What a hockey game!

[1990C4S]

Originally Posted by Por_sha911

Question: if you knew who was in the first two pictures then why did you check the tags?

I answered, then I quoted your text and saw the tags. In that order, check my two replies...

[1990C4S]

Originally Posted by JJ 911SC

Not too many player can make the transition and get the Stanley Cup...

The only come to mind is;

Jacques Lemaire; 8 as a player & 1 as a coach

Lets add to the list...

Red Kelly (Nope, only as a player)

Glenn Sather (Nope, only as a coach, moved to WHA anyhow...)

Larry Robinson (Yes, coaching NJ)

Al Arbour (player in Detroit, coaching Islanders)

Not Don Cherry (never won it as a player OR as a coach)

King Clancy (as a player and as assistant coach/manager)

And I think Guy Carbonneau as a player and an assistant coach? Maybe not...

Joel Quenville (Nope - not as a player, just as a coach)

Toe Blake (for sure)

Jean Beliveau (as a player and 'front office').

[1990C4S]

Originally Posted by flatbutt

fair enough, we sucked epically this year.

The first half yes. Not when Jacques went behind the bench. I believe the Devil's were third best in the league after he started coaching.

[1990C4S]

Originally Posted by Por_sha911

Mike knows his stuff, he just couldn't coach worth a darn.

He is far more reviled for his work as a GM than a coach. But he did suck at both.

[flatbutt]

Originally Posted by 1990C4S

The first half yes. Not when Jacques went behind the bench. I believe the Devil's were third best in the league after he started coaching.

true and thats the biggest positive from this year. Jacques is a hockey god but the team proved they have the skills. Why they didn't produce under Mac is just sad.

[1990C4S]

Originally Posted by flatbutt

true and thats the biggest positive from this year. Jacques is a hockey god but the team proved they have the skills. Why they didn't produce under Mac is just sad.

Also sad that Jacques has retired. For good.

[JJ 911SC]

Originally Posted by 1990C4S

Also sad that Jacques has retired. For good.

Coco was (still is, sharing the first name did not skew that decision) my favorite Habs.

Find out later that my father used to work with him before he became a player.

[Por_sha911]

Originally Posted by 1990C4S

I answered, then I quoted your text and saw the tags. In that order, check my two replies...

OK. So, in your opinion, how did I do with Pop Quiz #2?

[1990C4S]

Originally Posted by Por_sha911

OK. So, in your opinion, how did I do with Pop Quiz #2?

Very good. Just missing the salient point that it was donated as an award for Canada's top-ranking amateur ice hockey club..... Some of us who take hockey a bit too seriously and need to get a real life believe that the NHL does not own the cup. But they have co-opted it for so long that it could never be wrestled from their hands.

Were the NHL run by people who knew/loved/and played hockey, instead of lawyers, it wouldn't rankle quite so much.

[flatbutt]

Any predictions for tonight's penalty time total? I'm guessing they'll both keep it quiet....hard fought....but quiet. Maybe 12 minutes total.

[Por_sha911]

Originally Posted by 1990C4S

Very good. Just missing the salient point that it was donated as an award for Canada's top-ranking amateur ice hockey club..... Some of us who take hockey a bit too seriously and need to get a real life believe that the NHL does not own the cup. But they have co-opted it for so long that it could never be wrestled from their hands.
Were the NHL run by people who knew/loved/and played hockey, instead of lawyers, it wouldn't rankle quite so much.

The NHL is a business just like NFL, MLB, NBA, and any other pro "sport". The fans come to see the best of the best play. Those elite level players play because they love the game (up until recently, NHL players were paid a fraction of what other pro sport players were paid). The teams are just businesses with logos and mascots. All these new safety rules aren't to protect people. They are to protect investments and the side benefit is the players are more protected.
The original cup was lent to local hockey clubs to show off for bragging rights. Sort of like having the "employee of the week" parking spot at your work. It is not owned by the NHL but they certainly do control it.
In spite of the problems, there is no better sport played. The players have to have the highest level of skill, balance, toughness and teamwork to be successful.

[Por_sha911]

Originally Posted by flatbutt

Any predictions for tonight's penalty time total? I'm guessing they'll both keep it quiet....hard fought....but quiet. Maybe 12 minutes total.

You mean per period, right?
One fight will total 10 minutes all by itself. On top of that, the officials have had a hair-trigger reaction to hooking lately.
I predict at least one fight = 10 and at least 5-6 hooking/tripping calls = 10-12. So I predict 20-25 minutes at the very least.
Don't forget the game on 2/9 between these two:
157 combined penalty minutes.
13 players in the penalty boxes at one time.
A fight between Goalies Tim Thomas and Carey Price (no penalty minutes).

[Por_sha911]

Don't forget that the above was not Tim's first dance:

[1990C4S]

There was only one great goalie on the ice tonight. He wore white.

Thomas was not good. The second goal was brutal.

It's not over. But I will not be surprised to see Carey Price outplay Thomas.

[Por_sha911]

Uh oh. Everything I expected was wrong in game one. Thomas was not sharp, the B's looked tired! Their passes weren't crisp, they gave up possession too much, they couldn't dominate with their size. The Habs used their speed perfectly. That said, the B's squandered a few real strong chances (one where Price left half the net open and [I think Marchand, maybe Thornton] shanked the shot!).
As Yogi used to say "its not over till its over" Thomas usually comes back strong after a bad showing and hopefully, they will come back with a new plan to offset Montreal's speed.

[JJ 911SC]

It's only the first game, but better be ahead

All first game where shutouts:

[1990C4S]

Marchand missed the open net. Mr. Big Mouth doesn't look so great now. He is a good player, he needs to shut-up and play.

[1990C4S]

Originally Posted by turbocarrera

How many games is Bobby Ryan gonna get?...similar to Stoll?

One. Or less.

[wcc]

The wings were up 4-0 and penalties allowed the Coyotes to get 3 and it was a nail biter in the end. They're leading the series 2-0. I hope they sweep 'em. LETS GO RED WINGS!

[1990C4S]

Originally Posted by 1990C4S

One. Or less.

Mea culpa. Two.