LTS

No, I given him full marks for being quick and agile, but he's nowhere near the top end speed that Eichel is and he certainly does not accelerate like Eichel (very few players do). Casey can stick handle in a phone booth, there's no doubt about that. Eichel cannot, but he can also keep pucks further from players than Middlestadt. If Middlestadt can come to the NHL and do what he's doing right now we will be pretty happy fans. I just hope there isn't TOO much put on him. Even McDavid isn't making Edmonton a playoff team this year. Absolutely. He said it in an interview and you see it on the ice. He hates losing the puck and he's damn determined to get it back. He is relentless and that's just an awesome thing to see.

Well, you say nothing of Eichel. Simply Reinhart sucks. You single out one player and now in your response you add "and others", etc. Your first post doesn't relate back to the thread topic so it appears you are simply looking for another way to slam Reinhart. If you had just come in and said "Perhaps Jack is realizing he needs to step it up given the lack of production from Reinhart and others." it would have been a completely different interpretation of what you were posting.

Middlestadt does not have the speed or the shot that Eichel has. They both have incredible hands and can put the puck on a teammates tape from seemingly anywhere be it forehand or backhand. Middlestadt does better along the boards where as Eichel uses his reach to create open ice space. Right now Team USA runs its power play through Middlestadt the same as the Sabres running it through Eichel. They are both players who drive puck possession and they do it in different ways which is what makes me very excited. It's quite possible those two will never see a line together as they can both make every one of their linemates better.

I think there are a few reasons for Jack's change. Waiving Moulson. Either Jack didn't like having Moulson around (seems unlikely) or he now understands there are impacts to people other than himself if the team doesn't perform and that he has a responsibility to help the team perform. Rodrigues return to the lineup. It's quite possible that Rodrigues and Eichel can talk about things having shared time at BU together and that it's helping Eichel relax a bit or something that translates to performance on the ice. I don't think they moved Kane from his wing right at that time did they? I don't know that it's made a big difference. Jack's game has changed since the beginning of December. It's very noticeable. His back-checking has improved. He threw a pretty solid check last night and it was clear the Devils player did NOT expect it. I like what I am seeing, that's for sure. No need to bring this comment into a thread about Eichel.

Reread this thread. There are a lot of people wrong about a lot of things. Including me thinking this would be a double disappointment day. I'll take it all! Woo hoo.

Smelling salts are nasty but they certainly wake you up fast. I'm not saying they help performance but you definitely are jolted. I tried it once. My nose hated me and that was that.

Certainly snarky... and i posted this elsewhere and perhaps you saw it.. perhaps not. http://www.startribune.com/casey-mittelstadt-lifting-gophers-with-strong-start-to-college-career/454779223/

Do you mean this article? http://buffalonews.com/2017/12/28/world-juniors-ready-to-break-the-ice-with-first-outdoors-game/ (I searched pond hockey 2008). I see this quote Reading that article it doesn't seem to support your notion so my guess is that you are referring to another one that doesn't pop up with those search terms (there are only 2 articles, that one and one on Fehr and the NHLPA.) If you have a link I will read it.

Man. Just drop players on their in front of the net. That was horrible defense for Lehner.

No. I'm on my phone. I'll look for it. But I'm not sure how it refutes the story on the kids talking about playing on the pond and me referencing the number of rinks I know we have around here.

Can someone fire the MSG sound production people? The sound mix has been terrible this year. You can barely hear RJ,Dan, and Rob. The crowd is mixed too high. The radio listening is impossible. Also, noticed that RJ is calling a lot of road games this year and Dan is at home a lot. Is RJ on an unannounced farewell tour?

I guess the kids from Minnesota were all lying then?

Welcome to nearly every business on Earth.

Ok. The USA game has me pumped enough to not worry about this outcome. Let's go Buffalo.

Clearly missed the story on the kids talking about skating on the ponds at home? I'm sure they spend a lot of time on regular rinks but to assume they spend no time on backyard rinks is crazy. On my son's team there are at least 5 families who build their own rinks each year. We have had one in town regularly. We hit that often. Great game by Team USA. Perhaps the refs not calling a 5 minute major on that hit really got them motivated. Fun game to watch.

Is Pegula the loan marketing group on this? I would think the IIHF has a good level of involvement since it's their product.

Devils have done a great job of turning the team around in a short period of time. The management deserves a lot of credit. They could be like some teams who continually find ways to suck for long stretches... oh, they are playing one tonight! Well, it may be a double let down day in terms of hockey but I will still be watching...

Right now the coaching staff for Team USA should be finding more time for Middlestadt to be on the ice. I was amazed at how little I saw him last night. He made a bad drop pass on one play and had one bad turnover but overall he controls the puck when he's one the ice. They needed more of that against Slovakia. His goal was a thing of beauty and that's quite the definition of "My team needs a goal and *I* am going to make it happen." And then... they completely BLOW their coverage on the GWG from Slovakia. They were lost... sad.

No thanks on Duclair. He can't make it on the Coyotes after not making it on the Rangers. The Coyotes are horrible. They have to know the best they will get is some 5th round pick or another "change of scenery" guy who's also washed out. Why would you even bother to move him unless he's also no good for the team/locker room? That's red flags everywhere.

I will be watching this game one way or another today. (Family in town, but that's too bad they chose today to visit). I won't be there... too expensive for that game.

Yes. The goal would have counted and the clock set to 1:09 and they would have finished. The only time that doesn't happen is when you score the winning goal with your foot in the crease. I mean.. Because Buffalo right? It's humorous. If i look at the replay, I cannot SEE the puck can I? Technically if I cannot see the puck over the goal line then it's not enough evidence to over turn the call. I KNOW the puck was over the line because of everything that happens but I cannot SEE it. Whatever.. play better defense and that doesn't happen. The OT goal was horrible as well and I'll just go ahead and assume that no one asked Lehner "Hey, Robin. Were you still thinking about how the NHL screwed you over when Barzal took that shot?"

I watched a lot of Irv growing up in Buffalo. It was his ability that makes me hate all newscasters today. He was great.

He spent what.. 12 seasons in the AHL? Man.. imagine the way posters on this forum might have talked about him. :) Dude was insane.. then again any goalie playing without mask was insane, but his poke checks? C'mon.

They can drill another well. #amidoingthisright? :) Need to watch the game. It's a great hockey time right now.

Finally able to see the video. His in-person hearing should be to be handed his retirement papers. That was bush league. Girard came over to bump him and say something and Rinaldo just decided he wanted to hit someone. Wow.