Hockey, eh? (2011-12 season)

[Bel-Cam Jos]

The newest NHL season has begun. Discuss.

Oh, and Winnipeg's back, too.

[Bel-Cam Jos]

The Ontario Reign's opening-night comeback comes up one goal short, to TI's Condors. So close!

And it's really, REALLY early, but Pittsburgh's leading the league in points, thanks to two overtime losses.

[TeeEye7]

The Ontario Reign's opening-night comeback comes up one goal short, to TI's Condors. So close!

We have a new coach (finally!) this year who has been tweaking the roster at the last second. It will be an interesting year for us. I'm hoping fan and player morale will be higher this year!

[TeeEye7]

:thumbsup: Condors beat the Colorado Eagles 3-1 in our home opener!

[Bel-Cam Jos]

Crosby might play in a hockey game for the first time since mid-season last year.

[edit] And so he did. Can he average 4 points to finish out the year?

[JimJamBonds]

I saw that the Wild signed a 51 year old goaltender...I wonder if that was a stunt sign?:barbershop_quartet_

[Bel-Cam Jos]

I saw that too, and didn't recall the name being a "name" goalie. Unless it's someone like Vanbiesbrouck, Roy, Potvin, Hextall, Barrasso, Richter, or Fuhr I don't think tickets will go flying.

[JimJamBonds]

Nope, its just some random guy who plays hockey.

[Bel-Cam Jos]

A 2-game win streak ended a 6-game slide for the Pens. They've fallen from #1 in the East to #7. Crosby might become known in sports history, iconic even, not for his amazing play as an athlete but his posterboy-status of head injuries and concussions. :(

[Lowly Bantha Cleaner]

If one good thing can come out something like an injury to the game's top superstar then it would be the league taking a look at the concussion issue and realizing that something drastic needs to be done such as reducing the armor-like equipment that smashes heads and bodies around or penalizing seriously those illegal hits to the head that can leave permanent damage to the brain.

[Bel-Cam Jos]

Pens win their 5th straight with a 3rd-period come-from-behind shootout win, and Malkin becomes the league scoring leader. Moved up to 6th place in the East, too.

[Bel-Cam Jos]

I missed seeing the skills competition live yesterday, but caught the highlights. Today is the Team [player] vs. Team [different player] All Star Game.

[Bel-Cam Jos]

Despite today's loss, Penguins playing some good hockey.

[Bel-Cam Jos]

Detroit's still hot, Penguins playing very well; another Cup matchup - best two out of three?

Pittsburgh has the 2nd best record in the East (which would only make them the #4 seed out West), which is great, unless the best record's in your same division (NYR).

[Bel-Cam Jos]

Crosby's return gets him an assist, but it's better that the division lead is cut for the Pens vs. the Rangers.

[Bel-Cam Jos]

Penguins are locked into the #4 seed in the East, and they'll play today's opponent (Flyers) in the first round. They look healthy, spacing and passing well on the ice.

[Bel-Cam Jos]

Not good: Pens squander multiple-goal leads in both home losses to Philly. :(

[Bel-Cam Jos]

I may be ashamed to be a Penguins fan; not because they blew another lead, but the thuggish fighting and cheap shots. That wasn't hockey. :(

[Bel-Cam Jos]

See? Now THAT was a playoff hockey game, not an 8- or 10-goal outburst blowout.

Sorry about the Wings.

And, me hogging the posts in this thread lately.

[Bel-Cam Jos]

And, me hogging the posts in this thread lately.Don't think that'll be a problem much anymore. :( Flyers deserved the series. Not many recent Cup winners still left in the playoffs.

[Darth Metalmute]

Yeah, hockey season ends when you team is out. Wings lose in five games even though it was a hard fought series that was for the most part dominated by them. Why couldn't the Wings get a team with a bad goaltender in round one? Nashville's going to win the whole thing.

[Bel-Cam Jos]

I might have to temporarily jump on the local team's bandwagon. A sweep of the top team in the west, and a 5-game series vs. last year's finalist? Go LA Kings?

[Bel-Cam Jos]

Noticed a penalty was called in the Kings/Coyotes hockey game yesterday at 11:38 of the period. Is that double-hockey sticks thirty-eight?

[Lowly Bantha Cleaner]

I wouldn't mind seeing the Kings hoist the Cup this year. They certainly have put their time in and their loyal core of fans deserve something to celebrate. The Coyotes would be my 2nd choice since that franchise has been cursed worse than the Kings.

The Rangers and Devils can murder each other for all I care, but one thing I absolutely don't want to see are the Devils win another Cup. The franchise has had a permanent horse shoe stuck up their pooper since 1995 and in reward their fans turn out loyally game after game dressed up as empty seats.

[Bel-Cam Jos]

Who've have thunk it: they had Gretzky, Blake, McSorley, Robitaille, Hrudey, Kuri, et al, and only got to a Cup final. Aside from hockey fans and LA area fans, I bet most people couldn't name a King right now. Keep on winning those road games and they just might hoist it up. Think about this: if the Rangers win the east, LA could've knocked off the top three seeds in their conference, plus the top in the other one, if they make it all the way. Mighty impressive.

[Bel-Cam Jos]

Wow, wow, wow. If the Pens hadn't fallen on their faces, maybe I could've seen them versus the Kings here locally in the Cup Final. Seen them get swept, perhaps. LA's on an awesome run.

[Bel-Cam Jos]

Four straight playoff series starting 2-0 as the road team. Simply amazing. Go, Kings, go.

[Bel-Cam Jos]

Second chance to clinch the Cup at home. Stay, Kings, stay. Heading to a Game 7 in Jersey isn't wise.

[TeeEye7]

They looked really flat last night.

[Bel-Cam Jos]

I knew of some of the 2011-12 Stanley Cup-winning Kings' accomplishments, but not all:
- 45th year as a franchise with first Cup
- first #8 seed to win in any team sport
- won first 10 road games
- started each series up 2-0 as road team
- defeated top three seeds in West
- 2nd-least games needed to win a Cup
- first Cup winner to clinch on home ice since 2007
- 2nd Cup-winning captain from USA
- 20th ever Cup Final series to end in a game 6

Congrats, Kings!

[TeeEye7]

Congrats, Kings!

Indeed! Cowboy Flett is looking down, a happy angel!


Did I just date myself?

[Lowly Bantha Cleaner]

Indeed! Cowboy Flett is looking down, a happy angel!


Did I just date myself?

I am glad for the diehards of the team, the ones that were around right around expansion, to have survived the lean Dionne years, the Gretzky hoopla, the post-Gretzky letdown and now be alive to witness the Cup being hoisted in their fair city. Congratulations to them.

[Bel-Cam Jos]

On my recent trip to Alaska and Canada, I brought the front page of my local newspaper (they print a travel section on Sundays for those who bring the paper with them on vacation to pose in front of places they visit) from the day after they won. No one was mad or overly excited, but I didn't pose with it at all while I was in Vancouver. :rolleyes: