2008/09 NHL Thread

I think the Blackhawks just scored again.

 

Interesting statistical item: No team from the Pacific Division has been featured on a VERSUS telecast yet this season. Given that San Jose has the league's best record and Anaheim is less than two years removed from being Cup winners, that strikes me as odd.

I know VERSUS likes the early start times, but these teams DO travel east of the Mississippi River from time to time. You would think, as the NHL's national carrier in the U.S., they could show somebody besides the Capitals and Penguins once in a while, eh?

 

Seems to me Versus is catering to markets that they think will produce better ratings. Will enough people in San Jose, Anaheim, LA, Dallas or Phoenix watch to make it viable? How available is Versus in the West (I have no clue)? That's no excuse, as the NHL's national carrier should be showing the best games, but it's probably part of it. Pacific teams are only featured in seven games all year (twice in games against one another).

Minnesota is on Versus eight times, the same amount as Pittsburgh and one more time than Washington. Tell me that's not about the ratings, as the Wild are about as exciting most nights as paint drying. It's effective for them, though.

FYI: The Penguins and Capitals are only on Versus three more times each the rest of the season.

 

I think the Blackhawks just scored again.

 

Reminds me of the Brampton game last Sunday. The guys scored 6 goals on 12 shots on the poor Ice Dogs goalie, including 3 in the last minute and a half of the first. Final score was 9-2.

I left after the second and if Huggy hadn't been working, he would have too

 

Oh yeah, tough day for the poor 'Dogs goalie, a 16-year-old kid who will play for Ontario at the World Under-17s. Even his saves were dodgy.

 

I think the Blackhawks scored again.

 

Reminds me of an AHL game I went to last weekend: 7-1, Albany over Manchester. Jonathan Bernier has to be the most hapless, overhyped goaltender in recent memory.

 

These two guys would help, except, of course, one's dead.

 

Did Hull and Mikita score?

 

Hey, Garon, the puck's over there...behind you.

Hull assisted on a first-period goal and then got on board the truck carrying a bunch of goodies to Wrigley for the New Year's Day game.

 

I know Pit Martin didn't.
(Too soon?)