Official NHL/hockey thread

**A.F.F.** · 29th Dec 06, 21:51

All Hail to Philly

They've finally won

**harvick#1** · 30th Dec 06, 01:44

**Mark in Oshawa** · 30th Dec 06, 02:33

Originally Posted by A.F.F.

I have to admit I didn't see this "goalie-phenomenon" coming at all. I mean I knew all along we had a good goalie training but now we have like what, eight active NHL goalies and more to come. And not just an avarage goalies. I'm talking about goalies like Kiprusoff, Toskala, Niitymäki and Lehtonen. Also Bäckström and Norrena who are strongly taking over hte first spot in their team.

That leads me to another matter. The juniors are about to start their tournament in Stockholm next tuesday. Tuukka Rask will be Finnish number one goalie who I guss will be the next goalie promise to NHL

Too bad Leafs sold his rights, right Raikk

I can't name just one favourite player in NHL so I take the liberty to name three

Teemu Selänne who is proved to be more than just a sniper. Saku Koivu, the captain of Habs, who is IMO the greatest hockey player ever been

And Olli Jokinen, also captain of his team.

My all time favourite player has to Peter Forsberg.

AFF, my friend you are a good man and you love hockey, but Saku isn't the GREATEST ever Finnish player much less all time everywhere. Greatest Finn ever on skates is Jari Kurri IMO.

As for the Leafs losing Rask, no it wasn't that big a loss, since they have Raycroft now for Rask, which helps them in the now, and they still have Justin Pogge, who was the best goalie by far in last years Junior World Championship.

Rask didn't look too good when Belarus beat you guys either. Iam just glad to see someone in Europe actually pays attention to the world junior championship. It is a Christmas ritual here on TV and we love it but by the empty seats in European venues for this event, I am always shocked....

**A.F.F.** · 30th Dec 06, 05:42

Originally Posted by Mark in Oshawa

AFF, my friend you are a good man and you love hockey, but Saku isn't the GREATEST ever Finnish player much less all time everywhere. Greatest Finn ever on skates is Jari Kurri IMO.

As for the Leafs losing Rask, no it wasn't that big a loss, since they have Raycroft now for Rask, which helps them in the now, and they still have Justin Pogge, who was the best goalie by far in last years Junior World Championship.

Rask didn't look too good when Belarus beat you guys either. Iam just glad to see someone in Europe actually pays attention to the world junior championship. It is a Christmas ritual here on TV and we love it but by the empty seats in European venues for this event, I am always shocked....

By all means Mark

Jari Kurri has made a huge influence in Finnish hockey and I wouldn't be surprised at all if he was Saku's biggest idol. But like you said, IMO, I still think Saku is the greatest. Not necessarily skillwise but the whole package, the attitude, fairplay, leadership which probably the biggest reason.

Btw. did you know that when the strike occured and many players played in Europe, Saku returned to his home team TPS, in the first games not only the audience honored him but also opposite team players AND the coach

That was worth to see.

About junior hockey. That is a shame, really, if people don't pay attention to it. It's where the next Jagrs, Crosbys, Haseks etc come from

Basicly it might be the first international break for youngsters.

**harvick#1** · 31st Dec 06, 04:41

Phoenix opened up a can of whoop-ass on San Jose 8-0.

Roenick even got a hat-trick

**Mark in Oshawa** · 31st Dec 06, 07:21

AFF, Junior hockey to Canadians is like football (American style) is to the people in Texas. It is a religion, and when the world Junior tourney starts every year, TSN up here gets massive ratings for every game Canada plays, and very good ratings for all the other games that get aired. Household names have been made by some of the players in this tourney who then never have made the NHL but Iam sure have had a lot of beer bought for them for their heroics in the World Juniors.

Saku is a great leader, I wont dispute that. I was just impressed by his coming back from Cancer and having a career again, and his comeback from his eye injury. That said, Saku plays for the Canadiens, and for me to cheer for the Canadiens just wont happen. Us Leaf fans have to have some standards!!!!

**A.F.F.** · 31st Dec 06, 08:53

Originally Posted by Mark in Oshawa

That said, Saku plays for the Canadiens, and for me to cheer for the Canadiens just wont happen. Us Leaf fans have to have some standards!!!!

Well, maybe you can secretly cheer for Saku and the Habs after the playoffs start since Leafs won't probably make it

**BTCC2** · 2nd Jan 07, 15:36

Originally Posted by Mark in Oshawa

First off BTCC, I did know about the British league and I would love you to put the table on here the odd time and a link to any webpages they may have. I know I would recognize a few names from that league, since the odd NHL player did go there (Theo Fleury for one) as their careers winded down. Marty McSorley also went there at one point.

OK then current Elite League Standings

Belfast Giants 45
Coventry Blaze 37
Nottingham Panthers 32
Cardiff Devils 30
Basingstoke Bison 29
Manchester Phoenix 28
Sheffield Steelers 28
Hull Stingrays 27
Newcastle Vipers 23
Edinburgh Capitals 23

Newcastle are finally off bottom and the only way is up for us now.

www.eliteleague.co.uk/ is the leagues website.

**BTCC2** · 2nd Jan 07, 15:47

What sort of crowds do you get in NHL, obviously you will get more than we do over here as the Vipers average about 900. But do you fill your arenas.

As you can see from these pictures we barely get enough people to fill the front couple of rows. http://www.newcastlevipers.com/galle...er.php?id=2688

And here are some match highlights of a game vs Hull Stingrays. www.youtube.com/watch?v=bVgIj47wZrs

**veeten** · 5th Jan 07, 01:50

end of the 2nd period,... Washington 4, Montreal 1.

Go Caps!

**Knocker69** · 5th Jan 07, 02:17

Originally Posted by BTCC2

What sort of crowds do you get in NHL, obviously you will get more than we do over here as the Vipers average about 900. But do you fill your arenas.

Well, in the hockey mecca

of Tampa, FL, this season we rank 3rd in the NHL with an average attendance of 19,828.

NHL attendance stats

**veeten** · 5th Jan 07, 02:39

the final, Washington-5, Montreal-1.

you know what they say about paybacks, eh schmenke?...

(one week ago, Montreal-4, Washington-1)

**schmenke** · 5th Jan 07, 15:07

Didn't see the game but I watched some of the highlights. Huet didn't look too sharp whereas Kolzig made some awesome stops. Pretty lame penalty call on Koivu though

. Changed the course of the game

Leafs score 10 goals against the Bruins!

Who woulda thunk that that team is capable of scoring that many

**Mark in Oshawa** · 5th Jan 07, 17:18

Originally Posted by schmenke

Didn't see the game but I watched some of the highlights. Huet didn't look too sharp whereas Kolzig made some awesome stops. Pretty lame penalty call on Koivu though

. Changed the course of the game

Leafs score 10 goals against the Bruins!

Who woulda thunk that that team is capable of scoring that many

The Leafs lit up the Rangers 3 weeks ago for 9, and they scored in bunches against Ottawa earlier this year as well. They have their nights where they score, and then they get killed other nights. IN short, the Leaf's are a .500 team and are playing like one. Great one night, sucking the next.

BTCC, for your interest, NHL teams in Canada pretty much always sell out with crowds of 18000 to 20000 and in most cities, tickets are hard to get. Most American markets you can get into a game relatively easy, although in places like Detroit or Philadelphia, you might have a hard time.

**Mark in Oshawa** · 5th Jan 07, 17:22

2 -1 USA over Sweden in the Bronze game at the World Junior Tournament as I type this. Only an hour or so away before Canada plays Russia for the Gold. I guess I wont get nothing constructive done this afternoon!!!

**schmenke** · 5th Jan 07, 17:43

Originally Posted by Mark in Oshawa

... I guess I wont get nothing constructive done this afternoon!!!

Ditto

**Mark in Oshawa** · 5th Jan 07, 18:14

Schmenke, the best part of Christmas and New Year's is the world juniors, is it not??

GO CANADA GO!!!

**Mark in Oshawa** · 5th Jan 07, 18:16

Just a note to all you Non-Canadians reading this. Canada is an anal retentive country when it comes to Hockey. IF we lose this thing, we will all be catatonic for days, whining about how our hockey programs are not producing star's and quality teams. We will need to lie down on the couch and bare our souls. Yet in almost every other sport this country plays, if we win we like it, if we lose, oh well but that is sport. It is only hockey that makes us this crazy!! Bear with us...it too shall pass....

**schmenke** · 5th Jan 07, 18:44

Originally Posted by Mark in Oshawa

... IF we lose this thing, we will all be catatonic for days, whining about how our hockey programs are not producing star's and quality teams. ....

Followed by a full government inquiry!

**Mark in Oshawa** · 5th Jan 07, 19:47

Schmenke, it don't look like that will happen, Canada is up 4 - 0 in the second!!!!

Gotta love another good pasting of the Russians. They had Ovechikin two years ago, we knocked him out of the game. Last year, they had Malkin crying. This year, well the Russians have a good all around team, but the result is looking simliar. They just cant take 60 minutes of aggressive forechecking and ill temper from our boys.