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Hockey: News and Discussion Thread
11-22-2011, 08:19 AM
Senior Moderator
Meh, he was alright..... 
Anyone wanna take best that he'll wins the scoring title? I don't think he will but I bet he comes damn close.
Anyone wanna take best that he'll wins the scoring title? I don't think he will but I bet he comes damn close.
11-22-2011, 08:36 AM
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Great night last night all around, definitely didn't see any rust.
Oh and yummy, I was only poking fun at you, not all hawks fans
Oh and yummy, I was only poking fun at you, not all hawks fans
11-22-2011, 08:36 AM
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11-22-2011, 08:39 AM
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Seven facts about Sidney Crosby’s comeback classic with Penguins
By Sean Leahy
The Pittsburgh Penguins beat the New York Islanders 5-0, but obviously that wasn't the story of the night. Sidney Crosby(notes) returned from missing the previous 61 regular-season games with a concussion, and promptly needed just 5:24 to score his first goal and finished with two goals and two assists in 15:54 of ice time.
Here are seven facts from tonight's rout of the Islanders.
1. The Islanders might've been the best opponent for Crosby to comeback against. In 34 career games against the Isles, Crosby has 20 goals and 66 points, four more points than his 26 goals, 36 assists in 36 games against the Philadelphia Flyers. With his assist on Evgeni Malkin's(notes) power-play goal in the second period, that makes 22 career power play assists against the Islanders; once again most versus any other NHL team.
2. The game was Crosby's 21st career 4-point night, with six of them coming against the Islanders. Pens and Isles play three more times this season: Dec. 10 on Long Island and then a home-and-home in late-March.
3. Via TSN Research, Crosby moved up 243 spots in the NHL scoring race with four points. He's now 25 points behind Phil Kessel(notes) for the NHL scoring lead. Earlier today, Bodog set the over/under for Crosby's point total at 80.5. Which are you taking? Crosby was also an 8/1 favorite for the Hart Trophy, according to Bodog.
4. With his four-point night, Crosby has as many points or more than seven Islanders forwards who have played at least 15 games. He's also five goals behind Alex Ovechkin(notes). Start the Sid vs. Ovie hype machine!
5. The Islanders' loss drops them to 5-10-3 on the season. The loss was their 12th in their last 14 games. A year ago, the team went 0-9-1 before firing then-head coach Scott Gordon with a record of 4-10-3. What does the future hold for Jack Capuano?
6. Brooks Orpik(notes) scored his second of the season. In 525 NHL games, Orpik has 11 goals. He hasn't scored more than two in a season during his nine-year career. The rugged defensemen is on a bit of a scoring tear for him, having potted both goals in a four game span. Orpik hasn't score twice that close together since the 2005-06 season when he tallied two in a six-game span.
7. Aside from the points, Crosby was also dominant in the faceoff dot by winning 14 of 21 draws, including five of eight in the defensive zone. Dating back to last season, Crosby has had a winning record in the circle in 15 of his last 16 games with the only loss coming against the Washington Capitals.
By Sean Leahy
The Pittsburgh Penguins beat the New York Islanders 5-0, but obviously that wasn't the story of the night. Sidney Crosby(notes) returned from missing the previous 61 regular-season games with a concussion, and promptly needed just 5:24 to score his first goal and finished with two goals and two assists in 15:54 of ice time.
Here are seven facts from tonight's rout of the Islanders.
1. The Islanders might've been the best opponent for Crosby to comeback against. In 34 career games against the Isles, Crosby has 20 goals and 66 points, four more points than his 26 goals, 36 assists in 36 games against the Philadelphia Flyers. With his assist on Evgeni Malkin's(notes) power-play goal in the second period, that makes 22 career power play assists against the Islanders; once again most versus any other NHL team.
2. The game was Crosby's 21st career 4-point night, with six of them coming against the Islanders. Pens and Isles play three more times this season: Dec. 10 on Long Island and then a home-and-home in late-March.
3. Via TSN Research, Crosby moved up 243 spots in the NHL scoring race with four points. He's now 25 points behind Phil Kessel(notes) for the NHL scoring lead. Earlier today, Bodog set the over/under for Crosby's point total at 80.5. Which are you taking? Crosby was also an 8/1 favorite for the Hart Trophy, according to Bodog.
4. With his four-point night, Crosby has as many points or more than seven Islanders forwards who have played at least 15 games. He's also five goals behind Alex Ovechkin(notes). Start the Sid vs. Ovie hype machine!
5. The Islanders' loss drops them to 5-10-3 on the season. The loss was their 12th in their last 14 games. A year ago, the team went 0-9-1 before firing then-head coach Scott Gordon with a record of 4-10-3. What does the future hold for Jack Capuano?
6. Brooks Orpik(notes) scored his second of the season. In 525 NHL games, Orpik has 11 goals. He hasn't scored more than two in a season during his nine-year career. The rugged defensemen is on a bit of a scoring tear for him, having potted both goals in a four game span. Orpik hasn't score twice that close together since the 2005-06 season when he tallied two in a six-game span.
7. Aside from the points, Crosby was also dominant in the faceoff dot by winning 14 of 21 draws, including five of eight in the defensive zone. Dating back to last season, Crosby has had a winning record in the circle in 15 of his last 16 games with the only loss coming against the Washington Capitals.
11-22-2011, 09:32 AM
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11-22-2011, 10:18 AM
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Well, maybe Crosby's return will wake up Ovie. 
11-22-2011, 11:30 AM
ESPN has talked more about hockey in the last hour than they have all season. They have all of their NHL heads running around with hard-on's for last night.
11-22-2011, 11:43 AM
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Crosby back and Crosby possibly back at the level he left at last year is huge news. And it should be.
11-22-2011, 12:13 PM
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11-22-2011, 03:14 PM
Thoughts?
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/9...rce=newsletter
The New York Rangers: Why John Tortorella Needs to Be Fired as Head Coach
The New York Rangers saw their seven-game winning streak go up in smoke on Saturday, losing to the Montreal Canadians 4-0. The Rangers looked flat, sluggish, and all around not ready to play Saturday, and it showed on the scoreboard.
But who is to blame for this? Certainly the players take some of the fault, looking like a totally different team than they had the previous seven games, unable to get good shots off or control the puck in the Canadians' zone. They had a weak performance by goalie Martin Biron, a weak penalty kill and even weaker power play.
However, there is someone else to blame for the Rangers poor play on Saturday, who I believe has been the main cause of their problems for the last few years, and that is coach John Tortorella. I feel that Tortorella over-manages the team at times and causes a lack of chemistry between the Rangers' lines.
Take this seven-game winning streak and recent loss to the Canadians. The line of Amnisimov, Gaborik, and Stepan consistently scored game in and game out for the Rangers at the beginning of the winning streak, but towards the end of the streak and the Canadians game, the line was not even together.
He also decided to change up the defensive lines that carried the Rangers through their seven-game win streak. One bad period, and Tortorella changed up the Girardi defensive pair and it only affected the Rangers worse.
He cannot completely change everything every time the Rangers have a bad period. They will never be able to get the chemistry that they need in order to play effectively over the course of a year; it might work for a few games (in this case seven), but not in the long run.
Do you think John Tortorella should be fired?
Yes No Submit Vote vote to see results
The power play is a perfect example of this. A Rangers power play is the equivalent to watching paint dry: pass, pass, pass, deflected shot, cleared, power play over.
Who is the one that runs the Rangers' plays and decides how they are going to perform day in and day out? John Tortorella; once again showing his inability to effectively coach a team, and more importantly the Rangers power play, which has not been effective in years.
Tortorella feels the need to tweak his lines after every game, even if they are working. At times it works, putting Dubinsky on a lower line to get him scoring chances and Boyle higher to up his playing ability, but most of the time it leaves Ranger fans scratching their heads and wondering what he is doing.
He even over-manages his goalies. Both Henrik Lundqvist and Marin Biron are having spectacular seasons between the pipes, but Lundqvist is the obvious number one. Even so, John Tortorella decided to put Biron in goal on Saturday against the Canadians.
His reasoning behind this was due to Lundqvist's previous poor play in Montreal and Biron having a large amount of rest since his last start. However, the Rangers had three days between their game with the Canadians and their game with the New York Islanders the Tuesday before; Lundqvist was well rested, and should have been between the pipes on Saturday and not Biron.
This and many other examples throughout both this year and last show Tortorella's poor management of the Rangers and how that negatively affects them. The players change, but the coach has not.
Tortorella cannot say he has nothing to work with. By acquiring Brad Richards in the offseason, the Rangers have established a solid offensive attack that still cannot seem to find a way to score. The only person that has not changed is the coach, John Tortorella. A much needed change has to come to the coaching staff in order for the Rangers to truly prosper this year and beyond
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/9...rce=newsletter
The New York Rangers: Why John Tortorella Needs to Be Fired as Head Coach
The New York Rangers saw their seven-game winning streak go up in smoke on Saturday, losing to the Montreal Canadians 4-0. The Rangers looked flat, sluggish, and all around not ready to play Saturday, and it showed on the scoreboard.
But who is to blame for this? Certainly the players take some of the fault, looking like a totally different team than they had the previous seven games, unable to get good shots off or control the puck in the Canadians' zone. They had a weak performance by goalie Martin Biron, a weak penalty kill and even weaker power play.
However, there is someone else to blame for the Rangers poor play on Saturday, who I believe has been the main cause of their problems for the last few years, and that is coach John Tortorella. I feel that Tortorella over-manages the team at times and causes a lack of chemistry between the Rangers' lines.
Take this seven-game winning streak and recent loss to the Canadians. The line of Amnisimov, Gaborik, and Stepan consistently scored game in and game out for the Rangers at the beginning of the winning streak, but towards the end of the streak and the Canadians game, the line was not even together.
He also decided to change up the defensive lines that carried the Rangers through their seven-game win streak. One bad period, and Tortorella changed up the Girardi defensive pair and it only affected the Rangers worse.
He cannot completely change everything every time the Rangers have a bad period. They will never be able to get the chemistry that they need in order to play effectively over the course of a year; it might work for a few games (in this case seven), but not in the long run.
Do you think John Tortorella should be fired?
Yes No Submit Vote vote to see results
The power play is a perfect example of this. A Rangers power play is the equivalent to watching paint dry: pass, pass, pass, deflected shot, cleared, power play over.
Who is the one that runs the Rangers' plays and decides how they are going to perform day in and day out? John Tortorella; once again showing his inability to effectively coach a team, and more importantly the Rangers power play, which has not been effective in years.
Tortorella feels the need to tweak his lines after every game, even if they are working. At times it works, putting Dubinsky on a lower line to get him scoring chances and Boyle higher to up his playing ability, but most of the time it leaves Ranger fans scratching their heads and wondering what he is doing.
He even over-manages his goalies. Both Henrik Lundqvist and Marin Biron are having spectacular seasons between the pipes, but Lundqvist is the obvious number one. Even so, John Tortorella decided to put Biron in goal on Saturday against the Canadians.
His reasoning behind this was due to Lundqvist's previous poor play in Montreal and Biron having a large amount of rest since his last start. However, the Rangers had three days between their game with the Canadians and their game with the New York Islanders the Tuesday before; Lundqvist was well rested, and should have been between the pipes on Saturday and not Biron.
This and many other examples throughout both this year and last show Tortorella's poor management of the Rangers and how that negatively affects them. The players change, but the coach has not.
Tortorella cannot say he has nothing to work with. By acquiring Brad Richards in the offseason, the Rangers have established a solid offensive attack that still cannot seem to find a way to score. The only person that has not changed is the coach, John Tortorella. A much needed change has to come to the coaching staff in order for the Rangers to truly prosper this year and beyond
11-22-2011, 03:20 PM
Senior Moderator
What a lame article. Talk about firing a coach because of one loss. 
11-22-2011, 03:21 PM
Senior Moderator
By virtue of that, I think Coach Q of Chicago should be axed because well, his team lost to the Oilers to the tune of 9-2.
11-22-2011, 03:31 PM
I am not a Tort fan but I agree that game is not a reason for firing.
11-22-2011, 03:32 PM
Senior Moderator
Agreed, that was a terrible article.
I think Ron Wilson should be fired but at least I have 3 years of performance and almost 3 and half years of a team with the worst penalty kill and power play in the league to back me up. Plus there's the fact that he's a huge douche.
I think Ron Wilson should be fired but at least I have 3 years of performance and almost 3 and half years of a team with the worst penalty kill and power play in the league to back me up. Plus there's the fact that he's a huge douche.
11-22-2011, 03:32 PM
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It's 1 game...
11-22-2011, 04:47 PM
Trolling Canuckistan
1 goal against an incredibly hot goaltender who has let in 1 goal in three games. For the people who need visual statistics to fully understand that, here's the one goal scorer to help you out with that.
How many goals has he let in Andy?
Thank you Mr. Ference aka the Birdman of the Bell Centre.
Habs
How many goals has he let in Andy?
Thank you Mr. Ference aka the Birdman of the Bell Centre.
Habs
Last edited by black label; 11-22-2011 at 04:50 PM.
11-22-2011, 05:05 PM
lol!!!!!!!!!
Ya it was his second SO in a row so needless to say he is hot. Had they given up 1 goal it would have been game over so it really does not matter that they gave up 4.
I do agree switching up lines like he does is counter productive (especially if the players are gelling)
Ya it was his second SO in a row so needless to say he is hot. Had they given up 1 goal it would have been game over so it really does not matter that they gave up 4.
I do agree switching up lines like he does is counter productive (especially if the players are gelling)
11-23-2011, 09:57 AM
Senior Moderator
Well, let's see how the Hawks match up against the SJ Fish tonight.
11-23-2011, 10:04 AM
Trolling Canuckistan
I'm wondering what kind of fun Milan Lucic is going to have in Buffalo tonight. I'm guessing the coach who invented the "turtle" when he was a player won't let his team respond tonight.
11-23-2011, 10:06 AM
Senior Moderator
Best measure of revenge. Running Thomas or Rask...eh, stupid and only a dirt-city team like the Canucks would do.
Speaking of the Canucks, anyone see the stunt Burrows and Lapierre pulled off the other night...?
11-23-2011, 10:28 AM
Trolling Canuckistan
I don't think they can win the hitting battle if it comes to that. I wonder if someone is just going to step up and challenge Lucic but I'm not sure they have anyone who can do that and not end up embarrassed.
11-23-2011, 10:38 AM
Senior Moderator
Well, if Ray comes out of retirement... 
11-23-2011, 12:31 PM
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Stood in line for 2 hrs to meet James Neal last night, that fawker better stay healthy the rest of the year 
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jupitersolo (11-23-2011)
11-23-2011, 01:08 PM
Trolling Canuckistan
11-23-2011, 01:12 PM
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11-23-2011, 01:26 PM
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I bought the ticket while i was having a what the hell moment, they had only sold 150 tickets when I got mine. I thought they were only selling 250, they expanded and sold 500 because he actually discovered where the goal was, and every f'er on the planet bought tickets. People were showing up at 4 PM to get in line, that is the last autograph session like that I'll ever go to
11-23-2011, 01:26 PM
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11-23-2011, 01:43 PM
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<-- Still shocked that people wait in line and buy tickets to get James Neal's autograph.
You people from Pittsburgh don't mess around.
I'm not even sure if the Leafs even have autograph sessions like that.
You people from Pittsburgh don't mess around.
I'm not even sure if the Leafs even have autograph sessions like that.
11-23-2011, 02:39 PM
11-23-2011, 02:56 PM
Banned
Showed my daughter all the teams on shop.nhl.com and she picked the Maple Leafs. 
11-23-2011, 03:00 PM
Senior Moderator
11-23-2011, 03:01 PM
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11-23-2011, 03:01 PM
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11-24-2011, 12:47 AM
Trolling Canuckistan
Gaustad went out and got beat up to show Miller how much he cares.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQ2v3-XuZWg
and #10
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQ2v3-XuZWg
and #10
11-24-2011, 10:01 AM
Senior Moderator
Ah well, at least the Sabres tried.
Congrats on #10...
Congrats on #10...
11-24-2011, 12:51 PM
Trolling Canuckistan
They did try, and they put a good effort forth in the 1st period (some ridiculous calls from the refs didn't hurt) but in the end when it came to playing a rough and tumble physical style for 60 minutes, they couldn't handle the big bad Bruins.
My favorite parts were when the B's immediately responded to any liberties being taken. They felt Marchand took a late hit from Gaustad which lead to this response.......
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NOZnr...ayer_embedded#!
Call Chara a bully if you want but he didn't throw the first punch and he's really not much of a fighter despite his size, more of a greco roman wrestler.
There was another incident where a Buffalo player bumped Thomas (for a second time) and Ference immediately went after him for it. FWIW Ference's style of play and immediate responses to things he didn't like are earning him cult status in Boston.
My favorite parts were when the B's immediately responded to any liberties being taken. They felt Marchand took a late hit from Gaustad which lead to this response.......
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NOZnr...ayer_embedded#!
Call Chara a bully if you want but he didn't throw the first punch and he's really not much of a fighter despite his size, more of a greco roman wrestler.
There was another incident where a Buffalo player bumped Thomas (for a second time) and Ference immediately went after him for it. FWIW Ference's style of play and immediate responses to things he didn't like are earning him cult status in Boston.
11-24-2011, 01:22 PM
Senior Moderator
Hawks need more of that type of player.
Despite their signing of Mayers and Carcillo, the rest of the newbies are not delivering enough of the rough and tough play needed.
Despite their signing of Mayers and Carcillo, the rest of the newbies are not delivering enough of the rough and tough play needed.
11-25-2011, 10:13 AM
Senior Moderator
ONTARIO TEACHERS' PENSION PLAN TO KEEP MLSE AFTER REVIEW
The Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan has decided to keep its stake in the company that owns the Toronto Maple Leafs hockey team after an eight-month review.
Teachers' launched a review of its ownership stake in Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment in March after it received inquiries from possible buyers.
"Teachers' has concluded this eight-month process with the decision to maintain its stake in MLSE, which has been and continues to be a very successful investment," the pension fund said in a statement.
Maple Leaf Sports is a profitable company, with sports and real estate operations, but its major sports properties -- the Leafs and Raptors of the NBA -- face challenges in their businesses.
The Leafs are better this year but have not made the NHL playoffs in years and the Raptors are stuck in an NBA lockout that threatens to wipe out the entire season.
Teachers' increased its stake in the company to 79.5 per cent in September with the purchase of TD Capital Group's 13.5 per cent stake. At the time, it was thought the move was a step to streamline the sale of the pension fund's stake in the team.
Kilmer Sports, which is controlled by Toronto businessman Larry Tanenbaum, owns the remaining stake and holds a right of first refusal on any sale by Teachers'.
U.S. private equity firm Providence Equity Partners -- the company behind the Yankees Entertainment and Sports Network -- had expressed an interest in buying the 80 per cent MLSE stake.
Rogers Communications Inc. (TSX:RCI.B), which owns the Toronto Blue Jays baseball franchise as well as numerous media and telecom businesses, was also named as another possible bidder.
In addition to the Leafs, MLSE also owns the NBA's Toronto Raptors, the AHL's Toronto Marlies, the MLS's Toronto FC and the Air Canada Centre, as well as several media assets.
It's estimated MLSE is worth between $1.5 billion and $2 billion since the Leafs are a lucrative money maker in what has long been one of the best hockey markets in the world.
However, setting a market price on the sports company is not a science since a lot of the value in a franchise is based on whether the team will make the playoffs, which can produce huge revenues and fatter profits at the gate, merchandising and other sources.
The Leafs are playing better this year and could make the playoffs for the first time since 2003-2004.
As well, the NBA lockout -- the first month of the season has already been cancelled as the union and owners fight over a new contract -- has taken millions of dollars in revenues away from the Raptors, with no settlement in sight.
As well, a falling Canadian dollar would also lower the value of Maple Leaf Sports to an American buyer because the Canadian company generates its finances and operates in Canadian currency.
A dollar at par or above the value of the U.S. greenback makes Maple Leaf Sports more lucrative to American buyers. But the loonie has dropped to about 95 cents in recent weeks and could go lower.
The Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan has decided to keep its stake in the company that owns the Toronto Maple Leafs hockey team after an eight-month review.
Teachers' launched a review of its ownership stake in Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment in March after it received inquiries from possible buyers.
"Teachers' has concluded this eight-month process with the decision to maintain its stake in MLSE, which has been and continues to be a very successful investment," the pension fund said in a statement.
Maple Leaf Sports is a profitable company, with sports and real estate operations, but its major sports properties -- the Leafs and Raptors of the NBA -- face challenges in their businesses.
The Leafs are better this year but have not made the NHL playoffs in years and the Raptors are stuck in an NBA lockout that threatens to wipe out the entire season.
Teachers' increased its stake in the company to 79.5 per cent in September with the purchase of TD Capital Group's 13.5 per cent stake. At the time, it was thought the move was a step to streamline the sale of the pension fund's stake in the team.
Kilmer Sports, which is controlled by Toronto businessman Larry Tanenbaum, owns the remaining stake and holds a right of first refusal on any sale by Teachers'.
U.S. private equity firm Providence Equity Partners -- the company behind the Yankees Entertainment and Sports Network -- had expressed an interest in buying the 80 per cent MLSE stake.
Rogers Communications Inc. (TSX:RCI.B), which owns the Toronto Blue Jays baseball franchise as well as numerous media and telecom businesses, was also named as another possible bidder.
In addition to the Leafs, MLSE also owns the NBA's Toronto Raptors, the AHL's Toronto Marlies, the MLS's Toronto FC and the Air Canada Centre, as well as several media assets.
It's estimated MLSE is worth between $1.5 billion and $2 billion since the Leafs are a lucrative money maker in what has long been one of the best hockey markets in the world.
However, setting a market price on the sports company is not a science since a lot of the value in a franchise is based on whether the team will make the playoffs, which can produce huge revenues and fatter profits at the gate, merchandising and other sources.
The Leafs are playing better this year and could make the playoffs for the first time since 2003-2004.
As well, the NBA lockout -- the first month of the season has already been cancelled as the union and owners fight over a new contract -- has taken millions of dollars in revenues away from the Raptors, with no settlement in sight.
As well, a falling Canadian dollar would also lower the value of Maple Leaf Sports to an American buyer because the Canadian company generates its finances and operates in Canadian currency.
A dollar at par or above the value of the U.S. greenback makes Maple Leaf Sports more lucrative to American buyers. But the loonie has dropped to about 95 cents in recent weeks and could go lower.
11-25-2011, 10:55 AM
Trolling Canuckistan
I'm a little nervous for the streak today. Matinee games for the and the B's never seem to go well. They do seem to play up to Detroit when they come to Boston though so maybe they can break their normal game day routines and still play well.