GAME DISCUSSION THREAD

[spndnchz]

IMO, the league is going to look at the "was Kaleta in control of his body" on the hit. We all know Kaleta isn't. He sees how to line someone up and finishes. I like it. If the whole team was that way I wouldn't. But having him is a good thing. He'll need to sit possibly, but well worth it last night.

[SwampD]

OK, you win. I'm done. I can't even wrap my mind around what you're trying to say. Must be the turkey.

 

Ross is to blame, and Kaleta shouldn't have been penalized. It all makes perfect sense now.

I'm only continuing this because it's fun to make you as crazy as you make us most of the time. ;)

 

What I'm saying is that if Ross would have prepared himself for the hit he knew was coming (I hope for his career's sake that he knew, he is a rookie after all), then he would not have gotten hurt, Kaleta would not have been penalized, and play would have continued.

[Stoner]

IMO, the league is going to look at the "was Kaleta in control of his body" on the hit. We all know Kaleta isn't. He sees how to line someone up and finishes. I like it. If the whole team was that way I wouldn't. But having him is a good thing. He'll need to sit possibly, but well worth it last night.

 

Is a serious head injury inflicted on another human being really "worth it"? (And, no, I don't know that's what happened to Ross.) To win a game? Maybe I'm not a real fan or a real man or whatever, but I can never think like that.

[darksabre]

I'm only continuing this because it's fun to make you as crazy as you make us most of the time. ;)

 

What I'm saying is that if Ross would have prepared himself for the hit he knew was coming (I hope for his career's sake that he knew, he is a rookie after all), then he would not have gotten hurt, Kaleta would not have been penalized, and play would have continued.

 

I don't think Ross saw him coming though, he head was down looking at the puck that was against the boards to his right. He turned to get body position when he saw Mair coming and Kaleta plowed him. Kaleta had enough time to avoid making the hit so big though, so the onus is on him. Unlike the MacArthur play which I defended Clarke adamantly on, Kaleta is guilty here.

 

Not that I'm complaining. He can board Flyers players all night long if it gets us a win.

[Stoner]

I'm only continuing this because it's fun to make you as crazy as you make us most of the time. ;)

 

What I'm saying is that if Ross would have prepared himself for the hit he knew was coming (I hope for his career's sake that he knew, he is a rookie after all), then he would not have gotten hurt, Kaleta would not have been penalized, and play would have continued.

 

I see, I see. I know the elder abuse hotline number, by the way. At least I think my granddaughter programmed it into my Jitterbug.

 

I'll play along. What should Ross have done?

[Stoner]

By the way, the ref at that end didn't raise his arm. Had to be the trailing ref. I think I agree with Rob Ray about going back to one ref.

[Mbossy]

Awesome game last night. Except for a few occasions they just dumped it in, check. The fought hard in the corners, check. They got the puck on net, check. They didn't try to get fancy, check.

 

Connolly's between the legs shot was great. Up in the air, off the defenseman and off the back of Emery. Me likey.

[carpandean]

Don't know if anyone mentioned it or not, but there were some interesting notes on faceoffs last night. -Goose stopped his slump by winning 9 of 10 (90%), including going 5 for 5 against Richards.

-Tim Connolly didn't take a single faceoff.

-Stafford picked up the slack on the second line, winning 8 of 11 (73%).

-MacArthur took them when they wanted a lefty and won 4 of 7 (57%).

 

On the Connolly thing, there is this quote from WGR:

Drew Stafford has won 11 of the 15 faceoffs he's taken this season. He did well last night in Philadelphia as Tim Connolly elected not to take draws. Connolly is only 41.7 percent. Ruff said, "Drew Stafford stepped in and had a surprising night on draws which is good. Clarke MacArthur, same thing." As far as Connolly electing not to take draws Ruff said, "Sometimes he feels a left hander is better (Connolly shoots right). He's not hurt, I just think that's his decision sometimes and I've told him, I'm OK with that. If you think you can put somebody in there that will win the draw, then he's got to assume your responsibility in the 'D' zone short term."

But, Stafford shoots right, as well. So, is Timmy actually hurt (certainly didn't look like it last nigh) or is Ruff trying to figure out some way to win more than 41.7% of faceoffs on that second line?

[SwampD]

I see, I see. I know the elder abuse hotline number, by the way. At least I think my granddaughter programmed it into my Jitterbug.

 

I'll play along. What should Ross have done?

Ross should have lowered his shoulder, tucked in his elbow and leaned into the hit. You might just see this tonight,..it only happens about a hundred times a game. I definitely know one thing he shouldn't have done, and that's turn his back to Kaleta. But if you couldn't wrap your head around what I said earlier, what makes you think you'll be able to grasp this?

 

EDIT: Sorry, I should have added the ;) or maybe the :nana: . They both work.

[Mbossy]

Don't know if anyone mentioned it or not, but there were some interesting notes on faceoffs last night. -Goose stopped his slump by winning 9 of 10 (90%), including going 5 for 5 against Richards.

-Tim Connolly didn't take a single faceoff.

-Stafford picked up the slack on the second line, winning 8 of 11 (73%).

-MacArthur took them when they wanted a lefty and won 4 of 7 (57%).

 

On the Connolly thing, there is this quote from WGR:

 

But, Stafford shoots right, as well. So, is Timmy actually hurt (certainly didn't look like it last nigh) or is Ruff trying to figure out some way to win more than 41.7% of faceoffs on that second line?

 

I think he was referring to the General, who shoots leftie.

[carpandean]

I think he was referring to the General, who shoots leftie.

OK ... but that doesn't explain why he let Stafford take so many. The article said that Connolly elected not to take faceoffs and offered the need for a lefty as the only explanation. Something else had to explain why Stafford got so many looks.

[Stoner]

OK ... but that doesn't explain why he let Stafford take so many. The article said that Connolly elected not to take faceoffs and offered the need for a lefty as the only explanation. Something else had to explain why Stafford got so many looks.

 

Trying to interpret Ruff's ramblings will get you nowhere.

[Stoner]

Ross should have lowered his shoulder, tucked in his elbow and leaned into the hit. You might just see this tonight,..it only happens about a hundred times a game. I definitely know one thing he shouldn't have done, and that's turn his back to Kaleta. But if you couldn't wrap your head around what I said earlier, what makes you think you'll be able to grasp this?

EDIT: Sorry, I should have added the ;) or maybe the :nana: . They both work.

 

That's what she said.

 

So when Ross forgets the puck, lowers his elbow, leans into his shoulder and tucks in the hit, and the second Sabre forechecker grabs said loose puck and scores on a wraparound, is that a good hockey play?

[Stoner]

Delayed reaction: Ruff lets his centermen decide who takes the draw? I always though that would be a coaching-level decision.

[SwampD]

That's what she said.

 

So when Ross forgets the puck, lowers his elbow, leans into his shoulder and tucks in the hit, and the second Sabre forechecker grabs said loose puck and scores on a wraparound, is that a good hockey play?

Ya know?... I think you're finally starting to understand hockey.

[shrader]

How different were the Ovechkin and Kaleta hits? I haven't seen video of the Ovechkin one since, but they seemed pretty similar to me. It will make a very obvious statement about how the NHL operates if Kaleta is suspended.

[carpandean]

How different were the Ovechkin and Kaleta hits? I haven't seen video of the Ovechkin one since, but they seemed pretty similar to me. It will make a very obvious statement about how the NHL operates if Kaleta is suspended.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5x3-dufZHg4

[Stoner]

How different were the Ovechkin and Kaleta hits? I haven't seen video of the Ovechkin one since, but they seemed pretty similar to me. It will make a very obvious statement about how the NHL operates if Kaleta is suspended.

 

Great point.

[shrader]

Great point.

 

Kaleta's back was to Ovechkin a lot longer than Ross was. Nice work NHL.

[repster]

They just said on WGR that Rivet is skating today, although he will not play tonight. So it appears his was not as serious as it looked. Goose will be out a few weeks though, according to Ruff.

 

 

Glad I was wrong about Rivet. I was hoping more that I was wrong about Gaustad. I think his loss will hurt more. I hope I'm wrong on that too...

[cdexchange]

Glad I was wrong about Rivet. I was hoping more that I was wrong about Gaustad. I think his loss will hurt more. I hope I'm wrong on that too...

 

 

I agree, I would much rather lose Rivet than Gaustad.