2008/09 NHL Thread

No. We're listening intently for more lessons on class in American hockey.

 

I usually like Bill Clement, but he's off his rocker on this one. Not with Barry Trotz performing near-miracles in Nashville or perhaps Joel Quenneville. I never thought Quenneville got the credit he deserved.

 

It was classy we let Canada win the Gold medal in '02. ;D

 

OK, Eric Staal scores 61 seconds into the game at Philly.

So where is the real Staal and the Whalercanes as a whole? Usually takes forever to get this team going.

 

Borer played the part of the nail in the hammer-and-nail fight with Hartnell. Nice that he defended Brind-Amour, but he got his beat up and bloodied.

It was nice to see Staal give the Canes an early lead for once. That was a pretty good first period. Winning battles for loose pucks and showing general hustle. Two more periods like that, please.

 

If nothing else, these guys are standing up for one another.

With any luck, Borer didn't end up as bad as Scott Walker, who broke his hand in a preseason fight trying to defend Matt Cullen.

Thing is, winning loose pucks and general hustle was trademarks of the Whalercanes the last time Paul Maurice was in charge. Perhaps Mo is doing some different things.

 

Habs are losing 3-1 to TB in the third.

Great interview by Dick Irvin with Serge Savard between periods

Savard talked about those great Hab teams that won four Cups and during one of The Finals, he got a phone call from Quebec Premier Robert Bourassa.

Bourassa asked Savard, "Are you going to win because I have a budget to put before the House and if you win, it'll pass easily"

 

No matter what, Lecavalier and St. Louis always show their best stuff in Montreal.

Still enough time for them to lose a 3-1 lead though.

 

The instigator penalty has to go if they can't interpret it any better than they have in the Canes-Flyers game.

 

Pittsburgh took out some pent-up frustration (3-game losing streak) on the Islanders tonight.

Sykora with a hat trick in a 9-2 win.

 

Canes blow a 5-1 lead in the third, lose 6-5 in the shootout.

http://blogs.newsobserver.com/canes/flyers-6-hurricanes-5-so

At least the 'Canes were competitive. The Islanders were thoroughly outclassed in Pittsburgh in a 9-2 laugher. The Pens' Petr Sykora and Pascal Dupis each had hat tricks.

http://www.newsday.com/sports/hockey/islanders/ny-spisles1212,0,2323968.story

 

That had to be painful for the Hurriwhalers and their fans.

Great game for Scott Hartnell, who falls an assist shy of two hat tricks tonight.....one would have been of the Gordie Howe variety. He beat the crap outta Casey Borer.

And Dupuis got the shaving cream in the face during his post-game TV interview to help him celebrate his first NHL trick. Apparently it was also Sykora's first in the NHL.

The Bolts dominated Les Habitants in Montreal too. A night of surprises, so it was.