December Game Thread
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Josh Harding continues to be a stud (and a great story).
With another shutout tonight he's bettered his numbers to 14-4-3, 1.45 GAA, .939 SV%, and 3 SO. Harding is tops among all starters in GAA, SV%, and tied for the SO lead. He's 11th among all goalies in minutes, too, so he's not just feasting as a back up (a la Giguere). He has to be officially on Team Canada's radar at this point.
With another shutout tonight he's bettered his numbers to 14-4-3, 1.45 GAA, .939 SV%, and 3 SO. Harding is tops among all starters in GAA, SV%, and tied for the SO lead. He's 11th among all goalies in minutes, too, so he's not just feasting as a back up (a la Giguere). He has to be officially on Team Canada's radar at this point.
He was good last night, but he wasn't exactly tested, I'm not sure if it was more Minnesota being strong defensively (they played a pretty conservative style, especially after getting a lead) or the Flyers just not doing anything offensively. Either way, yes he certainly merits consideration for Team Canada. They have an interesting decision in goal with bigger name/star guys like Luongo and Price, and guys like Harding and Steve Mason that are quietly playing extremely well.
So, the Leafs are in a tailspin. They've lost 5 of 6 and find right now they're down 3-2 to San Jose midway through the 3rd. As it turns out, giving up 36 shots a game isn't a good model for sustained success. Rob Ford is in the house tonight though. So they've got that going for them.
Edit: And the Leafs schedule is brutal...next 2 against Dallas and Ottawa, then the next 5...Boston, Los Angeles, St. Louis, Chicago, Pittsburgh.
Edit: And the Leafs schedule is brutal...next 2 against Dallas and Ottawa, then the next 5...Boston, Los Angeles, St. Louis, Chicago, Pittsburgh.
Couturier scores, 4-3 Flyers.
Edit: Fartsmell on the PP, 5-3 and 4 straight goals for Philly. Considering where they were in the 2nd, down 3-1 and taking penalties all over the place, this is impressive. And yes, I know, no Datsyuk, Zetterberg, or Bertuzzi in the lineup.
Edit: Fartsmell on the PP, 5-3 and 4 straight goals for Philly. Considering where they were in the 2nd, down 3-1 and taking penalties all over the place, this is impressive. And yes, I know, no Datsyuk, Zetterberg, or Bertuzzi in the lineup.
Edmonton hung an 8 spot on Varly tonight.
Edit: His GAA went from 2.12 to 2.43, and his SV% from .933 to .923. Ouch.
Edit: His GAA went from 2.12 to 2.43, and his SV% from .933 to .923. Ouch.
3 goals and an assist gives him 15 goals and 12 assists in 26 games. No doubt he's forming one of the best offensive lines in hockey with Nichushkin and Benn.
Today followed a stretch of 5 pointless games, and he's scored 7 of his 15 goals in 2 games. If he ever figures it out in his own end, look out.
Today followed a stretch of 5 pointless games, and he's scored 7 of his 15 goals in 2 games. If he ever figures it out in his own end, look out.
Shootout at the Air Canada Centre Canadian Tire Centre. Ottawa is 0-10 in shootout attempts this season.
Ovechkin has a hat-trick in that game too. He's up to 25 goals on the year. Rumors of his demise from early last season were greatly exaggerated.
Edit: And 4 for Ovechkin. Going to OT, can he get 5?
Edit: And 4 for Ovechkin. Going to OT, can he get 5?
What an asshole.Spaulding Smails said:Panik runs Alzner from behind, Shanaban most likely to follow.
Just an idiotic hit.
In other news, Mike Green had 4 minor penalties and 18 PIM total in the first period tonight.
In other news, Mike Green had 4 minor penalties and 18 PIM total in the first period tonight.
cshea said:
I miss hearing about how Ovechkin is washed up.
PedroSpecialK said:
Green didn't just have 18 PIM in the first period, I believe he had them within 11 or 12 minutes. A double-minor for high sticking, a trip/hook, and then another high stick with a misconduct and some gratuitous f-bomb usage. Tampa scored 2 goals on Green penalties early and a third while Green was on the ice to handicap Washington with a 3-0 deficit. Naturally, Green was booed every time he touched the puck for the remainder of the first period.
For those wondering, Alzner was thankfully able to get up on his own power and finish the game. The 5-minute major helped Ovechkin and the Caps rally back.
cshea said:
This is one of the most "minor league" things I've ever seen from a major pro sports team. I am assuming a pane of glass broke (late in the game perhaps, as this is the 3rd?) and they had to replace it... but they didn't peel the protective covering off it and just decided whatever? Is there another explanation? Is there any reasoning that doesn't make them look inept?
ForceAtHome said:
NHL refs are that sensitive that they give 10 minute misconducts for swearing at yourself? He clearly said "fuck me" while shaking his head. I really hope he called one of the linesmen's mom a cunt or something, otherwise this is just another bit of evidence that NHL officials are as incompetent as MLB umpires.
It's really starting to piss me off, these egregious hits that result in minimal if any suspensions because the player was OK. That was a bad, bad hit on Alzner. IMO worse than the one on Kevan Miller. Both should be > 5 games because they're careless and/or malicious and are extremely dangerous. If the NHL wants any credibility on the subject of player safety, they need to stop considering the resulting injury when determining suspensions. If someone swings their stick like a baseball bat at an opponent's head, it shouldn't matter if he swings and misses or kills the guy.
veritas said:
It was a few hours ago when I saw the the game now, but I believe Green chattered with the refs a bit more after his initial swears. I don't think he was assessed the misconduct until a handful of seconds after the first "fucks" that he dropped. In fact, Green made it all the way into the penalty box before being sent to the dressing room for the duration of the first period.
ForceAtHome said:
That's pretty much exactly what happened. The glass broke, and they said they couldn't get the backing off of it so just put it up.
Thankfully, since no one was there, they just moved the people behind that glass over to another open section, also known as pretty much the entire arena.
I just watched Brookbank and Simmonds go in a really good bout. I don't think I'm ticked off that they fought (admittedly, it was great!), but that the NHL doesn't enforce minors for instigation without the misconduct or game misconduct. Simmonds had just before nailed Keith with a big, clearly clean check so Brookbank challenged him. I know this code is as old as the game, but I have never liked it. I appreciate Brookbank's "right" to respond, but he should have to pay some sort of price for it. Change 46.11!
Not much to say about last night's game other than I hate that fucking song.
Flyers welcome Danny Briere back tonight. He'll probably get booed, but I wouldn't. That dirty little gnome came up huge game in game out in the playoffs, if they get any kind of goaltending at all in 2010 he brings a Cup to Philly and probably wins a Connie on top of it.
Couldn't agree more. I get that sometimes big hits are borderline, but there's no reason why a guy should be obligated to fight because he played hockey. Checking is part of the game. That said, Simmonds dropping the gloves ended things and possibly saved himself and the Flyers from any further shenanigans.
I doubt we'll ever see that, if anything the general consensus seems to be people wanting the instigator penalty to go away so tough guys can police the game themselves.
If it's the play I'm thinking of it was little brother Brayden with the hit in question. It definitely should have been a penalty, but I'm not expecting a Shanabanning.
Flyers welcome Danny Briere back tonight. He'll probably get booed, but I wouldn't. That dirty little gnome came up huge game in game out in the playoffs, if they get any kind of goaltending at all in 2010 he brings a Cup to Philly and probably wins a Connie on top of it.
Fred in Lynn said:
Couldn't agree more. I get that sometimes big hits are borderline, but there's no reason why a guy should be obligated to fight because he played hockey. Checking is part of the game. That said, Simmonds dropping the gloves ended things and possibly saved himself and the Flyers from any further shenanigans.
I doubt we'll ever see that, if anything the general consensus seems to be people wanting the instigator penalty to go away so tough guys can police the game themselves.
The Napkin said:
If it's the play I'm thinking of it was little brother Brayden with the hit in question. It definitely should have been a penalty, but I'm not expecting a Shanabanning.
I thought the elbow he threw on Keith was pretty much right on the head? Maybe (probably?) I need to check out a replay because I can't seem to find any mention of it today. I know he got a penalty for it at least.
Ohh yes I know what you're talking about, I wasn't totally convinced it was an elbow but it did look like he made contact with the head. And yes he did get an elbowing penalty. I was thinking of the Brayden Schenn high crosscheck that wasn't called, I can't remember who the Hawk player was that he got but he immediately stopped and asked if the guy was alright. I remember being shocked it wasn't a penalty because one of the refs was right there, but I think he was looking up-ice and missed it.
Good night for the Bruins so far with Montreal, Toronto, NYR all behind in their games right now.
TheShynessClinic said:
Elbow right in Downie's head, I see a Shanabanning in Emelin's future.
Berube broke up the Giroux line (swapped Hartnell with Michael Raffl) and that line's looked better than it has in the past dozen games or so. They've got both goals (Giroux and Raffl) with Voracek assisting on both.
Habs look kind of flat, odd since it's the Flyers on the end of a back to back.
Forgot to mention this:
http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/2013/12/12/5206080/steve-mason-fight-brian-gionta
Still not sure why both Gallagher and Gionta decided to jump Steve Mason after the game ended. Seems Les Scabs get pissy when they lose.
http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/2013/12/12/5206080/steve-mason-fight-brian-gionta
Still not sure why both Gallagher and Gionta decided to jump Steve Mason after the game ended. Seems Les Scabs get pissy when they lose.
I saw that, too. I'm really not sure exactly what happened, but it seemed like Gallagher was playing right to the whistle, and Mason took exception to it, shoved him, got shoved back and then they flew at each other with Gionta coming in behind (I may have the douc...Canadien players backwards here)..
I saw that, too. I'm really not sure exactly what happened, but it seemed like Gallagher was playing right to the whistle, and Mason took exception to it, shoved him, got shoved back and then they flew at each other with Gionta coming in behind (I may have the douc...Canadien players backwards here)..
Yeah, you have them backward.
Yeah, you have them backward.
Luke Schenn? We have a Mr Shanahan on the phone for you...
I'm just catching up on past recordings. If the NHL does anything at all with that incident, Shanahan will have to suspend everyone.
I'm just catching up on past recordings. If the NHL does anything at all with that incident, Shanahan will have to suspend everyone.
Now Malkin gets concussed (speculation), Detroit fans cheer, and a giant flame war breaks out on twitter.
https://twitter.com/search?q=malkin&src=typd&f=realtime
https://twitter.com/search?q=malkin&src=typd&f=realtime