2008/09 NHL Thread

Lightning getting shelacked by the Flyers tonight.

The bell was likely already tolling for the Bolts, but this is the end. On the From The Rink projection, they'd now need to go 23-9-1 to close out the season to make 91 points, the projected playoff cut.

 

Is he the screaming idiot?

 

Yes, Dave "Muppet Show' Mishkin.

 

Anyone paying attention to the Devils? They're only 8-2-0 in their last 10 games, including consecutive come-from-behind-wins (Bruins on Thursday and the Pens tonight).

 

Do we have to?

Real resurgence by Jamie Langenbrunner led to those two comebacks, had the game-tying and game-winning goals tonight, two goals and an assist against the Bruins.

Cool pregame ceremony for Doc Emrick tonight as well. Nice stanza from his speech.

"I hope you won't think that this very short thank you is any less sincere than a real long one, but my dad said, ' If you're around somebody that really wants to work, don't get in their way, let them work.' I'm around two teams that really want to get to work, and I'm anxious to see them do it, how about you?"

Great, great guy.

 

Doc is the nicest guy you'll ever meet. Always has a smile on his face and a kind word.

Boston is my pick to win the East (going out on a limb, I know). That said, the Devs are my darkhorse pick, especially if Lou can finagle a defenseman at the deadline.

 

Funny how we've gone from the ridiculous to the sublime when it comes to announcers on this thread.

 

The Devils I think could surprise in the East, especially if Brodeur comes back in any kind of form, not that Clemmenson hasn't been more than adequate in his absence. They are tied with chicago for sixth in league scoring and their goals against is still fourth best in the league. They just keep chugging along under the radar. Sutter has got to get some attention for coach of the year.

 

Yeah, Devils are an even bigger surprise than the Bruins and Blackhawks, given Brodeur's extended absence. Is there a timetable for him coming back yet?

BTW, luuuuuuv Mike Emrick. Who says Americans can't call hockey well?

 

Last I heard he is still on pace to be back in net on March 1

 

Nice quote from Blues coach Andy (One of the Murray Brothers) Murray about players in the NHL today:

"There are three kinds of players in the NHL today. Support players — guys who can give you five or six games, but they end up going back to the American League. Players who play in the NHL, but that's all they are. They can play 12 or 14 years, but they end up being with five or six different teams and don't play on a lot of winning teams. They don't play hard enough every night, so that's why they get moved — and it's tough to win with those kinds of guys. The third category — NHL players — is what we want our guys to become. An NHL player isn't even always your most skilled guy, but every team wants him because you can win with those guys."

"The best part is when you're a team like Detroit and your skilled guys, your Henrik Zetterbergs and Pavel Datsyuks, are also your hardest workers. That's when you become a winning organization — when you've got lots of NHL players on your roster.



The second group is probably the most dominant. Lots of passengers making good money, doing just enough to get by.

 

Nobody here. But the proportion of idiots to geniuses is far greater south of the 49th.