NHL Hockey Thread

[///MLUVR]

Originally Posted by jgoens

I don't buy into the whole Norcal vs LA thing...My family is from LA and I have lived there a couple times. My first Hockey game was the Kings in LA and I grew up going to Dodger games. That being said, I am a hockey fan and my team is the Sharks but when they go out I will root for a CA team next. Last year I was rooting for the Ducks when we didn't make it. As a child I got into hockey by watching the playoffs and being thrilled watching the Flyers(Sharks did not exist then). Yeah..best teams to beat are the ones in the group..I think a little heckling is good. My scenario is this: Sharks play and beat Kings second round, Sharks play and beat Ducks third round and then beat whoever in the East. Obviously, your going to have a tweak in that equation. I just get tired of espn and all the Eastern pompous fans. A few years back everyone in the East used to fear playing the big three Cali teams..we need that again. Cali power!

Haha. I've been to my fair share of Dodger games, back in the 90's. I love hockey. Haha! A big tweak! DUCKS WIN THE CUP! No, that's unrealistic. I'm hoping.... But I wouldn't bet on it. Omg ESPN is the worst. I agree... GOOOO CALI! Btw, we have the same car (diff year). Cool! Do you like alllll the sports?

[jgoens]

Originally Posted by ///MLUVR

Haha. I've been to my fair share of Dodger games, back in the 90's. I love hockey. Haha! A big tweak! DUCKS WIN THE CUP! No, that's unrealistic. I'm hoping.... But I wouldn't bet on it. Omg ESPN is the worst. I agree... GOOOO CALI! Btw, we have the same car (diff year). Cool! Do you like alllll the sports?

I'm fair weather on the other sports. Basketball is my least favorite, but I have watched more games this year than any...of course. I like football but the niners aRe depressing. To me, nothing has the intensity of hockey. I will watch more of a kings vs ducks game than one of the local teams in another sport.

[///MLUVR]

Originally Posted by jgoens

I'm fair weather on the other sports. Basketball is my least favorite, but I have watched more games this year than any...of course. I like football but the niners aRe depressing. To me, nothing has the intensity of hockey. I will watch more of a kings vs ducks game than one of the local teams in another sport.

I like all the sports. Oh, no. Nothing is worse than being a Browns fan (which I am not, thankfully). I agree! Hockey is best! Did you hear about Crosby? LOOOOOOOOL

[Axius]

Originally Posted by jgoens

I'm fair weather on the other sports. Basketball is my least favorite, but I have watched more games this year than any...of course. I like football but the niners aRe depressing. To me, nothing has the intensity of hockey. I will watch more of a kings vs ducks game than one of the local teams in another sport.

Living in the south, hockey is a rarity. I have to drive an hour just to play ice hockey and 45 minutes to play roller hockey. I went to PNC arena to see the canes and red wings game, and all of us wings fans basically outaudienced the Canes fans.

Nothing has the constant intensity and physicalness as hockey. Football yes, but stops between plays take a bit away for me.

[jgoens]

Originally Posted by ///MLUVR

I like all the sports. Oh, no. Nothing is worse than being a Browns fan (which I am not, thankfully). I agree! Hockey is best! Did you hear about Crosby? LOOOOOOOOL

I just tried to look up on NHL.com about Crosby and all it says he he has regained his scoring touch. Something else?

[ShopVac]

Originally Posted by jgoens

I just tried to look up on NHL.com about Crosby and all it says he he has regained his scoring touch. Something else?

I assume it's that he didn't make the all star game. Do you think he really cares...he's only been to one of them in his life....

[///MLUVR]

Originally Posted by jgoens

I just tried to look up on NHL.com about Crosby and all it says he he has regained his scoring touch. Something else?

Hey, sorry, I didn't see the notification for your response. yeah, it's what the other person said- because he didn't make the all-star team. But the reason he didn't in the past was due to injury. I'm sure he would want to. He was straight up snubbed this year. And one article I read said "he won't be missed". Lol I love watching the skills competition, the day before the game. It's great to see them having fun out there, even though they are super competitive.

[jgoens]

Originally Posted by ShopVac

I assume it's that he didn't make the all star game. Do you think he really cares...he's only been to one of them in his life....

I think any player would like to be in the all star game--after all you get to hang with a bunch of the top players and basically "screw around."

[DrivingForce]

Jumping in here, thought I would share a really cool experience I had on Sunday, where the guy I took to the Stanley Cup Finals last year, he won tickets to the Blackhawks game, with a private meet and greet with the GM of the Blackhawks, and he invited me to join him. The director who escorted us to the personnel offices was wearing the ring from this year. As a former player, pretty amazing to see a Stanley Cup ring in person. Stan Bowman was very engaging in the conversation as well, all around awesome experience.

Apologies to those who dislike the Blackhawks...

[trixdout]

Originally Posted by DrivingForce

Jumping in here, thought I would share a really cool experience I had on Sunday, where the guy I took to the Stanley Cup Finals last year, he won tickets to the Blackhawks game, with a private meet and greet with the GM of the Blackhawks, and he invited me to join him. The director who escorted us to the personnel offices was wearing the ring from this year. As a former player, pretty amazing to see a Stanley Cup ring in person. Stan Bowman was very engaging in the conversation as well, all around awesome experience.

Apologies to those who dislike the Blackhawks...

Former player of the NHL or just of the sport in general?

[DrivingForce]

Originally Posted by trixdout

Former player of the NHL or just of the sport in general?

Not professionally, played through college though.

[UncleWede]

Why can't you kick the puck into the net? I mean, I'm happy they disallowed the goal and the Kings beat the Ducks, but I just don't understand some of these rules.

[BrokenVert]

Originally Posted by UncleWede

Why can't you kick the puck into the net? I mean, I'm happy they disallowed the goal and the Kings beat the Ducks, but I just don't understand some of these rules.

I always assumed its a safety thing. Skates are sharp, dont want them flying around around unnecessarily.

[UncleWede]

Originally Posted by BrokenVert

I always assumed its a safety thing. Skates are sharp, dont want them flying around around unnecessarily.

But it's OK anywhere else on the ice

[Mr.SugarSkulls]

Why isn't there a team in Seattle? Yet some in Florida?

Maybe if they do- I'll start watching the nhl

[trixdout]

Originally Posted by UncleWede

But it's OK anywhere else on the ice

Like in Futbol, you can't punch/place the ball in the goal. Not fair. Anyone can do that.

I agree though the kicking should not be allowed anywhere on the ice. Does not make it fair. Kicking a puck into the net is pussee stuff. Why don't players just throw the puck in the net while they are at it.

Sad part is some players think they can play it off as if it wasn't intentional.

[jgoens]

Originally Posted by trixdout

Sad part is some players think they can play it off as if it wasn't intentional.

I don't think any of them really do it intentionally--the game is so fast that the foot just hits in by accident or it is just a split second reaction and yeah they always act like nothing happened, but they know it will get called back. I have yet to see a goal from a "distinctive kicking action."

[jgoens]

Originally Posted by UncleWede

Why can't you kick the puck into the net? I mean, I'm happy they disallowed the goal and the Kings beat the Ducks, but I just don't understand some of these rules.

There is some ambiguity to the rules: you can kick the puck as a pass, and hand pass to yourself but not another player, yet you can't kick or toss it in the net.

[Chihuahua]

Originally Posted by UncleWede

Why can't you kick the puck into the net? I mean, I'm happy they disallowed the goal and the Kings beat the Ducks, but I just don't understand some of these rules.

Sometimes you lose your stick during play (breakage, dislodged from hands, etc) yet you still need to be able to contribute to your team offensively or defensively. You can't kick it into the goal because this isn't soccer. Getting to the bench after losing a stick sometimes isn't feasible, if you retreated to the bench with the puck in your defensive zone you'd basically give the other team a 10-15 second power play.

[jgoens]

Originally Posted by ///MLUVR

Haha. I've been to my fair share of Dodger games, back in the 90's. I love hockey. Haha! A big tweak! DUCKS WIN THE CUP! No, that's unrealistic. I'm hoping.... But I wouldn't bet on it. Omg ESPN is the worst. I agree... GOOOO CALI! Btw, we have the same car (diff year). Cool! Do you like alllll the sports?

Just checked the schedule..our next game, next Tuesday will be in Anaheim. The ducks are back in the playoff hunt and the Sharks are the hottest team in hockey right now...should be,good. No matter how the Ducks have played they are still loaded with talent and always prove to be a formidable opponent. I still put them as an elite team and a real plus to get a win against.

[goj]

go Sharks!

[Chihuahua]

After watching the Caps play up here in DC last night I am not feeling confident about this year. I've been a die-hard Caps fan for 32 years without a cup win, looks like it's going to be 33. They won the presidents trophy because of what they did in the fall and winter; since the all-star break they have been very meh.

Last night was a microcosm of what it's been like to be a Caps fan. They were up 3-1 late in the third period, you start to get excited, then they figure out a way to lose 4-3....