pi2000

"For me it's a dead issue." wtf

Interesting article for those with The Athletic subscriptions... https://theathletic.com/626729/2018/11/01/qa-steve-valiquettes-radical-approach-to-evaluating-shots-is-catching-on-in-the-nhl/ ...love the idea of sanitizing the shots data. That's been my biggest gripe with Corsi, all shots are not equal.

I agree. The mistakes he makes are due to poor decisions on simple plays... things he should've learned as a peewee. If he hasn't figured it out 350 games into his career, I'm not sure he ever will.

I review the goals against.... 1st CGY goal.... Sobotka vacates the zone instead of stopping on the puck at the point. The puck is dumped back in, Girgensons makes a nice play to win the battle, and has the puck on his stick within 10ft of the blue line. He fails to clear. CGY regains possession. Sobotka is so out of position that Giordano gets to waltz in to the top of the left circle for big wind up because Larsson has to challenge the puck carrier in the middle of the ice. Risto is stuck in no-man's land between the goalie and the shooter. Instead of laying out to block the shot he puts his stick in the shot lane and his body out of the lane. The puck hits his stick, takes a bounce and Tkachuk deflects it home. Risto needed to be in front, locking up Tkachuk, or laying out in the shot lane. Hutton makes that save 99 times out of 100 if he gets a clear look at it. Turnovers at the blue line are killers. 2nd CGY goal... Risto picks up the puck at the hash marks in his own zone after an heroic backcheck by Eichel to thwart a scoring chance in tight. Eichel recognizes they have numbers and accelerates up ice with Risto and Reinhart. They have a 3-on-2 from their own hash marks.... Risto carries the puck up ice across the CGY blue line. I have no problem with that. However, instead of dropping it back to the team captain and most offensively gifted player on the team, Risto decides to be a hero and do it all himself. If Risto had dropped it, Eichel has an open passing lane to Reinhart who would've walking in all by himself, at worst creating a mini 2-on-1 with him and Eichel. I like their chances to score in that situation. However, Risto keeps the puck, not only negating a scoring chance, but he turns it over... and not only turns it over... he falls down AND loses his stick. Giordano also falls down with Risto. Reinhart sees both players on the ice and decides to attack the puck carrier, but he's too late and doesn't do enough to take away the passing lane up ice. Giordano beats Risto to his feet and sprints down ice to join the rush... really nice play by Giordano... meanwhile, Risto is still fishing around on the ice for his stick. I don't understand how Housley can watch replay's of these goals and not recognize Risto's lack of hockey IQ... and it's happening far too often. At some point, Risto needs to be pushed down the lineup, or at least get limited ice tie in OT.

If I was coach... McCabe - Bogosian Dahlin - Scandella Risto - Nelson Beaulieu ...send a f'ing message for once.

He has very poor hockey IQ, makes bad decisions all over the ice. He's a -10 through 12 games. That's the second worst plus/minus in the ENTIRE league, and he's currently on a playoff team. The only player with a worse +/- is on DET, a team with -16 goal differential. That said, it wouldn't be that big a deal if he was a first or second year player finding his way... but he's not. He has over 350 NHL games under his belt and see +25min of ice time per night. I wonder how long this continues before Housley moves him to the second or third pairing. It just cannot continue if they expect to win.

Very solid start, better than expected. They've showed up to play more often than not, which is a positive for Housley. Goaltending was a big question mark coming in, but they've been solid. That said, still need to see some seconday scoring. If Eichel's line doesn't score more than once or twice, they likely lose. And if they can ever figure out how to defend in their own zone, they'll be tough.

At the Duck game.... And a pic of the puck one of my boys got from Dahlin during warmups last week.

Both CGY goals were Risto's fault. And he was a -2 this game... a MEANINGFUL stat. WTF is he doing putting his stick in the shot lane that close to the net and that far from the shooter? Ferking idiot. And in OT they have a 3 on 2 from their own zone and doesn't make a single pass, turns it over and it results in the game winner for CGY. If the players are truly hodling each other accountable they better have a long talk with him.

You're right, he sux.

Upgrading the bottom 6 with better skilled shooters will help. Larsson at 8.5% and Girgenson is 7.6% over the past 5 years. Rodrigues at 7%.

The argument about not know who scored is bullpuckey. 90% of the time they know right away. Let the players have control of what song they want played. Most probably just go with the team goal song, but others might not, and that would add entertainment value. It's not like baseball were they play song for every at-bat... in hockey there would only be 3-4 songs played per game..... and the players could have fun with, like letting fans vote for their song, etc..

I don't understand their handling of Thomspon. He should be in Rochester.

Yes

Putting an 18 year old with Risto is like the blind leading the blind.

Hate those D pairings.

Personalized goal songs.... great idea? or greatest idea?

I would try him and Dahlin on the first pairing for a game or two. Not sure if he can handle the minutes tho. Maybe eventually.... but regardless Risto needs fewer minutes.

No. The Bills easily have the worst QBs in the NFL. How much of that blame falls on McDermott?

Ha, well he's played well in stretches in the past. The issue I've had with him (besides his health) is his tendency to make bad decisions in his own end. He's also not a quick skater, but he does have better than average speed... it just takes him a bit to hit top speed. He can be affective on the rush, would like to see him jumping in the play more... which I expect will come as he starts to feel more comfortable. Haven't seen him make any really bad decisions yet, he's keeping it simple which I hope continues.

He looks pretty good for a guy who hasn't played much hockey in the past year and half. He should improve throughout the season as he gains confidence and gets his timing back.... assuming he can stay healthy.

I think that was Harrington in the interview not really asking a question, just making a comment and after Linus deadpanned a response it sounded like Harrington stormed off a bit rattled perhaps. Will be interesting to see if Harrington throws him under the bus after that encounter... seems like something he would do.

Schony was just an all around talented dude.

NFL WRs have more passing touchdowns (4) this season than the Bills do as a team.

My source confirms that Tage Thompson did indeeed contract Marfans after playing WPG last season.