January NHL Game Thread
- Thread starter rembrat
- Start date
Shark Tank update!
The good news is that in points, the Sharks have dropped to 26th in the league, which would give the Bruins the 5th spot in the lottery. The bad news is the Sharks have games in hand on everyone, and the Pacific division continues to be a smoldering pile of ruins. LA is going to run away with the divisional title, that leaves the 2 and 3 spots. Those are currently occupied by Arizona (42) and Calgary (40). Arizona is a nice story but I don't think they can be counted on to stay there. Calgary is no great shakes, but them and the Ducks (39 points, still spinning their wheels) are our best hope.
Also, while looking at this, the Kings are going get screwed with this playoff format. Congrats! You've won the Pacific! Here's 100 point Nashville! Sorry, can't play the 86 point 3rd place team in your division!
The good news is that in points, the Sharks have dropped to 26th in the league, which would give the Bruins the 5th spot in the lottery. The bad news is the Sharks have games in hand on everyone, and the Pacific division continues to be a smoldering pile of ruins. LA is going to run away with the divisional title, that leaves the 2 and 3 spots. Those are currently occupied by Arizona (42) and Calgary (40). Arizona is a nice story but I don't think they can be counted on to stay there. Calgary is no great shakes, but them and the Ducks (39 points, still spinning their wheels) are our best hope.
Also, while looking at this, the Kings are going get screwed with this playoff format. Congrats! You've won the Pacific! Here's 100 point Nashville! Sorry, can't play the 86 point 3rd place team in your division!
Ovechkin scored his 500th (and 501st) goal last night. Pretty remarkable.
Florida beat the Oilers 2-1 for the Cats 12th straight win.
Florida beat the Oilers 2-1 for the Cats 12th straight win.
On the Sedins: "Usually they only use those fingers to lick the peanut butter off of their bread, what are they doing pointing fingers?"
The Canucks should be fucking contracted.
The Canucks should be fucking contracted.
Good news for the Bruins as Detroit loses 2-1 in regulation in a game that was a goalie showcase.
Habs head into the All Star break losing both ends of a home and home to CBJ. 5-2 both nights. PK being booed.
Bergevin said Therrien was safe through the end of the year but I can't imagine they come out of the break without changing something.
Bergevin said Therrien was safe through the end of the year but I can't imagine they come out of the break without changing something.
Corsi still likes them as a team. Excluding tonight, their team CF% in a game hasn't fallen below 50 since before the Winter Classic. Their PDO, on the other hand...yikes.
Yeah, some of this is them getting unlucky. 4th best CF%. Their shooting percentage has nose dived. That part is mostly luck. The save percentage nose dive is because the non-Price goalies suck. They are in a shooting slump like the one Anaheim has dealt with most of the year, but the Habs problem is exacerbated by the shitty goaltending.
It's the perfect storm, which is why the entire province is flipping out that Bergevin hasn't fired Therrien, Molson hasn't fired Bergevin, and they haven't traded the farm to get Drouin.
Part of me is actually pleased they are so upfront about staying pat, because the problems have nothing to do with heart, desire or francophones but that they're getting AHL-level goaltending while going through an unbelievable run of bad luck while shooting. I haven't heard any scouting explanations of why they would be so unsuccessful at shots from the slot vs. any other team, so I think bad luck is the biggest reason.
Having said that, I wouldn't make Michel Therrien the hill I would die on.
Part of me is actually pleased they are so upfront about staying pat, because the problems have nothing to do with heart, desire or francophones but that they're getting AHL-level goaltending while going through an unbelievable run of bad luck while shooting. I haven't heard any scouting explanations of why they would be so unsuccessful at shots from the slot vs. any other team, so I think bad luck is the biggest reason.
Having said that, I wouldn't make Michel Therrien the hill I would die on.
Agreed, it's unfortunate that the stick and hands go up the way they did, but the way his foot moved looked to me like he was trying to avoid hitting him after seeing him at the last minute.
I see that as Wideman being so tunnel-visioned to the bench door, that he didn't even see the ref until he was too close, and then he reacted as if the ref was a hockey player (which I think he expects more to be in his face than the ref). He was put through the concussion protocol, right?
Wiseman suspended indefinitely pending a post-ASB hearing.
The linesman spent the night in the hospital and is concussed. Wideman went into the boards awkwardly and seemed doozy on the way back to the bench, so he could've been concussed too, which calls into question the effectiveness/enforcement of the concussion protocol. All sorts of angles here.
The linesman spent the night in the hospital and is concussed. Wideman went into the boards awkwardly and seemed doozy on the way back to the bench, so he could've been concussed too, which calls into question the effectiveness/enforcement of the concussion protocol. All sorts of angles here.
I think he was concussed and didn't see the linesman until the last second, based on how his skates reacted. But for the NHL to go lenient on him would require them to admit that their own concussion protocols failed, which I doubt they're willing to do.
It's also a pretty clearcut suspension for him. It's either 3, 10, or 20 games according to rule book. 10 if no intent to injure, 20 if intent to injure. I think he deserves 10, but will get 20.
It's also a pretty clearcut suspension for him. It's either 3, 10, or 20 games according to rule book. 10 if no intent to injure, 20 if intent to injure. I think he deserves 10, but will get 20.
His best defense is that he was concussed. He certainly looked that way heading back to the bench. The optics of the hands coming up with the stick are bad, but I agree with TFP that it appears he moves his skates as if to avoid the hit.
I have a hard time convincing myself of any malicious intent or reckless behavior on Wideman's part.
I have a hard time seeing anything less than 10 games. NHL has to protect their officials, and Wideman's actions were definitely deliberate. Better to err on the side of discipline when it comes to the safety of the officials.
Yeah that's where I am. Plus the NHL has to cover its ass on the concussion protocol. So basically what TFP said.
Love that you can tell the actual intent from the movement of the skates too. The recently repressed hockey nerd in me loves that for some reason.
Love that you can tell the actual intent from the movement of the skates too. The recently repressed hockey nerd in me loves that for some reason.
Anyone else watching the All Star Game? So far, not so bad. On a 1-10 "Give a shit" meter they're probably at a 2.5. Normal All Star game is a 1.
Jagr just scored in the all star game. 11 all stars this year were born after he made his NHL debut. Unbelievable.
This is more effort than I've seen in a while in the ASG. Bergy is back checking, Stamkos tried to block a shot on the goal earlier, slapshots have been taken. It's pretty impressive so far. I wonder if it's because there's no where to hide out there 3 on 3 so they're more motivated. That and winning the first game actually matters if they want to keep playing.
So far so good.
So far so good.
I like it - 3 on 3 gives space for skill guys to make more plays, and more breakaways. Subban's pass to Bergy, and Bergy's move was unbelievable - would've been a highlight if he'd scored.
They are motivated because the loser sits for the"game" 3rd period. They have to all WANT to advance to the later game.
Hundred grand per player for the team that wins. Not eff you money but an incentive nonetheless.
Scott to Roenick (who said he was critical of Scott being there) "Not the first time you've been wrong..."
Haha. The NHL ineptitude has turned me into a John Scott fan. Amazing.
Haha. The NHL ineptitude has turned me into a John Scott fan. Amazing.
