< NHL Discussion Thread >

[slightlyaraiderfan]

Yeah, well i'm pretty sure the Kings are the lowest scoring team in the NHL, even with tonights 4 goal outburst.

[djp]

Originally Posted by slightlyaraiderfan

Yeah, well i'm pretty sure the Kings are the lowest scoring team in the NHL, even with tonights 4 goal outburst.

Drew Doughty is killing my fantasy team.

[Xiomera]

The NHL is preposterously hypocritical for not suspending Alex Ovechkin a game for skipping the all-star game. In 2009, the league suspended Pavel Datsyuk and Nick Lidstrom (and others, I'm sure) for not being there.

What's changed? If anything, Ovechkin's presence would be even more noticeable to the casual fan than the two Red Wings.

[SuperMcGee]

Originally Posted by Xiomera

Wings beat the Blue, 3-1. Big, big statement game. 7-straight wins for Detroit and 17-straight at home.

The difference on the road and at home worries me. I'd be concerned if you finish below Vancouver and/or San Jose, again. I think any of the top-7 seeds out West can make the first playoff series hell, so that would be nice to avoid. Should you emerge, having to go on the road after could be brutal, especially if the team you're facing can actually score.

[Xiomera]

Originally Posted by SuperMcgee

The difference on the road and at home worries me. I'd be concerned if you finish below Vancouver and/or San Jose, again. I think any of the top-7 seeds out West can make the first playoff series hell, so that would be nice to avoid. Should you emerge, having to go on the road after could be brutal, especially if the team you're facing can actually score.

Perhaps, though I think Detroit's road woes are a bit over-exaggerated. They've played more road games than most teams in the NHL at this point and they're 13-13. You really only need to win one road game to win a series many times.

Detroit does have some road wins over good teams — Boston, Nashville, Pittsburgh, Chicago.

[SuperMcGee]

10-13 outside of shootouts isn't great. Conklin drags it down a bit, but Howard's numbers are drastically different on the road from at home. The scoring rate is well below, as well, though that can be expected on the road. It's not awful, but a notable difference from home dominance. My main concern is what they let in, though, especially since I've never found Howard to be particularly strong in the playoffs. I have to same concern for Jon Quick, even with as good of a year as they're both having.

[Xiomera]

Conklin has made every one of his starts on the road. I think that's the biggest factor. He's had a few real stinkers.

As for Howard in the playoffs, I think you're wrong. Last season he was very good in the playoffs despite having a pretty lousy regular season. He's been to the postseason twice and I don't think he's been the reason we haven't advanced past round two either time. This season feels totally different. He's carrying us, as opposed to just being the interchangeable goalie the Wings plug in behind a strong team.

I don't think this is a case of me looking at it from a homerish perspective. Sure, they'll need to be better on the road, but what they do right now has little bearing on how good they are in the postseason on the road. We just have to wait.

[holt_bruce81]

Thinking about last nights game, one thing that pisses me off is how Patrik Berglund just disappears in big games. It's frustrating because the talent is there, but he's in his 3rd year and it's not really showing.

With Tarasenko and Schwartz probably joining the team next year, Berglund might be traded at the deadline.

[Wootylicous]

TJ Oshie <3

[holt_bruce81]

Originally Posted by Wooty Magic!

TJ Oshie <3

Yes, who doesn't?

I get a boner everytime I watch him play.

[SuperMcGee]

Originally Posted by Xiomera

Conklin has made every one of his starts on the road. I think that's the biggest factor. He's had a few real stinkers.

As for Howard in the playoffs, I think you're wrong. Last season he was very good in the playoffs despite having a pretty lousy regular season. He's been to the postseason twice and I don't think he's been the reason we haven't advanced past round two either time. This season feels totally different. He's carrying us, as opposed to just being the interchangeable goalie the Wings plug in behind a strong team.

I don't think this is a case of me looking at it from a homerish perspective. Sure, they'll need to be better on the road, but what they do right now has little bearing on how good they are in the postseason on the road. We just have to wait.

I wouldn't expect Detroit to fall apart on the road, they're too good and too experienced. The differences are just striking. There is a 2.5 goal swing in goal differential per-game between home and road. That number is insane. Call it a testament to excellent home coaching and a good atmosphere, but no other team comes close to that number. It's just about double that of any other team in playoff position (only St. Louis, Chicago, and Washington have more than a half-goal difference). Take out Conklin's games and that difference is still higher than any team in the league, even trash road teams like Tampa/Buffalo/Winnipeg. Jimmy Howard's GAA is 0.83 higher on the road than at home, while the team scores >1 goal fewer per road game than at home. Oddly high numbers.

[Hines]

Hey Holt, that was a great overtime and game tonight!

[Xiomera]

Originally Posted by SuperMcgee

I wouldn't expect Detroit to fall apart on the road, they're too good and too experienced. The differences are just striking. There is a 2.5 goal swing in goal differential per-game between home and road. That number is insane. Call it a testament to excellent home coaching and a good atmosphere, but no other team comes close to that number. It's just about double that of any other team in playoff position (only St. Louis, Chicago, and Washington have more than a half-goal difference). Take out Conklin's games and that difference is still higher than any team in the league, even trash road teams like Tampa/Buffalo/Winnipeg. Jimmy Howard's GAA is 0.83 higher on the road than at home, while the team scores >1 goal fewer per road game than at home. Oddly high numbers.

I had never looked at it from a goal differential standpoint like that. Interesting.

But as you say, it's such an absurd number, it's likely to come down a bit and return to a more normal level. I'd guess it's an aberration of sorts. We'll see what happens in the second half.

[Xiomera]

The Central Division is so crazy.

Detroit 67 pts, St. Louis 65 pts, Chicago and Nashville 64 points.

Top four point totals from the West are in that division currently (though San Jose has played several fewer games right now).

[Xiomera]

Can Matt Cooke be suspended for life?

That hit on Barrett Jackman was just the next in a line of idiocy for his career. And to think everyone said he had changed this season ...

[holt_bruce81]

Good game tonight vs the Penguins, shame we couldn't come away with two points. Hilarious that Berglund probably had his best game of the season right after I bad mouth him.

I was at the game, crowd was awesome. I hate people who are assholes and won't move for you so you have to jump to the next row so you can get out and go to the restroom.

[holt_bruce81]

Originally Posted by Hines

Hey Holt, that was a great overtime and game tonight!

Yeah overtime was insane, some of Fleury's saves were just ridiculous.

[SuperMcGee]

Originally Posted by Xiomera

I had never looked at it from a goal differential standpoint like that. Interesting.

I probably sound like I'm up my own ass in numbers. I just have a decent amount of browsing time between work and some classes, so I like to dig around numbers. Somehow found a way to be less productive than facebook and DC. But Detroit definitely stuck out to me.

Originally Posted by Xiomera

The Central Division is so crazy.

Detroit 67 pts, St. Louis 65 pts, Chicago and Nashville 64 points.

Top four point totals from the West are in that division currently (though San Jose has played several fewer games right now).

Nashville is on fire right now. Rinne is playing no worse than last year, lately, and they're actually one of the higher scoring teams in the West. Of course, the concentration of that division will probably allow the Canucks and Sharks to take the top seeds, again.

[Xiomera]

Nashville is an interesting case because of Suter and Weber's fates. I honestly think trading Suter for a big package, then flipping some of those acquired assets for some offense is a good plan. They have to win now to keep Weber interested in signing longterm, but also not lose Suter for nothing.

[Jensen]

Originally Posted by Xiomera

Can Matt Cooke be suspended for life?

That hit on Barrett Jackman was just the next in a line of idiocy for his career. And to think everyone said he had changed this season ...

Wow. Jackman definitely sold that hit. Very noticeable flop and I am usually one to quickly point out that Cooke is a scumbag.

[holt_bruce81]

Originally Posted by Jensen

Wow. Jackman definitely sold that hit. Very noticeable flop and I am usually one to quickly point out that Cooke is a scumbag.

What? I strongly disagree

[holt_bruce81]

"He's out of his mind"

[SuperMcGee]

Originally Posted by holt_bruce81

Good game tonight vs the Penguins, shame we couldn't come away with two points. Hilarious that Berglund probably had his best game of the season right after I bad mouth him.

Berglund went with a nice backhand fake on both goals. He's a lot better at it than I am. First one was great, in close with a defender on him. Fleury bit hard.

And yeah, Jackman flopped.

[holt_bruce81]

Is it *** that it's 3 am and I'm watching tj oshie highlights?

And I hate Jackman but I don't think he flopped. The guy clearly pushed him.

[Hines]

Originally Posted by holt_bruce81

Yeah overtime was insane, some of Fleury's saves were just ridiculous.

Yeah, MAF was a monster in the OT.


Anyways, what is everyone's thoughts of OV being a baby and not participating in the ASG because he's suspended?