Octopus Overlords

During a wild ass 9-6 win yesterday, I saw a stat that said the Calgary Flames have FOUR 5-goal periods already on the season (they rattled off 5 unanswered in the 2nd last night, turning a 4-1 deficit into a 6-4 lead). The rest of the NHL? Three!

Anaheim’s Jake Dotchin just got a 10 minute misconduct because he wouldn’t leave the ice after the second period in Buffalo.

Now that we're at the halfway point of the season, how's your team doing?

The Flames are doing better than my wildest expectations this season. The coaching change and the current win of the Hanafin/Lindholm for Hamilton/Ferland/Fox trade has overcome Mike Smith falling apart and James Neal being a bust so far.

Johnny Gaudreau is 4th in the NHL in scoring, the possession metrics are outstanding, David Rittich is stabilizing the goaltending, and Calgary is currently 1st in the West with a 26-13-4 record, good for 56 points.

The Flames could probably use some defensive depth (their current 3rd pairing is a couple of rookies) and either some more wing depth or a goalie, but right now, this is one incredible team to watch. A far cry from the disappointment of last season.

I'm not mad at all at the Habs which is completely surprising to me.

tjg_marantz wrote: ↑Mon Jan 07, 2019 3:02 am I'm not mad at all at the Habs which is completely surprising to me.

A point out of a playoff spot with not much Shea Weber and bad goaltending isn't too bad at all.

pr0ner wrote: ↑Sun Jan 06, 2019 2:19 pm Now that we're at the halfway point of the season, how's your team doing?

Oh, it's still on?

I just checked and apparently we are within 4 points of getting the top draft pick.

pr0ner wrote: ↑Sun Jan 06, 2019 2:19 pm Now that we're at the halfway point of the season, how's your team doing?

Wings played better than expected when they had their brief moments of having a mostly full roster (i.e., November). Going into this season I was thinking we hadn't yet seen rock bottom, but then we were playing with some heart. Larkin has taken the reigns and is a no-brainer to be given the C (the plan is next season, but he's made it so obvious that he's ready and the appropriate person, I wouldn't be surprised if it were just announced before the end of this year). Most fans recall the deal made last year in moving Tatar to Vegas netting the team a few picks (including a first rounder) and we're expecting a bit of a yard sale this year with some live-long Red Wings on the block (Howard and Kronwall being two of the well-known names out there). The fan base is looking forward to the end of Yzerman's contract with Tampa Bay (Yzerman lives in Detroit but is paid by TBL through the end of this season) as there's a place for him on the management side in Detroit (hopefully ousting Holland as General Manager).

We've seen more development from the younger players this year than we've seen in the past, which is fun. Cholowski and Hronek impress on the blueline. Rasmussen has disappointed and Bertuzzi's been what's expected on the wings. The team is hampered with some legacy contracts for aging mid-tier players which is why the fans are looking forward to Holland's departure as GM. The injury bug keeps the squad in the draft lottery discussion, but the play on the ice is still relatively entertaining nonetheless.

So I'd say better than my very meager expectations, but it's not really showing up in the standings. The groundwork is there for a meaningful roster overhaul in the next calendar year.

18 games since the brief moment in first place, the Sabres have gone 6-8-4. That pace is 35 points over 40 games (remaining season), which would put them at 85 points to end the year if it continues. That would be 23 points greater than last year. Last year's Eastern playoff points requirement was 97.

Moat_Man wrote: ↑Tue Sep 25, 2018 3:23 am Mark me down for a last place finish by the Canucks this year. It's going to be ugly. They have the potential to be epically bad, and this is coming from an optimist.

Considering my prediction above I couldn't be happier really. The best part is they are fun to watch and there's even hope for the futu... oh wait, I just remembered I'm a Canucks fan ...down goes Petterson with a knee injury. Mother*$#%@%

Well, let's see.

- We traded Phaneuf (playing) for Gaborik (not playing)
- We traded Hoffman for Boedker since we wanted to clean up the dressing room but wanted a roster player back since we weren't in a rebuild
- We traded Karlsson for draft picks, serviceable roster players and a prospect since we were in a rebuild
- Our "I'm a powerplay specialist" headcoach ... can't
- We're currently kings of giving up shots on net
- We don't have a distinct President or CEO
- The owner is running the team on a shoestring so we don't have a full scouting staff
- Our #1 G is 37 and coming off a horrible season and we don't have decent backup
- UFAs this season include aforementioned Boedker, Stone, Dzingel and Duchene (the latter 3 with 21, 20 and 19 goals to date); it's somewhat questionable whether they want to return, given the management group
- The ownership has already shown (via Karlsson and Turris earlier) that they don't want long-term commitments at high dollars (market value) nor invest in infrastructure
- We are currently in and destined to remain at the league's bottom so have a legit shot at winning the draft lottery in the Jack Hughes year
- But we traded our first round pick to acquire Duchene
- Let's pretend the bunfight that Melnyk is in to finance a downtown area doesn't exist (please)

The Flames are retiring Jarome Iginla's number March 2nd. A well deserved honor for a trailblazer and one of the all time greats.

That Tampa, Toronto game was fun. Tampa lost but holy are they something else. Oofta

The real winner of the NHL Trade Deadline? The Minnesota Wild, ladies and gentlemen!

RIP Old Scarface, Terrible Ted Lindsay. A gentleman off the ice, and one of the fiercest competitors on it. The NHLPA wouldn't be what it is without his contributions. Ted Lindsay died at age 93.

Pacific Division and Western Conference regular season champs!

I may have to buy a jersey for the playoffs:



As for my team, they improved on last year. From the first-ever 31st place to 28th. Sorry, Ottawa.

Colorado seems to have turned things around from two years ago.

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President's Trophy winners are only around 33% at bringing home the Cup. That said, I did expect this team was going to steamroller the playoffs this year. Ha!

But moving away from the TBL narrative, I'm really glad the CBJs are rewarded for going all-in at the trade deadline. Jarmo is rewarded for his bold play at the deadline and hopefully in this copy-cat league this won't dissuade other GMs from being bold at the deadline in the future. (Yeah, this is at odds with my preference for the Gold Plan.)

The Meal wrote: ↑Wed Apr 17, 2019 12:13 pm (Yeah, this is at odds with my preference for the Gold Plan.)

What's the Gold Plan?

19 Apr 2019.

Not just Good Friday, a Great Friday.

So far it's been the underdogs all the way. Penguins and Bolts swept out of the 1st round. Colorado Avalanche mostlycompletely dismantled Calgary Flames. Don't know about the finals, but the next round at least is shaping up to be quite interesting.

If SJS and BOS lose their series, that's all 4 top seeds out. Both are down 3 games to 2. Crazy stuff.

The Meal wrote: ↑Fri Apr 19, 2019 10:09 am 19 Apr 2019.

Not just Good Friday, a Great Friday.

Yes, yes. We know.

Another year without a cup in Canada.

tjg_marantz wrote: ↑Sat Apr 20, 2019 11:12 pm Another year without a cup in Canada.

So Toronto has seceded from the commonwealth?

Jaymann wrote: ↑Sat Apr 20, 2019 11:21 pm

tjg_marantz wrote: ↑Sat Apr 20, 2019 11:12 pm Another year without a cup in Canada.

So Toronto has seceded from the commonwealth Dominion?

FTFY

Well no wonder. I wouldn't want to be in a fucking Dominion either.

Toronto doesn't count.

Jaymann wrote: ↑Sun Apr 21, 2019 12:42 am Well no wonder. I wouldn't want to be in a fucking Dominion either.

Overall it's rather nice, being a democracy and all. I'm sorry you feel that way.

Now back to your regularly scheduled programming. Go.... Hockey?!

Both #1 seeds gone. Of the other two division leaders, only Washington is leading. Could have 3 of the four top teams out in the first round. Wow.

A few weeks ago MHS and I tracked down a theater in Denver showing The Russian Five movie, and we both enjoyed it thoroughly. (There were more movie-goers wearing Avalanche gear than Red Wings gear, which made for a fun environment in the theater). Anyway, afterwards I told my 80-year old father how much he'd enjoy it (one of my brothers took Pops to the 1997 SCF game 4 when the Wings clinched over Philly to end the futility streak of 42 years). He struggled to figure out to to get tickets to a show so I helped him out there as well. Predictably, he really enjoyed the movie, and when talking to him yesterday he mentioned that he went back to the moviehouse to snag the promotional poster so he could send it out here for our use in decorating our poker room.



I hit the head as I was walking out of the theater after our showing and I overheard two buddies talking to each other: "I'm not much of a sports fan, and never paid any attention to hockey... did you know most of that story before the movie?" "Oh yeah, we lived those years as Wings fans and they were the best!" "Yeah, I was really surprised how much I enjoyed how they put this all together." Personally, there was enough in the movie (interviews, players' on-ice camera footage from celebrations, etc.) that was new to me to make it worthwhile. But the telling of the story was top notch. Highly recommended for anyone with any marginal levels of interest (though it looks like screenings are only taking place in four states right now, so you may have to wait for it to be available via streaming — but if possible see it in a room full of people for the full effect).

Crap, did not know about this and I was just in Detroit last week. Looks like I could have caught it at a few places.


I'll definitely be on the lookout for anything close.




Lots of good playoff hockey this weekend. Sad to see the Jets out but nice work by St. Louis.

My hatred of all things Red Wings (especially from that era) would probably prevent me from enjoying that as much as I should but those are absolutely epic names in the game's history. Trailer admittedly does look intriguing

The only team left in the playoffs that I don't want to win is Boston. Therefore they are a stone cold lock.

I mean...





If you didn't watch this game, it's hard to process from the highlights just how in control Vegas was up until Pavelski was nuked with 11 minutes to go in the third. And how ridiculous things turned from there.

Zaxxon wrote: ↑Wed Apr 24, 2019 9:33 am I mean...





If you didn't watch this game, it's hard to process from the highlights just how in control Vegas was up until Pavelski was nuked with 11 minutes to go in the third. And how ridiculous things turned from there.

Wow. Goes to show there's a reason they're called "majors."

From the highlights it looks like less Vegas being in control early than MAF stopping everything. Shame his gem had to get crushed by an endless PP. But damn fun to watch.

Well, I'm definitely biased, but I'd say Vegas got what they deserved. They are way too thuggish for me. When you are winning by 3 goals, why would you play like that? That's when you buckle down and do your best to avoid penalties. But leopards can't change their spots, I guess.

LawBeefaroni wrote: ↑Wed Apr 24, 2019 9:53 am From the highlights it looks like less Vegas being in control early than MAF stopping everything. Shame his gem had to get crushed by an endless PP. But damn fun to watch.

Yeah, MAF was in control moreso than Vegas a a whole.

TheMix wrote: ↑Wed Apr 24, 2019 9:53 am Well, I'm definitely biased, but I'd say Vegas got what they deserved. They are way too thuggish for me. When you are winning by 3 goals, why would you play like that? That's when you buckle down and do your best to avoid penalties. But leopards can't change their spots, I guess.

FWIW, I don't think it was intended to be thuggish. It was certainly a cross-check, but Pavelski was only leveled so badly because while he was reeling from the cross-check, he took another hit that didn't look intentionally terrible to me. But he was unable to stop himself from hitting head/shoulder first into the ice at that point.

In fact, Vegas is predictably apoplectic over the game having been 'stolen' by the referees. And they have a bit of a point--no penalty was called until Pavelski was on the ice and clearly out of commission, and then the penalty that was called (cross-check to the face) didn't actually happen. I don't have a problem with a 5-min major in this case, but there were some shenanigans with the process of how it was called.

All that said, quit yer whinin', Vegas. Power play or not, you gave up four farkin' goals in four farkin' minutes. You lost the game. Don't blame the refs for your inability to hold the opponent to--say--three goals on a single power play.