Hockey Night In Prague

[SportSavant]

reports are that the ice is the worst some of these players have ever soon.

probably good for the under.

Weird, coz people talk about the pinny lean, earlier, VV had +115 and Pinng had -112/+102 for a real time scalp.

I figured the under was the sharp play but next thing you know VV is under -+105 and pinny was +116!!!!

now I see pinny +114 and Vic +115.

 

[VegasVic]

reports are that the ice is the worst some of these players have ever soon.

probably good for the under.

Weird, coz people talk about the pinny lean, earlier, VV had +115 and Pinng had -112/+102 for a real time scalp.

I figured the under was the sharp play but next thing you know VV is under -+105 and pinny was +116!!!!

now I see pinny +114 and Vic +115.

I've been trying to find out something about the ice conditions. Any links you can steer me to Savant?

 

[SportSavant]

it was on tv, player said it was the worst ice

 

[VegasVic]

Because the rink had to be completely redone, with reconfigured boards and new ice, the surface is just rounding into shape.

"Everything will be fine," said Dan Craig, a Canadian ice technician who is overseeing the ice for these games. "It takes three or four days with good skating for the ice to mature properly."


Lots of information on the redesigned rink here.

 

[VegasVic]

Assuming right wing Petr Sykora does not play Saturday against Ottawa, and coach Michel Therrien seems to be assuming exactly that, look for the following line combinations from the Penguins:


Scoring 1: Ruslan Fedotenko-Sidney Crosby-Miroslav Satan
Scoring 2: Jordan Staal-Evgeni Malkin-Tyler Kennedy
Scoring 3: Matt Cooke-Max Talbot-Pascal Dupuis
Checking: Bill Thomas-Jeff Taffe-Chris Godard

 

[VegasVic]

Senators C Fisher may miss opener

 

[PassTheBuck]

Assuming right wing Petr Sykora does not play Saturday against Ottawa, and coach Michel Therrien seems to be assuming exactly that, look for the following line combinations from the Penguins:


Scoring 1: Ruslan Fedotenko-Sidney Crosby-Miroslav Satan
Scoring 2: Jordan Staal-Evgeni Malkin-Tyler Kennedy
Scoring 3: Matt Cooke-Max Talbot-Pascal Dupuis
Checking: Bill Thomas-Jeff Taffe-Chris Godard

It sure is a fine line between one of best forward groups and worst crop of forwards in the NHL. The Pens are stretched so thin up front...

 

[barman]

Scoring 1: Ruslan Fedotenko-Sidney Crosby-Miroslav Satan
Scoring 2: Jordan Staal-Evgeni Malkin-Tyler Kennedy
Scoring 3: Matt Cooke-Max Talbot-Pascal Dupuis
Checking: Bill Thomas-Jeff Taffe-Chris Godard

Educate me please.

Why is the fourth line designated as "checking"?

I presume it's because it's focused more on defense and burning some ice time while the first three lines rest?

And/or it's the line used for PKs?

 

[VegasVic]

Educate me please.

Why is the fourth line designated as "checking"?

I presume it's because it's focused more on defense and burning some ice time while the first three lines rest?

And/or it's the line used for PKs?

Fourth line for a team generaly are muckers and grinders, (also can be known as a "energy" line), and get limited play. Perhaps around ten to fifteen minutes a game. They are usualy used for their physical play, (hence the term, checking line), but can also serve as motivators to help wake up a team when their play is lackluster.

 

[wannabewhale]

4th line doesn't usually get half as much ice time. They can serve as a rest or motivator and it can contain the team Goon

 

[SportSavant]

Very nice job of forecasting the line move on this one.

now UNDER is -117 at Pinny, that is a 32 point swing

 

[Abagnale]

my perception of these teams

on my blog i said i would pick nyr 15dimes and ott 10 dimes and also the ott/pitt game over 6, 5 dimes, im still looking for ott result(3-3 so far), i think this year pittsburg will have some difficult time specially because of their lack of defense and offensive depth. i also watched the nyr game and im not really impressed with them, i think they have a great team on paper but their not really creative on the ice offensively. They might have a lack of leadership with last summer new commers that are not known to be caracter players.

what do you think?

 

[homedawg]

i apology in advance for the stupidity of this question, but if the game ends overtime in a tie is that score count as the final total? or do the shoot out goals counthno: . again sorry for the stupid question.

 

[VegasVic]

on my blog i said i would pick nyr 15dimes and ott 10 dimes and also the ott/pitt game over 6, 5 dimes, im still looking for ott result(3-3 so far), i think this year pittsburg will have some difficult time specially because of their lack of defense and offensive depth. i also watched the nyr game and im not really impressed with them, i think they have a great team on paper but their not really creative on the ice offensively. They might have a lack of leadership with last summer new commers that are not known to be caracter players.

what do you think?

Everyone talks about Pittsburgh losing 2 defensemen and assume it will effect their defense. In my opinion losing Whitney and Gonchar will effect Pittsburgh’s offense far more than their defense. I know this position sounds ridiculous while watching Ottawa and Pittsburgh combine for 7 goals in today’s opener but I stick to me belief. Now if they had lost Brooks Orpik then I’d say Pittsburgh’s defense would be effected.

Pittsburgh has always used a sound defensive scheme. They force opposing offenses to outside shots and are excellent at clearing out rebounds that Fluery has always been prone to. Losing Whitney and Gonchar means you’ve lost your top two puck moving dmen and PP quarterbacks. Today they have Crosby and Malking playing the point instead. Moving these two guys up top can’t be a good thing in the long run and you lose so much in front of the net. Maybe Letang can make the move to run the PP, maybe Goligoski can be brought up soon and be used at the point but no matter what losing Whitney and Gonchar will hurt Pittsburgh’s offense.

I thought the Rangers looked good but had a terrible time with their transition game. I thought Lundqvist was in mid season form. It was the first game of the year so maybe we should wait before coming to any conclusions.

However, I’ll stick my neck out and say Tampa Bay’s going to have a long season.

 

[VegasVic]

i apology in advance for the stupidity of this question, but if the game ends overtime in a tie is that score count as the final total? or do the shoot out goals counthno: . again sorry for the stupid question.

Unfortunatley they count. 4-3 is the final.

 

[homedawg]

Unfortunatley they count. 4-3 is the final.

thank you. bol this season. i will be tailing along:toast:

 

[PassTheBuck]

By the way, how does Mike Milbury get a job on HNIC? Last year wasn't he on TSN? Now he has a bigger gig.... despite being one of the worst hockey minds and general managers in recent sports history.

As a guy who used to like the Islanders when they were a young team... it's pretty sickening to see this guy getting actual work. What's next... Ryan Leaf to take the starting job in New England?

 

[Abagnale]

yeah

i agree with you vegasvic, on the other hand i always thought pittsburg's bad defense was hide by their offensive skill, with a good first pass and crosby hossa malkin taking care of things, and fleury having a good year, its all good, but with gonchar and withney injured, and their as been wingers, orpik and the other guys will play some much time in their own zone that we will see the worst of them. and fleury is spectacular, but i think he's a weak goalie mentally if you look at his carreer since he's 17 he always had trouble in important moments. and Lundqvist is impressive, he is in my top 5 goalies if not 3.

 

[VegasVic]

By the way, how does Mike Milbury get a job on HNIC? Last year wasn't he on TSN? Now he has a bigger gig.... despite being one of the worst hockey minds and general managers in recent sports history.

As a guy who used to like the Islanders when they were a young team... it's pretty sickening to see this guy getting actual work. What's next... Ryan Leaf to take the starting job in New England?

I think his selling point with CBC is he's cut from the same mold as Don Cherry. He's not afraid to speak his mind and make a fool of himself in public. The only thing missing with Mike is a multi colored wardrobe. Trust me, it's coming.

 

[VegasVic]

i agree with you vegasvic, on the other hand i always thought pittsburg's bad defense was hide by their offensive skill, with a good first pass and crosby hossa malkin taking care of things, and fleury having a good year, its all good, but with gonchar and withney injured, and their as been wingers, orpik and the other guys will play some much time in their own zone that we will see the worst of them. and fleury is spectacular, but i think he's a weak goalie mentally if you look at his carreer since he's 17 he always had trouble in important moments. and Lundqvist is impressive, he is in my top 5 goalies if not 3.

No doubt that the best defense is a good offense. Playing in the other guy's end is bound to boost your +/- and GAA.