2008/09 NHL Thread

Again, Marcus Naslund was never going to resign in Vancouver. How many times does this need to be pointed out to you. Have you seen Naslund play this year?

So give some names he should have gone after this summer. Look at some of the ridiculous long term deals that were handed out that teams are already regretting. It's to bad St.Louis matched the Canucks offer to David Backes, I love the way this guy plays.

So if the Canucks have a goalie does that not make them the opposite of Ottawa?

 

What is it with Southeast Division teams throwing their backup goalies out there in San Jose. When Tampa Bay was there recently, it started Ramo instead of Smith. Carolina is there tonight and is starting Leighton (for the first time since December) instead of Ward. It's almost conceding the defeat. Usually you would start the backup against a mediocre team.

 

The way the Whalercanes are playing, I dunno if anyone can be considered mediocre by comparison.

Still, Paul Maurice has been riding Cam Ward quite a bit lately. Time to see if Michael Leighton can handle the No. 2 spot. Mo will ride Cam extensively, but even he has to have a break at some point.

If the defensive responsibility doesn't improve, Dominik Hasek in his prime won't save the Whalercanes.

 

Yeah, and there was an egregious mistake led to the game-winning short-handed goal in the Vancouver loss.

 

I think the Lightning did it because they'd played Phoenix the night before, which was Smith's 11th straight game in net. Poor soul needed a night off.

 

Ward has started the previous 17 Hurricanes games.

 

That, while admirable, is also pretty crazy.

 

The games have been spaced out pretty well, though. Only two times did the Canes have games on back-to-back days.

 

Somewhere, Glenn Hall is wondering what's so special about starting 17 consecutive games in net.

 

Flames now winless in three against Chicago. Couldn't handle the speed of the Hawks. It was not much fun to watch ...

 

So, Michael Leighton was in goal, Rod Brind'Amour was already back in Raleigh because of injury, and the Whalercanes finished the game without Eric Staal.

Yet, Carolina beats San Jose 4-3 in a shootout at the Shark Tank. Now to hope Staal's not badly hurt ...

 

It's always fun to see a Mike Keenan coached team lose.

Blackhawks' record this season now 11-0 vs. teams based in Canuckistan.