Want to discuss any hockey related issues? Heard some interesting news? Watched a great game? Heard an interesting rumor or quote? Talk about it here! CONTAINS SPOILERS!
Wow, the Bruins v Canucks game was certainly entertaining! I'm bitterly disappointed we lost to the Canucks!
Lucic's ejection was harsh and really didn't help. Marchand's ejection was deserved. Julien defended it in the post-game interview but I thought it was a cheap shot myself. It was such a dangerous play. I haven't watched a replay since, but if Marchand saw it coming then I don't see why he couldn't have braced for it rather than go low.
There were a couple of questionable calls during the game against the Bruins but I thought at times they lacked some discipline - and if you do that against the league leaders for PP then you'll be punished.
Oh, and I'm glad Weise was punished for two minutes for baiting Thornton. I guess Weise was trying to be clever but I don't agree with baiting a player to drop the gloves like that.
Wicked wicked game no question. Looch ejection was by the letter of the rules. Refs were instructed to call it tight. Marhand hit was absolutely brutal.
Weise--I dunno what the heck he was thinking there. Lame. Real lame. That type of behavior is what causes the Canucks to be hated. I thought the rest of the boy did a good job of battling and being real straight up players in the game...but not that move. Brutal.
Oh and TIm Thomas is still trying to figure out who that #9 was that blew the puck past him for the winning goal.
Finally...it is interesting to note that Julien was up on the boards screaming and yelling a tonne during the game. Had that been Vigneault there would be a whole lot of talk about how the Canucks are always whining about the reffing. But still...some weak penalty calls all around in that game ... but you can bet every penny the referees were told to call absolutely EVERYTHING in that game.
Marchand's hit was dirty and I'm embarrassed as a Bruins fan that he did it. Lucic, on the other hand, did nothing wrong. He was legally on the ice. The refs really didn't see most of what happened in that scrum and blindly made some calls. That was bad. The league has since rescinded Lucic's penalty and game misconduct. Unfortunately, that had a big effect on the outcome of the game. First and foremost, you lose Looch for the game. He's one of your top 2 LWs (Marchand being the other but he deserved to get tossed). The other big problem with that was that Thornton had 6 Canucks on him (and one holding him from the bench), yet the Canucks got a 2-man advantage out of it. The whole thing started because Burrows took a whack at Paille's legs and Thornton gave Burrows a whack in return. Burrows then swung wildly and almost caught Thornton in the throat. That's why Thornton went over to him. I still don't know why it took 6 Canucks to go after Thornton though.
Whoops. On Lucic...I didn't say he did anything wrong. I said by the letter of the law. I meant to follow that up with...I did not think he deserved to be ejected. But on two counts: 1. Foot on bench, and then returned. 2. Jumping on top of Bieksa after officials had told everyone it was over, and not to get involved anymore....ejection is okay. I agree it was harsh, and he should not have been.
And not 6 Canucks after Thornton. Burrows got steamrolled, Henrik went to the bench, Bieksa and Hamhuis on ice with Lapierre and Wiese. Wiese off scrapping with Horton. So at the most...3. Burrows was dogpiled.
As for Burrows slash on Paille...it was a lovetap. You know as well as I do that the Bruins look for a reason to get something going early in every game. Something to try and intimidate the other team...so Thornton responded, and Burrows went back at him...then all hell broke loose because well....these two teams hate each other.
After that stuff and the Weise backing off thing...Boston basically had their way with Vancouver right up until the stupid Marchand penalty which caused the CAnucks PP to go insane. Boston does not take that one,..they win. Woke up the Canucks. They were playing sit back hockey after the brawl...Boston intimidation style was working...but then ... oops Marchand had yet another brain fart.
And Looch staying in the game may or may not have made a difference. He is real good no question, but just one guy. Anyway...almost glad that Sammy has a concussion ... I Thought shoulder and done for year. May be any way....but maybe not.
You know what? EVen though I love the thought of watching those two teams...who hate each other soooo much...I am not sure I want to see them play in the finals again. Here is my thought pattern:
1. The hockey actually sucked in the game the other night. Refs were so busy calling penalties there was no flow to the game. This is annoying..want 5x5 action. I know that most of the stuff called had to be. But that game took 3 hours. And much of it believe it or not...was unexciting. Especially Period 2 and 1st half period 3. Yeah...some major major exciting highlights...but severe bad stuff too.
2. Boston wins....we will then see NHL GMs forget all about this fast flow, skate skate, and move the puck. Skill and skating...make the game exciting. Add in the hitting and it is all there. The intimidation tactics of the Bruins will return to the league should they win. NHL GMs will look to bolster their rosters so that the B's do not run over them physically. Honestly...if Boston just GETS to the final this season...the East will do it for sure. Especially in Philly, and they are slog it out tough enough already. I just don't want to see the game slowed down, and Boston's style regardless of what any B's fan says...is to slog it out...intimidate the other team, and play that brand of hockey. Skill ...yeah they have some. But David Krejci and Milan Lucic although I love both are hardly Gretzky and Kurri. Boston plays that same style of hockey the FLyers did in the 70s...without as many line brawls...although apparently there are some. They play to hurt. Not sure that is the way the league should go. And guaranteed it will....even Gillis in Vancouver will have to make changes should Boston win again.
3. I want Philly in the final vs Chicago or Detroit.
Yeah - I agree about the game being very stop start. Something like 29:57 mins of the game was spent without 5 on 5.
When I first heard Salo had received a shoulder injury, I thought he'd got off lightly. That collision had concussion all over it. Turns out he has concussion after all. Five games seems like Marchand got off relatively lightly considering how dangerous the hit was. If he had landed on his head/neck rather than shoulder, maybe it would have been a more serious injury.
I so wish that had been the Winter Classic. The 24/7 on ice / in the dressing room footage would have been awesome!!!
Yes...yes it would be. Burrows, Bieksa, Kesler: In spite of the idiotic things they say and do...those same idiotic things are hilarious. But...would you be ready for Alain Vigneault's one question, one answer press conferences? He gets asked a question...answers yes, no or we'll see...and says "Anything else?" If noone says something immediately..like in 1 second he says "thanks guys...see ya" and leaves.
Not sure how quotable the Boston players are. I have heard Lucic speak before...not exactly eloquent. Great guy, greeat player...but will never be in Mensa. And Marchand is proving that English is not his first language. Oh wait...it is? Hearing that classy coach of the B's talk though would be awesome. Chara speaka da English?
Boys I kid...I would love a Boston (or Chicago) Vancouver Winter Classic. Won't happen, but it would be awesome.
Ryan Kesler is in the top ten of the most overrated players in the NHL accorded to a survey done with players of the NHL. Am I the only one who find this really weird? Jalousy maybe? The top three is Phaneuf, OVy and the lovely Gomez.
With Kesler it is hating to play against him. Period. He is a mouthy jerk. And he plays well. If he is on your side you love him. If not...no way no how. Canuck fans hated him during the Olympics. Oh yeah and so did RJ Umberger ...wonder how many votes he got? RJ always hates him.
Probably. There's some names there that are weird too and doesn't fit that much. Maybe hating again? Surely a survey among NHL players couldn't be that accurate. Iginla is in the top 20 I think. He is maybe starting to be overrated but he is starting to be "old" so it's kinda normal.....an overrated guy who just got is 500 NHL career goal and points at the 46 rank in NHL history. Come on. Kovalchuk is there at the fifth position. Maybe it's because I like him that I'm defending him but for a guy who played in Atlanta, almost all alone, he got seasons of 50 goals and 80 to 90 points. The fact that he is looking overrated now is that stupid contract he signed with NJ.
Yes really. He is not a top pairing dman. He is really a #3 guy. Great shot, hits hard, does not skate well. Fights because he has to, and loses quite a few. Not a great playmaker. Yet he is paid like a #1 guy who makes great passes like Wayne Gretzky, hits like Milan Lucic, shoots like Zdeno Chara, fights like Bob Probert, and scores like Mario Lemieux all the while playing defense like he is the combination of Zdeno Chara, Nik Lidstrom, and Scott Stevens.
SO yeah...most overrated. Because he had a great rookie season, and now he lives in the centre of the universe. Phaneuf is very good, but he is not as good as the media makes him out to be. Plus he is dumb as a post, and selfish.
Gauthier told that it wasn't because of that and they were negociating since a couple of weeks for Camm. Guess he is maybe right but still, the declaration of Micheal certainly didn't help his cause and maybe made the deal faster. The problem is that with what he was saying he wasn't even including himself in that, what a sucker. I'm sure alot of people will be happy he is gone, my dad was cursing him since the beginning of the season and he is happy that he is gone now. Now they need to move some other dead weight, like buy out Gomez.
philou21 wrote:Gauthier told that it wasn't because of that and they were negociating since a couple of weeks for Camm. Guess he is maybe right but still, the declaration of Micheal certainly didn't help his cause and maybe made the deal faster. The problem is that with what he was saying he wasn't even including himself in that, what a sucker. I'm sure alot of people will be happy he is gone, my dad was cursing him since the beginning of the season and he is happy that he is gone now. Now they need to move some other dead weight, like buy out Gomez.
The timing of the trade will lead to a ton of people not believing that line, myself included. I think Gauthier may be done as Habs GM, I think it will depend on how the rest of the season plays out.
Guys...what you need to know about Montreal. Gauthier is not the puppet master. Gainey is the puppet master. Gainey is emotional and sometimes reactionary. As soon as Cammi said his bit...Gainey said get this trade done now. Get him out of here. And Gauthier had no choice. He is not as reactionary as Gainey, and would have waited calmly for the right move. But not Bob.
Also, Montreal only called Calgary...they did not check out what they could have got around the league. Just dump him fast. Same thing with Halak back when..never called anyone but the Blues. Dumb....and is Bob Gainey's style. Not Gauthier.
But...that being said...Gauthier is a lame duck, and Gainey's puppet. He is done.
Did someone seen that photo of Taylor Hall after his cut in the warn up of last week? darn the kid as been sooooo lucky it didn't touched his eyes. Now I guess he will miss a couple of games, so now Edmonton don't have Eberle, Hopkins and Hall. That hurts your attack for sure.
Yep he was extremely lucky that it didn't cause even more serious injury than it did. Nonetheless, he's still unlucky that the incident happened in the first place. Makes me think helmets should be compulsory during practice...
Speaking of Edmonton, they sure have dived down the standings. The first quarter or so of the season and they were on fire. Their road game performance is certainly a factor in them slumping.
Bruins v Rags was a cracking game! It could have gone either way. Ference's penalty made it hard for the Bs to defend the remaining OT. Rask did well to make two saves before Gaborik put it in the net.
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I'm sure alot of people will be happy he is gone, my dad was cursing him since the beginning of the season and he is happy that he is gone now. Now they need to move some other dead weight, like buy out Gomez.