NHL 2008-2009 Regular Season Thread

[Clash!]

Tomorrow night on Versus., Minnesota @ Shitsburgh, tune in folks! I have to watch it on Tivo though.

[Cowutopia]

The Stars apparently tried to deal for more defense. They traded Boucher for Sydor.

WTF happened to Boucher? He had a ridiculous season in 06/07 (19 goals, 32 assists, though his +/- fell) and pretty much the first three seasons with the Stars he was great both in scoring and +/-.

Then he got hurt last year, but was on pace to repeat, and now this year he's played terribly, and whoosh, off to the Penguins. I wonder if he is just under performing because the team is under performing, or if his injury had a lasting effect. Penguins might get screwed on this deal if they're getting a shell of a player while giving away a not-quite-washed-up defensive defenseman. However, if Boucher can put it back together the Penguins will get an offensive boost to their back line, and a fairly solid d man too. We'll see.

The Stars do need help though. I don't think they know what the problem is. Zubov is back, and since his return the Stars haven't given up more than 3 in any game. Sydor, being an alternate captain I guess, was hopefully a key to fixing the Stars locker room and getting the team on track. Possibly a smooth fit too, since he used to be on the Stars. I do think it's a bad move for Pitt. The key to their ascension last year was a vastly improved defense, and letting go of someone who was a leader in your defensive corps...

[Clash!]

Im guessing Dallas is just looking at the record and going "What the fuck?!" and made a move to try and spark something.

[haohmaru]

Boucher was on my fantasy team and that spelled "the end" for him.

[Cowutopia]

DAMNNIT I benched Ward tonight, I have to stop expecting Montreal to break out offensively, they aren't that team this year.

Ward had a win and a .966 save percentage. Grar. I keep on second guessing myself and getting killed.

[Cowutopia]

"If Ruutu had scored on that bad-angle and seemingly late shootout shot, it would have counted.

According to NHL rule 25.2 on penalty shots, or shootouts if you will, that was still a live puck and Ruutu was within his rights to shoot it at Lundqvist."

[haohmaru]

I thought that was the case but the announcers were pretty adamant about it. Guess they were wrong.

[Clash!]

Wooooooooooooo! Eat shit Pittsburgh! We got the lone season matchup, in your house, and you boy Sid didn't do jack the entire game and got stuffed in the shoot out when it was all on his shoulders. Huhza!

We'll take fluke goals if we have to, not often can you score a goal off a face-off without touching it.

Our Defense was chugging last night, and Backstrom was the Golden Child. Such precise saves and positions, no massive rebounds of any kind, and of course denied Sid during the shootout. We could have looked a lot better on offense though, way too scattered once we got close to the net, lot of slop. Great passing into the zone, but it would just fall apart. Old man Nolan had some nice shots, bit nerve wracking to see a old guy wrap his shoulder around the Pipe like that, but he seemed fine.

We stood really tall against the defensively of course, certainly contained Sidney and Staal. Malkin was the only one who ever made a big presence, and even then there were long draughts before he would have chances. The game was quick though, very few penalties and only a few missed calls, constant back and forth and a lot of guys getting gassed.
Twas a great game.

[Cowutopia]

It was, until it went to overtime.

[Changeling]

The Stars apparently tried to deal for more defense. They traded Boucher for Sydor.

WTF happened to Boucher? He had a ridiculous season in 06/07 (19 goals, 32 assists, though his +/- fell) and pretty much the first three seasons with the Stars he was great both in scoring and +/-.

Then he got hurt last year, but was on pace to repeat, and now this year he's played terribly, and whoosh, off to the Penguins. I wonder if he is just under performing because the team is under performing, or if his injury had a lasting effect. Penguins might get screwed on this deal if they're getting a shell of a player while giving away a not-quite-washed-up defensive defenseman. However, if Boucher can put it back together the Penguins will get an offensive boost to their back line, and a fairly solid d man too. We'll see.

The Stars do need help though. I don't think they know what the problem is. Zubov is back, and since his return the Stars haven't given up more than 3 in any game. Sydor, being an alternate captain I guess, was hopefully a key to fixing the Stars locker room and getting the team on track. Possibly a smooth fit too, since he used to be on the Stars. I do think it's a bad move for Pitt. The key to their ascension last year was a vastly improved defense, and letting go of someone who was a leader in your defensive corps...

I think its a good move. Sydor was a ghost on the ice for the most part. We need someone to fill in Gonchar's place (not saying Boucher is that good , mind you) and Boucher will be a temporary fix. Whitney is already skating, so heres hoping for a swift return.