2008/09 NHL Thread

Where to start?

For example, the Whalercanes had one shot - ONE - in the first period of the just-concluded game against Philly.

Goaltending has been erratic. Neither Cam Ward nor Michael Leighton will have sparkling stats, particularly GAA, given Carolina's high-flying style. But neither are making nearly enough key saves.

The forechecking is non-existant and nobody wants to shoot the puck - it's not just Sergei Samsonov. Outside of Chad LaRose, it's not happening.

Eric Staal might be feeling some pressure, unfair or no. Given that fat deal he just signed, he might be trying to do too much.

For all the talk about needing more puckhandling defensemen - Joni Pitkanen, Joe Corvo and Frank Kaberle - who's staying home to give Cam or Leighton a fighting chance?

All sorts of troubles, JC. Peter Laviolette has a lot of work to do.

 

You can add next-to-no production from the center position (except for Staal's hat trick vs. Phoenix) and a pathetic power play of late.

 

Saw something last week about the Canes. The analyst said that the 'Canes were a freewheeling offensive team in 2006, but were also defensively responsible. Since then, not so much.

 

God did the Oilers look terrible tonight. Well I suppose it could be deemed a slight improvement as they only had three disfunctional lines instead of their normal four. Penner finally being given a chance on the top line looked great, it was their only line worth a damn.
Absolutely brutal.
LA sounded like (Listened to first two periods, watched third) they had something to prove after getting blown out in Calgary last night. Man there is some sick talent on that team.

 

loved the knock-the-net-off-the-goal move by Marty Turco tonight to wipe out a goal at Minnesota.

what a bunch of crap.

 

Anyone here see the Caps game last night. Wondered how Karl Alzner played--it was his NHL debut.

 

Read the Wapo story. Alzner played the second most minutes, behind some guy named Ovechkin.

That Ovechkin guy might be pretty good. He recorded his sixth career hat trick and has 24 points in the Caps last 11 games.

 

It's not even December yet but this could be the fight of the year

Daniel Carcillo versus Derek Dorsett.

 

I think you should start a running Dustin Penner thread.

 

That was a great tilt....pretty tentative at first, but wow.

Dorsett did really well to come back after Carcillo got the first good shots in.

 

That was outstanding. Hell of a bout.

Dustin Penner. The man. The myth. The legend. Which team couldn't use him?

 

I just read today that Guidolin did not learn to skate until age 13. Three years later he was in the NHL.

Holy crap. I had thought Ed Jovanovski was special because seven years elapsed between his first time on skates and his NHL debut.