2009-2010 NHL Season

[Ares]

I know we are a little more than halfway through hockey season,but I thought better late than never. So feel free to talk about your favorite team, rivalries, or any hockey related topic.

P.S. Give blood. Play hockey.

 

[mazersteven]

 

[MinusTheBear]

The Toronto Maple Leafs make me want to hate hockey.

 

[aberkowitz]

Despite a slight hiccup the past few games, Devils = Beasts of the East.

 

[Ares]

The Devils are riding high, just keep eye on the Pens.

 

[Ares]

Damn, the Hawks loss to the Sens they were off their game yesterday. Next up the Flames on this Canadian road trip.

 

[billy p]

I know we are a little more than halfway through hockey season,but I thought better late than never. So feel free to talk about your favorite team, rivalries, or any hockey related topic.

P.S. Give blood. Play hockey.

Love hockey...hate the leafs. We've tried a Hockey thread before but no avail...maybe you'll be the spark. BTW....great young team you guys have there and the only question with the Hawks will be in goal.

 

[billy p]

Despite a slight hiccup the past few games, Devils = Beasts of the East.

They will only go as far as Brodeur takes them. Keeping him healthy and not wearing him out before the playoffs, is the key. Fwiw the East will still have to go through Pittsburgh, but the West is wide open.

 

[lsiberian]

Not really a Hockey fan here, but every time I've watched there is an overtime game. The first one I ever watched went 3 OTs

 

[MinusTheBear]

The Sabres are probably the biggest suprise in the league this year. They are playing some great hockey with excellent goaltending.

 

[aberkowitz]

They will only go as far as Brodeur takes them. Keeping him healthy and not wearing him out before the playoffs, is the key. Fwiw the East will still have to go through Pittsburgh, but the West is wide open.

Devils have owned Pittsburgh this year. We've outscored them 14-2 over 4 games, including 2 shutouts. While I know the regular season doesn't mean squat, there is something different about how we play the Pens- much more intensity from the Devils, and they just don't match up as well against us.

 

[billy p]

Devils have owned Pittsburgh this year. We've outscored them 14-2 over 4 games, including 2 shutouts. While I know the regular season doesn't mean squat, there is something different about how we play the Pens- much more intensity from the Devils, and they just don't match up as well against us.

That is true, but Pittsburgh has had some injuries and the playoffs are a different beast. Watching the Devils play hockey is like watching paint dry....

 

[aberkowitz]

That is true, but Pittsburgh has had some injuries and the playoffs are a different beast. Watching the Devils play hockey is like watching paint dry....

I disagree- I don't think you need to score 5 goals a game to have an exciting hockey game. The Devils and the Rangers played to a 0-0 tie last week that had almost 100 shots between both teams combined... it was one of the most exciting games of the season. The entire game was wide open, lots of skating and stickhandling, but also good solid checking and defense. And of course great goal tending. The only puck that went in the net all night was in the 4th round of the shootout when Elias beat Lundqvist stick side.

 

[Ares]

Love hockey...hate the leafs. We've tried a Hockey thread before but no avail...maybe you'll be the spark. BTW....great young team you guys have there and the only question with the Hawks will be in goal.

The Hawks are looking good so far and the question of the keeper, here is a peak at them.

Cristobal Huet :
2009-10: Stopped all 24 shots he faced on Jan. 14 vs. Columbus for his fourth shutout ... Honored as the NHL's First Star for the week ending Dec. 20 after posting back-to-back shutouts of STL (Dec. 16) and DET (Dec. 20) ... Stopped a season-high 31 shots in a Dec. 11 loss at Buffalo ... Made 27 stops in Chicago's win in Calgary on Nov. 19 for his fifth consecutive victory ... Made 29 saves on Nov. 13 in a win over Toronto ... Allowed four goals over a four-game stretch from Oct. 24-30 ... Stopped all 27 shots faced in a 2-0 shutout win over Nashville, his first shutout of the season.

Antti Niemi :
2009-10: Stopped a career-high 35 shots on Jan. 17 in Detroit ... Made 33 saves on Dec. 23 in Detroit for his fourth shutout of the year, in just his ninth start ... Stopped 18 shots on Dec. 13 against Tampa Bay for his third shutout ... Made 30 saves on Nov. 22 in Vancouver for his second shutout of the season ... Earned his first NHL shutout by stopping 23 shots in a 4-0 win over Florida on Oct. 3 as part of NHL Premiere 2009 in his native Finland.

 

[billy p]

I disagree- I don't think you need to score 5 goals a game to have an exciting hockey game. The Devils and the Rangers played to a 0-0 tie last week that had almost 100 shots between both teams combined... it was one of the most exciting games of the season. The entire game was wide open, lots of skating and stickhandling, but also good solid checking and defense. And of course great goal tending. The only puck that went in the net all night was in the 4th round of the shootout when Elias beat Lundqvist stick side.

That game was fun...as is every game when they hook up. Around here its like the Leafs playing the Canadians. I'm just not a fan of the trap which is the system the Devils have deployed for years because IMO its killed the game.

The Hawks are looking good so far and the question of the keeper, here is a peak at them.

Cristobal Huet :
2009-10: Stopped all 24 shots he faced on Jan. 14 vs. Columbus for his fourth shutout ... Honored as the NHL's First Star for the week ending Dec. 20 after posting back-to-back shutouts of STL (Dec. 16) and DET (Dec. 20) ... Stopped a season-high 31 shots in a Dec. 11 loss at Buffalo ... Made 27 stops in Chicago's win in Calgary on Nov. 19 for his fifth consecutive victory ... Made 29 saves on Nov. 13 in a win over Toronto ... Allowed four goals over a four-game stretch from Oct. 24-30 ... Stopped all 27 shots faced in a 2-0 shutout win over Nashville, his first shutout of the season.

Antti Niemi :
2009-10: Stopped a career-high 35 shots on Jan. 17 in Detroit ... Made 33 saves on Dec. 23 in Detroit for his fourth shutout of the year, in just his ninth start ... Stopped 18 shots on Dec. 13 against Tampa Bay for his third shutout ... Made 30 saves on Nov. 22 in Vancouver for his second shutout of the season ... Earned his first NHL shutout by stopping 23 shots in a 4-0 win over Florida on Oct. 3 as part of NHL Premiere 2009 in his native Finland.

Chicago is very much like Washington in the East, they will only go as far as their goaltending...last years run by the Hawks was with Khabibulin who was a proven playoff goalie. Huet has bounced around and I don't think Niemi is the answer, but the Hawks or Washington on talent alone can win the cup!

 

[aberkowitz]

That game was fun...as is every game when they hook up. Around here its like the Leafs playing the Canadians. I'm just not a fan of the trap which is the system the Devils have deployed for years because IMO its killed the game.

I don't disagree that defense-first hockey can be less exciting, but it's certainly not new to the Devils. Both Lemaire and Larry Robinson have been quoted as saying that the 1960s/1970s Canadiens (winners of 10 cups in 15 years) played the exact same style of hockey.

I get annoyed when people say that the Devils killed hockey... they took advantage of personnel, good coaching, one of the top 3 goalies in history, and have put together a great 15 year run that's included 3 stanley cups and 1 cup loss.

 

[Ares]

Well if the Hawks can beat the Flames tonight I'll be a happy man.

This kid is great and worth every penny.

 

[billy p]

Kane,Keith,Sharp.Seabrook and Verseeg are pretty good too. Oh and btw Hossa is no slouch either..just hope he picked the right team this year...lol.

 

[Ares]

Kane,Keith,Sharp.Seabrook and Verseeg are pretty good too. Oh and btw Hossa is no slouch either..just hope he picked the right team this year...lol.

This team has talent no doubt and their young,the oldest player on the team is 36, Now in the east the Devils and the Caps look good and in the west Hawks and the Sharks. Hawks have a game with Sharks after the Canadian road trip, Which I am looking forward to seeing.