The Ice Hockey Thread

[BonnieShels]

Doesn't matter. The booing continued whilst Thomas had the trophy.

[Stevo Da Gull]

Deserved win for Boston. They are worthy champions.

I thought the booing turned to applause and whistling while Thomas collected his trophy.

[SaucyJack]

well, there goes Canada's reputation as very polite and civil, or maybe it's just a Vancouver thing....anyway, what time is it? 19 past Luongo.

[BonnieShels]

Couple of bc heads I know said they expected it whether the canucks won or not.

[Stevo Da Gull]

I loved Hockey Night In Canada's closing montage and credits. How fast did that season go by? Some great moments from strong teams and great characters. Well done Bruins.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lBSHbxfUPdQ

Also, I like it when Don MacLean throws in a few lines of poetry. Not the first time. In the video above he uses a few lines from Robert Service's Spell of the Yukon. I'll miss him and Don Cherry as much as the action in the off season!

[Stevo Da Gull]

Worth mentioning that the still frame from the video wouldn't be out of place in the totty thread either! I hear those Vancouver girls are a riot.. sorry.

[strangeirish]

I hear those Vancouver girls are a riot.. sorry.Yes they are...

http://www.tntmagazine.com/cfs-filesystemfile.ashx/__key/CommunityServer.Components.SiteFiles/TNT+TODAY+BLOG.1450/vancouver_2D00_5.jpg

[BonnieShels]

I loved Hockey Night In Canada's closing montage and credits. How fast did that season go by? Some great moments from strong teams and great characters. Well done Bruins.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lBSHbxfUPdQ

Also, I like it when Don MacLean throws in a few lines of poetry. Not the first time. In the video above he uses a few lines from Robert Service's Spell of the Yukon. I'll miss him and Don Cherry as much as the action in the off season!

I'm getting coaches corner withdrawals already. Come on October.

Hnic is one if the great sports programming efforts. RTÉ's only national broadcaster competition in that regard.

[BonnieShels]

Schedule for next season is out. Wooooooooooooooooooo!!!

[BonnieShels]

Well, its long overdue at this stage but I gave to say Setanta/Premier Sports having the rights in Ireland and Britain is a pain in the hole.

They are using a lot of team/fs coverage and its not a patch on HNIC.

Pretty underwhelmed so far with the season as a result.

[Stevo Da Gull]

Setanta's coverage is very poor compared to ESPN, but at least it's something. I'm hoping ESPN will buy the rights for the playoffs when they come around. I've gotten to see Jagr and the Flyers play twice so far this season, so I'm happy enough! I'm still not fully attached to one team, so I'll just fanboy over Jagr for the time being.

[BonnieShels]

"Something" sucks when you are used to the champagne of HNIC. I'll sit down tomorrow night and plot my way through the weekend.

[Dodge]

But ESPN America used the local feeds too. Apart from HNIC, there is no national games at the moment

Versus start their coverage this week, so I'll assume Setanta will take that.

http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/44193703/ns/sports-nhl/

[Real ale Madrid]

Watched Boston @ Toronto last Saturday night, and they used the HNIC programme, but didn't show Coaches Corner.....?????

[BonnieShels]

Leafs on Setanta Ireland tonight v Tampa Bay from 0030. NYIAOW!

Also dodge, could you change the title of this thread to just Ice Hockey. Cheers.

[BonnieShels]

Having serious trouble with coverage this year. It's so sporadic. Very disappointing.

[BonnieShels]

Beaten by Vancouver again at the Air Canada Centre.

8 years and counting. Getting really pee'd off at Setanta. They had the CBC:HNIC coverage and during the period-breaks they cut to endless ads and idents.

[Stevo Da Gull]

Watched Boston - Flyers on Saturday and most of Flyers - Dallas last night. A 6-0 defeat and then 4-1 win for the Flyers. Giroux made a big difference returning from injury with a 4 point game.

[BonnieShels]

The big day is later. Love the Winter Classic. Fingers crossed for some CBC coverage and my first acquaintence with Mr Cherry all season.
6pm Setanta Ireland
Boom

[Hibs4Ever]

Amazing season so far for the Rangers, hopefully will continue against the Flyers tonight ;)

[Aberdonian Stu]

I'd expect the coverage to be NBC, they probably have the international feed on this one.

[BonnieShels]

So, seems yet again Setanta's pathetic coverage continues.
They are showing Connacht v Leinster now rather than at 830. I'm livid!

[Hibs4Ever]

I'd expect the coverage to be NBC, they probably have the international feed on this one.



ESPN America showing it over here in Prague anyway

[BonnieShels]

PremierSports/Setanta have the NHL rights for this season in Ireland, Britain and the Nordic countries. ESPN retained the rights for the rest of Europe. Grrrrrrrrrrrr.

[BonnieShels]

Seems the game has been delayed by 2 hours...

http://www.torontosun.com/2012/01/01/sun-causes-winter-classic-delay

I'll take that back for now Setanta.

[BonnieShels]

Jagr and Hartnell have been great.

[Stevo Da Gull]

That's because Jagr is a beast of a man, and a sexy beast of a hockey player.

[Stevo Da Gull]

Great comeback from the Rangers from 2-0 down to win 3-2. Lundqvist saved a penalty shot with 19 seconds left too.

[BonnieShels]

Great last period there.
Shame Setanta don't give us the intermission chat. :(

[Hibs4Ever]

Another great performance from the Rangers, top of entire league now. Lundqvist showing again he's by far the best 'keeper in the NHL. Hopefully the wins will continue at home to Florida on Friday. Glad the "winter classic" is over and done with for another year. Not a fan of it at all. Hockey is far better indoors with the fans right up against the rink

[theworm2345]

Another great performance from the Rangers, top of entire league now. Lundqvist showing again he's by far the best 'keeper in the NHL. Hopefully the wins will continue at home to Florida on Friday. Glad the "winter classic" is over and done with for another year. Not a fan of it at all. Hockey is far better indoors with the fans right up against the rink
I don't think any hockey purists over here would agree with you...most Canadian (and some Americans in the northern reaches) start out playing hockey outside on frozen ponds. I've played both in indoor rinks and outside on frozen lakes (up by the Canadian border) and playing on a lake is a completely different, and often more enjoyable, experience. Fans right up against the rink brings dumbasses banging on the glass as well which is not good. On an unrelated note, "top of the league" and "keeper" might confuse some North American fans ;).

Never been to a Winter Classic though I did watch it when the Hawks played the Red Wings (right around the time the Hawks sold out) and I think the players enjoy it and it doesn't hinder the play too much.

[Hibs4Ever]

I don't think any hockey purists over here would agree with you...most Canadian (and some Americans in the northern reaches) start out playing hockey outside on frozen ponds.


Similar here in Czech Republic, though indoor hockey is by far the preference. They done an outdoor game here a few years back. (Pardubice against Plzen IIRC) Wasn't popular at all, and wasn't repeated


Fans right up against the rink brings dumbasses banging on the glass


Not always. Never see it in Czech League games anyway, and I go to a lot of games here. Dunno why you'd see it as a bad thing though. Doesn't happen much even in the NHL





On an unrelated note, "top of the league" and "keeper" might confuse some North American fans ;).



Well to the American/Canadian born NHL fans that use this forum I apologise. Everyone else understands what I said perfectly

[Dodge]

Not a huge hockey fan, or at least not a huge regular season NHL fan, but the winter classic is by far the most interesting game in the regular season.

Has really helped Hockey get a foothold in US TV after the post lockout years. Fantastic imagery; http://www.buzzfeed.com/mikehayes/beautiful-photos-from-the-nhl-winter-classic

[theworm2345]

Similar here in Czech Republic, though indoor hockey is by far the preference. They done an outdoor game here a few years back. (Pardubice against Plzen IIRC) Wasn't popular at all, and wasn't repeated

Not always. Never see it in Czech League games anyway, and I go to a lot of games here. Dunno why you'd see it as a bad thing though. Doesn't happen much even in the NHL
I don't think anyone would advocate having all of the games outside, its an interesting gimmick though. Actually I believe my namesake used to play in goal for Parbudice and has been on a few of the Czech World Hockey Championship teams. Regarding the board banging its just obnoxious and I have it on good authority that the players find it so as well.


Well to the American/Canadian born NHL fans that use this forum I apologise. Everyone else understands what I said perfectly
I was just joking...though the top of the league bit could be confusing with the divisions and conferences that don't exist often (at least in top tier) football leagues.

[Hibs4Ever]

I was just joking...though the top of the league bit could be confusing with the divisions and conferences that don't exist often (at least in top tier) football leagues.


Yep, there's divisions, conference, and then entire league table, that is the one I was talking about. Dunno how that's confusing tbh. Maybe it's just you confused :D

http://www.nhl.com/ice/standings.htm?season=20112012&type=LEA



Hopefully an overnight win over Florida will put the Rangers back top again ;)

[Stevo Da Gull]

Hockey Night In Canada. Ron Maclean, Don Cherry.. have I died and gone to heaven?

[BonnieShels]

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I was watching the NFL!

[BonnieShels]

So the play offs begin and... They're on Setanta Sports 1. Joke.
I've seen nothing thus year because of the woeful coverage of Setanta.
But this is taking the ****.

[NeverFeltBetter]

I've been following the Bruins since a visit to relatives in Boston in 2000, so was delighted with them last year, obviously. They're off to a good start in the play-offs this year, but was a tough game against the Capitals at home. Kelly with an OT winner, slammed it home from a bit of a distance, but Thomas looks like the main man for the play-offs again. Great atmosphere in the Garden too, am hopeful that they can take a 2-0 lead into the away legs.

[Spudulika]

While the Devils are now level with the Rangers, the World Championships are after throwing up a major shock. The Canadians were just dumped out 4-3 by Slovakia. Shockingly bad cheating from the slovaks. More dives than a Barcelona match and more faking than a porn set. Surprised the officials let it away. However next up is the stroll in the park for Russia. Kind of depressing after watching that match, spent the morning at tennis where there was more honesty about the place, but that....nah, just sad. No wonder Don Cherry slagged off Europeans for being nancy boy divers.

[BonnieShels]

Living in Canada and watching hockey has been quite something.

The play-offs have been fascinating.

The Western Conference is unbelievable and the quality of the hockey has been nothing short of breathtaking in some quarters.

Unfortunately the Habs are probably going to whitewash Tampa Bay and it's a shame because the Lightning have turned into my second team with their style of hockey and the downright insanity of the noise at their games. I was out watching a game in Ottawa last Friday and the bull**** from the Habs fans in their as enough to turn anyone off them ever doing well. As aLeafs fan I never had any major hangup about them and generally like to see Canadian teams do well. But it was like being surrounded by a load of Ingerland fans. Eugh.

Boston shoudl get past Detroit and take care of them in round 2. They'll be in the Eastern side of the draw.

In the West I can't see anyone getting past San Jose. They are a phenomenal team to watch and I really can't wait to catch a game in the Shark Tank next season. The Avs had a minor slip up last night but have been super, even missing Duchene. Will be great (especially for my hockey pool) if he gets back for the second round. Colorado v San Jose for the Conference final and SJ to shade it.

Going to be a cracking month.

[BonnieShels]

Living in Canada and watching hockey has been quite something.

The play-offs have been fascinating.

The Western Conference is unbelievable and the quality of the hockey has been nothing short of breathtaking in some quarters.

Unfortunately the Habs are probably going to whitewash Tampa Bay and it's a shame because the Lightning have turned into my second team with their style of hockey and the downright insanity of the noise at their games. I was out watching a game in Ottawa last Friday and the bull**** from the Habs fans in their as enough to turn anyone off them ever doing well. As aLeafs fan I never had any major hangup about them and generally like to see Canadian teams do well. But it was like being surrounded by a load of Ingerland fans. Eugh.

Boston shoudl get past Detroit and take care of them in round 2. They'll be in the Eastern side of the draw.

In the West I can't see anyone getting past San Jose. They are a phenomenal team to watch and I really can't wait to catch a game in the Shark Tank next season. The Avs had a minor slip up last night but have been super, even missing Duchene. Will be great (especially for my hockey pool) if he gets back for the second round. Colorado v San Jose for the Conference final and SJ to shade it.

Going to be a cracking month.

Talk about calling it wrong. EEK!

Anyway, Montreal beat Boston 4-2 (4th on an empty-net) tonight to take a 2-1 series lead. Montreal got some serious calls in the last few minutes, including Subban blatantly knocking the net off its moorings which would have been a penalty shot for Boston with the scores at 3-2 with about 25secs to go. Officials pussed out of that one like they have in so many games in the play-offs for the Habs. Seething here.

Hon Boston!

[BonnieShels]

Opening night is here.

Currently 2-2 in the ACC. God I wish I was there... stoopid degree.

[BonnieShels]

Great game tonight at the ACC. Reimer on fire with 45 saves.

3 wins in a row baby. Yeah!!!

[Crosby87]

Penguins are the best team in the NHL. Horny was a great acquisition. McDonagh seperating his shoulder spells doom for the Rangers.

[BonnieShels]

Great game tonight at the ACC. Reimer on fire with 45 saves.

3 wins in a row baby. Yeah!!!

Almost got ahead of myself there. At least Matt Duchene scored last night to help out my Fantasy Pool.


Penguins are the best team in the NHL. Horny was a great acquisition. McDonagh seperating his shoulder spells doom for the Rangers.


Ahem, you would say that Sid.

Anaheim are the best team in the league. No question.

[Crosby87]

Boudreau will never ever get the Ducks over the hump. Thats why they choked last year. That guy is a terrible playoff coach.
5 assists for you know who last nite....

[BonnieShels]

I know. I was keeping up-to-date with it whilst watching HNIC. Commented as much over on Boards.

Funnily enough, they had Gretzky on with Strombo last night. Do I dare suggest that Sid could end up better than Ze Great One?

[Crosby87]

Nah. I dont really put him in the top ten all time tbh.

Have you seen that kid on St Louis? Tarasenko? What a prospect.He might be the best young player in the world. Saw him in a 1-0 game in newark last tuesday. The devils are trying to get people in the seats by really uping the game on food...you have to mortgage your house but for an arena its really good. I must say. They also have a neat jersey room on all these moving racks above your head.....its an under-rated place to watch a game.....

[Crosby87]

It's me and you tonight Bon Bon. Pitt will be fired up after that debacle vs the Rangers the other night. Watch out! You may not get Fleury. They play NYR again tmrw night. Back up will start one of them.... I was just looking at Toronto's record. they are having a better season than i thought. Who is carrying the load? Kessel?