Marvin

Thanks, @inkman!

Imagine if Hall starts playing better too.

They are counting on member teams, their players, and management not to squawk so that they can get paid and aren't blackballed. This really is an argument for the forfeiture rule to be applied to the Devils. This outbreak was eminently predictable and completely inexcusable.

To quote John Blutarsky, "Holy $#!+"

Neither am I. The idea came from some people I know in the Network of Religious Communities, National Comference for Community and Justice, and other groups. I defer to them. But they are not completely sure either. So your skepticism is warranted.

Absolutely on the reasons. Further explanations from me will belong in the politics board. Your point of view makes sense to me too; indeed, stating what I did rubs *me* the wrong way. I figure this is just more emotionally charged for me.

No. Players are in one of the lowest risk groups by age. CAVEAT: (this may be deemed political; I understand the opposing view but felt it important to give my exception. Edit or move if you deem it necessary.) Because of the history of mistreatment of Native American and African Americans in particular by the US government (e.g., small pox blankets, Tuskegee Airmen), I think that minority celebrities of all stripes, such as MLB players, hip-hop musicians, and guys like Ted Nolan, need to be in the same group as teachers. The level of distrust in those communities makes it imperative to convince minorities to get the shots or it will take even longer to get back to normal. This is also why I think we need to help vaccinate the world. I put myself at the back of the line. I have anti-bodies, for one.

It looks like it. Someone with a better knowledge of the COVID-19 protocols would have the contractual conditions. My worry is that this team has very little ensemble chemistry. They need to play at game speed consistently with fairly consistent combinations before that can happen -- plus practise time between games to hammer things out. There are very few teams that it would hurt more than Buffalo because of the necessary roster turnover. IMHO, if they have any dreams of making the playoffs, they need another goaltender pronto -- it is the one position where you can cover up problems anywhere else on the ice where you need time to make things work.

It appears that the NHLPA is as committed to the players' health as it is to the players' safety and the players' conduct.

The old 4 games in 5 nights and 6 games in 8 nights like we had before they changed the CBA, I should think.

Never ascribe to lack of character, collusion, or conspiracy that which you can ascribe incompetence. The first time this aphorism was led me astray was when the upper levels of the BBC went all out to destroy Doctor Who in the 1980's. Ask yourself if the Pegulas, the management, the players, etc. are Michael Grade et al. Addendum: there are times where I wish you could understand what it was like to laugh uncontrollably in abject discomfiture at "The Greatest Show in the Galaxy" and SNL's famous "Get a life" sketch starting William Shatner. Sometimes, this board reminds me of them.

I would separate "essential workers" like medical workers, stock people, truckers, food handlers, and the like from others -- without them, we cannot physically survive without winding society back 150 years. Although not absolutely necessary, I have restauranteurs, car mechanics, public transport workers, and the like because, although I don't need them, I find that they make parts of my life much easier to cope with. Teachers are in this group because although society doesn't collapse without them, it regresses in a big hurry. There are psychologically important groups. I have found I crave artists, musicians, theatres, hockey players, etc. I subscribe to numerous artistic online performances and displays because of the pandemic. I need the stress relief from even a bad Sabres game. I want to emphasise the importance of the groups above. The time between my therapist and psychiatrist appointments keep getting spaced further and further apart because they have more and more patients. So I have a hard time being too critical of people who value them more than I do.

"Robin Hood: Men in Tights" and "How to Murder Your Wife" are legally free on YouTube. The latter is a RomCom which masquerades as a buddy film and a paean to bachelorhood.

Welcome to the board!

(Don't mention explosions -- Crazy Harry might hear you!)

Schoenfeld had Horton.

This can be literally life-or-death. IMHO, they should be more livid now than during the games.

Maybe the only way to deter this kind of crap was to make a violation part of the forfeiture rule.

They should be.

I am a Buffalo sports fan of 55 years. Panic is my natural Pavlovian response.

I had it before we knew what it was. Trust me -- don't go there. It has been a year and I am *still* having health problems which started with COVID-19.

I can't find the comment, but I agree that Okposo's problem is fading speed. I hate to bench him because he "plays the game right", but we have to. One of the interesting characteristics of the LOG line is that Zemgus and Larry somehow adjusted their games to accommodate his speed to make the line more effective. That is _not_ easy. I don't know whom his linemates can be with the roster as it is.

My cousins are Rangers fans. Stay miles away from DeAngelo. According to them, he is less effective but more divisive than Steve Avery.

Eichel's skating looks off. I can't put my finger on it, but his balance when passing just looks different and appears to be affecting his accuracy.

FTFY. "Not sucking" is too high.