It's that magical time of the year
 

The NHL season begins in less than 48 hours.

The big news is the change in goalie equipment. Pad have to bit the size of the player and there is way less protection around the collarbone. The aim is to increase scoring but I wonder if it will also increase injury.

They way I see it:

Everyone wants to know if the Caps can repeat. They didn't change much in the off season so we shall see. Remember, Trotz is gone.

The Preds, Jets, Knights, Sharks, Columbus, Pens, Tampa, BRUINS SmileWavy should do well.

The Habs, Calgary, LA, Islanders, Chicago, Buffalo, Hurricanes, are still in trouble.

Could go either way: NJ (sorry Flattbutt), Colorado, Wild, Leafs, Flyers.

Tom Wilson will make Brad Marchand look like a choir boy. SmileWavy. Cindy will still whine. :p and the fans will still boo Bettman.

Here is a highlight reel goal!
https://nhl.nbcsports.com/2018/10/06/predators-arvidsson-scores-goal-worthy-of-nhl-19/

Thank you for your insightful contribution to the topic.

Looks like we might be getting a team in Seattle. Hopefully it pans out!

The art of goaltending should not be dependent upon the girth of the equipment. My old coach told me that sometimes making a save is done by being too slow to get out of the way. Of course he meant positioning. In those days we made saves by being in the right spot at the right time. Not by flopping down and hoping to get hit by the puck.

Change the equipment? Fine, whatever. A good goalie is going to make saves regardless of equipment size. Sure an inch here or there will occasionally make the difference but not usually. Aim high over my shoulder and all I can do is shrug my shoulder or straighten my posture to get the puck. Shoot to the outside of my blocker side knee and I better be closed and square.

Flames didn't look like they were in trouble tonight...

Look back 20 years, the goalies were tiny. Players could score from the wing on a rush. That almost never happens now. The goalie equipment in use now is a huge advantage for them.

They are all good goalies, but a league save average of .900 will be more fun than .920. I think the equipment changes will make a difference.

You didn't mention Edmonton. They didn't look bad last night.

Well, I heard a commentator recently say that the Flames could be the sleeper contender this year. No one has expected much but they have come out of the gate blazing.

Flames are a relatively small and fast team. Kind of remind me of a Sutter team that checks and checks and checks...
That was a good hockey game. I actually stayed awake to watch it.

I didn't get a chance to watch the game last night against the Preds. Talked to a friend that was at the game and was told the Flames were very entertaining to watch but came up short to the very hot Predators.

It is a long season. Will see if they can stay healthy and how their depth talent wise is.

Today's NHL is all about being fast but small can mean more injuryies. Staying healthy is huge also.

Speaking of injuries, Rinne is on IR. The Preds should be OK since Saros is playing like a first stringer.

One thing about the goalie equipment is it take possibilities away. As a shooter when you're picking a spot and you see nothing it tilts the odds.

When I goalie had to come out and really cut the angles down but risk getting burnt by someone going wide, now he can sit back further and still clog the angles.

Makes you appreciate how good some of the old guys really were. Sure I am a Flyers fan but seeing what Parent played in back in the 70's and how good he was is amazing.

At 54 I cant shoot as quick, hard or as accurately as I once did but even the old goalies in the over 40's look huge these days.

QUESTION...What are the odds that Hack is the Flyers coach for the last game of the season?

I have just about run out of patience with this team and the management.

I was thinking about going to the gave vs the Aves tonight but I think the Flyers are so mediocre I think I'll watch from home. I get free tickets too

4-1 looks like you made a good choice tonight.

The goalies who play now have some advantages over the "good old days". Better protection, removable skate blades to keep sharp, more rules to prevent bowling for goalies. That said they are still the toughest and craziest in the bunch. I worry that the new smaller pads are going to mean more injuries.