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The W - Hockey - Meat for the Hockey Section
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PinkSkunk
Blutwurst








Since: 2.1.02
From: Edison, New Jersey, America

Since last post: 7895 days
Last activity: 7895 days
#1 Posted on
(Aside: No, it's not Shawn "I May Be a Joke, But I Have a JOB" Stasiak.)

The NHL season is about half over for some teams-such as the Evil New York Rangers, while it's almost half over for other teams-such as the Glorious New Jersey Devils. (Aside #2: Why, yes, I AM biased). So who are the biggest surprises and disapointments?

Surprise: Jagr, Sakic, nor Elias is NOT leading the NHL scoring race. It's led by Jarome "A Flame Until My Contract Is Up And I Am Too Expensive For My Team" Igilna; followed by Sami Kapanen and a large tie for third: Peter Bondra, Eric Daze, Mats Sundin, Brenden Shanahan, Daniel Alfredsson, Alexei Yashin, Mike York, and Alexei Zhamnov. Simply amazing.

Dissapointment: The New Jersey Devils, Washington Capitals, and Buffalo Sabres. All three teams are NOT playing up to what they can do. The Devils seem to only bring their A game when playing a tough team (like the last two games, between the Oilers and Blues), but stick them against Tampa Bay and they are impotent. The Capitals, oh where do I start, how about NOT leading the weak Southeast Division, Jagr NOT playing to his full potential, the defense NOT playing as well as they could be, and NOT being above .500. So sad. The Sabres don't have Hasek, but they have Biron and Mika Noronen. They are a defensive-oriented team, yet they are clearly not playing it well enough. And their offense seems to be lacking more than normal (Satan and Dumont can do only so much!).

Surprise: The Calgary Flames, Chicago Blackhawks, New York Islanders. All three had major changes, but who expected them to be THIS dominant? Not I. ESPECIALLY, the B'Hawks. I guess coaching can make that much of the difference. (Aside #3. Sorry, Keenan, it won't work in Florida.)

Dissapointment: The St. Louis Blues and Dallas Stars, after making big off-season moves, are NOT playing as well as they should be. The Blues should be giving Detroit a run for it's money, not the B'Hawks. And the Stars should be winning more of their games, not letting up nearly as many goals (already a 102 GA), and mucking it up at home.

Surprise: The Edmonton Oilers trade Doug Weight for Johann Hecht and Marty Reasoner to the Blues, lose Ryan Smyth, and STILL be in first of the Northwest division while having a better record than the Blues.

Dissapointment: Montreal suffering A THIRD season of mass injuries, worst of all, losing Saku Koivu to cancer. This team is so much better when they are healthy, it's a shame.

Surprise: Colin White is NOT making as many stupid penalties for the Devils and is playing better defensive hockey. Bobby Holik is turning up the offense when other guys can't.

Dissapointment: Scott Gomez is NOT making plays or scoring goals. He looks good, but like the Venus de Milo, he's got no hands! Andreas Salomonsson is so far a bust, not doing much (hey Larry, bench him and play Pierre Dagenais. He can score GOALS).

I'll think of more to come...later.



...Some fear the Pink...
...But many fear....THE MOUNTIE!
(He's handsome, he's brave, and he's strong, you know)
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TheBucsFan
TheChiefsFan








Since: 2.1.02

Since last post: 3516 days
Last activity: 3516 days
#2 Posted on
I came into the season with HIGH expectations for the Blues, but for some reason they have played well consistently this year.
PinkSkunk
Blutwurst








Since: 2.1.02
From: Edison, New Jersey, America

Since last post: 7895 days
Last activity: 7895 days
#3 Posted on
Originally posted by TheBucsFan
I came into the season with HIGH expectations for the Blues, but for some reason they have played well consistently this year.



But with Weight, Tkachuk, Pronger, Demitra, and MacInnis, they shouldn't be just 18-12-6-3. Yes, I know neither Brent Johnson nor Fred Brathwaite are Roman Turek, but they aren't bad either-except for Johnson's 0.898 Save Percentage. Their offensive potential should have them at least SCORE more, among other things. St. Louis, on paper, should be contending with Detroit, but they are 9 points behind Chicago-a team whose biggest off-season move was getting coach Brian Sutter. St. Louis isn't bad, but they should be BETTER.



...Some fear the Pink...
...But many fear....THE MOUNTIE!
(He's handsome, he's brave, and he's strong, you know)
Gavintzu
Summer sausage








Since: 2.1.02
From: Calgary ... Alberta Canada

Since last post: 6310 days
Last activity: 6310 days
#4 Posted on | Instant Rating: 0.00
I wouldn't sweat it Pink ... remember one thing: the regular season means nothing in this sport, as long as you make the post-season. Having a dominant team during the regular season usually ensures a flame-out come April. I like the Blues, and I hope they peak late in the season and in the post-season, when they can knock off the infernal Red Wings.

I HATE teams that try and buy the Cup.





Past hills of chambermaids' dark bare arms and fields of muscles quilted to the bone,
Right now I'm flying over, yeah right now I'm flying home.
PinkSkunk
Blutwurst








Since: 2.1.02
From: Edison, New Jersey, America

Since last post: 7895 days
Last activity: 7895 days
#5 Posted on
Originally posted by Gavintzu
I wouldn't sweat it Pink ... remember one thing: the regular season means nothing in this sport, as long as you make the post-season. Having a dominant team during the regular season usually ensures a flame-out come April. I like the Blues, and I hope they peak late in the season and in the post-season, when they can knock off the infernal Red Wings.

I HATE teams that try and buy the Cup.



The regular season means a lot in any sport. It shows who's going to be a contender, who's just going to scrape by, and who's so not going to make it but will be interesting to watch anyway (oh, hello, Tampa Bay!). To say the regular season means nothing is like saying RAW or Smackdown! is meaningless and the PPVs are all that matters. No, both have meaning!

Oh, and hockey is one of the few sports where a team can't buy the Stanley Cup. Just look at the New York Rangers in the past few seasons.



...Some fear the Pink...
...But many fear....THE MOUNTIE!
(He's handsome, he's brave, and he's strong, you know)
TheBucsFan
TheChiefsFan








Since: 2.1.02

Since last post: 3516 days
Last activity: 3516 days
#6 Posted on
oops! I meant to say the Blues have NOT played consistently well up there. My bad!
PinkSkunk
Blutwurst








Since: 2.1.02
From: Edison, New Jersey, America

Since last post: 7895 days
Last activity: 7895 days
#7 Posted on
Originally posted by TheBucsFan
oops! I meant to say the Blues have NOT played consistently well up there. My bad!



Oh, well, uh, that proves my point then! A-HA!



...Some fear the Pink...
...But many fear....THE MOUNTIE!
(He's handsome, he's brave, and he's strong, you know)
Gavintzu
Summer sausage








Since: 2.1.02
From: Calgary ... Alberta Canada

Since last post: 6310 days
Last activity: 6310 days
#8 Posted on | Instant Rating: 0.00
Pink sez: Oh, and hockey is one of the few sports where a team can't buy the Stanley Cup. Just look at the New York Rangers in the past few seasons.

I agree with you. Teams who try and buy the Cup usually fail. But that doesn't stop them from trying. When Calgary plays Detroit, Detroit's top forward line makes more money than every Flame on the ice, sitting on the bench, coaching behind the bench, and sitting in the pressbox combined. That kind of economic unbalance is going to kill at least six teams in the next few years.

Pink also sez: The regular season means a lot in any sport. It shows who's going to be a contender, who's just going to scrape by.

I disagree with you. The regular season means a lot in football, because they only play 16 games and you have to win 10 or 11 to have a chance of doing anything in the playoffs. The regular season means a lot in basketball, because home court advantage is huge in the NBA playoffs.

But games played in November and December do not mean much in the 82-game NHL. As long as a good team like St. Louis can stay in the hunt until the 65th game or so, and then turn it on for the playoffs, they will be fine. It is not a big deal to get home ice advantage, because every year there are three or four "upsets" ... home ice is really not that big an advantage.





Past hills of chambermaids' dark bare arms and fields of muscles quilted to the bone,
Right now I'm flying over, yeah right now I'm flying home.

(edited by Gavintzu on 2.1.02 1123)
richcon
Linguica








Since: 2.1.02
From: Victoria, BC, Canada

Since last post: 5349 days
Last activity: 5239 days
#9 Posted on
I think so far the canucks have to be one of the biggest dissapointments of the season.
Loosie
Boudin rouge








Since: 2.1.02
From: Kitchener, Ontario

Since last post: 4557 days
Last activity: 2141 days
#10 Posted on
All I have to say is YOUR 2002 STANLEY CUP CHAMPIONS.....THE TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS!!!!!!!!!!



---------------------------

Loosie.

Your friendly nieghbourhood Canadian.

The SWF:

Our EZBoard

Our WebSite

We Think We Know What It Stands For.

Scar
Goetta








Since: 2.1.02
From: Dartmouth

Since last post: 4936 days
Last activity: 1376 days
#11 Posted on
Originally posted by Loosie
All I have to say is YOUR 2002 STANLEY CUP CHAMPIONS.....THE TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS!!!!!!!!!!




HAHA. That's a good one, I'll have to use it sometime.
Omar Padilla
Goetta








Since: 3.1.02

Since last post: 1161 days
Last activity: 1157 days
#12 Posted on
Toronto looks STRONG. Sundin has been red hot and and the All Swedish (I forget their cute nicknme) line is clicking.

And if nobody mentions them, then I will, but BOSTON has got to be a surprise. They were close to making the playoffs last year, but their biggest addition during the off season was Martin Lapointe. They may have gotten the short end of the stick in the Allison trade, but Murray and Stumpel have been scoring TIMELY goals for them. Either game tying goals or game winners.

The Southeast Division is getting to me. Washington and Carolina aren't worth very much, they make the playoffs, yeah, but they're both gone in the first round. I'm liking Tampa Bay, mainly because Lecavalier and Richards are developing into the players that they were expected to be. Nikolai Khabibulin would be getting free meals at every Tampa Bay restaurant if people knew who he was because he has been this franchise's savior so far this season.

Washington a dissapointment? Nah. Buffalo, certainly.




BrewGuy
Kolbasz








Since: 2.1.02
From: Pickering, Ontario

Since last post: 3989 days
Last activity: 869 days
ICQ:  
#13 Posted on

All I have to say is YOUR 2002 STANLEY CUP CHAMPIONS.....THE TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS!!!!!!!!!!

Loosie, you should know better than to get me all excited with statements like this!!!

I'm pretty psyched about the Gold Medal game tomorrow against Russia - I hope they plow that Smitov punk through the boards for good. Now, how do I leave work and get to a sports bar by 2pm....



Scar
Goetta








Since: 2.1.02
From: Dartmouth

Since last post: 4936 days
Last activity: 1376 days
#14 Posted on
Am I the only Canadian who doesn't like da Leafs?
haz
Landjager








Since: 2.1.02
From: Whitby, Ontario, Canada

Since last post: 3515 days
Last activity: 2179 days
#15 Posted on
No comments about the Leafs, a little worried that they have peaked too early....


As for the discussion about the season meaning alot or nothing, I think its probably closer to the latter. Look at the Leafs last year. They were just god-awful from November to March, squeeked into the playoffs then seemed to find their stride beating Ottawa and almost New Jersey.
(should have beat NJ)

As long as you can keep your team healthy and stay in the hunt for a playoff spot, you are fine in both the NHL and NBA.


For the season

Disappointments - Jagr (thought he would be better)
- Washington
- St Louis
- LA Kings
- J.Niewendyk is on the Olympic team

Surprises - Iginla
- Chicago BlackHawks
- Edmonton
- Toronto (so far, so good)
- NY Rangers
- Joe Thornton not on the Olympic team

pieman
As young as
he feels








Since: 11.12.01
From: China, Maine

Since last post: 120 days
Last activity: 6 days
ICQ:  
#16 Posted on | Instant Rating: 8.21
Haz - how can you not have the Bruins in your surprise list. Not making the playoffs last year to first in the conference this year!

This is all being done with the same basic team as last year. They added Martin Lapointe and Rob Zamuner. Kyle Mclaren has been out most of the year, but a healthy Byron Dafoe goes a long way, brother!

Go Bruins!!



He's Rolie Polie Olie - and in his world of curves and curls, he's the swellest kid around.
cfgb
Bierwurst








Since: 2.1.02
From: Ottawa, Ontario

Since last post: 571 days
Last activity: 31 days
#17 Posted on
Originally posted by Scar
Am I the only Canadian who doesn't like da Leafs?



You're not alone by any stretch of the imagination! Living in Ottawa, I naturally cheer for a team that makes Leaf fans squirm...

THE CAROLINA HURRICANES!

Erm, okay, MAYBE that didn't invoke the kind of fear I had hoped. But it was certainly worth a shot.

I'd like to think of them as a surprise thus far. I was VERY edgy about the idea of Barrasso coming in as our backup after his disasterous stint with the Sens a couple of years ago, but he has taken charge! Not to mention Sami Kapanen finally coming into his own, and Jeff O'Neill playing solid. I have high hopes for at LEAST a second round appearance. Carolina/Hartford has NEVER gone that far, so fingers crossed.




Contact cfgb
Visit my homepage
pieman
As young as
he feels








Since: 11.12.01
From: China, Maine

Since last post: 120 days
Last activity: 6 days
ICQ:  
#18 Posted on | Instant Rating: 8.21
Ha cfgb - squashed your puny men last night now, didn't we??

Go Bruins!!



He's Rolie Polie Olie - and in his world of curves and curls, he's the swellest kid around.
cfgb
Bierwurst








Since: 2.1.02
From: Ottawa, Ontario

Since last post: 571 days
Last activity: 31 days
#19 Posted on
Oh HUSH!

Besides the tough loss, Francis DID score his 500th career goal, so there's a slight silver lining.

Plus, I can't get down about the loss, knowing they still hold an 11 point lead over second place Washington. Though I've learned having this kind of overconfidence only adds to the heartbreak when the Capitals will undoubtedly step it up and take over the Southeast.

No, this isn't pessimism...this is years of being trained as a Carolina/Hartford fan. Disappointment comes naturally to us. :-)




Contact cfgb
Visit my homepage
Omar Padilla
Goetta








Since: 3.1.02

Since last post: 1161 days
Last activity: 1157 days
#20 Posted on
cfgb..

Not to worry, if anything, the Canes will make the playoffs. Even IF Washington it'd be easier said than done. Carolina has nice lead over them and the Canes only have Kapanen and Barraso set to play in the olympics. W/ Richter and Dunham on board, Barraso may not even see any ice time.

ON THE OTHER HAND

Washington will have Jaromir Jagr, Ulf Dahlen, Andrei Nikolishin, Olaf Kolzig, and Sergei Gonchar ALL playing LOTS of ice time during the olympics.

I too, pray, for a Carolina/Hartford second round appearance
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Makes that trade for Burke look like a damned if you do, damned if you don't deal.
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