Not a good result for the Blue Team in the USA last night.

Not a good result for the Blue Team in the USA last night.
- Doppleganger

Yeah, after winning 4 of their last 5, can't be too disappointed. They stank early, also nice to see them go back to the dressing room, and come out with a little moxy, and dominate the second half of the game.

Yeah, after winning 4 of their last 5, can't be too disappointed. They stank early, also nice to see them go back to the dressing room, and come out with a little moxy, and dominate the second half of the game.
- prock

Only saw the highlights. Seems like they have trouble not turning the puck over in their own end. Goes to show how close the league is. One or two mental errors cost you hockey games.

Yeah, after winning 4 of their last 5, can't be too disappointed. They stank early, also nice to see them go back to the dressing room, and come out with a little moxy, and dominate the second half of the game.
- prock

Was talking about the Mid Terms in the USA yesterday, where the Red Team won back control of the Senate.


But, I did catch about the last 5 minutes of the leafs game last night too, so can't speak about the whole game, but did not look as fast paced as the game in Ottawa last night, based on the last five minutes that is.

What was that dumb penalty Phaneuf took, they never did fully explain it?

Only saw the highlights. Seems like they have trouble not turning the puck over in their own end. Goes to show how close the league is. One or two mental errors cost you hockey games.
- Cape Breton Bruins

Eastern Conference teams usually have tough time on their first game. of a road trip, when heading out across two or three time zones.

Only saw the highlights. Seems like they have trouble not turning the puck over in their own end. Goes to show how close the league is. One or two mental errors cost you hockey games.
- Cape Breton Bruins

I was actually on vacation, and got in to the airport at 8. Picking up the girlfriend's dog from her parents, all that kind of crap, I only got to listen to the first period on the radio. Watched the rest when I got home. It sure as hell didn't sound good on the radio. The second half, there weren't an abnormal amount of turnovers. I know that horrible Gardiner turnover caused a goal. Other than that, didn't seem too bad. Just sounded like they couldn't get out of their own end in the first, and first 8 or 10 minutes of the second. From what I saw, it wasn't really bad turnovers, as much as a complete inability to do anything. An all over bad game.

As I say though, they've been playing well, sometimes a team puts up a stinker. Given that this was a stinker, but they still turned it around and were the better team in the second half of the game, I'm not gonna get worked up over it. Actually, I wouldn't get worked up over it even if the whole thing was a stinker.

We're just ten games in. There are positives and negatives.

Was talking about the Mid Terms in the USA yesterday, where the Red Team won back control of the Senate.


But, I did catch about the last 5 minutes of the leafs game last night too, so can't speak about the whole game, but did not look as fast paced as the game in Ottawa last night, based on the last five minutes that is.

What was that dumb penalty Phaneuf took, they never did fully explain it?
- Doppleganger

Don’t really know what happened in the Senate thingy last night. Don’t care all that much.


Closed his hand on the puck. It’s one of those calls that gets called some times, other times not so much. He probably did grab it a little longer than the ones that don’t get called though. It’s a shame though, they were getting lots of pressure at the time.

Don’t really know what happened in the Senate thingy last night. Don’t care all that much.


Closed his hand on the puck. It’s one of those calls that gets called some times, other times not so much. He probably did grab it a little longer than the ones that don’t get called though. It’s a shame though, they were getting lots of pressure at the time.
- prock

Kind of a weak call that late in a one goal game.


As for the Mid term election yesterday, should mean quick approval of Keystone XL, and should inject lots of jobs and tax revenue into the Canadian economy.

Kind of a weak call that late in a one goal game.


As for the Mid term election yesterday, should mean quick approval of Keystone XL, and should inject lots of jobs and tax revenue into the Canadian economy.
- Doppleganger

Wasn't that weak. I'd say it was more on the side of being a legit call. Like I say, he did a little more than just knock it forward.

Wasn't that weak. I'd say it was more on the side of being a legit call. Like I say, he did a little more than just knock it forward.
- prock

I did not a definitive replay.

I was actually on vacation, and got in to the airport at 8. Picking up the girlfriend's dog from her parents, all that kind of crap, I only got to listen to the first period on the radio. Watched the rest when I got home. It sure as hell didn't sound good on the radio. The second half, there weren't an abnormal amount of turnovers. I know that horrible Gardiner turnover caused a goal. Other than that, didn't seem too bad. Just sounded like they couldn't get out of their own end in the first, and first 8 or 10 minutes of the second. From what I saw, it wasn't really bad turnovers, as much as a complete inability to do anything. An all over bad game.

As I say though, they've been playing well, sometimes a team puts up a stinker. Given that this was a stinker, but they still turned it around and were the better team in the second half of the game, I'm not gonna get worked up over it. Actually, I wouldn't get worked up over it even if the whole thing was a stinker.

We're just ten games in. There are positives and negatives.
- prock

. Gardiner had one and I think JVR had one on the third goal.

Leafs for sure

I like the Leafs structure this year. I think it would be a mistake to move Gardiner. The return would not be satisfactory.

I think the Leafs and Sens have a very good shot at making the playoffs. Montreal is the team that is going to have a big fall off as the season progresses. I watched them against Buffalo last night. Everybody is now banging their little forwards and they just look like a very fragile team and the tougher level of play has barely warmed up.

I like the Leafs structure this year. I think it would be a mistake to move Gardiner. The return would not be satisfactory.

I think the Leafs and Sens have a very good shot at making the playoffs. Montreal is the team that is going to have a big fall off as the season progresses. I watched them against Buffalo last night. Everybody is now banging their little forwards and they just look like a very fragile team and the tougher level of play has barely warmed up.
- spatso

Usually the "tougher level of play" starts around the twenty game mark, but I've noticed the same thing in almost all of the Sens game this year.

However this may be due to the fact that the last two seasons were compressed schedules and left little time for practise and recovery between games.

Usually the "tougher level of play" starts around the twenty game mark, but I've noticed the same thing in almost all of the Sens game this year.

However this may be due to the fact that the last two seasons were compressed schedules and left little time for practise and recovery between games.
- Doppleganger

Saw it in the Detroit/Ottawa game and again last night in Detroit/Rangers. Teams are playing really hard hockey.

Montreal turned their season around last year when they brought in a big power forward (Vanek). He was a big difference in the regular season (awful in playoffs). But, last night makes you wonder about the fragile nature of this team. They won but they looked horrific in winning.

The problem is that some of the Kool aid drinkers do not want to believe I was born a Leaf fan in Northern Ontario, well before the Senators even existed. My comments, as a frustrated Leaf fan, drives them. The believe in total loyalty, even when the King has no clothes.

I am almost always right about the Leafs because we have seen the same story played out year after year after year.
- spatso

Well they've set the bar a little higher this year, with their fan base. with all the front office signings and placing so much faith in advanced stats by hiring a 28 year old as an assistant manager.

The effects of this apparent change in philosophy might not show up on the ice, for a few seasons as the draft is still the only tried a true method of improving a team.



Just as an example, in last night's game in Ottawa, all the defence men were Ottawa draft picks. They all came up through Binghamton, and many of them won the Calder Cup together too.

I like the Leafs structure this year. I think it would be a mistake to move Gardiner. The return would not be satisfactory.

I think the Leafs and Sens have a very good shot at making the playoffs. Montreal is the team that is going to have a big fall off as the season progresses. I watched them against Buffalo last night. Everybody is now banging their little forwards and they just look like a very fragile team and the tougher level of play has barely warmed up.
- spatso

For the Habs, if you look at the stats, it was smoke and mirrors in regards to their great start. They were being outshot a lot and their goal differential is very bad. They look a bit like the Leafs from last season.

Sens are 1st in team sv% .939
leafs are 10th .920

Sens are 28th in shots against per game 35.5
Leaf are 25th 32.6

Sens shot differential is -6.2
Leafs shot differential is -1.7

Leafs are pretty much what they are so far in regards to the standings
the Sens are riding hot goalies

oh and Montreal is getting .906 and -3.6

WE ALL KINDA SUCK

Sens are 1st in team sv% .939
leafs are 10th .920

Sens are 28th in shots against per game 35.5
Leaf are 25th 32.6

Sens shot differential is -6.2
Leafs shot differential is -1.7

Leafs are pretty much what they are so far in regards to the standings
the Sens are riding hot goalies

oh and Montreal is getting .906 and -3.6
- senstroll

Well It just goes to show that with these comments, you've not watched many, if any Senator games this season.

Keep relying on stats, and make uninformed comments on how the team you never watch, is playing.

Well It just goes to show that with these comments, you've not watched many, if any Senator games this season.

Keep relying on stats, and make uninformed comments on how the team you never watch, is playing.
- Doppleganger

To be fair, we're all just really wishful thinking and pulling arbitrary numbers here...

To be fair, we're all just really wishful thinking and pulling arbitrary numbers here...
- Mr_Squeaks

Well it might just be me, but I've seen some differences in many aspects of the Senators "game plan". Their PP is much different than last year, much more able to gain the offensive zone and maintain control of the puck and crate scoring chances.

Yes other teams will now study the PP and adapt, and forcing some changes on the Sens PP, but that's the same for all teams.

It is still not perfect, but they seem to be able to clear their zone more often than last year, and not get caught chasing the puck around as often as last season.

The line of Stone, Lazar ad Hoffman gives them another weapon they did not have last year, as they can get out vs the oppositions' third or fourth line and create offensive chances and apply a more aggressive fore-check than last year.


So far this season I'm seeing more than I expected, and whether or they can keep it up..............well that remains to be seen.

Two tough back to back games this weekend that might show us something one way or another.............if they can get points in both games, then perhaps more people will have their eyes opened, as the bar was set really low for the Senators before the season started.

Well It just goes to show that with these comments, you've not watched many, if any Senator games this season.

Keep relying on stats, and make uninformed comments on how the team you never watch, is playing.
- Doppleganger

a 42% possession and -6 shot differential team is not a good team
you can get by for a while..but unless they improve those... they will plummet in the standings

a 42% possession and -6 shot differential team is not a good team
you can get by for a while..but unless they improve those... they will plummet in the standings
- senstroll

So if we allow one less shot per 10 minute span we'll be that much better?

So if we allow one less shot per 10 minute span we'll be that much better?
- Mr_Squeaks

its worth trying to find out