LTS

I think Steven A. Smith's style is perfectly suited for the entertainment industry. Media egos are always a treat. As though there is some level of awesomeness in reporting on what is happening.

I'm watching the same players who are playing a completely different game now. The new players, as nice as they are, would not change that. The decision making with the puck, the patience, those are not changed because new players are brought in. They are changed because of coaching and the fact that the players on the ice have an expectation of what the other 4 guys on the ice are doing now... besides working hard. I stated this last year when Nolan was coach. His players would skate but they were never moving into a strategic position. The team was not on the same page. I can say it. If Nolan were the coach of this team they would still be getting out shot and not even close in games. I wasn't an avid tank person. I understood what Murray was doing and I think he's done a great job but I didn't want to see losing. There's no cake and eat it too. Nolan is a horrible coach. I'd love to know why people think he is a good coach or should even be considered a good coach. The knowledge of a hockey player and the ability to skate to a spot on the ice isn't all that dramatic from the NHL and the AHL. The ability to execute a clean pass, beat a goalie, play shutdown defense... those are the big differences. Last year I watched a team that looked like 5 guys on the ice going 5 different things. That's not ability, that's coaching. You could put Nolan in as the coach of the Canadiens and assuming they actually agree to adopt his coaching system I would expect them to miss the playoffs... handily.

I want to hear the explanations that are made. There will be the DA on not prosecuting. There will be Kane who will make a statement and who knows if the accuser will make one. All in all, from what we know, I will stand by the knowledge that Kane made some really bad choices given what his relationship status was at the time. He's certainly not someone I would trust as a person. The rest of it is everyone's own personal opinion. My hope is that he learns to settle his life down and be a little bit less of a partier and far more responsible in his life.

Just Boos? I would have been close to accosting the jerk. That said, I would have asked to move to the seat behind him and then engaged in a lengthy diatribe on how much of jerk he is. Oh well... it's over now. I just hate people like that. It's a demonstration of everything wrong with society in 8 seconds or less.

What's ESPN? Joking of course. That network is run by idiots. There's really no other way to put it. They've overpaid to gain major sports deals at a time when their subscriber base is shrinking. The rise of the individual league networks has also chewed away at its value. The SEC network, BIg10, MLB, NHL, NFL, NBA... why do we need ESPN anymore? It's an idea that is past its time.

I'm hoping for top 3... via the lottery. :) If he had worn #90 that would have made it perfect. I'll be curious if this leads to some teams remaining perennially bad because they drop to 3/4/5 in the pecking order.

No, I wouldn't. I think ROR brings a bit more size than Toews and Toews is a bit more dynamic in his skating but both have an incredible work ethic on the ice and are capable of shutting people down and firing up the offense. The Gorges thing was more an unfortunate situation than an intention crushing check from behind. Read switched directions and I think as Gorges was attempting to cut into the boards to actually cut off that reversal in direction he was late and caught Read. I am sure the league will talk to him but that's all i would expect. Keep in mind Read then played the entire power play. There can be no doubt just how poor of a coach Nolan is at this point. While some facets of this team have changed the core of it remains and we can clearly see differences in the thinking of the players. There is a place to be on the ice and they all know it. There is a focus on patience with the puck and it makes for some very great defensive breakouts. Last year the puck would have been off a stick in a flash but this year I continually see players holding the puck to make one small move that allows the passing lane to open to complete a breakout. They are just a lot of fun to watch and right now I have to give all kinds of credit to Bylsma.

With every other team that does not make the playoffs.. which is where I would have expected it this season anyway.

I would have stood up and boxed people out just so he could get the puck. I don't know how people don't speak up there. There's zero justification, even if he was supposedly getting it for his grand kid, Bylsma clearly wanted to the boy to have that puck and so he should have received it. If that guy was someone I knew I would chew his butt off and then stop speaking to him. I don't want to interact with people like that.

Can we trade for Neuvirth before the game?? After the game? Getting amped.... I know this because I've taken to checking this place multiple times a day when before I wouldn't bother... I couldn't handle the sadness.

I wouldn't say lazy. A few things have happened. The first is there is a growing video library on him now and players are learning how to defend him. The second is that I think he's getting tired a bit. The NHL is a grind like no other and it should be expected that as he gets hit more often he will have less energy. He'll grow and adapt to that I have no doubt. But it takes time. Making a move might jeopardize the goal of being close but not making the playoffs. Never happen. One of the things that Eichel has in his favor is the speed with which he moves the stick from point A to point B. He doesn't make a lot of little moves, he makes a few big moves but the speed he does it at is incredible. The longer stick allows him to increase the distance he can move the puck and thus make it hard to defend. If he can get an extra 6-9 inches from the left to right side it changes thing dramatically. He is also a very upright skater. I think a shorter stick will shorten his stride and thus kill his power skating. He's a north-south skater who will make a few moves to get through. I don't see him skating wall to wall and circling around the zone for long periods of time. He's skates more like a gazelle than a rabid gerbil.

He's good. Playing with a ton of top end first round picks also helps. No matter what.. the Sabres still don't have that. Edmonton was damn lucky in the lottery and sucked for quite some time. I would imagine that most people here would not have the fortitude required to sit through losing the likes of which Edmonton had seen.

Game day... Friday.. no other plans... That means a tasty beverage (uncertain of how many reps I'll do) And some hockey on the TV.... I am stoked. Also, might be a bit of fireworks. You figure Ennis was injured in the Flyers game.. those gratuitous cross-checks that were not called didn't help. Bring on the hitting.

I would be more clear on how I said that. Kicking should only account if the foot is barely off the ice. Clearly don't want someone raising a skate up too high there. But on a play like the Foligno play.. that should be a goal all day long. There is a desire to increase scoring.. let it happen.

This is one of those moves a coach makes that every player notices. Weber doesn't need to play, but you're in his hometown. You throw him a bone, put him in the lineup, and every player appreciates that the coach notices who is from where and what matters to them. Let's be real.. you can interchange Franson, Weber, Colo, etc. It's all the same pool of talent with the same kind of shortcomings. If Bylsma were going to sit a top 4 defender for this purpose then it might draw some scrutiny.

Just a personal request... for what it's worth. Could we not take gratuitous cheap shots at his weight? His weight has no relevance to his ability to be a hockey reporter. You don't have to acquiesce to my request.. I'm just asking. I know I quoted you ink, but others have done it as well. I think, at times, he has some insight that works. He gets to be with the team more often and in more scenarios than we are and I believe that does lend him a certain level of knowledge the public doesn't have. I also agree that at times he says things that are a bit out from left field. Now, onto the game. Going to miss the beginning.. I am sure it will be partway through the second before I get off the ice tonight. Hoping for them to hit hard all night.

It's not really clear. Unlike the high-stick contact which directly mentions the contact with an opponent or official there is no such commentary on the kicking motion. I have to think that if the puck would have entered the net through the kicking motion without the deflection or contact by the defending team they would still disallow the goal. However, if the puck were kicked away from the goal and then the puck ricocheted back into the net it would probably stand. Kind of a gray area as near as I can tell. As far as I am concerned, the kicking motion issue is too vague. A kicking motion should not be considered illegal. I don't care how you get it in the net short of closing your hand on the puck and throwing it. I would change it to be allowed on any deflection of the puck so long as it occurs below the cross bar.

Of course! I know I just stop watching the games. A night like tonight I would have already gone on to something else.. but tonight I go back up for the 2nd period!

You know a player knows he's got respect? When he gets the puck and everyone backs away because they are afraid what he'll do to them if they try and pressure him. Eichel picked up the puck on the half-wall and the Flyers immediately backed off. That's something. Good period so far but they are getting caught a bit in their zone. Flyers have a good forecheck going so the Sabres will have to skate it a bit harder in their own zone.

All this talk of have patience, out of patience, no time, all the time in the world stuff... All I can think of asking is this.. For those who have patience, when you run out of it what will you do then? For those who have run out of patience, what are you doing about it now? When do you stop tuning in to the games? When do you stop buying tickets? When do you stop visiting an Internet forum devoted to discussing the team you've run out of patience with? Just curious...

I was in Philly this past weekend (youth hockey tournament). There was discussion of buying tickets to the Flyers/Rangers game should the kids get eliminated from the semi-finals (played Sat night.). I flat out refused. The only game I would ever see in their arena would be one against the Sabres. Same with the Bruins. You are never too old... the Flyers can eat it. Go Sabres. I get to watch the game tonight, so I am happy enough for that.

I think the officials could make their lives easier by talking to the coaches. But I wasn't trying to address that. :)

No worries. Let's go into this further. Rule 38.2 states a video goal judge may call for a review on a goal scored through the apparent use of a high stick contact with the puck. This then reverts to rule 80.3 which defines when the goal should be disallowed. 80.3 states that if the puck is deflected directly into the net or it is deflected and hits another player or official and goes into the net it is a disallowed goal. In this case the puck hit the ice. Thus rule 80.1 is now in effect which says the play should be whistled dead because Kessel (really, it's any Penguin) touches the puck (unless a Panther touches it). There's no reason to believe the puck in the video touches a Panther player on the way to the ice. So, you would argue that it should be blown dead, if it really touched his stick. However, it was not. At that point the goal is scored. Rule 38.2 cannot be applied for a review because the goal was clearly not scored through the use of a high stick. No reason to review because no one is arguing that Kessel shot the puck into the net from a legal position. Therefore, the fast face-off is not a problem. There is no coach's challenge, no video review. It's a good goal. The only thing that can happen in this instance is a complaint to the NHL Officiating people about the lack of a call on the high-stick touch. Even then, you and I will disagree on whether it was contacted by a high-stick.

Very true. Other than life. If I were free, and in buffalo, and perhaps a few less expenses right now I would buy into a game at that price point. Especially this one! But.. no sales to Leafs fans.

Sure there is... they are called price controls, ceilings, floors, etc. Governments do it all the time. Corporations do it too. They are called Minimum Advertised Prices (MAP). There are also strict controls on the price certain items can ever be sold for, advertised or not. I see it all the time when shopping for my son's hockey equipment. :) I know what you are getting at though. But then again, just because you can doesn't mean you should. Absolutely no selling of tickets to Leaf fans. Period. :)