickly no matter who's playing.

I shouldn't feel like this as this is an exciting season with so many teams still in the playoff hunt. Hopefully the trade deadline isn't another dud, and of course the final push for the playoffs next month will no doubt rekindle my enthusiasm. But for the moment, watching hockey is a 50-50 thing. (Probably just me...I've been feeling the same way about Premier League soccer lately, too. Must be the late-winter blues.)

Anyway...Game On!

 

[MJ5150]

I've been listening to hockey more lately. I like listening better than watching.
I listened to Toronto turn on the jets and thrash Vegas last night, sadly with Fleury in goal.
All the big dogs in the east flexed their muscles Thursday night.

-Mike

 

[GoLeafsGo]

I've been listening to hockey more lately. I like listening better than watching.
I listened to Toronto turn on the jets and thrash Vegas last night, sadly with Fleury in goal.
All the big dogs in the east flexed their muscles Thursday night.

-Mike

That was a real good game...Leafs seem to have found their way out of that little slump they were in. Finally got the power play working again, in large part due to Muzzin. They never had the threat of the big point shot before, so the defense could just collapse and cover the cross ice pass which was so effective early on. Now they can't afford to just assume a puck back to the point is only going to result in a pass to Marner on the half boards.

 

[MJ5150]

The Pens are sleep walking right now, which I'm actually ok with. The real games start soon when everyone goes back to 0-0-0. All they need is to make the playoffs, I don't care what seed.

-Mike

 

[dwm74]

Geno came to play lately, and they're gonna need that version of him to get anywhere deep into the playoffs. Great backhand goal that made the highlight reels. Good to see Schultz back in the lineup, especially with Maatta going down.

But despite his amped-up play, the Pens still only managed a split of their day games this weekend...losing to the Flames but hanging on to beat the Rangers. Goaltending and team D once again iffy at times.

Oh, and I can't help but mention the local boys putting up a shutout against the high-octane Maple Leafs. Good effort, Yotes!

 

[MJ5150]

When Malkin comes to play, there are few better. I'll be sad when he's done playing, even for as aggravating as it can be sometimes watching him play.

-Mike

 

[Inky13]

I don't know if it's just me but it seems like it's the doldrums of the hockey season. I just can't get into any games very much lately, and although I tune in to Center Ice every night I find myself getting disinterested and restless rather quickly no matter who's playing.

I shouldn't feel like this as this is an exciting season with so many teams still in the playoff hunt. Hopefully the trade deadline isn't another dud, and of course the final push for the playoffs next month will no doubt rekindle my enthusiasm. But for the moment, watching hockey is a 50-50 thing. (Probably just me...I've been feeling the same way about Premier League soccer lately, too. Must be the late-winter blues.)

Anyway...Game On!

No big. The season is long and can be a grind at times. Like you say, we're in that post- football, pre-baseball nether region.
I once worked with this guy that would take time off just to watch March Madness. I like college hoops as much as the next guy, but for 3-4 days straight? Nope, I have a life.