Official 2011-2012 NHL Regular Season Thread; Puck Drop

[MJ5150]

I'm apologizing now to hockey fans around the country. NHLN is showing the Pens broadcast again.

Edit....34 seconds in, 1-0 Montreal and Errey is in full on homer mode. I'm sorry everyone.

-Mike

 

[Hollow Man]

Pens pulled off a very nice comeback tonight led by Malkin... he's just a machine this year.

Caps laid a giant egg tonight to continue their Jekyll-and-Hyde season. At this point it's pretty clear that even if they make the playoffs, they're not going to be able to compete with the elite teams in the league.

 

[MJ5150]

The Pens do it again. I'm not sure who is playing better hockey than Malkin right now. Maybe Datsyuk? Malkin is really clicking with James Neal. I was sort of surprised to see Kunitz mix it up with Pacioretty, and Max let Chris have it. Fleury looked slow most of the night until the third then he cranked it up along with Malkin.

Goal of the night goes to Jiri Tlusty of Carolina.

Time to catch the end of FLA/CHI.

-Mike

 

[Ziltoid]

Budaj has a ned flanders on his helmet I think.

 

[MJ5150]

He played like Homer Simpson in the third.

Subban up to his nastiness again. Got away with a couple slew foots tonight.

-Mike

 

[Ziltoid]

Couldn't say, I just dropped by to talk about helmet fashion. Didn't watch a single full game this season.

 

[MJ5150]

Right on. I've always been fascinated with the art on goalie helmets. Over the last couple years, I've tried to buy a few, but the price has been way too steep for something I'd put in a box in the closet.

-Mike

 

[Broadstbully22]

Come on Flyers, beat these Devils.

 

[Bassman316]

Helluva game!

 

[Sonic_Death]

Doesn't get better than that Boston-Rangers game. Great hockey and a great ending.

Our powerplay may be awful, but give us a 5 minute advantage and we'll make something happen. If we want any chance of going far into the playoffs we really need to get the PP going.

I hope McDonagh is okay, he was on the ice for quite a while. It didn't look like too menacing of a hit at first but he went hard in the boards. We've had too many defensemen get injured this season as-is.

 

[MJ5150]

That was indeed some fun hockey to watch in Boston, but maybe nit for Bruin fans.

-Mikr

 

[arbitrary]

all I can say about that game is that I certainly got my money's worth! Great hockey to watch. Tough to see the B's lose in overtime on the pk, but that's how it goes sometimes.

 

[Bipslapper]

Bruins had more shots on goals and scoring opportunities, but credit to New York, they were tenacious with the rebounds when it counted. Good game.

 

[burk48237]

There are teams besides Boston, NY, Philly and the Pens. Just sayin

In fact one of them is leading the league right now in Motown and just won their sixteenth straight at home.

 

[dangnewt]

Bruins-Rangers was a great game with a less-than-optimum outcome.

Sonic - the Bruins won the Stanley Cup without much of a PP until the Finals so it can be done.

 

[MJ5150]

There are teams besides Boston, NY, Philly and the Pens. Just sayin

So post here more often. I spread it around when I can, but on Pens nights, that game is usually my priority.

It's really clear this season that the states of Pennsylvania and Massachusetts are carrying this thread. Well, and one Star Wars guy from Canuckistan.

-Mike

 

[Broadstbully22]

There are teams besides Boston, NY, Philly and the Pens. Just sayin

In fact one of them is leading the league right now in Motown and just won their sixteenth straight at home.

Then show up in the thread. On a sidenote, who cares who is leading. It changes every week. So close.

 

[burk48237]

Then show up in the thread. On a sidenote, who cares who is leading. It changes every week. So close.

I agree, with the hard cap, there is not clearly one best team. There are probably 6-8 teams that could win the Cup at the time. And the trading deadline could change that. It all depends on staying healthy thru the second season, getting hot at the right time, and having playoff level goaltending.

At this point I think the Wings have their best team since when the signed Hosa, because Jimmy Howard is on a tear this year. He's playing at a Vezina pace. They have won five shootouts in a row because of his big stops. But the last two years they've had key injuries going into the playoffs.

 

[MJ5150]

Oh, and hey burk.....I was pumping Howards tires a few posts ago. Datsyuk too.

-Mike

 

[mkandolf]

Seidenberg scores for his former team, deflecting a pass from Talbot to Voracek between Tim Thomas's pads!