EHM The Blue Line

I wish...but I was at the rink with my son's team.

Wow, Zherdev scores twice in his first game back; you could really tell the difference between a guy who has been skating in games for months already and the NHL guys who are still getting back into the swing of things; he was everywhere!

Alex Auld completely stole a point for Florida tonight; he looked awesome and make 48 saves on 49 shots before losing in an OT shootout. Eddie who?

San Jose came very close to having a different goalie post a shutout in back to back games. Toskala allowed a goal late but was in total control (28 of 29) as were the Sharks all night.

Calgary was supposed to be able to score this year with the addition of the great Alex Tanguay right?? They now have four goals in three games as a team. Milan Michalek in San Jose has three by himself.

Maybe Tanguay is as I've always thought him to be; merely a good player that was always surrounded with great players always lining up with Sakic, Forsberg, Hejduk etc. will do that for you. I think he's more Mike Knuble than he is Mike Modano (or to bring Michalek back into the comparison, more Milan Michalek than Milan Hejduk).

He could always turn it around but if they were looking for scoring I don't think adding Tanguay especially at the price paid was the best course of action. On a related matter... have I mentioned lately how hideously overrated I feel Jerome Iginla is?

inSTAALed's Random Thoughts:


-Florida is much improved from last season.
-Nash + Zherdev =
-I love having Giguire and Lehtohnen on the same fantasy hockey team.


I was busy last night doing school stuff so I couldn't really watch much of any game...

Tonight's game-winning goal for the Hawks versus the Preds was scored by Jeffrey Hamilton the guy who I've mentioned came to Hawks camp on a tryout and ended up with a contract and a spot of the powerplay. Kind of a cool story GO HAWKS!

Minstrel wrote:Alex Auld completely stole a point for Florida tonight; he looked awesome and make 48 saves on 49 shots before losing in an OT shootout. Eddie who?

Yeps, Auld is really playing good this beginning of the season!! I saw him twice (one against the B's) and he looked good in both games.....also Bertuzzi is having a "second youth" in Florida and looks good too.

A team that I also like here at the beginning of the season is Atlanta!!!
Lehtonen is hot and I think the team has improved a lot defensevely (sp) and I wouldnt be surprised if they finally would make the playoffs this season!!

As what my loved B's belongs: awful!!!

Well, I know that the Blues arent the punching ball they were last season, but loosing the game after being in front 2-0 with 4 mins left in the third is really sad!!!
I really hope we improve a bit in the next games, because if not it could be a loooooong season for us B's fans!!!
Dont get me wrong guys, I promised myself to be patient with them because there are a lot of new faces in Beantown and the team is in a rebuilding phase, but there are really things who hurt!!!

WOW!!!! Nice comebacks yesterday!!!

Iam specially impressed by the Devils, who came back from a three goal deficit in the third and won the game in SO!!!
Anyway, Iam surprised by the offense of the Leafs!!! I thought they would be good in defense and below average in offense, but right now its just the opposite!!!

Crazy things happening in the NHL!!!! The coolest game on earth!!!

The Bruins have started rather poor if im honest. Something does need to be done or like flea says it will be a long season ahead of us.

Yeah, the Bruins are already breaking my heart. I honestly thought they've be a lot better this season. Going into this season I was the most excited about the Bruins that I've been in a long time. Last season after the lockout, I really wasn't all that excited and I certainly didn't like what they did in the UFA frenzy. This time it was a different story. I liked all the moves they made. For some reason, they're just not getting it together. I really hope things start clicking soon!

3 natural hattricks in one night. 2 in one game...Posted in another thread, but it was kind of off topic there. Smyth, Cheechoo, and then Gionta..WOW!

batdad wrote:3 natural hattricks in one night. 2 in one game...Posted in another thread, but it was kind of off topic there. Smyth, Cheechoo, and then Gionta..WOW!

And I saw all 3 on good ol NHL Center Ice.

inSTAALed wrote:

batdad wrote:3 natural hattricks in one night. 2 in one game...Posted in another thread, but it was kind of off topic there. Smyth, Cheechoo, and then Gionta..WOW!

And I saw all 3 on good ol NHL Center Ice.

My cable was knocked out and I am in basic cable hell now since my cable box is fried... I go in today and they tell me they don't have any of my kind of boxes at that office but they'll get me one tommorow darn!! I really wanted to see some matchups tonight too.

Anyhow this season is beginning like last season ended, no lead is safe and even amazing goaltending performances can end up on the wrong side of a decision.

Coming back from a being down by three in the third and winning by two like Edmonton did yesterday? That just never would have happened a few years ago. I have to say that I do love that they are keep up with the calls. You hold, you hook, you try to run a littel "pick" on a player who dosn't have the puck? You go to the box!

3 words:


'Bout F**kin' Time

The Leafs first line is rolling with Sundin, Wellwood and Tucker all being top 10 in the league for total points. Who woulda thunk it. :jawdrop:

Not to mention Tucker is tied for 2nd in goals, and Wellwood tied for 2nd in assists.

E5150_ca wrote:The Leafs first line is rolling with Sundin, Wellwood and Tucker all being top 10 in the league for total points. Who woulda thunk it. :jawdrop:

Not to mention Tucker is tied for 2nd in goals, and Wellwood tied for 2nd in assists.

Leafs got a big break last night, Sundin should have got a penalty during that 5 on 3 when he moved the Flames defender's stick away. Rule 56.2, of Section 7 under penalties states that it is an "interference" penalty to move a opposition players stick further out of the reach of the player. Wipe off the 5 on 3, and the goal and its a different game.

The Leafs have to be pleasantly surprized with there start so far this season. Especially with a win against Ottawa.

I wish I had a team to talk about, but the Flyers haven't started their season yet.

B. Stinson wrote:I wish I had a team to talk about, but the Flyers haven't started their season yet.

Forsberg did... sort of..

He had one nice goal against the Rags but other than that you really don't hear about them much.

B. Stinson wrote:I wish I had a team to talk about, but the Flyers haven't started their season yet.

....yeps, I know what u mean....the B's arent clicking too right now!!!! Hopefully they can turn things around in the first home game....hopefully!!!

I'd just like for people to look up what team is currently the NHL's highest scoring team. I say that because unless you see it from an official reputable source of some sort you probably won't believe me when I say that team happens to wear the Indianhead on their sweaters instead wondering if I've suffered some kind of serious head trauma

GIANT win tonight against Colorado. Havlat is amazing but it can't be overlooked the number of plays offensively AND especially defensively Michal Handzus has made for this team. If it wasn't for Jassen Cullimore who is a complete waste of salary as his only "talent" is hooking and holding they'd have truly dominated this game. He's one player I just keep hoping that they do find someone to take his salary off the books. I'm pretty sure everyone sees him as the "old NHL" dinosaur he is though and won't take him in any deal.

We are .500 again!

Woo!

What a game between Dallas and San Jose tonight; Nabokov looked great including that craaaazy save late to maintain the shutout. The teams were just all over each other defensively but in a really agressive instead of passive way which mae it lots of fun to watch with huge hits and lots of rushes broken up by some great d or squelched by great tending. Definitely a game that felt nothing like a 2-0 shutout. Most entertaining game I've seen this year. Go Sharks

Bruins picked up an impressive win, they looked really good and to me it looks like the team is finally coming together! Now lets just hope we can stop Buffalos winning streak...

Finally!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I only could view a bit of the game, but they looked good...specially good old Muzz!!!

Lets go against the Sabres on saturday!!!!!!!!!

I have to say that Iam real impressed by the Blackhawks!!!

Had the opportunity to see a bit of the Habs-Bhawks game the other day and I liked the way the Hawks played!! I thought they were extreme good in the offense with the new adquisitions, but it seems that they also click on defense (also thanks to last years additions Aucoin and Khabibulin I guess).

Dont know if they can keep up the streak, but they look sharp!!

Minty: u are certainlly the one who best knows the Hawks here so a quick sugestion:

The other day I have picked Handzus in my fantasy team that I play in yahoo with some spanish friends over here and I think its a good move because he was undrafted and I picked him up as a FA.
U agree with that?? I think he plays first line with Havlat, right?? Does he also play in special teams?? I think he plays in the PK unit, but does he also play in the PP??

Now I saw that Radim Vrbata is also a FA in our yahoo league and Iam seriously thinking in picking him up aswell. Right now I have Shane Doan (undroppable), Colby Armstrong, Justin Williams and Patrick Eaves on my team and Iam thinking in dropping Armstrong or Eaves for Vrbata.
Do u think it would be a good move??

Thanks god hockey is back!!!!LOL!!

About time. I see we got a very quick goal. Nice to see us get a good win though. Maybe this will be the start to our season. Even though we was down on shots after the first we did well to go in 2-0. Hope we can keep this up.

HawksBeatâ„¢ Handzus is a big part of the team and will be first line probably all year, he was originally going to be centering the first line with Ruutu and Havlat so things should only get better as he gets more used to the new teammates and if he does end up with Ruu and Havlat that's a pretty nice slot to be in fantasy wise. He's looked great; I love his effort out there every shift.

A lot of people have forgotten how good Vrbata was when he first burst on the scene in Colorado; and he's a guy that definitely benfits from the "New NHL" since he's small, fast, and skilled. He's one of a trio of players that they are expecting to improve susbtantially on their numbers especially offensively this year. The other two are Rene Bourque (who could have easily 5 more goals than he does, he's been getting tons of chances) and Patrick Sharp. It's still not real clear what role any of them will end up in long term so for now Vrbata is clicking and has a hot hand and unless Eaves ends up back on a big line in Ottawa and they start actually scoring some goals Vrbata may outperform him. Hope that helps!

Oh yes Sir, that helped a lot!!!!

Thanks very much Minty

....lol, nice to have some insider info from around the NHL....feels like Iam cheating on the others