Running 2017-18 NHL thread

Nice synopsis, Ragu. Haven't seen the Rangers this year, thanks to the weird schedule where the Caps have played the Oilers and Flames twice but have yet to see division foes NYR, Carolina or Columbus.

 

The Wild have put more pucks into the net than LA but trail the Kings 4-2.

 

Tom Wilson scores two goals, including a whip shot of a rink-length empty netter, has two assists and tries to decapitate no fewer than five Blackhawks last night. Mike Millbury overflows with praise. It is a weird world these days.

 

No doubt, being home has helped. But they've looked pretty strong over the last few weeks since that stinker of a NSH-COL trip. I actually like Wilson on that top line. Adds a grit element to Ovi-Backstrom and he's a more skilled passer than most realize. Once Burakovsky comes back, I'd like to see him on the second line with Oshie (hopefully he's OK) and Kuzy, and keep Vrana with Eller and Connolly, who has reacted well to being scratched. Stephenson-Beagle-DSP is a solid fourth line. DSP has been better than I expected, but he shouldn't be anywhere near the top two lines. Good tests coming up. Caps see the Rangers for the first time Friday, head to Barclays Monday to face a frisky Islanders team, then get Colorado Tuesday and resurgent Boston on the road Thursday.

 

Not sure who else on here watches the LA Kings, but it's weird seeing games without Bob Miller. He had been the broadcaster since 1973, pretty much the only broadcaster I knew.

The new guy, Alex something, is fine, but the games now sound like every other broadcast.

 

Alex Faust. He makes too many mistakes on names and has to "check that" or "pardon me" or "sorry" all the time.
I don't understand why they didn't boost Nick Nickson (also a Hall of Famer) into the TV booth and bring in someone for the radio play-by-play.

 

I'm with MTM on Faust. But I agree with your point regarding Nick Nickson.

 

Caps' Vrana "sort of" sent to the AHL:

According to the AHL, Jakub Vrana and Madison Bowey have been 'loaned' to Hershey (Updated)

I've never heard of anything like this. Apparently it is a paper move only, due to the Caps' screwed up salary cap mess. So, between Vrana and Bowey being "at" Hershey for two days, the Caps save four salary days.

The Caps are more screwed up than I thought.

 

It’s quite common, most teams do this.

 

Interesting. Well, if he wasn't on my fantasy team, I wouldn't have noticed. And I know. No one cares about my ....

 

Young Ducks winger Kevin Roy was sent down to San Diego and arrived in time for dinner, but was heading back to Anaheim before dessert. He was in the AHL for about a hour this time. Of course, there was an injury involved.